Friendship Jamboree
Pull-out Guide inside
PRESORTED STANDARD
U.S. Postage Paid
Vernonia, OR 97064
Permit No. 37
Vol. 25, No. 15
THE
INDEPENDENT
The Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley for Over 25 years
August 5, 2010
Helmer appointed to Council
A stunning red sun dominated area skies at dusk on Sunday, August 1.
The Vernonia City Council
has a new councilor, since in-
terviewing and seating Cather-
ine Helmer at their July 19
meeting. Helmer was the only
applicant for the position vacat-
ed by Brett Costley’s resigna-
tion. Helmer, who is secretary
of the Parks Committee, a
member of Vernonia Pride, in-
volved with First Friday activi-
ties, and has been attending
city council meetings, decided
to apply for the open position to
get more involved at the council
level. After answering a series
of questions by council, Helmer
was selected and then sworn in
by Pro Tem City Administrator
Bill Haack. She then took her
place on the podium to serve at
the rest of the meeting.
Helmer’s first vote was
rather historic when she, along
with the rest of council, voted to
approve the Vernonia school
district annexation and zone
Hot, dry weather triggers increase in fire safety restric-
“We’re into that part of the
fire season where fire starts are
more likely in our forests, on
our own properties and within
or adjacent to our communi-
ties,” reported Mike Simek, Unit
Forester with the Oregon De-
partment of Forestry (ODF).
Human-caused fires continue
to be the top cause of forest
fires in our area. Residents and
forest users will see florescent
orange Regulated Use signs
being posted. These reflect the
public use restrictions now in
effect on all forestlands.
FREE
Simek also pointed out that
most private timberlands have
tighter restrictions or even clo-
sures, so it’s always best to
check with landowners and the
local ODF office about current
restrictions. All landowners,
residents and visitors are asked
to use extreme caution when
recreating, traveling and work-
ing in grass, brush and forested
areas.
The following public use re-
strictions went into effect, on
July 23, and apply to all private,
state and federal forestland
protected by ODF within the
Northwest Oregon Forest Pro-
tection District:
1. Smoking is prohibited
while traveling, except in closed
vehicles on improved roads.
2. Open fires are prohibited,
including campfires, charcoal
fires, cooking fires and warming
fires, except at designated lo-
cations. Portable cooking
stoves using liquefied or bottled
fuels are allowed.
3. Non-industrial chain saw
use is prohibited, except as
waived by the Forester (contact
local ODF office regarding
waivers).
4. Use of motorized vehicles,
including motorcycles and all
terrain vehicles, is prohibited,
except on improved roads.
5. Possession of the follow-
ing fire fighting equipment is re-
quired while traveling, except
on state and county roads: One
gallon of water or one opera-
tional 2-1/2 pound or larger fire
extinguisher, and one shovel
having a handle 26 inches or
more in length and a blade ap-
Please see page 5
Catherine Helmer
designation and the plan/zone
map amendment. This vote
took place after the public hear-
ing and moves the school siting
project one step closer to
groundbreaking.
Another vote came after a
public hearing on the new sign
ordinance. Public hearings held
this past spring on the sign or-
dinance, were instrumental in
the formation of the Downtown
Association, which was ap-
proved at the August 2 council
Please see page 5
Fireworks Show
There will be a fireworks
display on Saturday, Au-
gust 7, after the concert at
Hawkins Park.
This notice is to inform
pet owners so they can
take adequate precautions
to keep their pets safe dur-
ing the loud noise associat-
ed with fireworks.