L ib ra r/
U n iv e r s ity o f Oregon
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V
Council Votes for Survey
The Vernonia City Council met
in regular session Monday night.
January 21 with Mayor Sherman
Fisher presiding and council
members M iller. Tomlin. Atkins
and Ranta in attendance
The minutes of the previous
meeting were read and approved
then business from the floor was
heard First to speak was Wilbur
Davis who informed the council
I hat a meeting had been sched­
uled with Terry Rahe. Columbia
County Sanitarian. January 28.
to work out operational plans for
the city dump Dave Banta w ill
also attend this meeting
Bud Blackburn then took the
floor to suggest that the State
Highway Department be in ­
formed of the condition of the
culvert near the highway near
Washington Grade School since
he felt a new and larger culvert
would help eliminate the high
water problem in the area l-a'.er
in the meeting, Todd Bowerman
also requested that something be
done about the culvert Roy
Sanders was requested to inves­
tigate the matter
Dick Stearns then suggested
that the highway department
also be informed of the water on
Highway 47 at the top of the hill
near the Arnold Tollmens resi­
dence. which is extremely dan-
gerous w hen weather is freezing
He also requested that he be
allowed to install an awning
over the sidewalk at his place of
business (Lew’s Place). The
building inspector w ill investi­
gate
Representing the Chamber of
Commerce, Gordon Smith re
quested that the city either
repair or remove the benches on
main street and he also suggest
ed that something be done about
the garbage on the lot between
Mario's and Quinn’s building It
was resolved that the city would
clean up the area by February 1
Smith also requested that the
holes in front of his place of
business iVernonia Sentry) be
repaired.
Lucille Tomlin then informed
the council that Chief Cunning
ham and she had checked and
could find nothing illegal with
the coin-operated ice hockey
machine The council moved to
check the ordinance with aUor
ney Allan Coon.
A request was then heard from
Tom Bruce that a First Aid kit be
made up for the disaster truck
Committee reports were then
heard with the council agreeing
to give a vote of thanks to the
departments who aided during
the recent crisis.
Kate Coates
Rescued From
Nehalem River
Jaycees Slate
Kid Wrestling
Fears that Vernonia might be
isolated for several days follow ­
ing the heavy flooding in the
area which severed roads to thru
transportation both north and
south proved unfounded Wed
nesday morning. January 23 as
workers headed out Highway 47
on their way to jobs located in
Portland. Beaverton,
Forest
Grove and Hillsboro and found
the highway south dear
Unfortunately roads to the
north ol Vernonia were not. as
one unlucky motorist found out
to her dismay. Kate Coates,
former owner of Kate's Cafe,
»decided to be a Good Samaritan
and drive a Rainier resident
home after he was stranded in
Vernonia Since the Scappoose-
Vernonia Road war. dosed due to
earth slides which destroyed
portions of the highway, she
drove her passenger out High
way 47 in her small yellow
foreign car
Kaje travelled through the
flood areas of Riverview and on
to Highway 47 toward Big Eddy
Park without incident until she
reached a point where the road
dipped then the waters over­
came her determination
‘The car started to spin,”
Kate said, once more warm and
dry "Then it went into the
Nehalem rive r until it washed up
against some trees and caught
there The young man I was
driving broke out the rear win­
dow and pulled me through then
he went for help "
Jim Johns, a teacher at Wash­
ington Grade School, lives up on
Highway 47 aided in the rescue
of the fisty lady, said " I heard a
car motor then it stopped I
thought someone had j u s t
drowned out in the high water so
I got my pickup and drove down
to the area ”
When he arrived at the scene
he was surprised to see a little
yellow car front under water,
with Kate sitting atop it. clutch­
ing a tree branch “ I said. 'Kate
is that you9' and all she'd say is
yeah' Not another w o rd "
" I went back to the house and
with two other men who had
been there drying out after their
jeep stalled in the water—we
took a canoe and brought her
out Then one of t h e fel­
lows they were both from P ort­
land went back and tied a rope
around the car bumper He was
just in time The car went
completely under water as we
started pulling it out " Johns
paused for a moment then
added, "you know, I went down
there this morning (Friday > and
found that the car had caught in
brush some 15 feet above the
rive r She was just inches from
going in all the way."
