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Leapin’ Louie Lichtenstein coming to Clatskanie | PAGE A2

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Chronicle & Chief THE COLUMBIA COUNTY

Wednesday, February 14, 2024 | Columbia County, Oregon

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Catching up with Columbia County WILL LOHRE

Country Media, Inc.

olumbia County saw its fair share of changes in 2023, and though we are a month into 2024, let’s take a look back at some of the accomplishments and challenges the county faced last year. The Chronicle & Chief reached out to Columbia County Public Information Officer Mark Pacheco for the county’s insight into the triumphs and tribulations of the past year. Pacheco worked with the county’s commissioners, Kellie Jo Smith, Margaret Magruder, and Casey Garret, to provide input about what the county’s departments were and continue to work on. Pacheco noted that Columbia County has had “significant success and positive developments.” “We strengthened our leadership team by welcoming Kellie Jo Smith as a new county commissioner, Joshua Pond as a new District Attorney, and three new department directors: Pam Smith in Finance, Larry Evenson in Community Justice, and Corey Padron in Emergency Management,” Pacheco said. “Each of these individuals brings a wealth of unique perspectives, experiences, and knowledge to our county operations.” Across Columbia County One of the hot-button issues in the county last year was public safety. Pacheco referenced the levy that voters passed last May that enabled the hiring of six new patrol deputies by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO). At the same time,

CHRONICLE & CHIEF PHOTO

Columbia County has had “significant success and positive developments” in 2023.

CCSO continued to hire Corrections Deputies for the Columbia County Jail. The result is that for the first time in over 20 years, Columbia County resumed providing 24/7 law enforcement coverage in 2023. Though providing 24-hour coverage is an accomplishment for the county, there have been challenges for the county jail. These issues stem from significant financial setbacks when the U.S. Marshal’s Office (USM) bed rentals dropped due to the impact of COVID-19 in 2020. The jail’s largest problems, like other departments in the county arise due to lack of funding.

“CCSO had to deplete its reserve funds to cover the jail’s operating costs. Simultaneously, the costs of medical and food service contracts nearly doubled,” Pacheco said. “In the face of inflation, the jail, like every family in the community, experiences financial pressure.” There has been significant turnover at the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office, involving the departure of the elected DA, trial court administrator, Chief Deputy District Attorney, and Deputy District Attorney. Two temporary interim DAs were assigned, a new DA was appointed, and Ballot Measure

110 was implemented. “Despite these challenges, the DA Office achieved remarkable success, bringing more cases to trial in 2023 than almost any other year in our court’s history,” Pacheco said. “Collaborating with law enforcement, they ensured justice for some of the county’s worst offenders. Our specialty courts have also worked extensively with the DA’s Office to rehabilitate and reform those eligible to participate. Our specialty courts received several significant grants due to these efforts.” Regarding the Community Justice Department, the county filled

five open positions this year and welcomed a new director. Though there have been organizational changes, Pacheco said there are plans to recruit a parole and probation officer for the Adult Division. The county both completed and initiated “several development projects” in 2023. Pacheco said that the completion of renovation work on the first floor of the Annex Building in January successfully established a newly modernized space dedicated to the provision of the county’s public health services. The county also began “renovation and enhancement” projects at the John Gumm Civic Offices. The projects are scheduled to be completed this year. “Upon completion, this facility will serve as the new headquarters for the county’s administrative offices, the Columbia County Museum, and the County Small Business and Economic Development Resource Center, offering ample space for future growth,” Pacheco said. In addition to these projects, plans for improving the Historic Courthouse are underway. These improvements include the installation of a new elevator, structural and restorative work on the clock tower, and rehabilitating the main floor lobby. Columbia County Public Works Departments addressed long-standing storm-related issues from 2015 by completing two slide repairs and two culvert/bridge repairs. “These projects effectively resolved concerns at three locations, specifically two on Apiary Road and See CATCHING Page A3

Clatskanie’s U.S. Bank branch to close

KELLI NICHOLSON / COUNTRY MEDIA, INC.

