The INDEPENDENT, May 2, 2012
Page 9
Bits & Bites
By Jacqueline Ramsay
On April 27, Steve Weller brought his self loader log truck to
Anderson Park to help the Ridge Riders put up a new en-
trance to the horse arena. Joe Chestnut is on top of the lad-
der getting ready to hammer in a stake, and Richard Meyer is
holding the ladder.
County elections department sets
ballot drop off locations
The Public Certification Test
of the counting equipment for
the May 15, 2012, Primary
Election will be held on Tues-
day, May 8. The testing will be-
gin at 11:00 a.m. in the County
Elections Dept. The public is
welcome to attend.
Drop sites for the election
will be as follows:
• Vernonia Library, from now
through May 14, during regular
hours plus May 15 from Noon
to 8:00 p.m.
• Mist-Birkenfeld RFPD, dur-
ing regular office hours from
now through May 14 and on
See Ballot on page 17
April 22 – 77 degrees.
A heat wave here in the
concrete jungle, but wel-
come at any degree after
all the wind and rain
we’ve had. The rain sure
made it look like we had
a yellow snow, every tree
in town shed their first
batch of pollen blessing stuff.
News flash from the April 11 Vernonia Senior
Center Wednesday Golden Oldies day. The
Cross Road’s group came for a day of fun and
music. They come to visit (I think about once a
year). Anyhow, we all had a great time. I must
say those folks know how to dance and have a
good time. They also know how to sing. This is
a short version of their trip down memory lane:
“Anytime You’re Feeling Lonely” you can
“Dream” because “It’s a Small Small World” and
you can “Take Your Hair Down” while a “Little
Bitty Tear Let You Down”. You might be “Lone-
some Tonight” (a duet sung by a visiting couple
from the Cross Roads group. It was great.), but,
“Mary Lou” and “The Sheik of Araby” laments
“Blue, Ain’t the Way I Feel” because “Cowboy’s
Sweetheart” realized “God Made Honky Tonk
Angels”. All the time “Alley Cat” watched the
“Easter Parade”, while the rest of us decided to
“Go Back Where We Came From: because we
realized “Ain’t She Sweet” flashing her “Spanish
Eyes” as she saw “Ghost Riders in the Sky”
‘cause “It Don’t Matter Anyhow, It’s All Right”
and “One Tin Soldier Rode Away”. Another of
the Cross Roads group sang a solo (at this
point, I can’t recall the title or the gent’s name),
but it was neat and he said, “I’ve wanted to do
this for months.” Flash – his name is Oliver.
Now on to the other happenings in my la-de-
da life here in almost heaven. Anyhow, have you
ever been told, “Get in the car, ask no ques-
tions.” Well, my son did just that last Saturday
evening. He drove, I rode in silence. Finally, we
stopped in front of a small sign that read “Blue
Grass Jamboree”. I knew I was somewhere very
good. So, for three and a half hours, I sat and
filled my body with banjo, fiddle, bass fiddle, gui-
tar, saxophone and mandolin. Two groups of
four and one gent referred to as the “tweener”
(lone individual performing alone). He has his
own band, teaches and runs a summer camp for
those wanting to learn or just jam (I guess). I
learned there is one of these gatherings every
month somewhere here in “you know where”.
I have to sign off and get this in the mail. I’ve
had a problem this morning with the phone,
washer, dryer, and my fingers, so if this reads
sort of jumbled up just consider the source. Re-
becca tries to make me sound human most of
the time, thank goodness. Maybe I’ll be down
from my blue grass high by the first of May.
50 Years Ago This Month
The May 24, 1962, issue of
the Vernonia Eagle included
the following news story on the
front page:
At the meeting of the city coun-
cil on Monday evening, matters
discussed ranged from budget
items to the purchase of equip-
ment for the fire department and
materials for the scout cabin.
The fire department was in-
structed to get estimates of cost for
fog nozzles which they had re-
quested and to draw up suitable
plans for a workable hose-dryer
which they also need.
The Scout cabin committee
was authorized to purchase asphalt
tile for the floors of the kitchen
and two rest rooms. This is be-
lieved to complete expenditures
for materials to be used in the
present renovation. Paint is al-
ready on hand.
The city attorney advised the
council to handle the matter of the
lease on the mill office building
through an ordinance which was
introduced and given its first read-
ing in full and second reading by
title only.
Bruce Roberts who has been
appointed as part attendant for the
summer was informed that the
dam would be put in as soon as
weather permits and that the
scheduling of swim classes would
be left up to him.
Wilhelm Ritz, as a city resi-
dent, was present to question the
legality of the budgeting of funds
for construction of a caretakers
house at Anderson park without
first airing the plans in a city coun-
cil meeting so that interested per-
sons could voice their opinions.
The advice of the city attorney
was that it is within the power of
the council to budget funds for any
project of benefit to the city as a
whole. He also stated that it is
within the power of the citizens to
invoke the initiative and referen-
Vernonia Volunteer Firefighter’s
5th Annual Pancake Feed!
Saturday, May 15 th
8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
School Cafeteria
Plant & Garden Sale
Vernonia Senior Center
Two Days Only!
June 1st & 2nd
From 9am to 4pm
Herbs, Annuals, Perennials,
Planted pots, Baskets,
House plants & More.
446 Bridge St. Vernonia
dum for a vote on action of the
city council.
Pancakes, Biscuits & Gravy, Ham, Eggs, Fruit
Coffee, Orange Juice & Milk
• Adult Plate $7 • Kid Plate (12 & under) $5
• Seniors (62+) $5 • Family(max 6) $25
Cord of Wood Raffle Tickets $1 for 1 or $5 for 6
Fire Truck Rides & Blood Pressure Checks
Vernonia Health Care Board, Health Fair 10am-3pm
