L ib ra ry
D n iv e ra ity o f fre g ati
Eugene, Oregon r'lj.03
Oer non i a B a g lc
V O L U M E 51, N U M B E R 48
VERNONIA, OREGON 97064 — l#c P er Copy
THURSDAY,
NOV.
29,
1973
Public Hearing Slated
For Zoning Ordinance
ordeal without physical harm although they did I
u h r h .n .r
and M r and
d u rin i! the lim e Pictured are. I. to r D elm er and Viola M itchener.
. , M rs Roy N ye.
Mitchen. r walked out to get help for the three after he discovered them missing.
Three Safe After Two
Lost In Buster Creek Area
other three drove ahead to a
prearranged location in the Nye
vehicle
When Mitchener arrived at the
chosen site he discovered the
Nye car empty and, after
searching for a time, walked out
to the highway to get help for the
three missing people. Nye had
taken the keys to his Blazer and
it was too far for Mitchener to
walk back to his own auto.
Matters were greatly com­
plicated by the fact that the
group are all deaf, unable to
hear the ordinary sounds
searchers rely on for locating
missing people. Unless someone
actually saw them or the missing
party sighted the searchers,
hopes for a speedy rescue were
dim.
The search continued until
2:30 a m . when the men halted to
rest until daylight but as the sky
lightened they were out again
slogging through the mud,
Oregon taxpayers will find a
checking behind trees and under
number of time saving improve­
brush in hopes of sighting the
ments on 1973 individual income
three.
tax returns as well as shortened
Members of the search party
and simplified instructions,
on the Clatsop side of the area
Portland District Director of
included the Oregon State
Internal Revenue Ralph B Short
Police, Clatsop County Sheriff’s
said today
Department, the Civil Defense
Describing the long Form 1040
group
from the area, and the
and the short Form 1040A, which
Coast Guard, who used a heli­
are now being printed, Short
copter to look for the three until
estimated that slightly under one
bad weather forced its retreat.
million individual returns would
Earl (Ozzie) Ray of the Co­
be filed in Oregon for 1973
lumbia County Sheriff’s Depart­
Steps taken by the 1RS to
ment headed a group of volun­
improve tax forms, he said,
teers which included Vernonia
• should enable many taxpayers
Police, Vernonia Police Cadets
to complete their returns with
and many civilians who entered
less difficulty and in less time
the search from the Camp
than last year.”
McGregor area
So that taxpayers can file
Found at 3:30 p.m. Thursday,
early and receive refunds in less
November 22, all three, although
time than those filing closer to
dressed warmly, were suffering
the April 15 due date, the
from exposure During their
director urged employers to
two-day plight they had become
distribute W 2 withholding forms
wet which greatly hampered
as soon as possible W 2’s for
their ability to keep body
1973, generally, must be distri­
temperatures normal.
buted by January 31, 1974
“One of the women was in a
Most taxpayers who file in
bad way,” said a spokesman for
January receive their refunds in
the Oregon State Police, adding
four to five weeks, while later
"it's doubtful if she would have
filers may have to wait as long
survived much longer The other
as eight weeks, because of the
two were in better shape but one
greater volume of returns re­
more night on the mountain
ceived, Short said
without
food or a way to get
The major improvements in
warm and it could have been too
the 1973 tax forms are
bad."
elimination of Schedule B
The three were found, huddled
for reporting details of dividends
together in a makeshift lean-to
and interest;
-elimination of the require­ shelter, by a group of loggers,
just a mile and a half from where
ment to list contributions for
thev had left their vehicle They
which the taxpayer has can
had wandered in circles for
celled checks or receipts;
hours before they finally stopped
---- elimination of the require
to wait for rescue.
ment to list names and dates for
Mr and Mrs. Nye and Mrs.
claiming payments to doctors,
Mitchener were taken to the
dentists and hospitals;
Vernonia Medical Clinic where
reduction in the number of
they were examined and treated
revenue-sharing questions to a
by Dr T M Hobart before being
single item, and
released.
---- elimination of income
Warm and safe again, Mr. Nye
limitations for filing the 1040A
expressed his appreciation for
short form
all the volunteers and officers
Taxpayers will also find two
who turned out in the search.
lines on their returns relating to
"We couldn't have made it much
the 1976 Presidential Election
longer, I don't think," he said
Campaign Fund checkoff; one
adding "and I was worried about
line permitting them to check off
the women. I have high blood
for 1973, the other providing a
pressure and was afraid some­
second opportunity for those who
failed to check off on their 1972 thing might happen to me,
leaving them all alone.” Then he
returns and now wish to do so
smiled broadly, saying "but we
In discussing the instructions
were really lucky. They found
for 1973 returns, Short said the
us.”