ACS Sponsors Free
Films On Cancer
The Vernonia branch of the
American Cancer Society will
sponsor two film s to be shown at
the Joy Theatre Tuesday, Feb
ruary 5 at 7 p.m.
Subject of the film s which w ill
be shown free delve into the
signs and treatment of lung
cancer and rectal cancer There
w ill lie a doctor at the theatre to
answer any questions viewers
may have
Strict Enforcement
Of Lease Law Set
Due to the large number of
dogs running loose in the Verno
ma area the- leash law w ill
be s tric tly enforced and fines
w ill be levied, according to
spokesman from Vernonia city
hall
In the past when an owner of a
canine was cited a fine was given
but it was usually waived if the
owner kept the dog tied Now due
to the large number of com­
plaints the fine w ill no longer be
suspended
The Vernonia Jaycees Kid
Wrestling program is underway
again for the community young­
sters The program is designed
to train youngsters between the
ages of six and 12 the basics of
high school-style wrestling
This past week Javcee chair­
man Gene Baska announced the
schedule for the weight classes
Those wrestlers weighing more
than 83 pounds are to report at 9
a m . the middle weights, 167-82)
pounds, are to be at the school at
10 a m and anyone weighing less
than 66 pounds is to report at 11
am
The sessions take place each
Saturday morning in the high
school wrestling r(x,m Head
Vernonia High wrestling coach
Mike Taylor is heading up the
instructional staff which include
some of the high school wrest­
lers
Boys who have not yet signed
up may do so by reporting at the
proper time as list ed above. The
boys must fill out a form which
requires the parents signature
and a statement of insurance.
The boys may be covered by a
fam ily policy or purchase insur­
ance through a special Jaycee
group rate at a cost of $2.50.
U N IT E D
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Under communications a let­
ter from Evelyn Heath was read,
recommending Olivia Brickel
M a m em ber of the Vernonia
Demon i a Eagle
Library Board
VOLUME 52, NUMBER 4
A letter from the State High
way Department was then read
which called the council's atten­
tion to the fact that there were
state highway funds available
for street repair.
A letter from the Department
of Environmental Control in­
forming Robert Meyer Engi­
neers stated that contract modi­
The Columbia County Board of
fication No. 5 could not be
Commissioners have signed a
approved until clarifications are
contract w ith the state of Oregon
made
Department of Environmental
Zen Dutson. with Robert Mey­
Quality allowing the county’s
er Engineer, sent a letter ex­
Environmental Health section to
plaining the Elton Robertson's
act as the agent of the Depart­
sewer assessment and letters
ment of Environmental Quality
from Robert Meyer Engineers to
in matters involving subsurface
North American Contractors,
sewage disposal. This contract
Inc., were read on the urgent
allows the county to continue
need for street repair in the
accepting applications and issu­
Riverview area and a list of
ing permits as it has in the past.
completion costs for the project.
The actual mechanical function
Mayor Fisher then recom­
of accepting applications has
mended the following appoint­
been moved to the Planning and
ments to the Planning Commis­
Building office located on the
sion Darrold Proehl, Jim Dav­
main floor of the old courthouse.
ies. Ralph Sturdevant and Ed
However, the actual field evalu­
Roedigger. with the council g iv­
ations of proposed building sites
ing their approval.
w ill be conducted as in the past
The mayor then recommended
with sanitarians from the E n v ir­
appointment of Wm. M. Nelson
onmental Health Section re­
as muncipal judge for the re­
viewing the individual property
mainder of 1974 This was ap­
in relation to the rules of the
proved and Olivia Brickel, form ­
Department of Environmental
er city librarian was appointed
Quality.
to the Library Board, replacing
The rules of the Department of
Mrs Culbertson who retired
Environmental Quality
have
Atkins then reported that rock
recently been adopted through a
could be purchased from Scap­
standard procedure where tes­
poose Sand and Gravel for $4 85
timony is received from all
a yard
members of the public This
The council agreed to have
testimony is then reviewed and
Robert E Meyers, Engineers
integrated into the rules The
make a complete survey of
resulting rules are then consid­
drainage problems in the R iver­
ered for adoption
view area
The new rules of the DEQ have
It was also approved that the
several provisions which have
city purchase a 1000 gallon gas
not been incorporated in earlier
tank to be buried and two gas
regulations. The new regulations
pumps.
