Library, U of O
Headlines Mark
Top News of '48
“Vernonia, Gateway to Nehalem Valley Lumbering, Farming Recreation ”
VOLUME 26, NUMBER 53
Gauge Lists
10-Degree
Low Point
Weather Observer
Tallies Snowfall
Totaling 13 Inches
A low temperature reading of
10 degrees was recorded at the
cooperative weather station De
cember 27 by Mrs. Helen Spofford
who makes the official weather
readings for this vicinity. She
issued her report of the weather
Wednesday morning to cover the
readings so far this month.
The minimum of 10 ahov" zero
was the coldest recorded during
the recent period of freezing
weather, she said. Th«re were
several other days when the of
ficial minimum reading was 12
degrees.
Maximum reading was 46 de
grees on December 9 and the pre
vailing wind direction has been
south west.
Considerable snowfall has also
been tallied during December with
the total being 13 inches. Pre
cipitation up to Wednesday morn
ing was listed at 11.60 inches of
which .83 of an inch fell the night
before during the rain that ended
the cold spell.
e
Tigers, Loggers
Tangle Jan. 4
Ball fans will not see the Log
gers in action again until January
4 when Vernonia again starts net
play, this time against the Clats
kanie Tigers. The game is sched
uled for the Logger’s floor.
Again here during the same
week Vernonia will meet the top
notch Rainier Columbians here.
The date for this game is Jan
uary 7. Rainier defeated Albany
Monday of this week in a tourna
ment at Lewis and Clark college
and is rated highly, as a contender
for the championship of the
Lower Columbia league.
•
Remembrance
Marker Given
A cemetery marker in memory
of their daughter, Bernaden*, is
being given Mr. and Mrs. H. H.
King by city employees who are
closely associated with Mr. King
in his work for the city.
The people expressing their
sympathy to the Kings are: Al
Childs, Neal Bush, Lyman Hawken,
J. E. Tapp, W. H. Kent, Bob
Curl, Sam L. Hearing, George
Johnson, J. A. Davis, R. L. Ray
mond, J. J. Grady, C. F. Heiber,
Bert Brunsman, Sh’rley Kirtland
and Mona and Paul Gordon.
The marker will be placed by
Mr. Kirtland, cemetery caretaker.
VERNONIA, COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON
Skating Rink
Opened Mon.
Another form of recreation be
came available to local people Mon
day of this week when Mr. and
Mrs. Arthur Baker opened their
skating rink. The rink is located
at their home on Capitol hill «nd
many people will know the loca
tion as the Capitol Hill Hatchery
which Mr. and Mrs. Baker also
own and operate.
The skating area measures 24 by
52 and provides almost 1250 square
feet of floor space. It is located
in a building which has been re
modeled.
•
Byers Makes Air
Trip with Squad
Included as a member of the
33-man Oregon state football squad
which left Eugene airport early
Wednesday morning for Honolulu
was Duke Byers, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Bus Byers.
The Beavers
will play the University of Hawaii
in the Pineapple bowl New Year's
day.
The Beavers were scheduled to
arrive in Honolulu Wednesday
evening and planned to immedi
ately set up headquarters in the
Moana hotel. Several tours of
the island are planned for the
squad in addition to a full-scale
Luau, traditional Hawaiian feed
and fiesta.
•
Chest Gives
15 Families
Gift Baskets
Committee Expresses
Appreciation for
Donations to Fund
Fifteen families in this region
bencfitted this Christmas from
baskets prepared and paid for by
funds from the Community chest,
according to a report issued Mon
day by the committee. . At the
t:me the report was released the
committee also expressed its ap
preciation to Oregon-American em
ployees and to the corporation for
the generous donations received
during the recent drive for funds.
The extent of activity of the
committee during the past four
years indicates the help extended
to local needy and shows that
funds donated to the cause here
have been well expended.
During the period from Feb
ruary 22, 1944 to December 7 of
this year, the chest organization
for this area has expended $493.36
for food, clothing and medical
supplies.
The committee handling the work
includes members from IWA Local
5-37 and the Vernonia Study club.
•
Vets Win Close
Game Tuesday
Council Holds
Special Meet
A one-point margin separated
the V.F.W. and Clatskanie at the
final gun Tuesday night when the
two teams met at the high school
gym. The final count was 24-23.
Don Cline, center for the Vets,
was high scorer with 12, while
Anderson was high for Clatskanie
with 8. Vernonia led at the end
of the first quarter, but trailed
at the close ef the second and
third periods. The third quarter
tally of 14 to 18 in favor of
Clatskanie was overcome in the
last period.
