The INDEPENDENT, December 4, 2008
Free activities at Dec. 6 Youth Day
Looking for something to do
with the kids this weekend?
There will be a Youth Day on
December 6, from 10:00 a.m.
to 2:00 p.m. at XXX Archery,
25108 Alston Road in Rainier.
All equipment will be provid-
ed free for children 17 and un-
der to participate with air guns,
archery and arrow building.
There will be free hot dogs and
beverages.
This event is sponsored by
Columbia County OHA (Ore-
gon Hunters Association) and
XXX Archery. For more infor-
mation call Dustin Stansbury at
503-556-1322 or Ken Smith at
503-543-3549.
Tickets on sale now for coronation
A Night Under The Stars is
the theme of the coronation
celebration to be held Satur-
day, January 3, starting at 6:00
p.m. at the Columbia County
Fairgrounds in St. Helens.
Mackenzie Carr, of Vernon-
ia, will be crowned 2009 Miss
Northwest Professional Rodeo
Association (NPRA), and the
2009 Columbia County Fair
and Rodeo Court – Queen
Katie VanWinkle, Princess
Kailee Murdock and Princess
Leilani Schmidt – will also be
crowned at the celebration.
The evening will include din-
ner, silent and live auctions and
entertainment, in addition to
the coronation ceremonies.
Tickets may be purchased in
advance for $12, or purchased
at the door for $18. For infor-
mation or to purchase tickets,
contact Jean McPherson at
503-481-3384
or
ccrodeo@hotmail.com. Tickets
can also be purchased at the
Prudential Northwest office in
Scappoose.
Page 11
Chalk Talk
Chalk Talk is a monthly column of information about
Vernonia schools. It is written by various staff mem-
bers. This column was provided by Superintendent Dr.
Ken Cox.
As many of you are aware, while the financial
crisis may have originated on Wall Street it has
spread across the nation and is hitting us here in
Vernonia. The school district was recently in-
formed by the Oregon Department of Education
that we will see a cut this year somewhere in the
neighborhood of $130,000. This comes in addi-
tion to our increasing concern over a low project-
ed ending fund balance, due to lower than ex-
pected tax revenues and other items that have
impacted our budget.
In order to save as much as possible I have
met with the administrators and have stopped all
expenditures that are
not absolutely neces-
sary to finish out the
school year. We are
also concerned about
our budget for next year in light of the gloomy
economic forecast for the 2009-2011 biennium
for the state. We will be reviewing our current
staffing levels and looking for other changes that
could lead to additional savings next year.
At this critical time we need your input in the
form of suggestions and ideas on not only where
we can save but how we can do better with what
we have. Please take the time to share with us
your concerns and ideas. I am available by
phone at 503-429-5891 and by email at
ken.cox@vernonia. k12.or.us or you can just
stop by (475 Bridge St.) and we can visit.
Vernonia now has a homeschool co-op
Vernonia has a homeschool
cooperative that wants to invite
new families to join in the fun.
This co-op meets on the sec-
ond and fourth Thursday of
each month at the Vernonia
Christian Church from 1:00 to
3:00 p.m.
This is a safe, enjoyable en-
vironment where parents and
kids can make connections
with peers and experience pro-
grams such as art literacy,
hands-on science and large
group play – not to mention
crafts and creative writing exer-
cises. Parents are strongly en-
couraged to join in and volun-
teer. The biggest focus of this
cooperative is fun and enrich-
ment for the kids! Drop in, or
contact Katie Poetter at 503-
429-0700, or Susan Ely at 503-
429-5709.
Vernonia High fall sports report gives highlights from season
by Athletic Director Gordon Jar-
man, Vernonia High School
Vernonia’s 2008 fall sports
teams had a variety of success-
es, including the re-emergence
of the cheer leading squad
coached by Cassandra Ashby,
the second year in a row for the
football team to qualify for the
state play-offs, a top finish in
the district cross country meet
to qualify that runner to the
state meet, and a new coach to
lead the volleyball team this
year.
The cheerleading squad had
been practicing all summer and
during the fall to develop some
exciting routines. They wowed
the crowd with their perform-
ances. On many occasions
they tossed teammates high in
the air and caught them as part
of their routines. The team went
to almost every football game
and were very supportive of the
Loggers. For their first year, the
girls did an excellent job and
next year may enter some
cheer competitions.
The cross country team un-
der the direction of Mr. James
Brookins competed well, but
did not have as many partici-
pants as it has in the past. That
did not bode well for them hav-
ing the success they have en-
joyed in previous years. The
team had some outstanding in-
dividuals, including all league
stand out Timothy Pillow. Timo-
thy, a foreign exchange stu-
dent, has been outstanding on
both the cross country team
and as a scholar. Timothy qual-
ified for the state meet this year
and led the Loggers all season
with his effort on the course.
The Lady Loggers volleyball
team struggled in the win-loss
column this year, but played
some very exciting volleyball.
They were in every match and
competed very hard. The girls
gave it everything they had and
just came up short in a few
games. The Lady Loggers
Pet Supplies & Gr ooming
10 am - 7 pm Mon. - Fri.
10 am - 6 pm Saturday
Closed Sundays
www.creaturespetshop.com
lissaedgar@yahoo.com
503-429-PETS (7387)
736 Bridge St., Vernonia
were led by new head coach
Brooke Vanmeter, who was as-
sisted by Theresa Williams.
Under the new coaches’
tutelage, two girls made all
league. Senior leader Trisha
Levenseller was an honorable
mention athlete and Sopho-
more Kaitlyn Carr, an outstand-
ing defensive player and ath-
lete at the net, was also named
an honorable mention player.
In football, six athletes made
all league first team. This was
partly due to the fact the Log-
gers finished second in the
league and competed in the
state play-offs for the second
year in a row. But it is also a re-
sult of the hard work these
young men put out in their
quest for athletic excellence.
On the line, Taylor Smith and
Levi Timmerman received first
team honors. Alex Lende was a
first team defensive back, while
seniors Byron Schorzman and
Blake Moeller were first team
quarterback and first team re-
ceiver, respectively. Rounding
out the Logger selections at all
league was outstanding junior
running back Trevor Gwin. The
Loggers were second in the
conference despite their 3 and
7 record and, in their state play-
off game with Willamina, came
up just short of victory, eliminat-
ing them from further competi-
tion. The team had twelve sen-
iors this year and they will be
hard to replace.
RS
OU
W
N E
Featuring a
Wide Variety of
English&WesternTack
Grain & Supplements
Open Mon. thru Fri.
10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sat. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
503-429-TACK (8225)
736 Bridge St. Vernonia
H
Wednesdays - Fridays 12:00 to 6:00 p.m.
and some Saturdays 12:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Also open by appointment,
call Camrin @ 971.998.2223
725 Madison Ave. Vernonia, OR