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A Look Ahead

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Mayors look ahead to 2021 In that vein, he also said one of the city’s constant top priorities is public safety.

“We hope to improve overall safety by finding funding for a new public safety facility to allow us to better meet the safety needs of our officers and the community,” he said.

Two other priorities include communication and public engagement.

The city wants to inform the public about what is happening and how staff and elected leaders are working for them.

“We encourage people to reach out to us and engage,” Scholl said.

“We want to hear from you. We are adapting to increased growth. If you have ideas, please reach out to us.

Your thoughts are important to us.”

MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of special reports you’ll read only in The Chronicle in the weeks ahead providing insight from members of our community into what we might expect in 2021.

Our first report focuses on viewpoints from city hall at St. Helens and Scappoose.

As the year draws to a close, the mayors of Scappoose and St. Helens have taken the time to reflect on 2020 and look ahead to the new year.

St. Helens St. Helens Mayor Rick Scholl said there are a lot of things on the city’s horizon to look forward to in the new year.

“Hopefully, we will be able to transition back to more normalcy,” he said. Two new city council members will join the city council starting in January. “With the new councilors, I am looking forward to new ideas and input on current city projects. There has been a lot of planning occurring the last several years and people have joined the council.”

As far as projects go, St. Helens

Scappoose In his state of the city address, Scappoose Mayor Scott Burge said the city has a few projects in the works for the next year, including park projects and multiyear planning to shape how Scappoose will look over the next 50 years.

This year, 2021, is the 100 year anniversary of the city of Scappoose and the 50th commemoration of the dedication of the World Peace

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

Enhancement of public walk ways along the Columbia River in 2021 continue to be a top priority for St. Helens Mayor Rick Scholl.

residents can look ahead to the construction of two park projects.

He said Campbell Park is getting new sports courts, additional parking and improved storm drainage.

McCormick Park will have a new all-abilities playground installed, partially funded through the Moda Assist program competition the city won in April.

The new year will also launch the first phases of the waterfront

redevelopment project. “[The waterfront project] hopefully will include the start of construction on a riverfront boardwalk, expansion of Columbia View Park, and a street expansion at S First Street and Strand Street,” Scholl said. “Site preparation will start at the St. Helens Industrial Business Park to attract new business to the area.”

One of the most important

upcoming projects, Scholl said, will be increasing community support for the city’s aging police station.

“We will be engaging the community and letting them know about our need for a new building,” he said. “Our current station is 50 years old and very small.”

Scholl said the police department has outgrown the space and a new facility is needed to help the community as it continues to grow.

­­­­ See 2021 Page A4

Vaccinations begin in Columbia County MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net

Drawing courtesy of the City of St. Helens

This is a conceptual drawing of what the new St. Helens Public Safety Facility could look like. Specific cost estimates have yet to be released by the city and no specific decisions had been made as of Jan. 5 about how the public safety facility would be funded.

Council to review public safety facility plans JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

The St. Helens City Council is scheduled to receive a key report and recommendation during its Jan. 6 public session concerning the future of the St. Helens Police Department.

Over the past few months, a city ad hoc committee has been reviewing proposals to build a new police building that would be a public safety facility to include the city’s police department, municipal court, city council chambers, a community room and a backup emergency operations center.

In February, following a review of land for the project, the St. Helens City Council selected property at the intersection at Kaster Road Fire and Police ......... A3 Opinion ..................... A4 Poll ............................ A4 Cartoon ..................... A4 Obituaries ................. A5 Classified Ads ......... A6 Legals ....................... A6 Police Reports ..........A7 TV Guide ................... A8

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and Old Portland Road for the site of the new facility.

St. Helens Assistant City Administrator Matt Brown said an assessment determined that a 21,000 square foot facility would best serve the long terms needs of the growing community.

“From the size of the building, as of right now, we can only use construction estimates based on square footage,” Brown told The Chronicle in November. “Those estimates can range widely because of the type of structure and purpose of the building. So we are not ready to put a price on the building at this time.”

The city contracted with ­­­­ See COUNCIL Page A7

In the four weeks since the first COVID-19 vaccine was approved for emergency use in the United States, over 50,000 doses have been administered in Oregon. Within Columbia County, 270 doses have been administered.

Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses to be effective. The Pfizer vaccine doses need to be administered 21 days apart and the Moderna vaccine doses need to be administered 28 days apart. Nine people in Oregon have received the second doses of vaccine as of Monday.

The state is scheduled to receive just over 85,000 doses of both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine this week, though actual numbers may vary and are subject to change.

The first group to receive the vaccine in the state’s phased vaccine approach includes health care personnel and residents and staff at long-term care facilities. Long-term care facility residents include adults who reside in facilities that provide a range of services, including medical and personal care, to people who are unable to live independently, according to the state’s vaccination plan.

The other people eligible to receive vaccinations right now are hospital workers, urgent care employees, staff at skilled nursing and memory care facilities, tribal

Courtesy photo from Oregon Health Sciences University

Columbia County is now receiving COVID-19 vaccines.

health programs, emergency medical service providers and other first responders.

Gov. Kate Brown issued a statement late Monday, Jan. 5 about stepping up the vaccination efforts across the state.

“Today, I directed the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to achieve the benchmark of 12,000 vaccinations administered in Oregon per day by the end of the next two weeks,” Brown said. “That will put us on track to deploy every vaccine we have in our hands each week. OHA will be working with health care providers, pharmacies, and local public health partners to streamline the distribution process to achieve that goal.

“This is an all-hands-on-deck effort, and I have directed OHA to partner as widely as possible to ensure we are using all available resources to ramp up Oregon’s vaccinations rapidly.”

On the horizon Vaccines will soon be opened up to other care facilities and health care personnel and residents, hospice programs, mobile crisis care and related services, secure transport and individuals working in correctional settings. These people are in group two of the first phase of ­­­­ See VACCINE Page A7

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County officials take oath of office STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

Three officials were sworn into office by Judge Ted Grove on Monday.

Commissioner Margaret Magruder, reelected for her second term to Position 1, was first elected in November 2016. A lifelong resident of Clatskanie, she has more than two decades of public service involving Columbia County business, government and nonprofits.

As a County Commissioner, Magruder’s primary focus is economic development, natural resources and infrastructure.

“It is a privilege to serve the citizens of Columbia County for the next four years,” Magruder said. “I look forward to working to bring improved technology, new jobs, and good health to Columbia County.”

Commissioner Casey Garrett, elected in November for his first term to Position 3, has been working for the County for six years as the director of general services. He has been a resident of St. Helens for 14 years and was

Courtesy photo from Columbia County

From left to right, Columbia County Commissioners Casey Garrett, Margaret Magruder, Henry Heimuller at the swearing in ceremony.

raised outside of Scappoose in Chapman. As a County Commissioner, Garrett is focused on economic growth and living wage

jobs, increasing access to public lands and improved customer service.

MaryAnn Guess, newly elected as county treasurer,

has worked in the Columbia County Tax Office for 18 years, and became the county’s tax collector in 2015. Guess also served on

Courtesy photo from Columbia County

Treasurer MaryAnn Guess holds her certification.

the County Fair Board for eight years.

“My family has been in Columbia County for the past 50 years,” Guess said.

“I will continue to be trans-

parent in performing the duties of county treasurer as I do as the county’s tax collector.”

This will be Guess’s first term as county treasurer.

What the GDP means for Columbia County ERIK KNODER Chronicle Guest Article

Editor’s note: Real estate sales are a key economic indicator in Columbia County.

In the following report, Oregon Employment Regional Economist Erik Knoder outlines how real estate sales have helped move the county ahead.

Northwest Oregon’s recovery from the Great Recession was uneven.

Employment grew faster in Benton and Clatsop counties and lagged in Columbia and Lincoln counties. Tillamook County’s employment growth was in between these two groups.

The change in gross domestic product of the counties seems to have followed roughly the same general pattern for four counties, but GDP for Tillamook County is estimated to have grown much faster than any of the other counties.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) makes estimates of county-level gross domestic product. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the value of goods and services produced in an area.

Columbia County Columbia County have had more modest GDP growth during the recovery from the Great Recession.

Columbia County’s GDP fell

R in the years after the Great Recession before rebounding strongly in 2015. It increased 4.7% in 2019, but has grown by only 15.1% in real terms since 2009. Services, especially real estate, powered its GDP growth, and the goodsproducing industries actually declined slightly from 2018 to 2019.

Benton County The BEA’s estimates show that Benton County’s GDP grew by nearly $1.3 billion dollars from 2009 through 2019. After adjusting for inflation this resulted in real growth of just over 18%. Benton County’s employment passed its prerecession high in 2012, so was on a strong growth path for years until the pandemic.

Benton County provided 41% of the region’s $12.1 billion GDP in 2019.

Despite a large public sector Benton County’s recent GDP growth came from the private sector. The government’s contribution to GDP actually fell slightly.

The county’s GDP grew by

1.5% from 2018 to 2019.

Manufacturing was the single-largest contributor to growth, followed by real estate.

Clatsop County Clatsop County’s employment also passed its pre-recession high in 2012 and had solid GDP growth during the recovery from the Great Recession. Its GDP growth was 4.3% from 2018 to 2019 as its economy continued more normal growth before the pandemic.

Clatsop County’s GDP grew by $762 million over the 10 years, which yielded total inflation-adjusted growth of 24.7% over that period. The county’s growth from 2018 to 2019 came primarily from its private-sector service industries.

Clatsop County’s real estate industry provided the most to the county’s GDP growth followed by health care and manufacturing.

Clatsop County had the largest net change (+$76.4 million) in GDP of the five counties in Northwest Oregon from 2018 to 2019.

