Page 4
The INDEPENDENT, August 6, 2009
New complaint is brought to council about interim police chief
Horse poop was discussed
at Vernonia’s City Council
meetings at both the July 20
and the August 3 meetings. On
July 20, many humorous ideas
were put forth for dealing with
horse manure on the path from
Anderson Park to the lake
(Webb Way) and around the
lake. At the August 3 meeting,
George Bellingham, a member
and past president of the Ver-
nonia Ridge Riders, told coun-
cil that the Ridge Riders have
hired a crew to police Webb
Way for horse poop. Belling-
ham went on to say that when
he has seen people not clean-
ing up after their horses he has
explained to them the reason
cowboy boots are also called
“s-kickers”.
Vernonia has a new Reserve
Police Officer after Brent
Thompson was sworn in at the
August 3 meeting by Interim
Chief Mike Kay. Mayor Sally
Harrison had the honor of pin-
ning on Thompson’s badge.
Thompson graduated from Ver-
nonia High School in 2007 and
is enrolled in the Criminal Jus-
tice program at Monmouth Uni-
versity.
Bill Sword spoke from the
floor, on July 20, to tell council,
“I just got some information that
thrilled me no end. When the
people were here from FEMA, I
talked to them and told them
Mayor Harrison congratulates new Vernonia Police Depart-
ment Reserve Officer Brent Thompson.
the flood was incremental, not
an ‘event’ and,” their accept-
ance of that fact increased the
dollars they will give us by
about 50%.
Two councilors, Brett Cost-
ley and Kevin Hudson, spoke at
the July 20 meeting in re-
sponse to what Hudson called,
“false and inaccurate informa-
tion presented in one of he lo-
cal publications.” Hudson went
on to say, “I whole heartedly
support and believe in the right
to express your opinions freely
and openly, and I encourage
everyone to do so.” He went on
to emphasize, “There is a dif-
ference between expressing
your opinion and making false
accusations or unsubstantiated
claims.” As in the past, no
specifics were presented as to
what the ‘false accusations or
unsubstantiated claims’ were,
nor have there been any re-
quests that corrections or clari-
fications be printed.
Interim Police Chief Mike
Kay came under fire, again, at
the August 3 meeting. Former
Vernonia resident Milton Den-
nis told council that on
Wednesday, July 29, he ran
into previous police chief Jim
Walters who suggested that
some items stolen from Dennis
years ago might be at the po-
lice station. Dennis then saw
Mike Kay finishing a traffic stop
and asked him about checking
for that stolen property. The of-
ficer asked for the serial num-
bers and Dennis told him those
should be on file from the origi-
nal report. Dennis said the offi-
cer got very rude with him,
threatened to arrest him,
threatened to pepper spray him
and told him he was under ar-
rest. In Dennis’ words, “We got
into a p---ing match and he was
disrespectful. I don’t think the
city needs a lawsuit. I will file a
report.” At the City Attorney’s
See Council, page 5
Community Calendar
VERNONIA
Alcoholics Anonymous
Mondays
6:30 p.m., 410 North Street
Alcoholics Anonymous
Thursdays (Big Book Study) 7:00 p.m., 410 North Street
American Legion Post #119
2nd Thursday
7:00 p.m., 627 Adams Avenue
Booster Club
2nd Wednesday
7:00 p.m., VHS Library
Boy Scout Troop 201
Tuesdays
7:00 p.m., Scout Cabin
Boy Scout Troop 860
Wednesdays
7:00 p.m., LDS Church
Cemetery Beautification Comm.
2nd Thursday
6:30 p.m., City Hall
CERT
4th Wednesday
For Info Call 503-429-3018
Chamber of Commerce
2nd Wednesday
For Info Call 503-429-6081
Community Coalition
2nd Monday
12:30 p.m. School District Ofc.
