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The INDEPENDENT, August 3, 2011
Chalk Talk
Chalk Talk is a column of information
about Vernonia schools. This column
was provided by Superintendent Dr. Ken
Cox.
Summer has finally arrived! With children at home rather than
in school, summertime can be challenging to keep them occu-
pied, so here are some helpful hints to keep them busy.
1. Due to the cooperation of many different community groups,
all children from age 1 to 18 can get free breakfast and lunch
every weekday at the cafeteria. They have also organized a num-
ber of different activities to fill the time between 8:30 a.m. (when
breakfast is served) and 11:30 a.m. (when lunch begins). Adults
are welcome to come along. My wife and I had breakfast the other
day for $1.25 each and lunch is only a little bit more. Many thanks
to the organizations and volunteers who make this valuable com-
munity service possible.
2. The Vernonia Library is also a great source for books and
videos. I read an article last week that indicated that one’s ability
to read influences their ability in all other cognitive areas. They
based their conclusions on a research study done in Brazil (where
public education is not mandatory) which found that even adults
who learned to read later in life showed increased ‘brain power’
after they learned to read fluently. So I would encourage you to
take the time to read to your little children, and when they can
read on their own, perhaps set aside some time in the evening to
encourage them to read. You might even find that twenty minutes
of quiet reading time would help settle them in preparation for
bed. And don’t forget that example is the best teacher, so let your
children see you reading too.
Since I am giving out so much good advice this week, I might
as well get a little personal. Summertime is a time of memories,
so take the time to make some memories with your family and
take plenty of pictures. I would encourage you parents (and
grandparents) to tell your children how much you love them. Do it
often. Don’t just assume that they know, they need to hear it from
you. Please make a point to tell each of them, no matter how old
they are, that you love them.
Finally, Carol and I would like to personally thank so many of
you for your prayers, your kind words, thoughtful cards, and your
contributions since the loss of our son. We have truly felt your
prayers and support. So PLEASE, take some time today to tell
those you love just how much you love them and do it often,
because we never know what each day will bring.
Vernonia school board seeks member
At the Vernonia School Dis-
trict 47J board meeting on July
21, the board of directors
accepted the resignation of
board member Kim Wallace.
Wallace’s letter of resignation
states, “…it comes down to the
philosophical parting of ways
between myself and some of
the powers that be. I cannot
personally or professionally
reconcile with this year’s
budget process and the cuts
that are being made.” The
board will take applications for
a new board member until
August 19 and will interview
prospective board members on
August 25, with the goal of
appointing a new member at
the first September meeting.
Newly re-elected board
members Tim Bamburg and
Greg Kintz were sworn in. Bill
Langmaid was not in atten-
dance and will be sworn in at a
later date.
The board returned Jim
Krahn to the position of chair of
the board and Cari Levenseller
to the vice-chair position.
Superintendent Dr. Ken Cox
was authorized to coordinate
with the City of Vernonia on
design work for demolition and
the new Spencer Park plan that
will replace the existing
schools.
In other business, the board:
• Approved 2011-2012 sub-
stitute teacher pay at the cur-
rent level of $170 per day;
• approved student fees at
the 2010-2011 level, with the
exception of lunch fees which
will increase by $.10. The
board discussed implementing
student fees for band members
for all ages, but decided to dis-
cuss further at the next board
meeting.
The next board meeting is
scheduled for August 11, at
6:00 p.m., at the district office.
Pygmy rabbits being returned to wild
For the first time in more
than 10 years, the Columbia
Basin pygmy rabbit has bred
and successfully given birth in
the endangered animals’ origi-
nal historic range. A litter of kits
has been confirmed in a six-
acre pre-release enclosure at
the Sagebrush Flat Wildlife
Area in central Washington,
where conservationists are
releasing rabbits bred at the
Oregon Zoo and other sites
back into the wild –– and hop-
ing that they multiply like rab-
bits.
Despite rabbits’ reputation
for reproducing quickly, dis-
ease, inbreeding, loss of habi-
tat and other factors nearly
wiped out the Columbia Basin
pygmy rabbit, and only 16
remained by 2002. America’s
smallest native rabbit, weighing
less than one pound when fully
grown, the pygmy (Brachyla-
gus idahoensis) is also the
country’s only burrow-digging,
and sagebrush-climbing rabbit.
So far, 93 pygmy rabbits
have been reintroduced to the
A conservationist holds a pygmy rabbit kit at the Oregon
Zoo. Photo by Michael Durham, courtesy of the Oregon Zoo.
Sagebrush Flat area this spring
and summer, including 29 kits
from the Oregon Zoo. With
another month still left in the
breeding season, the total
number of rabbits released
from all facilities includes 52
kits born this year and 41
adults (all adults from Washing-
ton State University). The ani-
mals released include those
bred from the original 16
remaining Columbia Basin
pygmy rabbits as well as wild
pygmy rabbits from Oregon.
Conservationists
plan
to
release more this fall or next
year.
To protect them from preda-
tors, encourage breeding and
help them transition to their
new surroundings, the rabbits
are initially being kept in wire
See Pygmy on page 14
Col. County Rodeo Court seated
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
503-901-1705
On July 16, in front of
packed grandstands, the 2012
Columbia County Fair and
Rodeo Court was announced
at the Saturday night rodeo.
Emily Nodland, 17, of St.
Helens, won the categories of
Horsemanship and Appear-
ance and was crowned the
2012 Queen.
Princess
Makayla Bennett, 15, of Deer
Island, won the categories of
Speech and Personality and
the Sales award. Winning the
Knowledge category and the
Congeniality and Photogenic
awards was Princess Jordyn
Deaville, 17, of Woodland.
Noelani Acker, 16, of St.
Helens, was named First Run-
ner-Up and Flag Team Captain.
She also won the Herdsman-
ship and MRO Spirit awards.
The new court’s reign will
begin January 1, 2012, and
their official coronation cere-
mony will be in early January.
The court will work on fundrais-
ing and sponsorship activities
throughout the coming months.