Lincoln County Lincoln County also saw more modest GDP growth during the recovery from the Great Recession. Lincoln County’s GDP fell six out of seven years from 2006 through 2013. In inflation-adjusted terms it took until 2016 for the county’s GDP to surpass the level it first reached in 2006.

GDP has grown since then, including a gain of 3.8% in 2019.

Lincoln County’s growth was mostly provided by service industries with real estate being the leading contributor to growth by far and retail trade also contributing. Manufacturing and the other goodsproducing industries had weak growth in 2019.

Tillamook County Tillamook County has the smallest GDP in the region, but it has led the pack for GDP growth (33.6%) since 2009. Its GDP grew by 6.4% in 2019.

Most of Tillamook County’s GDP growth in 2019 came from real estate, with additional growth from

Metro Creative Connection / Chronicle

Services, especially real estate, in Columbia County powered the GDP growth, and the goods-producing industries actually declined slightly from 2018 to 2019.

natural resources. Health care and government also contributed a share to GDP growth.

Manufacturing was nearly unchanged over the year.

Although the county has the smallest GDP in the Northwest region, its growth led to it producing the second-largest

absolute gain (+$69.4 million) in GDP among the five counties. Pretty impressive.

Erik Knoder is a regional economist with the Oregon Employment Department. He may be reached at 541-3515595.

Landslide closes Highway 30 COLUMBIA CITY MUNICIPAL COURT AMNESTY PROGRAM JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

Highway 30 remained closed about three miles east of Astoria at milepost 94 as of late Monday, following a mud and rock landslide.

Oregon Department of Transportation geologists were working with road crews on the best approach for mitigating the slide issues. As of Monday, the road was closed indefinitely, and only emergency vehicles will be allowed to pass through the slide area.

The alternative routes for all vehicles including large trucks is State Route 4 in Washington and Highway 202 / Highway 47. Travelers should avoid the area or use an alternative route.

The Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) said landslides can be caused by several factors, includ-

ing the type of geology, the slope and water. Rainwater buildup following frequents storms can lead to a landslide.

According to a DOGAMI executive summary report about the landslide hazards in Columbia County, landslides and debris flows are common in the Oregon coast range due to the combination of high precipitation, steep slopes, and landslide-prone geologic units. Cutting through the northern coast range, the Highway 30 (Oregon State Highway 92) corridor is prone to slope instability.

The study indicates that the Highway 30 corridor in Columbia and Clatsop Counties is at significant risk from landslide hazards.

Landslides cover 25% of the study area, and 33% of the city of Clatskanie is covered by large, deep landslides.

The large number of people and structures residing on

these deposits highlights the potential danger present and shows the need for public awareness on landslide hazards.

According to DOGAMI, people, structures and roads located below steep slopes in canyons and near the mouths of canyons may be at serious risk. Dangerous places can include: • Canyon bottoms, stream channels, and areas of rock and soil accumulation at the outlets of canyons.

• Bases of steep hillsides.

• Road cuts or other areas where slopes of hills have been excavated or over-steepened.

• Places where slides or debris flows have occurred in the past.

See dangers posed by landslides and safety precautions provide by DOGAMI with this story at thechronicleonline.com.

DECEMBER 15, 2020 through April 15, 2021 Columbia City Municipal Court is offering a one-time only amnesty program to forgive a portion of overdue fines owed when you pay in full between December 15, 2020 and April 15, 2021. To participate in this program, you must follow the guidelines below: • Overdue fines are defined as those that have been sent to the collection agency and are older than 2 years.

• You will receive half off / fifty-percent (50%) of the total balance due Columbia City. Reductions will not be given for partial payments.

• Payment must be in the form of check, money order, cashier’s check, or debit/credit card.

Payments can be made via mail or taken over the phone.

• Driver license reinstatement papers will be faxed to DMV after notice is received from the collection agency of settlement in full. You may also be subject to a $75.00 fee payable to the DMV to reinstate your driver’s license.

Please direct all questions and inquiries to: Columbia City Municipal Court at 503-397-4010

Let us know what YOU think EMAIL YOUR LETTERS TO: CHRONICLENEWS@COUNTRYMEDIA.NET

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Fire and Police

Police release sketch of child were assisted by Lincoln County search and rescue members.

The Oregon State Medical Oregon State Police (OSP) Examiner’s Office estimates have released new details in the deceased’s age to be 6.5 the agency’s investigation of to 10 years old. She is apthe human remains of a child proximately 3’10” to 4’6” discovered in rural Lincoln tall, and had long hair that is County on Dec. 10 dark brown or black. Her race OSP released what the or ethnic origin has yet to be agency called an approxidetermined, but DNA analysis mation sketch of the child is not complete, OSP said. on Monday. Detectives are Due to the condition of the seeking the public’s assistance remains, investigators believe in identifying the remains of the child had likely been the child. deceased for at least 30 days On Dec. 10, investigators before she was discovered. were summoned to the H.B. Detectives have not released Van Duzer Forest State Scenic details about the cause or the Corridor in Otis for a death manner of the child’s death. investigation. At the locaIf you have any information, investigators found the tion that might help investigaremains of a female child in tors in identifying this child, a heavily wooded area. Due please call 800-442-0776 or 3x15D Jan Clearance:Layout 1 1/4/21 12:50 PM Page 1 to01-06-21 the terrain OSP detectives *OSP (*677).

STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

St. Helens Police made four DUII arrests over the new year holiday weekend.

Holiday DUII arrests made JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

St. Helens Police mounted additional traffic safety patrols over the New Year’s holiday weekend and netted four driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII) arrests, two warrant arrests and made a total of 29 traffic stops.

The extra patrol was conducted from 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, until 6 a.m.

Friday, Jan. 1.

One DUII driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .29%. The legal limit in Oregon is .08%.

Additionally, two St. Helens officers who were driving to-and-from work observed dangerous driving by individuals suspected to be impaired. This ultimately led to two DUII arrests. The

y

drivers had BACs of .25% and .14%.

Impaired driving can lead to serious consequences, according to a release from the St. Helens Police Department, which stated it is dedicated to ensuring safe roads for citizens.

The release stated that the New Year’s holiday is one of the more dangerous times to be on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there is typically an increase in drunk-driving related deaths during this holiday.

According to a recent NHTSA study, more than 63% of drivers in fatal or near-fatal crashes tested positive for alcohol or at least one active drug – a high number and an increase from the 50% range seen before COVID.

About one in five people in fatal or near-fatal crashes were highly intoxicated, with BACs of .15% or more, the study said.

According to St. Helens Municipal County officials, conviction of DUII can be expensive.

• 1st conviction – minimum fine of $1,000 and maximum fine of $6,250; • 2nd conviction – minimum fine of $1,500 and maximum fine of $6,250; • 3rd+ conviction – minimum fine of $2,000 and maximum fine of $6,250 (these amounts assume the case is still a misdemeanor; a third DUII conviction can be either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the time between convictions).

Courtesy sketch from OSP

Investigators are hopeful someone can recognize this sketch of a child whose remains were found in early December in rural Lincoln County.

See more about the potential fines with this story at thechronicleonline.com.

Rainier structure fire

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Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Columbia River Fire & Rescue (CRFR) firefighters arrived on the scene of a fire in a shop at a private residence on Old Rainier Road in Rainier Friday night, Jan.1.

Specific details about the cause of the structure fire in Rainier had yet to be released by CRFR as of Monday.

There were no injuries and the cause of the fire is under investigation, according to a CRFR Facebook post.

CRFR responded to the scene with three engines, a medic, a chief and a public information officer. Rainier Police, Clatskanie Fire and Clatskanie PUD assisted at the scene.

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Courtesy photo from SRFPD

Members of the Scappoose Rural Fire Protection District pose with Roux, the district’s January honorary fire dog.

The Scappoose Rural Fire Protection District (SRFPD) crew has established a partnership with the Oregon Humane Society to showcase the district’s “Honorary Fire Dogs” each month.

The dogs are housed at the Humane Society’s shelter waiting for adoption. Each month the fire crew shares a photo of one of the dogs

visiting the SRFPD station.

Roux is SRFPD’s Honorary Fire Dog for January.

In a Facebook post, the fire district crew describes Roux as a handsome 3-yearold lab mix who weighs about 62 pounds, knows a few commands, and is scared of cats.

The Oregon Humane Society officials have not had

the opportunity to observe Roux in an environment with children, so the shelter officials said aren’t sure how the dog would will do with kids, according to the Facebook post.

If you have space in your home and heart for Roux, you can contact the Humane Society at www.oregonhumane.org/adopt

Reach out to potential customers.

Get your ad in The Chronicle today. Call 503-397-0116

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Garden Plots: Stink bugs and wartime Where did the stink bugs go?

In 2017 and 2018, most of Columbia County was awash in stink bugs. The brown marmorated stink bug first showed up in the Portland metro area in 2008 and expanded its range and population into most of western Oregon within a few years. They were also a serious agricultural pest affecting apples, pears, wine grapes, tomatoes, peppers, hazel-nuts and other crops.

They were most obvious when they tried to get into your house in the fall along with box elder bugs. Most of them, like the box elder bugs, don’t get out alive but that is another story. Then in the past summer and fall, their numbers crashed.

Reports from the Willamette Valley noted far fewer stink bugs in crops with the possible exception of the Eugene area.

What happened? There are several theories, not mutually exclusive. I visited with one entomologist who thought cool weather in May and early June followed by a very cold October slowed down their metamorphic cycle which reduced their crop presence and prevented a second generation from maturing. It is that second generation that looks for the coziness of your home.

