Fundraiser for felines
CMHS events
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Chronicle & Chief THE COLUMBIA COUNTY
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Wednesday, January 24, 2024 | Columbia County, Oregon
Winter weather hits Columbia County WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
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olumbia County got a full dose of winter this January as snow, below-freezing temperatures, high winds, and freezing rain led to unsafe driving conditions and caused school districts and city governments to close. The winter weather began hitting the county Jan. 8, with conditions worsening over the next few days. On Jan.12, with snow and ice impacting driving conditions through Jan. 13, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) issued statements urging drivers to stay off the roads due to the hazardous driving conditions. The winter weather continued with low temperatures and freezing rain through the next week. On Jan. 16, the National Weather Service issued an ice storm warning for Columbia County, which stayed in effect until early on the morning of Jan. 17. Concerns over the roads persisted until Jan. 18, with many of the smaller streets across Columbia County still covered with ice. The winter weather even prompted Governor Tina Kotek to declare a statewide emergency on the evening of Jan. 18. Storms can cause damage to infrastructure, and to understand the effects of the first winter storm of the year, the Columbia County Chronicle & Chief spoke with organizations and local officials to see what impacts the weather had. For the county Columbia County Assistant Public Works Director Grant DeJongh said that one of the county’s biggest challenges was matching expectations to the level of service they can
Courtesy photo
Winter weather rolled into Columbia County last week, causing disruptions to local governments and schools.
provide. DeJongh said that due to logistical and practical considerations, meeting demand within the timeframe that residents expect is a challenge for the Public Works Department. “We understand and empathize with this and try to get that message out before storm events occur,”
DeJongh said. “For example, plowing generally occurs based on road classification – roads with higher traffic levels will generally see treatment first. We know that seeing arterial and collector routes clear but being unable to get to them through snowed-in residential streets can be frustrating; these routes need to be cleared for emergency services and
ultimately end up serving a larger percentage of the population.” One of the risks with any winter storm is that ice and strong winds can topple trees and bring down powerlines. DeJongh said that the county does not have exact numbers on incidents involving downed trees or powerlines. He said fewer trees came down in this event than in
other winter storms, however. “Ice and wind tend to take down trees and powerlines more than snow, and fortunately, our windiest days were the coldest when there was little ice and lighter, drier snow,” DeJongh said. “We are seeing some
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Brian Jensen appointed as interim public safety director WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
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fter the resignation of Steven Lougal as Scappoose Police Chief earlier this month, Brian Jensen was appointed interim public safety director as the city’s search for a new chief is on hold. Scappoose Mayor Joe Backus said he is not sure why Lougal ultimately decided to resign. As interim public safety director, Jensen said he will be responsible for the administrative duties and the day-to-day running of the police department. Jensen served in the same role previously from March 2022 until June 2022. “During that period, a new Chief of Police was selected and waiting to begin, so my role was different in the sense that I was essentially a placeholder,” Jensen said. “With the Chief recruitment on pause due to their exploration of contract police services with Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), my role is
more involved and indefinite.” Jensen is contracted through June 2024, but that may be extended or shortened based on the city’s needs. At a Scappoose City City Council meeting on Dec. 11, 2023, the council discussed exploring contracted community policing services with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO). In a post on the city’s Facebook page, Councilor Kim Holmes outlined that exploring a partnership with CCSO could help the city ensure service levels and support Scappoose’s goal of having 24/7 coverage. “The process to select a new chief will be on pause until council concludes their process to explore contracting police services with CCSO,” Scappoose City Manager Alexandra Rains said. “Should they opt to retain current police services via SPD, then the City Manager (whoever that is at the time) will run the recruitment process and make a selection.”
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Brian Jensen is reprising his role as interim public safety director for the City of Scappoose.
Rains will be taking a position as assistant city manager for Oregon City in early February. In his role as the interim public safety director, Jensen outlined several priorities he has as he takes on the role. Jensen said he wants to make sure that staff is well-trained and current on certifications. This
will allow them to provide an unparalleled level of service to our community. “I am here to support the needs of the staff and to make sure they have all the tools necessary to succeed. I am fostering an open line of communication for our citizens and staff, and I want to build a strong relationship with our law enforcement partners, fire and rescue partners, and other first responder organizations within Columbia County,” Jensen said. “I am going to conduct an extensive review of our policies and procedures and will make sure that we are in line with current laws and industry best practices.” Regarding Scappoose Police Department’s (SPD) staffing, Jensen noted that the department is not currently “fully operational” due to a need for training and leaves of absence. Jensen also said the department is down a patrol officer due to the recent retirement of one of SPD’s officers. Jensen said he is “genuinely
excited” for the opportunity and that he is looking forward to taking on the responsibility. “I want to make this agency one that the staff can be proud of, the city can be proud of, and the citizens of Scappoose can be proud of,” Jensen said. “I am instilling a sense of pride and honor into our staff and will work with each of them to make our agency as great as it can be.” The Columbia County Chronicle & Chief attempted to reach former Chief Lougal for his input, but he did not provide comment. Backus said he is looking forward to ensuring the best quality of service for the community. “During this change in leadership, I would like citizens to know that we are still well-staffed with good leadership throughout the department,” Backus said. “I look forward to this opportunity as we dive in and find ways to continue to improve and provide protection to our city.”
Marina residents experience water shortage WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
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s winter weather hit Columbia County last week, some residents of McCuddy’s Landing Marina near Scappoose reported issues with access to water and sewage during the weather event. Nancy Ward is a longtime resident of McCuddy’s Landing, and she said she began experiencing issues with her water pressure on Friday, Jan. 12. “The water went out on Friday. And by out, I mean, for me, I had no water in the kitchen, and I had a stream in the bathroom about the size of a straw,” Ward said. “Every house was different, so I can not tell you what every single person experienced, other than the fact that no one had enough water to have pressure to do things like take a bath.” Ward said that “most” of the residents had enough to be able to put
a pot underneath the stream of water to boil and make it drinkable. Ward said that the issues started on Jan. 12, and water was not fully restored by management until Jan. 19, though at the time of print, the marina remains on a boil notice. Ward has been a resident of McCuddy’s Landing for 18 years and said that during her 18 years at the marina, she had experienced similar pauses in water service during 12 of those years. One of Ward’s issues is that she feels management has “no desire to do a permanent fix.” Ward also said she feels that management has not prioritized the needs of residents during these events. When Ward contacted ownership, the McCuddy’s, they told her that the roads were too hazardous to send crews to make repairs. Ward said the issue was a “habitability issue” that relates to the McCuddy’s obligation as landlords to ensure residents had
Courtesy photo from Nancy Ward
McCuddy’s Landing is located at 34326 Johnson’s Landing Road in Scappoose.
potable water. Ward also said that on Wednesday, the sewage began to back up. Myron Clinton, who has lived at McCuddy’s Landing since 2016, and said when the weather moved in, they had “little to no water” and then that the septic lines froze. Clinton said he understands that the weather presents
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complications, but he would have appreciated more preemptive communication from management. “It just seemed to be that the tenants had to keep reaching out to the landlords to be able to get that information to figure out what was going on,” Clinton said. “The response of everything seemed kind of delayed
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and unresponsive, and it just kind of let people down.” Another longtime resident, who preferred to remain anonymous over concerns of potential retaliation, said he has noticed that management “really don’t care” about maintaining the facilities and that the marina owners take advantage of the fact that residents can’t just up and leave. “The issue I have with McCuddy’s and most marinas is that they know that we’re in floating homes and we can’t just unhook and leave because we’re disappointed in their service,” the resident said. “So they can do as much or as little as they really want to. And most of the time, it’s very little.” The resident said that issues with the sewage line have been persistent year after year and that ownership hasn’t taken the steps to upgrade the
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Contact The Chronicle & CHief Phone: 503-397-0116 Fax: 503-397-4093 Email: chroniclenews@countrymedia.net 1805 Columbia Blvd.,St. Helens, OR 97051
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Wednesday, January 24, 2024
The Columbia County Chronicle & Chief
Silent auction fundraiser for felines is “truly something for everyone.” “We have a beautiful oil painting of our famous Teepee Burner, two 2-night stays at Batwater Station, a 2-hour tattoo session, a handmade quilt, a pink Leupold Rifle Scope, a gorgeous saddle with pink accents, Swarovski crystal necklace, a massage certificate, chiropractic certificate, Emergency car kits, large bird cage, spa gift card, Astoria Maritime museum passes, personal trainer gift certificate, gift baskets, handmade horseshoe welcome sign, and so much more,” Lenderman said.
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For those looking to support some of Columbia County’s most vulnerable felines, the Clatskanie Feral Cat Project & Kitten Rescue is hosting a silent auction fundraiser. This is the second year that the fundraiser has taken place, and the auction will take place at the Clatskanie American Legion Hall, located at 930 NE 5th Street in Clatskanie on Jan. 27 from 2-4 p.m. Shawn Lenderman is on the Board of Directors for the Clatskanie Feral Cat Project and acts as the nonprofit’s secretary. The other members of the board are JoAnn Blodgett and Wendy MacDougall. Lenderman said the organization is 100 percent volunteer-driven and that the project totally relies upon donations to fund its work. “Of course, we are hoping to have a great turnout,” Lenderman said. “It is a fun social time; we will have free refreshments and raffle tickets available for $1 each or six for $5. There are four raffle prizes: a $100 Safeway gift card, a $50 Fultano’s Gift card, a $25 Cornerstone Gift Card, and a $25 Amazon gift card.” All of the proceeds from the auction benefit the cats, and the auction “jump-starts the fundraising for the year.”
About the Clatskanie Feral Cat Project & Kitten Rescue
Courtesy photo from Shawn Lenderman
Kittens just like this one are up for adoption through the Clatskanie Feral Cat Project & Kitten Rescue.
