SHC21

Police seek public help in solving Walmart theft cases

JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.

S t. Helens Police are hopeful photos and Facebook entries will help lead to suspects involved in two separate theft cases at the St. Helens Walmart, 2295 Gable Road.

Both cases occurred in December and both involved suspects filling carts full of merchandise and leaving with the items without paying, according to police. In both cases, the suspects were seen on video and photo surveillance at the store site.

In the most recent case, Dec. 21, the surveillance images show two women unloading the items taken from the store and placing them in a vehicle in the store parking lot. The theft occurred at approximately 9:41 p.m. Store employees reported that two women pushed two carts full of stolen merchandise out of the store. They loaded the stolen merchandise, including a television, into a waiting vehicle and fled the scene toward Highway

30. The vehicle is described as a new blue Toyota SUV with no plates. It was being driven by a third suspect.

The first theft took place on Monday, Dec. 12, at approximately 10:55 p.m. at the St. Helens Walmart.

According to St. Helens Police, two male and two female suspects left the store with three shopping carts filled with stolen merchandise. One of the male suspects was seen on security footage pushing an employee out of his way when the suspects were confronted by staff as they left the store.

The suspects fled the scene prior to police arrival in a blue Chevy Suburban towing a trailer. An area check was conducted, but police were unable to locate the vehicle. Both Walmart theft cases are still active and have yet to be solved, according to St. Helens Communication Officer Crystal King.

Governor presents $130M homelessness plan

STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has announced details of her urgent request to state lawmakers to invest $130 million toward reducing the number of unsheltered Oregonians in 2023.

Bold ideas, concrete solutions, disciplined follow through. That’s how we can deliver results, this year, and in the years to follow.

~ Tina Kotek, Oregon Governor

There are approximately 18,000 Oregonians experiencing homelessness in Oregon, and approximately 11,000 of those households are unsheltered, according to a release from Kotek’s office.

The governor’s investment request has been paired with a statewide emergency order declaring a Homelessness State of Emergency, signed Jan. 10, during Kotek’s first full day in office.

The spending plan

The spending package will aim to provide immediate relief to at least 1,200 unsheltered Oregonians, prevent nearly 9,000 households from becoming homeless, expand the state’s shelter capacity

by 600 new beds, increase sanita tion services, and ensure a coordinated, equitable response to the homelessness emergency.

The package will invest in both statewide strategies as well as focused investments to reduce unsheltered homelessness in emergency areas.

Kotek said she has had preliminary conversations with legislative leaders and looks forward to working with them to finalize the package.

The Governor’s initial proposal includes the following elements:

Prevent vulnerable households from becoming homeless

$33.6 million to prevent 8,750

households from becoming home less by funding rent assistance and other eviction prevention services.

Add shelter beds and housing navigators

$23.8 million to add 600 lowbarrier shelter beds statewide and hire more housing navigators to ensure unsheltered Oregonians can get connected to the shelter and services they need.

Rehouse unsheltered households

$54.4 million to rehouse at least 1,200 unsheltered households by funding prepaid rental assistance, block leasing at least 600 vacant homes, landlord guarantees

and incentives, and other re-housing services.

Support Oregon tribes

$5 million to support emergency response directly to the nine sovereign tribes in the State of Oregon.

Ensure equitable outcomes

$5 million to increase capacity for culturally responsive organizations to support equitable outcomes of the homelessness state of emergency.

Support local sanitation services

$2 million to support local communities for sanitation services.

Coordinate emergency response

$1.8 million to support the emergency response being coordinated by the Office of Emergency Management and Oregon Housing and Community Services.

Kotek said these urgent investments will address the homelessness emergency facing communities across Oregon today, but it is only one piece of the larger strategy required to address this humanitarian crisis.

The Governor’s recommended budget builds on these targeted investments to ensure that the state is reducing homelessness and providing resources to address this issue in every corner of Oregon, according to the release.

Oregon must simultaneously address its lack of affordable housing, according to Kotek.

That will take local, state, federal, nonprofit, and private sectors working together to make progress towards an ambitious statewide housing production target of 36,000 homes per year—an 80 percent increase over recent construction trends, the release states.

“I am urging the legislature to take up this investment package as quickly as possible,” Kotek said.

“Unsheltered Oregonians need relief now, and our local communities need the support to provide that relief. This is only the first step. Together, we can act with the urgency people across our state are demanding. Bold ideas, concrete solutions, disciplined follow through. That’s how we can deliver results, this year, and in the years to follow.”

Follow this developing story at thechronicleonline.com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Chronicle.

Officials issue skin cream product warning

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High levels of lead have been found in two tubes of a skin cream known as Diep Bao that’s advertised as treatment for eczema in young children. State and local health officials are warning parents to avoid using the product while its safety is investigated.

Two Portland-area children were recently found to have elevated blood lead levels. The children, one in Washington County and one in Multnomah County, are both younger than a year old.

The investigations

During investigations by state and local lead experts, parents of the children pointed to Diep Bao as the product they recently used on their babies’ faces to treat eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, a condition common in young

children that causes dry, itchy and inflamed skin.

Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program Coordinator Ryan Barker said laboratory tests on samples of the product provided by the families showed the product in the Washington County case contained 9,670 parts per million (ppm) lead, while the Multnomah County sample contained 7,370 ppm lead.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been alerted and is investigating. Only the two tubes of the cream have been tested so far, so whether lead is present in other tubes of Diep Bao is still being investigated.

Diep Bao is promoted primarily by online retailers in Singapore and Vietnam, with one seller advertising it as “a cream that supports skin problems such as eczema, heat rash, rash, redness, dry chapped skin, skin care, skin cooling, skin healing.” Health investigators say the product is manufactured in Vietnam.

OHA, Washington County Public Health and the Multnomah County Health Department are jointly investigating the cases. They are asking families who have the product to avoid using it while its safety is investigated.

What parents can do

Parents can help the investigation by providing tubes of Diep Bao in their possession to investigators so the product can be tested. They also are asking parents to learn about the risks of exposure to other lead-tainted products and make sure children’s blood levels are tested if they have been exposed to them.

“We are concerned this product caused or significantly contributed to the elevated blood lead levels in these children,” Barker said. “Any product containing high lead levels should be considered extremely

Courtesy photo from St. Helens Police

This photo shows the two theft suspects loading merchandise into their vehicle outside the St. Helens Walmart Dec. 21.

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Klick receives Community Impact Award

Columbia County resident Larry Klick has received the first St. Helens School District (SHSD) Community Impact Award.

The award was created as a way for the SHSD board to recognize outstanding individuals, including students, staff, and community members, for their contributions to the community. Klick was selected for his years of dedication, commitment, and service to the St. Helens School District students and programs.

“I have known Larry Klick for a very long time,” SHSD Superintendent Scot Stockwell said. “As a young Athletic Director 20 plus years ago, Larry was my goto man to help at any event. He knew the procedures and systems to run sporting events better than I did, as he had already done them for years. I have to say that Larry might be one of the

kindest, most humble, and most giving people I have met. He has been a St. Helens Sports Booster for many years and has dedicated thousands upon thousands of hours to our students and community with a smile.”

The SHSD has issued a release that includes statements from other individuals who know Klick. The following are a few of those comments.

“Larry is one of the most selfless individuals in St. Helens. He always volunteers to announce track events and run the scoreboards at wrestling, softball, and basketball,” Cory Young wrote. “Every time you see Larry, he is excited to talk to you and learn how ‘those lions’ are doing; he loves the school and community. In 21 years, it is hard to recall not being at a game or contest (rain or shine) and not seeing Larry volunteering his time to help our programs.”