A second theory is that predators, both foreign and domestic, may be finding them quite tasty. There is good evidence that spiders, the predatory spined stink bug, some beetles, wasps, birds, ants, and even fungal disease are eliminating marmorated stink bugs. But probably the most aggressive predator is the teeny Samurai wasp that lays its eggs in stink bug eggs. This provides a great meal for the developing wasp larva.

While not native to the United States, it appears to have traveled from the Orient on ships in the same way marmorated stink bugs got here and was first spotted in Vancouver, Washington. It is now successfully established in western Oregon. Had it not gotten here on its own, there were plans to introduce it from Asia as a bio-control.

Odds are that both weather and predatory biology played a role. We have known that there is an ebb and flow of box elder bugs from year to year. Perhaps marmorated stink bugs will show a cyclic population pattern. But because they cause serious crop loss, there is a lot more energy focused on their life in Oregon and how to best reduce that damage.

Wartime and OSC(U)

collection and transportation systems have to evolve to get the food to the frontlines.

WWI required that foodstuffs be transported across an ocean. The US government created policies that essentially gave them wartime authority over all food movement and sales. Herbert Hoover was put in charge of the Food Ad-

ministration.

People were asked to conserve and eat all their food (clean plates only). There were wheat less Mondays and pork-less Tuesdays.

Children signed this pledge: “At the table I will not leave a scrap of food on my plate and I’ll not eat between meals but for suppertime I will wait.”

During the First World War, novel foods came into common usage including sugarless candy, dogfish, and horsemeat steaks. “Liberty” gardens were encouraged and even President Wilson grazed sheep on the White house lawns. There were some great posters put out in support of these food management efforts which

are available online.

WWII brought the Victory gardens. People in rural and urban areas worked the soil to raise food for their families, friends, and neighbors. Victory gardening enabled more food to be shipped to troops around the world. Empty lots, school fields, flower gardens, and back yards were cultivated.

For an investment of

$1.30 in seeds, $1.50 for fertilizer and 7-8 hours/ week tending the garden, a family could have fresh vegetables for 5-6 months. LIFE magazine estimated that by 1943, 6 million Americans were planting Victory gar-dens. Public schools had victory gardens.

By 1945, 20 million Victory gardens were producing 40% of all American vegetables.

Records in the Columbia County Extension office for the WWII years, offer lots of evidence of war efforts: Victory gardens and home canning were widely encouraged, though I could find no

specific numbers.

Housewives could send tin cans with candy, fruitcakes, and the like, to GIs overseas. This processing was done at the Extension office for the sum of 3 cents per can and was over-seen

by Mrs. Eric Zatterberg.

Women’s roles also changed dramatically reported Maude Causwell, Extension Home Economist of the time.

The WWII era Columbia County Extension agent had many roles including: • Increase food production by utilizing the best tools and growing techniques.

En-courage Victory gardens.

Encourage reuse, and recycling.

• A special agent (Ken Asburry) was hired to manage farm labor. He was in charge of allocating farm workers to the most important activities be it haying, fruit or vegetable harvest, tilling or planting throughout the county.

• Finally, the County Agricultural agent was responsible for staffing an aircraft surveillance facility in Yankton that looked much like a forest fire watchtower.

Have 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 503 397-

3462 or at chip.bubl@oregonstate.edu.

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 503 397-3462 to be put on the list. Alternatively, you can find it on the web at extension.oregonstate.edu/columbia and click on newsletters.

Many Extension publications available online Are you putting up salsa, saving seeds, or thinking about planting grapes? OSU has a large number of its publications available for free download. Just go to catalog. extension.oregonstate.edu/ . Click on publications and start exploring.

The Extension Service offers its programs and materials equally to all people.

Contact information for the Extension office Oregon State University Extension Service – Columbia County Address: 505 N. Columbia River Highway St. Helens, OR 97051 Phone: 503 397-3462 Email: chip.bubl@oregonstate.edu

Extension

As Napoleon noted, an army rides on its stomach.

War creates a tremendous demand on food resources.

Massive and sophisticated

Drawing courtesy of the City of Scappoose

The Grabhorn project development in Scappoose is a key economic project outlined by Mayor Scott Burge.

Early discussions included development of a city pool at the site.

Candle in Scappoose, which he said will be unaltered by the new development forming around it.

Also in the works is the expansion of the park system.

The goal is to have every citizen within a 10-minute walk of a city park and provide safe access to quality parks and green spaces, he said. As it is

now, 63% of the community is within that goal, he said.

“The most recent acquisition was the Grabhorn Property,” Burge said in his address. The Grabhorn Property abuts Veterans Park and South Scappoose Creek, and he said the city council is in the process of updating the conceptual park plan by incorporating public comment.

“The next step in the process is adding the conceptual plan to our master plan.”

The city also plans to address aging infrastructure

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by updating several master plans and improve sidewalks throughout the city.

“The city remains committed to serving the public through these challenging times,” he said. “Even through it has been a difficult year, particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the city has overcome the obstacle and remains agile and responsive to the needs of the public by finding new and innovative ways of achieving its goals and providing the best public service possible.”

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Obituaries Frank Joseph Knusel

June 29, 1941 – December 25, 2020 On June 29, 1941, Xaver and Florence Knusel welcomed their first child and only son, Frank Joseph Knusel, into their lives and took him back home to the family’s dairy farm in Scappoose, Oregon to raise him.

Known as “Lieutenant Knusel,” and later “Father Frank,” but known to his parents, family, and close friends as “Frankie,” Frank lived on the family homestead as a child and then again in the last decades of his life. After attending St. Frederic’s grade school in St. Helens, Oregon, and graduating from Scappoose High School, Frank joined the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Portland, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics magna cum laude in June 1963. He was then commissioned into the Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant.

Approximately two years later, Lt. Knusel graduated from pilot school, Webb AFB Class 65-D. Between September 1965 and December 1968, Lt. Knusel was stationed in the 44th MAC Squadron, completing approximately 2,000 hours in C141 aircraft, often flying a route from Travis AFB (California), Hickam AFB (Hawaii), Clark AFB (Philippines), Cam Ranh Bay AFB (Vietnam), Yokota AFB,( Japan ), and back to Travis AFB. Lt. Knusel’s years of service in the military set him on a path to the priesthood.

When asked why he decided to go to seminary, he answered: “After four years of

hauling military equipment to Vietnam, and bringing back the wounded and dead to the US, I had thought I would find more meaning in life and help more people in the ministry or priesthood.” Frank spent the next four years in theological studies at Mt. Angel Seminary in St. Benedict, Oregon. Frank befriended and learned Spanish from the Mexican seminarians and came to love both the Spanish language and Hispanic culture, a love that would prove extremely important to his later ministry. He spent much of his time during seminary helping Hispanic families in the small towns around Mt. Angel, visiting parishes with large Hispanic communities teaching catechism and music to sing in the liturgies, and conversing with the faithful about his trips to Mexico and other places. He drove to and from Mexico many times during seminary, either by himself, or with his parents.

On May 12, 1973, “Father Frank” was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest at St. Wenceslaus Church in Scappoose, Oregon, by Archbishop Robert Dwyer. Due to his unwavering dedication to Hispanic families over the years, Father Frank was named to serve the Vicariate San Salvador as Assistant Vicar from 1973 to 1974, the Acting Vicar from 1978 to 1979, and the Vicar from 1979 to 1987. He also served as pastor at St. Alexander’s Catholic Church in Cornelius, Oregon from 1974 until August 1982. During that time, Father Frank worked

closely with the Immigration Counseling Service, Oregon’s oldest and only independent nonprofit immigration law firm. He also served on the boards of the not-for-profit agencies Centro Cultural of Washington County, and the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, both founded by migrant families in the early 1970’s.

Beginning in August 1980, and continuing for nearly two decades, Father Frank served as the Pastor at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in northwest Portland.

In addition to a love of God and service toward others, Father Frank had a deep and abiding love of language.

He was fluent in English, Swiss-German, Spanish, French, and Russian, and had a working knowledge of many others, including Arabic, Hebrew, Czech, Ukrainian, Portuguese, Bulgarian, and Italian. He loved reading the Bible in Hebrew and memorized the entire 51st Psalm in Hebrew and recited it whenever asked. He loved to conjugate words, particularly names, and would talk

at length about the origin and meanings of words.

In 1996, Father Frank’s love of God, and all of God’s languages and cultures prompted him to study and receive bi-ritual faculties from the Vatican in 1996, allowing him to serve the Byzantine-Ruthenian Church. In August 2004, Father Frank accepted a “temporary” position as Pastor of St. Irene Byzantine Catholic Church in Portland, Oregon. He served in that “temporary” capacity for the next 15 years, finally retiring on August 1, 2019, when his health failed. During those 15 years, Father Frank studied Ukrainian and presided over services in Old Church Slavonic. Father Frank continued to officiate with Father Vasyl Mutka through July 19, 2020.

Frank’s family shared a love of music and played together for years in a Swiss family orchestra. Frank was a gifted musician and had a keen musical ear from an early age. Early on, he played the piano, clarinet, and saxophone. Later, he took up other instruments including the accordion, organ, banjo, and mandolin. He composed a classical piece for his piano recital when in high school, and friends describe his ability to listen to music then immediately play it back with no written music, to adjust his piano playing to fit the voices in singing groups, and to join in playing with bands with no prior practice and without missing a note.

Frank especially loved playing the Swiss Landler music with fellow musicians in the

Deborrah Lee Oliver

children, Emily and Julie, in Vancouver, Washington; and Derek Oliver in Tacoma, Washington.

