County
News
CARPENTRY CLASSES TO
BE STARTED DECEMBER 21
RAINIER — Through the fed
eral government’s “food for free
dom” program the Smith-Hughes
agricultural department of Rai
nier high school has been auth
orized to organize a class in
carpentry.
This school will be held two
nights a week, Tuesdays and
Thursdays.
An opportunity wilt be provid
ed for those attending to learn
to sharpen saws, cut rafters,
build stairs and learn other ne
cessary skills in carpentry.
If this school is to be con
tinued, an average attendance
of 10 persons must be maintain
ed. There is no charge for this
class and it is open to anyone
who cares to register.
18 FROM HERE GO TO
COUNTY BLOOD BANK
CLATSKANIE — This city
was represented at the Colum
bia county blood bank recently
by 18 donors.
OIL COMPANY FILES ACTION
AGAINST SHIP
ST. HELENS — Richfield Oil
corporation is plaintiff in an un
usual action filed with the Co
lumbia county clerk last week.
Defendant is an ocean-going ves
sel. The S. S. Felix Dzderjinski.
and the action is to recover $2,-
000 in damages allegedly inflict
ed by the craft on the oil com
pany’s dock in Linnton.
The suit is filed in Columbia
county because, according to the
complaint, the
Dzderjinski is
“now lying in waters of Colum
bia county and is subject to judg
ment by the circuit court.” Ex
act location of the vessel was
not disclosed.
According to the complaint, the
Dzderjinski damaged the Linnton
dock at 12:30 a.m. Dec. 7 when
it pulled away to leave down
stream. In leaving, the complaint
says, the stern struck the dock
and caused the damage. The com
pany also seeks its costs and dis
bursements and interest on the
$2,000.
WAR CHEST STANDS
AT 91% OF TOTAL
Columbia county has thus far
contributed 91.091 per cent of
its war chest goal, according to
figures announced recently by
R. W. Simeral, county chairman
for the drive. Quota for Colum
bia in this campaign is $17,500
and Simeral was confident that
by the time all returns were in
the goal would be topped by a
wide margin.
Yet to turn in complete re
ports are Vernonia, Wilark and
Clatskanie. Solicitation of Ore
gon-American workers and em
ployees at logging camps in the
vicinity as welt as men at Wil
ark operation of Clark and Wil
son is not yet finished.
The drive at Clatskanie has
not produced results expected,
but the campaign in the lower
end of the county is not yet
completed.
Of the $15,940.86 turned in
so far, Scappoose has supplied
$631.80, Rainier, $1,479.05, Ver
nonia $780.80, and Clatskanie
$466.35, records kept by C. H.
Vaughan of the U. S. National
bank disclosed.
CHRISTMAS CAROLS AND
MUSIC FOR'SHOPPERS
ST.
HELENS — Chimes,
Christmas bells and also quartet,
solo and chorale music will ac
company the quick and happy
step of the Christmas shoppers
in downtown and West St. Hel
ens during the week of Christ
mas.
By arrangement with the city,
business furms and the minister
ial association a public address
system will peal out the rich,
melodius tunes of the Christmas
carols. Many communities have
done this for years.
Thursday, December 23, 1943________________ Vernonia. Columbia County, Oregon_____________________ Volume 21, Number 51
Lighted Scene
Of Christmas
Is Displayed
Terminal Cafe
Takes Honor in
Window Scene
Illuminated Picture
Tells of Birth of
Christ in Bethlehem
The Sunday school of the
Christian church have displayed
a lighted Christmas scene in the
Pagoda next to the Christian
church parsonage. This scene is
on a picture which measures 28
feet by 9 feet in size and is
framed with evergreen bows. The
scene of the City of Bethlehem
is portrayed, with the star de
picting the birth of Christ. The
scene is illuminated with 1000
watts of light and these lights
will be turned on at 6:30 a.m.
and also every evening until
New Years.
Vernonia to Meet
Tillamook Soon
The Vernonia Loggers will
meet the Tillamook Cheesemak
ers on their floor on Friday,
January 7. Tillamook will return
their game when they will play
on the Logger’s floor on Febru
ary 29.
The game with Forest Grove
has been' called off due to ill
ness in the Forest Grove schools
which has caused a great number
of absences.
A game with the Seaside Sea
gulls has been added to the
schedule and they will meet the
Loggers on February 4 here in
Vernonia.
The Boy’s club of the high
school is sponsoring an activity
which is the playing of noon hour
games. Coach Orle Robbins is
responsible for the games and the
officiating is done by members
of the varsity team, it being rul
ed that members of the varsity
team cannot play in these games.
Several teams have been chosen
and they in turn have chosen a
captain for their respective team.
