PRESORTED STANDARD
U.S. Postage Paid
Vernonia, OR 97064
Permit No. 37
Vol. 24, No. 20
“Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley”
October 15, 2009
Future of Vernonia schools
now relies on district voters
Ballots will be mailed Octo-
ber 16 for the Vernonia School
District Bond Measure 5-197.
The measure asks district vot-
ers to approve the sale of up to
$13 million in bonds to be used
only for construction of new
schools in a location that won’t
flood.
Once the bonds are sold,
the $13 million will be repaid by
district property owners at ap-
proximately $1.90 per each
$1,000 of assessed property
value. Originally the bond was
to have taken an estimated 26
years to repay, but a federal
stimulus grant will now pay the
interest, bringing the repay-
ment period down to an expect-
ed 15 years.
End of Fire Season
Vibrant fall colors are a beautiful backdrop for travelers on Hwy. 47, like these near Tophill.
Conviction may affect Sgt. Kay’s certification
by Clark McGaugh
The City of Vernonia was re-
cently informed of Vernonia Po-
lice Sergeant Michael Kay’s
criminal conviction for Con-
tempt of Court in January of
2000, for violating a restraining
Sgt. Michael Kay
order (related to charges of do-
mestic abuse) while in uniform
and on duty as a police officer
in Newport.
After receiving this informa-
tion, the City of Vernonia is
continuing its plan to promote
Kay to the position of Captain,
said Vernonia Mayor Sally Har-
rison at the October 5 meeting
of the City Council (see Council
article on page 4).
According to court records
obtained by The Independent,
within a week after Kay was ac-
quitted on charges of assault-
ing his former fiancee, he
chose to frighten and intimidate
her while he was on patrol, in
defiance of a restraining order.
The question of Kay’s verac-
ity was a factor in the trial.
When Newport Police Officer
Nelson Massey was asked
about Kay’s reputation for truth-
fulness in the police communi-
ty, he testified, “There are
doubts about his truthfulness.”
Newport Police Officer Jason
Mallory was also asked about
Kay’s reputation in the police
community as to his character
for truthfulness. Mallory testi-
fied “It’s less than honest.” He
gave the same answer when
asked about his personal opin-
ion of Kay’s truthfulness.
“The State looks at this as an
aggravated case,” said Special
Prosecuting Attorney Elizabeth
Carle, “because the defendant
used and abused his power
and the trust of his job as a po-
lice officer to accomplish this in-
timidation.” She went on to say
“…the defendant’s willingness
to use his role as a police offi-
See Kay on page 5
The Oregon Department
of Forestry has declared the
end of Fire Season.
Before you start burning,
check with your local Fire
District regarding burn per-
mits and regulations.
Public may watch
ballot counting test
The public certification test
Columbia County’s vote count-
ing equipment will be on Tues-
day, October 27, for the No-
vember 3, special election.
Testing will be at 2:00 p.m.
in the county Election Depart-
ment at the courthouse, 230
Strand St., St. Helens. The
public is welcome to attend.
Ballot drop sites for area
voters who do not mail their
ballots will be as follows:
• Vernonia Library during
regular hours, plus extended
hours November 3 from 8:00
a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire
Dist. Main Station during regu-
lar hours. Hours on November
3 will be 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The School Board recently
approved the hiring of the Met-
ropolitan Group to help secure
funds for the additional $24 mil-
lion needed to complete the
$37 million new school project.
Superintendent Ken Cox, at the
last bond town hall, assured
the audience that, if the bond
measure passes, the district,
“will not dig a $13 million hole
in the ground.” Cox stated that
the district can’t begin con-
struction until more than the
$13 million is raised, in order to
obtain a construction loan for
the total needed to complete
the project. The $37 million
price tag includes roads and all
other needed infrastructure, in
addition to the actual building
that will house students from
Kindergarten through 12th
grade. The additional funds are
See Bond on Page 5
Banks voters asked to
approve Fire Depart-
ment Operating Levy
SEE PAGE 13
Enjoy evening of
Music for Mushatt
Don’t miss some of Ver-
nonia’s local musical talent
at the Benefit Concert 4 Dar-
rold Mushatt, October 17,
starting at 6:00 p.m. at the
Vernonia Community Church
on State Avenue, Vernonia.
All performers are donat-
ing their services so all funds
donated at the door will go to
the Northwest Kidney Trans-
plant Fund for Mushatt. Do-
nations of non-perishable
food items will also be ac-
cepted.
Mushatt, a longtime Ver-
nonian needs to raise $8,000
before he can get on the
transplant list to receive the
kidney he needs.