Debbie had a working career of 35 years. After 10 years at International Paper Co., working in accounting and finance where she met Les, Debbie left to work for a private paper products marketing company and learned the paper exporting trade. She eventually struck out on her own and started Echo Trading Co, where she travelled frequently to the Far East developing her markets. Debbie loved running her own business, operating Echo Trading

until she retired in 2004.

She passed on that entrepreneurial spirit to both of her children.

Debbie became a Master Gardener™ around 2003 through the OSU Extension Service in Columbia County. This program gave her the knowledge to turn her home into a beautiful peaceful environment that she treasured each and every day.

Debbie loved to spend time quilting, reading and playing Sudoku and crossword puzzles. She enjoyed having the grandkids over to bake cookies or learn how to sew, as well as frequent visits from her black Labrador grand-dog Batman. For years she volunteered at the St. Helens Senior Center preparing meals, delivering meals to seniors, as well as on their Board of Directors.

This opportunity to volunteer her time and skills meant a lot to her.

A celebration of life will be announced after the new year. In lieu of flowers and cards, consider donating time and resources to the St. Helens Senior Center.

Florent Clyde Rheault July 15, 1934 ~ Jan. 2, 2021

On Jan. 2, 2021, Florent “Frenchie” Clyde Rheault passed away at the age of 86, in Scappoose, Oregon.

Frenchie was born July 15, 1934 in Horace, North Dakota, to Ovila and Lucinda (Suageau) Rheault.

Frenchie came to Oregon in 1968 from Fargo, North Dakota. He lived in Portland until 1981, and then in 2011 he and his wife Irene settled in Scappoose.

Frenchie was a machinist for 26 years. He loved to garden and take care of his roses. He was also a longtime member of the Catholic Church.

Frenchie is survived by his two sisters, Hazel and Pamela (North Dakota); five children, Greg, Deanne, Bruce, Jenelle, and Lisa; eight grandchildren; and thirteen great-grandchildren.

He will be dearly missed.

Family and friends are deeply indebted to the ministry of Fr. Vasyl Mutka to Father Frank, especially during the last weeks of his life.

Per Father Frank’s wishes, donations in his honor may be made to St. Irene Byzantine Catholic Church where Father Frank spent “many happy years.”

Services are as follows: St. Irene’s Byzantine Catholic Church, 4630 N. Maryland Ave., Portland: Sunday, Jan 17, 6 p.m. – Parastas with Rt. Rev. Josef Stanichar Monday, Jan 18, noon to 4 p.m. – Visitation 4 p.m. – Divine Liturgy with Rt. Rev. Josef Stanichar St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1623 NW 19th Ave., Portland: Tuesday, Jan 19, 10 a.m.

– Funeral Mass with Archbishop Alexander Sample and Cantores in Ecclesia St. Wenceslaus Cemetery, 51555 SW Old Portland Road, Scappoose: Tuesday, Jan 19, 12:30 p.m. – Grave blessing and committal with Fr. Vasyl Mutka Please contact Agnes Petersen or Mary Anne Anderson at 503-438-8399, if you would like to attend any of these services, space is limited due to COVID-19 restrictions. Some services may be livestreamed. If so, details, including the link for livestreamed services, will be published on the parish websites of St. Irene’s and/ or St. Patrick’s. A memorial video will also be compiled and published following the services.

Lonnie Dean Pisha

March 24, 1951 ~ Dec. 16, 2020 Deborrah “Debbie” Lee Oliver was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She left this world suddenly in the early hours of Dec. 16, 2020, at the age of 69. Born to Sara and Augustus DeClue Jr. on March 24, 1951, in Longview, Washington, she leaves behind two brothers, David DeClue (Ohio) and Terry DeClue (Texas), and their families.

After graduating Kelso High School in Kelso, Washington in 1969, she met her first husband James Zonich with whom started a family. She leaves behind two children: Robin (Zonich) Schuckmann and her husband Matt and their children, Connor and Madeleine, in Portland, Oregon; and Cory Zonich and his wife Meghan and their children, Raymond and Margaret, in Warren, Oregon.

She spent the last 41 years building a life with her second husband Albert Leslie “Les” Oliver II, with whom she enjoyed gardening and spending time with family, including Les’ children: Justin Oliver and his wife Denice and their

Swiss community. In 1983, the Cantores in Ecclesia took up residence at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Father Frank welcomed their presence, presided over many Latin Masses sung by the choir, and traveled with the choir to Mexico City and Rome. For several years, he played in Swiss bands along with his lifelong friend, Robert Ulrich, eventually acting as the Music Director of the 2008 Saengerfest (26th Pacific Coast Swiss Yodeling and Singing Festival) in Portland, Oregon. Father Frank is a life member of the Columbia River Theatre Organ Society and enjoyed attending Hollywood Theater’s presentations of silent movies with live organ accompaniment.

Father Frank loved to travel and to share his ministry. In the photo, he is celebrating All Souls’ Day Mass in the Basilica of Our Lady of Knock, Queen of Ireland, in Knock, Ireland.

Father Frank passed away early Christmas morning.

He was preceded in death by his parents Florence and Xaver Knusel and by his niece, Christine Choi. He is survived by his sister, JoAn Choi, of Seattle, Washington, as well as nieces and nephews living in the Seattle area (Theresa Choi, Elizabeth Choi Rudd, Theodore (“Teddy”) Choi, Christopher Choi, and Matthew Choi); grand-nieces and nephews; and a multitude of friends and relatives in Oregon, Switzerland, and Argentina whom he loved dearly and with whom he kept in close contact.

There will be a funeral mass held in Florent’s honor at 11 a.m. on Jan. 12, 2021 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Scappoose, Oregon. There is no viewing, but there will be a reception to follow the service at the church. He will be buried at Mt. Calvary Cemetery next to his wife Irene and son Steve. Please sign our online guestbook at www.columbiafh.com

Feb. 24, 1942 ~ Dec. 2, 2020 Lonnie Pisha of Columbia City, formerly of Scappoose, passed away Dec. 2, 2020, from esophageal cancer at home with family by his side.

He was 78.

He was born Feb. 24, 1942, in Grandville, Washington, to William and Juanita Pisha.

Raised in Portland, he attended Portsmouth Grade School and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1960.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1960-1964 on the USS Ponchatoula and was stationed in Hawaii.

On Feb. 14, 1974, he married Jacquelyn Peasley at United Methodist Church in Portland.

Employed as a union carpenter for over 30 years, he worked many mill jobs and was a foreman at Trojan Nuclear Power Plant in Rainier. He retired at age 57.

His last job was at Intel.

He was a cub scout leader of Pack 294, which grew to be one of the largest in Oregon.

He also coached soccer and liked attending high school wrestling and track meets, baseball and football games.

Following retirement, he enjoyed traveling and took many cruises including to Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii and Belize. He also liked fishing, golfing, watching football, his garden and planting flowers in the spring. Most of all he loved spending time with family. His grandchildren were the apple of his eye.

He is survived by his wife

of 46 years, Jackie Pisha of Columbia City; children, Larry Pisha and Candy (Pisha) Olynyk, both of Portland, David and Robert Pisha, both of Scappoose; grandchildren, Savanna Saechao, Redhelle Huffman, Madison Pisha, Nicole Olynyk, Robert Pisha, Levi Pisha and Abagail Pisha; four great-grandchildren; brother Kirk Pisha and his wife, June of Warren; sister Lynn Ditrich of Woodburn; nephews, Jason (Denise) Pisha and Mat (Lisa) Pisha, both of Scappoose; nieces, Denyne Ditrich of Portland and Nicky Lindauer of Connecticut; and great nephews and great nieces, Alex, Cameron, Deja, Althea and Matika.

A military service with honors will be held at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland in the spring.

A celebration of Lonnie’s life with family and friends will held during the summer and announced at a later date.

He was loved and will be greatly missed.

Norma Jean (Naugle) Christie Dec. 3, 1939 – Dec. 2, 2020

Norma Jean Naugle was born in Aberdeen, Washington to Clarence Naugle and Dorothy (Terry) Naugle. Her family later moved to Canaan, Oregon where she grew up.

On July 12, 1958 Norma married George Christie, in the Canaan church next to her family’s home.

She enjoyed camping with her family and friends.

She especially liked spending time at the Oregon Coast.

Norma loved playing the organ, painting, sewing, tending her flowers and spending time with her family. She also enjoyed attending her five grandson’s many sporting events, enthusiastically

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cheering them on. She was a longtime member of Sunset Park Community Church, where she enjoyed teaching

Sunday school classes to the preschoolers.

She passed away Dec. 2, 2020, one day shy of her 81st birthday, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

She is survived by her husband George Christie; children, Lori (Dan) Peterson, Gary Christie and Rene (Troy) Leland; five grandsons, Jason Peterson, Jared Peterson, Ryan Peterson, Tyson Leland and Jordan Leland; and five great grandchildren, Lucas Peterson, Jonah Peterson, Grace Peterson, Rose Peterson, and Graham Peterson.

Services will be held at a later date.

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A6

Classifieds

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Listings are updated daily at thechronicleonline.com

105

502

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810

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Appliances

Duplexes

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Corrections Technician Columbia County, OR EOE Deadline 1/22/2021 Apply at ColumbiaCounty OR.gov

NOW HIRING City of St. Helens POLICE OFFICER LATERAL & ENTRY LEVEL Incentive Programs See website for details: www.sthel ensoregon.gov/ jobs Deadline: 2/1/21 Equal Opportunity Employer

For Sale Refridgerator/ Freezer, White Frigidaire, 18.2 CF, $250. Please call 503-396-0179.