“I have worked with Larry on many occasions as a volunteer for some games,”

Alan Holinbeck wrote. “If I could think of a word that best describes Larry, it would be dedicated. He lives to see these St. Helens kids succeed. He has been doing this for a long time with very little recognition. He certainly deserves any kudos that might come his way.”

“Larry lives in Scappoose with his cats and spends most of his time today

watching the big races and working with the booster club,” Stan Girard wrote. “Even though Larry lives in Scappoose, he is very familiar with the history between St. Helens and Scappoose (Seven Mile War). Larry has mentioned that his least favorite moments as a scorekeeper are the ones against Scappoose. There is always a little more tension in the

air. One of the first contests Larry had was against Scappoose. Larry made a small mistake and the crowd was on him pretty bad. Larry has never forgiven them for how they acted. Larry has always maintained that we treat both the home team and the visiting team with the same respect. Always reminding the announcer to include the visiting team’s

Courtesy from SHSD

results as well as the home team’s. Larry has no kids, and St. Helens High School sports and interaction with the student-athletes are what keep him young. Larry is always an hour early before games so he can be prepared to do his job.” Klick was presented the award during the SHSD Board meeting Wednesday, Jan. 25.

St. Helens and Scappoose graduation trending up

The statewide graduation rate for the class of 2022 is 81.3 percent, marking gains for every student group compared to the previous year and the second-highest graduation rate ever recorded in Oregon, according to data released today by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE). After a slight drop due to the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the statewide 2022 graduation rates are a positive sign that Oregon’s students and school systems are continuing to recover, according to ODE Director Colt Gill.

Notably, students completing two credits in an approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program of Study significantly exceeded the statewide average, graduating at a rate of 93.0 percent.

Students who successfully completed English Learner programs prior to entering high school in Oregon graduated at 86.4 percent, 5.1 percentage points higher than the statewide average and an all-time high for that student group.

“When we combine the tremendous resilience of Oregon’s youth, the courageous, tireless, work of our educators, and the individualized, student centered resources made available through the Student Success Act and other key initiatives, we’re able to make meaningful progress for Oregon’s students,” Gill said. “There is more work to do, and we are ready to keep working to make sure all students have what they need to succeed.”

“Each graduate represents an individual and family success story, a point of pride for their community, and a stronger future for Oregon,” Gov. Tina Kotek said. “It will take focused leadership and increased accountability to continue our recovery and ensure

that all of Oregon’s children are better served by our investments in K-12 schools. All of our education investments must be paired with specific strategies to ensure we know how the dollars that are spent are connected to the education priorities that Oregonians care about. Every child is full of promise, and I am committed to creating the conditions for them to thrive.”

St. Helens High School graduation rates recovering post-pandemic

After the pandemic saw graduation rates fall across the state, 2022 has marked an increase, and the St. Helens School District has also seen improvements. District-wide, graduation rates grew from 71.30 in 2021 to 73.90 in 2022. St. Helens High School Principal Katy Wagner gave details on the cause of this increase.

“In the past several years, St. Helens School District offered a robust summer school utilizing High School Success and ESSR emergency relief funds that allowed us to provide additional support to students,” Wagner said. “Last year, the St. Helens Virtual Academy was established to support graduation efforts for those students who wanted flexibility or required on-going distance learning. The overall district graduation rates include St. Helens High School, Plymouth High School, and St. Helens Virtual Academy combined.”

For St. Helens High School, the rates were higher than the district graduation rate in 2021 and remained higher in 2022. In the pandemicaffected year of 2021, the graduation rate for St. Helens High School was 77.30, and 2022 saw more than a three percent increase to 80.90. However, bigger strides have also been made in graduation rate sub-categories.

“The pandemic significantly impacted our graduation rate for our economically disadvantaged students. Between

2020-21 and 2021-22, our graduation rates for economically disadvantaged students increased by 9.35%,” Wagner said. “Attendance plays a significant role in graduation rates. When students miss school, students miss crucial instruction, opportunities for assistance, and motivation often decreases.”

With the pandemic disrupting education for students in the classroom, Wagner said the increased graduation rates have resulted from a return to some normalcy and concerted efforts by the school to engage with students.

“We focused our efforts on student and family connection and engagement. During the pandemic, we established staff mentors who would reach out to individual students and families and get them access to resources they needed to be successful in school,” Wagner said. “As educators, our purpose is to ensure that all students learn at high levels and we take on the responsibility to create an environment where students can thrive. We increased our support system to include a restorative

practices coordinator, school social workers, school counselors, and student intervention specialist.”

The uptick in graduation rates in St. Helens is something St. Helens School District hopes to build on, and this year’s increase will hopefully be an indicator of continued growth for its schools.

“We are happy and proud that we have increased our graduation rates in nearly every sub-category from 202021,” Wagner said.

Scappoose High School rates returning to pre-pandemic levels

Scappoose High School saw a substantial increase in their graduation rates in 2022, with more than a five percent increase from the previous year. In 2020-2021, Scappoose High School had a rate of 87.35. In 2022, this number jumped to 92.52. Like St. Helens High School, Scappoose made efforts to engage with students and make resources available to those struggling to make it over the line. According to

Scappoose School District Communications Manager Paje Stelling, there were many strategies the school implemented to support their students.

“Our increased graduation rate reflects that shared vision and collaboration between staff, students, and families. Some intentional steps SHS took to support each student with their needs were to; integrate J-term [a time between Winter break and the 2nd semester] as an opportunity to deepen understanding and knowledge in core subject areas and provide credit recovery opportunities,” Stelling said. “While doing so, SHS hired an academic interventionist to meet with and support every student who needed to be on track to graduate or who needed support in their classes. We utilized our MTSS system to implement graduation teams who met with every Senior who needed to be on track to graduate. The team met in collaboration with the student, their families, and our support teams and developed customized individual plans for them to graduate on time. We also revised our counseling supports to be more diverse and specialized in meeting students’ unique needs.”

According to Stelling, the pandemic saw graduation rates fall below standard rates which were typically above 90 percent. On-track rate levels were affected at all grade levels when students returned to in-person learning. To navigate these challenges, Scappoose High School has continued implementing the strategies they started using during the heart of the pandemic. Maintaining strong relationships between the staff and their pupils has helped get students back on the right track.

“SHS has remained diligent, and we pride ourselves in maintaining excellent relationships with students and families in order to provide an accessible and rigorous curriculum to meet all students’ needs regardless of circumstances,” Stelling said. “Re-

turning to in-person learning was an opportunity for us to rethink the way we supported each student. We were able to individualize learning plans for students who needed support to get back on track toward graduation. Because every SHS Staff member was familiar with our students and their individualized needs, SHS could be very responsive and agile when students returned to in-person learning.”

Other key findings from the statewide data:

• Students completing two credits in an approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program of Study significantly exceeded the statewide average, graduating at a rate of 93.0 percent.

• Students who have successfully completed English Learner programs prior to entering high school in Oregon graduated at 86.4 percent, 5.1 percentage points higher than the statewide average and an all-time high for that student group.

• Black/African American students’ graduation rate of 73.7 percent is 0.2 points higher than the previous year and the second-highest rate ever for that student group.