“The money goes to vet bills (averages $27,000 per year, including 300 spays/ neuters). We help with vet bills for injured community stray and feral cats, and we [also] provide spay/neuter vouchers for people in the community who need help with that cost (we provided 247 vouchers last year),”
Lenderman said. “We also have a kitten rescue, so the money goes to provide food, vet care, flea meds, cat litter, etc., for the kittens in the rescue.” Lenderman said that last year, the auction could only accept cash for items at bid, but this year, they have more options, including
Venmo and Paypal. Credit or debit will not be an option, so using electronic methods or cash would be best, according to Lenderman. The items at the auction have been sourced through community donations, and Lenderman said that with almost 100 donations, there
Lenderman said that the project started back in 2018 when she, MacDougall, and Blodgett noticed a lot of posts about stray cats on the Clatskanie Community Bulletin Board Facebook page. All three are admins of the Clatskanie Community Bulletin Board page, and they formed a non-profit. The goal of the project is to humanely reduce the homeless cat population of Columbia County through trapping, spaying, and neutering feral colonies, along with other supports, according to Lenderman. “At first, I was going door to door asking if people knew of any feral cats that needed
to be spayed or neutered,” Lenderman said. “Well, that didn’t last long because as the word spread, the project soon had monthly appointments with Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon (FCCO) in Portland to spay and neuter feral cat colonies throughout Columbia County. Wendy live traps mostly large (15 or more cats) colonies 12 months of the year. These cats are taken to FCCO for spay/neuter, then returned to their colony caregivers.” MacDougall runs the rescue, which the Oregon Department of Agriculture licenses, and she holds an Animal Control Officer II Certification. She also participates in other forms of training associated with live trapping and cats. The kittens from the colonies are taken into our kitten rescue and socialized, spayed/neutered then adopted out to dedicated indoor homes, according to Lenderman. “We average 150 adoptions per year (mostly kittens, though sometimes we get stray pregnant moms or other rare situations where we have adults for adoption,” Lenderman said. “There are currently 18 cats and kittens in the rescue.” For more information on adopting or donating to the Clatskanie Feral Cat Project & Kitten Rescue, visit https:// clatskaniecats.org.
3 Leg Torso to perform in Clatskanie SUBMITTED BY THE CLATSKANIE ARTS COMMISSION
The Clatskanie Arts Commission is pleased to present 3 Leg Torso, who will perform Sunday, February 18, at 3 p.m. at the Birkenfeld Theatre, 75 S. Nehalem in Clatskanie. 3 Leg Torso formed in 1996 as a violin, cello and accordion trio with the mission of creating original modern chamber music for their unique instrumentation. Over the following years, the ensemble has expanded both its musical mission and its size to become a quintet that now performs original composi-
tions based on an eclectic synthesis of chamber music, tango, klezmer, Latin and gypsy music. As principal composers, founding members Bela R. Balogh (violin and trumpet) and Courtney Von Drehle (accordion) provide the core of 3 Leg Torso’s sound. They are joined by the consummate mallet/percussion of T.J. Arco and the gentleman of the acoustic bass Mike Murphy. Although the ensemble’s history began with street music, they have expanded to perform with symphony orchestras and have been profiled on NPR’s All Things Considered. They have also worked with film
will be sold at the door on the day of the concert. Other upcoming events:
Courtesy photo from the Clatskanie Arts Commission
3 Leg Torso will perform in Clatskanie on Feb. 18.
makers and had their pieces used in various movies and television series. Ticket prices: Adults $25; Seniors (60+) and Stu-
dents $23; Children $20 Tickets are available online at clatskaniearts.org or by calling Elsa at 503-7283403. If available, tickets
• Sunday, February 25, 3 p.m.: free family performance of Leapin’ Louie who uses circus, cowboy tricks, a six-foot unicycle, and lots of comedy to explore all those wild critters, including us, who fly. • Sunday, March 10, 3 p.m.: Skamokawa Swamp Opera – definitely not an opera.
featuring a 6-piece band. Tickets available at clatskaniearts.org. Performance change: • Friday, April 26, 7:30 p.m.: Due to visa problems, Will Martin performance has been canceled and will be replaced by Spencer Day and his tribute to Frank Sinatra. Will Martin tickets will be honored for this performance.
Just added: • Sunday, April 14, 3 p.m.: Close to You: The Music of the Carpenters
Upcoming events at CMHS student lead piece that will be performed at the Solo and Ensemble Competition this spring. “The band students are excited but a little nervous,” said Erwin. “We lost quite a few rehearsal days due to the snow. Both groups can play the songs in their separate classes so now it’s a matter of putting both classes together.”
LAUREY WHITE Chronicle & Chief Guest Article
Clatskanie Middle/High School (CMHS) has a variety of events coming up, so mark your calendar. The first is an elective fair, to be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 24 at the CMHS Commons. This is the school’s first elective fair and will showcase courses outside the required ones. The elective fair provides exposure to classes that they might not have heard about before. “We want students to come and talk to the teachers and learn about each class,” CMHS Music and Drama teacher Jamie Erwin said. “Students will then have a great idea about what classes to choose from for the 2024/2025 school year.” “We are very lucky to have such a wide variety in a small school,” Erwin said. “Some examples are the Awarded Gold Council Leadership Class, and college dual credit classes in Science,
A Night of Vocal Music
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The Clatskanie Community Choir
Math, PE and English.” Erwin offered more examples of some of the courses that will be showcased. “Our Forestry Program, which has placed in the top in the state the past few years, Family and Consumer Science Classes, Performing and Visual Arts, and our CTE
program that allows students to gain certification in operating large machines,” Erwin continued. After the elective fair, participants are encouraged to travel to the auditorium side and enjoy the art show created by the CMHS art students. After perusing the art
display, a band concert will start in the auditorium. It will feature the Middle School Band, the High School Rock Band, and the High School Concert Band. The Middle School Band and the High School Band will combine for two pieces. The High School Band will also be featuring their
On February 1st, the CMHS Choir and the Clatskanie Community Choir invite everyone to “A Night of Vocal Music.” The concert will be held in the Donavon Wooley Performing Arts Center in the CMHS Auditorium. The concert will feature group songs by both choirs, combined choirs, and solos/ duets from members of each group. “This will be an enjoyable night of amazing music and people,” said Erwin. Admission is free but donations are welcome.
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Annual Quilt Show Quilt Raffle • Bake Sale • Fresh Brewed Paintings • Craft Vendors Feb. 9 & Feb. 10 • From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day Enjoy homemade, soups, salads, sandwiches, & pie for donation or takeout for a fee. Display Quilts accepted at the church Sun, Feb 4th 3-5pm or Thurs, Feb 8th 10am-3pm. 34721 Church Rd, Warren, OR 97053
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
The police blotter relates to the public record of incidents as reported by law enforcement agencies. All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Information printed is preliminary and subject to change. For specific details about cases listed, contact the appropriate law enforcement agency. Rainier Police January 11 • A caller reported that a woman was trying to jump off the bridge and then hung up on dispatch. Officers were unable to locate anyone in the area. January 12 • A resident reported aggres-
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The Columbia County Chronicle & Chief
sive dogs running at large on Alder Lane. The owner was previously sent a warning letter. On this occasion, the owner was sent a citation. • A man called dispatch stating there was an ongoing issue with dogs barking in his neighborhood. The man refused to give his name or number to dispatch, so an officer was not able to follow-up with the individual. January 13 • An employee called in to report there were several vehicles in their parking lot, but no one was coming in to the establishment. The caller then started to talk to someone else and hung up on dispatch. • Two callers reported hearing a horn blaring in their neighborhood. The horn was
Police Reports
a car alarm that was accidentally set off.
January 16 • An employee attempted to stop a male shoplifter, who threatened the employee with bear mace. There is an active investigation. • An alarm on a business was accidentally activated. • Another business reported having a male shoplifter. The suspect returned the merchandise to employees. St. Helens Police January 7 • Police arrested a 29-year-old male subject for DUII-alcohol near Columbia River Highway and Howard Street. January 11 • Police arrested a 49-year-
old female subject for DUIIalcohol, reckless driving, and failure to perform duties of driver near Matzen Street and Brayden Street. • Officers arrested a 57-yearold male subject on a fugitive warrant at the 2000 block of Columbia Boulevard. January 12 • Police arrested a 59-yearold male subject on a fugitive warrant at the 5000 block of Columbia River Highway. • Police issued a criminal citation for driving while suspended to a 26-yearold male subject at the 300 block of Columbia River Highway. • Officers arrested a 50-yearold male subject on a fugitive warrant near Columbia
Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard. • Police investigated a report of criminal mischief at the 2000 block of Columbia Boulevard. • Officers arrested a 32-yearold male subject for DUIIalcohol and reckless driving near North Columbia River Highway and Wyeth Street. January 13 • Police arrested a 35-yearold subject on a fugitive warrant at the 2000 block of Columbia Boulevard. January 14 • Police arrested a 35-yearold female subject on a fugitive warrant at the 700 block of Columbia River Highway. • Police arrested a 49-yearold male subject for a
probation violation and driving while suspended at the 2000 block of Columbia Boulevard. • Officers arrested a 34-yearold male subject on a fugitive warrant near North Vernonia Road and McMichael Street. January 16 • Police arrested a 53-yearold female subject for disorderly conduct II and unlawful entry into a vehicle at the 100 block of Columbia River Highway. • Police conducted a death investigation at the 2000 block of Oregon Street. January 17 • Officers arrested a 43-yearold male subject for driving while suspended at the 400 block of 16th Street.
2024 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Schedule SUBMITTED BY COLUMBIA COUNTY
Each year, the Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department hosts several no-cost Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection events throughout Columbia County. The HHW Collection Program allows residents to drop off various toxic and unsafe materials that are not permitted in the regular disposal or recycling process. There will be a total of seven collection dates in 2024, open to residents county-wide. The 2024 Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Event schedule is as follows: • March 2: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. St. Helens • April 13: 8 a.m. – noon Vernonia • May 18: 8 a.m. – noon Rainier • June 8: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. St. Helens • August 24: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. St. Helens • October 5: 8 a.m. – noon Clatskanie • November 2: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. St. Helens Please check the Columbia County website for further updates: https:// www.columbiacountyor.gov/
departments/SolidWaste/ hhw-schedule. Items must be in containers not larger than five gallons and should be secured safely during transport. Household hazardous waste must be in a vehicle’s bed, trunk, or hatchback - not the passenger compartment. Unloading may take a few extra minutes as extra safety measures will be in place. Please be patient, and please remain in your car. Trained household hazardous waste technicians will unload materials from your vehicle. Examples of acceptable items: • Fireworks and flares • Gas / diesel / fuels / motor oil / antifreeze • Lawn and garden chemicals • Herbicides and pesticides • Pool and spa chemicals • Light ballasts—must be removed from light fixtures • Fluorescent tubes • Art and hobby chemicals • Solvents and thinners • Items containing mercury • Propane and compressed gas cylinders • Batteries – all types and applications • Cleaners and detergents
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The county collects and disposes of hazardous waste through safe, environmentally responsible practices, protecting the health of our communities and the environment.