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Time to prune- pruning Lace Leafed Maples & ornamental shrubberies, chipping, senior or veterans discount, free estimates.

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Eatons Tire and Service and Alliance Automotive and Exhaust are hiring mechanics, tire and alignment positions.

Pay base off experience and certifications. Please bring resume to shops.

Eatons Tire and Service 1780 Columbia Blvd. St. Helens and Alliance Automotive and Exhaust 434 Milton Way St. Helens.

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Seller/owner is licensed Oregon Realtor. One owner townhouse built in 2008. 3 bedrooms/2.5 baths. New interior paint, all kitchen appliances included. Possession on closing of escrow on only $310,000 MLS # 20206194. Adjacent townhouse $305,000 MLS# 20153267. Appointment only.

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view classified ads in the chronicle and online at thechronicleonline.com

Call Connie St. Clair-Matthews at 503-860-7263

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Chronicle and News/Ad Classified Ad Deadline is Monday by noon Ads received after the deadline are not guaranteed to be placed in that week’s issue. Call 503-397-0116 for more information

Public Notices PROTECTING YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW

CH21-1565

CH20-1556

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE PUBLIC LIEN SALE U-STORE SELF STORAGE Auction to be held online at am. Unclaimed storage lockers Port Ave, Suite D. GOODS OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF Storageauctions.com. Auction to be sold by competitive OF EVERY DESCRIPTION will run from 1/5/2021 10:00 bidding. Location: Jodie L SOLD BY STORAGE LOT. COLUMBIA PROBATE DEPARTMENT am & end on 1/15/2021 10:00 Pierce O-019, St. Helens 445 Cash and Credit Cards C In the Matter of the Estate of FRANK JOSEPH KNUSEL, Deceased. No. 20PB09091 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE is hereby given that the undersigned has been appointed personal representative of the above estate. All persons having claims against the estate are required to present the same within four months from this date at the office

of VanNatta, Petersen & Anderson, P.O. Box 748, St. Helens, Oregon 97051; and if not so presented, they may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceeding may obtain additional information from the records of the Court, the personal representative or the attorneys for the personal representative.

Dated and first published: January 6, 2021. Date of

final publication: January 20, 2021. Agnes M. Petersen, Personal Representative.

Personal Representative: Agnes M. Petersen c/o VanNatta, Petersen & Anderson, P.O. Box 748, St. Helens, OR 97051. Attorney for Personal Representative: Mary Anne Anderson, VanNatta, Petersen & Anderson, P.O. Box 748, St. Helens, OR 97051. Phone: (503) 397-4091.

CH21-1563

NOTICE OF FAIR BOARD WORKSHOP Fair board workshop 1/14/2021 at 6:30pm in the Pavilion at 58892 Saulser Road, St. Helens,

OR. Virtually by dialing in at: 1 877 568 4106 with Access code:948-318-117.

Space remains limited for

The Public Notice deadline is Fridays by noon.

Late submissions are not guaranteed to make it into the paper.

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Wednesday, January 6, 2021

A7

Police Reports 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.

Scappoose Police Department Dec. 11 • Police took a report of a report of a community mailbox that was broken into. This community mailbox has 21 individual mailboxes.

This case is pending further suspect information.

Dec. 14 • Police responded to a non-injury motor vehicle crash that occurred on Highway 30. Both drivers pulled over to the Scappoose High School parking lot to exchange information. One driver was cited for driving uninsured and the scene was cleared.

Dec. 15 • Police recovered a stolen vehicle in the Fred Meyer parking lot. The owner of the vehicle as contacted and they took possession of the vehicle.

Dec. 18 • Police were dispatched to a driving complaint. It was reported that the vehicle was passing in the center lane and cutting in and out of traffic. Following the investigation, the driver, a 26-year-old St. Helens man, was issued a citation for following too closely and cited and released for reckless driving.

• Police responded to the report of a possible domestic occurring in the City Hall parking lot. Following the investigation, a 40-year-old Vancouver man was cited and released for harassment and possession of meth.

• Police were dispatched to the report of a possible DUII in the parking lot of Otto Petersen Elementary School. After the investigation, a 62-year-old St. Helens woman was cited and released for driving under the influence of intoxicants and possession of a controlled substance.

• Police responded to a non-injury motor vehicle accident 51000 of SE Second Street. No citations were issued and the drivers exchanged information.

Police were dispatched to the report of a theft in progress at Fred Meyer, with the suspect in custody of Fred Meyer Loss Prevention Employees. Following the investigation, a 25-year-old from Cathlamet, Wash., was taken into custody for theft II and an outstanding warrant out of St. Helens. She was transported to and lodged in jail.

Dec. 20 • Police took a report of an unknown suspect entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and took the victims work phone. This occurred in the 33000 block of SE Davona Drive.

Dec. 21 • Police took a report of an unknown suspect entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle but did not take anything. This occurred in the 51000 block of SE Fourth Street.

• Police took a report of an unknown suspect who entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle but did not take anything. This occurred in the 33000 block of NW Onna Way. Dec. 23 • Police were dispatched to a non-injury motor vehicle accident at the intersection of E Columbia Ave. and Highway 30. It was reported that a vehicle had hit the railroad light and crossing arm.

Following the investigation, the driver of a semi-truck was issued a citation for careless driving.

a vehicle. An officer checked on her and she was just fine.

• Officers responded to a verbal disturbance near the liquor store.

Peace was restored.

Dec. 12 • A caller reported a suspicious person who had been sleeping near a car port. An officer was able to locate and identify the person; it was confirmed that the individual had active warrants.

After being advised that he was being detained, the officer was assisting the subject in removing his backpack. Once the backpack was off, the subject took off running, leaving the officer holding the bag. Officers searched the area but were unable to find the man. The suspect is known to law enforcement.

Dec. 13 • A 29-year-old from Longview, was taken into custody for suspicion of DUII. Dec. 14 • Officers responded to a false alarm at the credit union.

Dec. 24 • Police responded to a non-injury motor vehicle accident involving two cars. It was reported that one driver stated that his vehicle began to slide on the frosty road causing his car to hit a parked car on SW Old Portland Road.

The driver was cited for careless driving and the scene was cleared.

Dec. 16 • A citizen reported that an unknown person picked up his wallet after he accidentally dropped it in the parking lot of Dollar General.

• An officer went to check on the welfare of a local resident. The individual was fine and said they would contact the concerned party.

Dec. 25 • Police, along with the St. Helens Police Department and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, assisted a citizen who was in a mental health crisis. The subject was eventually transported to a Portland area hospital to get the help they needed.

• Police responded to the report of a theft in the 33000 block of Crown Zellerbach Road. It was reported that a storage unit was broken into and a safe was stolen. This case is pending further investigation and suspect information.

Dec. 18 • Several items that were found near the river front were turned in as found property.

• A caller reported observing two young girls walking across the bridge and was concerned that they appeared to be scared. An officer contacted the duo, mother and daughter, who were just walking to the Deli Store.

Rainier Police Department Dec. 10 • An officer assisted a disabled motorist on the Rainier Hill.

• A 23-year-old from Longview was taken into custody for suspicion of DUII. • Officers responded to a twovehicle accident on Highway 30 near East Fourth. All occupants of both vehicles were transported with non-life-threatening injuries.

Dec. 11 • A citizen was concerned about the welfare of a person living in

Dec. 19 • A resident reported that she had two flags from her yard that were taken.

Dec. 21 • A battery was stolen from a vehicle parked on West C Street.

• Tires were slashed on a vehicle that was parked near the Deli Store and More.

• Officers responded to a business alarm. An employee set it off accidentally.

Oregon State Police Dec. 2 • A hunting party on the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area reported seeing another hunter shoot a swan.

There is no open swan season in Oregon. A Fish and Wildlife trooper located the suspect,

who had believed he had shot a snow goose and admitted he did not have his Northwest Goose certification. The certification includes passing a test on waterfowl identification. The hunter was cited for unlawful take of a prohibited species and the swan was seized.

Dec. 3 • Troopers responded to a single-vehicle, non-injury crash on Highway 47 around 6:30 p.m. near mile post 55. The vehicle lost control and hit a guard rail then rolled into a ditch. The driver was given a courtesy transport home and the vehicle was towed.

Dec. 4 • Troopers were dispatched to a traffic complaint involving a Ford Mustang passing vehicles in the center lane and speeding on Highway 30 near mile post 17.5. Scappoose Police located and stopped the vehicle and the driver admitted to passing in the center lane and that his driving was reckless in nature. He was cited and released for reckless driving.

• Troopers responded to a twovehicle injury crash on Highway 30 near Canaan Road. A crash investigation found that a red Honda Accord was driving at a high rate of speed, failed to stop for a stop sign and crashed head on into a gray Honda CRV. Both drivers were cleared by medics with minor injuries and both vehicles were towed.

• Oregon State Police conducted a traffic stop on a white Pontiac in the parking lot of the Road Runner gas station in Scappoose.

The driver was suspended misdemeanor level and failed to install an ignition interlock device.

He was arrested and transported to the Columbia County Jail and the vehicle was towed.

Dec. 7 • The Oregon State Police responded to a driving complaint eastbound on Highway 30 from mile post 36. A 9111 caller reported a dangerous vehicle speeding and nearly causing a head on crash. Troopers stopped the vehicle on Columbia Boulevard for traffic violations. The driver appeared to have been using marijuana recently and had a concealed loaded handgun in the drivers door and a fictitious license. The driver was arrested and transported to Columbia County Jail to undertake a blood draw. He was cited and released for also being in possession of a fictitious driver’s license and minor in possession of marijuana.

The vehicle was towed.

