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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (June 20, 2012)
Page 4 The INDEPENDENT, June 20, 2012 Dewey Pool is now a Drug Free Zone Jobs rate was flat again in May Starting at 6:00 p.m., then working for an hour reviewing and preparing to prioritize a large list of possible and actual city projects, the Vernonia City Council went into their regular meeting with a light agenda. A new Ordinance, 882, was presented to council for consid- eration. 882 repeals Ordinance 860 which prohibited tobacco use at the Hawkins Park swim- ming area. Ord. 882 establish- es the area as a Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco (including nico- tine delivery products) Free Zone. The ordinance was pre- sented as “Declaring an Emer- gency” so it could go into effect immediately, but the need for that declaration was ques- tioned and not included when Councilor Kim Tierney moved to approve the ordinance. The motion passed so, Ordinance 860 remains in place until Ord. 882 takes effect in 30 days. Chief of Police Mike Conner told council that the two newest police officers, Thompson and Brady, are on the verge of com- pleting their Vernonia specific training and will soon be ready to patrol alone. Conner also said that he and Officer Thompson (who lives in Ver- nonia) will be the only ones tak- ing police cars home after Jam- boree. Currently, everyone on the force takes home a car; two to North Plains, one to Scap- poose, and one in Vernonia. City Administrator Bill Haack reported to council that the Lion’s Club received a $34,870 grant from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) that will allow for guard rails on the existing fishing docks at Vernonia Lake. It also allows for one of the dock’s pontoons to be replaced with a used one from ODFW. The Lion’s Club had sought enough funding to build another dock, but the amount needed for that was not granted. Haack also reported on a re- cent meeting (June 15) of the Regional Solution Team where the city’s wastewater treatment plant upgrade was discussed. At the meeting, Haack was told that the existing DEQ loan amount may be increased to cover the new project with the additional amount at today’s in- terest rate (lower than the ex- isting interest rate). After an executive session (closed to the public) held to “carry on labor negotiations”, the council authorized Mayor Josette Mitchell to sign the pre- sented collective bargaining agreement which runs for the next three years. In other business, council; • approved All In Pub and Eatery’s request for a beer gar- See Council on page 5 Columbia County’s season- ally adjusted unemployment rate was 9.4 percent in May, essentially unchanged from the previous month (9.3%), but lower than the year before (10.3%). The rate was higher than the statewide rate (8.4%) and the national rate (8.2%). Total employment rose by 120 to 22,670 and the number of unemployed people fell by 47 to 2,260. Total employment this May was 452 more than one year before and there were 173 fewer people unemployed this year. By comparison, The Port- land metro area’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.0 percent in May, un- changed from April. The year- ago rate was 9.0 percent. Pet safety tips for use on July 4 From page 1 rect identification and tags just in case he or she becomes scared and runs away from home. Be careful with 4th of July decorations. Remember that your pet may easily mistake your red, white and blue deco- rations and glow sticks as chew toys. Make sure to pet-proof your home and keep fun deco- rations out of paws reach. Think about a vet visit. If you know that your dog or cat is se- riously distressed by loud nois- es like thunder, consult with your veterinarian before July 4th for ways to help alleviate the fear and anxiety he or she will experience during fireworks displays. Community Calendar VERNONIA Alcoholics Anonymous Mondays 6:30 p.m., 410 North Street Alcoholics Anonymous Thursdays (Big Book Study) 7:00 p.m., 410 North Street American Legion Post #119 2nd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., 627 Adams Avenue Booster Club 2nd Wednesday 7:00 p.m., WGS Library Boy Scout Troop 201 Tuesdays 7:00 p.m., Scout Cabin Boy Scout Troop 860 Wednesdays 7:00 p.m., LDS Church Cemetery