PRESORTED STANDARD
U.S. Postage Paid
Vernonia, OR 97064
Permit No. 37
Vol. 24, No. 22
“Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley”
November 19, 2009
Share the season by helping
provide holiday food boxes
The Hardy Family (and friends) presented a delightful blend of Gospel and show tunes at the
Hands-on Art Variety Show, November 7, at the Vernonia Grange Hall. PHOTO BY ILENE GRADY
Kay promoted to Captain in VPD
Sergeant Mike Kay was pro-
moted to Captain, effective No-
vember 16, and his grandfather
pinned on his new badge at the
November 16 Vernonia City
Council meeting.
The promotion had been an-
nounced, but delayed at Kay’s
request, with the reason stated
that he wanted to stay in the
police union until some legal is-
sues were settled.
After an executive session
on November 2, City Adminis-
trator Bob Young made a state-
ment that, after some accusa-
tions about Kay’s background,
an investigation found no de-
ceit or untruthfulness during his
employment process.
Young was asked by The In-
dependent, about his Novem-
ber 2 statement that he had
been in contact with DPSST
(the state’s police certification
board) and they were not in-
vestigating Kay. Young re-
sponded that his statement
was correct. When The Inde-
pendent contacted Eriks Gab-
liks at DPSST to verify Young’s
statement, we were told, “We
have no record of speaking to
any city administrators or to
anyone named Bob Young re-
garding this case.”
Vernonia City Attorney Jeff
Bennett also confirmed his
statement on November 2, that
there was no current investiga-
tion by DPSST on Kay. His
statement was also inconsis-
tent with information from Gab-
liks who said that he had spo-
ken with the city attorney, Ron
Guerra, and “on November 2,
we told Mr. Guerra that we
(DPSST) had opened a case
on Michael Kay.” Guerra is an
attorney at the city’s law firm,
Jordan Schrader, as is Bennett.
At this time, Kay’s future as
a police officer is still uncertain,
as the investigation by DPSST
has not been completed.
Vernonia Band again
in Macy’s Parade
Vernonia Schools band has
again been chosen to appear
in the festive annual Macy’s
Holiday Parade. This year’s
parade will be November 27,
the day after Thanksgiving,
starting at 8:45 a.m. in down-
town Portland.
In addition to the local band,
other Vernonia favorites will
appear; the Get A Life March-
ing Band and the Columbia
County Fair and Rodeo Court
are included in the array of
marching bands, equestrian
units and floats.
A new parade route starts at
NW Park and Davis, goes east
to Broadway, south on Broad-
way to SW Alder, east on Alder
(past Macy’s) to 4th, north on
4th to NW Flanders, west on
Flanders to NW Park for dis-
banding. The parade takes ap-
proximately one hour, but view-
ers are advised to arrive early
for a curbside seat.
This is the time of year when
people begin their Christmas
holiday preparations. Some
Vernonia households, due to
difficult economic situations,
may not have funds to pur-
chase groceries for a Christ-
mas meal together. Vernonia
Cares Food Bank (VCFB),
through generous donors,
seeks to provide a solution to
that dilemma. The food bank
facilitates a special project so
Vernonia area families may
share a turkey dinner together.
VCFB volunteers assemble the
basic groceries and dispense
these food boxes in December
to pre-registered households in
Vernonia.
Registrations for these spe-
cial holiday food boxes began
November 3, with registrations
ending December 8. Pre-regis-
tration is required so the food
bank will know how many gro-
ceries to purchase. The easiest
way to register is to come to
the special table located within
Vernonia Cares Food Bank.
VCFB’s regular business hours
are Tuesday and Thursday,
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (The
food bank will be closed
Thanksgiving Day.)
Vernonia Cares is in the
American Legion Building (be-
hind West Oregon Electric) at
627 Adams Avenue. The sim-
ple application process takes
only minutes. Questions may
be directed to Barb or Sandy by
calling the food bank during its
usual business hours at 503-
429-1414.
Wondering what to give that
special someone for Christ-
mas? Or want to give a gift in
honor or memory of someone?
How about sponsoring a
Christmas Food Box? For only
$20, you can honor that special
someone and brighten a whole
family’s Christmas at the same
time.
See Sharing on Page 5
Mail your Christmas letter
in Santa's Mail Box
at the Vernonia Fire Hall
Reward offered on illegal elk kill
Oregon State Police (OSP)
Fish & Wildlife Division is ask-
ing for the public’s help to iden-
tify the suspects involved in the
illegal killing of a spike bull elk
in the Saddle Mountain Unit
near Vernonia. A reward of up
to $1,000 is offered by the Ore-
gon Hunter’s Association for in-
formation leading to an arrest
and conviction in this case.
According to OSP Trooper
Tim Schwartz on November 17,
at approximately 9:50 a.m., he
and Recruit Trooper Vogel re-
sponded to the reported com-
plaint. Witnesses advised three
unknown people were attempt-
ing to salvage the spike elk in
the area of Keasey Road and
Columbia River Mainline. They
were seen leaving the area in a
newer model white Chevrolet
Suburban with unknown dealer
plates heading south on
Keasey Road toward Vernonia.
The spike bull elk was
found, including the head
which had been removed and
concealed beneath vegetation.
The elk’s four quarters and
back straps had also been re-
moved.
Anyone with information re-
lated to this investigation is
asked to call the Turn in Poach-
er (TIP) number at 1-800-452-
7888.