L ib r a r y
U n iv e r s i t y o f O o g o n
E u g e n e , O regon
Sewer District Problems
Still Main Council Topic
" The regular meeting of the
Vernonia City Council was short
with the main question still the
problem of the East Vernonia
Sewer District Presiding at the
Monday night session was May
or Sherman Fisher with council
members Lucille Tomlin, L.E
Atkins and C.E M iller in atten
dance Also present was Zen
Dutson, of Robert E Meyers
Engineering
Following the reading and
approval of the December 3
minutes, business from the floor
was'called for with Zen Dutson
Speaking first
Dutson presented copies of
contract modification No. 5 to
the council and it was approved
by the council
Bob fla il then took the floor to
request sewer and water hixtkup
on Pebble Creek Road out side
the city limits, explaining that he
wished to build a new home on
his property there
He was advised that he would
have to wait for an answer until
the council meets with the
county, state and ongineer on the
drainage problems in the East
Vernonia Sewer District.
There has been a great deal of
discussion in this area with
several citizens protesting the
fact that they no longer have
proper druinage of their proper
ty with some comment of the
fact that the construction may
nave changed natural drainage
routes The meeting of Decern
ber 19 is hoped to aid in solving
these factors
Following Hall, Mr Kam-
meyer inquired as to the amount
of hookup fee for his house on
Pebble Creek Road His proper
ty was no! included in the
original assessment Dutson is to
figure out the assessment
charge
Dick Stearns then took the
floor to question law enforce
ment of alley parking, stating
that he feels enforcement is not
properly handled, citing the fact
that 11«' had received several
parking tickets for parking in
the alley next to his place of
business yet others parked in
that and other alleys, and even
blocked streets completelv for
up to an hour at a time yet
received no citation
Police
Commissioner Lucille Tomlin
is to investigate the matter
Committee reports were then
taken up with Lucille Tomlin
reading a letter from Chief of
Police Jack Cunningham rec
ommending condemnation of the
Marie Fraizee house Mayor
Fisher then read the public
works report.
Under communications Wm
Nelson, recorder, read a notice
of annexation hearing on the
Thomas Hail property in the
Riverview' area, which w ill be
held January 9 in Portland
Next was a letter from Robert
E Meyer, Eng . on the contract
modification followed by a letter
from the group on the drainage
in the East Vernonia Sewer
District.
George VanNatta, attorney,
sent a communication regarding
claims against North American
Contractors by Vern Johnson
and John Neuman for work done
in the sewer district
A letter from Joe Biesiot was
read regarding water damage to
his property in Riverview due to
drainage problems with a re
quest for payment of damages
In a communication from the
Federal Energy Office on alloca-
Guess Who's
Santa Claus
For those who haven't yet
entered the Mystery Santa Con
test. sponsored by the Vernonia
Chamber of Commerce, i t ’s time
to get those entries in Deadline
for guessing the identity of "Old
St N ick" is noon, Saturday,
December 22
There are two prizes this year;
$10 for first place and $5 for
second Entries may be made
on the blank below All clues to
the jolly gentleman behind the
beard are included in this addi
tion of the Eagle.
tions for fuel oil and diesel oil,
the city was advised that they
should be able to get the required
amount from local dealers If the
dealers could not get the neces
sary amount of fuel then he could
apply for it.
