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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (April 7, 2011)
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. Postage Paid Vernonia, OR 97064 Permit No. 37 Vol. 25, No. 7 THE FREE INDEPENDENT The Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley for Over 25 years Governor, many others join in awarding of $11.2 FEMA grant Governor John Kitzhaber was in Vernonia to help celebrate the receipt of an $11.2 million FEMA grant for the new school and related costs. Among those attending the celebration were school Superintendent Dr. Ken Cox, Jeff Marckham from FEMA, Dennis Sigrist from Ore- gon Emergency Management, state Representative Brad Witt, Columbia County Commission- er Tony Hyde, Ken Murphy from FEMA, and state Senator Betsy Johnson. Vernonia Mayor Josette Mitchell accepted a Whole Communi- ty Commendation presented to the City by FEMA Region X Administrator Ken Murphy “…in recognition of the residents of Vernonia representing the values of the Whole Community in recovering from severe flooding in December 2007”. April 7, 2011 BJ the Clown is back BJ the Clown is returning to Vernonia to celebrate National Library Week, on April 14, at 6:45 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend and both children and adults will enjoy BJ the Clown. ODFW will stock Lake Vernonia Lake will receive 3,000 more trout the week of April 11, according to the Ore- gon Department of Fish and Wildlife. One more stocking is sched- uled this year for Vernonia Lake; 2,500 trout will be added the week of May 2. — CORRECTION — The monthly schedule for the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) in Vernonia was listed incorrectly in the March 3 issue. CCSO will be here the third Friday of each month from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Vernon- ia Police Department. The Independent apologizes for any resulting confusion. Governor John Kitzhaber and his companion, Cylvia Hayes, joined many others in Vernonia, on March 29, for a celebration of the FEMA grant for $11.2 million. After a continental breakfast in the school cafeteria, the Gov- ernor arrived and everyone moved to the covered playshed area where a podium and seats were set up. Students from leadership classes joined the crowd, who listened to speech- es starting with the Governor’s. Kitzhaber expressed his ap- preciation at being invited by State Senator Betsy Johnson, introduced Cylvia Hayes, then recognized County Commis- sioner and Vernonia resident Tony Hyde for his efforts on be- half of Vernonia and the State of Oregon, and as a co-conven- er of the Vernonia Oregon Solu- tions project. Kitzhaber went on to say, “I feel so strongly about the Oregon Solution process. Vernonia is the model that we will look toward as we go for- ward.” The Oregon Solution process was started by Kitzhaber when he previously served as governor. FEMA Region 10 Administra- tor Ken Murphy told the crowd, “This story will be told many times around the nation and used as an example.” Murphy ended his comments by saying, “I’m very proud of you and you should be proud, too.” The $11.2 million FEMA grant includes $800,000 for demolition of the old schools, plus an unprecedented $10.4 million grant that can be used to build the new schools. The Vernonia School District, the City of Vernonia and the Ore- gon Solutions team requested and secured a waiver that al- lowed FEMA to exceed it’s $3.5 million cap on Flood Mitigation Assistance. This grant brings the new school’s fund raising campaign to 80 percent of the funds needed to complete con- struction of the new school. The new school is slated to open in September 2012. After the speeches, the Gov- ernor and others, including Senator Johnson, Murphy and Vernonia Mayor Josette Mitch- ell, went out on the old school property for a ceremonial tree planting. The old school proper- ty will become Spencer Park, and along with the old mill site, is slated to become part of a new 177-acre city park district. It’s time to Make Vernonia Shine What are you doing on Sat- urday, April 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.? Vernonia Pride is hoping you’re planning on participating in the annual Make Vernonia Shine Day. Vernonia Pride is proud to organize this event, in coordination with SOLV’s SOLV IT day throughout Oregon. This year’s event will focus on Vernonia Pride’s mission of downtown beautification, with weeding, debris pick-up, etc. The focus will be on the “down- town core” from the Elk sign to the Lake. If enough volunteers sign up, work will expand to in- clude some parks. Registration will begin at 9:00 a.m. at Providence Clinic. Snacks and bottled water will be available for volunteers at the end of the clean-up (1:00 p.m.). Volunteers are asked to please bring your own garden- ing tools/yard equipment. If you’d like to volunteer, please contact Catherine Helmer at 503-914-9525 or email her at catherine.helmer@yahoo.com See Time to Shine on page 24