X lh r a r y , U o f O
Chamber Slates
League Speaker
Monday Night
Demoni a
VOLUME 40, NUMBER 40
VERNONIA, OREGON_____________ THURSDAY. OCT. 4. 1962
Business Areas Seen on Bus Trip
FIRST stop of Columbia county community tour
was at Steinfeld's plant in Scappoose where group
from two busses was conducted through the plant,
100-Nile Tour of County
Gives View of Potential
The Columbia county communi
ty tour on Thursday of last week,
was enjoyed by 68 local and other
interested persons, who were
treated to the 100-mile tour of the
county in two chartered busses.
Purpose of the tour was to bet
ter acquaint those interested, in
the industrial and recreation fa
cilities in the county, and to ob
tain a glimpse of the potential
growth of possible future indus
tries.
The first stop on the itinerary
was the Steinfeld plant in Scap
poose, where the group was con
ducted through the large plant by
Ray Steinfeld, who explained
briefly the origin of the business,
and the processes used in the can
ning of pickles and kraut.
Leaving Scappoose, the tour in
cluded stops at Vernonia, Pitts
burg, Natal, Rainier, Mayger and
the Beaver Army facility.
Louis Towne and Bob Lindsay
acted as tour guides for the Ver
nonia tour and pointed out to the
group the fine business and in
dustrial opportunities, the new
businesses, fine residential areas,
new historical museum and the
recreational possibilities of this
area. Following the trip through
town, the busses drove through
the Crown Zellerbach woods area
for a quick look at second-growth
timber management. Frank Reed
put on a brief logging demonstra
tion. The group stopped at the
Natal Grange for coffee and cook
ies served by the Grange ladies.
The tour ended at the Riveria
Room in Clatskanie, where some
120 persons attended the banquet,
which was ably MC’ed by Art
Steele.
Featured speakers of th? eve
ning were Sam H. Malicoat, exec
utive director of the Oregon De
partment of Planning and Devel
opment; and Col. Sterling K. Eis-
ming?r, District Engineer with the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Mr.
Malicoat
complimented
those assembled for their interest
in the county and its development.
He stated that such interest by
the public spoke well for the
county’s future. Malicoat deplored
the lack of defense dollars spent
in Oregon, in comparison to the
amount spent in the neighboring
state of Washington. Figures quot
ed by Malicoat showed that for
every $1.00 spent in Oregon on de
fense contracts by the govern
ment, $35.00 was spent in Wash
ington. Such disparity in govern
ment spending between the two
states is most detrimental to the
potential growth of Oregon, Mali
coat stated, and it will take the
support of all Oregonians to reme
dy the situation. The people of
Oregon need to make their
thoughts and wishes known to
their congressmen, said Malicoat.
Malicoat cited various ways in
which Oregon is being brought to
the attention of industrial person
nel throughout the nation, and ex
pressed hops that some of these
efforts would bear fruit in the
near future.
Col. Eisiminger graphically por
trayed river development prob
lems by supplementing his talk
with colored slides. The slides ef
fectively brought out some of the
hidden problems that are present
in maintaining a deep water chan
nel in the Columbia and other ri
vers.
Eisiminger pointed out that the
Columbia River is one of the
greatest forces for economic de
velopment in Oregon, and it is
the duty of the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers to keep the river
navigable at the least possible ex
pense to the taxpayer. Ships from
every nation ply the Columbia
with products and produce, he
stated, and for long distances
where time is not an important
factor, water transportation is less
expensive than any other way.
Eisiminger stated that the pre
sent channel is being maintained
at a depth of 36 feet, and that the
Columbia river ports are slated to
share heavily in future appropri
ations.
Many prominent C o l u m b i a
county people were in attendance
at the banquet, among whom were
Mrs. U.S. Savings Bonds, Emily
Terrall of St. Helens. Mrs. Terrall
spoke briefly to the guests in her
official capacity. She stated that
she wished she could have taken
the tour of the county before she
made her recent nationwide tour,
so she would have been better
equipped to sell her home county
to those she met.
(See Photos Page 5)
DEADLINE NEAR
FOR CITY JORS
Today, Thursday, October 4,
marks the deadline for the fil
ing of petitions for city of
fice, according to City Record
er Walter Linn. The Vernonia
ordinance specifies that peti
tions must be filed 32 days
prior to the election. Offices
in the city hall close at 5:00
p.m. today so those wishing
to file must act promptly.
Up to noon Wednesday, no
petitions had been filed except
that of Mona Gordon who
seeks re-election as city trea
surer. It is understood that
several petitions are out for
both the mayor and two coun-
cilmen to be elected.
Lions Prepare
Annual Feed
The Vernonia Lions Club has
set October 20 as the date for its
annual pancake feed which will
be held at the City Cafe from
6 a m. to 6 p.m.
Th? money received will be
used to buy two hospital beds that
will be available in the commun
ity to people who require this
special equipment but can’t af
ford the expense of buying or
renting one.