• Hispanic/Latino students’ graduation rate of 78.7 percent was up 1.7 percentage points from the previous year and the second-highest rate ever for that student group.

• American Indian/Alaska Native students had a 1.9 percentage point increase to 68.9 percent, the highest ever for that student group.

• The Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander student group rebounded from a 6.8 percentage point drop for the Class of 2021 to a 4.8 percentage point increase for the Class of 2022. (Because this is one of the smallest student groups, it can have large annual percentage swings.)

• The graduation rate for students experiencing houselessness increased 3.2 percentage points to the second-highest level for the group.

Just mention

503-397-0116

Our Middle School Information Night is coming up soon! This event is for both students and families who want to learn more about what SIS offers in grades 6, 7, and 8. It is open to everyone, whether or not you are a current SIS student or family!

Come learn more about our Place-based educational philosophy, the benefits of experiential community-based learning, and how those teaching styles relate to those allimportant middle school years! Our teachers, students, and even some of our alumni and their families will be there to share their experiences and to answer questions. Pizza will be provided.

When: February 9, 2023, from 6:00 to 7:15 pm

Where: Sauvie Island School

Who: Students and families who are approaching (or even thinking about!) the middle school years. Open to both current SIS families and those who are not yet enrolled. Please RSVP to: info@sauvieislandschool.org

Metro Creative Connection

Cities outline priorities at capitol

City and county elected officials in Columbia County are closing monitoring and taking part in the 2023 Oregon Legislature.

As part of City Day at the Capitol, nearly two hundred appointed city officials, mayors, city councilors, and city staff members from 80 cities throughout Oregon gathered in Salem to meet with legislators Wednesday, Jan. 25.

City Day at the Capitol is co-hosted by the League of Oregon Cities (LOC) and the Oregon Mayors Association (OMA); it offers city officials from around the state a chance to advocate for their communities on priority issues. The day kicked off with a media briefing, and city officials outlined three “key priorities.”

• Homelessness services and prevention funding

• Economic development incentives

• Infrastructure needs and funding

The LOC policy priorities are created by its 241 member cities. Seven member-driven policy committees are brought together each even-numbered year to determine the policy issues that matter most to Oregon cities. Those committees send a ballot of issues to every city council in Oregon, where they review which issues they view as most important.

The three priorities that were the focus of the media briefing, and the City Day at the Capitol overall, represent three of the eight most essential issues outlined by cities in the state.

During the briefing, three city representatives addressed these issues.

OMA President and North Plains Mayor Teri Lenahan spoke about homelessness

and housing. Hermiston Mayor and LOC Vice President Dave Drotzmann commented on economic development. The final official to talk during the press conference was Past LOC President and Central Point Councilor Taneea Browning, who addressed infrastructure and development capacity.

Homelessness crisis

Mayor Lenahan addressed the issue of homelessness and began her remarks with a call to action.

“Homelessness in Oregon is a statewide crisis that needs to be tackled by public and private sectors, non-profits, and all levels of government. It is a humanitarian crisis, and it affects all of us,” Lenahan said.

She urged the Governor and the legislature for a “stronger partnership in addressing homelessness.” Lenahan is forwarding a proposal to establish and expand local communitybased responses to provide shelter and services for the unhoused.

“Under our proposal, each city would be allocated $40 per resident, with no city receiving less than $50,000. Many communities are struggling to make ends meet the needs of their residents by virtually nonexistent budgets,” Lenahan

about 700, they would spend $50,000 just on clean-up and code enforcement alone. It doesn’t sound like much, but it is a lot of money for a small city’s budget. To resource every single city in the state of Oregon the total cost is $125 million.”

Lenahan went further, saying this would not be a “one-time ask” but annual funding. These funds would not just address existing needs but could also assist with prevention. Lenahan also noted that competitive grants and county allocations heavily favor larger cities.

“The OMA is confident that direct allocations to our cities will be used for solutions tailored to meet the needs of our communities,” Lenahan said. “If funds go only to cities with highly visible challenges, the root causes of homelessness are left untreated.”

While Linahan did acknowledge that Oregon has made some significant investments to address homelessness, these were “one-time” payments, and continued investment is necessary.

Economic development

Next, Dave Drotzmann addressed how the LOC is

Community invited to Congressional Town Hall

Oregonians. “We are supportive of community economic development tools,” Drotzmann said. “To that end, the League of Oregon Cities will support legislation this session to preserve and strengthen discretionary local economic development incentives.” Without legislative action, the standard and rural enterprise zone programs will end in 2025. A 2022 study commissioned by Business Oregon credited companies that participated in these programs with the creation of $8.5 in total economic activity and over 46,000 new jobs. These jobs provided $2.5 billion in income for Oregon workers

and $685 million in taxes to the state.

These jobs are primarily in the manufacturing sector. In Oregon, enterprise zone programs have helped fund jobs in various areas, such as food processing, data centers, food sciences, and manufacturing.

“Without these tools, it makes it difficult for rural communities to recruit new businesses due to our lack of services and amenities, often found more prominently in metropolitan areas,” Drotzmann said.

Drotzmann also noted the importance of strategic tax incentives to help residents and businesses navigate an economic downturn.

Infrastructure

Central Point Councillor Taneea Browning updated the press on Oregon’s infrastructure. Browning led with staggering statistics on the state’s future costs of water infrastructure.

“In 2021, the LOC completed a water, wastewater infrastructure report, and of the 100 cities that responded to the survey, of our 241 cities in Oregon, identified $9.7 billion in water infrastructure needs, including water quality-related needs, drinking water, and water supply needs,” Browning said. “With this data, PSU estimates approximately $23 billion in statewide water

infrastructure costs over the next 20 years.”

Browning stressed that continued investment is critical to promote public health, livability, economic development, environmental protection, and housing.

Browning also outlined that communities face new and emerging challenges that require more funding.

“These challenges include: seismic upgrades to better ensure that some of the critical components of water systems will be able to withstand the Cascadia earthquake, system backbone, lines to hospitals, reservoirs, and storage, stormwater upgrades to withstand extreme rain and severe weather events due to climate change, additional water supply storage to combat persistent drought and declining snowpack, and new and more stringent water quality permit requirements including stormwater,” Browning said.

To address these challenges, Browning called for funding to various infrastructure funds. Browning stressed that these state investments would be coordinated with housing production efforts to reduce the cost of needed housing in Oregon.

“While infrastructure is not sexy, it is absolutely important for our continued growth,” Browning closed.

Bethany Lutheran Church 34721 Church Rd. Warren OR

Quilt Show

Friday, Feb 10th@10-3 & Saturday, Feb 11th @10-3

Bring Display Quilts Thurs, Feb 9th @ 9-2

Admission: FREE

Baked Goods, Used Book & Puzzles * Quilt Raffle * Soups, Sandwiches & Pie, Eat In or To Go * New…Men’s Garage Sale, Arts & Craft Vendors For Information Call Chris at (503)888-7540

Sen. Wyden and visitors enjoy a laugh at a St. Helens 2020 town hall.

of Oregon’s 36 counties.

Inc.

duct a town hall in Benton County.

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has scheduled an open-toall, in-person town hall in Columbia County for 1 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 4.

Wyden has already held 11 town halls so far throughout Oregon in 2023 – and 1,038 town halls overall statewide in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each

“Public service is all about being accountable, and open-to-all town halls provide all Oregonians the opportunity to ask me any question and share any idea,” Wyden said. “In keeping with my commitment to hold annual town halls for each of our state’s 36 counties, I’m very much looking forward to these upcoming town halls in Columbia and Benton counties.”

