HG22

The Chronicle presents the 2022

HALLOWEEN GUIDE Featuring event guides and more for Halloween in St. Helens

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Halloween Guide 2022

Sept. 28, 2022 – A Publication of The Chronicle

Get into the Spirit!

St. Helen’s signature event, The Spirit of Halloweentown 2022 is an annual tradition that transforms our community into all things Halloween.

In a Chronicle guest column in 2021, St. Helens Mayor Rick Scholl described the event

this way: “It’s when our city transforms into the Spirit of Halloweentown and we see a steady stream of visitors coming to discover a little of the magic that makes our city so special,” Scholl wrote. “The important part to me is that we con-

tinue to bring people together and offer a chance for people of all ages and backgrounds to discover our wonderful community.”

The Great Big Halloween Parade, the annual Pumpkin Lighting ceremony, The Chronicle Children’s Parade, the

enthusiasm and creativity of merchants’ Halloweentown displays, and all of the events spread fun and excitement throughout the community.

We encourage residents and visitors to participate and enjoy this seasonal celebration.

Children’s Halloween Parade

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

The Chronicle Children’s Parade in 2021 attracted children and their families.

STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

One of the highlights of Halloweentown in St. Helens is the Children’s Parade presented by The Chronicle for the past several decades. The St. Helens Grocery Outlet is sponsoring the 2022 parade.

In past years, the family- and dog- friendly event has attracted thousands of children and their families, dressed in the spirit of the season with a variety of Halloween costumes. Princesses, super heroes, ghouls and

zombies all march down 1st Street during the parade after other community members and visitors line the sidewalks to watch.

The assembling point opens at 12:30 p.m. at St. Helens Street and 1st Street.

The parade begins at 1 p.m. and travels down 1st Street to Cowlitz Street.

The parade ends on Cowlitz Street.

Read more details about the 2022 The Chronicle Children’s Parade in upcoming editions of The Chronicle and at thechronicleonliine. com.

Children and their families stroll along 1st Street in St. Helens during the 2021 Chronicle Children’s Parade.

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Halloween Guide 2022

Page 3

Spirit of Halloweentown schedule of events HERB SWETT chronicle1@countrymedia.net

Many free activities and ticketed attractions are part The Spirit of Halloweentown 2022 that began Sept. 17 and runs through Oct. 30.

There will be no charges for strolling performances, a costume contest Saturdays and Sundays, the Vendor Village, a pirate encampment on the riverfront with cannon firings, and Plaza Square photo opportunities.

With tickets, there will be a haunted house, celebrity meet and greets, a Sand Island adventure, a train ride with Whispers in the Woods, a Pumpkin Puzzle Plaza, a Museum of Peculiarities and Oddities, and more.

Ticket options There are two ticket pack-

age options – the One Big Ticket and General Admission Ticket – that Spirit of Halloweentown visitors can choose to purchase depending on the activities they are interested in participating in. Celebrity experiences are offered as unique ticketed events and cannot be purchased as part of a ticket package.

“While a few Spirit of Halloweentown attractions may remain largely the same from a previous year,” St. Helen Communications Officer Crystal King said, “our event coordinator often alters aspects of a previous attraction or creates a new experience so that the festival remains fresh from year to year for returning visitors. As such, ticketed attractions aren’t directly comparable from year to year.

However, the prices for attractions and celebrity experiences (it may be a different but comparable celebrity or a similar event with new or increased

options) generally remains the same as last year.”

Schedule of events Halloweentown organizers have provided the following schedule, with activities subject to change.

Oct. 1-2 The Big Halloween Parade and the only pumpkin lighting ceremony of the year are scheduled. The parade will follow Columbia Boulevard down to South 1st Street and then South 1st Street to the St. Helens riverfront property.

The pumpkin lighting will immediately follow the parade.

Actors and actresses from Disney’s “Halloweentown” will appear.

Oct. 8 Candidates will seek your votes for Mayor of Spirit of

Halloweentown for 2022.

Oct. 15 Olivia Taylor Dudley from “The Magicians” will make ticketed appearances.

Oct. 22 The Haunted Hot Rods car show will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The King and Queen of Halloween will oversee a children’s and family parade at the Courthouse Plaza at 2 p.m. There will be a Scary Good Book Sale at the St. Helens Public Library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a Garden Club plant sale on the porch starting at 9 a.m.

Oct. 29-30 Ashley Greene from “Twilight” will make ticketed appearances Oct. 29, and Peter Facinelli from “Twilight” will appear Oct. 30.

Parking Visitors may use the St. Helens riverfront property at the end of Plymouth Street for paid parking. Attendees are asked to respect the community by not parking in residential areas.

