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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 17, 2009)
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. Postage Paid Vernonia, OR 97064 Permit No. 37 Vol. 24, No. 18 “Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley” September 17, 2009 The first day of the school year is always exciting, but students at Washington Grade School in Vernonia appear to have formed the letter “W” as they prepare to enter WGS. WOEC rate increase adopted Following a rate hearing September 15 at the Vernonia Fire Hall, the West Oregon Electric Cooperative Board of Directors returned to their WOEC office board room for a meeting to formally adopt a rate increase of approximately seven percent. The increase will add about $7.00 to the av- erage member’s monthly bill, based on using 1,000 kWh per month, according to WOEC General Manager Marc Farm- er. The increase includes an additional $1.50 in the Facility Charge, from $25.00 to $26.50, and a slight increase for debt service. The increase for debt service is for two major con- struction projects, getting more line underground to reduce out- ages from tree problems, and See WOEC, page 5 St. Mary’s Quilt Fair Saturday, Sept. 19 The new spar tree erected September 15 at the Camp 18 Log- ging Museum is one of only three in the nation known to be traditional spar trees. The 160 foot, 175 year-old Douglas fir, above, was felled by Camp 18 owner Gordon Smith in 2007. This year, a crew from Wayne Stone Logging was pulled from the woods September 14, and donated to remove the old spar tree. The next day they raised and rigged the new spar tree, under the supervision of John Wood. Maps at Vernonia Realty 953 Bridge St, Vernonia Paving work slows Hwy. 47 traffic Sept. 17 - 20 960 Missouri Ave. Vernonia Community-Wide Garage Sale Commissioner Samuelson facing recall attempt Citizen groups have submit- ted petitions to the Clatsop County Election Department for the recall of two Clatsop Coun- ty Commissioners, Jeff Hazen and Ann Samuelson. “District 1 for the Columbia” is seeking to recall Hazen, and “Democracy in District 5” is heading the ef- fort to recall Samuelson. District 1 petitioners have submitted 552 signatures; they need a minimum of 445 valid signatures, as confirmed by the county clerk. District 5 petition- ers have submitted 513 signa- tures and need a minimum of 447. The recall attempts of Hazen, of Astoria, and Jewell resident Samuelson, as well as signature gathering that is un- derway to recall District 2 Com- missioner Patricia Roberts, have resulted primarily as a re- sult of the commissioners’ ap- provals for siting a LNG termi- nal in Clatsop County. “Both campaigns were aided by voters’ outrage and frustra- tion at the way Hazen and Samuelson have conducted themselves in making key deci- sions for the county. People have had enough,” said District 1 Chief Petitioner Jack Guyot. “Signatures were gathered from all corners of District 5, showing that dissatisfaction with Samuelson is wide- spread,” said District 5 Chief Petitioner Betsy Ayres. The county clerk must certify the signatures by September 18. If the groups have the mini- mum number of certified signa- tures, then Commissioners Hazen and Samuelson will each have 5 days to either resign or submit a statement jus- See RECALL, page 4 Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) con- tractor Baker Rock Resources, began paving sections of High- way 47 (Nehalem Highway) af- ter the Labor Day weekend near the cities of Banks and Vernonia. The paving work requires daytime lane closures on High- way 47 Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Flaggers will direct motorists during the lane closures. The work will take place in the fol- lowing locations: • Vernonia – Highway 47 from the Vernonia city limits north to the Pittsburg Junction. • Banks – Highway 47 from Cedar Canyon Road north to the split to U.S. 26 (Sunset Highway). Weather permitting, comple- tion is expected by the end of September. When the paving is complete, ODOT crews will fin- ish striping and shoulder work. Thieves targeting rural homeowners Chainsaws and other valu- ables have reportedly been stolen from homeowners in ru- ral areas of Banks and Vernon- ia in recent weeks. Homeown- ers are advised not to leave items outside where they can be seen and taken.