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.