Wyden will also con-

The schedule of upcoming town halls is as follows:

• Columbia County 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4 at Meriwether Place, 1070 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens.

• Benton County, 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5, at LaSells Stewart Center, Austin Auditorium, OSU Campus, 875 SW 26th St, Corvallis (Parking available next to Reser Stadium).

Local man sentenced in child pornography case

STAFF REPORT

Country Media, Inc.

A St. Helens man has plead guilty and has been sentenced in a child pornography case.

Scott Johnson, 27, of St. Helens, pleaded guilty to three counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree in Columbia County Circuit Court during a court proceeding Wednesday, Jan. 25.

The plea agreement concludes a two-year investigation initiated by the St. Helens Police Department (SHPD) in January 2021 after receiving information from the Oregon Department of Justice about child pornography being

uploaded in St. Helens. Johnson was identified by St. Helens detectives as a suspect in the case and search warrants were executed. A digital device belonging to Johnson was recovered, and after a forensic examination of the device performed by the Oregon Department of Justice, it was found to contain child pornography. St. Helens detectives presented evidence to a Columbia County grand jury in August 2021. Johnson was indicted on four counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. The Columbia County District Attorney recommended a 60-month jail sentence. Johnson has been sentenced to five years of proba-

tion and 90 days in jail to be served on weekends at his convenience.

This was a collaborative investigation between the St. Helens Police Department (SHPD), the Oregon Department of Justice, and the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office. The St. Helens Police Department takes any report concerning the sexual abuse or sexual exploitation of children seriously, according to a release from SHPD.

Investigators encourage community members to contact the St. Helens Police Department if they develop any concerns that a child may be the victim of abuse. Reports can be made by calling 503-397-1521.

Courtesy photo

City Day at the Capitol offers city officials a chance to advocate for community priorities.

STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.

Jeremy C. Ruark / Country Media,

Addressing the youth mental health crisis

More than 130 children’s organizations recently called on President Biden to declare a national emergency in response to America’s youth mental health crisis.

That news came just days after an expert panel recommended that all children ages eight to 18 receive routine screenings for anxiety.

These developments drew new attention to a worsening situation. Yet too often, concrete strategies for improving youth mental health are missing from the discussion.

One strategy

One of those strategies should be expanded access to school counseling.

School counselors are

February 10, 11 Quilt Show

Bethany Lutheran Church’s Annual Quilt Show is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 10 and 11 at 34721 Church Road in Warren.

Bring quilts to display from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9. Call Chris Mollenhour at 503-888-7540 for more information.

February 11 Gala Fundraiser

Dinner and Auction: Valentines for Vets 2023 5 p.m. doors open with cash bar. 6 p.m. flag ceremony with dinner to follow. 6:45 p.m. silent auction followed by live auction starting at

trained to help K-12 students reach their goals by addressing academic, career development, emotional, and social challenges. These professionals have a skillset that goes beyond assisting students with navigating classroom conflicts and college readiness. They also have the training to recognize mental health warning signs. School counselors can be a critical line of defense against worsening mental health conditions. And yet they remain all too uncommon, particularly in schools that serve poor and marginalized communities. We need more school counselors.

What triggered the decline

There’s no denying that COVID-19 has taken a tragic toll on young people’s

7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at the Elks Veteran Bunker, 125 S. 13th St., St. Helens. Call 503-410-5225 or email info@ elksveteransbunker.org for questions.

February 25 Columbia County Bridal Expo presented by Dianna’s Formal Affair 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Meriweather Place, 1070 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens. Stop by for photography, event planning, wedding cakes, accessories, catering music, flowers, giveaways, samples and more. For more information, contact 503-397-3026

well-being. Between 2016 and 2021, mental-healthrelated hospital admissions for people under 20 jumped by 61%, according to a recent analysis by the Clarify Health Institute.

But this decline in mental health began before the pandemic. A JAMA Pediatrics study published in 2019 found that nearly 8 million children between 6 and 18 reported at least one mental health condition.

The many causes of youth depression and anxiety include cyberbullying, traumatic experiences, marginalization, and school shootings.

A majority of all American teens now worry that a shooting could occur at their own school, according to the Pew Research Center. School counselors could help arrest these heartbreak-

ing trends. But roughly a fifth of all students in grades K-12 have no access to counseling in their school.

By the numbers

Whereas the American School Counselor Association recommends one counselor for every 250 students, the average ratio nationwide is about one to 400 -- and in some states, it’s one to more than 600. At least 20 states don’t even have school counselor mandates on the books. Black and low-income students are more likely than their peers to lack sufficient access.

But even these figures understate the severity of the counselor shortage. That’s because the kinds of guidance that school counselors provide can vary dramati-

Community EvEnts

or ColumbiaCountyBridalExpo.com.

Ongoing events

Lower Columbia River Watershed Council Meets at 7 p.m. every other second Tuesday. Meetings are currently held electronically by Zoom. For more information, contact Council Coordinator Henry Franzoni ar 360-353-0937 or email to hjfranzoni3@gmail.com. Visit the council’s website for agenda postings and Zoom at www.lowercolumbiariver. org/events-page.

out and about

Quilt show in Warren

Resonate Recovery

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

Columbian Toastmasters Promoting positive learning and leadership through public speaking. Anyone is welcome to visit! Lunch

cally. Within high schools, specifically, the counselor’s role is often confined to academics and college planning -- with little focus on students’ emotional and social well-being.

Hope

If we’re to have any hope of reversing the alarming youth mental-health deterioration, we must improve access to school counselors. The federal government has provided several rounds of emergency relief funds to schools since the start of the pandemic, some of which have gone to mental health. In October, the Biden Administration released an additional $280 million for this purpose. These funds are a welcome start, but we need addi-

meetings at Warren Country Inn, 56575 Columbia River Hwy, Warren, OR 97053 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. every Thursday. Call 503-369-0329 for more information.

Overcomers Outreach

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

Celebrate Recovery

For anyone struggling with addiction, hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for coffee, snacks,

tional action. Nationwide, all schools should be required to provide counseling services to their students and maintain appropriate counselorto-student ratios. And at the state level, curriculum designers should incorporate social and emotional learning as standard practice for K-12 students.

The youth mental-health crisis is all around us. Expanding access to school counselors could make these tragedies far less common, while giving students the support, guidance, and care they need to flourish.

Cameka Hazel, Ed.D., is an assistant professor for New York Institute of Technology’s Master of Science in School Counseling program. This piece originally appeared in Salon.

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

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.

Church’s Annual Quilt Show is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 10 and 11 at 34721 Church Road in War

ren.

New this year are Art’s and Crafts Vendors and Men’s Garage Sale.

The little white church will be brimming with quilts from area attics, trunks, rescued, remade, old, new, and unique quilts from around the area. Bring quilts to display from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9.

for sale. Take a chance on two handmade quilts. The drawing will be held Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Judy DeMeine is the featured quilter. She has diverse interests and talents. A California transplant to Oregon, she began quilting in 1995 and likes homespun, wool appliqué in bright bold

Pella. She combines her love of books and quilting with the Novel Quilters Group which reads two books a year then makes a quilt inspired by each book. Come meet Judy in person.

Call Chris Mollenhour at 503-888-7540 for more information.

are independent of The Chronicle views and are solely those of the writers expressing them.

