Did You Know...

11-15-07 Once again, congratulations to the Vernonia High School football team for making the playoffs and for a stellar season. They persevered through injuries but maintained their sportsmanship to make us all proud. Good job players, coaches, and all of the assistants. I want to also want to say thank you to the Vernonia High School Pep Band for making the games even more enjoyable. The atmosphere in the stands was very festive with the pep band playing lots of fun music. Good job everyone and let's carry that spirit and support of our youth into the winter sports! Once again vandals have decided to do thousands of dollars worth of damage to our beautiful park systems. Sometime between the 3rd and the 4th of November vandals purposely clogged the toilets at Anderson park and caused other damage as well as damaged several items at the Mill Pond including throwing numerous items into the pond. Thank you to Vernonia Public Works employees for retrieving the items from the pond. Also thank you to the several people who called and reported the incident. As I have commented before, besides the monetary value of the damage this type of senseless crime is an affront on our quality of life here in Vernonia. One of the voicemails I received on the incident commented that when they found the damage there was a family from Denmark picnicking at the mill pond. I wonder what they and other visitors thought when they saw all of the damaged picnic tables and signs. What about the paying campers at Anderson park when they entered the bathrooms to find them damaged and flooded. Truly a sad commentary on the actions of a small number of people in our community. Vernonia Pride and park host Bill Yeo have teamed up to offer a $200 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the damage at Anderson Park and the Mill Pond. Vernonia Pride also has a $100 reward for any information leading the arrest and conviction of those persons responsible for the damage to the hanging baskets and the graffiti on the Rock Creek Bridge this past summer. If would like to provide information as a named party or anonymously you can contact the VPD at 503-429-7335 or City Hall at 503-429-5291 or you can email the department at chief@vernonia-or.gov. A quick reminder that if you would like your child safety seats or booster checked there will be a check-up event on November 16th from 9:00am to 2:00pm in St. Helens at St. Helens Fire (105 S. 12th). This is a good time to make sure your child's safety seat is in working order and properly installed.