Streets closed Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 17 through Oct. 30 • South 1st Street from St. Helens Street to Cowlitz Street.

• Strand Street from Cowlitz Street to Plaza Square.

• Plaza Square.

• Parking lot behind South 1st Street.

There is a paid parking lot on the St. Helens riverfront, with the entrance at the end of Plymouth Street. Parking costs $15 per vehicle in advance and $20 at the gate.

Tickets can be purchased on the Spirit of Halloweentown website.

Businesses in the Riverfront district will remain open weekends, but there may be adjustments to hours or services.

The Big Halloween Parade will stage floats on Milton Way, which will be closed from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 1 from Columbia Boulevard to Port Avenue. Along the parade route, Columbia Boulevard and South 1st Street will be closed from 5 p.m. to about 8 p.m. The parade begins at 6 p.m. Oct. 1.

People who want to attend the parade in a quieter area away from festival visitors are advised to watch it along Columbia Boulevard from Lewis and Clark Elementary School to South 1st Street.

For more information, visit spiritofhalloweentown. com/attractions.

2022 HALLOWEEN

EVENT GUIDE The following schedule is subject to change.

View the entire schedule with links at spiritofhalloweentown.com.

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

This life-size witch appears to be flying on her broomstick just above Plaza Square in the Riverfront District of St. Helens.

September 17 - October 31 Attractions open at 10 a.m. On weekends, Spirit of Halloweentown offers a merriment of activities for the season. Please note that most attractions close between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. unless stated. All tickets, unless you receive notification to the contrary, are available at the Pumpkin Plaza on S First Street. Look for the big banners and signage in the middle of the street.

The main plaza with the pumpkins, The Vendors Village and the pirate area are open every weekend. The plaza with the pumpkins is open every day of the week to take photos. The Vendors Village is also open for shopping, dining, face painting, and more on weekends.

The local pirates reside on the riverfront and will entertain and delight each weekend with cannon fire and fun. Fires and seating are available on the riverfront on weekends. Look for professional strolling entertainers in the city as well. Witches are famous for dancing and the Spirit of Halloweentown’s King and Queen of Halloween and their court will have you all sweetened up as you enjoy your chosen activities. Captain Jack Sparrow and others are present for photo ops as time allows. The St. Helens Witches dance weekends on Saturdays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Each weekend day at 1:30 p.m. a costume contest is conducted.

Anyone may participate in categories of Adult, Family or Child. Cash prizes in each category.

Street Strolling Performers • Sept. 17 Leapin’ Louie and Heather Pearl • Sept. 18 Curt Carlyle and Rhys Thomas • Sept. 24 Leapin’ Louie and Circus Wheel • Sept. 25 Leapin’ Louie, Circus Wheel and Izohnny • Oct. 1 and 2 Coupe de Foudre and Circus Wheel • Oct. 8 Coupe de Foudre and Rys Thomas and Izohnny • Oct. 9 Coupe de Foudre, Circus Luminescence and Rys Thomas • Oct. 15 Rhys Thomas, Circus Luminescence and Curt Carlyle • Oct. 16 Rhys Thomas, Leapin’ Louie and Circus Luminescence • Oct. 22 Rhys Thomas, Curt Carlyle and Circus Luminescence and Izohnny • Oct. 23 Heather Pearl, Super Nova, Curt Carlyle and Izohnny • Oct. 29 Leapin’ Louie, Super Nova, Heather Pearl and Izohnny • Oct. 30 Leapin’ Louie, Super Nova, Rhys Thomas and Izohnny o C lumbia o C unty’s trusted local news source

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Halloween Guide 2022

2022 HALLOWEEN

EVENT GUIDE

Sept. 28, 2022 – A Publication of The Chronicle Oct.

23

Una the Mermaid appearance Inside Pumpkin Puzzle Area from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

The following schedule is subject to change.

View the entire schedule with links at spiritofhalloweentown.com.

Oct. Oct.

01

The Halloween Big Parade at 6 p.m.

Brought to you by Heather Epperly Agency of American Family Insurance. Pumpkin lighting following the parade.

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Oct.

08

Who will be Mayor of Spirit of Halloweentown?

Vote your favorite as they vie for your signature.

IZohnny Wauna Credit Union Stag presents IZohnny at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Una the Mermaid appearance Inside Pumpkin Puzzle Area from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Oct.

09

Oct.

14

Oct.

15

Una the Mermaid appearance Inside Pumpkin Puzzle Area from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Special guests from Halloweentown Sophie, Dylan and Luke Paid photos and autographs available. Meet the Postman from Halloweentown in our Plaza 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Una the Mermaid appearance Inside Pumpkin Puzzle Area from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Little Trick or Treaters Costume Parade

Ashley Greene a.k.a. Alice Cullen from Twilight Paid Photos and autographs available.

