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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (June 16, 2011)
Page 14 The INDEPENDENT, June 16, 2011 Racing season has started at River City Speedway in St. Helens by Mike Weber, Correspondent After the first two races in May were cancelled because of rain, River City Speedway final- ly started its 25th year of action with a total of over 100 drivers competing in the 2011 season opener Saturday, June 4, at the Columbia County Fairgrounds facility in St. Helens. For 15-year-old Brad Martin, the youngest driver at the track, he had a spectacular debut while competing for the first time ever in a Columbia County Racing Association adult classi- fication. Martin of St. Helens, won the street stock A main and also notched top-three finishes in other events. Brad Beehler of St. Helens led a one, two, three finish of family members with his mini stock main event win. Tiffany Gee of Scappoose, recorded her first-ever main win to cap- ture the women’s division race. Vernonia’s Doug Davenport won the modified main, and four-time speedway champion Curt Nusom of Gresham won the sportsman main. In other events, Cody Smith of Scappoose was a three-time winnner in the tracer division for teenagers. Smith won the trophy dash, heat race and was the fastest qualifier (17.15) with his Alliance Automotive spon- sored Chevrolet Camaro. Smith was third in the main behind runnerup Baleigh O’Connor and tracer winner Jonathan West. Gresham’s Dave Walters won the 15-lap Pacific Mini Sprint main. Steffen Strawn of Deer Island won the street stock B main. Martin started on the front row of the 16-car street stock main and led all 15-laps to take the checkered flag with his Reser’s Fine Foods Camaro. Gresham’s John Nusom was second, followed by John Haa- genson of St. Helens and Ger- ardo Caballero of Portland. It was the first ever street stock race for Martin, who took third in the heat. Martin was also runnerup in the dwarf car main to winner Ryan Martinez of Portland and he won the heat race. “I’m just so surprised that I was able to win a street stock main, especially since it’s the first time I ever entered a race in this class,” said Martin, who has also won championships in quads, quarter midgets and the student division. “I still can’t be- lieve it and it’s really a huge ac- complishment” Martin’s dad Jeremy, took fourth in the 17-lap modified main and was the fastest quali- fier on the quarter-mile clay oval track at 14.98 seconds. Davenport started on the front row of the 14-car field and led all the way with his Double K Trucking/BSB Manufacturing open wheel style modified rac- er. Vancouver drivers Don Jen- ner (second) and Robert Jen- ner (third) followed. Defending series champion Greg Greer of Rainier was fifth. “It felt real good to get a win and it’s a good way to start the season,” said Davenport, 36. “I was fortunate that the race ended when it did, because something broke in the motor immediately after I took the checkered flag. If there was an- other lap, then one of the Jen- ner boys would’ve passed me. I might compete here more often than I have in the past, espe- cially since it’s close to home.” Brad Beehler passed Port- land’s John Adams to get the lead on lap seven in the 18-car mini stock main. Beehler was followed closely by his brother Adam in second, and nephew Joel in third for the remainder of the 15-lap event. Brad’s Datsun 210 and Adam’s Dan Garrison CPA Honda were side-by-side at the end in a thrilling photo finish, with the Datsun ahead by just inches. Joel Beehler See Racing on page 16 Foreground left is Ron Dodge of Vernonia with Rob Williams, also from Vernonia, next to him, as they get ready to race at River City Speedway in St. Helens on June 4. Council hears water system in okay shape From page 13 for safety shrubbery installed at the Log Cabin Park bus stop, as well as for installation of a future bicycle rack. • The State Water Programs Office has conducted their tri- ennial inspection of the city’s system. The system had dis- crepancies but overall the in- spectors were pleased with the management of the system. A report of the city’s plan for cor- recting the discrepancies will be completed within the next two weeks. • Mayor John Kinsky has ex- ecuted the annual contract amendment for contract deputy services. • Thanks to Debi Wyckoff; the city has had office furniture donated free of charge for the Public Works Building when the build out is completed. • June 15 the city com- menced stump grinding on Maplecrest Way and on Ashton Drive. The Banks Police Services Local Operating Levy will ex- pire on June 30, 2012. In antic- ipation of the expiration, council is contemplating placing a Lo- cal Operation Levy on the No- vember, 2011 election ballot. A motion to approve a Local Op- tion Levy Ballot Measure Draft Statement for the November 2011 General election was made by Councilor Rob Fowler and carried unanimously. On May 10 and again on May 17 Council voted to renew the intergovernmental Cooper- ation Agreement with Washing- ton County for the Community Development Block Grant Pro- gram. The council now has the final draft of the new agree- State Farm ® Providing Insurance and Financial Services Home Office, Bloomington, Illinois 61710 Bunny Girt, Agent 1229 N. Adair PO Box 543 Cornelius, OR 97113-0543 Bus 503-357-3131 Fax 503-357-9667 bunny.girt.b71g@statefarm.com ment. Council again motioned to approve the agreement and the motion passed. Council motioned and ap- proved an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Operat- ing Budget appropriating ex- penditures in the water fund to cover expenses of additional cost for emergency water line repairs. Council adopted a resolution for fiscal year 2011-2012 De- claring the City’s Election to re- ceive State revenue and elect- ed to receive State-shared rev- enue. A resolution providing for Fiscal Year 2011-2012 inter- fund borrowing for the library fund #03 was adopted as well as an interfund borrowing for police services fund #07. The Banks Budget Commit- tee received and reviewed the proposed operation Budget and Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal year 2011-2012, which has now been approved after making some adjust- ments. Council adopted the Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Plan. The next City Council Meet- ing will be held in Banks City hall Council Chambers, on July 12, at 7:00 p.m.