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Governor Tina Kotek sworn into office

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

Governor Tina Kotek took office Monday, Jan. 9, reciting the Oath of Office in a swearing-in ceremony before the Oregon Senate and House of Representatives at the state capitol building in Salem.

In her speech to the joint assembly, she expressed a desire to address issues with housing, behavioral health and addiction, and education. Kotek began by acknowledging that this election cycle had the highest voter turnout in the state’s history. Though Kotek was elected as a Democrat, she emphasized the need to serve all Oregon’s people, regardless of political affiliation.

“Governing is about serving Oregonians. All Oregonians. And I have heard from people loud and clear the status quo is not working, and for many Oregonians, it has never worked,” Kotek said. “I believe that for most of us, this is not a partisan issue or, frankly, a criticism of any one leader. This concern transcends party lines, and county lines, and cultural divides.”

Homelessness state of emergency

In her speech, Kotek declared a state of emergency regarding homelessness in Oregon and announced an executive order to establish a housing production tar-

get of more than 36,000 new homes per year.

“I am declaring a homelessness state of emergency. Our state’s response must meet the urgency of the humanitarian crisis we are facing,” Kotek said.

Kotek proposes a $130 million investment to help “at least another 1,200 Oregonians” move off the streets within a year. State legislators, who were also sworn in on Monday, still need to approve this spending. Kotek urged legislators to take up this package as soon as possible. This package would be just the first step in what Kotek labeled a “comprehensive housing and homeless package.”

Strengthening community ties

Kotek also invoked the message of Republican Governor Vic Atiyeh, who decided to visit each Oregon county to strengthen connections between Oregonians across the state and the government. Before the joint assembly, Kotek vowed to visit each Oregon county so she can listen to the issues the people have directly from the source.

“We can only deliver results on our complex problems by listening, digging into the details, and forming solutions together, and by advocating for better results at every level of government. That’s why I pledge to visit every county in Oregon within my first year of office,” Kotek said.

State accountability

In Kotek’s final major point, she promised to make state agencies more accountable in the coming years. This week, Kotek said she would deliver a “new set of expectations” to leaders of state agencies. She emphasized the need for better customer service.

“That means being more efficient, more effective, and creating systems that will empower the

state’s 42,000 public servants to deliver for Oregonians. So many state employees are working incredibly hard to do their jobs but struggle because of unnecessary bureaucratic barriers or outdated systems that do not meet the challenges of the day,” Kotek said.

Kotek takes over the governorship from Democratic Governor Kate Brown, who could not run for reelection due to term limits. Brown became governor in 2015 and dealt with various crises, including the

COVID-19 pandemic and rampant fires across Oregon.

Kotek is the third female governor of Oregon and joins newly elected Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey as the first lesbian governor in United States history. In addition to Governor Kotek’s inauguration, the legislature also reelected Corvallis Democrat Dan Rayfield as House Speaker, and Rob Wagner, a Democrat from Lake Oswego, was elected Senate President.

County elected officials take Oath of Office

STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.

The four Columbia County officials who were elected in the November General Election are now officially in office.

Columbia County Judge Michael Clarke swore in the four officials Tuesday, Jan. 3 during a ceremony in St. Helens.

Columbia County Commissioner Kellie Jo Smith was elected for her first term to Position 1. A third-generation resident of Columbia County, she has more than a decade of public service experience.

Smith is a business owner, school board member, and a previous reserve deputy sheriff. Smith said as a county commissioner, her focus will be connecting communities, economic growth, public safety, creating opportunities for youth, and protecting civil rights and liberties.

“I am grateful to the citizens of Columbia County for giving me this opportunity,” Smith said. “I will maintain open lines of communication and continue to foster, support, and advocate for our community and

its residents.”

Debbie Klug was elected for her first full term as Columbia County Clerk. Appointed as the County Clerk in July 2021, following the passing of longtime clerk Betty Huser, Klug has been a part of the Columbia County Clerk’s Office for more than 16 years. Andrea Jurkiewicz was elected for her first full term as Columbia County Assessor. She originally joined the County Assessor’s Office in 2005 and was appointed to the County Assessor’s role in July 2021.

Brian Pixley retained his position as Columbia County Sheriff, now servig his second term.

He began his career with the sheriff’s office in 2003 and has amassed nearly 20 years of local law enforcement experience. Pixley said he is committed to protecting, serving, and strengthening the community.

“It is truly an honor to serve as Columbia County’s Sheriff,” Pixley said. “I will continue identifying ways to increase public trust, build goodwill, and ensure that your property and rights are protected.”

For more information, contact Columbia County at 503-397-7210.

Utilities watchful for attacks on power grid systems

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

In the past two months, utility providers in Oregon and Washington have experienced deliberate attacks on substations within their power grids.

There were incidents in the Puget Sound area, Clackamas, Oregon, Eastern Washington, and others.

By the numbers

Doug Johnson is a media spokesperson for Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and detailed that they and other utility providers have seen an uptick in incidents since November.

“We’ve had multiple utilities in the Northwest experience attacks, and there have been about 20 such events since late November,” Johnson said.

While Johnson said that the rise in attacks may not be a “trend” yet, the current volume of incidents is a departure from the norm. The most significant attack that BPA experienced was on Thanksgiving Day in Clackamas, OR. While the attack did not cause substantial damage to the power grid, Johnson warned of the potential dangers of these attacks.

“When people are able to turn off the lights and stop the electricity from flowing when this happens, people in the general public are affected,” Johnson said. “Streetlights don’t work. Medical devices can’t work for people that need them at home. The lights are out, so the potential for serious injury, even

death, is incredibly escalated when something like this happens.”

With these attacks seemingly on the rise, utility providers are closely guarding details about the specific nature of the episodes to prevent potential assailants from having a “roadmap” for future incidents.

~ Doug Johnson, BPA

Law enforcement and local PUDs

According to Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley, there have not yet been any attacks on substations within Columbia County.

“We haven’t had attacks on any of our substations,” Kyle Boggs, Columbia River PUD Community and Public Relations spokesman who told The Chronicle. “The only

thing I might add is to request that if your readers see something suspicious, to let us know.”

