The INDEPENDENT, March 17, 2011
Carr crowned 2011 Miss Oregon Rodeo
Mackenzie Carr of Vernonia
was crowned Miss Rodeo Ore-
gon 2011 on March 5th in the
Spirit Mountain Casino Event
Center. In front of over 200
guests, family and friends, the
20 year-old cowgirl graciously
accepted the crown from Ash-
ley Ziegler, the 2010 state title-
holder. During her moving
farewell speech, Zeigler shared
memories of her travels, pre-
sented a slideshow collection
of photographs, and thanked all
those who sponsored and
helped her with the successful
year, highlighted by first place
in the Portland Grand Floral
Parade, and placing top ten in
the Miss Rodeo America pag-
eant.
The evening began with mu-
sic by the Concrete Cowboys
band, followed by dinner,
fundraising auctions, and intro-
ductions of visiting rodeo Roy-
alty. Rodeo Announcer Scott
Allen was the emcee for the
event. Special guest tribal
princesses performed a tradi-
tional “Blanket Dance” as a
send-off for Carr.
Miss Rodeo Oregon will
travel over 30,000 miles this
year promoting the sport of
rodeo and representing the
State of Oregon at PRCA
rodeos, parades, fundraisers,
school visits, other rodeo court
coronations and pageants, the
Columbia River Circuit Finals
and, at the end of the year, the
Miss Rodeo America Pageant
held in conjunction with the Na-
tional Finals Rodeo in Las Ve-
gas, Nevada.
Mackenzie Carr is the
daughter of Alan and Barb Carr
of Vernonia, Oregon. She grew
up on a small farm in a rural
timber community an hour from
the Oregon coast. Mackenzie is
a 2008 graduate and Valedicto-
rian of Vernonia High School,
as well as a nine year member
of Columbia County Horse 4-H.
Her involvement with the Co-
lumbia County Fair and Rodeo
continued as Carr served as a
2007 Columbia County Fair
and Rodeo Princess, and
Queen in 2008. In 2009, she
went on to represent the North-
west Professional Rodeo Asso-
ciation as Miss NPRA. In July
2010, Mackenzie was awarded
the prestigious title of Miss
Rodeo Oregon. In addition to
Senior Center News
If you have been waiting for the free hearing checks to resume,
they may be starting now that the weather allows easier travel.
Call Rosie McCoy for information.
Free blood pressure checks are available at the center on the
4th Wednesday of each month from 11 a.m. to noon. Don’t skip
this simple, but important, health check.
The Senior Center’s Thrift Shop will be one of the thriftiest thrift
shops around from Monday, April 4, through Friday, April 8, when
everything will be 1/2 price! The shop is open to the public from
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Wheelchairs are available for rent, and un-
used canes needed. Call Pauline Coffman for more information.
The midday meal – whether you call it lunch or dinner depends
on where you (or your parents) grew up – is served Monday
through Friday at noon. A $4.00 donation is suggested for those
60 and older, and $5.00 for those under 60. If you want lunch to
go, call in advance and place your order; it’s only $5.00.
Diners also enjoy free ice cream on the last Wednesday of each
month, courtesy of Wauna Federal Credit Union.
Meals on Wheels are available for those who are home-bound.
Call Rosie McCoy, and she will explain how to put this great serv-
ice to work.
Birthdays are celebrated at lunch on the last Friday of each
month, so members whose birthdays are in March will be in the
spotlight on March 25.
Breakfast is available Fridays at the Senior Center, from 7:30 to
9:00 a.m. at $3.50 per person, regardless of age. Maple bars,
made fresh daily, are $1.00 each. If you want maple bars for a
gathering of any kind, call 503-429-3912 a day or two ahead and
place your order.
The 5 Area Lunch will be at the St. Helens Senior Center on
March 28. This is a good destination to start getting out of our win-
ter stay-at-home doldrums.
Pinochle on Fridays from 1:00 p.m. ‘til the games are over, and
needle work, including quilting, on Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. to closing.
Vernonia Senior Citizens Center: 446 Bridge Street
Senior Information Assistance Representative
Rosie McCoy: Mon-Wed-Fri
Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Thrift Shop Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Phone: 503-429-3912
Mackenzie Carr shown being crowned Miss Rodeo Oregon.
Photo provided courtesy of Miss Rodeo Oregon Pageant, Inc.
and Creekside Studios.
Next Library presentation, Mar. 31
The Voters Have Spoken:
Oregon’s Controversial Ballot
Initiative is the topic of a con-
versation to be held Thursday,
March 31, at 6:30 p.m. at the
Vernonia Public Library.
Over the past century, Ore-
gon has had more statewide,
citizen-generated ballot meas-
ures than any other state. As a
result, “Direct Democracy” has
transformed the state’s political
and social landscape.
Dr. Jackson B. Miller, an As-
sociate Professor of Communi-
cations Arts at Linfield College,
will offer a program of informa-
tion and lead a discussion on
winning the title, she earned
the awards for Appearance,
Speech, Knowledge, Horse-
manship, Personality, and Pho-
togenic. In her spare time she
enjoys riding her horses, giving
riding lessons to children, and
spending time in the great out-
doors. Mackenzie attended
Oregon State University for two
years studying Civil Engineer-
ing, and will continue working
toward an Architectural degree,
with a minor in Speech Com-
munications. She hopes to fo-
cus on interior architecture and
commercial building design.
For more information visit
www.missrodeooregon.com.
Page 7
the topic. The discussion will
focus on taxes, Marijuana con-
trol and Physician-assisted sui-
cide.
The discussion is presented
and made possible by The Ore-
gon Humanities Conversation
Project, with help from the Na-
tional Endowment for the Hu-
manities, The Oregon Cultural
Trust and individual contribu-
tions.
Parenting Now!
Parenting Now! is the name
of a parenting education pro-
gram that will be held at Ver-
nonia Head Start Center, 500
California Ave., starting Mon-
day, March 28, from 10:30 a.m.
to 12:30 p.m. There is a nomi-
nal fee based on a sliding
scale. Included will be food, fun
and door prizes.
The program is for anyone
soon to be a parent or already
a parent of children 8-years-old
or younger. Child Care is pro-
vided upon request at the time
of registration. Space is limit-
ed, call 1-503-556-3736 to reg-
ister.
Presented by Child & Family
Development Parenting Edu-
cation Programs, Community
Action Team, Inc., this is a
group based positive education
program.
E Pioneer Baptist Fellowship
E
R
F
Presents
A Vernonia Community
Free Fishing Derby
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday March 26 th
Vernonia Lake
Love Fishing?
Bring Your Fishing
License & Gear
For a Fun time!
Prize for the Biggest Fish
Random Drawings
Fishing Gear as Prizes
Free Admission & Refreshments
Everyone’s Invited
Ages 14 and above need fishing license