Write to us: We want to hear from you and encourage you to write letters to the editor. Because of space limitations, shorter letters have a better chance of being printed. We may edit your letter for style, grammar and clarity, although we do as little editing as possible. If you don’t want your letter printed under those conditions, just let us know. Thank-you letters are limited to a general thanks and summary of

an issue or action. We reserve the right to exclude lists of people, organizations and businesses. Letters received after noon on Friday may not be in time for the following Wednesday’s paper.

To verify authenticity, all letters must be signed and include your address and daytime phone number. We won’t print your street address or phone number (just your city of residence). Submissions may be emailed to chroniclenews@countrymedia.net, sent via mail, or dropped off at the office.

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.

Joe Warren Publisher Jeremy C. Ruark Regional Executive Editor Jon Campbell Advertising Sales

Kelli Nicholson Office Manager James Yang Creative Director Jon Lowrance Driver

Applications open for Citizens Day vendors

The City of St. Helens is inviting interested vendors and volunteers to participate in Citizens Day in the Park 2023.

Citizens Day is an annual community event hosted by the St. Helens City Council at McCormick Park. The event is focused on strengthening community connections by encouraging people to turn off technology and enjoy a day of fun activities in St. Helens’ largest park.

Activities are familyfriendly, free, and designed for a wide-age range. This year, Citizens Day in the Park will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 24.

At Citizens Day 2022, the City welcomed over

1,000 attendees and partnered with almost 50 vendors who hosted booths at the event. The City of St. Helens hopes to host just as many vendors in 2023, according to a release from the City. The 2023 vendor application process is now open. Pre-application is required in order to host a booth at the event. Space is limited, and vendors are encouraged to apply for a spot early. There is no vendor fee and concession fees are being waived for this event. To promote community resources and shopping local, space preference is being given to local non-profits and businesses. Each booth is being asked to host a no-cost

family-friendly activity.

To review additional vendor information and fill out an application form, visit the City’s Citizens Day event website at www.sthelensoregon.gov/community/page/ citizens-day-park.

“Volunteers are a vital part of making Citizens Day a success,” the release states. “Volunteers are needed to assist with the event set up and clean up, serving food, and more.”

Any groups or individuals interested in volunteering should fill out an interest form at www.sthelensoregon.gov/community/page/ citizens-day-park. A City staff member will follow up with applicants after receiving the interest form.

obituariEs

Danny Alan Swanson

May 2, 1950 ~ Jan. 6, 2023

Danny Alan Swanson left with the angels on Jan. 6, 2023 in a peaceful moment with family and friends at the age of 72. He was a graduate from Scappoose High School and Oregon State University with degrees in Civil Engineering and Construction Management. He was an avid Beavers football fan and had a lifetime career in the environmental and wind turbine industries.

Danny was an incredible husband, father, and friend

Michael F. “Mike” Yancey, 69, brought up in St. Helens and later moved to Vancouver, Washington, died Friday af ternoon, Jan. 20, 2023, at Ray Hickey Hospice in Vancouver, Washington. Private Cremation Rites were held at Hoyt Crematory in Forest Grove. A portion of his ashes will be spread over his mother’s grave in Vancou ver. The other portion will be taken to the Oregon Coast and spread at his brother’s favorite location.

Michael Fred Yancey was born Sept. 2, 1953 in Vancouver, Washington. He was the son of the late Loren Eugene

to many. He loved life and enjoyed many adventures with his wife Micaela of 38 years, traveling, golfing, being involved in the rodeo, and spending time with family and friends. Danny was also known as Diesel Dan while driving to rodeos or Papa to his grandkids and many family friends.

Danny is survived by his wife Micaela (Larrinaga) Swanson; children, Chris (Lorrie) Christian, and Rac quel; Eric (Stephanie) Levi, Dylan, and Gracie; Ashley

(Jason) Austin, and Cole; Rachel (Nate) and baby arriving April 25; siblings, Jerry Swanson and Marlys German; and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of life will

Michael F. Yancey

Sept. 2, 1953 ~ Jan. 20, 2023

Yancey and Dolores Maxine (Hogard) Jones. He was raised and received his education in

St. Helens, Oregon, having been a graduate of St. Helens High School Class of 1971. He was a veteran of the Vietnam era, having served one enlistment in the U.S. Army, until he received his honorable discharge at the rank of Private First Class. Mike had worked for the U.S. Postal Service as a clerk in Vancouver, Washington for a short time and bartended in several location in St. Helens, Among his special interests, he enjoyed playing pool, darts, fishing and all around hanging with his buddies. He was preceded in death

Everett Bozarth

Sept. 2, 1924 ~ Jan. 26, 2023

by his parents, Loren Yancey and Maxine Jones; two brothers, Ken Yancey and Kelley Jones; and stepfather Webb Jones.

Survivors include his sister Judy Rakitnich, of Forest Grove, Oregon; several nieces and nephews, including Michelle Yancey and Troy Sackhoff; and of course, his roommate and best friend Rufus the Cat.

To sign the online guest book or to send a condolence to the family go to www. fuitenrosehoyt.com. Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home in Forest Grove is entrusted with the arrangements.

Everett Bozarth 98, of Rainier, Oregon, passed away Jan. 26, 2023 in Rainier, Oregon. A service will be held at 4 p.m. on Sat., Feb. 4, 2023 at Groulx Family Mortuary, 25381 Wonderly Rd., Rainier, OR 97048.

ACROSS

1. “Without further ____,” pl.

5. Sweet 16 gift

8. Steps to the river, in India

12. *Michael BublÈ’s “____ the Last Dance for Me”

13. Bigger than big

14. Nonkosher 15. Big-ticket one

16. October birthstone

13. Wholism, alt. sp.

14. Monotonous hum

19. Intestinal obstruction

22. “Wayne’s

52. *Heart-shaped box content

56. Range

57. Top notch

58. Baron Munchhausen, e.g.

59. Journalists and reporters 60. Speed unit

61. All is well that does this well

62. Bald eagle’s nest

63. Ever, to a poet

64. Tinkerbell’s powder DOWN

1. “Clueless” catch phrase

2. *Get-together

3. End of a break-up phrase

4. Explosive of Czechoslovakian origin

5. *Winged one

6. September stone

7. Bank on

8. *____ card

9. Not tails

10. ‘70s hairdo

11. Sylvester, to Tweety

Public Notices

PROTECTING YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW

CH23-1252

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

Notice is hereby given, the Columbia County Transportation and Road Advisory Committee (CCTRAC) will hold a virtual and in person public meeting on: Thursday, February 16, 2023 from

CH23-1255

– 12:00 pm (PST).

911 632 761# Or you can join the meeting in person: Columbia County Public Works, Healy Hall, 1054 Oregon Street, St. Helens, Oregon 97051. Julie Wheeler, Secretary.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATEOF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DEPARTMENT

In the Matter of the Estate of DANIEL M. FERGUSON, Deceased. No. 23PB00223 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

CH23-1251

from this date at the office of VanNatta, Pe-tersen & Anderson, P.O. Box 748, St. Helens, Oregon; and if not so presented, they may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by this proceeding may obtain additional in-formation from the records of the Court, the personal representative of the attorneys for the personal representative. Dated

and first published: February 1, 2023. Date of final publication: February 15, 2023. Personal Representative: Elizabeth R. Detsch, 30657 Scappoose Vernonia Hwy, Scappoose, Oregon 97056. Attorneys: VanNatta, Petersen & Anderson Attoneys at Law, P.O. Box 748, St. Helens, Oregon 97051. Telephone: (503) 397-4091.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DEPARTMENT

In the Matter of the Estate of GORDON PHILLIP DRISCOLL, Deceased. No. 22PB11517 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE is hereby given that the undersigned, Michelle M. Low, 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

CH23-1250

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. First

published: January 25, 2023. Michelle M. Low, Personal Representative. Personal Representative: Michelle M. Low 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.