• Poisons • Paint and paint products (latex and acrylic paint, oil-based paint, enamel, stains, lacquers, shellacs, varnishes, primers, etc.) • Cooking oil • Medical sharps in OSHA-approved, punctureproof containers • Ammunition
regular business hours. Medical sharps in a sealed, self-closing, puncture-proof, OSHA-approved container are received, at no cost, at the Transfer Sta-
tion Scale House during business hours. Columbia County residents can enroll in the free Sharps Containers Exchange Program at the Transfer Station Scale House. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office accepts expired or unwanted medication at 901 Port Ave., St. Helens. They are open seven days per week, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Place items in the MedReturn collection box. For all other materials, including materials from Very Small Quantity Generators (VSQGs, less than 220 lbs./mo.) and liquids in containers larger than five gallons, call Mark Hayes, ACT Enviro (971-303-2972) at least two weeks prior to an event for an appointment. The county collects and disposes of hazardous
waste through safe, environmentally responsible practices, protecting the health of our communities and the environment. For more information, contact Jacob Anderson by phone at 503-397-7259 or by email at jacob.anderson@columbiacountyor.gov. About Columbia County’s Solid Waste Program Columbia County plans, organizes, and directs recycling, reuse, waste reduction, and household hazardous waste management programs throughout its 657-square-mile area. The county also operates a transfer station in St. Helens and administers the solid waste collection events within the county’s unincorporated areas.
The Transfer Station’s normal disposal fees for automotive batteries, antifreeze, and fluorescent tubes are waived during HHW Collection events. Unwanted paint, used motor oil, and used cooking oil are always free to dispose of at the Transfer Station during
Oregon gains 3,550 jobs in December STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.
Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 3,900 jobs in December, following a revised loss of 5,900 jobs in November. December’s gains were largest in health care and social assistance (+2,300 jobs), construction (+1,500), and retail trade (+700). Losses were largest in financial activities (-700 jobs) and wholesale trade (-600). Health care and social assistance continued to add many jobs in December. Each of its four components grew rapidly in the most recent month and throughout last year. Social assistance added 1,200 jobs in December, adding 5,600 during 2023. Ambulatory health care services added 900 for the month and 5,600 for the year. Similarly, hospitals (+500 jobs in December) and nursing and residential care facilities (+600) continued to grow. At 123,100 jobs in December, construction was at a record high. Residential building construction was particularly strong, adding 500 jobs in December, and 2,300 jobs in the past year. Retail trade performed close to its normal seasonal pattern during the holiday shopping season of November and December. But retail’s employment level was a little lower in December 2023 compared with the
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The Oregon Employment Department reports 2,075,916 employed and 83,367 unemployed in December.
prior two years. It employed 207,900 in December 2023, which was about 2,300 jobs fewer than in both December 2022 and December 2021. Although leisure and hospitality gained 4,800 jobs, or 2.4%, in the past 12 months, the industry showed recent weakness by cutting 2,600 jobs between August and December. Employment in financial activities peaked in July at 107,100 jobs but has
trended downward since then, losing 3,100 jobs over the past five months. The industry now employs about the same number as it did four years ago. Oregon’s unemployment rate was 3.7% in December and 3.6% in November. December was the eighth consecutive month in which Oregon’s unemployment rate was between 3.4% and 3.7%. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.7% in both November and December.
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News and Views Community Events
January 25 First Place for Health Orientation Meeting 6 p.m. at Warren Baptist Church, room 211. First Place for Health is an approach to health and wellness that considers healthy eating as well as balance emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically. For questions, call Becky at 503-396-3041 or visit the website firstplaceforhealth.com. January 25 Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District Board of Directors Regular Meeting 1 p.m. In Person and via Zoom. For instructions on how to join the meeting via Zoom please contact our Administrative staff at 503366-6973. January 25 Scappoose Garden Club Meeting 11 a.m. at 51555 SW Old Portland Road in St. Wenceslaus Parish Hall. Speaker will be Sean Hogan from Cistus Nursery on New Plants & Possibilities. Meeting to follow. Anyone is welcomed to come. January 27 NAMI Support Group Meeting 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Support Group Meeting at Elks Veteran Bunker (House), 125 South 13th St. Helens. Our group’s focus is selfcare for those who have a loved one with mental illness. Contact Judy Thompson for more information, 503.397.6056. February 1 First Place for Health Meeting 6 p.m. at Warren Baptist Church, room 211. First Place for Health is an approach to health and wellness that considers healthy eating as well as balance emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically. For questions, call Becky at 503-396-3041 or visit the website firstplaceforhealth.com. February 6 Job Connection Meet the Employment Specialist 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. at the Columbia Center in St. Helens.
February 9 Beyond The Forest events presents: give, live, laugh, love - A fundraiser for lifempowered 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at 105 Port Ave., St. Helens. Enjoy dinner, drinks and comedy (ages 21+) featuring Todd Basil, Jaren George and Marietje Hauprich. For tickets and sponsorship opportunities please contact Cassie at cassief@lifemp.org or 971708-3767 or Hayley at beyondtheforestevents@gmail.com or 503-984-4456. February 11 Valentine’s Tea at Caples House 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. $35 per person at Caples House, 1925 First St, Columbia City. For questions call 503-397-3590. Bring a loved one for some-
thing wonderful.
February 18 3 Leg Torso Performance 3 p.m. - 3 Leg Torso formed in 1996 as a violin, cello and accordion trio with the mission of creating original modern chamber music for their unique instrumentation. Ticket prices: Adults $25; Seniors (60+) and Students $23; Children $20. Tickets are available online at clatskaniearts.org or by calling Elsa at 503-7283403. If available, tickets will be sold at the door on the day of the concert. February 22 Scappoose Goodwill Job Connection Job Fair 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Job Connection is holding a Job Fair at the Scappoose Library, 52469 SE 2nd Street. February 25 Leapin’ Louie Performance 3 p.m. – Free family performance of Leapin’ Louie who uses circus, cowboy tricks, a six-foot unicycle, and lots of comedy to explore all those wild critters, including us, who fly. Presented by The Clatskanie Arts Commission, Birkenfeld Theatre, 75 S. Nehalem Street in Clatskanie. Ongoing events Fridays 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Caples House offers Tea and Sweets: a bottomless cup of tea with a homemade dessert. Cost is $5. In The Cottage, 1925 First Street in Columbia City. Call 503-397-5390 for more details. Fridays - Sunday 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. - Caples House Museum Tours, 1925 1st Street in Columbia City. Cost is $5. Stop by and see what has changed. Caples House Museum Tours are closed except by reservation until Friday March 1. If you’d like a tour, please call 503397-3590. Lower Columbia River Watershed Council Lower Columbia Watershed Council meets the second Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Clatskanie PUD building. Zoom links are also available. Visit the council’s website for agenda postings and Zoom at www.lowercolumbiariver.org/events-page. Resonate Recovery Meets at 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday - Sundays. This is a Bible based, Christ-centered spiritual recovery meeting for those struggling with addictions and compulsive behavior at 220 S. 1st Street in St. Helens. Everyone is loved and welcomed. For more information call Debbie at 503-560-0521, Daniel Grant at 714-768-9327 or check the Resonate Facebook page. Columbian Toastmasters Promoting positive learning and leadership through
public speaking. Anyone is welcome to visit! Lunch meetings at Warren Country Inn, 56575 Columbia River Hwy, Warren, OR 97053 from 12 p.m.-1 p.m. every Thursday. Call 503-369-0329 for more information. Overcomers Outreach Meetings are held every Saturday at 9 a.m. at Creekside Baptist Church, 51681 SW Old Portland Road in Scappoose. Call Fred 971757-6389. Celebrate Recovery For anyone struggling with addiction, hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for coffee, snacks, and fellowship. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. The first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. the doors open for a free dinner. Yankton Community Fellowship, 33579 Pittsburg Road in St. Helens. 503-396-7091. Childcare is available. www. yanktoncommunityfellowship. com. Storytime on Mondays 11 a.m. at the Columbia City Library, 2000 Second St. in Columbia City. For questions call, 503-366-8020. Clatskanie Senior Center Lunches Clatskanie Senior Center lunches Clatskanie Senior Center Lunches now served Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at noon at the Castle Cafe, 620 SW Tichenor. Call 503728-3608 for reservations. Use ground floor entrance to the left of front stairs. Good parking in back off of SW Bryant Street. Castle Tours available by appointment, includes Clatskanie Historical Society museum. Call Debbie at 503-338-8268. Lower Columbia River Watershed Council Lower Columbia Watershed Council meets the second Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Clatskanie PUD building. Zoom links are also available. Visit the council’s website for agenda postings and Zoom at www.lowercolumbiariver.org/events-page. The Rainier Public Library is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays and 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays. It will be closed Sundays and Mondays. Avamere at St. Helens hosts a Virtual Dementia Support Group – 3rd Wednesday of each month from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. For more details, contact Jenny Hicks/Avamere at St. Helens at 503-366-8070. To list an event in the Community Calendar, email details with a phone number that may be published for anyone that might have questions, to chronicleclassifieds@ countrymedia.net, or call 503397-0116.