establish a one-year life span for
Under new business the coun­
any perm it issued by the DEQ
cil elected Atkins. Chief of Police
and accepts all prior permits
Cunningham and Fire Chief Don
Webb to prepare a disaster plan
which are no more than one-
year-old This allows a prospec­
for Vernonia.
tive builder at least one year to
It was then approved that the
complete his proposed drain-
osillating fire siren should be
field The new regulations also
installed on the General Tele­
phone Company tower since they
prohibit the installation of drain-
have an emergency power sup­
fields where sewer lines are
already available Every sewer
ply
A committee meeting was set
system depends to some extent
for Januar 31 to go over zoning
on connection and assessment
maps.
fees for its support. This regula­
Meeting then adjourned
tion is intended to help assure
that support for existing or
newly extended sewer systems.
Columbia County Signs
Contract With Oregon DEQ
Hardest hit was the Vernonia
area where the rain-swollen
Nehalem River rose over its
banks in the Riverview area
along Highway 47 north of the
main section of town, spilling
across the road, causing several
residents to be evacuated and
fillin g many houses with from
one inch to three feet of dirty
water
Considered by many to be
much worse than the flood of
1971. efforts by volunteers kept
many from losing furniture and
other valuables as the water rose
steadily throughout the after
noon and into the night By
midnight the water had crested
then began to slowly drop
Isolated from both sides by the
flood. Vernonia thankr*d every
one for offers of aid but a
spokesman said, "we think we
can handle our problems right
from here.” The city of Vernon
ia. working with volunteer labor,
had already established their
own rescue and survival pro
gram with an emergency flood
headquarters set up at the city
hall and staffed around the
clock Personal property dam­
age in the immediate area was
estimated in excess of Slbti.iMM)
In the Scappoose area rela­
tively little damage was suffered
compared to other parts of the
county although several homes
were flooded when Scappoose
Creek overflowed its banks
One problem the city has
encountered is that of sewer
trenches settling -a problem
which has been aggravated by
the heavy flood waters Among
the more minor ones was the
fillin g with rock of the holding
ponds
Few city streets were damag­
ed according to reports although
there was some on Watts Road,
Smith Road and Elm Street
However, most damage was in
the county area
Elsewhere in the county dam­
ages also mounted with the
biggest problem appearing to be
when the soil conditions are not
suitable for a standard instal­
lation.
An additional change was
made in the standard type of
system which w ill be used in
drainfields constructed on slop
ing land A seminar w ill be held
on January 29 in the old court­
house to explain the working of
the system to the installers and
interested citizens The seminar
w ill begin at 7:30 p.m.
These are not the only changes
which were incorporated into the
new regulations. However, these
are the changes which are most
likely to affect the citizens living
in rural counties. XA complete
copy of the regulations is avail­
able for review in room 112 of the
courthouse annex in St. Helens.
Females EBIT's
Record First
Thursday, January 17, a first
was recorded in Vernonia as two
female certified EM T’s took a
patient by ambulance to the
Forest Grove Community Hos­
pital. Pat Goodman and Pat
Mitchener— who received their
certificates just a week prior to
the incident—transported Mrs
Leah Hotchkiss to the hospital
when it was found there were no
men available to operate the
ambulance due to the flood
“ You girls are doing a good job
and I have every confidence in
you,” Mrs Hotchkiss said dur
ing the trip to Forest Grove.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1974
VERNONIA
WEATHER
As gathered from the weather
station located at the Vernaala
water plant.
Vernonia weather improved
for the week of January 16-22
with a maximum high of 54
degrees recorded Saturday,
January 19 and the low of 26
degrees falling January 22. Pre­
cipitation for the period was 3.86
inches.
Spaghetti Feed Set
For Friday, Jan. 25
There w ill be a Spaghetti Feed
Benefit Friday, January 25 at
Alice Menary’s Timbernook be­
tween the hours of 7 and 8 p.m.
The Italian-style meal w ill cost
$2 per person with all monies to
go to the Heart Machine Fund.