1RS has not only shortened the
instructions but has rewritten
much of the material in easier
to understand language This
should enable more taxpayers
than before to prepare their own
returns
Short also said most taxpayers
The Oregon Department of
will receive their 1974 tax pack
Veterans Affairs paid $32,192,631
ages in the mail by the early part
in 1973 74 taxes November 15 on
of January 1974 Taxpayers can
the properties of 60,073 war
obtain additional forms and
veterans who have state farm
instructions throughout the filing
and home loans, H.C. Saalfeld,
' period at most banks, postal
director, said today I^ast year's
service stations and 1RS offices
tax payment was $30,211,887 on
in Oregon
53,789 properties.
The veteran's average pay­
ment this year was $536, a 4.5
percent decrease from the $561
he paid last year and 2.5 percent
below his 1971 pavment of $550
In Columbia County, veterans
With Monday, December 3 set
paid $354,508.03 ill taxes this
as the deadline for this year's
year, against $339,014.38 in
United Good Neighbors cam ­
1972-73. In most counties the
paign totals h a v e mounted
totals are up from last year
countywide until it has reached
because, statewide, there are an
$34,370 or 9« percent of the goal
additional 6,284 veterans pro
set for the area
perties on the tax rolls.
Thanks to the quick action and
intensive efforts of several
groups of searchers, Mrs. Viola
Mitchener. Mist Route, Verno­
nia, and Mr and Mrs Roy Nye,
Beaverton, all deaf are once
more at home, safe and sound
following a harrowing two days
spent in the Buster Creek area of
Clatsop County.
The group, which included
Delmer Mitchener. husband of
Mrs Mitchener. entered the
area at approximately H a m
Wednesday, November 21 with
the intention of hunting Mitche
ner separated from the party,
leaving his car parked while the
1RS Explains
Form Changes
Tax Payments
Down Says VA
Columbia County
Nears UGN Goal
NARC Booklets
Available
A n extremely informative
booklet on mental retardation
has just been revised and made
available to the public by the
National Association for Retard­
ed Children.
Entitled "Facts on Mental
Retardation,” the booklet was
updated as part of an ongoing
grant from the Civitan Clubs of
ng
junior and collegiate affiliates.
Civitan this past July gave the
National Association for Retard­
ed Children the first installment
of a two-year grant totaling
$83,534 The grant calls for at
least six booklets to be produced
and provides funds for the
answering of public inquiries
The work is being accomplish­
ed at the National Association
for Retarded Children's head­
quarters in Arlington, Texas.
Persons who would like to
have one of the “Facts on Mental
Retardation" booklets may ob­
tain a copy by writing the
National Association for Retard­
ed Children, P.O. Box 6109,
Arlington, Texas 76011.
Mixing Tires
Dangerous
"If putting snow tires on a car
equipped with radial tires, you
should get radial snow tires.”
The Tire Industry Safety Council
has reminded motorists.
"The driving characteristics
of radial tires are so different it
is actually dangerous to have
radials on the front wheels and
bias ply or bias-belted tires on
the rear wheels," said Council
Chairman Malcolm R. Lovell,
Jr. “ It might be compared to
having a rubber-soled shoe on
one foot and a leather-soled shoe
on the other.”
In support of its warning, the
Council cited a new public
advisory from the National
Highway Traffic Administration
on snow tires.
“If your car is equipped with
radial ply tires, it is essential
that radial ply constructed snow
treads be purchased,” said the
advisory
“ Many motorists consider ra ­
dial tires to be equal in traction
to snow tires in snow or icy
conditions," the advisory added
“However, most states do not
recognize radial ply tires as
snow tires When the motorist
has doubts, he should check with
his state, county or city jurisdic­
tion.”
Radial tires are built in such a
way that when they are turned
they immediately assume the
new direction. If the snow tires
on the rear are of a different
type, the risk of slipping and
causing a skid is increased.
Mist Resident
Loses Battle
Harry Franklin, Mist resident
who tried to fight city hall, lost
his battle last week as the judge,
Don Kalberer, ruled he must ob­
tain a building permit for the
home he built on his property in
the Mist area
"But I did win something,”
Franklin said “The judge didn't
fine me or make me pav court
costs even though he could have
made me pay up to $500 plus
costs.”
