PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. Postage Paid Vernonia, OR 97064 Permit No. 37 Vol. 24, No. 7 “Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley” April 2, 2009 Grant received to help businesses harmed by weather emergencies Col-Pac has received a $200,000 grant from the US Economic Development Ad- ministration (EDA) to assist communities in Clatsop, Co- lumbia and Tillamook counties continue their economic recov- ery from the 2007 and 2008 storm events. Funding will tar- get activities that better pre- pare or “storm-proof” the region against future storm events, such as Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) geological mapping to identify areas of historical flooding and erosion, and implementation of broad band technology to under- served areas. “This generous grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) will pro- vide much needed match funds to expand valuable LIDAR mapping in NW Oregon. This is just another example of how EDA has stepped up to the plate to help rural Oregon,” said Tillamook County Com- missioner Mark Labhart, who is president of Col-Pac. Columbia-Pacific Economic Development District includes Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook and western Washington coun- ties. Information about Col-Pac can be found online at NWOre gon.org. One dead, friend jailed in tragedy Desmond W. Hines, 31, Birkenfeld, is in jail and his best friend, Darrell Schoonover, 29, Vernonia, is dead after a shoot- ing in Birkenfeld on March 19. This hawk, seen along Hwy. 47, is one of several raptor species in the area. Emergency responses reviewed Officials from throughout Columbia County recently re- viewed actions taken during winter storms that occurred from mid-December through mid-January, in order to be more prepared for the next ma- jor emergency. Let’s Talk of Parks Tuesday, April 7, 7:00 p.m. Vernonia Learning Center Bring your ideas for improv- ing Vernonia’s parks and en- joy light refreshments. During that time period, Co- lumbia County endured several weeks of heavy snow, ice, high winds and subsequent runoff flooding mixed with heavy rain. At various times during those weeks, shelters were opened, emergency alerts were broad- cast for flooded and landslide- prone areas and evacuations were ordered. The cities of St. Helens, Vernonia and Clatska- nie, as well as Columbia Coun- ty, declared states of emergen- Please see page 20 Annual Vernonia Easter Egg hunt set The annual Vernonia PTA Easter Egg Hunt will be Sat- urday, April 11, at 10:00 a.m. in Hawkins Park, on Park Drive. Children aged 1-10 are in- vited to bring their baskets and join the hunt. The Easter Bunny is expected to make an appearance and chil- dren’s pictures can be taken with him. Don’t be late, as the hunt starts on time. dictment for 1st degree Manslaughter, rather than Mur- der. The other charges re- mained the same. After Hines’ arraignment on March 30, his bail was set at $145,000. According to an individual close to the investigation, at the time of the shooting Hines was despondent over the recent death of his father, Dennis Hines, and was attempting to commit suicide. Schoonover tried to prevent Hines from shooting himself and, in the re- sulting struggle, Schoonover re- ceived a fatal gun shot wound. Hines then called 9-1-1 and the Sheriff’s Office responded. Darrell Schoonover The Columbia County Sher- iff’s Office was dispatched to a residence in Birkenfeld, where they found Schoonover dead of a gun shot wound. Later in the day, Hines was arrested and jailed for Schoonover’s death. Hines was initially charged with Murder, Felon in Posses- sion of a Weapon, and two counts of Theft. When the Grand Jury met on Thursday, March 26, they returned an in- Desmond Hines