Dec. 9 • Troopers stopped a red Toyota for failing to drive in its lane and

Candlelights for former police chief VACCINE JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

Friends, family and community members honored former Rainier Police Chief Ralph Painter with a virtual candlelight memorial on Tuesday, the tenth anniversary of his death. Painter was shot and killed Jan. 5, 2011 while on duty in Rainier.

Painter’s widow Amy posted a Facebook message encouraging people to take part in the candlelight event.

“This is the 10th anniversary of missing our hero,” she wrote. “We really wanted to do something special but with COVID restrictions that isn’t possible, so let’s do it virtually! Please light a candle or do something in remembrance of Ralph.”

Rainier Mayor Jerry Cole said Painter brightened the

Courtesy photo

A virtual candlelight ceremony was conducted Jan. 5 to honor former Rainier Police Chief Ralph Painter.

community.

“He was really involved and he always had a positive impact in our community,” Cole said. “While he was the police chief, he was Ralph to us.”

Cole said over the years, community members have remembered Painter on the anniversary by switch-

ing on a blue porch light at their homes. Blue is the color used to honor police officers.

Cole said he planned to synchronize his house Christmas lights from 5 to 9 p.m. on Jan. 5 to the song “Spirit in the Sky,” which had been played at Painter’s funeral.

“We always do the porch lights to honor Ralph,” Cole said. “This time I wanted to step that up a bit with the music.”

Cole said he planned to broadcast the song over and over again between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Jan. 5 on a low radio frequency at 88.5 FM so that people driving by could hear the music tribute on their vehicle radios.

“I consider Ralph my friend and I am doing my best to uphold his memory,” Cole said.

COUNCIL From Page A1

OP Portland-based Mackenzie

d in Architecture to develop an engineering estimate for the g building.

“That is the number the city will use to move forward with funding strategies,” Brown said.

City officials have yet to pinpoint the cost of the new public safety facility or how it would be funded.

The 21-member ad hoc committee began meeting in October to review the proposed project and funding options, which could include general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, full faith and credit bonds. Another option is a residential

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

City officials have said the current St. Helens Police station, located at 150 S. 13th Street, is outdated and too small to meet future growth.

and businesses utility fee, which cities such as Oregon City, Medford and Gresham have used for such projects.

Brown told the Chronicle the committee is expected to present its findings at the Jan. 6 city council session.

City officials have said the current St. Helens Police station, at 150 S. 13th St., is too small and outdat-

ed and to meet future city growth needs, more room is needed for police and other city services, such as the municipal court.

Follow developments at thechronicleonline.com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Chronicle and read the city’s background report at: sthelensoregon. gov/administration/page/ new-public-safety-facility.

From Page A1

the state’s vaccine plan.

At Columbia Care Center, a nursing facility in Scappoose, vaccinations are set to begin this week.

Administrator John Wakeman said vaccinations are coming to the center on Thursday, and he will be among the first to receive a dose.

“I’m glad it’s coming,” he said. “I wish it was here a month earlier.”

The center has reported just over 20 cases of COVID-19 since Nov. 20, placing them on the state’s outbreak list, but Wakeman said it has been under control.

Cases at the care center have been “intermittent and unpredictable,” Wakeman said. He attributes it to the center’s infection control and use of personal protective equipment that he said has slowed the spread and prevented a bubble and surge of cases concentrated at one time, like other facilities in the state have experienced.

The center has been quarantining residents who have tested positive to remove them from others and reduce the chance of the infection spreading, and Wakeman said he expects that the center will be COVID-free starting this week.

Wakeman himself tested positive for COVID-19 in late 2020 and said he was largely asymptomatic. To help set an example for staff and residents about the safety of the vaccine, he plans to be among the first at the center to take it.

“We’ve got kind of a mixed bag,” Wakeman said about attitudes toward the vaccine in the center. “There

speeding in Highway 30 near mile post 64. The driver consented to performing standardized field sobriety tests and subsequently arrested for driving under the influence of intoxicants . The driver refused a breath sample but consented to a blood draw and was booked and released from the Columbia County jail.

Dec. 11 • Troopers were dispatched to a hit and run traffic crash on Highway 30 near mile post 51. The suspect vehicle fled the scene and crossed the Longview Bridge into Washington. The victim vehicle sustained minor damage and the reporting party provided a vehicle description and license.

Dec. 12 • Oregon State Police assisted the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office on an assault call that occurred on Fisher Lane in Warren.

The victim was collecting cans from a garbage can near public right of way when he was assaulted. He was not injured and did not press charges.

• Oregon State Police took a theft report from an impounded motor vehicle that was impounded by Oregon State Police.

Dec. 13 • Troopers responded to a single vehicle off the roadway into the ditch on Highway 30 near mile post 67. Upon arrival it was a non-reportable crash and AAA arrived on scene and pulled the vehicle out of the ditch.

Dec. 14 • Oregon State Police stopped a vehicle eastbound on Highway 30 near mile post 30 for traveling 102 miles per hour in a 50 mile per hour zone and other traffic violations around 10 p.m. Upon contact the driver had indicators of impairment and consented to a sobriety test. The driver was arrested and transported to the Columbia County Jail. The driver’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.00%. The vehicle was towed.

• The Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash at milepost 47 on Highway 47. The vehicle identified as a commercial box van slid off the road causing property damage.

No injuries were reported and the vehicle was towed.

• The Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle rollover eastbound on Highway 30 near mile post 48.5 (Rainier Hill). Upon contact the driver displayed signs of impairment and consented to a sobriety test. The driver was arrested and transported to the Columbia County Jail. The driver’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.00%.

The vehicle was towed. is some reservation among some.”

The decision to take a vaccine is up to the individual, he said.

“I suspect the vast majority of our residents are going to go ahead and accept a vaccine,” he said. He said he expects that the majority of staff will take the vaccine as well, but perhaps not 100%.

At The Amber, a senior living facility in Clatskanie, Executive Director Wanda Harris said she expects the vaccine to be available to residents and staff toward the end of this month.

Vaccinations will be mandatory for staff members, but residents will have the option depending on their health and consultation with family members and doctors, she said.

Harris will also be receiving the vaccine first, and said the arrival of vaccines at the center will be welcomed.

“This is a sigh of relief for us, knowing our residents will be safe,” she said.

Visitors have not been allowed in the building since March of 2020.

“Family and friends of these folks have not been allowed to be a part of their lives for a very long time,” she said. “This is really good news.”

The isolation has been difficult residents at the center, she said. Communal dining is no longer an option and group activities have been canceled.

“It’s been heartbreaking, especially around the holidays,” Harris said. “People haven’t been able to have family come in. That just wasn’t possible.”

The toll has also been felt by the staff at the center, who have had to make sacrifices to ensure the health of themselves and those they care for, she said.

Dec. 29 • The Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 30 and Church Road.

The first vehicle entered the highway from Church Road and was struck by the second vehicle.

The second vehicle was headed east on Highway 30. Both drivers were transported to the hospital.

Passengers from the second vehicle sustained minor injuries.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

• The Oregon State Police stopped a vehicle westbound on Highway 30 near mile post 31 for traffic violations. The minor driver was in possession of marijuana.

The marijuana was seized and citations were issued.

Dec. 31 • An off-duty police officer witnessed a black car swerving and nearly striking two vehicles with varying speeds and called in the complaint. Oregon State Police responded to the traffic complaint and stopped the vehicle on Highway 30 near mile post 23. The driver showed signs of impairment upon contact and consented to a voluntary field sobriety test where the driver continued to show signs of impairment. The driver, a 73-year-old from Columbia City, was arrested for driving under the influence of intoxicants and reckless driving.

• Troopers responded to a single vehicle, non-injury crash on Highway 30 near mile post 49.5.

A 24-year-old from Longview lost control of his vehicle and struck the guardrail and center concrete median causing major front end damage. The driver was uninjured and the vehicle was towed.

Jan. 2 • A citizen reported a found shotgun near the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area’s North Unit parking lot. The shotgun appeared to be forgotten on a bumper when a duck hunter left the parking lot. The owner of the shotgun reported that he had lost it; contact was made, ownership verified and the gun was returned to the owner.

Jan. 3 • A property owner in Rainier reported hearing shots fired while a herd of elk were on his property.

An investigation revealed that a 50-year-old Rainier man on an adjacent property had shot a cow elk without a tag close to the property boundaries. Followup was conducted and the suspect was found to be cutting up the illegal animal at his residence. The elk and his rifle were seized and he was cited for unlawful take of an antlerless elk.

• The law enforcement reports from St. Helens Police and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office were not available at press time.

“As health care providers we have to minimize personal exposure and take extra efforts to make sure we’re healthy,” Harris said.

“We’re not going into places that have the virus, avoiding people who might be exposed somewhere else.”

Sanitation and cleaning efforts have been ramped up as well, and Harris said she is thankful that no cases have been reported at the facility.

Now, the next step to ensuring safety of residents and staff is just a few weeks away.

“Having this light at the end of the tunnel has been good for people mentally as well,” she said.

COVID-19 cases Over 50 new cases of COVID-19 were reported over the weekend, along with one new death. The county’s total case count was 892 as of Sunday, and the death toll was 15, according to information from the OHA. December saw the highest number of both COVID-19 cases and COVID-19 deaths.

There were 317 new cases of COVID-19 in December, and nine deaths.

Across the state, daily case numbers have fallen slightly, but cases in Columbia County have stayed largely consistent. On Monday, 10 new cases were reported.

Hospitalizations across the state have also fallen slightly, with 102 COVID-19 patients in intensive care units as of Monday.

The state total number of cases was 118,456 as of Monday and the death toll was 1,506.