Under unfinished business, the
council discussed unemploy
ment insurance for city employ
ees and it was decided to accept
it on the reimbursible basis
The council then agreed to
submit an offer of $750 for the
Burlington Railroad property
between Maple a n d Cougar
streets
New business was brief with
Atkins reading a request from
the fire department for a red
rotating light for the salvage
truck The council agreed to
purchase the light
Following payment of the bills,
the meeting adjourned at 9:30
p.m. The next meeting of the
Vernonia City Council w ill be
Monday, January 7 at 8 p.m in
the city hall
Census Ends
Nationwide
Buying Survey
Households in the Govern
ment's survey of consumer ex
penditures w ill have their last
opportunity during the next few
months to tell Uncle Sam how
much it costs to live these days
The nationwide Consumer E x
penditure Survey, which began
in January 1972, w ill be com
pleted in late spring It is being
conducted bv the Bureau of the
Census, part of the U.S Depart
ment of Commerce's Social and
Economic Statistics Adminis
tration
The survey in this area is
administered from a field office
in Seattle, Wash Richard E
Nagel, office supervisor, says
that households in the quarterly
survey w ill be interviewed for
the fifth and last time during
January-March this year These
households have been in the
survey since
January 1973
Another group was also in the
survey for five quarters. Janu
ary 1972 March 1973
The Census Bureau is acting
as data collection agent for the
U.S Department of Labor. Bur-
«au of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Results of the survey w ill show
what changes have occurred in
the buying habits of the Am eri
can people since the last survey
was taken in 1960-61.
The up-to-date data w ill enable
BLS to revise the "m arket
basket" of goods and services in
the Consumer Price Index (C P I)
to reflect current buying habits
of American consumers. Price
changes for items in the market
basket are measured monthly by
B1JS and are reflected in the CPI
each month
The Seattle office administers
the survey program in the
metropolitan areas of Tacoma
and Seattle-Everett,
Wash ,
Portland, Oregon , Anchorage,
Alaska, and in the Fairbanks,
Alaska Census Division, as well
as in these counties: Stevens,
Wash.; Shoshone, Idaho and
Clatsop and Columbia, Oregon.
A sample of about 1,400 house
holds in these areas w ill have
been interviewed during the
course of the survey.
A separate group of house
holds in the same areas, among
19,(MM) throughout the U.S., is
taking part in a survey of
day-to-day expenditures, part of
the overall program This Diary
Survey asks about everyday
purchases such as snacks, h a ir
cuts, gas for cars, bus fares,
baby sitting, dry cleaning, and
so forth, expenditures that can’t
be recalled accurately for even a
short time.
The interviewers are residents
of the county in which they work
Each carries an official identi
fication card with the bearer's
photograph and signature
Interviewer
for
Columbia
County is Phyliss Parnell.
MYSTERY SAUTA EHTRY
I think the Mystery Santa is_____________
Oertion Î a £ agle
VERNONIA, OREGON
OREGON
97084
Per Copy_________________ THURSDAY,
VOLUME 51, NUMBER 51___________________VERNONIA,
97084
- —
10c 10c Per
DEC
THURSDAY,
DEC 20, 20, 1973
Property Value Raises
In Columbia County Area
The Columbia County Board of
Equalization met Mondav. Nov
ember 5 to discuss valuation of
property in Columbia County.
The early morning meet was
presided over by Chairman Fred
Foshaug with Ben Coleman,
Budget Committee member.
Herb Clifford, non-office holding
county resident ; Assessor Frank
LeM ont, Chief Deputy Assessor
Henry T Hudson. Bob Fast of
the Department of Revenue; and
Janett Smiley, deputy clerk,
present.
Following the swearing in of
Foshaug, Coleman and Clifford,
Assessor LeMont submitted his
sales study on property in Co
lumbia County to the board
Maintenance areas and property
classifications were discussed
with the board agreeing that
blanket increases would be nec
essary, particularly in the main
tenance areas 1, St. Helens; 2.
Scappoose; and 3, Vernonia
I^eMont was then requested to
prepare additional data com
paring land sales with present
valuation of property so that
specific areas could
uld be
1 reviewed
in greater detail.
The meeting recessed until the
assessor had further information
for study
On Friday, December 14 the
Columbia County Board
o f
Phone ______________________________
Bring or Mall to the Eagle Office
fel
Equalization reconvened at 9:30
a m with Fred Foshaug, Ben
Coleman, Herb Clifford, Frank
LeMont, Henry T Hudson and
Janett Smiley, present.
Ix-Mont presented the addi
tional data on recent property
sales in Columbia County for
review and discussion by the
board.