The Chronicle also checked with Sarah Johnson, the Customer Relations and Service Manager for Clatskanie PUD.

“It is concerning to see what’s happening to some of the other

utilities; luckily, we have not had any attacks on our substations,” Sarah Johnson said. “But we have reevaluated and updated some security measures and things, I wouldn’t really want to go into

Courtesy photo

Tina Kotek takes the Oath of Office as Oregon’s Governor during her inauguration.

We would hope that individuals who live near, work near, or are doing anything recreational near an electric substation, if they see something suspicious, report it.

Metro Creative Connection

Attacks on power grid systems in Oregon and across the Northwest have increased since November.

Courtesy photo

Pictured left to right, Columbia County Judge Michael Clarke, Commissioner Kellie Jo Smith, County Clerk Debbie Klug, Sheriff Brian Pixley, and County Assessor Andrea Jurkiewicz.

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) continues to develop a permanent solution to stabilize the hillside along Highway 30 north of Clatskanie, the site of a massive landslide that occurred Nov. 29.

In late December, another landslide occurred along Highway 18 at Otis, blocking much of the busy route to the central Oregon Coast for a time.

The Highway 18 slide has been cleared and the hillside stabilized.

Both slides illustrate the continuing landslide danger along the two highways.

ODOT’s David House said for now, travel is limited at the scene of the Highway 30 landside. In the following conversation, House describes the process following the slide and what is being done to prevent further slides.

The Chronicle: What specifically was done to help prevent another slide at the Highway 30 site?

David House: We have a scaling contractor removing loose debris. We are closing one travel lane permanently to create catchment for falling debris. We may never be able to prevent another slide in the same area. We are planning a project to remove additional debris from the hill and create more room for debris to be caught at the base, off of the road. That has not been scheduled yet.

The Chronicle: How

much debris was taken away during the cleanup at the site and where was that debris deposited?

House: About 2,000 cubic yards and counting. The contractor disposed of the debris.

The Chronicle: What specifically was done at the Highway 18 slide site (Otis) to help prevent another incident?

House: Scaling was completed to remove the remained loose material from the slope to prevent additional debris falling onto the roadway.

The Chronicle: How much debris was taken away during the Highway 18 slide cleanup and where was the debris deposited?

House: We removed about 800 cubic yards. Any rocks larger than 2 feet were hauled to an ODOT stockpile for future use. The remainder of the debris became property of the contractor.

The Chronicle: We have reported before about the landslide dangers along Oregon’s hillside roadways. Given these latest landslides (Highway 30 and Highway 18) over the past two months, what specifically is ODOT doing to check the landslide dangers and, more importantly, what projects are planned and where in Columbia and Lincoln Counties to prevent the slides?

House: Oregon, especially the Coast Range, is geologically active. The land is

always on the move through erosion and the long-term impacts of tectonic uplift –as in millions of years. Both these events occurred under high-wind conditions. Severe weather – especially last week with heavy rainfall saturating the ground followed by high winds – can cause even the strongest trees to come down, and trees on slopes above highways can bring down material with their roots.

No repair is permanent –it’s an ongoing maintenance job to scale rock, adjust “catchment” basins to catch small slides, and deal with extreme weather impacts.

The Chronicle: Again, what are ODOT’s recommendations to drivers about the landslide potential this winter and into spring?

House: Avoid distractions while driving and drive according to weather conditions. ODOT posts warning signs in areas where slides are common and often publicizes alerts when severe weather is on the way, but it is up to drivers to take extra care when driving in anything other than bright sunny days with dry pavement and no wind. Even in the best weather, drivers need to slow down for wet weather and poor visibility in winter, and avoid distractions especially phones while driving.

Go to TripCheck.com for road and weather information and follow developments of the local landslides at thechronicleonline.com and in the Wednesday print version of The Chronicle.

More Oregon families qualify for affordable child care

The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and Early Learning Division (ELD) of the Department of Education announce expanded eligibility for affordable child care through the Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) program.

The expansion took effect on Jan. 1 and is among the provisions of House Bill 3073 of the 2021 Legislative Session, which also creates the new Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC).

“For many families the cost of child care can be a barrier to meeting their educational goals and entering and staying in the workforce,” ODHS Director Fariborz Pakseresht said. “By expanding access to the ERDC program, Oregon is significantly enhancing the support it provides to families to strengthen their well-being.”

The primary changes to the program mean that students—in high school, a GED program, or college— no longer need to work to qualify for the child care assistance. Plus, all students will receive additional child care hours each week for study time. Additionally, many families will qualify for more child care hours due to a change in the way part-time and full-time coverage is calculated.

The ERDC program, currently administered by ODHS, will move to DELC on July 1, 2023, when the agency is officially established. Early Learning System Director Alyssa Chatterjee shared her excitement about the expanded eligibility and the program’s transition.

“Continuing one’s education is a full-time job, and I am excited that individuals pursuing their education in Oregon will have access to affordable child care,” ELD Director Alyssa Chatterjee said. “This, along with the change to part-time and full-time hours, are critical steps toward making ERDC more accessible and more advantageous for families. I look forward to the program officially joining DELC alongside our other early learning and child care resources.”

Other provisions in the expansion include:

• All ERDC families are now eligible for sleep hours when a caretaker works a night shift

• Caretakers on medical leave for their own condition or their child’s can receive ERDC benefits

• ERDC participants can continue to use their child care benefits when on leave to care for someone outside of their household

To help meet the increased demand for child care slots, ODHS

and ELD are partnering to expand provider capac ity by recruiting licensed child care providers who do not accept ERDC into the program.

About the Oregon Department of Human Services

The mission of the Oregon Department of Human Services is to help Orego -

About the Early Learning Division

The ELD is a division within the Department of Education that is responsible for oversight of a

as the design and imple mentation of Oregon’s child care work. ELD values equity, dedication, integrity, and collective wisdom in making a positive impact to benefit Oregon’s children and families.

JEREMY

Courtesy from ODOT

Traffic is limited through the Highway 30 landslide site until a more permanent prevention is in place.