Red Ade is general chairman for
the Pancake feed and he guaran
tees that everyone will have plen
ty to eat and is working hard to
make it a success. He will be
assisted by Barney Pilger as pub
licity chairman, Tom Bateman as
clean-up chairman, Sam Hearing
Jr. as food chairman, and Clarence
Nance as chief cook.
In addition to making plans for
the hotcake fesd at the meeting
held Monday evening at the fire
hall, members of the club heard
Leonard Schmidlin give a very
interesting talk about his People
to People trip to Europe during
the summer.
tioning.
Also, the council voted to call
a special meeting of the budget
committee to consider a supple
mentary budget for payment of
lagoon costs. Also, although the
smoke and fire damage at the city
hall was covered by insurance,
technicalities require a budget ad
justment for the receipt and out
lay.
The council received and con
sidered the proposal of the Jay-
Estacada Hits
Loggers 40-13
Coach Bob Wendel’s Vernonia
Loggers took another one on the
chin last Friday evening when
they visited the Estacada gridiron
and were soundly thumped 40-13.
Once again lack of any offense on
the part of the Vernonia eleven
proved to be their undoing. The
Loggers did cross the opponent’s
goal twice, but both of their tal-
lys occurred on kickoff returns of
85 and 65 yards with the local
eleven amassing only five first
downs in the whole game.
Vernonia’s first TD took place
right after Estacada took the kick
off and drove all the way to score.
Estacada kicked off with An-
deregg receiving the ball on the 15
and rambling all the way to score.
Try for point was good.
The Loggers hit the scoreboard
once again, this time during the
third period when Bowerman
picked up the Estacada kickoff
and galloped 65 yards for the six
points.
Delbert Bush again played an
outstanding gam?, both offensive
ly and defensively, rating him as
one of the best guards in the
league. Boxer Cox and Grimsbo
showed up fairly well on defense
and the whole Logger squad look
ed better than the week before.
Coach Wendel will have a few
changes in the lineup this week
when the Neahkahnie Pirates vis
it Vernonia, which he hopes will
add the offensive punch .which
the Loggers now lack.
Game time is 8 p.m. on Green-
man field. Admission prices are
adults, $1.00; high school students
with student body cards, 50 cents;
grade school, 25 cents; pre-school,
with parents, free.
The impact of Oregon’s new
timber tax law, enacted by the
1961 legislature, together with in
creased budget demands, will re
flect higher millage rates on
every property tax statement in
Columbia county, Flank LeMont,
county assessor, said this week.
The new law went into effect Jan
uary 1, 1962.
The total assessed valuation of
Columbia county was reduced
from $32,220,195 to $31,808,480-a
net valuation loss of $411,517.
The new timber tax law has
dropped the total timber values in
the county by more than 50 per
cent—from $1,483,050 to $732,290.
Only a small percentage of the
loss in timber values was due to
harvesting of timber, LeMont said.
Other improvements in the
county—mainly utility property—
helped to offset the timber loss.
The combined budget demands,
which in most cases were ap
proved by the majority of voters
who cast ballots on the matter,
has increased the total taxes to
be collected from $2,501.282.46 in
1961 to $2,922,658.54 this year.
This makes a total increase of
$421,376.08, an average increase on
a county-wide basis of 16.58 per
cent.
The total monies levied for
school purposes were $2,053,135.-
41, an increase of $316,841.33 over
1961, representing an 18.25 per
cent increase. Monies levied for
schools were 70.2 percent of the
total taxes levied for all purposes.
Th? new timber tax law affect
ed the Vernonia school district
more severely than any other
school district in the count,, Le
Mont noted. In 1961 timber repre
sented 28 percent of the total val
ues in the Vernonia school district.
For the current year, timber re
presents only 17.8 percent of the
total valuation of the district.
Higher budget requirements have
also increased the millage rate
in this district, which has in
creased from 101.6 to 139.2 mills.
J. W. Acaiturri, superintendent
of schools in district 47 joint,
points out that the increase of
$7,872 in the 1962-63 school bud
get over the 1961-62 budget would
have meant only a three mill in
crease had the assessed valuation
remained the same. However, the
assessed valuation for the district
dropped from $2,584,310 to $2,-
196,720, a decrease of $387,580. In
side the city of Vernonia, valua
tion dropped from $551,295 to
$515,600, a decrease of $35,695.
The total timber valuation re
duction in the county amounts to
42 percent. The Vernonia district
is the hardest hit b?cause of the
large timber holding of both Long
view Fiber and Crown Zellerbach.
For the C-Z company on a coun
ty-wide basis, their tax is up on
their other property to offset the
decrease in tax on their timber
holdings. However, their mill
properties are in the St. Helens
district so no offset is felt here.
Taxes in St. Helens will advance
12 percent over 1961, with mill-
ages up to 105.3 from 94.0 last
year. However, if property is lo
cated outside city limits, subtract
$24.10 for city levy and add $1.90
for St. Helens rural fire district
levy. These figures are based on
$1000 assessed valuation.
A 16.7 percent increase is noted
at Scappoose, but persons living
outside the city limits should sub
tract $17.70 for the city levy and
add $1.60 for the rural fire dis
trict. The 1961 millage was 90 8,
this year's 106.0.
