PRESORTED STANDARD
U.S. Postage Paid
Vernonia, OR 97064
Permit No. 37
Vol. 24, No. 13
“Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley”
July 2, 2009
Summer is definitely here, and Vernonia’s swimmin’ hole is being greatly appreciated.
County residents
need emergency
housing funds
In an effort to help the com-
munity and those individuals
who are having their NOHA
housing subsidy cut, United
Way of Columbia County is ac-
cepting donations from individ-
uals and businesses. These
donations are outside of the
normal campaign and will be
used specifically to assist with
this housing emergency in Co-
lumbia County.
Please indicate on your do-
nation checks that they are to
be used for “housing emer-
gency”. These funds will be
disbursed to organizations
within Columbia County who
are currently assisting those in
need.
For questions or for more in-
formation please call 503-556-
3614 or email uwcc@hotmail.
com .
State issues contracts for
buying out flooded homes
The Oregon Economic and
Community Development De-
partment (OECDD) issued con-
tracts, June 24, for the last re-
maining component in the suite
of public support planned and
developed by Community Ac-
tion Team to assist flood vic-
tims in Columbia County and
the City of Vernonia. The con-
tracts, one for the City and one
for the County, each represent
a $500,000 award of Commu-
nity Development Block Grant
(CDBG) funds. The CDBG pro-
gram is a pass-through of fed-
eral funds administered by
OECDD in the rural portions of
the state.
These two long-awaited
grants will be used to match
FEMA funds set aside to pur-
chase flooded homes in Ver-
nonia and Columbia County.
Homes will be purchased at
their pre-flood value as of De-
cember 1, 2007. Without the
CDBG funds, homeowners
would receive only 75 percent
of their homes value. Once trans-
ferred into public ownership, per-
manent deed restrictions will pre-
vent the properties from being de-
veloped in the future.
Federally required prelimi-
nary grant requirements, in-
cluding environmental reviews
and public notices, are expect-
ed to take 2 to 3 months before
individual projects can be com-
pleted. In the meantime, Com-
munity Action Team will work
with both the City and County
to select a contractor or con-
tractors who will demolish the
homes once they have been
purchased. This contractor se-
lection process, which will run
concurrently with the federal
requirements, will help the city
and county obtain firm demoli-
tion costs prior to making their
final funding requests to FEMA
for each project.
Enjoy a safe Fourth of July
Be careful with fireworks
Upon completion, this statue will be bronzed and installed in
the Loggers Memorial at Camp 18. See article on page 5.
Fire Season has July 4th Activities
started for area
Vernonia
Fire Season has been offi-
cially declared for Northwest
Oregon and will begin today,
July 2. The fire season desig-
nation includes lands protected
by the Oregon Department of
Forestry within Columbia, Clat-
sop, Multnomah, Washington,
Tillamook and Yamhill coun-
ties. Regulations that affect for-
est operations and open burn-
ing go into effect with the dec-
laration of fire season.
Those working in the woods
are required to have fire pre-
vention and fire fighting equip-
ment on the job site. In addi-
tion, a fire watch is required to
be on the operation site after
the shutdown of equipment.
The first level of precaution for
forestry operations is called an
“Industrial Fire Precaution Lev-
el 1” This is the first level of a
four level system that regulates
fire risks associated with indus-
trial equipment operated within
the forest protection district.
The declaration of fire sea-
See Fire Season, page 4
Vernonia’s 4th of July activi-
ties will include a parade,
sponsored by Vernonia Pride,
starting on Weed Ave. at 7:30
p.m.
Fireworks, funded by dona-
tions this year, will be held at
the Vernonia school grounds
beginning at 10:00 p.m. Boost-
er burgers and more will be
available at the school grounds
from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
There will also be a private
fireworks show on Cherry
Street on July 3. This notice is
to inform the community so
pets can be secured.
Banks
Banks will celebrate the 4th
of July starting at 2:00 p.m. at
Sunset Park with a Family Fun
Festival.
The Festival will include kids
games and rides, other activi-
ties and food.
Fireworks start at 10:00 p.m.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
See page 9 for care of pets
during July 4th activities.