•
City councilmen met in a special
session Wednesday evening at the
city hall to reconsider action taken
at an earlier meeting this month
when the problem of licensing and
taxing slot machines was consider
ed and an ordinance adopted to
cover operations of the machtnes.
Mayor George Johnson an
nounced the meeting early this
week and said that the session was
being held again to discuss the
action taken at the previous meet
ing and possibly change the de
cision made at that time.
•
Dahl Resigns Post
Annua! Meeting Set
Fred Dahl, who has been 4-H
club agent in this county for about
a year, has accepted a position as
extension agricultural economist
at Oregon State college, and left
Thursday of last week for Cor
vallis to take up his new duties.
The county court has not named
his successor as yet, and the ap
pointment may wait until after
•
On Sunday afternoon following
the morning service, the members
of the First Christian church will
hold their annual meeting for
election of officers, acceptance of
the budget and to hear reports of
the current year. This will be a.
potluck dinner and all planning
to attend are urged to bring dishes
of food to share with all others.
•
Work to Start Soon
Conference Scheduled
Logging activity on the Columbia
Tree Farm is scheduled to resume
again January 10 after the holi
day period shutdown since De
cember 23. Oregon-American mill
employees will go to work again
Monday of the coming week.
The state Grange officers con
ference will be held at Beaver
Homes Grange hall Saturday, Jan
uary 8 with a pot-luck dinner at
6 p.m. All Grangers are invited,
according to Mrs. Pearl Becker,
Grange correspondent.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1948
Collectors to
Aid Farmers
Deputies from the office of the
collector of internal revenue will
be in Columbia county on three
dates early in January to assist
farmers with the filing of their
forms 1040 ES, declaration of es
timated tax for the calender year
1948. Farmers can also obtain aid
in the preparation and filing of
their income tax returns for the
calender year 1948 from the depu
ties.
Dates and places where the ser
vices of the collectors will be
available in Columbia county are
Rainier, January 4; St. Helens,
January 5 and 6 inclusive.
•
IWA Procedure of
Meetings Change
Starting Decomb“r 16, business
meetings of IWA Local 5-37 will
be held every other Thursday
night for the time being. Alter
nate Thursday nights will be de
voted to entertainment and educa
tional programs. This plan is being
adopted as many educational sub
jects will be discussed, picture*
will be shown, and many other
items of vital interest to all mem-
bers will be considered, Local
officers look forward to the mem-
bership attending these meetings.
The next regular business meet
ing will be December 30 and the
entertainment meeting will be Jan
uary 6, 1949.
Basic Training
Course Finished
Pte. Richard Renfro, 19, son of
Mr. and Mrs. D. F. O’Brien, has
completed his basic airborne course
with the silbóme battalion at the
infantry school, Fort Benning,
Georgia.
He was presented with the co
veted silver wings of a qualified
paratrooper November 19. During
the five-week course he learned the
technique and principals of para
chute jumping and landing and
made five supervised jumps from
a plane in flight at altitudes of
1000 and 1200 feet, one of which
was with complete combat equip-
ment.
Renfro attended Vernonia high
school and is well known here.
•
Miller to Speak
Rev. Buford Miller of St. Helens
will speak at both Sunday services
at the Assembly of God church.
Miller is a very able minister and
haB been preaching for many years.
Auditor* Here
Auditors from I. D. Wood and
Company, Portland, spent the first
three days of last week here mak
ing their periodic check of books
df the Oregon-American Lumber
Corporation.
A White Christmas
It is a white Christmas in Ver
nonia this year. The snow is not
too deep, but it has covered the
ground for some inches.
The
boughs of the fir trees are weigh
ted with its silvery whiteness and
bend downward as if in submis
sion to Old Man Winter; but now
and then a rebellous bough shakes
off its load and springs up, cas
cading a silvery shower to the
ground below.
As the old man, who lives up
on the hill, goes out to the barn
yard to feed his chickens the snow
is crunchy under his feet, his
breath makes a white cloud before
him and he allows to himself that
this cold snap will be bad for his
“rumatiz”, and he places his feet
with care for a fall on the iey
walk would be hard on old and
brittle bones. As he scatters the
corn and wheat his fingers tingle
with the unaccustomed cold. The
old red rooster dutifully clucks
the hens to their breakfast then
stands around on one foot the
other tightly tucked up in his
feathers.