There is a 6.27 percent increase
in Warren; 1961 levy 89.3, this
year 94.9. Columbia City, up 12.9
percent; 1961 levy 74.9, this year
84.6 Goble school district, up 5.1
percent; 1961 levy 96.8, this year
101.7.
Inside Rainier the taxes will be
24 percent higher than in 1961.
While the percentage increase is
high in Rainier, their tax rate is
the lowest of an incorporated city
in Columbia county other than
Columbia City. Levy for 1961 was
68.1, this year 84 6. For property
outside the Rainier city liimts
subtract $10.70 for the city levy
and add $1.80 for rural fire dis
trict.
Neer City district shows a 9.4
percent increase; 1961 levy 103.5,
this year 113.2.
Clatskanie’s millage rate in
creases from 78.6 mills to 104.4,
but if property is outside the city
limits, subtract 12.70 mills for city
levy and add 3.1 mills for rural
fire district.
Other increases in millage by
the various districts: Neer City
school district, 1961 levy 103.5
mill, this year 113.2; Delena school
district, 1961 levy 61.1, this year
67.2; Hudson school district, 1961
levy 60.0, this year 70.2; Mayger
school district, 1961 levy 98.8, this
year 110.0; Quincy school district,
1961 levy 65.3, this year 94.0.
Work Planned
On Shay Lot
The shay lot and surrounding
area is going to be made attractive
for residents and tourists to view
through the efforts of the Vernon
ia JayCees who decided at their
meeting Thursday evening cf last
week that they would improve
the appearance of the town's main
street by cleaning up that area.
Other plans made at that meet
ing include a benefit to raise
money to be used at Christmas
to assist needy families.
The group will meet again this
evening at the fire hall at 7:00
p.m. and they urge all other men
between the ages of 21 and 36
to join them.
Hunter Killed
A Clatskanie man, Gene Sim
mons, 57, was killed September 25
when he stepped in his partners
line of fire as the two men were
firing at a moose which they were
hunting. The accident happened
at Francois Lake, 60 miles south
east of Burns Lake, B.C. The other
man involved in the accident was
Harry Sexton also of Clatskanie.
Rain Delays Lagoon Job
At the meeting of the Vernonia
city council Monday evening of
this week, a 15-day extension of
time was granted the contractors
for work on the sewage lagoon.
Work has progressed rapidly but
has been delayed this week by
rain. The entire lagoon area has
been worked to considerable
depth, then packed and a dike is
being built to divide the lagoon
area so that one side can be used
to produce proper depth for func
The Vernonia Chamber of Com
merce has secured another inter
esting speaker for their quarterly
dinner meeting which is to be held
at the Legion hall at 7:00 p.m.
next Monday. October 8 Dinner is
$1.50 per person and will be serv
ed by the women of the Christian
church and the public is invited.
Mrs. Arnold Damskov, speaker
for the occasion, is president of
the Portland League of Women
Voters, and has been associated
with that non-partisan organiza
tion for several years. She has
served in various capacities, and
has represented the League at
state and national conventions.
“Ways Out of Confusion” is the
subject upon which Mrs. Damskov
will speak. As a representative of
the League of Women Voters,
which does not endorse candidates
of any party, she will talk about
some of the measures on which
Oregon voters will cast their bal
lots November 6. On these sub
jects she will give arguments both
for and against the measures.
Comments from the audience will
be invited.
The Chamber has also invited
all candidates for Columbia county
offices to attend the dinner so it
will give the people of Vernonia
a chance to meet and greet the'
candidates.
The dinner is open to the pub
lic and those planning to attend
are asked to notify Evelyn Heath,
chambrr secretary, so the dinner
committee may know how many
to prepare for.
Bills to Reflect
Tax Rate Raise
Cees concerning the making and
installation of new stre?t signs.
The council agreed to furnish the
materials i f the JayCees do the
work.
The council authorized the in
stallation of a 175-watt mercury
vapor street light on the new ex
tension of East avenue where the
new homes are being built.
The council adjourned at 10:15
p.m. and will meet again October
15.
Boys Compete
In Ball Contest
Coach Bob Wendell this week
issued an invitation to spectators
to b j at the high school athletic
field Saturday at 11:00 am . to
witness the semi-finals of the
punt and pass contest which has
been running for the past several
weeks and includes boys in the 11,
12 and 13 age groups.
Coach Wendel stat?d that about
40 boys have been participating
in the activity which has been
used to acquaint them with some
of the basic tactics of football and
he says many of the boys who
have turned out show surprising
promise as future football play
ers.
Three boys will be chosen in the
semi-finals Saturday and they will
be featured in the finals at half
time at the Banks-Vernonia game
on Greenman field Obctobcr 12.
BEAR weighing estimated 300 pounds was shot by John Waller,
left, and Dave Wantland in Clear creek area Saturday afternoon
about 2 o'clock. Animal was hauled out by Don Webb and hunt
ing party with him which included the boys.