Viewpoints Together, we can do hard things TINA KOTEK Chronicle & Chief Guest Column
Last year when I was sworn in to serve as your governor, I told Oregonians that this job would mean waking up, every day, with a mission. That mission, simply put, is to deliver results for Oregonians – to take on our biggest challenges and make things better. In my first year as Governor, I prioritized strengthening connections with Oregonians from every part of our state because I knew that we could not make progress and deliver results on issues of shared concern—affordable housing and homelessness, behavioral health, education, public safety—without working together. In my inaugural address, I asked Oregonians to believe in our state and its future and to join me in being a force for positive change. Today, I want to thank the Oregonians who are stepping up to make a difference in their communities and move the needle on the state’s most pressing challenges. Over the last 12 months, I visited all 36 Oregon counties in order to dig in and listen to Oregonians living, working, and making things better in every corner of the state. The One Oregon Listening Tour was about bringing Oregon together. We didn’t solve all the divisions across our beautiful state. But we made a sincere, authentic effort to listen to Oregonians in their home communities, to understand their hopes and challenges, and to walk alongside them through engaged dialogue to build new relationships and strengthen partnerships. Building these partnerships gives the state a chance to support projects that are already being developed – rather than reinventing the wheel. The foundation we set in 2023 could not have been possible without the willingness of Oregonians
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek
Courtesy photo from the Oregon Governor’s Office
to have conversations about what is and isn’t working and how we can make it better. From balancing housing availability and tourism needs on the coast to confronting how counties across the state are grappling with workforce shortages due to a critical lack of housing supply, communities throughout Oregon are facing similar and unique challenges. Housing and homelessness is impacting all corners of the state. And, I have been so impressed and inspired by the innovative plans being developed to tackle these problems in a way that benefits local communities, even with limited resources. Together, we have made meaningful progress on serving individuals who are at risk of losing their housing, who are currently sleeping outside, and who are ready to move into housing. We paved the way to change how Oregon students are taught to read, as well as started a conversation about how we fund our schools. Just this month, we announced a $25 million partnership with Oregon Health Plan providers to increase behavioral health capacity for young people across the
state. Meanwhile, greater access to naloxone has been saving lives in every corner of Oregon. We partnered with the Legislature to commit resources so rural highways are kept clean and safe this winter. And we brought a renewed focus to tackling the immediate and longterm water quality needs in the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area (LUBGWMA). Oregonians are hungry to tackle problems – and they have the drive and ideas to be forces for positive change. The first year of my administration has left me incredibly optimistic because of the fortitude, resilience, and can-do attitude I’ve seen and heard all across the state. I am endlessly thankful for the Oregonians that have taken time to talk with me and my staff, and who have put their trust in our office to be a partner in our state’s success. One year into my administration, it is clear: working together, we can do hard things and make things better. Tina Kotek is the Governor or Oregon. She may be reached at 503-378-4582.
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Wednesday, January 24, 2024
A5
The Columbia County Chronicle & Chief
Obituaries Abraham Earl Brown Aug. 24, 1935 ~ Jan. 18, 2024
24, 1935. He was the son of Abraham and Pearl (Long – Halverson) Brown. He married Delores Grube of Lewistown, Montana on Oct. 3, 1959 in Lewistown. They moved to Oregon in 1963 and lived in Rainier, Oregon. Abe was a Veteran of WWII. Abe lived on a farm in Goble for many years which was his dream since childhood. He also worked at Weyerhauser in Longview and retired from there. Abe is survived by his sister Marion Palmer of Deary, Idaho; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Delores; his parents; six brothers; and three sisters.
Abraham “Abe” Earl Brown, 88, of Rainier, Oregon, passed away Jan. 18, 2024 in Longview, Washington. Abe was born in Lewistown, Montana on Aug.
Christine Louise (McKnight) Hendryx June 26, 1949 ~ Dec. 8, 2023
Through the filtered sunlight in the pine forest trekking to the beach, Chris would stoop to help her grandsons find the Fairy village amongst the tiny mushrooms, then pick some huckleberries under the watchful eye of the pirate skeleton hiding in the brush, and finally laugh as they contended with the surf and sand full of treasures. Upon returning to the cabin sandy, cold, and wet, Chris would sit with the boys as the rocks and sticks and shells were examined and traded and cleaned, then lovingly wipe all the sand out of the bathtub after warming up the kids with hot chocolate and cookies. She always slowed down to notice the small things in life, to connect with everyone around her and make time together feel special. Chris was born in 1949 in Culver City to Miles “Mac” and Evelyn McKnight. The family moved to Bakersfield in 1956 and she graduated from Bakersfield’s Foothill High School in 1967. Chris was intent on attending col-
lege and left home for Whitworth College in Spokane. Chris earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and Physical Education in 1971. Soon after, on June 19, Chuck and Chris married and moved to Lancaster, CA for her first job as a PE and English teacher at Quartz Hill High School. In 1973 Chris and Chuck moved to Vernonia, Oregon where she started as the high school counselor. She returned to school at Portland State for her certificate in special education and then Lewis and Clark for her
master’s in public administration. Her co-workers remember her as tough and always championing students. In 1989 the family moved to Clatskanie, Oregon for Chris to be principal of Quincy Meager Elementary. Later she became principal of Clatskanie Elementary and then Clatskanie Middle School. Chris and Chuck shared a rare, intimate, adventurous, and tender relationship: an enduring marriage of 52 years that lasted through remodeling five houses, moving from southern California to the Oregon woods and then to the city of Seattle, raising two children, caring for their extended family, and tending to their work. In 1999 Chris transferred to the Longview School District before retiring in 2004. Shortly thereafter Chris and Chuck moved to Seattle to be close to their kids. In retirement Chris enjoyed their beach cabin in Rockaway, time spent in Kona, and being involved in their kids’ and grandkids’ lives.
Christine Louise Hendryx passed away Dec. 8, 2023 in Seattle, surrounded by her husband Chuck Hendryx, her son Chason and daughter Carissa, and their spouses Aubrey and Rob. Chris had been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in March of 2020 and managed to squeeze every drop out of life for more than three years. Chuck carefully and tenderly nursed Chris the last four months of her life, giving family and friends the gift to say goodbye, a loving service to their partnership. She is survived by her husband Chuck Hendryx; sister Janet Thompson; brother Rich McKnight; son Chason Hendryx; daughter Carissa Schmuck; daughter-in-law Aubrey Seffernick; sonin-law Rob Schmuck; and grandsons, Conrad Hendryx, Holden Hendryx, Jonah Hendryx, and August Schmuck. Chris displayed this quote in her house: “Life itself is the proper binge,” (Julia Child). She will be missed by all, so very much. A service will be held in Seattle, Washington.
Gerald R. Shoemaker Oct. 30, 1942 ~ Dec. 9, 2023
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Gerald R. Shoemaker, better known as Buzz, was born in Dallas, Oregon on Oct. 30, 1942 to parents, Gerald D. Shoemaker and Freda Adair. He passed away on Dec. 9, 2023 at his home with his wife, daughters, and grandson by his side. He attended Fall City High School with honors and received a four-year scholarship to Oregon College of Education. He enlisted in the Navy in 1961 and spent two years on the USS McKean. After the Navy, he worked for Boise Cascade Plywood, Oregon State Police, which brought
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wife of 58 years, Terrie Shoemaker; daughter Debra Taylor; son-in-law Guy Taylor; daughter Kellee Shoemaker; grandsons, Nathaniel and Patrick; and nieces and nephews. Buzz was preceded in death by his parents; sister Donna Wengenroth; and brother Cecil Shoemaker. A public celebration of life will be held 1 p.m. on Feb. 3, 2024 at the Elks Lodge, 350 Belton Road, St. Helens, Oregon. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Elks Lodge for the Casey Eye Clinic in his memory.
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him to St. Helens, Columbia River Fire Department, and Portland General Electric
located at Trojan. He retired from PGE Trojan Feb. 1, 2001 after 20 years. He married Terrie Shoemaker on May 15, 1966 in Falls City, Oregon. They had two daughters, Debra Taylor and Kellee Shoemaker. Buzz loved people and loved to travel with friends and family. He kept very active volunteering in places, including the Elks Lodge, where he held several positions, including Exalted Ruler and District Deputy. His love for his family and friends was obvious to anyone who knew him. He is survived by his
April 17, 1950 ~ Jan. 12, 2024 Retired US Air Force MSgt. James O. (Jim) Armstrong, 73, of Woodstock, Georgia, passed away suddenly on Jan. 12, 2024, of a dissecting aortic aneurysm. Jim was born on April 17, 1950, outside of Clatskanie, Oregon, to Bill and Lillian Armstrong. Jim grew up on a farm in the Clatskanie area and graduated from Clatskanie High School in 1968, where he was a decorated athlete and member of the band. He then attended Warner Pacific College in Portland, Oregon where he played basketball and met his wife, Judi. Shortly after they married, Jim joined the Air Force, where he spent twenty
years, first as a security policeman and later as an instructor. Along the way, they had two sons, Jeff and Jason. Jim’s time as an instructor in the Air Force was a bridge
to the next chapter in his life, and one that he found the most rewarding. After a short stint back in the Portland, Oregon area after retiring from the Air Force, Jim became an Air Force Junior ROTC instructor, serving nine years in Bowling Green, Kentucky and additional ten years in Newnan, Georgia, where he was able to make a difference in the lives of countless young people. In 2015, Jim retired and he and Judi settled in Woodstock, Georgia. Jim spent his retirement years traveling with Judi, watching his grandchildren play sports and hanging out with friends at the gym. Jim was predeceased by
his parents, Bill and Lillian, and his sister Lillian Rae. He is survived by his wife Judi; and his two sons, Jeff (and his wife Rebecca) and Jason (and his wife Wendy, and their two children, Kate and Will). Services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 5, 2024 at the Georgia National Cemetery, 1080 Scott Hudgens Drive, Canton, GA 30114. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Homes for Our Troops (https://www.hfotusa. org/), an organization dedicated to providing specially adapted custom homes for severely injured veterans, a subject Jim felt strongly about.