Courtesy from ODOT

This photo shows the Highway 18 landslide at Otis that has since been cleared.

STAFF

Metro Creative Connection

The affordable child care expansion took effect Jan. 1.

Oregon State University (OSU) has received $4.8 million from the National Science Foundation to help the United States close a big gap between the number of cybersecurity job openings and the number of qualified applicants for those positions.

The mission is important because without a strong workforce and a healthy pool of job candidates, government agencies, including tribal governments, as well as private sector organizations, are at increased risk of cyberattacks that threaten the safety of everything from the power grid to defense systems to individuals’ personal information, said the project’s leader Rakesh Bobba.

“We’re facing a massive shortage of qualified cybersecurity professionals across the nation,” said Bobba, associate professor of computer science in the OSU College of Engineering. “With over 750,000 cybersecurity job openings in the U.S., including 7,500 in Oregon, this program is great for organizations who struggle to fill their positions and is a tremendous way to attract students into a highly desirable field that provides well-paying and

satisfying careers.”

The grant, part of the NSF’s CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service program, will fund scholarships to cybersecurity students and also support CyberClinic, a new College of Engineering program that involves students providing cybersecurity services to organizations across

the Pacific Northwest.

Students accepted for the Scholarship for Service program agree to work for the U.S. government for the number of years they receive the scholarship – i.e., a student on scholarship for two years would then spend two years following graduation working in a cybersecurity

State issues flood insurance advisory

role for a federal agency.

The scholarship includes a stipend for living expenses and is good for up to three academic years.

The grant will cover scholarships for up to 29 total students, both graduate and undergraduate. The program emphasizes the recruitment, retention and

placement of underrepresented and underserved groups in cybersecurity including women, first-generation college students and low-income students.

Through CyberClinic, directed by assistant professor of practice Dave Nevin, students will assist underserved agencies throughout the

Pacific Northwest through professionally guided clinical rotations.

The rotations, which are modeled after the clinical rotations used in OSU’s Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, provide students the opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the classroom in real-world environments.

Scott Ashford, OSU’s Kearney Dean of Engineering, says CyberClinic is a “great example of the handson learning Oregon State is known for.”

“It’s been a wonderful experience so far,” Nevin said. “The clinical rotations model used in veterinary education adapts well to cybersecurity education.

“Our students are incredible and very knowledgeable in the field, but most cybersecurity job openings require experience and this is a way for them to get that experience in a structured environment,” he added.

“And it feels good to help organizations that would otherwise not be able to have their own cybersecurity program.”

Lundeberg is a researcher and writer for Oregon State University Relations and Marketing. He may be reached at steve. lundeberg@oregonstate.edu

Winter in Oregon brings rain – and lots of it. This year is no different and the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) is encouraging people to be prepared.

There are ways you can be ready.

Most Oregonians with flood coverage have it through the National Flood Insurance Program. You can also purchase private flood insurance through your insurance company. Typical homeowners or renters policies do not cover flood damage. If your insurance company does not offer flood insurance, you can shop different companies that do.

DFR has resources available on its website about flood insurance. It is important to be prepared before flooding takes place. One way to do that is to build a financial first-aid kit and inventory. You can do this by:

• Saving account numbers – Have a safe place where those are stored and accessible.

• Having an inventory of your belongings – Take pic-

tures or videos of your items and write down a record of what you have.

• Backing up computer files – Consider backing up your information to a secure cloud storage service or keeping an external device with important information backed up somewhere other than your home.

• Securing important documents – It is critical to keep important papers in a water-tight fire safe or a bank deposit box.

More information on this checklist can be found here.

The division also has additional storm damage resources available.

“Water damage from flooding can be devastating to your home,” Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services Director and Insurance Commissioner Andrew Stolfi said. “Much like a fire, flooding and storm damage can destroy your home and the items you care most about inside it. Being prepared will make dealing with the aftermath much easier.”

DFR suggests if you do have coverage and need to file a claim, immediately contact your insurer or agent. Also, save any receipts from repairs, housing, food, mitigation (sandbags, pumps, etc.) because reimbursements may be part of your coverage. If you don’t have flood insurance, DFR suggests you consider purchasing it. Even those who don’t live in flood zones are susceptible under certain conditions. Contact your agent or the National Flood Insurance Program

Before going back into your home, make sure it is safe to do so. Flood damage can make buildings insecure and unsteady. Also, you want to be careful of gas leaks and electrical wires in flooded areas, according to DFR.

About Oregon DFR

The Division of Financial Regulation is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and www.dcbs.oregon.gov.

Property tax deferral program for disabled and seniors

If you are a senior citizen or disabled and a homeowner in Columbia County, you may be eligible to participate in the State of Oregon’s Property Tax Deferral program.

Qualifying for this program allows you to delay paying the property taxes on your residence by borrowing from the Oregon Department of Revenue. The State will pay your property tax bill from a revolving fund, then record a lien on your property to become a security interest holder.

The Oregon Department of Revenue recoups its loan when a participant’s property is sold or changes ownership.

Loans accrue interest at 6 percent annually. To participate, you must apply before the April 15 due date for personal tax returns or file late from April 16 to December 1 and pay a fee.

You can find more information on the Property Tax Deferral program at the Oregon.gov website at https://www.oregon.gov/dor/ programs/property/pages/ deferral.aspx.

Download the instruction booklet, which includes the application and instructions, https://www.oregon.gov/dor/ programs/property/SiteAssets/Pages/deferral/deferraldisabled-senior_490-015-1. pdf.

About Columbia County’s Property Taxes

The Columbia County Tax Assessor, an elected official, regulates property taxes and bases them on the most recent property value assessment for homes, businesses, and land.

For more information about your Columbia County property valuation, or if you believe your property tax assessment was unfair, contact the County Assessor’s office at 503-397-2240. All tax appeals are due to the County Clerk no later than January 3, 2023.

Columbia County’s trusted local news source

Steve

Courtesy photo from OSU

The grant will fund scholarships to cybersecurity students and also support a program that involves students providing cybersecurity services to organizations across the Pacific Northwest.

