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The INDEPENDENT, March 7, 2012
Chalk Talk
Chalk Talk is a column of information about Ver-
nonia schools. This column was provided by Su-
perintendent Dr. Ken Cox.
Did you know we have some budding video-
graphers in Vernonia? They did the Donate a
Dollar, Build, Save video on our District web
page and even have regular other postings on
the website. Here is some information about
what they are doing from Doran Lower, one of
our Professional Technical Education teachers
here in Vernonia.
Digital Arts is a fairly new program being of-
fered at VHS. Students who have an interest in
the arts and computers are encouraged to take
one of three progressive courses (Digital Arts 1,
2 and 3). In these classes, students learn the
basics of typography, layout, logo development,
video editing, videography and multi-page lay-
out. They gain experience with multiple software
programs and learn animation techniques, video
production, digital editing and implementing sto-
ry-boarding strategies for video production.
Some of the following projects that students
have contributed to can be viewed on the school
district website:
• 411: A weekly video newscast which stu-
dents have been involved in.
•
High
School
Fall/Winter Sports Pro-
gram Covers: These
VHS Sports Programs
have been touted as
one of the best in our league.
• 2011 Cross Country Hoodies: Designed by
Crystal Ann Carreon
Other community projects that VHS Digital
Arts students have worked on are:
• Vernonia Community Theatre Posters: Stu-
dents’ produced and printed posters to promote
the Vernonia Community Theatre’s Spring per-
formances.
• Other projects such as: Nehalem Valley Car
Show poster, VHS Band Performance posters, a
Web site design for a local business, as well as
various brochures.
If you are interested in finding out more about
these programs, or what these students can do
to help your organization, please feel free to
contact Mr. Lower directly at dlower@ vernon-
ia.k12.or.us.
This is an example of how the Vernonia
School District is meeting our goal to: Demon-
strate pride in our schools and community
through effective communication and higher ex-
pectations.
ODOT working on two area road jobs
ODOT contractors began re-
moving trees and brush, the
week of February 20, from the
site of two highway improve-
ment projects getting under
way this summer on U.S. 26 in
Washington County
In both projects, ODOT
needs to remove adjacent
trees and brush before the bird
nesting season, with the work
done by the end of March.
ODOT will re-plant the areas
with native trees, shrubs and
grasses once construction is
done.
In one project, ODOT will re-
place the Glencoe Road bridge
over U.S. 26 with a new four-
lane bridge. The project will
also lengthen and widen the
U.S. 26 westbound exit ramp,
improve pedestrian and bicycle
connections and improve sig-
nals, striping and drainage.
Most of the clearing work will
take place in the southwest and
northeast quadrants. The
clearing will take place be-
tween sunrise and sunset and
will not have any impact on
traffic, although travelers
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She purrs gratefully when you to pet
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Mula is Spayed and up-to-date with
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She has been waiting for you and
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This Month’s Pet is Sponsored by:
THE
INDEPENDENT News & Information you can use
should expect some shoulder
closures. The project should be
finished in 2014.
In the second project, ODOT
will build a new U.S. 26 bridge
over West Fork Dairy Creek at
milepost 46.3, about a mile
east of OR 47/Staley’s Junc-
tion. The tree and shrub re-
moval will be needed to make
way for a temporary bridge,
which will help complete the
project with a minimum of traf-
fic disruption. The project
should be finished in 2014.
Motorists should expect
shoulder and lane closures. All
work will take place during the
day.
For more information on the
Glencoe Road project, go to
www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/
REGION1/glencoe/. For more
information on the West Fork
Dairy Creek project, go to
www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/
REGION1/26WFDairyCreek.
VHS equestrian team is
off to good season start
by Diane Benes, Coach
Vernonia High School’s
Equestrian Team had an out-
standing beginning for the sea-
son, with their first meet in
McMinnville a couple of weeks
ago. Representing Vernonia
High School are senior Brett
Benes in his fourth year on the
team, freshman Makayla Mc-
Cord in her first year, and Jew-
ell High senior Chrissy Garri-
son in her second year of com-
petition.