Police taped off the parking lot for the McCormick Park Apartments as they made contact with the subject.

St. Helens stabbing victim stable, suspect in custody STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.

Law enforcement responded to a reported stabbing at the McCormick Park Apartments complex located at 1691 Old Portland Road in St. Helens on Feb. 9. The suspect was apprehended, and the victim was transported to an area hospital. According to a City of St. Helens news release, the victim currently remains in the hospital in stable condition. St. Helens Police Department and officers from other agencies, including Scappoose Police Department, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police responded to the scene where they discovered a victim with life-threatening injuries. The suspect had retreated to her apart-

ment following the incident. “Officers evacuated residents from the location. Officers attempted to communicate with the suspect, while other officers applied for a search warrant for the location. Once a search warrant was successfully obtained, officers made entry to the residence,” the release stated. Officers located 39-year-old St. Helens resident Michelle GarciaValseca inside, and she was taken into custody. After being interviewed, Garcia-Valseca was lodged at the Columbia County Jail on charges of attempted murder II, assault I, and unlawful use of a weapon. This is an ongoing investigation. If you have additional information about this case, please contact St. Helens Sergeant Matthew Smith by calling 503-397-1521.

IN THIS ISSUE Police Reports .............. A3 Opinion .......................... A4 Obituaries ...................... A5 Market ......................... A6 Public Notices ............. A6-8 Games & Puzzles .......... A8 Sports ............................ A9 Senior Living ................ A9

COURTESY PHOTO FROM LAUREY WHITE

Clatskanie’s U.S. Baank branch will close after more than 50 years serving the community. WILL LOHRE

Country Media, Inc.

After being in the community for more than 50 years, the U.S. Bank branch in Clatskanie, located at 401 Columbia River Highway, will close on April 30, 2024. According to a report from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, U.S. Bank will close seven locations across Oregon over the next several months. The Clatskanie branch was originally opened in 1968. Regional Communications Manager for U.S. Bank Jake Holtrop said the closure comes as in part a result of changes in “preferences and behaviors” from clients, including a “rapid migration toward digital and mobile banking platforms.” “As we evolve along with our clients, we are reevaluating our

7 DAY FORECAST

physical footprint, and in some instances, consolidating branch locations in select markets,” Holtrop said. “Although we are closing some branches, we continue to open and enhance others, as well as rapidly enhancing our digital capabilities.” Holtrop said that U.S. Bank’s Clatskanie clients received notice of the closure in late January. He also said that the closure of the branch would not affect client accounts and that “there will be no interruption of service.” “We understand that the closure of any branch is a disruption for our clients and our employees, and we are working to make the transition as smooth as possible for all involved,” Holtrop said. When asked how many employees the branch has and whether the closure would affect their con-

tinued employment, Holtrop said that employees “are encouraged to pursue other opportunities that may be available.” Holtrop did not give specifics on staffing numbers or what other positions might be available, but he said opportunities could include roles in nearby communities as well as remote positions. While U.S. Bank offers mobile and online banking, if customers want to go to a physical location, they may need to travel to Longview, St. Helens, or Scappoose. “We are proud to have served our clients at the Clatskanie branch and hope that we can continue to serve the community at our other locations, including the Longview branch (1452 Hudson Street) and through our award-winning digital and voice offerings,” Holtrop said.

