The INDEPENDENT, February 1, 2012 Page 5 Donations to school at start of January 23 Vernonia council meeting The Vernonia City Council meeting on January 23 started with presentations from the business community to the Ver- nonia Schools project. Pam Weller, manager of the Vernonia and Clatskanie Branches of Wauna Federal Credit Union, presented Ver- nonia School Superintendent Dr. Ken Cox with a check for $6,000. Wauna’s leadership team decided in 2011 to make the new Vernonia school their fundraising effort. Through pay- roll donations, $5 jean days, and customer donations, they wanted to raise $4,000 – and surpassed their goal. Gordon Smith of Vernonia Sentry then told the city council that Vernonia businesses had met his $10,000 challenge grant, resulting in raising $20,000 for the school project. Smith said, “I appreciate every- one’s help.” City employee Ginger West- lake was presented with a cer- tificate of appreciation by May- or Josette Mitchell, on behalf of the city, for bringing down the outstanding balances of water customers. Vernonia citizen George Guyett applied for and was ap- pointed to the city’s Budget Committee. One more member is needed for this committee. Interested persons should go to the city’s website or get an application from city hall. Wondering what’s been go- ing on across E. Bridge St. by Lakeview? That’s where the new school has an easement to put their utilities under Bridge St. and hook up to pump station #3 by the lake. City Administrator Bill Haack’s report to council in- cluded information that the city must reimburse the State of Oregon with $3,187.50 for funds from a grant that was to be used for work on waste- water lagoons and the pumping station. Apparently, in 2008, the interim city administrator al- lowed the funds to be used to build a fence around the trans- fer station, instead. On the flip side, Haack found $11,000 in other grant funds that can, and will be used to cover the fence cost, with some left over for pump station work. Council then went into an executive session (closed to the public) for the purpose of hearing from legal counsel. When they returned to open session, no action was an- nounced or taken, and the meeting was adjourned at 9:17 p.m. The next council meeting will be held February 6, at 7:00 p.m., at city hall. Run with Extra Confidence with Chevron DELO 400 ™ PLUS MOTOR OIL The name you trust for: • Gasoline • Diesel Fuel • Oils • Solvents • Additives • Greases At the January 23 Vernonia council meeting, Wauna Federal Credit Union Branch Manager Pam Weller presented a check to Vernonia school Superintendent Ken Cox for the new schools. The money was raised by efforts in all the Wauna branches from employees and customers. Photo provided by John Donovan of Metropolitan Group. Ike Says… From page 3 will suffer even more. While the wolf population is not very high at the moment, they are starting to spread across our state and will find their niches. then expand in population. Many of us knew, up-front, that the pro-wolf supporters would not play by the adopted wolf plan that they had a hand in writing and have now tied up ap- propriate wolf management in court. Will the state legislature have the sense to correct this injustice as congress finally had to do on the na- tional level? I have my doubts. In a time when people need jobs we will be wiping them out in Eastern Oregon due to losses in the ranching and hunting communities. Many people simply don’t realize the economics that hunting sea- sons have on those tiny communities over East; they will find out when many little waysides sim- ply dry up and blow away. Better plan your gas station stops carefully folks. Izaak Walton League, Nehalem Valley Chapter meets monthly on the 3rd Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Call 503-429-7193 for location. Winter is here… see us for A NTI F REEZE H EATING O IL CALL (503) 429-6606 WILCOX & FLEGEL 720 Rose Avenue • Vernonia