“I still think I'm right
though,” he continued “The
building ordinance reads city
council instead of commission
ers and city instead of county but
it went against me."
Columbia County had asked
that Franklin pay court costs
and be ordered to tear the house
down, according to Franklin
There will be a public hearing
on the proposed zoning ordi­
nance for the city of Vernonia
Wednesday, December 12 at 8
p.m in the city hall to finalize
details which will reflect the
needs and desires of the com­
munity.
A zoning ordinance serves a
two-fold purpose It not only
encourages the most appropri­
ate use of land and orderly
growth of the city but facilitates
adequate provisions for com­
munity utilities and facilities
such as water, sewerage, elec­
trical systems, transportation,
schools, etc., and in general, is
enacted to promote the general
welfare of the community as a
whole.
Following are excerpts of the
proposed zoning ordinance so
that residents of Vernonia may
have a basic knowledge of what
the ordinance entails.
Under basic provisions, land
may be used and a structure or
part of a structure constructed,
reconstructed, altered, occupied
or used only as the ordinance
permits.
For tne purpose of the zoning
ordinance the following zones
have been designated. Riresi-
dential); GR (general residen­
tial); GC (general commercial)
and LI (light industrial). The
boundaries for these zones are
indicated on the Vernonia Zoning
Map. Unzoned areas annexed to
the city however, will be zoned R
until the city zones otherwise.
In order to acquaint the com­
munity with the various zones,
explanations are as follows:
Section 3 010. Residential Zone
R: the residential zone is intend­
ed to provide minimum develop­
ment standards for residential
purposes where complete com­
munity s e r v i c e s including
schools, shopping and transpor­
tation are available and where
population concentrations of an
urban nature are developing.
In an R zone the following uses
ar.d their accessory uses are
permitted. A. dwelling B. two-
family dwelling; C. home occu­
pation.
Conditional uses permitted in
an R zone, when authorized in
accordance with Article VI, are:
A Church; B community build­
ing; C. governmental use; D.
hospital, sanitarium, rest home,
nursing or convalescent home;
E.mobile home park, F. school
or college; G public utility
structures; or H. public park or
playground.
In an R zone the following
dimensional standards shall
apply. A. The front yard shall be
a minimum of 20 feet; B. each
side yard shall be a minimum of
five feet except that on a corner
lot the side yard shall be a
minimum of 15 feet; C. the rear
yard shall be a minimum of ten
feet ; D the lot area shall be a
minimum of 5000 square feet and
shall exceed the minimum by
2500 square feet for each dwell
ing unit over two; E. the lot
width shall be a minimum of 50
feet at the front building line; F
the lot depth shall be a minimum
of 100 feet; G building height
shall be a maximum of 35 feet;
and H. not more than 50 percent
of the lot area shall be covered
by buildings.
General residential zoning or
GR is intended to provide mini­
mum development standards as
those of R zoning and where
urban densities include apart­
ments and other higher density
development
In a GR zone the following uses
and their accessory uses are
permitted outright. A. one-
family dwelling; B two-family
dwelling; C. multi-family dwell­
ing; D. boarding, lodging or
Supervisors To Meet
In Si. Helens Dec. 5
Gray Panther Head
To Speak At Meet
Supervisors of drainage dis­
tricts in Columbia and Multno
mah Counties will be meeting
together at 1:30 p in. Wednes­
day, December 5. 1973. in the
Extension Service Conference
Room, Courthouse. St. Helens, to
hear reports of changes in laws
affecting drainage and diking
districts from State Represent­
ative Dick Magruder.
Dwane Brands will report on
plans and activities of the Army
Corps of Engineers as they
concern the Lower Columbia
River region, a n d Quenton
Bowman of the State Water
Resources Board will review
rules and regulations for operat­
ing drainage and diking dist­
ricts
Mrs Margaret Kuhn, the
founder and chairman of The
Gray Panthers will speak at a
convocation at the Portland
Memorial Coliseum on Decem­
ber 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Following the program, Fred
Bernet, Scappoose will serve as
a temporary chairman for a
discussion about formal organ­
ization for supervisors of such
districts which are tax levying
bodies under Oregon law
rooming house; E home occu­
pation and, F. park and recre­
ational facilities.
Under conditional uses in a GR
zone are those permitted in an R
zone with the addition of motel,
hotel, including an eating and
drinking establishment in con­
junct on therewith; group cot­
tages and radio or television
transmitter tower.
