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