Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2010)
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. Postage Paid Vernonia, OR 97064 Permit No. 37 Vol. 25, No. 13 THE INDEPENDENT The Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley for Over 25 years July, 1, 2010 Missing boy is safely at home Most people in the Vernonia area were awakened shortly before 4:00 a.m. Monday morn- ing, when the Columbia Alarm Network (CAN) was activated by the Vernonia Police in re- sponse to a 9-1-1 call from a lo- cal family who found their front door open and their 10-year-old son missing at about 2:00 a.m. The CAN system is an auto- mated emergency notification system that calls homes and gives recorded information. All was well when the boy came back home on his own just after 7:00 a.m. About 150 people in the community came out to search for the boy, who went to bed with a fever the night before and had been known to sleepwalk, but had never before left the house while asleep. It appears the child was asleep when he left, and ended up in a nearby bushy area. He awoke cold and confused and ran home. He was checked out by paramedics and found to be in good shape, though still run- ning a fever. By 8:00 a.m. the CAN sys- tem had notified the community that the boy was home safe and the emergency was over. More information about CAN is available on the 9-1-1 web- site at www.columbia911.com . 4th of July festivities in Vernonia Summer is here now that the dam has been installed on Vernonia’s free flowing Rock Creek Swimmin’ Hole. Jeff Burch and the Public Works crew said “Come on in, the water’s fine!” Driver unhurt in crash that caused power outage Charles Colburn-Wiggins, Vernonia, escaped injury on June 29 when he lost control of the Toyota Previa he was driv- ing up State Ave. towards Keasey. He was between E and G Streets when he swerved to avoid a small animal, lost con- trol, and sheared off a power FREE pole. His vehicle landed on its side in the other lane facing the opposite direction. Traffic was stopped briefly while the road was cleared. The vehicle was towed. About 120 residents in the area lost power when the pole came down at about noon. The Emergency responders stopped traffic on State Avenue until safe passage could be assured. power pole was the only one in the area with capacitors, which require additional time to re- place. West Oregon Electric Cooperative General Manager Marc Farmer said, “The two crews needed for the repair could not have been much far- ther away; one was in the Ol- ney area and the other was at Hagg Lake.” Power was re- stored just before 5:00 p.m. Enjoy the beach, but don’t go in the water A public health advisory was issued June 29 due to higher- than-normal levels of bacteria in ocean waters at Hug Point State Park Beach in Clatsop County. Increased pathogen and fe- cal bacteria levels in ocean wa- ters can come from both shore and inland sources such as storm water runoff, sewer over- Please see page 5 This year’s 4th of July cele- bration in Vernonia includes ex- panded activities. The Great American Bash will include the Erik Kesterson Memorial Mo- torcycle Show (previously held during Jamboree) from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the Ver- nonia school grounds, along with a “Run What Ya Brung & Rat Rod Revival” Car Show. Bridge Street will be closed for the parade, rescheduled to 3:00 p.m.to allow for the live music from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The parade will start on Weed Ave and disband on State Ave. No ATVs will be al- lowed in the parade. There will also be kids games and a dunk tank on the school grounds. The Vernonia Boosters will be serving burgers and hot dogs in the Snack Shack starting at 4:00 p.m., and other food ven- — CORRECTION – The cougar picture on page 1 of the June 17 issue should have been attributed to Kristine Torres, courtesy of the Oregon Zoo. The Independent apolo- gizes for this oversight. The ar- ticle that went with the picture is on page 15 of this issue. dors will be offering snacks and meals. Fireworks will start after sun- down. Remember to keep your pets inside during the fireworks so they don’t get scared and run off. Portions of the day’s activi- ties will benefit OSSOM kids, Vernonia Youth Athletics and the Vernonia Police K-9 pro- gram. Family Fun Festival in Banks on July 4th The Banks 4th of July Fami- ly Fun Festival will start at 4:00 p.m. at Sunset Park. There will be food, children’s activities and music, along with car racing at the Sunset Speed- way starting at 6:00 p.m. Fireworks start at 10:00 p.m. More information is on page 24.