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The Chronicle
Vol. 132, No. 18 2 Sections 20 Pages
www.thechronicleonline.com
Voters get answers at candidate forum
City may send its offenders up the river
BY AMANDA FRINK amandaf@thechronicleonline.com
BY DON PATTERSON dpatterson@countrymedia.net
The possible closure of the Columbia County jail has the City of St. Helens pondering what to do with its lawbreakers. If voters reject Measure 5-238, commonly known as the jail levy on the May ballot, Columbia County Commissioners have said they will close the jail. That leaves the City of St. Helens as well as other municipalities in Columbia County wondering where they will take criminals they arrest. One alternative, according to Mayor Randy Peterson, is to rent beds at a regional facility in The Dalles, Oregon. That could prove expensive, according to Jon Ellis, Finance Director for the City of St. Helens. Renting those beds in The Dalles, or some other facility could cost well in excess of $500,000, Ellis estimates. In 2011, St. Helens used an average of 23 beds per night according to jail records. “In order to fund the level of service provided in 2011, the City would have to cut services in other departments and/or go out with a local levy which would exceed the 58 cents per $1,000 currently being proposed by the county jail levy,” Ellis said. “To tell you the truth, I don’t know where the money would come from,” Peterson said. Another option would be to use some of the ten beds the county plans to rent at a facility in Polk County, however, offenders charged with misdemeanors would likely not be incarcerated. Voters living within the city limits narrowly defeated a similar operating levy last November and Peterson is hopeful that if the current jail levy fails, voters would approve funds to rent beds elsewhere. Such a measure would likely not be put to voters until next spring, he said. “It’s going to cost the cities a bunch of money if they do have to take care of their own,” Peterson said.
$1.00
ST. HELENS — Seven candidates took a break from campaigning to meet voters and address their concerns at a “meet & greet” forum held at the Village Inn Friday night. Moderated Alta Lynch, the event hosted contenders for circuit court judge, position #1: Cathleen Callahan, Jason Heym, and incumbent Jean Martwick. Jenefer Grant, running for re-election for circuit court judge, position #3, was in attendance, as was write-in candidate Agnes Petersen. Vying for county commissioner #2 were incumbent Henry Heimueller and challenger Wayne Mayo. All candidates introduced themselves and were later given the opportunity to discuss their service to the community. Once the floor was opened up for questions from the public, the topics ranged from the local economy and taxes to the court process and the county jail. See FORUM, Page A3
AMANDA FRINK / The Chronicle
Jason Heym, one of three candidates vying for circuit court judge, possition #1, is seen here talking with local resident during a meet-andgreet event held at the Village Inn Friday night.
St. Helens students win statewide video contest
SALEM – Five students youth appeal, and the overall safety and health from St. Helens High School message. took home first-place honors A team from Southridge High School in and $500 for their video Beaverton took home second place in the “Flashbacks,” which procontest. Third place went to a team from South motes young worker safety Salem High School. and health. All of the winning videos, as well as the The video, created by other finalists, are available for viewing at Michael Norris, Shawn www.youtube.com/user/OregonSafetyHealth. Vielmetti, Colton Sundell, To see the first place video, log onto http:// David Bair, and Hunter Ogle, tinyurl.com/mwlr7mv. tells the story of a supervisor The Oregon Young Employee Safety Coaliremembering safety mistakes tion organizes the contest. The sponsors are in his past. SHHS also won Oregon Members of the winning team were a matching amount of prize also some of the students who placed in the top money. six at Skills USA, a national organization that “We want other kids tests students’ vocational skills. to work safe in a dangerIn carpentry, Bair placed first and Norris ous environment, even if it placed second. Sundell took home fourth place means speaking up,” said Courtesy photo in the general welding category. Vielmetti Bair, a junior on the first earned sixth place in cabinetry, which their St. Helens students Hunter Ogle, Colton Sundell, Shawn Vielmetti, Michael Norris, and place team. David Bair took home a $500 check and first-place honors for the video they created for teacher, Joe Mauck, says is pending due to a The creators of the top judging mistake. a contest organized by the Oregon Young Employee Safety Commission. videos were presented their Also placing at Skills USA was Tanner awards Saturday during a Gross, who took home sixth place for metal of “Speak up. Work safe.” Students were asked to special screening at the Northern Lights Theatre in inert gas (MIG) welding. The fourth place welding create a video with a teen job safety and health mesSalem. The contest is designed to increase awarefabrication team consisted of Devin Dunn, James sage and were judged on creativity, production value, Flemming and Savannah Dreyer. ness about safety for young workers, with the theme
Course objective is to end dating violence
INSIDE
BY AMANDA FRINK amandaf@thechronicleonline.com
Classified Ads . . . . . B5-6 Legal Notices . . . . . . B6-7 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . A9 Opinions . . . . . . . . . . A4-5 Out & About . . . . . . A6-7 Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . A9 Sports . . . . . . . . . . A13-16 TV Guide . . . . . . . . . . . A8 Weather . . . . . . . . . . . . B3
AMANDA FRINK / The Chronicle
SAFE advocate, Meg Foster, addresses a class of teens learning to recognize a healthy relationship. Columbia County has nearly double the average percent of students who claim to have been abused.
CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE
POSITION 3
inat ion! VOTE Agai nst Age Di sc rim
COLUMBIA COUNTY — When it comes to teenage relationships, most associate the experience with innocence and puppy love. But in Columbia County, some high school students are having far different relationship experiences, with incidences of violence nearly doubling the state average. According to results from the Oregon Health Authority’s 2013 Healthy Teens Survey, 8.2 percent of Columbia County 11th graders reported they had been purposefully hit, slapped, or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the past 12 months. In comparison, the percentage of 11th graders statewide was 4.2 percent. In an effort to change these statistics, SAFE of Columbia County has
See SAFE, Page A2
Clarification Kassi Euwer is the founder and executive director of Sande School of Horsemanship (School more than just horsin’ around”, April 23). Doug Sande is a board member for the organization, while Marlene Sande is an instructor at the school. The story ’Area voters split on upcoming jail funding’ contained the following line: “Sheriff Dickerson said it costs $95 to house an inmate in the Columbia County Jail.” Dickerson claims he was misquoted. In the interest of accuracy, The Chronicle now believes determining the cost is more complex and warns our readers that the number quoted may not be correct.
Agnes Petersen WRITE-IN for experience and qualifications Agi has practiced law in Columbia County since 1960.