Patsy Lou Blackmore Dec. 21, 1953 ~ Jan. 14, 2024
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Patsy Lou Blackmore, 70, of St. Helens, Oregon, passed away at home surrounded by her loved ones on Jan. 14, 2024. One of seven children, she was born to Frank Stasiuk and Luella Vickers on Dec. 21, 1953, in Preeceville, Saskatchewan. Patsy was a beloved wife to Danny and a loving mother to Danica and Ryan. Patsy attended St. Helens High School and later studied at Portland Community College. She lived in St. Helens for most of her adult life, working at many places such as John Gumm Elementary, Paulson Print-
ing and Blockbuster Video. She enjoyed working places where she could strike up a conversation with anyone
who happened to stop by. In her free time, Patsy enjoyed a variety of hobbies. She had a deep love for animals and spent countless hours caring for them. In addition to the many pets she had throughout her life, her front yard was frequently visited by deer, squirrels, birds and other ‘critters’ as she liked to say, and she always made sure there was food waiting for them. Patsy also had a fondness for Elvis Presley and collected different kinds of Elvis memorabilia, and she enjoyed occasional visits to the casino, where she found excitement
and entertainment even if she didn’t win. Patsy is preceded in death by her father Frank; mother Luella; sister Beverly; and her brother Doug. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends, who will forever cherish the memories they shared together. She is survived by her husband Danny; daughter Danica; and son Ryan. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that contributions be made to the Columbia Pacific Food Bank, where recently she liked to donate her time.
Lawrence Weaver
Dec. 8, 1942 ~ Jan. 8, 2024
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Lawrence “Larry” Weaver, of Deer Island, Oregon, passed away on Jan. 8, 2024. A celebration of life will be held later this spring.
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Fire officials urge propane gas, space heater caution JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.
Local and state fire officials are urging residents to be aware of the dangers of using propane gas and space heaters indoors during winter. In Portland, investigators said five people were hospitalized with carbon monoxide poisoning linked to a propane fueled generator being used to cook inside an apartment during the recent snow and ice storms. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is urging the public to use added caution when heating their homes during the winter months, when nearly half, 46 percent, of all U.S. home heating equipment fires occur, according to a 2023 report from the NFPA. Home heating equipment is the second-leading cause of U.S. home fires and home fire injuries, and
the third-leading cause of home fire deaths and direct property damage. An average of 44,210 home heating fires occurred each year between 2016 and 2020, resulting in an estimated 480 civilian deaths, 1,370 civilian injuries, and $1 billion in direct property damage, according to the report. “During the coldest months of the year, home heating equipment kicks into high gear, so making sure it is in good working order and used properly is critical to reducing the likelihood of fire,” NFPA Outreach and Advocacy Vice President Lorraine Carli said. “By better understanding when and where home heating fires happen, people can take the steps to minimize associated risks and safely heat their homes.” Home fires caused by heating equipment were less likely to occur in the overnight hours from
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Space heaters are most often responsible for home heating equipment fires, accounting for one-third of the fires, as well as the vast majority of associated deaths and injuries.
midnight to 6 a.m. The report states that those fires accounted for more than two out of five fatalities, as well as disproportionate shares of injuries and direct property damage. Space heaters are most often responsible for home
heating equipment fires, accounting for one-third of the fires, as well as the vast majority of associated deaths and injuries. NFPA offers these tips and guidelines for safely heating your home during the winter months:
• Heating equipment and chimneys should be cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional. • Keep anything that can burn at least three feet (one meter) away from all heating equipment, including furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves, and space heaters. • Always use the right kind of fuel, as specified by the manufacturer, for fuelburning space heaters. • Create a three-foot (one meter) “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters. • Make sure space heaters are in good working order and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed. • Fireplaces should have a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container, which should be placed outside
at least 10 feet away from your home. • All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. • If you smell gas in your gas heater, do not light the appliance. Leave the home immediately and call your local fire department or gas company. • Make sure smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are located throughout the home; test them monthly to ensure that they’re working properly. Fast Fact Home heating equipment is the second-leading cause of U.S. home fires and home fire injuries, and the thirdleading cause of home fire deaths and direct property damage.
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
A7
The Columbia County Chronicle & Chief
Public Notices
PROTECTING YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW
CC24-1004
CC24-1011
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE STATE OF OREGON IN AND FOR OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DEPARTMENT In the Matter of the Estate at: PO Box 12814, Salem first published: January 10, THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA of BARBARA JEAN ADEOR 97309, within four (4) 2024. PERSONAL REPPennyMac Loan Services, LLC, Plaintiff, vs. UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF BEVERLY J. GILMORE-BRINSTER; MARAINE PALMER; ANTHONY BRINSTER; DREW BRINSTER; EVIN BRINSTER; PARTIES IN POSSESSION Defendants. No. 23CV35977 CIVIL SUMMONS TO THE DEFENDANTS: Unknown Heirs and Devisees of Beverly J. Gilmore-Brinster NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: READ THESE PAPERS CAREFULLY! A lawsuit has been started against you in the above-entitled Court by PennyMac Loan Services, LLC, Plaintiff. Plaintiff’s claim is stated in the written Complaint, a copy of which is on file at the Columbia County Courthouse. You must “appear” in this case or the other side will win automatically. To “appear” you must file with the court a legal paper called a “motion” or “answer.” The “motion” or “answer” must be given to the court clerk or administrator within 30 days along with the required filing fee. It must be in proper form
and have proof of service on the plaintiff’s attorney or, if the plaintiff does not have an attorney, proof of service on the plaintiff. The object of the complaint is to foreclose a deed of trust dated March 13, 2020 and recorded as Instrument No. 2020-02422 given by Beverly J. Gilmore-Brinster, a single woman on property commonly known as 2558 Columbia Blvd, Saint Helens, OR 97051 and legally described as: PARCEL 1 OF PARTITION PLAT NO. 1999-22, RECORDED JUNE 30, 1999, FEE NO. 99-09300, IN COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON. TOGETHER WITH A NONEXCLUSIVE EASEMENT FOR INGRESS AND EGRESS OVER PARCEL 2 AS DISCLOSED ON THE FACE OF PARTITION PLAT NO. 1999-22. The complaint seeks to foreclose and terminate all interest of Unknown Heirs and Devisees of Beverly J. Gilmore-Brinster and all other interests in the property. The “motion” or “answer” (or “reply”) must be given to the court clerk
or administrator within 30 days of the date of first publication specified herein along with the required filing fee. The date of first publication of the summons is January 10, 2024. If you are in the active military service of the United States, or believe that you may be entitled to protection of the SCRA, please contact our office. If you do not contact us, we will report to the court that we do not believe that you are protected under the SCRA. If you have questions, you should see an attorney immediately. If you need help in finding an attorney, you may contact the Oregon State Bar’s Lawyer Referral Service online at www.oregonstatebar.org or by calling (503) 684-3763 (in the Portland metropolitan area) or tollfree elsewhere in Oregon at (800) 452-7636. Attorneys for Plaintiff, LOGS LEGAL GROUP LLP By: James A. Craft #090146 [jcraft@ janewaylaw.com] 1499 SE Tech Center Place, Suite 255, Vancouver, WA 98683 (360) 260-2253; Fax (360) 260-2285.
BAER, Deceased. Case No. 23PB10571 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that David G. Ade has been appointed Personal Representative of the Estate of Barbara Jean Ade-Baer. All persons having claims against the Estate are required to present them, with vouchers attached to the Personal Representative
months after the date of first publication of this notice, or the claims may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceedings may obtain additional information from the records of the Court, the Personal Representative, or from the Attorney for the Personal Representative. Dated and
RESENTATIVE: David G. Ade, 69746 Marcott Road, Rainier, OR 97048. ATTORNEY FOR PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE Andrew W. Sprauer, OSB No. 081245, Andrew Sprauer Law, PO Box 12814; Salem, OR 97309, Telephone: (503) 910-2050, Email: andrew@ awslawyer.com.
CC24-1005
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA [Probate Department] In the Matter of the Estate of: GERALD WAYNE WALKLEY, Deceased. Date of Death: September 11, 2023. Case No. 23PB09766 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed personal representative of the above-captioned estate. All persons having claims against the estate are required to present them, with vouchers attached, to the undersigned personal representative at South-
west Portland Law Group, LLC, 8455 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy, Portland, Oregon 97225 within four (4) months after the date of first publication of this notice, or the claims will be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceedings may obtain additional information from the records of the Court; the personal representative; or Southwest Portland Law Group, LLC, the lawyers for the personal representative. DATED AND FIRST PUBLISHED ON January 10,
2024. Yvonne W. Chambers, Personal Representative. PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE: Yvonne W. Chambers, 954 SW Westwood Drive, Portland, Oregon 97239, Tel: 503-515-9071, yovogo@gmail.com. ATTORNEY FOR PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE: Lindsey Daniel, OSB No. 192115, Southwest Portland Law Group, LLC, 8455 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy, Portland, Oregon 97225, Tel: 503-206-6401, Fax: 503214-8962, lindsey@swpdxlaw.com.