Follow daily pandemic updates at thechroniconline. com with in-depth reports in the Wednesday print editions of The Chronicle.

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City seeks volunteers

St. Helens is accepting applications for an open volunteer position on the city’s budget committee and library board.

Budget Committee Terms for the budget committee are for three years. The committee is made up of five council members and five appointed residents. The city’s fiscal year starts on July 1 and ends on June 30, and the budget preparation process usually begins around five months before the start of a new fiscal year.

An orientation of the budget process and kickoff meeting is generally held in February. Meetings are three to four hours held in two-week intervals from mid-April to the end of May, culminating with the final budget adoption in mid-June. Applications are due Feb. 19.

Library Board St. Helens is accepting applications for people interested in volunteering on the St. Helens Library Board. Terms are four years and the current open position’s term expires on June 30, 2024.

The board typically meets once per month at 7:15 p.m. on the second Monday at the Columbia Center Auditorium but may meet more often depending on what projects are in the works. The board is currently meeting electronically via the video conferencing website Zoom.

The City Council created the board and appoints the members; the board is advisory to the council and stays informed of trends in library services, identifying growth-related needs, longrange planning for services and providing recommendations to the City Council.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. Feb. 5. To apply, visit www.sthelensoregon.gov and navigate to the “Boards and Commissions” page under the “Your Government” tab. The application form and additional information will be available to download. Filled out applications should be completed and returned to City Hall, Attn: Kathy Payne, 265 Strand St., St. Helens, OR 97051.

Questions and information requests can be fielded to Kathy Payne, city recorder, at kathy@ci.st-helens. or.us or 503-366-8217.

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

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Wednesday, January 6, 2021

A9

Watershed identifies priorities MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net

The water temperature in the streams in the Scappoose Bay Watershed are too warm, that’s a problem for the fish that spawn in the creeks and a concern for the Scappoose Bay Watershed Council.

The Scappoose Bay Watershed comprises sub watersheds: Milton Creek, North Scappoose Creek, South Scappoose Creek and the Gilbert River area. Most of the area is in Columbia County, but some extend into Sauvie Island. At the Scappoose Bay Watershed Council, water quality is a big deal.

“If we can address our water quality, we can help with fish survival as well address the weeds,” said Dana Pricher, coordinator for the council. Water, wildlife and weeds are the three main things the council looks after in the watershed. “Those three things are the hallmarks of what makes for a healthy watershed.”

The vision of the council is to improve water quality, restore historic salmon runs in creeks and tributaries, increase diversity of native species and habitats and provide a healthy watershed.

Water The 2019 Department of Environmental Quality began monitoring the water quality of the watershed in 2016.

Currently the watershed is mostly meeting the goals for dissolved oxygen and pH levels, but it is not meeting the goals for E. coli in lower Scappoose Creek, Scappoose Bay or Milton Creek.

Summer temperatures in the monitored streams have

Courtesy photo from Scappoose Bay Watershed Council

The Scappoose Bay Watershed Council’s Native Plant Nursery sells native plants and is a primary source of funding for the organization.

also been too high, according to the report. Fish aren’t able to survive in water that rises above a certain temperature, Pricher said.

“Those are a bit concerning, both for people that are maybe drinking well water or irrigating with that water, or swimming in those streams, as well as livestock that may be watering out of those streams, and of course for the fish,” she said.

To improve water quality, Pricher said it is important to make sure trees are a part of stream buffers, which county and city land use permitting can assure.

The council intends to implement a ‘Shade Our Streams” program next year with the hope to secure funding from government bodies and business partners to provide trees to landowners on streamside properties.

Pricher said it is the most important project the council is working on.

“Trees will help shade those streams and reduce the temperature,” she said. The first step is to secure funding, which will define how

many miles of stream the council will be able to shade.

The more funding, the more shade.

Another idea is to safely reintroduce and protect beavers, she said.

Wildlife A report on fish status and trend by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in 2019 painted a grim picture of fish populations. The abundance of wild coho salmon, Chinook Salmon, winter steelhead and chum salmon are all reduced, and in some cases the fish aren’t observed at all.

“The concerning part is in the last few years you can see a significant downward trend in fish populations,” Pricher said.

No live Chinook were observed in the surveys for the Scappoose watershed in 2018, which the OFW said was consistent with the surveys done in 2009-2017.

“If they aren’t spawning here, they are not going to be returning,” Pricher said.

“They’re not really around

anymore.”

Part of the reason for the lack of fish is outside of local control, Pricher said. but the council has been working toward steps to encourage more fish to return to the area to spawn.

“We have a map and a plan for how to help those species recover, we just need to implement that plan,” Pricher said.

Part of that plan includes focusing on the fish species that currently exist in the watershed and finding ways to address the factors that affect them, like the Shade Our Streams Program.

Weeds Controlling noxious weeds (invasive, nonnative plants) from gaining a foothold and causing environmental and financial degradation is another factor of the council’s work, Pricher said.

The council is part of the North Coast Cooperative Weed Management Area, but there is not a local weed board or agency dedicated

to taking the lead of weed control on public land. The conservation district has gotten grants to remove some invasive species over the last two years, but more focus on control is needed, Pricher said.

“To really be effective we need to have a more dedicated effort to control the spread of weeds by our public agencies,” Pricher said. That means ensuring staff have the equipment to prevent weeds from spreading when they are working on public lands, getting a licensed herbicide applicator on staff and training staff to identify and control the weeds.

The state weed board grants were cut this year due to financial constraints from the COVID-19 response.

“Anything we can do to help promote that a local level would be great,” Pricher said.

Constraints Restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic forced the council’s already small operation to cut back even more. The organization employees just three people, and Pricher said at the lowest point over the last ten months, all three were working part time— limiting how much they could get done.

The longterm impacts of the pandemic on ecological work, like that of the watershed council, will likely result in project delays that may affect work for two or three years down the line, Pricher said.

For example, the watershed council’s native plant nursery usually relies on the work of volunteers to help propagate the plants. This year, there wasn’t enough staff time to organize the

volunteers in a socially-distanced way to keep up with those needs at the nursery, she said. It will affect how much stock of plants the group has for the next two to three years, she said. Plant sales are one of the primary fundraisers for the council.

Statewide, Pricher said a lot of environmental projects will be delayed.

“For some, delaying a year will not have a great effect,” she said, but missing a year of weed control or monitoring a body of water can have lasting impacts.

“If you’re controlling weeds every year and see a decline and skip a year, hundreds of thousands of weed seeds can set you back a few years.”

How to help Despite gathering restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the council has still been able to organize some outdoor work parties, and plans to continue to host work parties in the spring.

The pandemic also gave the council an opportunity to upgrade its website. Now the site can accept online donations and offer preorders from its nursery online. The annual plant sale fundraiser will be offered entirely online in 2021, Pricher said.

“Things will be smoother in the year ahead,” Pricher said.

The organization really needs a flat-bed pick up truck for the plant nursery, according to Pricher, who said some monetary donations will go toward the purchase of the truck, but also said the group would accept the donation of an old truck if anyone offers.

To reach the Scappoose Bay Watershed Council Nursery, call 503-397-7904.

$7.1 million in forest research Long-term forest research in the Willamette Valley could prove to be essential for forest management in Columbia County and access the state.

Oregon State University (OSU) will use $7.1 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for another six years of long-term ecological research on the

HJ Andrews Experimental Forest.

The forest is located on the western slope of the Cascade range southeast of Corvallis.

“We continue to be guided by a central question: How do climate, natural disturbance and land use as influenced by values and decisions interact

Phone and Internet Discounts Available to CenturyLink Customers The Oregon Public Utility Commission designated CenturyLink as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier within its service area for universal service purposes. CenturyLink’s basic local service rates for residential voice lines are $21.00 per month and business services are $33.00$37.00 per month. Specific rates will be provided upon request.

CenturyLink participates in a government benefit program (Lifeline) to make residential telephone or broadband service more affordable to eligible low-income individuals and families. Eligible customers are those that meet eligibility standards as defined by the FCC and state commissions.

Residents who live on federally recognized Tribal Lands may qualify for additional Tribal benefits if they participate in certain additional federal eligibility programs. The Lifeline discount is available for only one telephone or qualifying broadband service per household, which can be either a wireline or wireless service. Broadband speeds must be 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload or faster to qualify.

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If you live in a CenturyLink service area, please call 1-888-833-9522 or visit centurylink.com/ lifeline with questions or to request an application for the Lifeline program.

with biodiversity, hydrology and carbon and nutrient dynamics?” said Michael Paul Nelson, lead principal investigator for the forest and the Ruth H. Spaniol Chair of Renewable Resources in the OSU College of Forestry.

Though the Andrews Forest’s headquarters were spared, the Holiday Farm fire in September affected watershed studies ongoing for more than five decades, including studies of vegetation, hydrology, soil moisture, phenology and microclimate.

“We’re working quickly to set up monitoring and studies to help us learn from the fire,” said Matt Betts, professor of landscape ecology. “And thankfully we have decades of pre-fire data to use as the foundation for comparisons.”

Future research will examine how streamflow, erosion, fine-scale air temperature, vegetation, birds and other animals respond to the Holiday Farm fire and how the responses compare to past disturbances, Nelson said.

The 15,800-acre Andrews Forest was established in 1948 as a U.S. Forest Service experimental forest. It is one of 28 locations funded by the NSF as a long-term ecological research, or LTER, site and was one of the original six established in 1980. The forest is administered cooperatively by the Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Research Station, the Willamette National Forest and OSU. According to Nelson, the central research question for the Andrews Forest encompasses four types of interactions: • How forests influence

Courtesy photo from OSU

The future research will include streamflow, erosion, fine-scale air temperature, vegetation, birds and other animals response to the Holiday Farm fire and how the responses compare to past disturbances.

regional climate to create local microclimate patterns in mountains.