Each candidate for an office listed above must file a declaration of candidacy (filing form SEL190) with the Elections Department of Columbia County within the period beginning on February 6, 2023 and ending no later than 5:00 p.m. March 16, 2023.

Each declaration of candidacy must be accompanied by either a filing fee of $10.00 or a candidate nominating petition (form SEL -121) signed by at least 25 registered voters residing in the district. Filing forms are available on -line at the Oregon Secretary of State website (http://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Pages/electionforms.aspx). The forms are also available at Columbia County Elections Dept., 230 Strand St., St. Helens, OR.

Dated this 1st day of February 2023.

Debbie Klug Columbia County Clerk

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLAN RFP

The Port of Columbia County is seeking proposals to assist the Port in updating its Strategic Business Plan. Interested and qualified firms may obtain the RFP documents on the Port’s website at https:// www.portofcolumbiacounty. org/rfps; from the Port Of-

fice located at 100 E Street, Columbia City, OR, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday-Friday; or via email at sisco@portofcolumbiacounty.org. Submissions must be received by 5:00 pm on Monday, February 13, 2023. For questions, please call 503-397-2888.

CH23-1254

NOTICE OF MEETING

The Board of Directors of the St. Helens School District will be considering supplemental budgets of the general and special revenue funds at its February 8th, 2023 meeting.

From Page A1

soning has been a blood lead level of 5 µg/dL or greater, which is when public health agencies investigate and provide case management to families.

However, out of an abundance of caution – and to align with lead poisoning definitions of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and FDA – pub

This legal notice is to be published pursuant to ORS 255.075 by Debbie Klug, Columbia County Clerk dangerous and parents should immediately stop using it on their children or any other family member.” There is no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory limit on lead in medications, but for cosmet ics it’s 10 ppm. This means the two creams that were tested contained nearly 1,000 times the maximum allow able amount of lead in cos metics. It’s unclear whether Diep Bao is considered a cosmetic under federal law. case was found to have a blood lead level of 11.8 micrograms per deciliter (µg/ dL), while the Multnomah County case had a blood lead level of 7.3 µg/dL. Oregon’s case definition for lead poi

weight loss, and bloody or decreased urinary output.

Children are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning. If a child is exposed to enough lead for a protracted period (e.g., weeks to months), permanent damage to the central nervous system can occur. This can result in learning disorders, developmental defects, and other

gator on the lead exposures, said the lead poisoning cases were discovered through a combination of regular pediatric check-ups, parent engagement, and public health follow-up to “connect the dots.”

“All these factors highlight the importance of staying engaged in your children’s health, whether it’s

are working with culturally specific community groups and other partners to warn residents of potential risks associated with the eczema cream.

Resources

People who have a tube of Diep Bao, or other concerns about lead, can contact

Safety Reporting Portal. Risk of lead Oregon health care providers and laboratories are required by law to report certain diseases and conditions, including lead poisoning, to local health departments.

On average, 270 Oregonians are diagnosed with

Parents urged to update children’s immunizations

Feb. 15 is School Exclusion Day.

Officials with the Oregon Immunization Program are encouraging parents to check to make sure their children are immunized.

Children whose records show that they are missing immunizations may not be able to attend school or child care until the medical records are updated.

Under state law, all children in public and private schools, preschools, Head Start and certified child care facilities must have up-todate documentation on their immunizations or have an exemption.

“Immunization is the best way to protect children against vaccine-preventable diseases such as whooping cough and measles,”

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Public Health Division School Law Coordinator Stacy de Assis Matthews said. “Just a few years ago, we saw several measles cases in the Northwest, and Central Ohio just experienced a severe measles outbreak with more than 30 unvaccinated children hospitalized. There also were recent polio cases in New York state. We don’t want another disease outbreak in Oregon of on top of COVID-19. Immunizations are the most effective way to stop the spread of measles and other diseases, to keep kids and school communities healthy and safe.”

If a child’s school and child care vaccination records are not up to date by Feb. 15, the child will be sent home if they don’t have an exemption. In 2022, local health departments sent 26,149 letters to par-

ents and guardians informing them that their children needed immunizations to stay in school or child care.

A total of 5,118 children were kept out of school or child care until the necessary immunization information was turned in to the schools or child care facilities. This year, reminder letters to parent will be mailed by Feb. 1.

COVID-19 vaccinations are not required for students in Oregon schools or child care. OHA strongly recommends everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 immunizations. Parents can check with their health care provider or pharmacist about current COVID-19 recommendations. Parents seeking immunizations for their children should contact their child’s pediatrician or local health department or contact info by dialing 211 or visiting

to 211info.org. No one can be turned away from a local health department because of the inability to pay for required vaccines. Many pharmacists can immunize children 7 and older; parents can contact their neighborhood pharmacy for details.

Additional information about school immunizations can be found at the Immunization Program website. Statewide school vaccination data is available on the OHA website, or at OHA’s new School Law Immunization Dashboard.

Personal stories on why people in Oregon are deciding to vaccinate can be viewed by visiting OHA’s Facebook and Twitter pages. OHA also invites people to join the conversation and share why they vaccinate by using the hashtag #ORVaccinates on social media.

Oregon graded in tobacco control report

Oregon is among states with the best policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use, according to the American Lung Association’s 21st annual “State of Tobacco Control” report.

The state earned mostly passing grades on this year’s report. The “State of Tobacco Control” report evaluates state and federal policies on actions taken to eliminate tobacco use and recommends proven-effective tobacco control laws and policies to save lives. This is critical, as tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in America and takes the lives of 5,470 Oregonians each year.

“Last year, we were pleased to see ordinances pass in both Washington County and Multnomah County to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products,”

American Lung Association Senior Director of Advocacy in Oregon Carrie Nyssen said. “Though not yet implemented, the passage of these policies show the support for more protective policies to protect our youth from the epidemic of youth use of electronic cigarettes. This is important progress, however, there are still too many Oregon residents who are impacted by tobacco use, like the 12.4% of adults

who smoke and the 23.1% of high school students who use tobacco products.”

Oregon’s grades

The “State of Tobacco Control” report grades states and the District of Columbia in five areas that have been proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use and save lives. In the 2023 report, Oregon received the following grades:

1. Funding for State Tobacco Prevention Programs – Grade A

2. Strength of Smokefree Workplace Laws – Grade A

3. Level of State Tobacco Taxes – Grade C

4. Coverage and Access to Services to Quit Tobacco –Grade C

5. Ending the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products –Grade F

This year’s report noted the need for Oregon’s policymakers to focus on ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes. According to the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey, more than 2.5 million high school and middle school students use e-cigarettes, and more 85% of those kids use flavored e-cigarettes.

In addition, menthol cigarettes continue to be the major cause of tobacco-related death and disease in Black communities, with over 80%

of Black Americans who smoke using them. Ending the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol, will not only help end youth vaping, but will also help address the disproportionate impact of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars have on many communities, including Black Americans, LGBTQ+ Americans and youth.