The snowbirds and sparrows are
chirping to him from the bare
limbs of the willow tree and he
scatters oatmeal and crumbs on a
cleared place beneath the tree.
Even before he finishes they are
fluttering greedly down. In some
mysterious way the word seems to
have gone far and wide for before
he is back to the kitchen door
dozens more are coming, chirping
and hopping about with many
flirts of wing and tail; and there
is always a few pugnatious little
rascals that seem to be more in
tent on chasing their fellows away
then in themselves feeding. As
the old man warms his numb fing
ers at the stove he observes their
antics from the window with dis
approval and ruminates “birds are
just like folks, always feudin’*.
The sun cornea up reluctantly
far to the south of its usual path;
it is nine o’clock before it peers
over the tops of the fir trees and
illuminates the Christmas tree in
the window with its silver tinsels,
the gaily colored decorations, a
tinfoil star at the top and a candy
cane hanging among its branches.
Ma always insists on a Christmas
tree. There won't be any young-
uns to enjoy it, but she says it is
more like Christmas. Tonight will
be Christmas Eve and they will
draw up their chairs and open the
Christmas packages that lie be
neath the tree. The old man has
a pretty good idea of what will be
in his package for he has noticed
Ma busily knitting on something
that she hastily concealed when
ever he came near; a pair of mit
tens or, more likely a pair of bed
socks as his feet have been getting
rather cold of late. He wonders if
she knows snout the warm bouse
slippers, lined with rabbit fur,
that he has for her. He more
than suspects that she does, not
that she would peek—she would
never do that—but experience has
taught him that it is next to im
possible to keep a secret from her.
He used to marvel at the uncanny
way in which she seemed to know
whatever he was up to, even to
divining his very thoughts, but he
)ias long ceased to wonder and to
accept it as just something be
yond his understanding.
As they sat before the Christmas
tree that evening the old man’s
thought* went back through the
years; sdme were good and some
marked by sorrow and trouble but,
he allowed, if he had it all to do
over again he would not change it
—at least—not much; and he knew
that Ma went with him down mem
ory lane for her work roughened
hand, somehow, found its way
into his, and he knew her thoughts
were not unpleasant for there was
a smile on her lips as her head
rested gently against his shpulder.
Then from up the road there came
the souhd of happy young voice*
and a horse went by drawing a
home made sled through the snow,
there was a lone sleigh bell tink
ling from hi* neck and someone
was singing “Silent Night,”
Yea; it is a whit* Christmas
up on the hill.
Top news stories for the year about to end are indicated by promi
nent headlines in the past 52 issues of the Eagle. The year 1948 was
marked with changes and events, many of which will have lasting effect
on those who reside in the Upper Nehalem valley. The Eagle dated
January 1 announced that broadcasting of three species of tree seed
by helicopter <tn 1000 acres of the Columbia Tree Farm had just been
completed. This method of seeding was thought to be the first per
formed by plane.
January 15—A two-column headline above a news story about th?
Vernonia bank indicated that deposits have increased steadily since the
institution was opened to business March 17 of the year before. Deposits
had risen to $705,431.95 as of December 31, 1947, Earl A. Bowman,
president of the bank, said.
January 22—Several Nehalem valley sportsmen began a campaign
to raise funds for the purchase of 157 acres of land located at Keas ’y
and owned by West Oregon Electric Cooperative. Subscriptions of $10
per person were asked in order to finance the purchase. Shortly after
the campaign was started by sportsmen, the Cooperative carried out a
plan to destroy the power dam which was located on the property in
order to reduce the taxes. The blast which destroyed the dam was set
off January 26.
February 5—American Legion Post 119 announced its decision to act
as sponsor for a Junior Legion baseball team. Harry Culbertson was
named head of the committee to handle arrangements for geting the
team underway and for financing.
February 19—Carrol B. Howe, supervisor of secondary education of
the state department of education, issued his report on the condition of
the high school buildings and equipment His report of the plant came
after an inspection made January 19 and rated the school as condition
ally standard. The report indicated the rating would become standard
as soon as changes were made in the library. Another news item on
this date announced the organization of the P.-T.A. and the election of
Mrs. George Johnson as president of the group.
March 4—New water rates for resident* of the city of Vernonia
were announced on this date after city councilmen adopted an ordinance
which established a monthly minimum of $2.00 as compared with the
former minimum of $1.75. The March 4 Vernonia Eagle also told about
the Washington grade school basketball team winning the county cham-
pionship in a play-off at St. Helens against the Warren graders. As
a result of winning the game, the Washington team went to the state
tournament at Hill Military academy in March.