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A2 The Columbia County Chronicle & Chief | February 14, 2024

Leapin’ Louie Lichtenstein coming to Clatskanie SUBMITTED BY THE CLATSKANIE FOUNDATION

The Clatskanie Foundation presents a free family program Sunday, Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. at the Birkenfeld Theatre, 75 S. Nehalem, in Clatskanie. The theme of Leapin Louie’s show is “A cowboy circus about animals who fly.” Leapin’ Louie Lichtenstein uses circus, cowboy tricks, a six-foot unicycle, and lots of comedy to explore all those wild critters, including us, who fly. In 400 million years, five amazing groups of animals developed flight: Insects,

pterosaurs, birds, bats, and finally —humans. Only 66 years after the Wright Brothers invented the airplane, —we landed on the moon. We’re moving so fast! Can we leave enough room for our amazing wild ecosystems as we jet into the future? Leapin’ Louie is a master of physical comedy, trick roping, whip cracking, and juggling. He has performed one-person Leapin’ Louie shows in 35 different countries around the world, including many tours in Europe, Japan, and Australia. Locally in the Portland area, you may have seen him at the White Album Christmas or the Rose Festival Artslandia stage.

Leapin’ Louie has decided to turn his comedy and cowboy circus skills towards the celebration of the wild diversity of animals on this beautiful planet. It’s weird and fun. Free popcorn and water will be provided. Secretary and Clatskanie Cultural Center Coordinator Elsa Wooley expressed gratitude to the sponsors who are making the performance possible. “The Clatskanie Foundation would like to thank Wauna Credit Union for providing funding and volunteers for future family shows,” Wooley said. “Their generosity will allow us to continue to provide these fun events free of charge.”

Jacques, Aubriauna R. Larkins, Salimah I. McClain, Clara A. McShirley, Drake I. Pendell, Tyler C. Puckett, Austin D. Scott, Evan C. Service, Skyla J.

Orion Komm Teancum Tygret

COURTESY PHOTO FROM THE CLATSKANIE FOUNDATION

The free program will be Sunday, Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. at the Birkenfeld Theatre, 75 S. Nehalem in Clatskanie.

Rainier Junior/Senior High School Honor Roll 7th grade

Superintendent’s List (4.0) Easton Gutenberger Anthony Thomas Honor Roll (3.5-3.99) Zari Abel Eve Calkins Charlotte Geringer Khloe Hill Carsen Jason Tristan Johns Emma Key Camila Malaga Brooklynn Murray Tessa Newberry Corbyn Owen Brighton Richardson Hannabella Sanchez Wrenik Slape Eron Sohler Madilee Sturm Hailey Turner Esther Tygret Preston Venderford Theodore Ward Honorable Mention (3.0-3.49) Baier, Joshua B. Campbell, Cassandra M. Cox, Jason Eyle, Orrin A. Hanson, Korben J. Hass, Brooklyn G. Hoffman, Owen A.

Honor Roll (3.5-3.99) Matthew Chambers Braxton Mattinen Colten Turner Riley Underwood

8th Grade

Honorable Mention (3.0-3.49) Cassel, Oliver R. Cook, Roman M. Dart, Jennifer L. Forbis-Bugg, Kayleilah R. Gutenberger, Payton N. Jackson, Jaela R. Madden, Aden D. McClain, Nolan O. McKay, Destiny L. Miller, Austin M. Mooty, Quinn Owen, Nevaeh M. Richardson, Lillian A. Robbins, Morgan R. Sekaquaptewa, Alyson R.

Superintendent’s List (4.0) Mirand Giunto Honor Roll (3.5-3.99) Trinity Anderson Gabriel Martinez Katelynn McCann Emily Sullivan Honorable Mention (3.0-3.49) Balch, Jayden A. Devereaux, Jociyah M. Harding, Logan M. Hass, Miyah Lovell, Zander L. Manzella, Emerald L. Pattison, Walker H. Schell, Ella Mae C. Thomas, Adelyn R. Thomas, Jocelyn M.