Federal grades overview

The report also grades the federal government on their efforts to eliminate tobacco use. This year, there were new steps taken by the government to prevent and reduce tobacco use, including proposed rules to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and fla-

vored cigars, Congress passing a law requiring the FDA to regulate tobacco products made with synthetic nicotine, and increased federal enforcement of the Tobacco Control Act.

As a result of these steps forward, the federal government’s grade for “Federal Regulation of Tobacco Products” improved from a “D” grade last year, to a “C” grade in the 2023 report.

The 2023 “State of Tobacco Control” report grades the federal government in five areas:

• Federal Government Regulation of Tobacco Products – Grade C

• Federal Coverage of Quit Smoking Treatments –

Grade D • Level of Federal To-

bacco Taxes – Grade F

• Federal Mass Media Campaigns to Prevent and Reduce Tobacco Use – Grade

• Federal Minimum Age of Sale for Tobacco Products to 21 – Incomplete

FDA is overdue in publishing the final Tobacco 21 regulations as required by statute, which is why it earns an “incomplete.”

To learn more about this year’s “State of Tobacco Control” grades and take action, visit Lung.org/sotc.

Sale ban proposed

The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports over 26,000 Oregonians will be diagnosed with cancer in 2023, and an estimated 8,400 will lose their lives to the disease.

The ACS said smoking causes 30% of all cancer deaths in this country.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that 49.1 million U.S. adults, or nearly 1 in 5, used any tobacco product in 2018. Cigarettes were the most common at 13.7%.

House Bill 3090 has been introduced at the Oregon Legislature designed to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and all other flavored tobacco products, including cigars,

hookah, e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

“With a new year and new legislative session comes a new opportunity for Oregon lawmakers to prioritize the health of Oregonians over tobacco industry interests and bottom line,” American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Oregon Director of Government Relations Jamie Dunphy said. “Ending the sale of menthol cigarettes and all other flavored tobacco products would be a huge step in that direction.”

Dunphy said menthol, mint and other candy- and fruit-flavored tobacco products are a key part of the tobacco industry’s strategy to addict our youth, Black, LGBTQ and limited-income communities.

Research shows that flavors drive the unprecedented increase in youth tobacco uptake, with 81% of kids who have ever tried tobacco started with a flavored product, according to Dunphy.

“On behalf of cancer patients, survivors, and all impacted by tobacco use, ACS CAN thanks chief bill sponsor, Rep. Lisa Reynolds, Sen. Elizabeth Steiner, and Sen. Bill Hansell and Rep. Hai Pham, and urges House and Senate members to start the new year with a commitment to support this legislation and prioritize public health over the tobacco industry’s wallet,” Dunphy said.

up slightly

(+3,700 jobs, or 11.5%) and building finishing contractors (+2,200 jobs, or 14.9%) grew at the fastest rate.

Oregon’s nonfarm payroll employment rose by 6,100 jobs in December, following a gain of 8,200 jobs in November, according to the Oregon Employment Department.

Job gains

The gains in December were largest in manufacturing (+2,400 jobs), construction (+1,300), and professional and business services (+1,100). The largest decline in December was in other services, which cut 500 jobs.

Oregon’s private sector added 5,600 jobs in December, reaching another all-time high of 1,694,200. This was 22,500 jobs, or 1.3%, above the pre-recession peak in February 2020.

Construction continued its rapid expansion in December. The industry added 10,200 jobs in 2022, for an

annual growth rate of 9.1%.

Gains were widespread throughout the industry, with all published com-

ponents growing between 5.9% and 14.9% over that 12-month period. Building equipment contractors

Leisure and hospitality is still substantially below its pre-pandemic peak. But its revised gain of 1,500 jobs in November, coupled with its gain of 600 in December, kept the industry on its recent upward trajectory. Over the past 12 months it added 16,900 jobs, accounting for a quarter of Oregon’s private- sector job gains during that time.

The rate

Oregon’s unemployment rate rose to 4.5% in December, from 4.3%, as revised, in November.

The unemployment rate increased 1.0 percentage point over the past five months from its recent low of 3.5% in May, June, and July. The last time Or-

egon’s unemployment rate was 4.5% or more was in September 2021, when it was 4.5%. In contrast, the U.S. unemployment rate remained below 4% during the last three months of 2022, and it edged down from 3.6% in November to 3.5% in December.

History

The December unemployment rate is relatively rare, historically, for Oregon. This occurred during the 14 months prior to December, when the rate averaged 3.9%. Also, from 2017 through 2019 the rate averaged 3.9%. But prior to late 2016, Oregon’s rate never dropped below 4.5% in any month dating back 40 years — from 1976, when comparable records began, to October 2016, according to the Oregon Employment Department.

Columbia County’s

JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.

Shutterstock

House Bill 3090 has been introduced at the Oregon Legislature designed to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and all other flavored tobacco products, including cigars, hookah, e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

February 4

Oregon cancer specialist sees hope for a cure

Country Media, Inc. is proud to partner with our advertising clients to present the following special World Cancer Day presentation.

World Cancer Day, which is held every February 4, is the global uniting initiative led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).

“By raising worldwide awareness, improving education and catalysing personal, collective and government action, we are all working together to reimagine a world where millions of preventable cancer deaths are saved and access to life-saving cancer treatment and care is equitable for all - no matter who you are or where you live,” the UICC states on its website.

While cancer is devastating, there is hope for a cure.

For insight into cancer research, Country Media talks with Dr. Flavio Rocha, the Physician-in-Chief at the Oregon Health & Sciences University (OHSU) Knight Cancer Institute in Portland.

Country Media: What do you see on the horizon in regard to cancer research? Is it positive?

Dr. Flavio Rocha: Cancer is not new. It has been with us since ancient times. It is part of our cellular makeup. Our cells have to divide and so the way cancer occurs is that there is a defect in that division process.

It is difficult to say how long it will be with us but what is encouraging is that we have made significant progress as

we learn more about the genet ics, through profiling, as our drug discovery has improved, as our surgical techniques have improved and as our radiation technology has improved.

According to the American Cancer Society information released Jan. 13, the cancer mortality rate dropped by 33% since 1991, so I find that extremely encouraging. It just validates all the work that our cancer community has done, from cancer screening and prevention efforts to providers who take care of cancer patients, advocates who help us with patients so it has really been a community wide effort. We will probably have about 2 million cancer diagnoses in the coming year, result-

Country Media: What do we look for? How do people know that they might be developing cancer?

Rocha: Typically, by the time that there are symptoms for some cancers, the ability for a cure may be rapidly closing. Things that we look for are onset of pain and blood in the stool. We try to catch this early through screening with mammograms, a colonoscopy, and prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests. Not all cancers can be screened. It puts us back a little bit in treatment.

Country Media: What is

Rooting for

been diagnosed with cancer? What is the best approach to support those loved ones?

Rocha: This is where we get a lot of help from our patient advocates and there are lots of philanthropical organizations that are assisting, so sometimes it’s not all about the treatment, it is about the support. So, we rely heavily on our system of life care, so our colleagues help us with that management and we determine what the goals are of our patients. If families have a history of cancer, this is where screening can make a difference, so we do encour-

drill down what is the potential family members. Pre-testing is not for everybody and it comes with consequences. A medical advisor can help guide you through the process and help explain all that data. Our technology has evolved so rapidly, there are many things that we can do. We don’t just rely on chemotherapy. There are now drugs that stimulate the body’s own defense to treat cancer and this has been an unbelievable advancement. There have also been advancements in cervical cancer treatment. These are things that can be done to prevent cancer in folks that don’t have cancer.