Teams Named
The teams are as follows: “The
Flying Midgets”, Wendall Rig
gins, captain; Harold Fowler,
Paul Schmidlin, Linn Michener,
Dale Roland, Robert Falconer
and Russel Snook. “The Flying
Tigers”, Earl Spofford, captain;
Selwyn Graves, Bobby Condit,
Tommie Hults, Jimmie Rusow,
Bobby Bramblett and Howard
Reeher. “The Draft Dodgers”,
Randolph Bass, captain; Fred
Busch, John Wilcoxen, Leonard
Belongia, Billie Marshall, Billie
Hall, Ralph Keasey. “The Hot
Shots”, Harry Saxton, captain;
Joe Enneberg, Jeremy Taylor,
Otto Browning, John Schmidlin,
John Lazott.
These teams play their games
for a 20-minute period during
the noon hours twice a week.
Community Sing
Proves Success
•
Those who were not present
at the community singing held at
the Washington grade school
Monday night, missed a chance
to blend their voices with others
in the singing of Christmas car
ols which were led by Mrs.
Maude Kobow, Washington grade
school director of music. An ad
ded attraction was the appear
ance of the grade school girl’s
chorus which did its part in mak
ing the evening a success. Beau
tiful Christmas lighting was also
a feature of the evening.
SEAL RETURNS STILL COME
The Christmas seal returns are
still coming in. According to
Paul Gordon, $350 has already
been received from the sale and
this amount has been sent to
the county treasurer, Mrs. Lar
son.
First Prize Won
For Originality
and Unity, Stated
7o all Eagle readers, wherever
they may he, the wish is that they
may have A Merry Christmas.
Christmas Mail
Rush Eased
According to Emil Messing lo
cal postmaster, the
Christmas
mailing rush wa8 taken care of
much easier this year than in
years past. In other years the
rush peak is usually reached
about two days before Christmas
but this year the peak was reach
ed seven days before. The people
of Vernonia have been mailing
their Christmas packages earlier
and over a longer period of time,
which gives the postoffice em
ployees a chrnce to give the cus
tomers much quicker service.
Stamp sales on the peak day
of past years has usually been
a round $300. This year the
stamp sale on the peak day
amounted to $187 which was due
entirely to the early Christmas
mailing.
Postmaster Messing feels that
the campaign for early mailing
has been very successful. He also
states that the people are taking
their packages from the post of
fice early this year instead of
leaving them in the office until
shortly before Christmas.
Scouts Express Thanks
The Boy Scouts and their
scoutmaster, Ed. Frazee, wish
to express their thanks to those
who have furnished material
which has been needed by the
scouts for some time. They wish
to thank: the Oregon-American
for pipe for chinning bars and
for lumber for shelves and cup
boards; the high school for
climbing rope; the Vernonia Fire
department for rope; and Bob
Spencer and M. B. Willard for
wood.
High School to
Have Event Fri.
A Christmas program will be
held during assembly period Fri
day at the high school. There
will be the singing of Christmas
carols and Eleanor Corll will
play her xylophone an<) a read
ing will be given by Miriam
Corll. There will also be the pre
sentation of special gifts and
football letters, after whicn
Santa Claus will appear. The
treats were obtained by a dona
tion of pennys which the stu
dents contributed, each giving
a penny for each year of age.
Additional Ration Game Commission
Stamps Valid Soon To Meet Jan. 8
Validity dates for additional
sets of brown stamps in war ra
tion book three for use in buy
ing commodities rationed under
the meats-fats
program
and
green stamps in war ration book
four, used in buying processed
foods, were announced a short
time ago by the office of price
administration.
The stamps and their validity
dates are aa follows:
Brown
stamps
(meats-fats)
war ration book three; V—Janu
ary 23, 1944 to February 26,
1944.
W—January 30, 1944 to Feb
ruary 26, 1944.
X—February 6, 1944 to F*eb-
ruary 26, 1944.
Y—February
13,
1944 to
March 20, 1944.
Z—February 20,
1944
to
March 20, 1944.
Green stamps G, H and J in
war ration book four • become
valid on January 1, 1944 for
buying processed foods and run
through February 20. The cur
rently valid green stamps D, E
and F are good for processed
foods through January 20, 1944.
Donors Give Blood
At Hillsboro
A car load of Vernonia women
motored to the Hillsboro blood
don i ng center to make their
donation on Friday, December
17. Those making the trip were
Mrs. Ray Zimmerdahl, Mrs. John
Roediger, Mrs. Ira Baucom, and
Mrs. Virgil Powell. Mrs. M. B.
Steers, who is a member of the
motor corps, drove her ear but
did not make a donation.
The Oregon state game com
mission will hold its annual hear
ing in regard to angling regula
tions at ten o'clock Saturday
morning, January 8, at its offic
es in 616 Oregon building, Port
land.
Consideration will be given at
that time to regulations affect
ing seasons, bag limits and meth
ods of taking game fish. The
hearing is open to the public.
Daughter Interned
In Philippines
Mr. and Mrs. F. R. Olin have
just received a letter from their
daughter, Frances, who with her
husband, Rev. Vincent H. Gowen
and their two children, Geoffrey
and Ann, are interned at Camp
Holmes near Baguio in the Phil
ippine Islands. Baguio is approx
imately 125 miles
north of
Manila.
