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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 6, 2011)
The INDEPENDENT, January 6, 2011 In The Service Kevin R. Cook Air Force Airman Kevin R. Cook graduated from basic mil- itary training at Lackland Air 50 Years Ago This Month, continued Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an in- tensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fit- ness, and basic warfare princi- ples and skills. Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits to- ward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force. He is the son of Dave Cook, and Jan Templin, both of Ver- nonia. Cook graduated in 2008 from Vernonia High School. Tunnel set for night-time closure Later this month, construc- tion is scheduled to begin on the Dennis L. Edwards Tunnel on Hwy. 26. While construction is under- way, the tunnel will be open during the day, but closed on Sunday nights from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. and Monday through Thursday from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. It will be open on weekends, holidays and during Spring break. The night- time detour going west will be Hwy. 47 to Timber Road, then Timber Road to Hwy. 26. There will be an open house with information on the project on Thursday, January 13, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Banks Christian Academy, 22785 NW Fisher Rd., Buxton. Project up- dates are available at www. DennisEdwardsTunnel.org. 50 Years Ago This Month The January 19, 1960, issue of the Vernonia Eagle included the following news story on the front page: Improved lighting for the resi- dential areas, the naming of a city attorney, a change in water meter reading schedule and the approval of Vernonia being mentioned in movie credits all claimed the at- tention of members of the Vernon- ia city council Monday evening of this week. The council approved the pro- posed change from the present lights to the mercury vapor lights in residential areas, subject to final planning as to the number of lights to be included in the change. The council stated in connection with this that it will take a considerable length of time before the complete change-over is made. Approval was given to the reading of water meters every two months rather than monthly as at present. Customers will be billed monthly, with the minimum charge made on the month meters are not read and the overrun caught in the month meters are read. It is expected that this will Page 9 result in some reduction in the to- tal charge to customers. The firm of Hjelte and Kalber- er, attorneys from St. Helens who maintain an office here on Thurs- day, was named for the city attor- ney position, succeeding James Young of Forest Grove. Donald Kalberer will act as the city attor- ney with Marshall Hjelte available when needed. Owen East, Wilhelm Ritz and James K. Weller were appointed as firemen and the names of James Finnerty, Charles L. Johnson, Lar- ry Johnson and Calvin Bass were dropped from the department rolls. The fire department asked for 14 additional helmets for depart- ment use and the council approved the purchase of ten, all to be as- signed as truck equipment and regularly checked to prevent loss. Firemen provide their own boots, pants and coats. Mayor George Johnson and Councilman Robert Spencer re- ported that they had met with the school board in regard to the drainage problem and thought an agreement had been reached be- tween them. The council members resented to the board informa- tion to the effect that the school ac- tion had changed the original drainage and they offered the use of city equipment to re-open drainage ditches. A letter from Andrew L. Stone, incorporated, maker of the movie, to the Vernonia Chamber of Com- merce, was read to the council. It stated that they were considering the inclusion of “the people of Vernonia, Oregon” among the title credits and acknowledgements of the forthcoming picture and asked the approval of the mayor and the chamber of commerce. The ap- proval was given and the Stones are to be so informed. The January 5, 1960, issue of the Vernonia Eagle included this news story: Final census figures released this month show 1089 as the pop- ulation of Vernonia. For the Ver- nonia division, including the out- lying areas covered in the work of the census takers for Vernonia, the figure is 2,376. Vernonia showed the largest drop in population (in the county) as it skidded 432 in the past 10 years from 1521 to 1089. Rainier’s drop totaled 133 from 1285 to 1152. Rainier and Vernonia are be- low their 1930 populations, the new figures reveal. For Oregon, the final popula- tion figure is 1,768,687. The 1950 figure was 1,521,341. Oregon’s top 10 cities include: Portland 372,676; Eugene, 50,977; Salem, 49,142; Medford, 24,425; Corvallis, 20,669; Springfield, 19,616; Klamath Falls, 16,949; Pendleton, 14,434; Albany, 12,926 and Bend, 11,936. Bits & Bites By Jacqueline Ramsay ter. H, “Would you like some dessert?” S, “I don’t think I want to take the chance of ordering again.” Laughter. H and S finally decide they’ve had enough. H in trying to put on his coat can’t find the sleeve hole (it seems when he took if off, the lining came out also), laughter. S finally had to push, pull and tug the lining back where it be- longed – by this time all around were enjoying the scene with laughter. H told W1, “The shrimp were perfect – hot, crisp, crunchy – the sauce was good too.” Bill paid we exit the Red Robin and H says to S, “Will you go out with me again?” S says to H, “Of course, I will.” There is a saying, “Laughter helps your food digest”. Oh, one more thing, the couple are septuagenarians. End of a Perfect date. P.S. Things I’ve forgotten to mention these past months. Joan Waite gave a large sack of old memories; sheet music for piano and guitar to the Golden Oldies. Hoping they could use it to stir memories for them. She moved to Vernonia with her husband, Stephen, (who was a Logging Engineer for the O-A Mill) in the late 1950s. They lived in the house of many steps behind the “wading pool.” While living in Vernonia she was active in Rebekahs, Odd Fellows, Eastern Star, American Legion, and the Evangelical Church. The family (daughters Julia and Carolyn, and son Stephen Jr.) moved to Reedsport in 1962. She now lives in the Willamette View Apartment Complex in Milwaukie, Oregon. Thank you for the memories, Joan. Happy New Year to all. Do you have a first date you’ll always remember? Well, here’s one for the Book of Memories. (But first. He = H, She = S, Waiter = W1, W2, W3.) It was a Sunday, after church, the gent asked the lady if she would go to lunch with him. The lady said, “Yes,” and a date was set. The day came, they arrived at the cho- sen restaurant, were seated. W1 asked, “What would you like for drinks?” H, “Coffee, please,” S, “Water with lemon please.” They discuss the menu and decide. W1 returns with coffee and water, asks, “Have you decided?” H, “We’ll have the shrimp plates.” Small take, W1 returns with one order of shrimp. H looks at S. S looks at H and in unison, “We ordered two plates.” H, “I’d like a glass of iced tea, the coffee is awful.” W1, “Huh, sorry, I’ll take if off your bill.” S says, “I’ll take a cup of hot green tea, please.” W2 comes with an empty plate, “Here’s a plate for you,” and sets it down. H and S look at each other and laugh. S says, “We are waiting for a second or- der of shrimp.” W2, “Oh,” and walks off (leaving the plate). A note – the order was shrimp, fries and cole slaw. The first order came on a hot plate (double dish). W1 brought order two on a “cold” salad plate. W3 brought iced tea and a pot and cup of hot spiced tea. S asked, “No regular tea?” W3 says, “No ma'am,” and leaves.S says to H, “I guess I should have asked for ice tea and please heat it in the micro,” more laughter. Eating and chatting. S spooning the cole slaw asks H, “How’s your slaw? There’s no dressing on mine.” H, “It’s dry.” Stir as we might it was shredded cabbage only. Laughter. Three fourths of the way through the meal W1 brings the dessert menu with Thursdays the bill. S, “Do you suppose 9 am - 5 pm they want us to leave?” Laugh- V ALLEY V ETERINARY C LINIC R ABIES S PECIAL $ 50 10 Per vaccine, per animal Through February 2011 1-503-556-3084 58376 Nehalem Hwy. S. Vernonia