As technology improves, we are also seeing new ways to detect cancer risks through blood draws. We do the work up and perhaps catch the cancer at an early stage and cure it. I am absolutely encouraged and positive and this is what keeps us going. We are making progress. We’d like to be moving at a more rapid pace but as new technology is being developed, we keep marching on.

About the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute

The Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) became an NCI-Designated Cancer Center in 1997 and was awarded comprehensive cancer center status in 2017. The Knight Cancer Institute is the only NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center between Sacramento and Seattle.

With its mission to end cancer as we know it, the institute is building on its groundbreaking expertise in targeted therapy to substantially improve outcomes for patients with advanced cancer and to enhance the ability to detect cancer at its earliest stages. From laboratory science to clinical trials of new treatments, to studying populations at risk, the institute’s scientists are advancing the understanding of the root causes of cancer and finding ways to improve detection, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

For more information, contact the OHSU Knight Institute at 503-494-1617.

SHHS girls basketball focusing on growth this season

Going into their final games of the season, St. Helens girls basketball is looking to finish strong on a growing season for the program.

Under first-year head coach Jillian Ross the Lions have been developing with each game.

Our record does not demonstrate the growth that we have made this season.

~ Jillian Ross, Coach

“We have been doing well this season and demonstrating a lot of improvement with each game,” Ross said.

“Our record does not demonstrate the growth that we have made this season.”

The Lions are currently ranked 23 of 31 within the 4A classification, with a record of 5-13. Within the 4A-1 Cowapa League, their record is 2-4 with six league games remaining. Their two wins have come against Scappoose and Seaside. The squad is young this year, with only one senior, captain

Akaya Schur. St. Helens has a varsity and JV team, with some younger players competing with both squads.

“We currently have 19 athletes within our program,” Ross said. “This seems to be a typical number for St. Helens girls basketball. Hoping to increase numbers for future years.”

Strong individual efforts

The Lions have seen players rise to the occasion in different games throughout the season. Standout performances from young players bode well for the program in the future.

“We have had different players stand out for different reasons each game,” Ross said. “Our program has two freshmen that have both had 20+ performance games (Devan Lee and D’Aye Davidson). Maisy McDole has also added in a 15-point game, and Michaela Dueck has had a 17-point game.” Having first-year students put up big numbers in their first season with the team will provide a solid foundation in the future.

Juniors Maisy McDole and Makenna Hardin are the other two captains for this Lions team and are great examples for the younger athletes in the program.

Building a foundation

For Ross and the Lions, this season isn’t just about wins and losses; they want to use the experience to build the program. They are 1-1 against fellow league teams Seaside and Scappoose this season. Astoria is the top team in their league with a 6-0 record in league play.

For St. Helens, this year will provide the groundwork for future seasons so they can compete with top programs in their division.

“This year I hope the athletes improve their fundamental basketball skills to improve the overall foundation of St. Helens High School girls basketball,” Ross said. “I also hope the girls learn lessons that go beyond the game of basketball.”

Getting a handle on the fundamentals will allow the program to fine-tune other aspects of the game, according to Ross.

“Beyond sports, lessons in work ethic, teamwork, and perseverance can help people away from the hardwood and throughout life,” he said.

The Lions will be back in action Tuesday, Jan. 31, when they will travel to Tillamook, who they beat in their first meeting 57-32.

Follow St. Helens High School sports at OSAA.org.

PE courses declining at colleges, universities

leaves out students who might benefit from learning how to use such spaces and become comfortable in them for the first time during early adulthood, he said.

The study

The study looked at a representative sample of 331 colleges and universities from around the country and documented whether they fully or partially required completion of a PE course to graduate. Partial requirements included schools where only certain degree programs had a PE requirement, or where students could choose from a menu of options that included physical education among other health-related courses such as financial literacy or sexual health.

The study did not specifically examine disability access or accommodations for PE requirements.

Moving away from PE requirements

Cardinal said several factors are likely motivating colleges to move away from PE requirements: Students have a lot of other courses they’re required to take for graduation, and there is a prevailing assumption that most learn basic physical education in their K-12 years, making it less necessary at the college level.

to the 2000s.

A new study from Oregon State University (OSU) finds that about 32% of colleges and universities in the U.S. require some form of physical education course to graduate, down from 39% as observed in an OSU study from 2010.

Decline

The continuing decline in required PE courses comes at a time when children and youth in the U.S. are also engaging in less and less physical activity, according to the Physical Activity Alliance’s 2022 Report Card, which bases its rubric on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services guidelines.

“There’s an enormous

amount of scientific evidence supporting the value of physical activity. It’s good for the human body, good for students — it helps them be better learners, better prepared; it increases cognitive functioning and helps with stress management,” said study co-author Brad Cardinal, a professor in OSU’s College of Public Health and Human Sciences.

However, he said, there is no universal standard for what should be required in terms of physical education courses in colleges and universities.

“Longitudinal studies have shown that when someone attends an institution with a physical activity education graduation requirement, they tend to be healthier longterm,” Cardinal said, citing research from his lab and other research from the 1980s

More recently, he said, researchers at George Washington University, the National Cancer Institute and the American College Health Association found that college and university students attending institutions with PE graduation requirements were more likely to meet the national physical activity guidelines.

“Removing the requirement is such a counterintuitive idea,” Cardinal said. “It definitely does not represent an evidence-based best practice.”

Without requirements in place, Cardinal said, his research has found that oncampus PE offerings are more likely to engage students who are already physically active or comfortable in gyms and sport-related settings. This

Researchers defined PE as “any activity or academic course pertaining to health, wellness, sports or physical activity,” and included “conceptual” PE courses that emphasize teaching health behavior strategies to maintain lifelong physical activity lifestyles.

They found that 56.2% of institutions did not require PE; 31.7% fully required all undergraduates to complete a PE course to graduate; and 12.1% had a partial requirement. The most common requirements mandated students complete both an activitybased and a conceptual-based course or a conceptual-only course. Private institutions were roughly twice as likely as public institutions to fully require PE courses, and institutions in the south were most likely to fully require PE out of any geographic region.

But the current numbers from K-12 schools show that isn’t the case, he said. According to the 2022 Report Card, the U.S. gets a D- grade with only 21% of U.S. children and youth ages 6-17 meeting the physical activity guidelines of 60 minutes of physical activ-

ity every day. That drops significantly within the older age bracket: 42% of 6-11-year-olds hit the target, but only 15% of 12-17-year-olds are getting their daily hour.

“The argument that physical education is something they’ve been taught, that they already know this before college — it’s just not happening,” Cardinal said. “The culture has shifted to where physical activity continues to be stripped out of daily life.”

Alexandra Szarabajko led the study. Szarabajko is a recent doctoral graduate from OSU who is now the department chair of exercise science at Columbia College in South Carolina.

Molly Rosbach works at the OSU Department of Marketing and Research. She may be reached at molly.rosbach@ oregonstate.edu.

Courtesy photo

The SHHS Girls Basketball team has shown steady improvement this year and hope to keep building.

Courtesy photo from OSU

A new study from Oregon State University finds that about 32% of colleges and universities in the U.S. require some form of physical education course to graduate, down from 39% as observed in an OSU study from 2010.

MOLLY ROSBACH Chronicle Guest Article