CC24-1017
TS No. OR14000001-22-2 APN 435142 TO No 2902849 TRUSTEE’S NOTICE OF SALE Reference is made to that certain Trust Deed made by, TONI ORNIE AND JEFFREY J TSCHIDA, AS TENANTS BY THE ENTIRETY as Grantor to WFG NATIONAL TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY as Trustee, in favor of MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC (“MERS”), as designated nominee for COLUMBIA STATE BANK, Beneficiary of the security instrument, its successors and assigns, dated as of October 31, 2017 and recorded on October 31, 2017 as Instrument No. 2017-010200 and the beneficial interest was assigned to FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION and recorded March 1, 2022 as Instrument Number 202201892 of official records in the Office of the Recorder of Columbia County, Oregon
to-wit: APN: 435142 LOT 9, BLOCK 3, COREY ADDITION, IN THE CITY OF VERNONIA, COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON Commonly known as: 914 6TH AVE, VERNONIA, OR 97064 Both the Beneficiary, FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION, and the Trustee, Nathan F. Smith, Esq., OSB #120112, have elected to sell the said real property to satisfy the obligations secured by said Trust Deed and notice has been recorded pursuant to Section 86.752(3) of Oregon Revised Statutes. The default for which the foreclosure is made is the Grantor’s failure to pay: Failed to pay payments which became due Monthly Payment(s): 9 Monthly Payment(s) from 05/01/2023 to 01/15/2024 at $1,514.25 Monthly Late Charge(s): $184.24 By this
CC24-1023
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of TIMOTHY DANIEL CULLEN, Deceased. No. 23PB10631 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed personal representative of this estate. All persons having claims against the estate are required to present their claims, with vouchers attached, within four months after the date of publication of this notice to the personal
representative at P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048, or the claims may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceedings may obtain additional information from the records of the Court, the personal representative or the attorney for the personal representative. Dated and published January 24, 2024. Debra Marie Russell, Personal Representative. STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C. Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048.
reason of said default the Beneficiary has declared all obligations secured by said Trust Deed immediately due and payable, said sums being the following, to-wit: The sum of $224,578.22 together with interest thereon at the rate of 3.62500% per annum from April 1, 2023 until paid; plus all accrued late charges thereon; and all Trustee’s fees, foreclosure costs and any sums advanced by the Beneficiary pursuant to the terms of said Trust Deed. Wherefore, notice is hereby given that, the undersigned Trustee will on May 28, 2024 at the hour of 01:00 PM, Standard of Time, as established by Section 187.110, Oregon Revised Statues, Front Entrance, Columbia County Courthouse, 230 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 County of Columbia, sell at
public auction to the highest bidder for cash the interest in the said described real property which the Grantor had or had power to convey at the time of the execution by him of the said Trust Deed, together with any interest which the Grantor or his successors in interest acquired after the execution of said Trust Deed, to satisfy the foregoing obligations thereby secured and the costs and expenses of sale, including a reasonable charge by the Trustee. Notice is further given that any person named in Section 86.778 of Oregon Revised Statutes has the right to have the foreclosure proceeding dismissed and the Trust Deed reinstated by payment to the Beneficiary of the entire amount then due (other than such portion of said principal as would not
then be due had no default occurred), together with the costs, Trustee’s or attorney’s fees and curing any other default complained of in the Notice of Default by tendering the performance required under the obligation or Trust Deed, at any time prior to five days before the date last set for sale. Without limiting the Trustee’s disclaimer of representations or warranties, Oregon law requires the Trustee to state in this notice that some residential property sold at a Trustee’s sale may have been used in manufacturing methamphetamines, the chemical components of which are known to be toxic. Prospective purchasers of residential property should be aware of this potential danger before deciding to place a bid for this property at the Trustee’s sale. In construing
CC24-1020
this notice, the masculine gender includes the feminine and the neuter, the singular includes plural, the word “Grantor” includes any successor in interest to the Grantor as well as any other persons owing an obligation, the performance of which is secured by said Trust Deed, the words “Trustee” and “Beneficiary” includes their respective successors in interest, if any. Dated: January 4,2024 By: Nathan F. Smith, Esq., OSB #120112 Successor Trustee Malcolm & Cisneros, A Law Corporation Attention: Nathan F. Smith, Esq., OSB #120112 c/o TRUSTEE CORPS 17100 Gillette Ave, Irvine, CA 92614 949-252-8300 Order Number 99172, Pub Dates: 1/17/2024, 1/24/2024, 1/31/2024, 2/7/2024, THE COLUMBIA COUNTY CHRONICLE & CHIEF CC24-1016
NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING NOTICE OF The Clatskanie Planning Commission will meet for a regular meeting on Wednesday, January 24th, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, upstairs in the Clatskanie Cultural Center. Agenda
items include but are not limited to the following: Approval of the minutes of the December 27th, 2023, regular meeting; a Public Hearing will be held to review a request for a conditional use permit for 315 E.
Columbia River Hwy, Suite B. An updated agenda will be available at City Hall by January 19, 2024. Please go to the city website, www. cityofclatskanie.com to access the link to attend the meeting on Zoom.
CC24-1022
NOTICE OF DISTRICT MEETING The Clatskanie School District 6J Policy Committee will be hosting a meeting Thursday, December 14, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00
p.m. at the district office, 660 SW Bryant St., Clatskanie, OR. You may also join via zoom link, which can be found on the Clatskanie
School District website csd. k12.or.us. The agenda for the meeting can also be found there. The public is encouraged to attend.
The Public Notice deadline is Fridays by 5 p.m. Late submissions are not guaranteed to make it into the paper.
PUBLIC LIEN SALE Public Lien Sale Rainier Mini Storage LLC, 323 W B St., Rainier, OR unit #39 Sharon Stewart, #69 Dacian Neubauer at 1 pm on 2-3-24 @at Rainier Mini Storage LLC onsite public auction cash in hand bid. CC24-1021
NOTICE OF MEETING The Columbia Soil & Water Conservation District will be holding their Annual Meeting on February 21, 2024 at 4:00 PM. The meeting will be held at the SWCD office, 35285 Millard Road in St. Helens, OR 97051 and via Zoom.
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A8
The Columbia County Chronicle & Chief
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Games and Puzzles Solution for the Jan. 17, 2024 crossword puzzle
Answers
Columbia County’s trusted local news source
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
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January 24
7 DAY FORECAST The sun this week
A9
The Columbia County Chronicle & Chief
WINTER From Page A1
come down now that we have ice (weight) and warming temperatures (soil saturation), and we will address those as soon as we are able.” Wind and snow did cause power outages to nearly 1,000 Columbia River PUD customers (CRPUD) Jan. 8-10 in Deer Island, Goble, and Rainier, according to CRPUD Community & Public Relations Specialist Kyle Boggs. Despite the outages Jan. 8-10, Boggs said that CRPUD got fortunate with the weather the week of Jan. 15. “We had one outage in St. Helens [on Jan. 17] that knocked out power to 350 customers for about 45 minutes, and then around 12:30 a.m. [on Jan. 18], power went out to 92 customers in the Dutch Canyon area of Scappoose. We restored power at 2:30 a.m. Both of those were caused by ice,” Boggs said. Boggs said CRPUD did not have any damaged equipment during the week and that the biggest challenge had been transportation and response time with icy conditions on the roads. While Boggs said that CRPUD was “grateful” that they got luck with the conditions, they did lend support to other areas of the state that needed assistance. “We did send four linemen to provide mutual aid for PGE on Sunday (Jan. 14) and Mon-
SHORTAGE From Page A1 facilities due to the expense. One of the great frustrations that the resident and Ward have is the lack of communication from management. “There’s been no communication,” the resident said. “Absolutely no communication before the weather hit or during any other time. They really do not communicate with the tenants at all about what they’re doing or what their plans are.” To try to motivate change, Ward has filed a notice asking for arbitration through an arm of the Oregon State Tenants Association, which oversees mobile home parks and marinas. Ward hopes to address
day (Jan.15), then brought them back here Tuesday (Jan. 16) in preparation for the icy conditions,” Boggs said. “On Jan. 17, we sent four linemen to the Eugene area to assist Emerald PUD in their restoration efforts.” The Community Action Team (CAT) runs the Columbia County Warming Center located at 1775 St. Helens St. in St. Helens. Housing Programs Manager for CAT Heather Johnson said the biggest challenge for the warming center was the safety of staff getting in and that agencies that had planned to be open for day access were not. Other than those issues, Johnson said that having had experiences with similar situations, CAT knew what to expect. “We had 18 people access the warming center,” Johnson said. “It went smoothly and we were happy to be able to rally and get open to serve our community.” Going forward, DeJongh said a priority for the county will be trying to improve outreach to the public. “We are exploring options to provide up-to-date information about traffic impacts from weather events and other incidents,” DeJongh said. “However, developing those options requires staff and funding.” Dealing with winter weather For the City of St. Helens, the ice and strong winds were her concerns with McCuddy’s Landing through mediation. Hearing from management Mark Anderson is the Harbor Master for McCuddy’s Landing, and he said that the marina takes steps to try and stop water interruptions before they occur. The normal protocol, according to Anderson, is to post signs and notifications to all tenets that they should run a trickle of water from faucets to avoid freeze-ups. Anderson said that with the temperatures being as low as they were for an extended amount of time, some waterlines freezing was unavoidable. Anderson said that crews came to try and address the issue when they heard that residents were without water,
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its biggest challenge. Communications Officer Crystal King said the weather event combined several factors that hindered the city’s initial response. “The very cold temperatures created snow that was extremely dry and lightweight, making it more difficult to plow than if the snow was heavier and wet,” King said. “The consistency of the snow combined with strong winds meant that snow easily blew back onto roads as soon as it had been plowed.” King said the city’s crews worked “into the night” trying to plow the snow while it was falling, but that when the snow becomes ice, or there is freezing rain, “it becomes impossible to plow.” King noted that the city’s plow equipment cannot remove solid ice from streets and is not designed to plow to surface grade like the larger ODOT plows. “This is for the safety of our crews and our infrastructure since we have manholes and other infrastructure that sits in the middle of our roads,” King said. “Hitting these structures hidden beneath the snow can damage the structures and cause larger problems like damaged water, sewer, and stormwater lines. It can also damage our equipment or flip our trucks and injure our employees if they hit these structures while plowing.” In conditions like these, the city uses sanding and grading to help improve
vehicle traction. King said the amount of sand used varies depending on the weather conditions. Some of the tools the city uses in situations like this are rock, deicer, sanding and grading equipment, plows, trucks, chainsaws, and emergency generators. “It is a balancing act of effectively utilizing our equipment, resources, current weather predictions, and the staff that we have available with volatile weather conditions while we try to keep our city moving,” King said. The “balancing act” also means the city must decide where to plow and clear the roadways. King said the first priority is the primary roadways, which allow travel for emergency responders “to make the most impact for as many people as possible.” “We then focus on neighborhood side streets and known problem areas with steep hills. We kept our emergency sandbag station on Deer Island Road stocked with materials, responded to calls about frozen and burst pipes, did emergency repairs to storm damage at city facilities, and shoveled sidewalks around city buildings,” King said. Some of the emergency repairs related to a burst pipe in the lunchroom at the wastewater treatment plant and melting ice that penetrated the roof of the St. Helens Public Library and started to drip into the building. King said the Public Works Department made emergency repairs, and
the library remains open to the public for use. “We try to be as flexible as possible when dealing with weather like this. Winter weather is notoriously unpredictable in our region, and we must be ready to respond as best as possible to changing conditions that were not predicted.,” King said.