Una the Mermaid appearance Inside Pumpkin Puzzle Area from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

02

The al Origin

Presented by The St. Helens Chronicle. It’s kids, costumes, and a whole lot of fun. Assemble at 12:30 p.m. at 1st. and St. Helens Streets. Please bring a bag for candy. Parade begins at 1 p.m.

Sponsored by The Chronicle in partnership with the Grocery Outlet Stores in St. Helens, Scappoose and Rainier.

Special guests from Halloweentown Sophie, Dylan and Luke Paid photos and autographs available. Meet the Postman from Halloweentown in the Plaza 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Get an item signed, get a photo and purchase some collectible swag!

Teresa Fox a.k.a. Cyclops witch character in movie Halloweentown. Plaza Square from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Oct.

IZohnny Wauna Credit Union Stage presents IZohnny at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

IZohnny Wauna Credit Union Stage presents IZohnny at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Oct.

30

Peter Facinelli a.k.a. Doctor Cullen from Twilight Paid Photos and autographs available.

Una the Mermaid appearance Inside Pumpkin Puzzle Area from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

IZohnny Wauna Credit Union Stage presents IZohnny at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Una the Mermaid appearance Inside Pumpkin Puzzle Area from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Shrieking Stables Shoestring Community Players presents a original scare... Take a walk around the stables and enjoy your visit... while you can.

7 p.m., 8 p.m., 9 p.m., at the Columbia County Fairgrounds, The Goat Barn, 58892 Saulser Rd, St. Helens.

Olivia Taylor Dudley a.k.a. Alice Quinn from The Magicians Paid photos and autographs available.

Italian Imports Dry Goods Gluten-Free Goods Salami and Aged Cheeses

Una the Mermaid appearance Inside Pumpkin Puzzle Area from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Shrieking Stables Shoestring Community Players presents a original scare...

Take a walk around the stables and enjoy your visit... while you can. 7 p.m., 8 p.m., 9 p.m., at the Columbia County Fairgrounds, The Goat Barn, 58892 Saulser Rd, St. Helens.

Oct.

16

Oct.

21

Una the Mermaid appearance Inside Pumpkin Puzzle Area from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

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Monday - Wednesday 12 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Thursday 12 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

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Scary Good Sale!

St. Helens Public Library Books, CD’s, DVD’s, Audio Sale 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Shrieking Stables Shoestring Community Players presents a original scare...

Take a walk around the stables and enjoy your visit... while you can. 7 p.m., 8 p.m., 9 p.m., at the Columbia County Fairgrounds, The Goat Barn, 58892 Saulser Rd, St. Helens.

Oct.

22

“The Haunted Hot Rods” Start your engines and join the fun 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

King and Queen of Halloween Children and Family Parade At 2 p.m., Courthouse Plaza.

IZohnny Wauna Credit Union Stage presents IZohnny at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Una the Mermaid appearance Inside Pumpkin Puzzle Area from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

St. Helens Public Library Scary Good Sale Books, CD’s, DVD’s, Audio Sale 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bag of Books Sale 1 p.m. -2 p.m. Garden Club Sale 9 a.m. on Library porch.

Selling Halloween costumes and accessories, Halloween decor, crystals, hand blended teas, jewelry, antiques, collectibles, disc golf, clothing, furniture, books, DVD’s, CD’s, records, sporting goods and more!

Shrieking Stables Shoestring Community Players presents a original scare...

Take a walk around the stables and enjoy your visit... while you can. 7 p.m., 8 p.m., 9 p.m., at the Columbia County Fairgrounds, The Goat Barn, 58892 Saulser Rd, St. Helens.

2035 Columbia Ave, St. Helens, OR 97051 (971)895-1239 Open Tuesday-Friday 12-6 Saturday 11-6 and Sunday 11-4 During Halloweentown this year.

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Sept. 28, 2022 – A Publication of The Chronicle

Halloween Guide 2022

Page 5

The Big Halloween Parade in St. Helens HERB SWETT chronicle1@countrymedia.net JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

The Big Halloween Parade, a key feature of this year’s Spirit of Halloweentown, begins at 6 p.m. Oct. 1 after a COVID-caused two-year pause.

The parade will start at Columbia Boulevard and Milton Way and head down Columbia to 1st Street and will end at the riverfront.

Heather Epperly, Jenn Buehler, and Betsy Stephens have organized the 2022 version.

“We have a variety of entrants for the parade, the three said.