Frances reports that they have
been remarkably well although
the tittle girl. Ann, has had to
have her appendix removed. Thty
have an excellent aoctor who is
interned at that camp. She says
the starch diet has put pounds
on her but taken them off her
husband. All the missionaries in
Northern Luzon as well as many
other white persons are interned
at this camp. They have schools
for the children and put on plays
for the entertainment of ell. Mr.
Gowen is acting as principal of
the high school.
Rev. Gowen is an Episcopal
minister and has conducted a
mission and a school for the
natives for several years ut
Besao which is about 50 miles
north of Baguio.
The Gowens spent quite a lit
tle time in Vernonia during their
last furlough to the states in
1938 and 1939 and were due for
another trip home this year.
The letter from Mrs. Gowen
which was written on August 22,
1943, is the first direct word
received from them since Decem
ber, 1941. Mr. and Mrs. Olin
have also just received a letter
from the Mission board in New
York City informing them that
the Gowens were at Camp
Holmes and well.
Those Who
Are in It
NO INNER SPRINGS
In a letter received by his
mother, Elmo Aldridge, who is
stationed in North Africa writes,
"I just finished making out the
daily morning report for the
Co. The latest edition of Red
Skelton just came over the radio.
It is my favorite program. I had
a little accident the other night.
My bunk is made up of a square
frame with chicken wire stretch
ed across for springs. Well, I got
in bed and
something went
’twang.’ I paid no attention but
soon something said ‘twang*
again, and I «as picking myself
up off the ground. My chicken
wire had let me down. It took
four 250 round machine gun
belts and assortment of wire,
rope, string and bands off of
old crates to repair the damage.
Altogether it is a very neat job,
which looks something like a
bird’s nest, only different.
“I am still waiting for that
Chr stmas package. Say Mom,
didn’t you say there was a fruit
cake in it? Boy, I hope so!”
PROMOTION MADE
In a list of war department
promotions released December
22 it is announced that William
H. Manning, AGD, has been pro
moted from 2nd to 1st Lieuten
ant. Manning is the husband of
the former Millicent Olin and is
stationed at Pueblo, Colorado
army air base in the adjutant
general department.
STATIONED IN CALIFORNIA
Pvt. 1/c Helen Bennett is now
stationed at Hammer Field, Fres
no, California. She is in the med
ical air corps. After basic train
ing at Des Moines, Iowa she was
ver yglad to be fortunate enough
to return to the west coast. At
last, she says, “I’m net far from
Oregon.
AT REST CAMP
Cpl. Byron Bennett is still at
rest camp on an island in the
south Pacific where he is recov
ering from malaria.
The Christmas window displays
in the business houses of Ver
nonia were judged Saturday, De
cember 18. This contest has been
an annual affair with the ex
ception of last year when the
Vernonia Business Women were
unable to have the contest due
to the lighting restrictions made
by the army.
The first prize winner in this
year’s contest was the window
display made by Mrs. Oscar Vike
at the Terminal cafe. The deci
sion was made for its originality
and unity.
For Christmas appeal the win
dow of Sam’s Food Store carried
off the second honors, while Hof
fman Hardware because o< its
patriotic motif, Armitage Drug
store for beauty, The West Coast
Telephone company for» artistry
and Nance Pharmacy for its seas
onal attractiveness all received
honorable mention.
The cl tb wishes to thank the
business men and women and the
citizens of Vernonia for their
whole-hearted cooperation in the
past and extends its best wishes
for the holiday season.
Fire Department
To Get Equipment
The government through the
civilian defense ia going to give
the following equipment to the
local fire department: 5 gas
masks, 5 coats-fireman's turn out,
5 helmets, 5 pairs of pants, 1
skid mounted pump and 5 pair
of boots, if available.
The city has also made appli
cation for a salvaged army ve
hicle to be used as fire fighting
equipment. The units are net
older than 1935 models and in
clude those of Ford, Chevrolet
and Dodge manufacture. They
are in drive-away condition.
It has been reported that there
is a waiting list and no assur
ance can be given as to how
soon the application can be sat
isfied.
In view of the great difficulty
experienced in obtaining chassis
upon which fire fighting apparat
us can be mounted, this oppor
tunity has proved to be of great
value to the City of Vernonia.
School Windows
Very Attractive
The students of the Washing
ton grade school under the di
rection of the art teacher, Miss
Mary Taylor, have decorated the
windoars of their class rooms in
commemoration of the Christmas
season.
The Christmas tree that will
be in the auditorium the night
of the school program has been
decorated by the students of the
school and the decorations have
been made by using water color
paper and making attractive orn
aments.
SERVICE LEAK REPAIRED
Through the efforts of H. H.
King and Water Superintendent
W. H. Kent, a water main ser
vice leake was repaired the first
of the week. The i epair necessi
tated cutting through the ce
ment paving in front of the Ar
mitage Drug store.
DISEASE REPORTED LOW
The communicable diseases re
ported for Columbia county for
the week ending December 11
have been very small. There has
been one case of chicken pox and
one case of poliomyelitis report
ed with 77 per cent of physicians
reporting.