Cub Scout Pack 201
Scout Cabin
For Info Call 503-429-4250
Friends of the Library
1st Tuesday
7:00 p.m., Vernonia Library
Girl Scouts, Neighborhood 4-2
For Info Call 503-819-0143
Hands On Art Committee
1st & 3rd Thursdays
4:00 p.m., City Hall
Izaak Walton League
3rd Thursday
For location call 503-429-7193
Lions Club
1st & 3rd Tuesdays 6:30 p.m., Buckhorn Restaurant
Municipal Airport Committee
4th Thursday
7:00 p.m., City Hall
Pioneer Museum
For Info Call 503-429-3713
Public Works Committee
4th Tuesday
7:00 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Cares Directors
For Info call 503-429-1414
Vernonia City Council
1st & 3rd Mondays
7:00 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Community PTA
2nd Wednesday
7:00 p.m., WGS Library
Vernonia Grange
3rd Monday
7:00 p.m., Grange Hall
Vernonia Health Center
2nd Monday
6:00 p.m., 510 Bridge St.
Vernonia Learning Center
1st Wednesday
6:00 p.m., VLC
Vernonia Parks Committee
3rd Wednesday
6:30 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Planning Comm.
1st & 3rd Thursdays
7:00 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Pride
2nd Thursday
1:00 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Ridge Riders
Last Thursday
7:00 p.m., Senior Center
Vernonia RFPD Board
2nd Tuesday
6:00 p.m., Fire Station
Vernonia School Board
2nd Thursday
6:00 p.m., District Office
Vernonia Sr. Center Board
2nd Friday
1:00 p.m., Senior Center
Vernonia Transfer Station
2nd & 4th Saturdays, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Behind VHS
Vern. Volunteer Ambulance Assoc. 1st, 3rd & 4th Tuesday
7:00 p.m., Fire Station
Vernonia Volunteer Firefighters
2nd Monday
7:00 p.m., Fire Station
WOEC Directors
3rd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., WOEC
MIST-BIRKENFELD
M-BRFPD Board Business Mtg.
2nd Tuesday
M-BRFPD Board Workshop
4th Tuesday
M-B Ambulance Drill
1st & 2nd Thursdays
M-B Fire Drill
1st & 2nd Wednesdays
M-B Helping Circle
2nd Monday
M-B SAR Drill
3rd Wednesday
M-B Volunteer Assoc.
1st Tuesday
Natal Grange
2nd Wednesday
T.O.P.S.
Mondays
Upr Nehalem Watershed Council For date call 429-0869
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:30 p.m., Natal Grange Hall
9:00 a.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
BANKS
Alcoholics Anonymous
Fridays
7:30 p.m., Methodist Church
Alcoholics Anonymous
Wednesdays
7:30 p.m., Methodist Church
American Legion Post #90
2nd Tuesdays
7:30 p.m., Main Street Post
Banks City Council
2nd Tuesday
7:30 p.m., City Hall
Banks Fire District #13
2nd Wednesday
7:00 p.m., Station 13
Banks Library Commission
3rd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., City Library
Banks Planning Commission
Last Tuesday
7:00 p.m., City Hall
Banks School Board
2nd Monday
7:30 p.m., Jr. High Library
Banks Youth Group
Sundays, Wednesdays
7:00 p.m., UMC Youth Bldg.
Chamber of Commerce
1st Thursday
12:30 p.m., Fire District Office
CPO 14
3rd Monday
7:00 p.m., City Library
Friends of the Library
2nd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., City Library
Lions Club
1st & 3rd Mondays
7:00 p.m., Brown Derby
Sunset Park Assoc.
3rd Wednesday
8:00 p.m., Gun Club
T.O.P.S.
Wednesdays
7:00 p.m., Administration Bldg.
COLUMBIA COUNTY (All meet in St. Helens unless otherwise noted.)
Board of Commissioners
Wednesdays
1:00 p.m., Courthouse
Citizens for Senior Justice
2nd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., Sunset Park Church
Columbia Soil & Water District
3rd Wednesday
7:30 p.m., NRCS , 2514 Sykes
County Fair Board
2nd Monday
6:00 p.m., Fairgrounds 4-H Bldg.
County Parks Commission
3rd Tuesday
Times vary, 1054 Oregon St.
Mental Health Advisory Comm.
Quarterly
For Info call 503-397-7211
Comm. on Children & Families
3rd Thursday 5:30 p.m. OSU Ext., 505 N. Hwy. 30
Local Alcohol & Drug Plann. Comm.
Quarterly
For Info call 503-397-7211
Organizations and meeting dates not listed may be included by calling 429-9410 or by mail to
The INDEPENDENT, 725 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR 97064.