Courtesy photo

Flooding in Oregon can occur frequently and can be disruptive.

After the cold snap, soggy soils, inner clocks

enough to cause major tree toppling or breakage here. That was not the case further south down the Willamette valley where tree damage was more intense.

I think dahlias with a bit of covering are ok (though field mice/voles may feed on them) as is garlic which only the rare field mouse likes. But winter isn’t over. Carrot picture: U.C. Davis

I think we dodged a bullet as the cold temperatures were in the mid 20 degrees rather than in the teens as had been predicted by some forecasts.

It does not appear that Marionberry floral buds were hurt, so fruit crop, if the weather stays vaguely normal, should be ok. Fuchsias died back to the soil line but will return next year. This happens about every third winter so wasn’t a surprise. Kale seemed to make it through as did undersized chard and semi-mature parsley.

Most root crops still outside in the garden are fine (and probably sweeter) unless the voles (field mice) have found them. But soon, they will start the flowering process and that changes the quality of the root for the worst in both texture and taste. Carrots get quite bitter. So plan on using them soon.

The ice on Friday before Christmas was nasty for driving but not quite thick

Soggy soils

Our soils are water saturated now. It is a poor time to work soil or even mow the lawn unless your soil is better drained than most. The damage to lawns is due to soil compaction from your weight and the weight of the mower. But really, it isn’t necessary to mow or fertilize now anyway. That can wait until mid-February or later.

The Inner “Clocks” of Deciduous Trees and Shrubs

Trees know when it is time to go dormant by measuring the daily darkness in the fall. There is a compound in the leaves that changes “form” as darkness increases. That signals the leaves to export all their goodies to the root or other permanent parts of the plant. The leaves turn colors as the chlorophyll is recycled and eventually they drop. Not long after that, the tree or shrub goes more or less dormant and they are able to survive extreme cold temperatures without damage.

But what happens when it time to “wake up”? There are no leaves to measure daylight/darkness. So what do they do? They measure how may hours of temperatures below a certain degree threshold, usually in the mid-40° F range the tree has experienced since it became deeply dormant. Here is a simplified version of what happens: the winter buds are kept dormant by a growth regulator compound (hormone).

But each hour of temperatures below a critical amount for that species (and it varies a lot between species and even within species like apples), degrades some of that hormone until it can no longer keep the bud dormant. The tree has passed the “chilling requirement”

and the bud starts to “wake up”. The awakening goes in stages and is accelerated by warmer days, slowed by colder ones.

The challenge is that the now perky buds and in fact, an overall much perkier tree from root to top, are in grave danger if deep cold weather comes. There is nothing you can really do to protect them unless they are very small. Fortunately, this combination of some unusually warm January days followed by extreme cold at the end of the month or into early February doesn’t happen often.

But it did in about 1990 when we had 50-60-degree temperatures toward the end of January and temperatures at 10 degrees or lower in early February. A number of trees and shrubs died and other were really wounded. Since then, I have never trusted that time of the year and nervously watch longrange forecasts.

Important notes

The OSU Extension Office is fully open from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. The Extension Service offers its programs and materials equally to all people.

Food preservation

You can get up-to-date

and accurate answers to your food preservation questions by calling our office at 503 397-3462 and ask to speak to Jenny Rudolph.

Donations

Donate extra garden produce and/or money to the food bank, senior centers, or community meals programs. It always is greatly appreciated.

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 503397-3462 or at chip.bubl@ oregonstate.edu. The office is open from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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 http://extension.oregonstate. edu/columbia/ and click on newsletters.

Resource contact details

Oregon State University Extension Service – Columbia County 505 N. Columbia River Highway St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-3462

Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District Joint Board of Directors and Advisory Committee Meeting

9 a.m. at Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District Meeting Room / Via Zoom.

For instructions on how to join the meeting via Zoom please contact our Administrative staff at 503-366-6973.

January 17

Caples House Event

Tuesday Night at Caples House Becki Bozart and How to Travel Now. The event begins at 7 p.m. at the Caples House, 1925 1st Street in Columbia City. The cost is $5. For more details, call the Caples House Museum at 503-397-5390.

tronically by Zoom. For more information, contact Council Coordinator Allan Whiting at E-mail: allan@whitingenv. com, or call 503-789-9240 Visit the council’s website for agenda postings and Zoom at www.lowercolumbiariver.org/ events-page.

Resonate Recovery Meets at 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday - Sundays. This is a Bible based, Christcentered spiritual recovery meeting for those struggling with addictions and compulsive behavior at 220 S. 1st Street in St. Helens. Everyone is loved and welcomed. Free childcare available. For more information call Debbie at 503-560-0521 or check the Resonate Facebook page.

Overcomers Outreach Meetings are held every Saturday at 9 a.m. at Creekside Baptist Church, 51681 SW Old Portland Road in Scappoose. Call Fred 971-7576389.

Celebrate Recovery For anyone struggling with addiction, hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for coffee, snacks, and fellowship. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. The first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. the doors open for a free dinner. Yankton Community Fellowship, 33579 Pittsburg Road in St. Helens. 503-396-7091. Childcare is available. www. yanktoncommunityfellowship.com.

Ongoing events

Lower Columbia River Watershed Council Meets at 7 p.m. every other second Tuesday. Meetings are currently held elec-

Columbian Toastmasters Promoting positive learning and leadership through public speaking. Anyone is welcome! Meeting virtually via Zoom from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. every Thursday. Call 503-369-0329 for more information.

To list an event in the Community Calendar, email details with a phone number that may be published for anyone that might have questions, to jruark@countrymedia.net or chronicleclassifieds@countrymedia. net, or call 503-397-0116.