Police Cadets w ill act as
busboys. Food is being donated
and Ms Menary w ill provide the
cooking. Residents are urged to
attend this benefit dinner and aid
in the purchasing of Life Pack
Three which includes a readout
monitor, defibrillator and cardio
scope.
F U R T H E R signs of water damage to roads are seen in the
Riverview area as testified to by this sign “No Shoulder.”
Roads throughout the county suffered similar damage with esti­
mates for repairing the area highways and other destruction
running in the $500,000 bracket.
Fire Damages Vehicle
At approximately 4 p.m. Sat­
urday. members of the Vernonia
F ire Department answered a
call to the OA H ill area where a
vehicle belonging to Pat W il­
liams, was burning. The fire,
extinguished by Jim Lucas, did
extensive damage—estimated at
approximately $100—to the igni­
tion system.
According to a spokesman for
the fire department damages to
the car might possibly have been
less if the person calling in the
alarm had given the correct
information as to location of the
auto.
New rules were also created to
prevent the installation of a
¿ewage disposa. iystem in an
area which serves as a drinking
water source Large land owners
may be affected by a section in
the regulations entitled, "R ural
Areas" This provision in the
regulations states that the De­
partment
of Environmental
Quality and its representatives
may consider contraction of
specially designed systems when
they are on land areas large
enough to provide 250 foot set­
back from property lines. These
systems can only be considered
Flood Causes Extensive
Damage In County Area
As flood waters began to
recede early Wednesday morn­
ing. residents of Columbia Coun
ty started assessing damages to
property throughout the area.
VERNONIA, OREGON $7064 — 16c Per Cnpy
the Scappoose Vernonia Road
where two large washouts w ill
take several months to repair
according to Jay Ahlborn, Co­
lumbia County Commissioner
One section above the Crown
Zellerbach sorting yard dropped
an approximately 30-foot section
of highway down the hillside,
scattering chunks of asphalt into
the brush
The second m ajor washout,
some ten miles west of Highway
30. was more pronounced as
roughly 200-feet of roadway dis­
appeared leaving behind a ja g ­
ged scar of earth, rubble and
large trees, tossed some 150 feet
down the hill, looking as if they
had been carelessly dropped by
the hand of some giant child As
the base of the earth fell, a
turbulent stream of
muddy
water rushed on down the hill
further eroding the area
In both sections, cracks in the
asphalt indicated that it would
be an extensive job of repair
before the main link between
Highway 30 and the Nehalem
Valley is once more in service.
By Wednesday morning seven
roads in the south end of
Columbia County were closed
Apple Valley Road, Alder Creek
Road. Coal Creek Road, Oester
Road. Kingsley. Otter M iller
Road and the Scappoose Ver­
nonia Highway were deadends
Particularly hard hit were coun
ty roads in the Warren-Chap
man-Scappoose areas
where
flood waters went over creek
banks and bridges, washing out
culverts and caused roads to lx*
servered and broke paving in
several areas
Although no official reports of
damage has been released as
yet. it has been estimated that
the figure w ill reach in excess of
$500,-000, following a tour of
county roads by Columbia Coun
ty Commissioners Fred Fos-
haug. Jay Ahlborn, and Jack
Minkoff.
Minimum Wage Up
Labor Commissioner Norman
O. Nilsen wishes to remind
employers that the State M ini­
mum Wage for adults over 18
years of age was raised effective
January I, 1974. from $1.25 an
hour to $1 60 an hour
The view from the edge of the
gigantic earth fall that took out
over 2no-feet of the Scappoose-
Vernonia Road during last
week's flood is an awesome
sight Tfte 150-foot deep swath is
one of two slides which has cut
off the Nehalem Valley from
Highway 30. limiting traffic to a
few smaller roads that meander
through the area The picture
below shows the real magnitude
of destruction, with tons of earth
and fallen trees mixed to­
gether—making the prediction
by county authorities that it will
be several months before road
repairs can be completed, a
stark reality.
TH E SM ALLER earth slide that blocked through
traffic on the Scappoose-Vernonia highway was
only about 50 feet across and some 50-60 feet in
depth but it will necessitate extensive repair
work before this section of the road is open
again.