The following standards shall
prevail in a GR zone. A. the
minimum lot size shall be 5000
square feet for a one-family
dwelling with an additional 2500
square feet for each additional
dwelling unit; B the minimum
lot width shall be 50 feet except
on a corner lot which shall be 100
feet; C. the minimum lot depth
shall be 100 feet; D. the mini­
mum front yard shall be ten
feet; E the minimum side yard
shall be five feet except on the
street side of a corner lot it shall
be ten feet ; F. the minimum rear
yard shall be ten feet and, G. the
maximum building height shall
be 45 feet.
Section 3.030 of the proposed
zoning ordinance covers GC or
General Commercial Zoning
which is intended to provide for
the broad range of commercial
operations and services required
for the proper and convenient
functioning of commercial cen­
ters. Uses permitted are in­
tended to include all retail and
service operations that would be
located within a shopping dis­
trict and that are normally
required to sustain a commun­
ity.
In a GC zone the following
standards will apply: A. the
minimum lot size, shape and
yards for residential uses shall
be the same as in a GR zone; B.
the minimum yards adjacent to
a residential zone shall be the
same as if the lot were in a
residential zone; C. there shall
be no height limitations on
building. D outdoor storage
abutting or facing a lot in a
residential zone shall be screen­
ed with a sight-obscuring fence.
Section 3.040 covers light in­
dustrial zoning or LI. It is
intended to provide for those
manufacturing , warehousing,
and sales operations which, ba­
sically, do not create objection­
able amounts of noise, odor,
dust, glare, vibration or truck
and-or rail traffic.
Uses permitted outright in a LI
zone are: A. public utility struc­
ture; B. radio or television
transmitter tower; C. retail
trade establishment such as food
store, drug store, gift shop,
hardware store, and furniture
store; D. repair and mainten­
ance service of the type of goods
to be found in the above per­
mitted retail stores provided
such service is performed wholly
within an enclosed building; E.
business, governmental and
professional office; F. financial
institution; G. eating and drink­
ing establishment; H. personal
and business services such as
barber shop, tailoring, printing,
funeral home or laundry and dry
cleaning establishments; I. an­
imal hospital, provided no noise
is audible in an adjacent resi­
dential zone; J. whole sale
trucking and storage establish­
ment; K machine shop, cabinet
shop; L. machinery, farm equip­
ment, marine craft, car sales,
service and repair; M building
material storage yard; N. lab­
oratory for equipment, research
or testing; O. governmental
buildings, including mainten-
nance, repair or storage facili­
ties; P plumbing, heating, elec­
trical or paint contractors stor­
age, repair or sales shop; Q. tire
retreading or vulcanizing shop;
It. activities related to process-
Nail Early
Postmaster Thomas Tomlin
reminds postal patrons to mail
their Christmas parcels and
cards early.
“Due to the critical energy
shortage we are asking that sur­
face parcels for the United
States be mailed by December 3
and surface cards by December
8 in order to ensure delivery by
Christmas,” he added
ing forest, agricultural and other
products derived from permitted
uses where close proximity to
such land use resources is
required and appropriate urban
industrial areas are not nearby;
S. dwelling unit or mobile home
accessory t*» a permitted use
such as accomodations for a
caretaker or night watchman; T.
manufacturing, repairing, com
pounding, research, assembly,
fabricating, processing, packing
or storage activities provided
such industrial land uses do not
create a nuisance to adjacent
activities because of excessive
noise, smoke, odor, or gas and do
Santa Claus is coming to town
not constitute a fire, explosion or and
will be at Santa Claus
other physical hazard
in the Quinn
Conditional use permitted in a Lane—located
building—Saturday, December 8
LI zone subject to the provisions from 10 a m -12 noon and from 1
of Article VI: automobile wreck­ p.m.-3 p.m. The jolly old gentle­
ing yard, junk yard.
will be there again Satur­
Standards for a LI zone which man December
15 and Saturday,
shall apply are; A. there shall be day,
December 22 to listen to all little
no height limitation on build­ children
would like to tell
ings; ana B. outdoor storage him what who
they
want for Christ­
abutting or facing a lot in a
residential zone shall be screen­ mas.
ed with a sight-obscuring fence.
Article VI covers conditional
uses. Section 6.010 which is
authorization to grant or deny
conditional uses reads: A con­
ditional use listed in this ordi­
nance may be permitted, en­
larged or latered upon authori­
zation of the Planning Commis­
sion in accordance with the
The annual Lions Club Window
standards and procedures of
Contest will begin Saturday,
said article.
