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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (July 20, 2011)
The INDEPENDENT, July 20, 2011 Page 9 Bits & Bites By Jacqueline Ramsay LifeFlight takes off from the Vernonia School football field, on July 10, after picking up a man critically injured in a motor vehicle accident, on Keasey Road, that took the life of Vernonian Josh Watson. Vernonian loses life in car accident Joshua G. Watson, 34, Ver- nonia, died July 10 in an early morning, single-vehicle crash on Keasey Rd about 1 mile out- side Vernonia. Another man was taken by LifeFlight to the hospital with critical injuries. No update on his condition is avail- able. A third occupant was also taken to the hospital with un- known injuries. Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the crash after a call came in at 5:42 a.m. advising that a vehi- cle had struck a tree. It was not immediately known at what time the crash occurred, but a neighbor reported hearing something around 3:30 a.m.. The neighbor said she did not investigate the cause of the sound. When deputies arrived, they found a white, 2001 Dodge Ram Pickup beside a large oak tree, where the vehicle had crashed. The one-ton pickup struck the tree with enough force to send debris flying over 50 feet. One large piece off the trunk of the tree (over 50 pounds in weight) traveled ap- proximately 50 feet. One of the occupants was inside the pick- up, unconscious, and two were outside the vehicle. Watson was found outside the vehicle, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Kasey L. Cooper, 22, from Yamhill, was taken by LifeFlight helicopter to OHSU Hospital in critical condition. Ryan B. Rowlands, 32, from Newberg, was transported by ambulance to Emanuel Hospi- tal with unknown injuries. The crash appears to be re- lated to speed and the con- sumption of alcoholic bever- ages, and it remains under in- vestigation. Sheriff's deputies, with the help of an Oregon State Police crash reconstruc- tionist, are investigating the crash. The Oregon State Police and Vernonia Fire departments also assisted at the crash scene. 24 Years Ago This Month The July 30, 1987, issue of Vernonia Independent included the following news story on the back page: The Vernonia City Council this month dealt with com- plaints about lack of parking places, overtime parking and parking on sidewalks. Vernonia Police Chief Phil Jacobus told the council that a safety problem existed on Park Avenue, alongside the city swimming pool. According to Jacobus the narrow street doesn’t allow safe passage for two cars if there is another car parked on the block-long street. He also said the side- walk is often blocked by cars parking on it, forcing pedestri- ans into the street. The council agreed with Ja- cobus’ analysis of the prob- lems, and decided to post the street for “No Parking” in order to eliminate some of the con- gestion. In response to complaints about lack of parking in the commercial area of Bridge Street, and concurrent com- plaints about people parking longer than the 2 hours posted, the council instructed the Ver- nonia Planning Commission to hold a public hearing on the complaints. The hearing, held July 27, dealt with those complaints and with a plan proposed several years ago to make a one-way traffic loop of Madison, Shady Lane and Jefferson streets, on the north side of Bridge Street, and to install angled parking to create more parking spaces. Many people attended the hearing to express their feel- ings about the one-way street proposal. The angled parking proposal was also discussed, with a con- sensus reached by those in at- tendance at the hearing that there is no parking problem in the business district other than a lack of enforcement of the two-hour parking ordinance. About the weather – Wait a minute and it will change. About Vernonia – All I can say is think, think twice and then pray. Now, the topic on my mind and heart. Thank you, thank you to anyone, and those I know, that have given me person- ally and through the Senior Center yarns for my “Knit for Kids” project over the years. It is a God-sent gift. I have acquired such a bounty I have been able to pass some of it on to a couple of my friends who knit or crochet for “Children’s Closets” “Robes for Nursing Homes” or “Toes for Orthopedics”. It is all free will, therefore, if you don’t want it, I’ll take it, but I also know right there in Vernonia, the Wilkerson Summer Camp can use scrap craft stuff, also someone has a group of children knitting for other kids, in Vernonia. Now a note to those who take items of knit or cro- chet to the Senior Center unfinished. Thank you. But, please, if possible, include instruction pattern and, most of all, the hook or needles that are used to do the job. I have taken two afghans to finish for the Center but had one HECK of a time finding the size hook it took to finish (or work) the beautiful afghan someone’s mom, grandmom or aunt has started and couldn’t finish. Do you want an unfinished Love gift just tossed aside as “Oh, Well” or would you like to know it was finished and given a loving home? Thanks again and keep giving.