During the inclement weather, schools around Columbia County were forced to close the entire week of Jan. 15, as the roads were deemed too dangerous for students and staff to get to school. For Clatskanie School District Superintendent Danielle Hudson, the biggest challenge is ensuring student and staff safety. “When we have to delay or close school we know it has an impact on families, but we also have a duty to make sure that our buses can transport students safely,” Hudson said. “During this most recent weather event, there was one bus route that was not safe for our bus even with chains but all of our other bus routes were clear.” Clatskanie School District opted to open Friday, Jan. 19, but did not transport students on that route. Hudson said it was a difficult decision, but it was “right for safety.” To determine whether to close the schools, Hudson said she takes many things into account.
Hudson gathers information on weather forecasts and consults with the district’s bus and maintenance supervisors to determine whether or not buses can travel safely. Hudson also expressed gratitude to the four other Columbia County School Superintendents, whom she consulted frequently. “Communication and planning for weather delays can go well into the night and discussions and driving can begin as early as 3:30 a.m.,” Hudson said. One of the obvious setbacks of canceling school is that lessons get pushed back. Hudson said the result is teachers often have to condense the length of lessons in order to cover all the content. Going forward into next year, Hudson said she would indicate on the school calendar when snow day make-up days may occur for staff and family planning purposes. While lesson planning is one issue, the district also experienced a major leak at Clatskanie Elementary School. The heater in the cafeteria broke, causing 650 gallons of water to flood the cafeteria, library, and classroom. Hudson said Jason Krause and Cholla Grigsby were able to stop the leaking and clean up all the water. “I learned that once again, we have an amazing community who is willing to help one another out, whether it is cleaning up flood waters or repairing a bus for another school district,” Hudson said.
but finding water breaks was difficult with the frozen lines. “If the line’s frozen, it’s not flowing until it thaws out, so we had to kind of wait for the thaw to find out where the water breaks are,” Anderson said. Regarding other preventative measure besides having tenants run water through pipes before inclement weather, Anderson said that there aren’t many other measures they take. “I’ve been a marina manager for almost 16 years, and this is a constant issue with all marina properties; they’re just exposed to the elements, and people that live here and have lived here for a while should know that, that their water is going to be compromised because of temperatures,”
Anderson said. Anderson said that the lack of response is more a result of the limited staff that McCuddy’s Marinas has at its disposal. McCuddy’s Marina, which is the company that owns McCuddy’s Landing, has seven properties, and Anderson said there are not enough maintenance staff to “handle all of these emergencies all at once.” To help address the staffing issue, Anderson said he brought in outside help with the approval of owners to fix the issues of water loss and sewage backups at the property. Mark McCutty is one of the sons of McCuddy’s Marina Owner, Mike McCuddy, and he handles the management of the business. McCuddy
detailed what led to the loss of water at McCuddy’s Landing. “When everybody was running water, it caused the well to run dry, and so at that point, the water pressure went low, and the waterlines froze,” McCurdy said. McCuddy said that with everyone running their water to avoid freezes, there is no well that is “engineered to supply that kind of water in those conditions.” McCuddy said that delays in service were a result of not wanting to send their crews out on the road due to the dangerous conditions. “I do not send my people out on the roads when it’s dangerous, and I know it’s not a life-threatening situation. I knew these people would be OK. They had ample opportunity to load up on bottled
water or what have you,” McCuddy said. “They can also use river water to flush their toilets. I wasn’t going to put my people in jeopardy because some people were uncomfortable.” When asked about residents having concerns over the lack of communication from management, McCuddy said that they “communicate pretty well.” He did say that he expects people who live in a marina to be “as aware of the weather and forecasts” as anybody. “We put out snow shovels, we put out snow melt, we drain lines when it’s appropriate; we do a lot of stuff in preparation for the bad weather, but we can’t hold everybody’s hand through a storm,” McCuddy said.
Clatskanie School District’s challenges
Crossword Puzzle STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: CLASSIC TOYS ACROSS
1. Sri Lankan language 6. Something to chew on, especially for cows 9. Mascara holder 13. Muscat resident 14. “____ Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” 15. Father, colloquially 16. Jewish folklore creature 17. Debtor’s letters 18. Art class prop 19. *Barbie’s little sister 21. *____4 game 23. One less than jack 24. *____Frog educational toy 25. Nutcracker’s distinguishing feature 28. Taboo, alt. sp. 30. Cooking fat 35. Deserter’s acronym 37. President’s David 39. Shower accessory 40. Pro ____ 41. Conical dwellings 43. Prep flour 44. *Thomas or Henry, e.g. 46. Law school test acronym 47. Genealogist’s creation 48. Maurice of “Where the Wild Things Are”
50. Flying saucers 52. Make mistakes 53. Chemically-induced curls 55. Harry Potter’s Hedwig 57. *Certain Patch 61. *Not real dough 65. Normal 66. Clingy seed container 68. ____-____-la 69. Theater curtain fabric 70. Put into service 71. Female deer, pl. 72. Pub offering 73. Goo on a trunk 74. What’s in your ewallet?
DOWN
1. Duds or threads 2. Wildly 3. French Sudan after 1960 4. All thumbs 5. Marine gastropod 6. Coconut fiber 7. *Shedding-type card game 8. Tie in tennis 9. Shark’s provision 10. Part of cathedral 11. Work detail 12. “Stop!” to marchers 15. Correspondence
friend (2 words) 20. Make, as in a law 22. Edible type of grass 24. Complete payment (2 words) 25. *Banned lawn darts 26. Fully informed 27. Supreme Teutonic god 29. Get-out-of-jail money 31. Like Neverland boys 32. France’s longest river 33. Bid on a house, e.g. 34. *Certain gun ammo 36. “Best ____ schemes o’Mice an’ Men” 38. “La Vie en rose” singer 42. Counter seat 45. Flamethrower fuel 49. Party barrel 51. Swaddle 54. Type of puzzle 56. Words in song, sing. 57. Intersection of two arcs 58. Ascus, pl. 59. “____ after reading” 60. Switch’s partner 61. Get ready, for short 62. Comedian Carvey 63. Ford contemporary 64. Jumble 67. North American country
Solution to crossword in next week’s issue of the newspaper.
A10
The Columbia County Chronicle & Chief
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Scientists outline climate change biodiversity loss, social injustice STEVE LUNDEBERG Chronicle & Chief Guest Article
Courtesy photo from the Florence Chamber of Commerce
A citizen of Scappoose recently won a $250 cash prize for submitting the winning photo for the Florence Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 photo contest. Liz Happala entered the winning photo, which was taken earlier this year on the dunes between the Odd Fellows campground and the nearby public access area along South Jetty Road south of Florence. The photo will be featured in the Florence Chamber’s Visitors’ Resource Guide and other printed marketing pieces, on the Florence Chamber’s website, and in social media. Happala submitted an entry to the contest because she follows the Florence Chamber on Facebook and gets their email newsletter, she heard about the annual photo contest and decided to partake. “On the night of this photo my daughter drove me out from the Odd Fellows Campground to this bluff to watch the sunset during our family Labor Day weekend trip. We were perched on this little bluff not far from the day-use area off South Jetty Road when I noticed the 5150 whips’ reflections hitting the sand and the Can-am perfectly at sunset. I snapped this photo with no filters,” Happala said.
Planning and planting for spring Columbia County Beekeepers Monthly meeting February 1 at 7 p.m. Linda Zahl will talk about the winter cluster and what is happening inside the hive. All are welcome to attend. Contact Linda Zahl at ColumbiaCountyOregonBeekeepers@gmail.com for the zoom link or attend in person at the OSU Extension Office. Metro Creative Connection
CHIP BUBL Garden Plots Chronicle & Chief Guest Column
I recently had a question from someone looking to do succession planting for, probably, vegetables. They wanted to know the average dates for the last spring frost and for the first fall frost. For years, I have used April 15th as the average last spring 32-degree F frost and October 31 for the first fall frost. Of course, those numbers are not absolute. Rather, they represent the point where it is increasingly less likely to frost after that spring date and more likely to frost after the fall date. When we get to higher elevations in Columbia County like Vernonia, the last spring frost average date is a month later and the first fall frost, a month earlier, effectively decreasing the growing season between frosts by about 60 days. Clatskanie is interesting. The intervals between spring and fall frosts are about the same as St. Hellen/Warren /Scappoose. Overall, the heat units during growing season are lower than South County but the winter low temperatures are higher. This has been a very strange winter to date. The first frost in Warren was very late, again depending on elevation. Locations above where cold air pools have only had temperatures down to 30 degrees F or lower a few times. Lower Warren areas have been several degrees or more colder on many winter mornings. So, even within as small an area as Warren, there are microclimates. Outlying areas in Clatskanie were having 22–28-degree temperatures while St. Helens dropped only to freezing if that. A lot of that is elevation related. But as this is being written, we are starting into a series of days of very cold weather. How much snow and/or ice will develop in the various parts of Columbia County is unclear. The next column will discuss the cold weather impact on the natural landscape and garden. If your vehicle has a thermometer, just driving around and watching the numbers will give you a sense of what is going on. I
recommend that people buy a max/min thermometer, take daily readings and compare them to recorded temperatures in Scappoose or St. Helens. Over time, you will have a better picture of your location’s response to specific weather conditions. To further complicate things, climate change, I firmly believe, is kicking in. We have had too many falls in recent years where there hasn’t been a 32 degree frost until Thanksgiving or later. Depending on the crops you are growing, there are ways to manipulate temperature and plant growth rates at the beginning and ends of the growing season including the use of row covers (see below), transplants, raised beds (soils warm faster as they drain better), and other techniques. Many vegetables will tolerate light frosts once they are established. Often, gardeners are slowed down more by wet soils than temperatures in the spring. Do moles hibernate? Moles in our climate don’t seem to hibernate. As soils become more water saturated, moles appear to be less active. Fewer mounds are produced, though that can quickly change if we get several weeks of dry weather. The intense tunnel and mound building of fall is thought to represent the need to develop a lot of potential feeding habitat and also the need to gorge before the cold wet season starts. Early trapping will reduce the number of newly born moles. Gardening events Master Gardener™ class signups February 20 through early May: 2024 Columbia County/OSU Master Gardener™ classes: Sign-ups being taken now. You can register immediately online at https://beav.es/qBc or visit https://extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/columbia/ course-content-how-join to learn more about becoming an OSU Master Gardener. Registration is entirely online this year. If you need assistance with the online registration please contact Kym Luth at 503-397-3462 or by email at Kym.Luth@ oregonstate.edu.