The Chronicle The Chronicle (USPS 610-380) is published weekly by Country Media, Inc. 1805 S. Columbia Blvd., P.O. Box 1153 St. Helens, Oregon 97051 Periodicals postage paid at St. Helens, OR 97051 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Chronicle PO Box 1153 St. Helens, OR 97051-8153 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: One month in county: $8 One month out of county: $10 One year in county: $70 One year out of county: $90 One year online: $60 CONTACT US • Phone: (503) 397-0116 • Fax: (503) 397-4093 Website: www.thechronicleonline.com • Editorial: chroniclenews@countrymedia.net ADVERTISE WITH US: Display ads: chronicleads@countrymedia.net Classified ads: chronicleclassifieds@countrymedia.net FOLLOW US • facebook.com/sthelenschronicle or twitter.com/shchronicle Joe Warren Publisher Jeremy C. Ruark Regional Executive Editor Jon Campbell Advertising Sales Kelli Nicholson Office Manager James Yang Creative Director Jon Lowrance Driver Vote online at thechronicleonline.com Are you optimistic or pessimistic about 2023? Optimistic Pessimistic Weekly Online Poll VFW essay competition winners Editorial policy: Opinions expressed on this page are independent of The Chronicle views and are solely those of the writers expressing them. Letters policy: This newspaper’s letters to the editor are limited to a maximum of 250 words and will be edited for grammar, spelling and blatant inaccuracies. Unsubstantiated or irresponsible allegations, or personal attacks on any individual, will not be published. Letters containing details presented as facts rather than opinions must include their sources. Writers are limited to one published letter per month. All submissions must include the author’s full name, local street address and telephone number (only the name and city of residence will be published). By submitting a letter, writers also grant permission for them to be posted online. Opinions expressed on this page are the writer’s alone and do not represent the opinion of the newspaper or its parent company, Country Media, Inc. Let us know what YOU think EMAIL YOUR LETTERS TO: CHRONICLENEWS@COUNTRYMEDIA.NET

CHIP

BUBL

Shortly after noon on Sept. 10, 2022, Robert E. Snider of St. Helens, Oregon, died at the age of 72.

Friends and family knew him best as Bob. Bob was born to W. L. and Joyce Snider on April 20, 1950. He grew up in the community of St. Helens in Oregon and graduated from high school in 1968. Shortly thereafter, Bob joined the Army and proudly served in Viet Nam until his honorable discharge on May 31, 1971. One of his first jobs was working with the Columbia County Road Department. Most of his working years were spent in the paper industry. Over the course of time, he held positions and made many friends in the Weyerhaeuser and Tetra Pak mills in Longview, Washington.

As a young man growing up during the era of the

American muscle car, Bob had developed quite a love for automobiles. In recent years, he acquired a restored 1971 Plymouth Barracuda because it reminded him of one of the first cars that he had owned as a young man. More recently, he added a custom 1939 Chevrolet that has a long history in the local area to his vintage cars. It didn’t matter whether it was old or new, Bob treated every one of his automobiles with care. If you were ever lucky enough to buy one of his used cars, you got a real jewel.

Generosity is a character trait that Bob demonstrated in every possible way. You didn’t necessarily have to know Bob well in order to have been blessed in some way by his generosity.

Bob was preceded in death by his father W.L. Snider; mother Joyce; and sister Linda.

He is survived by his brothers, Larry Snider and Mark Snider; sister Diana (Snider) Jones; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A public memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Jan. 28, 2023 at the Columbia River Foursquare Church in St. Helens. Donations can be made to “Feed the Children” at CRFS Church in lieu of flowers.

Gary Lee Tice passed away peacefully at home in Hemet, California on Nov. 6, 2022.

Gary was born May 24, 1946 in St. Helens, Oregon. He graduated from St. Helens High School class of 1964. He worked as an Electrician at Boise Paper Mill for over 30 years. Gary retired from the national guard in 1985.

Ryan David Jacks was born on May 27, 1993 to David Jacks Jr. and Samantha Haynes in Longview, Washington. He came from a large family consisting of several siblings including, Jared (Jessica) Hadlock in Clatskanie, Oregon, Doug (Tasha) Hadlock in Rainier, Oregon, Alex Jacks in Rainier, Oregon, Anthony Rivera in Rainier, Oregon, Michael Hadlock in Rainier, Oregon, and Robert Searcy in Scappoose, Oregon; and Anna, Carson, and Madison Jacks of Ocean Park, Washington. Other family members consist of nieces, Pearl and Maci Hadlock, Harper and Piper Hadlock

Gary Lee Tice

May 24, 1946 ~ Nov. 6, 2022

He was very artistic, and in his spare time he loved to carve, paint and sculpt.

Gary is survived by his wife Debora; two brothers, Ken and Donald (Keith) Tice; children, Nicole Tupper, Eric Tice and Robin Tice; and stepchildren, Melinda, James and Dylan. He was very proud of his grandchildren, Samantha, Kiwii, Keaton and Madison; step

grandchildren, Jesse and Justin; and his great grandsons, Brody and Everett.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald Tice and Hallie Cook; brother Robert Tice; and his daughter Michelle Tice.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Jan. 14, 2023 at The Caples House, 1925 1st Street, Columbia City, Oregon 97018.

Ryan David Jacks May 27, 1993 ~ Nov. 28, 2022

David Jacks Jr.; mother Samantha Searcy; children, Halen Helgerson, Rhyzlee Jacks, Olyver Jacks, Jaedon Newport, Jeremiah Schleich and Anakin Jacks.

Ryan was preceded in death by his stepdad Todd Searcy.

Ryan will be remembered for several things including inventing chili pizza, having to watch Baby’s Day Out at least three times a day, cooking microwave burritos over a campfire, spilled oatmeal (those stories are further down) and 45 second power nap. Ryan also loved to longboard, playing Apex with his oldest son, spend-

Norman Francis Sykes Nov. 20, 1955 – Nov. 29, 2022

ing time with his family, making countless memories which including one time his brother Doug was riding a mountain bike, ran Ryan over causing him to spill his oatmeal, when Ryan got up all he cared about was that his oatmeal had gotten spilled. Then there was the time he decided to try cooking a microwave burrito over a campfire and it actually worked! These are just a few memories and there will be more shared.

There will be a service at 11 a.m. on Sat., Jan. 7, 2023 at Alston Corner Assembly of God Church at 25272 Alston Road Rainier, Oregon 97048.