The Big Halloween Parade includes Grand Marshal Carl Lewallen, a stilt walker who will lead the parade. Approximately 50 parade entrants are signed up, including detailed floats, law enforcement vehicles, the Theatre of Horror, and local businesses are also participating.

Courtesy photo

A crowd gathered in the Riverfront District during a previous Big Halloween Parade.

History Epperly, Buehler, and Stephens stepped up as organizers after they discovered the parade was being discontinued in 2018. The three reorganized the parade and moved it from an afternoon to an early evening event to

enhance public convenience and participation.

The evening schedule was well received, with an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 spectators for the parade and pumpkin lighting.

The pumpkin lighting takes place at Plaza Square in the Riverfront District

The Big Halloween Parade participants dressed for the occasion.

Courtesy Photo

of St. Helens following the parade.

An award ceremony is also scheduled that evening in Plaza Square. First-, second-, and third-place trophies will be handed out for most original, spookiest, and best theme as well as a judges’ choice and a parade

committee choice.

“We believe this year more than ever,” the organizers said in a joint statement, “this is a great opportunity for our community to enjoy some Halloween fun. We are excited to see everyone elevating their entries to a whole new level. We believe

this year, the crowd will get to experience some truly remarkable entries.”

The 2022 parade sponsors include The Heather Epperly Agency, Inc. featuring American Family Insurance and Rocket Mortgage, Re/ Max Lea Chitwood, Molly’s Market, Sweet Relief, Paulson’s Printing, Christina’s Chest, John L Scott, Crooked Creek Brewery and Hudson Garbage.

Due to the pandemic, The Big Halloween Parade was canceled for two years. In 2021, organizers conducted the Columbia Boulevard Trick-or-Treat, a partnership with local businesses to allow children and their families a chance to participate in a traditional Halloween event. The trick-or-treat boulevard event will continue this year. It is scheduled for 3 p.m. Oct. 28.

The Big Halloween Parade will stage floats on Milton Way, which will be closed from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 1 from Columbia Boulevard to Port Avenue.

Along the parade route, Columbia Boulevard and South 1st Street will be closed from 5 p.m. to about 8 p.m.

One of the creative characters taking part in a previous Big Halloween Parade in St. Helens.

Courtesy Photo

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Halloween Guide 2022

Sept. 28, 2022 – A Publication of The Chronicle

City’s fall signature event to return TINA CURRY

Chronicle Guest Column

Each year, the city of St. Helens, Oregon undergoes a magical transformation, decking out its Riverfront District in all things Halloween as an homage to two movies that were filmed in the town: Disney’s “Halloweentown” and the vampirenovel-turned-movie “Twilight.”

Of note this year • The only visiting Holographic Alien on Earth will be answering pressing questions about visitations, abductions, intentions, and more. This state of the art visual and audio effect will be seen for the first time worldwide exclusively at Spirit of Halloweentown. In the same building The Museum of Peculiarities and Oddities filled with whimsy and stories will entertain everyone.

• The new Train will take visitors to and from Whispers in the Woods nature trail, featuring tree-dwelling elves and friends, plus evening tours

to Nightmare on 4th Street, a tour of decorated houses.

• The new Water Taxi will ferry people to Sand Island in the middle of the Columbia River for a viewing of Big Foot, a scavenger hunt, games, fireside marshmallows, stories and more.

• Back this year is the Spooky Shuttle taking visitors to uptown St. Helens for pizza, candy, a ghost story from a fabled puppeteer and the Scarecrow Walk.

• The Haunted House has been a favorite and now with upgraded features and animatronic props, it is even more fun and scarier than ever.

• The Dark Market offers Spirit of Halloweentown merchandise.

The most popular event of Spirit of Halloweentown is the lighting of the giant pumpkins. Participants start the holiday season by counting down the seconds until two giant pumpkins are lit in the city’s historic town square.

In 2022, the Pumpkin Lighting Ceremony takes place on Saturday, October 1.

One pumpkin is a replica of the giant pumpkin featured

regularly listed as a national destination spot for Halloween celebrations and has been featured on ABC News, MTV, Vogue, Entertainment Weekly, BuzzFeed, Country Living, Huffington Post, and many other recognized news outlets.

About the community

Courtesy photo from Tina Curry

The city’s signature fall event Spirit of Halloweentown includes lighting of a large pumpkin.

in “Halloweentown” and the other is an enormous work of steampunk metal art. The pumpkins, which both stand over six feet tall, are available for photo opportunities every day until the end of October. The plaza is home to many other photo opportunities such as huge crows and an over seven-foot-tall hand carved scarecrow.

