PRESORTED STANDARD
U.S. Postage Paid
Vernonia, OR 97064
Permit No. 37
Vol. 25, No. 11
THE
INDEPENDENT
The Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley for Over 25 years
Electronic speed limit signs in effect on Highway 26
particularly on weekends in the
summer months. During these
periods, motorists on OR High-
way 47 turning left (eastbound)
onto U.S. Highway 26 are find-
ing the maneuver unsafe and
difficult.
Sensors installed in the road
control the variable speed limit
signs and will slow traffic on
U.S. Highway 26 in both direc-
tions as motorists approach OR
Highway 47 during periods of
heavy congestion. Slowing traf-
fic on the highway provides a
safer environment for motorists
turning left, reducing the poten-
tial for accidents.
This variable speed system
is the first of its kind in Oregon,
although variable speed limit
First Friday and Contra Dancing
June First Friday will be on
June 3 at the Scout Cabin in
Hawkins Park from 5:00 to 8:00
p.m.
Join your neighbors and
friends in celebrating arts, en-
tertainment, and culture in our
community. You can shop the
local artists and crafters, deco-
rate some cookies, have a light
snack and listen to live music.
After First Friday, you can
also learn how to Contra Dance
at the Grange. Lesson at 7:30
p.m. and the dance is from 8:00
to 11 p.m. Live music provided
June 2, 2011
Kay appeals DPSST vote
to revoke certification as
law enforcement officer
Vernonia High School’s Leadership Class presented Jaden Krieger and his family with a
check for $2,799.74 they raised for the young Banks cancer patient. See full story on page 11
Electronic speed limit signs
have been in effect on U.S.
Highway 26 (Sunset Highway)
near Oregon Highway 47 (Ne-
halem Highway) since May 24.
The speed limits in this area will
change based on traffic vol-
umes. Motorists need to be
aware of the changing speeds,
as Oregon State Police and the
Washington County Sheriff’s
Office will enforce the posted
speeds.
The speed limit will vary from
30 to 50 mph, depending on
traffic volume. Speeds will not
change more than once every
15 minutes.
U.S. Highway 26 is a popular
route to the Oregon coast and
sees periods of heavy traffic,
FREE
by Basin Billies.
Vernonia First Friday works
in partnership with Vernonia
Hands-on Art Center as a rev-
enue generating entity and
community collaborator. First
Friday is dedicated to celebrat-
ing the arts, bringing people to-
gether in downtown Vernonia to
meet neighbors, exchange in-
formation, skills and resources,
as well as reinforce a sense of
community among different in-
terest groups in and around
Vernonia. And, most important-
ly, to have a good time!
signs have been implemented
in many other states. ODOT is
implementing this new technol-
ogy as an interim solution to the
turning problems at the U.S.
Highway 26 and OR Highway
47 intersection (also know as
Staley’s Junction). Future plans
call for a new freeway inter-
change at this location.
Open Air Market
new time, place
Vernonia Open Air Market, a
project of the VCLC, starts its
2011 season in a new location
on Saturday, June 4, from 9:00
a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Madison
Ave, between US Bank and
Grey Dawn Gallery.
The market also moved from
Friday nights to Saturday morn-
ings. It will now feature hot
donuts, breakfast items and
lunch items. Yummm donuts...
There will also be honey, eggs,
plants and craft items, plus oth-
er items from local businesses.
Did they say donuts? Come
see what the Vernonia Open Air
Market has to offer and, if you
can’t make it this week, you can
come by any Saturday from
now until October 1.
If you are interested in be-
coming a vendor, contact Kathy
Larsen at 503-449-3591 or at
oamvernonia@gmail.com .
The Department of Public
Safety Standards and Training
(DPSST) Police Policy Commit-
tee, on May 19, voted unani-
mously to revoke the police cer-
tification of Vernonia Sergeant
Michael Kay. This is the next
step in pulling Kay’s certifica-
tion, after he refused to volun-
tarily relinquish his certification
based on the DPSST investiga-
tion outlined in a letter to Kay
on March 15.
DPSST trains and upholds
professional standards (with
certifications) for police, fire,
corrections, parole and proba-
tion, communications (such as
9-1-1), even private security
and private investigators.
Once a certification is re-
voked by DPSST, the person
cannot work in any job that re-
quires that certification.
DPSST’s summary to the
Police Policy Committee, dated
May 19, from Professional
Vernonia High School
Graduation
June 4, 2011 ❊ 2:00 p.m.
Greenman Field
Banks High School
Graduation
June 10, 2011 ❊ 7:00 p.m.
Banks High School
Join the Linear Trail
Brave Run for BES
The Linear Trail Brave Run,
a 5k and 10k run/walk, will be
held Saturday, June 4, starting
at 8:00 a.m. with check-in and
registration at the Banks High
School track.
The Kids Dash (up to age
12) starts at 8:30 a.m. and the
5k and 10k start at 9:00 a.m.
This is a fundraiser for
Banks Elementary School.
Standards Investigator/Coordi-
nator Theresa M. King, listed
the following ten items for their
case against Kay, with Kay’s re-
sponses;
1) That Kay misrepresented
his personal knowledge of
whether two individuals com-
pleted community service in a
document he authored and
gave to the Vernonia Justice
Court.
Kay responded that he had
been uncomfortable writing a
letter that was not factual, but
did so at the direction of Judge
Thompson and former Vernon-
ia Chief Frank Grace. Grace’s
response to DPSST was that
he was passing along a mes-
sage from Judge Thompson,
who needed to close out the
deferred sentence and needed
information from Kay in order to
do so. Grace made clear that
he would not have accepted or
approved documentation that
was not factual in content and
he did not recall Kay voicing
any concern about the matter.
2) Kay was untruthful with
two investigators (regarding the
community service issue listed
in 1 above) hired by the City of
Vernonia.
Kay wrote to DPSST that the
second, “investigation was
stopped by our City Administra-
tor Bill Haack before it was
completed for financial rea-
sons.” Haack stated to DPSST,
that the investigative report,
“was not stopped for any rea-
son.” Haack also told DPSST
that after he and Grace read
the first investigative report,
Grace recommended Kay’s ter-
mination and after learning that
Judge Thompson had sent a
letter to DPSST of his concerns
about Kay’s untruthfulness, the
second investigation was
See Report on page 4