March 11—-What apparently was the end of any more definite sc
tion concerning a city manager for Vernonia came at a Lions club
meeting when J. W. Barney, Hillsboro city manager, outlined this form
of government. Guests of the Lions that evening were members of the
city council and representatives of the Vernonia Study club.
March 25—A bulletin posted earlier this week at the Oregon-
American plant called to the attention of employees, and especially those
who have been with the corporation since it started in 1936, the fact
that on Wednesday, March 24, at about 3:30 pm. the mill cut its one-
billionth foot of lumber since starting in 1936.
April 8—Received here last week by West Oregon Electric Manager
Guy Thomas was notification that this cooperative has been granted an
REA loan amounting to $430,000. The word came from rural electrifi
cation administration headquarters in Washington, D. C.
April 22—The Vernonia high school student body, was preparing
for its annual carnival to be held the following evening. Funds raised
from the entertainment that evening were used to defray the expense
of a sprinkler system for the city park field.
May 13—Thirty-seven seniors and 51 grade school students were
listed as being eligible to receive diplomas at graduation exercises later
in the month.
June 3—A fire of undetermined origin in the Hotel MacDonald
building earlier this week caused damage amounting to considerably
over $10,000, one of the greatest fire losses to be sustained by a pro
perty owner in the city in many years. The loss left the city short
of hotel accomodations, not only for travelers, but for people who had
been living there regularly.
June 10—OMljr a small representation of telephone subscribers was
on hand to voice complaints at a hearing conducted by the city council
earlier this week. Arthur Scripture, West Coast Telephone manager for
the Forest Grove district, was on hand to answer questions about the
difficulties which had been experienced by local users.
June 24—The serving of hot lunches to grade school students
became possible because of a decision by voters favoring the supple
mentary budget published by School District 47. The budget provided
funds for the purchase and installation of equipment and supplies for
the program as well as a new roof for the Washington school. The hot
lunch program was backed by the Vernonia Parent-teachers association
which was instrumental in seeing that steps were taken to provide for
funds in the new budget.
k
July 29—What may come to be an annual affair here was a midget
car race which the Lions.club decided to sponsor at their Monday even
ing meeting. Setting of a date and place where the race was to be
held was delayed until a later meeting of the organization.
August 12—The Vernonia Study club announced a silver tea to
take place August 25 as a public library benefit. The tea was one
method adopted by the club in seeking to raise funds which the library
board would later have at its disposal in order to improve the institution.
The August 12 Eagle also carried a story concerning street lighting
rates which were suggested by West Oregon Electric to the city council.
Councilmen indicated they believed the new rate was too high while the
Cooperative board of directors objected to the two per cent gross earn
ings tax which was in effect by the city on earnings of the cooperative.
August 26—Payment of city expenses were to go on a temporary
warrant basis because of the lack of ready cash and the fact that funds
had not been coming in as rapidly as necessary. Cause of the tempor
ary change in the method of payment of expenses was attributed to
rising costs of materials and increased salaries. On the same date Bob
King was named winner of the Vernonia Country club championship
tournament.
September 9—The opening day’s enrollment in Vernonia school*
showed a change of considerable proportions as far as the grades were
concerned but remained about the same for the high school. The open
ing day figure for the grades was 581 students as compared with 516 for
the previous year. Officials said they expected further increase of
between 25 and 50 students after School had been in progress for several
weeks.
September 16—The construction work on 74 miles of electric dis- '
tribution line was scheduled for completion this week by the Ganby
Electric service to add over 200 new consumers to the list of those al
ready served by West Oregon Electric. The new construction covered
areas up Pebble creek into Top Hill, Scoffield, Strassel, Bacona ar.d
roads leading into Buxton and Manning as well as the Chapman-Spitzen-
berg area.
September 23—Ralph McKee was re-elected to hi* third term as
president of the Columbia county Local 4-H Leaders association at the
fall meeting of the group at the county fairground* a few day* before
this date. An estimate of the number of men who would be signed up un
der the new draft law in Columbia county was considerably above the
number who actually did sign. The estimate placed Columbia's total at
1800 while the signature* actually amounted to 1198 of which 40 were
transients, or a differepce of 600. The sign-up, which was conducted
her* by Bill Hom, totalled 230.
September 30—The Vernonia Ix>gger grid team defeated the St.
(Continued on page 8)