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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (May 5, 2011)
The INDEPENDENT, May 5, 2011 Jaden Talent Show raises $500+ The Joy for Jaden Talent Show, held on April 23, raised $580 to help Jaden Krieger and his family go to Great Wolf Lodge, and to help with med- ical expenses. Jaden is a Banks student with cancer. This fundraising effort sur- passed the goal set by coordi- nators. About 100 people attended the show and were entertained by Roy Stacy, dancing to Michael Jackson’s Billy Jean; hip hop dancers Sisi Suesat, Sicily Scott, Rowan Scott, Kelly Smith and Charlette Burghard; singing by Ben Fleck; a song from the duo of Nichole Gard- ner and Brulé Owen; Alexis Baska, who performed a cap- pella; Alex West on drums; the Mad Q band of Mac Brown, Austin Edgar, Dylan Taylor and Quin Johansen; and The New Vintage Trio, Mac Brown, Ryan Stradling, and Josh Lenz. Lee Anne Krause also enter- tained the crowd, in the role of “MC Krause in the House,” complete with costume changes. Prizes, mostly for fun, were donated by Krause and the four judge panel of Kathy Dalebroux, Ellie Havens, Re- becca McGaugh and Kathy Larsen. Look for another Talent Show fundraiser this summer. Page 11 Chalk Talk Chalk Talk is a column of information about Ver- nonia schools. This column was provided by Su- perintendent Dr. Ken Cox. This past week was a busy one for our stu- dents as they worked together to sponsor a Red Ribbon Week. The purpose of the week’s activi- ties was to bring awareness to students about the dangers of Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATOD). This week was chosen because it culminated in the Prom dance Saturday night. For all the reports I have heard all of the activi- ties were a big success. Most of the activities were coordinated by the Operation Student Safety On the Move (OS- SOM) club at Vernonia Schools. OSSOM “is a youth leadership program which promotes safe and healthy communities” and “creates an op- portunity for youth to take a leadership role in prevention.” These youth leaders were the main force behind both the Health Fair, last Thursday, and the ‘Every 15 Minutes’ activity on Friday. The Health Fair was for grades 5 – 12 and in- cluded student manned and prepared booths on Bullying Prevention, Teen Stress Relief, Under- age Drinking Prevention, Suicide Prevention, Sugar Intake Awareness, Healthy Eating, Tobac- co Prevention, Relationship Awareness, Healthy Eating, Alcohol Tobacco and other Drug Abuse Prevention, Character Building Awareness, ATOD Free Pledge “Piece of the Puzzle,” Sum- mer Meals Survey, ATOD Free Grad Night Sur- vey and Fundraiser. Thanks are in order for the students and staff who helped make this such an outstanding event. On Friday, the “Every 15 Minutes” activity helped raise student awareness regarding the consequences of drinking and driving. Every fif- teen minutes a teen is killed as the result of an alcohol-related accident. To help students under- stand this statistic, every 15 minutes throughout the day a student was removed from the class- room and then returned as a victim, unable to in- teract with the rest of the members of the class for the remainder of the day. The activity culmi- nated in an assembly in the afternoon where a short presentation was made. The Vernonia School District is a proud mem- ber of the Vernonia Prevention Coalition (VPC), the sole purpose of which is to raise prevention awareness in our community. Our thanks to DeAnna Pearl, the VPC Director who has done such a great job in helping to coordinate the Dis- trict’s efforts in ATOD prevention, and to Sherrie Ford, a member of our District Wellness Team representing Columbia Health District; plus VMS/VHS Counselor Peter Weisel, WGS Coun- selor David Spackman and his wife Sonia; VHS Leadership Teachers Terri Willard and Ashley Rogers for their work in making a difference in the lives of our children. P.S.: Don’t forget the Vernonia Community Health Fair this Saturday, May 7th, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the VHS Cafeteria! CLC announces scholarships Car seat event Jazmin Worthey rounded up hundreds of new and used prom dresses. See story below. Picture by Catherine Helmer Columbia Learning Center has announced that it will again be awarding $70,000 worth of scholarships to 14 graduating seniors in Columbia County. The $5,000 scholarship can be used by students at an accred- ited college or trade school. CLC Board President Mari- on Christensen said that “Monies for this scholarship fund come from private, anony- mous donors as well as from the proceeds of our annual fundraising event, Black Tie and Blue Jeans, slated for Sat- urday, August 6, at the Deer Is- land Stock Ranch.” This year’s gala event will include a full course dinner followed by a silent and bid auction. Added Vernonians without prom dresses Kindergarteners get help from Aloha HS Junior Twelve of the young ladies Then Vernonia resident sign up now who attended the Vernonia High School Prom, on April 30, wore new or used dresses ob- tained from a donation project started by Jazmin Worthey, an Aloha High School junior. In a very short time, Worthey got the idea for a prom dress give-away, plus fashion show, and organized it. Catherine Helmer volunteered to drive to Aloha on April 29, where she picked up dresses to fill the need at Vernonia High School. When she showed up with them at VHS, there was an impromptu fashion show with smiling girls who got to dress up for their prom. There is still time to get an appointment for the Washing- ton Grade School Kindergarten Round-up on Friday, May 20. Children must be five years old on or before September 1, 2011 to register. To schedule an appointment, call 503-429- 7941. board member Brian Little, “It’s always a popular venue that raises much needed dollars for students who intend to further their education.” The Columbia Center is lo- cated at 375 S. 18th Street in St. Helens (location of the St. Helens Library). For more infor- mation, contact Christensen at 503-397-5175. here on May 12 Columbia County Safe Kids will be holding a child safety seat check up by appointment only on Thursday, May 12, in Vernonia. While the clinic is free, please call to schedule an appointment with Natalie at 503-410-3169 to reserve your car seat check up today! G RAND O PENING & O PEN H OUSE C ELEBRATION !! Saturday May 7 th 10am C OME M EET THE N EW O WNERS Raffle for: Cat Spay provided by Vernonia Veterinary Clinic, Bird Seed, Grooming Discounts & other Great Products & Prizes! Columbia County Humane Society Will be here with Pets You Can Adopt Creatures Pet Supplies & Grooming 503-429-PETS (7387) www.creaturespetshop.com 736 Bridge St. Vernonia