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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (June 20, 2012)
The INDEPENDENT, June 20, 2012 Page 5 Vernonia Police Department May 2 – Criminal Mischief reported on California Ave. af- ter a burned envelope and cig- arette butts were found on the deck of the Head Start. No damage was reported to the building. May 4 – Jason Minor, 24, Vernonia, arrested for Criminal Trespass on California Ave.; taken to CCSO jail. May 5 – Death investigation on Mist Drive. May 6 – Agency assist with Major Crimes Team Search Warrant in St. Helens area. Vernonian helps keep wheels rolling in Afghanistan Andrew Shepherd, a contractor with AECOM-CACI Field and Installation Readiness Support Team, and native of Vernonia, works on a M9 pistol at Forward Operating Base Wright. Members of AC FIRST provide maintenance for vehicles and weapons to military members on the FOB. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt Christopher Marasky From page 1 the team’s Cougars, just one of the variations of the MRAP. Re- placing the starter would have taken Brys five or six days, but with the assistance of the mo- tor pool, the job was completed in only three hours and the ve- hicle returned to duty the same day. Vehicles aren’t the only area in which the maintenance shop assists the FOB and other mili- tary members passing through, as the base houses a weapon repair shop as well. “As far as our weapons area, that’s our biggest con- cern,” said Marrero. “Some of the weapons can jam up or have other issues, and peo- ple’s lives depend on those, so that’s our biggest priority.” The team has a pair of for- mer military members, one Army and one Marine, who work in the weapons mainte- nance shop. According to Mar- rero, they excel at fixing all types of weapon systems “These guys have been do- ing what they do for a long time,” said Marrero. “They can tear down a complete weapon, repair it, and put it back togeth- er and get it back to servicea- ble.” Being civilians working alongside the military in a com- bat zone such as the Kunar Province is a rewarding effort, according to Marrero. “I love it, I’ve been around the military all my life,” he said. “Working with the military out here gives you a good feeling in that you’re helping out the soldiers. I helped these sol- diers stay safe since I made sure that their vehicles were good.” It’s an effort that is greatly appreciated by the team, par- ticularly Brys, who says he’d have a difficult time without his civilian counterparts. “If we didn’t have these guys, it’d take us a great deal of time to get things done, such as getting various parts or do- ing repairs,” he said. “Without them there, if I was doing it by myself, it’d take forever.” “Working with the guys is awesome, I could trust them to do anything I need, but we all work as a team,” he said. “They’re awesome and they do a great job.” Reprinted by permission May 7 – Three juveniles re- ferred to Columbia County Ju- venile Dept. for Disorderly Con- duct and Harassment after a fight on Weed Ave. – Theft of $15.00 reported on Cougar St. – iPod reported stolen near Hawkins Park; later located and returned to owner. May 8 – Janet L. Gray, 47, Vernonia, arrested on Wash- ington County Warrant for DUII, Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangerment; taken to CCSO jail. May 9 – Hit and Run report- ed on Bridge St. May 10 – Theft and Unau- thorized Entry into a Motor Ve- hicle reported on Adams St. Items stolen included 6 CDs, a golden locket, and Xbox games. – Agency assisted OSP with MVA on Hwy 47 near MP 66. May 12 – MVA reported on 1st Ave. after a vehicle backed into a parked vehicle. – Phillip Aronhalt, 18, Ver- nonia, cited for Possession <1 oz. Marijuana at Hawkins Park. – Juvenile male referred to Columbia County Juvenile Dept. for Possession <1 oz. Marijuana at Hawkins Park. – Theft reported on Bridge St. included a Ruger .22 hand- gun, a diamond ring, a sap- phire bracelet and diamond earrings stolen from a home; ongoing investigation. May 13 – Nathan F. Alwin, 21, Vernonia, cited for Posses- sion <1 oz. Marijuana near Hawkins Park. – Agency assist on Restrain- ing Order Violation. May 15 – Criminal Mischief reported at Anderson Park, where a faucet was broken off and shooting water. – Theft reported on Weed Ave. after 2 chainsaws, 2 split- ting malls, a shop vac., 2 hoes, Council okays Jamboree items From page 4 den to be open during Jam- boree, August 3-5. • approved the usual street closures for Jamboree activi- ties. The next council meeting will be July 2, starting at 7:00 p.m., at city hall. 2 rakes were stolen. May 17 – Jerid J. Chelby, 22, Vernonia, arrested for Ha- rassment Warrant; taken to CCSO jail. May 18 – Sex Abuse report- ed on Fairway Lane; ongoing investigation. May 19 – Burglary and Theft reported on Heather Ct. after someone entered home and stole $200 from wallet on kitchen table. – Theft and Unauthorized Entry into a Vehicle reported on Bridge St, after credit/debit cards and about $250 in cash was stolen from vehicle parked at the fire station. May 20 – Agency assist with Major Crimes Team in St. He- lens area. May 21 – Theft reported on Mississippi Ave. after jewelry stolen from home. – Nathan F. Alwin, 21, Ver- nonia, referred to DA for Theft of knives on Fairway Lane; knives recovered and returned to owner. – Juvenile male, Vernonia, referred to Columbia County Juvenile Dept. for Theft of knives on Fairway Lane; knives recovered and returned to own- er. May 23 – Two Burglaries re- ported from the Snack Shack at Vernonia Lake after $45 and 2 pairs of needle-nose pliers were stolen. May 24 – Hit and Run re- ported on Bridge St.; ongoing investigation. – MVA reported at Bridge St. and Madison Ave. after a vehi- cle ran into a fire hydrant. May 26 – 2 juvenile males referred to Columbia County Juvenile Dept. for Minor in Pos- session of Tobacco. – Animal Abuse reported on Heather Lane after cat was shot by an arrow; referred to Columbia County Animal Con- trol for follow-up. May 27 – Tyler D. Bernardi, 22, Vernonia, cited and re- leased for DUII and Reckless Driving. – Criminal Mischief reported on Madison Ave. where vehicle tires were damaged by screws or similar objects. May 29 – Jerid J. Chelby, 22, Vernonia, arrested for Ha- rassment Warrant; taken to CCSO jail. May 31 – Criminal Mischief reported at Snack Shack at Vernonia Lake after someone tried to enter through a window, damaging the screen; did not appear that the building was entered. Traffic............................ 2