Following discussion, it was
decided that, since state law
rovides that all property must
e taxed within 10 percent
tolerance—95-105 percent -of its
true valuation to recommend the
following to the Columbia
County Assessor’s office
In areas one- which includes
the city lim its of St. Helens and
Columbia City; two, Scappoose;
and three, Vernonia; Class 100
(residential land only) would be
valuated at 165 percent which is
an increase of approximately 60
percent Class 101 (property and
improvements excluding land)
would raise approximately five
percent.
Class200 (commercial land) in
these three areas would increase
as follows: In St. Helens area,
approximately 20 p e r c e n t ;
Scappoose, 45 percent; and 20
percent in Vernonia. Class 201
(commercial property and im
provements excluding l a n d )
were recommended to raise
P
DUE TO the Christmas and New Year holidays falling eo oar
regular printing date, the staff of the (Vernonia E agle
would
appreciate it if all news articles and advertising were at the
office by noon on Saturday. Thank you for your consideration <
in this matter.
Public Hearing Draws
Few Interested
Approximately 20 people at
tended the public hearing held
Wednesday, December 12 to
discuss and hear opinions on the
proposed zoning ordinance. Pre
siding at the evening meet was
Mayor Sherman Fisher with
council members L.E. Atkins,
David Banta, Ed M iller and
Lucille Tomlin in attendance.
Also present for the session were
Ed Roediger. Jim Davies. Ralph
Sturdevant, Darrold P r o e h 1,
Ralph Keasey, and Howard
Hopkins, members of the Plann
ing Commission ,
Darrold Proehl, chairman of
the Planning Commission took
the floor to review the proposed
zoning ordinance, explaining its
purpose and the work that had
gone into making it as feasible as
possible
Following Proehl, Harry Cole
man queried the commission on
keeping horses and cattle. He
was followed bv Mrs Clark who
requested information on alley's
and streets, and non-conforming
usage.
Albert Tandy then took the
floor to ask why the ordinance is
not put up to a vote of the people
and was advised that it was not
required The only stipulations
for adopting a zoning ordinance
are that the Planning Commis
sion hold two public hearings
and the city hold one such
hearing. however, in the interest
Registration For
Winter Term Slated
Portland Community College
w ill register new students for
winter term which begins Janu
ary 3, Wednesday through F ri
day. January 2 through 4. at both
the Sylvania and Cascade cen
ters Hours w ill be from 9 a m to
8 p.m on January 2 and 3, and
from 9 a m to 4 p.m. on January
4
The Sylvania center is located
at 12000 S.W 49th Avenue, with
registration functions in the
College Center Mall.
At the Cascade center, 705 N
Killingsworth. registrations w ill
be accepted in the auditorium in
Cascade Hall
My Name ia_________________________
Address ____________________________
97UO3
Counseling and career explor
ation services are available in
advance of registration to help
students in choosing programs
To make an appointment call
Portland Community College,
244-6111, and the operator w ill
help you.
of the people of Vernonia the city
held a second public hearing to
clarify any questions about the
ordinance
It was hoped by both the city
and the Planning Cor.mission
that residents would tie nappy
with the proposed ordinance
since it is a state law that one be
adopted Deadline for adoption
of a zoning ordinance was Jan
uary 1, 1972 but the city was
granted an extension since they
were making every effort to
provide the area with a feasible
plan
If the city does not adopt their
own zoning ordinance within a
specific time, the state w ill do so
for them; a step no one on the
council or the Planning Com
mission wishes to see since state
restrictions would very likely be
more stringent than those im
posed by a local ordinance.
