PRESORTED STANDARD
U.S. Postage Paid
Vernonia, OR 97064
Permit No. 37
Vol. 25, No. 4
THE
FREE
INDEPENDENT
The Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley for Over 25 years
Study of law enforcement
in county near completion
In December of 2009, the Co-
lumbia County Board of Com-
missioners established a nine-
teen member Enhanced Law
Enforcement Advisory Commit-
tee (ELEAC) to determine pres-
ent levels of law enforcement in
all parts of the county, determine
both short and long term law en-
forcement needs, research law
enforcement service delivery
models, and file a final report
and recommendations with the
County Commissioners by May
1, 2010.
This effort is both timely and
important to the residents of
Columbia County. A full look at
all law enforcement issues
Alison McLeod, of the Wauna Federal Credit Union team, Buckette$, and Derek Handegard of within the county will lead to a
Black Bear Coffee Company’s Hot Shots, battle it out in Donkey Basketball February 6 at Ver- set of recommendations for
consideration by the Board of
nonia High School. The Hotshots prevailed to win bragging rights over three other teams.
Commissioners.
The ELEAC has created
three subcommittees, with
The Columbia County Sher- measures to address these
each handling a different part of
iff’s Office is holding the next in community problems,” the sher-
the work load. The Needs Sub-
its series of sponsored meetings iff said. “We believe the best
CC Rider (formerly Columbia committee is surveying the cur-
around the county regarding ideas for dealing with these is- County Rider) has added an-
rent level of service and identi-
nuisance properties and ideas sues can often come from the other run to the Vernonia Fixed
fying the needs in both cities
for combating the attendant community that has to live with Route. The bus leaves Vernon-
and unincorporated areas of
crime and environmental prob- them. We also are aware of the ia City Hall at 6:15 a.m., 12:30
the County. This subcommittee
lems associated with them. The efforts in other places to address p.m. and 4:30 p.m. for stops at
has develop a standard format
meeting will be held Monday these issues and improve condi- Stub Stewart State Park, Sta-
for gathering current service
evening February 22 at 6:00 tions in their communities. To- ley’s Junction, and Tri-Met’s
data, and is beginning to identi-
p.m. at the Columbia County gether, we can work to improve Willow Creek Station, before
fy service gaps and voids in the
Courthouse in Room 308.
our situation in Columbia Coun- returning via the same stops.
current system. Each incorpo-
“More than 70 people attend- ty, too.”
The rate, one way, for each rated city is providing informa-
ed the first meeting in Rainier,”
This is the second of three ride is $4.80 for the general
tion that will be analyzed and
said Sheriff Jeff Dickerson. “We planned community meetings to public, or $3.80 for seniors, dis-
compared with call data from
are hoping to continue the effort address nuisance properties in abled, students and children.
the 9-1-1 District and the Sher-
to gather information and ideas Columbia County. Additional Monthly passes are also avail-
iff’s Office. From this informa-
for combating this county-wide town hall meetings are also be- able by calling 503-429-4304.
tion, the subcommittee hopes
community problem.”
ing contemplated for later in the
CC Rider also offers Dial-a- to be able to zero in on needs
The Rainier meeting took year on a wide variety of public Ride service to and from Ver-
and the gap in services.
place January 28 at Alston Cor- safety issues affecting the sher- nonia on Mondays, Wednes-
The second subcommittee is
ner, with 71 people in atten- iff’s office.
days, and Fridays, from 6:30
dance. Many in attendance
a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Call 503-429-
Town Hall with new
pressed for more teeth in county Bottle and Can Drive 4304 one week in advance to
ordinances to address chronic
school updates
Bring your bottles and cans schedule your ride.
crime properties and the public to the Washington Grade
On Tuesdays and Thurs-
Vernonia Schools will hold
nuisances they become.
a Town Hall, February 25 at
School play shed on Saturday, days, the West County Flex
“The Sheriff’s Office, in its February 20, between 10:00 Route bus leaves Vernonia City
7:00 p.m., in the Vernonia
role as conservators of the a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and help the Hall at between 8:30 and11:00
Middle School cafeteria to
peace in Columbia County, has Class of 2010 raise money for a.m. and in the afternoon at
discuss the latest on the new
an earnest interest in improving their senior class trip.
See CC RIDER on page 4
schools project.
Sheriff seeks input on nuisance properties CC Rider adds a
run for Vernonia
February 18, 2010
working on various options for
the delivery of law enforcement
services within the County.
From the initial ten options that
the subcommittee reviewed,
three options were eliminated
from further consideration.
This subcommittee will coordi-
nate its work with the Needs
Subcommittee once the full ex-
tent of needs is developed.
The third subcommittee is
focused on communication and
education. They have devel-
oped a comprehensive plan de-
signed to let everyone within
the County know about the
ELEAC, what it is doing, who is
on the committee and what the
work schedule for is. It is the
committee’s desire that every-
one within the county know
about the ELEAC and have an
opportunity to attend one of
many informational meetings to
learn more and to provide new
ideas to the ELEAC.
Meetings have been sched-
uled in St. Helens on Saturday,
February 20, from 10:00 a.m. to
noon at the St. Helens Learning
Center. This meeting is being
planned in partnership with the
South County Chamber of
Commerce. Saturday was se-
lected to experiment with an al-
ternative meeting day for many
local residents who commute
all week and who might not feel
like going out to a meeting after
arriving at home from work.
The second meeting will be
held February 23 at 7:00 p.m.
at the Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire
Protection District Fire Station
on highway 202. There will be
additional meetings held over
the next two months. The initial
set of meetings is designed to
inform citizens about the com-
mittee and the process, as well
as getting citizen suggestions
for what should be done. The
ELEAC will conduct additional
meetings once they have ar-
See ELEAC on page 4