Beautification Comm. 2nd Thursday 6:30 p.m., Library Chamber of Commerce 2nd Wednesday For Info Call 503-429-6081 Community Coalition 2nd Monday 12:30 p.m. School District Ofc. Cub Scout Pack 201 Scout Cabin For Info Call 503-429-4250 Emerg. Preparedness Comm. 4th Wednesday 6:30 p.m., WOEC Friends of the Library 1st Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Vernonia Library Girl Scouts, Neighborhood 4-2 For Info Call 503-819-0143 Izaak Walton League 3rd Thursday For location call 503-429-7193 Kiwanis Club 2nd & 4th Tuesdays 6:30 p.m., New Hong Kong Lions Club 1st & 3rd Tuesdays 6:30 p.m., New Hong Kong Municipal Airport Committee 1t Wednesday 6:30 p.m., City Hall Pioneer Museum For Info Call 503-429-3713 Upr Nehalem Watershed Council For date call 429-0869 7:00 p.m.,Vernonia Grange Public Works Committee 4th Tuesday 7:00 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Cares Directors For Info call 503-429-1414 Vernonia City Council 1st & 3rd Mondays 7:00 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Comm. Learning Center 1st Wednesday 5:00 p.m., VCLC Vernonia Community PTA 2nd Wednesday 7:00 p.m., WGS Library Vernonia Garden Club 2nd Tuesday 1:30 p.m., Vernonia Library Vernonia Grange 3rd Monday 7:00 p.m., Grange Hall Vernonia Health Center 3rd Thursday 6:30 p.m., 510 Bridge St. Vernonia Library Board 1st Wednesday 9:00 a.m., Sept-June, Library Vernonia Parks Committee 3rd Wednesday 6:30 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Planning Comm. 1st & 3rd Thursdays 6:00 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Ridge Riders Last Thursday 7:00 p.m., Senior Center Vernonia RFPD Board 2nd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Fire Station Vernonia School Board 2nd Thursday 6:00 p.m., District Office Vernonia Sr. Center Board 2nd Friday 10:00 a.m., Senior Center Vernonia Transfer Station 2nd & 4th Saturdays 8 a.m.-2 p.m.,Behind VHS Vern. Volunteer Ambulance Assoc. 1st Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Fire Station Vernonia Volunteer Firefighters 2nd Monday 7:00 p.m., Fire Station WOEC Directors 3rd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., WOEC MIST-BIRKENFELD M-BRFPD Board Business Mtg. 3rd Tuesday M-B Ambulance Drill 1st & 2nd Thursdays M-B Fire Drill 1st & 2nd Wednesdays M-B Helping Circle 2nd Monday M-B SAR Drill 3rd Wednesday M-B Volunteer Assoc. 1st Tuesday Natal Grange 2nd Wednesday T.O.P.S. Mondays BANKS Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous American Legion Post #90 Banks City Council Banks Fire District #13 Banks Library Commission Banks Planning Commission Banks School Board Banks Youth Group Chamber of Commerce CPO 14 Everybody’s Hometown Band Friends of the Library Lions Club Sunset Park Assoc. T.O.P.S. Friday Wednesday 2nd Tuesday 2nd Tuesday 2nd Wednesday 3rd Tuesday Last Tuesday 2nd Monday Sunday, Wednesday 1st Thursday 3rd Monday Tuesdays 2nd Tuesday 1st & 3rd Mondays 3rd Wednesday Wednesday 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:30 p.m., Natal Grange Hall 9:00 a.m., Main Fire Station 7:30 p.m., Methodist Church 7:30 p.m., Methodist Church 7:00 p.m., Main Street Post 7:30 p.m., City Hall 7:00 p.m., Station 13 7:00 p.m., City Library 7:00 p.m., City Hall 7:30 p.m., Jr. High Library 7:00 p.m., UMC Youth Bldg. 12:30 p.m., Fire District Office 7:00 p.m., City Library 7:00 p.m., BHS Music Room 7:00 p.m., City Library 7:00 p.m., Brown Derby 8:00 p.m., Gun Club 7:00 p.m., Administration Bldg. COLUMBIA COUNTY (All meet in St. Helens unless otherwise noted.) Board of Commissioners Wednesday 10:00 a.m., Courthouse Citizens for Senior Justice 2nd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Sunset Park Church Columbia 9-1-1 Board 3rd Thursday 9:00 a.m., 9-1-1 meeting room Columbia Comm Mental Health 1st Tuesday 5”30 p.m., 58646 McNulty Way Columbia Soil & Water District 3rd Wednesday 7:30 p.m., NRCS , 2514 Sykes County Fair Board 2nd Monday 6:00 p.m., Fairgrounds 4-H Bldg. County Parks Commission 2nd Thursday 4:00 p.m., 1054 Oregon St. Comm. on Children & Families 3rd Thursday 5:30 p.m. OSU Ext., 505 N. Hwy. 30 Local Alcohol & Drug Plann. Comm. Quarterly For Info call 503-397-7211 Organizations and meeting dates not listed may be included by calling 429-9410 or by mail to The INDEPENDENT, 725 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR 97064.