General admission tickets to Spirit of Halloweentown, along with special celebrity engagement tickets and a full list of events, are available on the festival’s website at www.spiritofhalloweentown. com.

About Spirit of Halloweentown In 1998, the riverfront city of St. Helens, Oregon served as the filming location of Disney Channel’s television classic “Halloweentown.” Each year thereafter, the city has transformed the Riverfront District into the Spirit of Halloweentown, a festival that celebrates all things spooky.

This month-long event attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year and is geared for anyone who loves Halloween. The Spirit of Halloweentown festival is

St. Helens is a Columbia River community rich with history and culture. On their expedition to the Pacific Ocean in 1805, Lewis and Clark made a stop in what is now St. Helens.

In 1850, Captain H.M. Knighton of New England founded the town, which was first named Plymouth before being rechristened within a year to St. Helens for the town’s magnificent view of Mount St. Helens. Originally established as a river port, St. Helens is located 30 miles northwest of Portland. As the county seat, it is the largest community in Columbia County with a population of about 13,000. Many of the city’s community events are held in the Riverfront District where visitors and residents enjoy an expansive view of

the Columbia River, Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens.

Originally settled by New England loggers, St. Helens’ basalt rock quarry was a major industry in the early 1900s. Because of the industrial operations occurring in St. Helens and its location on the Columbia River, it rivaled Portland as a competing port city. After an unfortunate fire burned the docks of Pacific Mail, a team of Portland businessmen persuaded Pacific Mail to locate in the new port town of Portland, establishing the Port of Portland as the dominant port in the region.

The Riverfront District of St. Helens features a Nationally Registered Historic District encompassing 10 blocks, which includes residences and civic buildings dating back nearly a century. The town is has also served as the backdrop to many popular films, most notably the Disney Channel television film “Halloweentown,” and the film adaptation of Stephanie Meyer’s novel “Twilight.”

Tina Curry is the events coordinator for the City of St. Helens.

Trunk-or-Treat to be held at county fairgrounds STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office’s (CCSO) third Annual Trunk-or-Treat event is scheduled for Oct. 31 at the Columbia County Fairgrounds at 58892 Saulser Road, St. Helens.

This year’s event will be held on Monday, Oct. 31, between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

For the past two years, the Sheriff’s Office has hosted a drive-thru event, first at the Sheriff’s Office in 2020 and then at the Columbia 9-1-1 Communications and Lee Broadbent Training Center on McNulty Way in 2021.

This year the agency wanted to get back to a more

C ountyC’s edtrus loca swne ecsour

traditional event but needed a location that would have plenty of parking. Malinda Duran, the event coordinator, approached the Columbia County Fair Board Aug. 8 to express interest in securing the fairgrounds as an event venue.

Trunk-or-Treat is one of several ways for the Sheriff’s Office to connect with the community, particularly the youth, and to build positive relationships. Other events include participation in many of the parades offered throughout the county, the fair, the Prepare Fair, and hosting a National Night Out event in August.

At the CCSO 2021 Trunkor-Treat event the agency staff and volunteers passed out 286 goody bags to trick-or-

Courtesy photo from CCSO

A previous CCSO Trunk-or-Treat event conducted as a drive-through project.

treaters and 42 Beanie Babies to infants.

“We anticipate those numbers to increase this year with the lifting of COVID restrictions,” a release from the CCSO states. “The fairgrounds offers plenty of parking for a more traditional trick-or-treating event, but

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also the ability to easily revert back to a drive-through event should the need arise.”

In order to hold the event, the CCSO needs the participation from other county businesses, agencies, organizations and individuals to host a “trunk” or booth.

“Since this year’s event is

going to be more traditional, it means that any group or individual participating would be able to plan a game or activity in which the children can participate,” the release states.

Examples of activities offered at other Trunk-orTreat events include pumpkin bowling, witches hat ring toss, fishing game, etc. Any activity that can be completed fairly quickly would be great for this event.

“One of the really fun parts of the event is seeing all of the creative decorations and costumes that the different groups and individuals come up with, as well as the costumes worn by the trickor-treaters,” the release states.

“Last year the Sheriff’s Office did a witches, lair complete with a bubbling cauldron.

Other decorations included a cowboy skeleton campfire, spooky dolls, OSU Beavers and Nightmare Before Christmas. The internet and Pinterest have some great ideas for trunk decorations.”

If you, your business or organization is interested in hosting a trunk or booth at this year’s event, contact Malinda Duran at the Sheriff’s Office.

She may be reached by email at malinda.duran@columbiacountyor.gov, or by phone at 503-366-4601.

Trunk-or-Treat 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 31 Columbia County Fairgrounds 58892 Saulser Road St. Helens

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