Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 2, 2008)
The INDEPENDENT, October 2, 2008 Page 21 Speedway’s “Run What Ya Brung” is a chance to race just for fun by Mike Weber River City Speedway’s regu- lar season concluded Septem- ber 13, but stock car racing drivers returned to the Colum- bia County Fairgrounds facility to compete again in the non points “Run What Ya Brung” race Saturday, September 20. It was also an opportunity for an encore by Tricia Brittain of St. Helens. A week ago, Brittain won the 2008 Sportsman Divi- sion Championship to become the first woman in the speed- way’s 22-year history to win the title. Run What Ya Brung is a tra- ditional fun and stress free event for racers. They don’t have to worry too much about points and their order of finish. Nevertheless, Brittain was back behind the wheel of her Fast Racing/Rose Valley Market Chevrolet Monte Carlo vying for a frontrunner position on the quarter-mile clay oval track. Brittain, 37, maneuvered up from a 10th place starting posi- tion in the 16-car field and fin- ished third in the 50 lap com- bined Sportsman/Street Stock A main. Wilsonville’s Jesse Freeman won the A main with his Free- man Tile Camaro and Port- land’s Todd Newton took sec- ond, just ahead of Brittain. Scott McMullen of Deer Island, earlier drove Brittain’s Chevy into victory lane after winning the 30 lap B main. “After Scott won the B main, I felt like had to go out there and redeem myself and get a top three finish,” said Brittain, who had a career best time in qualifying at 14.60 seconds. “My car was running great, the track was tacky and in excellent condition. People don’t realize how much work is involved in preparing the track for a race.” Tricia’s husband Sam, speedway president Ed Bras- mer and Charlie Rigdon work at the facility Monday through Fri- day to prepare the track prior to Columbia County Racing Asso- ciation events. “I’m very excited about win- ning the championship,” said Brittain. “It still doesn’t seem like it actually won it. I probably won’t realize how wonderful it really is until we get the big tro- phy at the banquet.” The Columbia County Rac- ing Association Awards ban- quet will be held November 8 at the Elks Lodge in St. Helens. Clark McGaugh of Vernonia, who was competing for the first time ever, took 11th in the A main while driving The Inde- pendent Oldsmobile Cutlass owned by Vernonia’s Rob Williams. McGaugh is the own- er of The Independent, a Ver- nonia newspaper. Williams drove the car in the heat race and his wife Natalie competed in the women’s race and took fourth. Dylan Hallberg of Portland, passed Jody Turner of St. He- lens on lap 12 of the 40 lap Mini Stock main and led the remain- der of the race to take the checkered flag. It was the first win this year at the speedway for Hallberg, 16, with his Mar- ty’s Transmission Volkswagen Golf. Turner, competing for the first time in three years, fin- ished seventh and won the tro- phy dash with the Bob Lam- phere Beaverton Dodge Neon owned by Vernonia’s “Holly- wood” Gary Meyer. “I sold my Dodge Challenger and all my equipment, so I’ve been away from racing for awhile,” said Turner. “Gary built one heck of a car and it was sure nice of him to let me drive it. I had a blast and it sure was fun to come out here and see all my friends again.” Vancouver’s Don Jenner won the Modified main and Su- san Nelson of Portland, won the Women’s Division race with her Pontiac Firebird. Owen Olinger of Woodland, won the Micro Sprint race with his ICS/Bedrock Concrete Cutting open wheel racer. The speedway’s new con- cessionaire, Columbia Empire Meat Company, celebrated LUCILLE B. GREEN Lucille B. Green, 86, Aloha, died September 1, 2008. Mrs. Green was born in Nebraska. She was an elementary school teacher in Cheyenne, Wyoming, San Diego, California, Portland and Vernonia. She taught fourth and fifth grades at Wash- ington Grade School in Vernonia from 1963 until she retired in 1985. Survivors include her son, Dale Hill of Hillsboro; her daughter, Lana Vetch of Aloha; two brothers, Max Bahe of Ohiowa, Neb. and Rex Bahe of Shick- ley, Neb.; and two sisters, Ruth Leff of Knoxville, Tennessee and Betty Col- grove of Forest Grove. They made their home in Portland. She moved to North Plains after 1955. She worked as a bookkeeper and account- ant for physicians. She was preceded in death by her husband and two brothers, David and Sam Strubb. Survivors include one son, Peter V. Yazzolino of Portland; four daughters, Joan I. Simpson of Chico, California, Carol L. See of Coos Bay, Dalice A Sawyer of Banks, and Darlene R. Holscher of Forest Grove; a sister, their first year with a fan appre- ciation event. Owners Mike and Laurie Lux of Hillsboro, gave away free food and beverages to