• How microclimate and legacies of land use and disturbance influence populations, communities and ecosystem processes.

• How species interactions amplify or reduce responses to microclimate.

• How values filter the use of science in land use decisions.

“A new experiment will look at how biotic interactions – particularly competition and facilitation – might amplify or dampen species responses to a changing climate,” Nelson said. “And work on conservation ethics will examine how values affect the ways science is brought into the equation

St. Helens School District Surplus Sale

by land managers.”

Betts said future interactions among species are an enduring unknown when it comes to understanding the likely effects of climate change on biodiversity.

“It gets even more complicated when you try to predict how these relationships will change in the forest understory, because we haven’t traditionally measured climate in these places,” he said.

“One of the core experiments of the next six years will get to the bottom of how species interactions might shift in response to changes to the forest microclimate.”

Nelson said that a key component of OSU’s research in the Andrews Forest is its breadth and inclusivity.

Joining Nelson and Betts on the team that wrote the latest grant proposal were Mark Schulze, director of

the Andrews Forest; Julia Jones, professor of geography at OSU; Lina DiGregorio, LTER grant coordinator at Oregon State; Sherri Johnson, a research ecologist with Pacific Northwest (PNW) Research Station and the Forest Service’s lead scientist for the Andrews Forest; and David Bell, a research forester at the PNW Research Station.

“Of course we have all manner of ‘ologists’ but our program also features social science, conservation ethics, the humanities and the arts,” said Nelson, whose own research involves environmental philosophy and ethics.

“We are really excited about the new ideas and proposed work and equally excited about the presence of so many early- and mid-career researchers.”

LTER funding is awarded in six-year cycles but renewal is not automatic; while Oregon State and the Andrews Forest have now been funded for eight straight cycles, some of the sites have been placed on probation and even had their funding terminated, Nelson said.

“Long-term data allow scientists to explore variability of climate and forest dynamics, as well as the vulnerability of multiple species to changing climate over time,” Johnson said. “These studies also inform forest managers about long-term responses to forest practices, given that many taxa have life spans much longer than the normal period of study.”

This article was submitted by Steve Lundeberg at the OSU Relations and Marketing Department. Lundeberg may be reached at 541-7374039.

Friday, January 8th, 2021 - 8:00 am to 11:00 am District Warehouse - 58751 Sauser Road, Warren, OR

The St. Helens School District will conduct a warehouse sale on Friday, January 8th to dispose of district equipment declared as surplus. Items include furniture and equipment and are sold on a first come, first serve basis. Items are sold as is on site without representations or warranties. Buyer responsible for moving items prior to the conclusion of the sale. Cash or Cashier Checks only.

Due to social distancing requirements, access to sale may be limited to a certain number of persons to conform to State guidelines. Facial coverings are required.

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Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Fed farm bill boost for Oregon A boost for housing in Columbia County and across the state is part of the millions of dollars in investments in Oregon with the latest federal agriculture spending bill.

Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden have announced Senate passage of a fiscal year 2021 agriculture spending bill that the two said will benefit Oregon’s farms and families.

The next step for the bill is to be signed into law by the president.

“In every corner of our state, I’ve heard about the need for investments in our farms and rural industries, affordable housing, and goodpaying jobs—especially as the coronavirus crisis’ toll on our health and economy continues to deepen,” Merkley said. “I fought hard to ensure that those insights, and the specific ideas and priorities Oregonians have shared with me, would make it into this bill, so we can strengthen the vitality of our communities and keep delivering the world-class agricultural products Oregon is known for.”

“Building the strongest possible quality of life throughout Oregon requires robust investment to support signature job-creating state industries such as agriculture and fishing, while also ensuring rural residents have housing they can afford,” Wyden said. “I’m glad this bill helps to achieve all those goals that Oregonians have shared with me on Zoom calls, virtual town halls and socially distanced conversations during this most challenging year.”

Key elements of the spending bill to benefit Oregonians include: • Wine Grape Smoke Exposure Research: This year’s unprecedented wildfire season blanketed much of the state of Oregon with dense, hazardous smoke, which has significantly impacted Oregon’s wine grape harvest. To better understand the challenges facing Oregon’s wine growers, the bill includes $3.5 million for research into

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The bill includes $1.41 billion for rental assistance and $40 million for Rural Housing Service Vouchers, which will help address the urgent housing crisis facing Oregon’s rural communities.

smoke-impacted grapes at Oregon State University (OSU) and other West Coast universities, building on $2 million secured the prior appropriations cycle.

• Rural Housing: The bill includes $1.41 billion for rental assistance and $40 million for Rural Housing Service Vouchers, which will help address the urgent housing crisis facing Oregon’s rural communities.

• Rural Development: The bill protects funding for a number of USDA’s Rural Development programs, including rural housing and business development programs that President Trump proposed eliminating. These programs make billions of dollars of investments in rural America every year.

• National Scenic Area: The bill includes $2 million to help Oregon’s rural communities promote economic development through the Oregon and Washington Investment Boards, rounding out a $10 million commitment that was authorized when the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area was created.

• Soil Health: The bill includes $1.5 million for the establishment of a Soil Carbon Research Center at OSU focused on research into current and future dryland production practices to increase profitability and yield, conserve soil, enhance soil water storage, and promote sequestration of carbon for soil health.

• Water Conservation and Habitat Restoration: The bill includes a $30 million

for the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations in Oregon. Funding is included for irrigation districts that need to improve water efficiency and conservation or otherwise improve fish and wildlife habitat. This program is providing critical funding for the collaborative processes underway across the state working to conserve water and keep Oregon’s family farms in business while improving the habitats of endangered species. Construction has begun on several key projects to address water resource interests in Central Oregon, including in Tumalo Irrigation District and Central Oregon Irrigation District, and funding announced today will allow further expansion across the state, such as the East Fork Irrigation District project that has broken ground in Hood River.

• Pacific Shellfish: The bill includes $3.5 million of federal funding for cuttingedge research to improve the productivity, sustainability, and health of the Pacific shellfish agricultural system. This research is critical to efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate chaos on the health and economies of Oregon’s coastal communities.

• Western Rangeland Livestock: The bill includes $3 million for the establishment of a Western Rangeland Precision Livestock center to develop precision-based nutrition strategies for rangelandbased livestock, as well as technology-based rangeland and livestock management strategies to optimize the

health and productivity of Western rangeland-based livestock and the rangeland ecosystem. This funding will be split among land grant universities in Oregon, Montana, and Wisconsin.

• Agricultural Research: The Agricultural Research Service received an increase of $77 million in funding for cutting-edge research to improve the productivity, sustainability, and health of the nation’s agricultural systems. In addition, Merkley was able to secure funding for key Oregon agriculture research programs, including funding for research on the Sudden Oak Death pathogen plaguing the south coast. Other research funding victories include research for alfalfa, barley, tree fruits, pear, wheat, hops, hemp, apple, shellfish, small fruits, seaweed, floriculture, nurseries, and rangeland ecology.

• Mass Timber Products: The advanced wood products program at USDA received $3.5 million for work on mass timber products that would enhance Oregon State University’s cutting-edge research.

• Summer EBT: The bill continues funding the Summer EBT program at $42 million.

This program has provided much-needed nutrition for Oregon families during the summer months when schools are not in session.

• Food Corps: The bill provides an increase of $1 million for Food and Agriculture Service Learning. This program helps improve education resources for healthy eating especially among children.

• Hemp: The bill provides $16.5 million to implement provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill allowing for the cultivation of commercial hemp, which can be used to make everything from cloth and rope to oil and soap. Hemp has already quickly become one of Oregon’s leading cash crops, and many feel has the potential to bring in more than $1 billion in sales to Oregon in the coming years, but only with a fair and reasonable regulatory framework.

In addition, the explanatory statement highlights several concerns raised by Oregon hemp producers over the USDA’s proposed testing and sampling regulations, and directs the USDA to ensure that the final rule for the Domestic Hemp Program is based on science and will ensure a fair and reasonable regulatory framework for commercial hemp producers. The bill also: · Extends the 2014 hemp pilot program until Jan. 1, 2022, providing hundreds of Oregon farmers clear operating guidelines as the USDA smooths out regulatory chal-

lenges • Encourages the USDA to study the usage and impact of energy and water in hemp cultivation and to make recommendations on best practices and standards • Directs the agency to establish and maintain a hemp germplasm repository for hemp breeding purposes • Provides $2 million for the agency to conduct regionally-driven research, development, and stakeholder engagement to improve understanding of how to effectively integrate hemp into existing agricultural cropping, processing, and marketing systems • Directs the USDA to work with institutions under its jurisdiction to provide access to guaranteed loans for hemp producers and businesses.

• Food and Drug Administration (FDA): The bill provides $3.2 billion in discretionary funding for FDA. As FDA continues to be on the frontlines of addressing COVID-19, the bill ensures the agency continues to have adequate funding to respond to this urgent need. The bill also includes an additional $5 million for FDA to continue work on a regulatory pathway for CBD, a product derived from hemp.

Merkley is the only Oregon member of Congress from either chamber since Senator Mark Hatfield a generation ago to serve on the Appropriations Committee. That committee is considered to be one of the most powerful on Capitol Hill.

Merkley joined the committee in 2013.

A Neighborhood Store with a Bit of Everything Molly Matchak Owner 290 First Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5479 * mmmatchak@gmail.com

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