Warren Man
Wins Award
James C. Ernest of Warren
was announced as the winner of
the Outstanding District Cooper
ator Award for Area II at the
Annual Convention of Soil and
Water Conservation Districts
held at Kah-Nee Ta Area II
includes Columbia,- Multnomah,
Washington and Clackamas
Counties
James Ernest was chosen for
the award because of his conser
vation accomplishments in get
ting an uneconomical 200 acre
farm unit into a fu ll time farm
operation. Ernest c l e a r e d
seventy acres of logged over
land for crop production using a
soil survey to determine suitable
areas, uses a crop rotation of
Alfalfa with his strawberries to
build up his soil, used lime and
fertilizer for increased produc
tion, follows a rotation grazing
system on all of his pasture
fields for better forage use,
installed 5275 feet of tile for
better land drainage Mr. Ernest
plans to thin 38 acres ot crowded
Douglas fir woodland for better
tree growth, has installed a
sprinkler irrigation sytem for his
cropland, built a dam to create a
pond for pumping 350 feet in
elevation through 1800 feet of
buried pipeline to a holding
reservoir above his cropland,
and installed a 65 H P pump to
puinp water from the lower dam
to his upper holding reservoir.
approximately five percent I in
i St.
Helens and ten percent in the
Vernonia area
In maintenance area one, St.
Helens, Class 700 701 (m u lti
housing) it was decided that
property valuation would raise
approximately five percent
Maintenance area two and
three (Scappoose and Vernonia)
were recommended for increas
es in Class 400 (tract land only)
45 percent, Scappoose, ten per
cent, Vernonia; Class 401 (tract
property excluding land) 30 per
cent Scappoose; ten percent,
Vernonia Class 501 503 for both
areas (farm and range proper
ty) five percent, Scappoose; and
Vernonia. Class 700 701 (m u lti
housing) five percent Scappoose
and Vernonia. Class 800 801
(recreational land only) no in
crease in valuation. (These fig
ures are approximations and do
not reflect the actual figure of
increase, etc.).
In maintenance area four,
Rainier, property was re-evalu
ated and recommended for a tax
increase of approximately five
percent in all categories.
Clatskanie—area five — was
evaluated at 105 percent in all
classes which falls within range
of tolerance as provided by state
law but may, at a later time, be
re-valuated with increase or
decrease of taxes reflected at
that time.
Maintenance area six which
includes all of the 502 school
district, excluding the city lim its
of St Helens and Columbia City,
is undergoing continued and
complete reappraisal currently
to bring this area to 100 percent
of true cash value.
Visit Santa Saturday
This Saturday, December 22
w ill be the last day for boys and
girls to visit with Santa Claus at
Santa Claus Lane in the Quinn
Building and enjoy giving their
request to him in person. He w ill
be there from 10 a.m. to 12 noon
and from 1-3 p m so don’t forget
to pay him a visit.
Call Santa
Friday Night
MMMoooomMMMMei
VERNONIA
WEATHER
Aa gathered from the
•tatloa located at the Veraoola
Water plant.
c ta m M e o M m e M o m a fe M
The weather smiled benevo
lently on Vernonia during the
week of December 11-18 with a
maximum high ot 52 degrees and
a low of 35 degrees Maximum
precipitation during that period
was 1 15 inches on Thursday,
December 13.
Judging Set
For Window
Contest Sat.
Special phone lines w ill be
open to tl£»e North Pole tomorrow
night—Friday, December 21-for
boys and girls to speak with
Santa Claus in person.
Santa has been working very-
hard in his workshop and is
eager to hear from all his little
friends -n Vernonia. Phone Santa
by dialing 429-2021 or 429 2351.
The special phone line is
sponsored by the Vernonia Jay-
cees who hope that all the boys
and girls in the area w ill take
advantage if this opportunity
before Santa and his reindeer
leave to make the rounds of
homes throughout the world
VHS Chorus
Gives Concert
This Saturday
December 22, 1973 at 8:00 the
annual Christmas Vespers w ill
be held at the Christian church.
The program w ill start with
Ward Nelson playing a 15 minute
organ prelude. Five speech stu
dents w ill speak /about three
topics which a re : "The Religious
Side of Christmas” , “ The Holi
day Aspects of Christmas” ,
“ The Fam ily Side of Christ
mas” ' The speakers are: Patty
Cone, Jim
Goodman, Clint
Holsey, Sandra Tupper, and Bob
Warburton.
The program w ill consist of the
chorus singing nine songs, two of
which w ill be ensembles. A few
members of the chorus w ill sing
solos throughout some of the
songs.
