PRESORTED STANDARD
U.S. Postage Paid
Vernonia, OR 97064
Permit No. 37
Vol. 24, No. 8
“Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley”
April 16, 2009
Judge voids results of
voter approved measure
BJ the Clown had children roaring with laughter as he entertained them at the Vernonia Li-
brary. BJ the Clown was at the Library, on April 14, as part of the National Library Week cel-
ebration.
A harsh anti-illegal immigra-
tion measure that targeted em-
ployers, and was approved by
Columbia County voters last
November, was nullified Tues-
day by Columbia County Cir-
cuit Court Judge Ted Grove be-
cause it preempted federal law,
violated state law, and exceed-
ed county authority.
Grove had delayed imple-
mentation of the ordinance cre-
ated by the ballot measure, in
February, after a challenge by
a coalition of social justice
groups, business owners and
other county residents.
The ordinance required the
Columbia County Board of
Commissioners to fine an em-
ployer that hires illegal immi-
grants $10,000 for a first viola-
tion. A second violation re-
quired the board to seek revo-
cation of all of the employer’s
business licenses and permits.
Grove ruled that the $10,000
mandatory fine “clearly vio-
lates” the preemption of immi-
May 19 election for fire, school board members
Praise and criticism for VPD
Ballots will be mailed May 1
for the May 19 election of board
members for school districts,
fire districts, and other special
districts.
Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire
Protection District has three
open board positions and three
candidates who are running
without opposition.
William DeJager has filed for
Position 3, Patricia “Trish”
Wright is on the ballot for Posi-
tion 4, and Louise Green is run-
ning for Position 5.
The Vernonia Rural Fire Pro-
tection District has two open
positions and two unopposed
Four citizens, speaking from
the floor at the April 6 Vernonia
City Council meeting, praised
Interim Chief of Police Mike
Kay and the Vernonia Police
Department for the handling of
recent arrests for theft and
Candidates for Banks Fire
and School District boards
are in the regular Banks
section starting on page 12.
candidates. Incumbent Frank
Cieloha is seeking another
term in Position 1, and Incum-
bent Steve Weller is asking to
be returned to Position 5. Both
are four-year terms.
There are six candidates for
four open seats on the Vernon-
ia 47J School Board. Two in-
cumbents are running without
opposition, Ernie Smith in Posi-
tion 4 and Kim Wallace in Posi-
tion 6.
Two candidates filed for 47J
board Position 1,
Incumbent Jim Krahn was
appointed to Position 1 in Feb-
ruary, 2008, and is now seeking
election for a full term. He also
served one term on the school
board in 2001-2005.
“My experience – such as
being a legislative specialist at
both the state and federal level
– has a benefit to the district
when we’re working with the
legislature to secure funds and
their assistance,” Krahn said.
Referring to the need to site
and build new schools out of
the flood zone, Krahn added,
“We’re in a serious situation
here and it will take people with
a lot of experience to make
sure we don’t miss any oppor-
tunities.”
Krahn’s three children grad-
uated from Vernonia and he
now has three grandchildren in
the local schools. He is a colle-
giate level teacher, when time
permits.
See Two Incumbents on
page 5
Shelter needs homes
for 26 rescued dogs
On April 2, Columbia County
Animal Control removed 26
neglected dogs from a home in
Rainier. Over the last week, the
Shelter began cleaning up
these animals and addressing
any health issues. Some will
need special care and atten-
tion, but most appear to be
friendly and non-aggressive to
people.
See $17,419 on page 5
gration enforcement by federal
law. Another provision, which
required enforcement of viola-
tions by the Board of Commis-
sioners, with appeals directed
to the Justice Court, violates
state law that requires all ap-
peals to be heard by the Ore-
gon Court of Appeals, Grove
wrote, and the measure’s re-
quirement that violations result
in suspension of all licenses
and permits goes beyond the
authority of both the Justice
Court and the County Commis-
sioners because they lack the
authority to order other agen-
See Court ruling page 5
New column starting
in The INDEPENDENT
Please welcome Columbia
County Sheriff Jeff Dickerson,
who has joined the roster of
local columnists to help our
community stay informed.
“From the Sheriff’s Desk…”
may be found on page 19.
drugs.
Another citizen, Ed Johnson,
stood up to say, “Kudos to the
Police Department, but I want
to talk about police brutality.
Mike Kay, you beat Elliott Graf,
tasered him and beat him.”
After being told by council
that he should take this issue to
Interim City Administrator Jim
Johnson, Ed Johnson said that
he just wanted it to be a matter
of record at the council meet-
ing. Graf was arrested March
21 for Resisting Arrest, two
counts of Assault on a Public
Safety Officer and MIP-alcohol.
Jim Johnson announced that
the firm of Brown and Caldwall
Engineering was chosen by the
city’s selection committee to
update the Vernonia Waste-
See Council on page 4