Norman Francis Sykes was the second born child to Mary Margaret and Randolph Sykes, born Nov. 20, 1955 at Trippler Army Medical Center on Oahu, Hawaii, while Randy served in the Navy there. He was the younger brother to Randy, Jr. and older brother to Mike, Jerry, Debbi, Darryl, and Duane.

The family followed Randy’s naval career from Hawaii back to Portland briefly then to Guam, Bremerton, Washington, and finally after he was discharged, landed in the rural Chapman area of Scappoose in 1963. The kids grew up there, attending Scappoose public schools.

Norm was an exceptional athlete, playing baseball as a kid and later earning all-state linebacker in 2A football,

Joe Eaton passed away on Dec. 23, 2022, in St. Helens, Oregon. He was 90 years old. Joe was born on Sept. 17, 1932 to Marvin and Grace Eaton and spent his entire life in the St. Helens area where he attended school growing up. He was drafted by the Army at the age of 17 where he trained to be a power line electrician. He was deployed to Greece and Germany where he set up smoke flares on the runways, so the planes knew where to land. He was honorably discharged and came

2nd in state wrestling at 191 pounds, and playing catcher on the baseball team. He was also an all-conference nose guard and wrestled for Clackamas Community College.

Known by the nickname

Stormin’ Norman, he was the rebel of the family, responsible for creating many grey hairs for his parents over the years. He was a charmer with the ladies, handsome with a charismatic personality, and if trouble was around, he was sure to find it.

Norm married his high school sweetheart, Carol Bright, and they proceeded to have Elke, Jesse, and Ty, living in Scappoose, Skamania, and Vancouver. Once he and Carol divorced, his third daughter, Ciara was born.

Norm held several jobs - picking strawberries as a kid, self-employment then later working at the Portland shipyard for many years, repairing ships that came into port. While working there, he suffered a work-related

injury to his back that made continuing that work impossible.

He was a super fan of his kids, shuttling the girls to ice skating lessons and competitions, and Ty to t-ball practices.

In his free time, he liked to play guitar, collect baseball cards, listen to classic rock like Lynyrd Skynyrd, and root for the Philadelphia Phillies, the Washington Redskins, the Chicago Bulls and the Portland Trailblazers.

His heart was also filled with joy from spending time with his grandchildren, Ryder, Jameson, Jordan, and Jonah.

Rest in peace, Norm.

Fly on, Free Bird. You’re free at last.

logging for a short time. After logging, he went to work for Boise Cascade where his future brother-in-law, John Tatro, introduced him to his wife to be Mary Lou Fritz. They were married on Dec. 14, 1956, and were together

Timothy Emory Smith

Feb. 28, 1947 ~ Jan. 5, 2023

home and many friends and always referred to it as God’s country.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 35 years Mary Lou.

He is survived by his companion of 15 plus years,

Timothy Emory Smith, 75, of St. Helens passed away on Thurs., Jan. 5, 2023, in Portland, Oregon. A celebration of life will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thurs., Jan. 12, 2023 at Columbia Funeral Home in St. Helens with reception at 12:30 p.m. Interment to follow at Columbia Memorial Gardens.

Tim was born in Altadena, California on Feb. 28, 1947. He lived in California, Hawaii, and Washington during his childhood years. He graduated from Peninsula High School in Purdy, Washington and Tacoma Community College. Tim worked as

National Weather Service and served in the Army and

the Air National Guard. He retired in 2007 and was a Vietnam Veteran. Tim served as a deacon at College Park Baptist Church in Las Vegas.

In October 1970, Tim married Marjorie Smith. She survives him and three daughters, Nga Tran (Duc Phan), Kendra Brott (Patrick Brott), and Jackie Smith; son Paul Smith; grandchildren, Thuy Phan, My Yen Phan, Lucky Phan, William Phan, Zoey Brott, and Aurora Brott.

Tim was preceded in death by his parents, Emory and Rachel Smith and sister Pamela Hahn. Sisters, Terri

David Esterline

Oct. 13, 1951 ~ Dec. 6, 2022

A celebration of life will be held 1 p.m., on Jan 14, 2023, at the St.

Kreitman

Crum and Sylvia Hahn survive.

Tim lived in Astoria, Oregon for 17 years and St. Helens for 20 years. He delivered Meals on Wheels and served on the Board of Directors at the St. Helens Senior Center for many years after retirement. He enjoyed bowling, hunting, fishing, hiking, traveling and spending time with family.

A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 12, 2023 at Columbia Funeral Home in St. Helens, Oregon. Please sign our online guestbook at www. columbiafh.com.

and Heaven Hewitt, and nephews, Micah Rivera, and Skyler Short.

Ryan is survived by his loving wife Kaylee; father

He had 10 grandchildren and

Joe Eaton

Sept. 17, 1932 ~ Dec. 23, 2022

the

Helens Elks Lodge, 350 Belton Rd. in St. Helens, Oregon.

Scott Kreitman, of Scappoose, Oregon, passed away on Dec. 24, 2022.

Scott

June 12, 1952 ~ Dec. 24, 2022

Robert E. Snider

20, 1950 ~ Sept. 10, 2022

Opening Sewing Part-time 6-Noon, M-Th. Apply in person only. 33550 SE Santosh St. Scappoose, OR 97056.

To the local retired, night owl’s, and those with extra time who want a simple income: Help

bath. Large addition. $920/month. No smoking. No pets. $15 rental application fee. 1st & last months rent due at move in. 32678 Scappoose Vernonia Hwy. One mile from Hwy 30. 503- 543-2250 or 503-396-9212.

Public Notices

PROTECTING YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW

CH22-1239

CH23-1241

PUBLIC LIEN SALE U-STORE SELF STORAGE

Auction to be held online at Storageauctions. com. Auction will run from 1/10/2023 10:00 am & end on 1/20/2023 10:00 am.