race fans. The final event of the motor- sports season will be held Oct. 4 with another “Run What Ya Brung” race. River City Speedway September 20 Run What Ya Brung Results Sportsman/Street Stock – Fast Time: Tricia Brittain, St. Helens 14.60. Trophy Dash: Clyde White, Longview. Heat 1: Ben Crase, Portland; Justin Nusom, Gresham; Willie Harris, Portland. Heat 2: Mike Crase, Portland; Aaron Pret- tyman, St. Helens; Don Thompson, Astoria. Heat 3: Jesse Freeman, Wilsonville; Brittain; Tony Hendon, Portland. B Main: Scott McMullen, Deer Island; Don Thompson, Asto- ria; Ben Crase; Curtis Zelmer, Port- land; Steven Nusom, Gresham. A Main: Freeman; Todd Newton, Portland; Brittain; Rick Graham, Portland; Thompson; Mike Crase; Hendon; Mike Graham, Portland; Eric Fors, Portland. Mini Stock Division – Trophy Dash: Jody Turner, St. Helens. Heat: Brad Ruth, Washougal; Jerry Winchester, Longview; Hallberg, Turner. Main: Hallberg; Ruth; Joe Wheeler, Kelso; Harold Erdel- brock, Portland; Darrin Rye, Port- land; Winchester; Turner; Justin McMullen, Deer Island. Modified Division – Trophy Dash: Robert Jenner, Vancouver. Heat: Don Jenner; Butch Valdez, Portland; Robert Jenner; Brian Blasier, Scappoose; Herb Thomas, St. Helens. Main: Don Jenner; Robert Jenner; Valdez; Blasier; Thomas. Women’s Division – Trophy Dash: Sara Quinn, Vancouver. Heat: Susan Nelson, Portland; Quinn; Natalie Williams, Vernonia; Stephanie Roberts, Portland; Karen Harris, Portland; Traci Far- ness, Sandy. Main: Nelson; Roberts; Harris; Williams; Farness. Letters From page 20 voted for the ordinance ( New York Times , September 26, 2007). “The Township Committee has exerted and exhausted much time, energy, and re- sources into waging what can only be classified as the begin- ning stages of this battle in the federal and state court sys- tems.” Ordinance passed in 2007 repealing the law (Reuters, Sept. 18, 2007). Columbia County can’t af- ford to waste our tax dollars. Or to repeat mistakes. Please join me in voting No on 5-190 and 5-191 – and talk to your family, neighbors, friends and co- workers on why this would be a bad idea. Georgiana Gordon St. Helens Please see page 22 Obituary GRETCHEN ELIZABETH BUSH Gretchen Elizabeth Bush, 70, Hills- boro, died September 16, 2008. A cele- bration of life was held September 20 at Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home in Forest Grove with Matthew Eagen offi- ciating. Mrs. Bush was born June 16, 1938, in Fargo, North Dakota, to Wesley L. and Ora Jean (Hammerud) Bolmeier. When she was very young, the family moved to Vernonia. She graduated from Vernonia High School in 1956, and from Willamette University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1963, she married Richard “Rick” Bush. They made their home in Virginia for four years before moving to Hills- boro. She owned and operated Gretchen’s Lingerie Closet in Hillsboro for several years. Survivors include her husband; her children; Rebecca Newland of Lake Oswego, Adam Bush of Fort Worth, Texas, and Rachel Boschma of Carl- ton; her aunt, Lois Nelson of Hillsboro; and seven grandchildren. Remembrances are suggested to Kaiser Permanente Hospice or to the American Cancer Society. Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home in Forest Grove was in charge of arrangements. ALICE MAY JENSEN Alice May Jensen, 96, North Plains, died September 18, 2008. A celebration of life was held September 30 at North Plains Senior Citizen Center. Mrs. Jensen was born June 28, 1912, in Malta, Montana, to Vernon and Irene (Rose) Strubb. The family moved to Portland in 1918 and then to Banks. She graduated from Banks High School in 1930. In 1934, she married Carl Joseph Yazzolino. They made their home in Portland and divorced in 1947. She married Leo Marvin Jensen in 1948. Direct Cremation 550 $ Direct Burial 750 $ Plus Cemetery Costs Tualatin Valley Funeral Alternatives ~ There are Options ~ www.tualatinvalleyfa.com 237 West Main St., Hillsboro 503-693-7965 Grace V. Rose of Long Beach, Calif.; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Remembrances are suggested to The Friends of North Plains Library, P.O. Box 525, North Plains, OR 97133. Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home in Forest Grove was in charge of arrangements. "A Trusted Name in Funeral Service" Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home Third Generation Family Owned & Operated Jeffrey Hoyt, Gregory Hoyt, Christopher Hoyt, Ross Mathews, Jane Schneider, Dan Raney, Yvonne La Mont, Jose Lopez. Stephanie Kachmarek Attendant: Ray Pelster 2308 Pacific Av. Frst Grv....357-2161 741 Madison Av. Vern.........429-6611 E-mail: Fuitenrosehoyt@aol.com To sign the online guestbook or send a condolence to the family, go to: www.fuitenrosehoyt.com