The audience w ill have a
chance to sing a few of their
favorite Christmas Carols such
as: “ God Rest Ye M erry Gentle
men” , “ Hark the Herald Angels
Sing” , and “ Angels We Have
Heard On High ”.
The Christmas Vespers ser
vices are patterned after Les
sons in Carol Service that has
been sung in Kings College
Chapel in Cambridge England
for the past 50 years.
It is a candle light service and
the public is cordially invited,
free of charge.
Judging for the Window Con
test, sponsored by the Vernonia
Lions Club, w ill be Saturday,
December 22, according to Ted
Forbes, chairman of the com
mittee.
Several ladies from Forest
Grove—the Vigilante Group w ill
participate in the judging They
are sponsors for the Forest
Grove Window Contest.
Judging w ill be a scale of 1-10
in five categories: 1. origir
2. keeping within a theme for I
entire display; 3. skillful use of
medium; 4 general appeal; and
5. amount of time.
There w ill be three plaques
awarded by the Lions Club for
first, second and third places.
Winners of the annual contest
w ill be announced in next week’s
edition of the Eagle
Yule Program
December 20
Thursday,
lay, December 20 at 7:30
p.m the doors w ill be open at
ol ai
Washington Grade School
audi
torium for their annual Christ
mas program.
Children from the kindergart
ens and grades first through
eighth w ill appear in this featur
ed event. Included this year for
the first time w ill be the appear
ance of the grade school band
playing a special selection of
Christmas carols with participa
tion from the audience.
Santa Claus w ill not put in an
appearance this year during the
evening program but w ill visit
each classroom Christmas party
Friday, December 21.
Parents are urged to attend
this annual Christmas program
and enjoy the efforts the children
have made in making this a very
special part of the year.
Logger Sports Report
Sports Fans are reminded that
coverage of Vernonia Logger
winter sports activities—basket
ball and wrestling—is being done
by the staff of the Vernonia High
School Timberline. Follow the
Logger action by reading the
Timberline each week.
Vernonia C ity Librarian Retires
“ May I help you?”
When Olivia Brickel walked
out of the Vernonia City Library
Wednesday. December 19 it was
for the last time as city lib ra r
ian She had retired after 12
years of service to the commun
ity.
“ I hate to leave the lib ra ry ,”
Olivia said, “ but i t ’s time to let
someone else take over," adding
with a smile, “ its been fun and
I ’ll miss it."
Olivia, originally from Louis
iana. came to Vernonia in July
1928 with her parents, M r and
Mrs J.H. Stubbs who owned and
operated the Square Deal Ga
rage located across the street
from the Washington Grade
School
On St. Patrick's Day, 1930 she
became the wife of Ben Brickel
and settled into the role of home
maker until 1950 when she
“ I think you’ll enjoy it.”
became assistant librarian, a
position she held for ten years
prior to being appointed to the
task of librarian
“ We were in the old city hall
then,” Olivia said, "we moved to
the new building in 1972 and I
discovered we had more books
than 1 had imagined.” She
laughed, “ it was hard work
moving but it was fun too. Still,
sometimes I miss the other
building "
One of the highlights during
the years was the tea given by
the study club during National
Children's Library Week each
year, when open house was held
for the community, inviting
them tocome in and enjoy a tour
of the library facilities, a treat
looked forward to by a great
many.
“ I ’ve found people really do
IT’S OUR FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR...WHEN WE WISH ALL
"You can have it for two weeks.’
appreciate the benefits of the
library and treat the books with
respect,” commented Olivia,
adding, "the reading list is
growing all the time, especially
with the children. I notice how
many more seem to be reading
now. I t ’s very gratifying.”
To encourage children to read
more in a day where a flip of a
switch brings
cartoons and
bang bang shoot-um ups blaring
on the TV screen - generally in
living color - speaks well for the
job that the library and Mrs
Brickel have done in enhancing
the world of books for the young
When the library doors opened
Thursday afternoon a new era
began as Mrs Mercedes Proehl
tixik her place as city librarian
for Vernonia