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Online Bee School Columbia County Oregon Beekeepers will join Tualatin Valley Beekeepers Association for their online Bee School March 18, 19, and 21. Then we will have our own Field Day on April 6th or 15th depending on the weather in Trenholm. For registration contact Linda Zahl Columbiacountyoregonbeekeepers@gmail.com Important notes • Donate extra garden produce and/or money to the food bank, senior centers, or community meals programs. It always is greatly appreciated. • The Extension Service offers its programs and materials equally to all people. • The OSU Extension Office is fully open from 8 a.m. -5 p.m. Got food safety or food preservation questions? Give us a call at 503397-3462. You can also get your pressure gauge tested for free at the Extension office. Food Preservation recipes and fact sheets can be accessed online at: https:// extension.oregonstate.edu/ food/preservation Other questions? If you have questions on any of these topics or other home garden and/ or farm questions, please contact Chip Bubl, Oregon State University Extension office in St. Helens at 503397-3462 or at chip.bubl@ oregonstate.edu . The office is open from 8 a.m. -5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Free newsletter The Oregon State University Extension office in Columbia County publishes a monthly newsletter on gardening and farming topics (called County Living) written/edited by yours truly. All you need to do is ask for it and it will be mailed or emailed to you. Call 503397-3462 to be put on the list. Alternatively, you can find it on the web at http:// extension.oregonstate.edu/ columbia/ and click on newsletters. Resources Oregon State University Extension Service – Columbia County 505 N. Columbia River Highway St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-3462
An international team of scientists led by Oregon State University (OSU) researchers has used a novel 500-year dataset to frame a “restorative” pathway through which humanity can avoid the worst ecological and social outcomes of climate change. In addition to charting a possible new course for society, the researchers say their “paradigm shifting” plan can support climate modeling and discussion by providing a set of actions that strongly emphasize social and economic justice as well as environmental sustainability. Oregon State’s William Ripple, former OSU postdoctoral researcher Christopher Wolf and collaborators argue their scenario should be included in climate models along with the five “shared socioeconomic pathways,” or SSPs, that are used by the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. “We understand that our proposed scenario may be a major challenge to implement given current trends in emissions, a lack of political will and widespread social denial, but its merits can’t even be honestly debated if it’s not included in the suite of options,” said Ripple, distinguished professor of ecology in the OSU College of Forestry. “We’re arguing for radical incrementalism: achieving massive change through small, shortterm steps. And we’re offering a much-needed contrast to many other climate scenarios, which may be more aligned with the status quo, which isn’t working.” Ripple and co-authors from the United States, the Netherlands and Australia present their restorative pathway in a paper published in Environmental Research Letters. They say the pathway is inspired by a unique compilation of Earth system variables that vividly illustrate how humanity’s resource demands have exploded since 1850, indicating ecological overshoot. “The supporting data underscore the urgent need for action,” said Wolf, now a scientist with Corvallisbased Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Associates. “The growth in human population, gross domestic product and
Courtesy photo from OSU
Ripple, Wolf and 10 other U.S. and global scientists have published research that showed the Earth’s vital signs have worsened beyond anything humans have yet seen, to the point that life on the planet is imperiled.
energy consumption, primarily reliant on fossil fuels, has led to an extraordinary surge in greenhouse gas emissions, dramatically altering land use and triggering a massive biodiversity decline.” The authors note that current climate change modeling relies on multiple assumptions and factors related to policy options and societal developments. An international team of climate scientists, economists and energy systems modelers developed the SSPs, which are used to derive greenhouse gas emissions scenarios under different sets of policies that assume continued and significant GDP growth through 2100. “The SSPs describe plausible developments that in the future would lead to different challenges for climate change mitigation and adaptation,” Wolf said. “They’re based on five narratives that describe alternative socioeconomic developments, some more sustainable than others. Our scenario focuses on reducing the consumption of primary resources to a level that keeps environmental pressures within planetary boundaries, with per capita GDP stabilizing over time.” Wolf, Ripple and collaborators took a long-term look back at a range of variables: fossil fuel emissions, human population, GDP, land use, greenhouse gas concentrations, global temperature, vertebrate wildlife species abundance, income inequality and meat production. Collectively, the data paint a comprehensive picture of the profound changes Earth has undergone, say the authors, who include Jillian Gregg
of Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Associates, Detlef P. van Vuuren with the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency and Manfred Lenzen of the University of Sydney. “The income share variable extends back to 1820 and shows how the top 10% have consistently received at least 50% of all income, illustrating global economic inequality over the long term,” Ripple said. “The restorative pathway would represent a more equitable and resilient world with a focus on nature preservation as a natural climate solution; societal well-being and quality of life; equality and high levels of education for girls and women, resulting in low fertility rates and higher standards of living; and a rapid transition toward renewable energy.” Unlike some of the current shared socioeconomic pathways, the restorative pathway does not rely on the development of carbon capture technologies, nor does it assume continued economic growth as the SSPs do. “By prioritizing large-scale societal change, our proposed pathway could limit warming much more effectively than pathways that support rising resource consumption by wealthy nations,” Ripple said. “We aim to bend the curves on a wide range of planetary vital signs with a holistic vision for addressing climate change, biodiversity loss and socioeconomic injustice. Our work presents a case for how humanity can embark on the journey of saving the world from these environmental and social crises.” In October 2023, Ripple, Wolf and 10 other U.S. and global scientists published research in BioScience that showed the Earth’s vital signs have worsened beyond anything humans have yet seen, to the point that life on the planet is imperiled. Ripple is also the coauthor of another BioScience paper, published, that examines climate change and the related biodiversity crisis from a cosmic perspective using “long-term planetary thinking,” he said. Steve Lundeberg is a researcher and writer for Oregon State University Relations and Marketing. He may be reached at steve.lundeberg@ oregonstate.edu
House Republicans introduce bill to end Ballot 110
BEN BOTKIN Oregon Capital Chronicle Chronicle & Chief Guest Article
Oregon House Republican lawmakers have released details of a proposal that would end Measure 110 by mandating misdemeanor penalties for drug possession and treatment to avoid jail. House Republicans want to make possession of small amounts of fentanyl, heroin and meth a class A misdemeanor, which carries up to a year in jail, a fine of up to $6,250, or both. Under the bill, users could avoid jail time with mandatory addiction treatment. The bill also would impose a similar misdemeanor penalty for public drug use. In the coming weeks, Democratic lawmakers, who hold the majority in the Legislature, plan to release detailed proposals to address drug addiction for the short, 35-day session, which starts Feb. 5. Oregon voters in 2020 passed Measure 110, which decriminalizes possession of small amounts of hard drugs and puts a share of cannabis revenue into addiction programs and services. Criticism since then has mounted, with reaction split: Measure 110 supporters are urging Oregonians to give the measure a chance to succeed as programs begin. Others say smaller changes to the law are necessary to address public drug use and allow police to intervene. And others want Measure 110 repealed. “The citizens of Oregon understand the failures of Measure 110,” said Rep. Rick Lewis, R-Silverton, one of the six GOP chief sponsors of the proposal. “We see the results on the streets, in the unaccept-
able overdose death rate and in the catastrophic consequences to our communities, to public safety and to livability. Change is needed, and we can’t afford to take small steps that fail to adequately address the problem.” The proposal would require tougher prison sentences for drug dealers and manufacturers, including a mandatory prison sentence of at least three years for unlawful delivery or manufacturing of a controlled substance if they have a prior conviction within the last five years. The bill’s chief sponsors include Reps. Kevin Mannix, R-Salem; and Christine Goodwin, R-Canyonville, who serve on the joint committee tasked with addressing the drug addiction crisis. In a statement, Mannix said the bill would return accountability to the state and provide public safety and “compassionate rehabilitation services to addicted persons” Goodwin said the state needs to change direction and this bill starts that work. “People do not feel safe,” Goodwin said. “Businesses are leaving. People are afraid to do business in our state.” A Democratic proposal Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber, D-Beaverton, said lawmakers are working on a comprehensive proposal. “We are working, in conversation with our Republican colleagues, to put together a proposal that connects people to addiction treatment, gets drugs off our streets, and keeps our communities safe,” Lieber said in a statement to the Capital Chronicle. “We know we cannot go back to the failed war on drugs, and we cannot continue to allow Oregonians to die of drug overdoses on our
streets. A policy has not been finalized, but once we do have a proposal to put forward, we look forward to thoroughly vetting the ideas through a public process.” Among the potential ideas: Democratic lawmakers are weighing a proposal that would also allow misdemeanors for drug possession, but with smaller potential penalties than those proposed by the Republicans. The Democratic proposal would make possession a class C misdemeanor, which carries a possible jail sentence of up to 30 days. That proposal, which could change, would give people an opportunity to avoid the misdemeanor charge if they talked to a provider about treatment and other services. If they declined to get help, the charge would go to the courts, but they could still get the case discharged before trial if they entered a program. For cases that proceeded, people would be likely to access drug courts to get help and have charges expunged. Democratic lawmakers have said they want tougher penalties for drug dealers, prevention and education and the courts to all have a role in the state’s response to the addiction crisis. https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/01/11/houserepublicans-introduce-bill-toend-measure-110/ Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle. com.