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