Unclaimed storage lockers to be sold by competitive bidding. 1st Location Scap-

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poose 53567 Columbia River Hwy. Zachary Burnight CY52, Frank Hobizal C025 CY23, Francine Wheeler F002. 2nd Location St. Helens 445 Port Ave, Suite D Jessica Alwine R-155, Jackson Bennett R-179, Chelain

Christian R-029, Kenneth Frasier II M-037, Robert Hegre G-046, Heather Moran M-033, Troy Silva G-056 GOODS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION SOLD BY STORAGE LOT. Cash and Credit Cards.

BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR COLUMBIA COUNTY 2023 ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE 1

Notice is hereby given that the Columbia County Board of Commissioner will hold their regularly scheduled meetings every Wednesday, at or after 10:00 AM. These meetings are hybrid from the Columbia County Courthouse, 230 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR. https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/357054141

United States (Toll Free): 1 866 899 4679 Access Code: 357-054-141 2. Additionally, the Board will hold their regu-

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larly scheduled hybrid Work Sessions every Wednesday at or after 1:00 PM from the Columbia County Courthouse, 230 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR. https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/357054141

United States (Toll Free): 1 866 899 4679 Access Code: 357-054-141.3. Any changes and/or cancellations to this schedule will be noticed.

4. This is a public meeting except during the Executive Session. Columbia County

does not discriminate on the basis of disability and will provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the County’s ADA Policy. To request accommodations or to review the County’s ADA Policy, please contact the Board of Commissioners Office at 503-397-4322.

Dated this 4th day of January 2023 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR COLUMBIA COUNTY, BY: Jacyn Normine.

NOTICE OF HYBRID MEETING

The CC Rider Transit Advisory Committee will be holding a hybrid meeting on January 17, 2023, at 6:15PM at 1155 Deer Island Rd, St. Helens,

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Oregon 97051. Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://meet.goto. com/621886165 You can also dial in using your

NOTICE OF AUCTION

Rainier Storage Place, LLC will hold a foreclosure auction at 29098 Dike Rd., Rainier OR 97048 of the contents of the following

storage units: CY15 (8x40) Robert Killough Warren 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 28th, 2023.

phone. United States (Toll Free): 1 877 309 2073 United States: +1 (571) 317-3129 Access Code: 621-886-165. The public is welcome.

NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE VACANCIES

2024 -2025 4 1 Year Remaining 6/30/23 2023 -2024 Each term requires the attendance of several evening meetings during the course of the year. Applications are available for pick up at St. Helens School District Office, 474 North 16th Street, St. Helens, Oregon or online at www.sthelens.k12.or.us and will be accepted until the close of business on Friday February 3rd , 202 3 In the case of multiple applicants, the Board will interviews interested persons at the board meeting on Wednesday, February 8th , 202 3

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Notice is hereby given that Columbia County by and through its General Services Department intends to Contract for the design and building of improvements to the Columbia County Courthouse including the installation of an elevator. All work is to be performed at the Columbia County Courthouse and Courthouse Annex. The

Request for Proposal documents are available at the County’s website at https:// www.columbiacountyor. gov/bids and on Oregon Buys at https://oregonbuys. gov/bso/view/login/login. xhtml. It is the Proposers responsibility to check the website or Oregon Buys frequently to be aware of any addenda. A mandatory site visit will take place

on January 19, 2023 at 10:00 am. Proposals will be accepted at the following address until 4:00 PM February 9, 2023. Columbia County General Services C/O Columbia County Board of Commissioners’ Office, 230 Strand St, St Helens, Oregon 97051 ATTN: Riley Baker, Director of General Services.

SHHS sports heads into 2023

and a strong work ethic, are values that go beyond high school athletics.

“Making sure that we’re working hard in school, academically, and getting good grades for our future is just as important. Just trying to create a culture here that, you know, if you’re going to join a team, we’re going to do everything we can to the best of our ability,” Lady said, “We’ve got really great coaches in place to help us with that, but I think it’s just something that we need to continue to help the studentathletes understand that there’s more to athletics than just winning and losing.”

LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

For St. Helens High School (SHHS) sports, 2022 presented its share of triumphs and challenges.

Moving forward to 2023, let’s take a look back on the year that was and what we can anticipate in the New Year.

Michael Lady is the Athletic Director for St. Helens High School, and while he is new to the position this year, he was happy to share how the school is competing and what the coaches and team players hope to accomplish in 2023.

This season, St. Helens changed divisions from the 5A classification to a 4A league called the Cowapa League. The school teams will compete with Astoria, Seaside, Tillamook, and Scappoose, among others. There has been a learning curve with some of their new opponents, but plenty of room to grow.

Looking back

Lady detailed some of the successes that different programs at the school had in the fall.

“Our girls’ volleyball team started off rather slow, but by the end of the year they sort of got things together,” Lady said. “They actually made the play-in round of the OSAA playoffs, they did eventually go on to lose against a strong Marist Catholic team, but it was nice to see them get an extra game in.”

Lady also noted that the girls’ varsity soccer team made the play-in round for the state playoff and narrowly lost in a penalty shootout against Marshfield High School in Coos Bay. According to Lady, it has been a while since the girls’ team made the playoffs, but he is excited about the program’s future.

“We’re really looking forward to the years ahead for them; they had quite a young team, a lot of freshmen and sophomores at the varsity level, so there’s hopefully some sustained success coming from that group,” Lady said.

The boys’ cross country team saw tremendous individual success for two runners as they sent two of their athletes to the state championship in Eugene.

rently, there is a vacancy for the boys’ soccer team, and the coaches of both the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams are also new. The two basketball teams are already improving after having tough years over the past couple of seasons. Both teams have already matched their win totals from last year, according to Lady, despite being below .500.

“The future is bright for our programs, it might not be immediate success, but we are really looking forward to it,” Lady said.

Lady is excited about the potential of the school’s wrestling programs and said that participation in girls’ wrestling is a bright spot for the school. According to Lady, about 19 girls signed up for the team, and some schools they compete with have only three or four girls competing.

Lady also made sure to make it clear that the community’s involvement makes St. Helens High School so successful, even when the teams aren’t winning games. Lady lauded the booster clubs, which help support the teams financially and help volunteer to staff events. Though there have been some trying seasons during the last few years, Lady believes the best is yet to come.