The top ten placements for
VHS were as follows: Break-
away roping – Brett B. 1st
place, and Chrissy G. 2nd
place; Steer daubing – Brett B.
3rd place. The Canadian Flags
team of Brett, Chrissy and
Makayla placed 5th; Team
Penning (Brett, Makayla, Chris-
sy) took 13th place; Two-man
birangle (Brett and Makayla)
11th place; Working Pairs
(Makayla and Chrissy) 14th
place. In all of the events, the
trio showed a willingness to
work together and have a lot of
fun supporting each together
as a team.
“I am pretty excited about
the enthusiasm and the unity
the kids share for their new
season.” I feel that they have
done a good job and I’m look-
ing forward to what the season
holds with their dedication to
practice together as a team. I
would also like to recognize the
assistance of Josh Rowlett and
Suzanne Talbot with getting the
team ready for their upcoming
season, and providing lots of
laughter at our practices.
The people of Vernonia are
encouraged to attend and sup-
port their Equestrian team in
upcoming meets at McMin-
nville on March 8-11, and April
12-15 at the Yamhill County
Fairgrounds.
Middle school honor roll for the
2011-12 second quarter announced
The following students were
named to the Vernonia Middle
School academic Honor Roll
for the 2011-12 second quarter.
Grade Point Averages (GPA)
are on a scale of 1-4, with 4
equaling a perfect score.
Principal’s Honors, 4.00 –
Brad Ely, Jessika Goodman,
Annika Johnson, Jacob Patton,
Sheyanne Pedersen, Jocie-
Ranay Roberts, Megan Rice,
Chase Tolonen, Ian Torres-Pe-
tersen, and Payton Wolf.
High Honors, 3.50-3.99 –
Tristan Adams, Emily Berger-
son, Jacob Butcher, Coral
Cook, Megan Ely, Breanna
Gardner, Amanda Jennings,
Bryanna Larson, Jacob Perry,
Jamie Schott, Paige Smith,
Mahaila Whilhlem, Jarrett
White, and Cassidy Whitton.
Honors, 3.25-3.49 – Hayden
Cieloha, Kaitlyn Eyrrick, Kas-
sidy Fetch, Benjamin Fleck,
Nichole Gardner, Casey Hath-
coat, Storm Henson, Brett
Jones, Cheyenne Kemper, Ha-
ley Lindsay, Meagan Schir-
meister, Benjamin Schulte,
Sara Smith, Jessica Stringfield,
Kole Titus, McKenzie Willard,
and Mekhi Williams.
Honorable Mention, 3.00-
3.24 – Courtney Barklow, Bran-
don Clapshaw, Grace Cole-
man, Courtney Fennell, Han-
nah Fleck, Lauren Glass,
Rachele
Hanner-Knighton,
Hera Hopkins, Katie Martinez,
Jackhenry Masog, Jared Me-
dearis, Amanda-Rose Sicard,
Mikila Solberg, and Autumn
Sorenson.
Child safety seat check-ups tomorrow
Columbia County Safe Kids
will be holding a free child safe-
ty seat check-up tomorrow,
March 8, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
at the St. Helens Fire Station at
105 S. 12th Street. Certified
technicians will check to be
sure your child has the right
seat and that it is installed cor-
rectly. They will also check for
recalled or expired seats.
Through a grant funded by
ACTS Oregon, Columbia
County Safe Kids can provide
low-cost child safety seats to
families in need.
Child safety seats and safe-
ty belts, when installed and
used properly, can prevent in-
juries and save lives. Young
children restrained in child
safety seats have an 80 per-
cent lower risk of fatal injury
than those who are unre-
strained.
For more information, call
the Commission on Children
and Families at 503-397-7211.
For information about the clinic
or the Columbia County child
safety seat program, contact
Natalie at 503-410-3169.