In permitting a new condition­ December 1. All commercial
al use or the alteration of an establishments wishing to enter
existing conditional use the this may do so by registering at
Planning Commission may im­ the Vernonia Eagle office or
pose, in addition to those stand­ contacting Ted Forbes, chair­
ards and requirements expres- man of the committee, by calling
sily specified by this ordinance, 429-7941, days, or 429-3183, even­
additional conditions which the ings.
Those who wish to have
Planning Commission considers
necessary to protect the best windows decorated and have no
interests of the surrounding area one to do it may request help
or the city as a whole These from the Lions and they will
conditions may include but are make an effort to provide some­
one to ornament the windows.
not limited to the following:
Guidelines for the window
A. Increasing the required lot
size or yard dimension; B. contest are as follows:
1. The contest is to include onlv
limiting the height, size or
location of buildings; C. control­ commercial establishments.
2. Each business will consult
ling the location and number of
vehicle access points; D in­ with assigned decorators about
creasing the street width; E. the appropriateness of the plan­
increasing the number of requir­ ned decoration. The Lions are
ed off-street parking spaces; F. not responsible for the dissatis­
limiting the number, size, lo­ faction of the establishment.
3. The business will receive the
cation and lighting of signs; G.
requiring d i k i n g , fencing, award—if a winner—presented
screening, landscaping or other by the Vernonia Lions Club.
4. The contest begins on Satur­
facilities to protect adjacent or
nearby property; and H. desig­ day, December 1 and will be
judged during the week of Dec­
nating sites tor open space.
In the case of a use existing ember 17.
5. The Lions Club will provide
prior to the effective date of this
ordinance and classified in this impartial judges.
6. All entries must be register­
ordinance as a conditional use,
any change in the use or in lot ed as described above.
7. There are no restrictions
area, or an alteration of struc­
ture shall conform with the about medium used or theme as
requirements of conditional use. long as it holds with a Christmas
The proposed zoning ordi­ motif.
There will be three awards
nance also covers off-street
parking and loading require given for the first three places
ments including location and In addition to these personal
space needed; exceptions to lot awards the Chamber of Com­
size requirements, yard require­ merce will present a Revolving
ments; etc. and details each Award which goes to each yearly
division of ordinance including grand winner and moves on
nonconforming uses and vari­ year-by-year with each subse­
quent winner.
ances.
Due to the energy crisis the
For further information on the
proposed zoning ordinance and Lions Club urges entrants not to
complete details, residents may use decorations which involve
read copies available at the city the use of electricity.
hall
Chairman of the Vernonia
Planning Commission is Darrold
Proehl, who with members, Cliff
Anyone wishing to have “Pen
Norwood, James Davies, Ed
Pals” among other older persons
Roediger, Ralph Keasey, Orvin
in far away places may write:
Olson, and Robert King, and the
Letter Exchange, National Co­
Columbia County Organization
uncil for Senior Citizens, 1511 K
of Governments, prepared the
proposed Vernonia Zoning Ordi­ Street, North West., Washington,
D.C 20005
nance.
Santa Is Coming
Annual Lions
Club Window
Contest Sot
Pen Pals Available
ARCO Station Burglarized
When Dave Ruehmann opened
his Dave’s ARCO station, lo­
cated on Timber Route, he
discovered that sometime be­
tween the hours of 10 p.m.
Sunday, November 25 and 7:30
a m. Monday morning, someone
had entered the building by
breaking out a window in the
south rear of the shop area.
At present Mr. and Mrs.
Ruehmann are still trying to
ascertain if anything was taken
beyond a few packages of cigar
ettes No money is kept on the
premises and nothing seemed
distrubed other than rummaging
by the thieves The burglar or
burglars left by way of the
overhanging garage door.
Columbia County Sheriff’s of­
ficers are investigating the mat
ter
$12 Gives A
Gilt Of Life
"Your Gift Means Life” is the
theme for the fifth annual state­
wide fundraising drive just laun­
ched by the Kidney Association
of Oregon to obtain $200.000 in
public donations The money will
be used during 1974 to continue
the life-saving program for 40
KAO patients throughout the
state now on artificial kidney
machines and to expand the
program to add new patients.
The theme, "Your Gift Means
Life,” tells dramatically that
donations to KAO by individuals
and organizations actually pro­
vides the means for patients to
continues productive life. It also
points out KAO's vital need for
money to be able to admit new
patients.
W IN D O W where burglar entered D ave’s ARCO station last
Sunday night or Monday morning. The entire glass was knock­
ed out but the uninvited guest chose to leave by way of the
garage door in lieu of open window and muddy ground outside.