“The community does rally around our teams, and they do want us to be successful, so that’s something that, you know, they’re putting in the effort, and so we need to make sure that we’re putting the best product we can on the field, on the court, and on the mats,” Lady said.

Follow SHHS sports team game results at osaa.com.

SHHS Game Schedule This Week

Boys Varsity Basketball

• 5:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at Scappoose

• 6 p.m. Jan. 13 vs. Tillamook at St. Helens Middle School

Girls Varsity Basketball

• 7 p.m. Jan. 11 at Scappoose

• 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13 vs. Tillamook at St. Helens Middle School

Wrestling

• 9:30 a.m. Jan. 13 Burton 5 Enterprises Invitational Lebanon High School

Swimming

• 4 p.m. Jan. 12 vs. Seaside Dual BSW Meet 1 p.m. Jan. 14 Lions January Invitational at Eisenschmidt Pool

details on what those updates are because of security, but it is concerning to see that this has become something nationwide that several utilities have experienced direct attacks on their substations.”

Pacific Power is a utility provider for larger parts of Oregon and serves Lincoln City and the Lincoln County area. In response to The Chronicle’s inquiries about incidents within Lincoln County, Pacific Power released the following statement:

“We have security measures in place to protect our assets and keep our customers and employees safe and secure. We are working closely with industry partners and law enforcement to monitor the situation and will apply any emerging threat information to evaluate against our security measures. As always, protecting the grid and ensuring a reliable and affordable supply of energy are top priorities for the energy industry and Pacific

The football team had a bit of a “down year,” only winning three games, according to Lady, but he also noted they had a tough league. Both Scappoose and Tillamook were state semifinalists at the 4A level. While Lady is enthusiastic about the team’s growth in coming seasons, he said that the team’s coach did step down and finding a new coach will be a challenge.

“Even though it’s challenging, and you know we’re looking for some strong candidates, it’s also exciting that we get to rebuild the program and find someone that’s hopefully going to take it to the next level and sort of start to shift that culture here at St. Helens back into a winning and competitive culture,” Lady said.

Coaching turnover, other challenges

This year has marked coaching turnover across several St. Helens High School programs. Cur-

Power.”

In response to questions regarding when, where, and who may have carried out attacks, Pacific Power media representatives referred to the initial statement. While specific information is unavailable, Pacific Power and BPA did say security measures are in place to protect the substations. They are working with authorities to investigate the source of the incidents.

Arrests

This past week, authorities arrested two men in Washington state in connection to the vandalization of four power substations around Tacoma on Christmas Day. According to media outlets in the area, the two men told police that they attacked the substations to aid in a burglary. After the power was down, the two men allegedly broke into a local business affected by the outage and robbed the register.

The damage to the substations is estimated to be at least $3 million. According to media sources in Washington state, the Christmas Day attack also left more than

One of Lady’s important goals is to begin to build some of the feeder programs for the varsity teams so that there are more JV and JV2 teams where players can develop. The high school is also under renovation, so the teams have been using a middle school to play games. Sharing the middle school gym has presented its limitations, but Lady is excited about what the new facility will bring upon completion.

“The middle school already has teams, so we have to work around their schedule; the seating capacity is not as high,” Lady said.

“So, there’s a lot of different variables that go into it, but hopefully, you know, in a year or two when the construction’s done, we’re going to have a really great facility that the community is going to be proud of, and rally around.”

In the classroom

While the teams haven’t always had great success on the field, Lady emphasized that in sports, a shared goal

15,000 customers without power. Conspiracy to attack energy facilities can carry up to a 20-year sentence in prison.

Public watch

While utility providers and law enforcement are increasing their security at their assets, Johnson of Bonneville Power Administration and Pacific power also implore citizens to be aware of any suspicious activity around substations in their area.

“We would hope that individuals who live near, work near, or are doing anything recreational near an electric substation, if they see something suspicious, report it. We’re certainly in a ‘see something, say something’ posture right now,” Doug Johnson said. “And we just hope that the individuals who would want to perpetrate something like this understand the danger that they’re putting people in when they do something like this.”

Follow developments at thechronicleonline.com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Chronicle.

Position: Dental Assistant

About Us and Who We Want to Join Our Team: Healthy Smiles of Scappoose is a fixture of the local community. We have been serving patients for over 50 years throughout the area. Our patients know us, and we know them. We are recognized as the go-to family dental practice because of our loyal team and our commitment to health.

Due to growth and expansion we are looking for an assistant to join our cohesive team. This is a full-time position (4 days/week, ~32 hours/week) working Monday through Thursday.

We have long-term employees at our practice. Some of our employees have worked for us for decades. This demonstrates our commitment to our employees. This is not just “a job” but rather a livelihood. We are committed to employee appreciation, kindness, understanding, and a positive mindset.

Our overriding goal is to first find a person who will enjoy being a member of our team, both as part of the organization as a whole and specifically with our incredible team of dental professionals.

Characteristics that we are looking for include: • Team collaborative outlook, • Patient-centric and solutions/problem solving approach, • Fun-natured and a sense of humor, • Good communication skills (written and verbal), • Self-motivated attitude, • A desire to make a difference

We are committed to each employee’s success. As such, we invest time, energy, and money in onboarding and training to ensure competency and confidence with the type and kind of patients we serve. This, combined with your qualifications, represents a winning formula for long-term professional success.

Additional Information:

Our practice offers a relaxed work environment, places a high value on work/ life balance, and located in Scappoose. This position offers an excellent benefit package that includes: PTO, paid holidays, medical insurance, dental ser vices for you and your immediate family, and a retirement plan. Starting salary will depend on experience and qualifications.

If you believe this opportunity represents a fit for you, please send a cover letter and an up-to-date resume to: jessica@healthysmilesofscappoose.com

Jeremy C. Ruark / Country Media, Inc.

WILL

Making sure that we’re working hard in school, academically, and getting good grades for our future is just as important.

~ Michael Lady, SHHS Athletic Director

Courtesy photo from SHHS Facebook

This is action from a 2022 SHHS football team gridiron contest.