The INDEPENDENT, March 21, 2012
Vernonia Lions Club celebrates members
by Randal Harvey
On Tuesday, March 6, the
Vernonia Lions Club gave their
first ever Melvin Jones Fellow-
ship and Helen Keller Benefac-
tor Awards in their 65 year his-
tory. The ceremony took place
at the New Hong Kong Restau-
rant in Vernonia. President
Grant Williams served as Mas-
ter of Ceremonies. Lions Club
District Governor Sandy Wool-
verton, and David Rich with
Oregon Lions Sight and Hear-
ing Foundation, came from
Portland to be presenters.
District Governor Woolver-
ton awarded the Melvin Jones
Fellowship to Robert F. “RED”
Curl for his many years of out-
standing service to the commu-
nity. Curl joined the Vernonia
Lions Club in September of
1962, making this his 50th an-
niversary as a Vernonia Lions
Club member.
The Helen Keller award was
presented by David Rich to Pat
Styles. This was a complete
surprise to Pat, whose family
and fellow club members had
kept the secret from her, for
months, until the night of the
awards ceremony. Pat was
busy serving cake during Mr.
Rich’s speech on the subject of
Helen Keller. When Rich start-
ed talking about Pat, he didn’t
say her name, but when he
said, “the recipient had trans-
ferred from the West Linn Lions
Club,” the look of shock and
surprise on Pat’s face was
priceless!
Congratulations to both Lion
Red Curl and Lion Pat Styles.
The Vernonia Lions Club
also wants to say “Thank You”
to District Governor Sandy
Woolverton and Lion David
Rich, for braving the cold win-
ter’s night to come to Vernonia,
and for making our awards cer-
emony so special.
Medical Reserve Corps has saved lives
When a nurse and member
of the Columbia County Med-
ical Reserve Corps (MRC) vol-
unteered to take free blood
pressure readings at the Ver-
nonia Senior Center, she didn’t
know that she would save a
neighbor’s life.
What she found was that
one senior citizen’s blood pres-
sure was dangerously high.
She advised him to see his
physician without delay. As a
result, said Anne Parrott, MRC
unit leader, his medications
were changed and his blood
pressure soon lowered to an
acceptable range.
This experience is more dra-
matic than usual, but Columbia
County’s 22 MRCs are making
a difference even as they pre-
pare for their roles in large
scale disasters such a mass
casualty incident, mass dis-
pensing of shots or medica-
tions, or handling a surge of ill
or infected people into the
county.
The Federal government
created the national system of
MRC units shortly after 9/11 to
improve national preparation
for a large scale public health
crisis. This year, the federal
program is celebrating its 10th
anniversary. Oregon began re-
cruiting volunteers after a fed-
eral mandate in 2003, and the
State Emergency Registry of
Volunteers in Oregon was set
up for on-line registration. Co-
lumbia County’s MRC unit was
established in December 2006,
and today is one of 15 units in
Oregon.
Parrott, who is Prepared-
ness Coordinator for The Pub-
lic Health Foundation of Co-
lumbia County, said that during
a Public Health emergency the
22 members of the MRC would
be deployed wherever they are
needed most.
In 2011, MRCs assisted with
influenza vaccinations, helped
school district nurses with gen-
eral health screenings for
grades K-6, staffed Health Fair
booths and First Aid booths,
and conducted blood pressure
and blood sugar screenings at
senior centers. During the Pub-
lic Health H1N1 vaccination
campaign, the MRCs were a
mobile unit that traveled to
adult foster homes and assist-
ed living facilities to provide
vaccinations.
They have been trained in
the incident command system
structure, First Aid that includes
a psychological evaluation
component, and basic and ad-
vanced disaster training, “all
provided under the auspices of
the U.S. Surgeon General,”
said Parrott. They also re-
ceived training in how to pro-
mote Public Health initiatives.
“This year the training for
MRCs will be focused on med-
ical surge and the MRC role in
mass casualties,” Parrott said,
explaining that a mass casual-
ty, such as a large freeway pile-
up, earthquake or explosion,
requires specific training for
MRCs, who again would be
called on to perform specific
tasks.
All of the training and prac-
tice are in preparation for a ma-
jor incident, when local emer-
gency systems are over-
See MRC on page 9
Page 7
Senior Center News
Okay, card sharks, you’ll have a chance to hold ‘em or fold ‘em
at poker games in the Vernonia Senior Center every Thursday.
There’s no money involved, it’s chips only, and the first hand will
be dealt right after lunch. Enjoy lunch here and don’t miss any of
the fun. Poker isn’t replacing pinochle; that will still be on Fridays.
You don’t want to miss the special Easter lunch coming up on
Wednesday, April 4. It’s a great time to wear your Easter bonnet,
too!
The center’s annual plant sale is scheduled for Friday and Sat-
urday, June 1-2. Watch this column for more information, and
start thinking about any plants, bulbs, yard art, etc. that you may
be able to donate.
The retirement of Duke Gortler and Ellie Thompson from the
Golden Oldies has left a hole, and we want area musicians to
know that, if you are interested in playing with the band, we will
welcome you with open arms.
The regular schedule of center activities and services includes:
• Lunch on Monday through Friday at noon. A $4.00 donation
is suggested for those 60 and older, and $5.00 for those under 60.
Lunch to go is $5.00; call ahead and place your order. Free bingo
with lunch each Monday starting at 11:45 a.m.; Wauna Federal
Credit Union provides diners with free ice cream on the last
Wednesday of each month; members’ birthdays during the month
are noted on the last Friday.
The Five Area Lunch, on the last Monday of each month, will
be at St. Helens Senior Center on March 26th.
• Breakfast for all ages on Fridays from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m., at
$3.50 per person. Maple bars made fresh daily are $1.00 each.
• Free blood pressure checks on the 4th Wednesday of each
month from 11 a.m. to noon.
• Foot care on the second and fourth Fridays of each month.
Call Marilyn Albro, R.N., at 503-429-0406 for an appointment.
Foot care is $15.00.
• Quilters and other needle workers gather on Tuesdays, any
time from 10:30 to closing.
The Senior Center Thrift Shop is open Monday through Friday
from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Always half price during the first week
of each month.
Wheelchairs are available, call Pauline Coffman for informa-
tion; unused canes are needed.
Vernonia Senior Citizens Center: 446 Bridge Street
Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Thrift Shop Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Phone: 503-429-3912
Open Daily
11 a.m.
In The Service
Biker Friendly
John “Levi” Timmerman
John “Levi” Timmerman has
graduated from basic training
at Lackland Air Force Base in
San Antonio, Texas. Next, he
will receive technical training at
Lackland AFB through mid-
May.
Timmerman is a 2010 grad-
uate of Vernonia High School
and the son of Rick Timmer-
man and Carey Jones-Timmer-
man of Vernonia.
Mar.24 th Dusty Trails
Mar.31 st Spin Cycle
Apr. 6 th -7 th Karaoke
All Bands & Karaoke start at 9 P.M.
Happy Hour: Mon - Fri 4 pm - 7 pm
Ladies Night: Wed. 5 pm - Midnight
Open until midnight Sun-Thu & until 2:30 a.m. Fri, Sat.
733 Bridge St., Vernonia
503-429-9999