10th Grade Superintendent’s List (4.0) Teela Abel Allison Geringer Quentin Jackson Taylor Johns Walker Makinson Emry Pattison Presley Scott

9th Grade Superintendent’s List (4.0) Julia Hird

Caden Wallace

11th Grade

Honor Roll (3.5-3.99) Kylie Altenheim Emma Burrows Ethan Cox Kateara-Lynn Fair Rylee Hill Nicole Hudson Merritt Langley Makayla McCann Heather Pruyne Yandel Sanchez-Menjivar Henry Ward

Superintendent’s List (4.0) Shelby Cox Ina Lever Zoey Lovell

Honorable Mention (3.0-3.49) Coberly, Carsen N. Dean, Lilli A. Elliott-Bach, Joseph S. Fortelney, Griffin M. Garrett, Abby L. Hansen, Joleen J. Key, Lily E. Madden, Dominick J. Martinez-Turner, Lucia Mohammad, Gage J. Mortlock, David A. Nelson, Amalia R. Philpott, Cerena J. Pina, Trayten Twichell, Maddilan S. Ward, Skyler C. Watkins, James H. Weisenfluh, Mariah N. Zasta, Zeda B. Marz Chambers

Honor Roll (3.5-3.99) Madalyn Anderson Dayton Boursaw Austin Fox Lillyan Heil David Hird Kasey Neal Riley Richey Hailey Smythe Tatum Turner Carmalene Tygret Honorable Mention (3.0-3.49) Coberly, Deric A. Cole, Breanna L. Cook, Miley D. Gomez, Benjamin Mattinen, Keaton C. May, Alexus M. McLane, Velocity I. Nguyen, Andrew M. Rollins, Tanner M. Sanchez Hernandez, Abigail Twichell, Kayden S. 12th Grade Superintendent’s List (4.0) Colby Biddix Garrett Crawford

Delaney Fortelney Hunter Gutenberger Ava Heath Bergen Keplinger Clint Lever Lacey Makinson Sophia Ornelas Samuel Poorman Brenna Ylen

Honor Roll (3.5-3.99) Charles Crocker Jasmin Elwood Gabriel Fair Kurston Fortner Derek Katon Mischa Larkins Christian Martinez Ella Mooty David Parra Kamille Rankin Karaka Shulda Makayla Victory Lotta Bayer Marta Caceres-Fernandez Sarah Sarr Honorable Mention (3.0-3.49) Barnes, Julia B. Castrejon-Sommers, Tomee Leann Dobbels, Aidia LaRue, Damon J. McGill, Daunte Nation, Sylvia J. Rangel, Chloe Wilson, Jacethen P.

Columbia City’s new councilor

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OUR TEAM Quick being sworn in at the Columbia City council meeting Jan. 25. WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

Connie Quick has been appointed to the Columbia City Council, filling the seat that was vacant left in the wake of former Mayor Sue Ziglinski’s death in November of 2023. Quick was appointed to the council on Jan. 25, and her term will last until Dec. 31, 2024. She said she was interested in joining the council because she wanted to give more back to the Columbia City community. Quick had volunteered much of her time for organizations in St. Helens, and she desired to give back closer to home. “When the city council position came up after the sad death of our mayor, I thought I would apply and maybe give back a little bit to my own community,” Quick said. Quick’s seat was the final vacancy on the council to be filled after Katrina Claridge was chosen as mayor by the council to see out Ziglinski’s remaining term. Quick has lived in Columbia City for more than 37 years and retired after more than 20 years at Columbia River People’s Utility District. Quick retired as a Human Resources manager, and

COURTESY PHOTO FROM CONNIE QUICK

she thinks her skillset will be beneficial to the council and community. “I think my HR expertise probably will help, too, since we have a new city administrator coming on, and we have some other open positions,” Quick said. “After living in the community for as long as I have, I bring some experience that may be unique to the office.” Quick also serves on the Hazard Mitigation Planning Group for Columbia City. The group monitors the City’s Hazard Mitigation Plan, reviews actions taken in response to disasters or emergencies, makes recommendations for new projects or revised action items, and discusses implementation problems that may arise. As part of the Hazard Mitigation Planning Group,

Quick said Columbia City is gearing up for its fair that will occur in August, and she is in the process of getting volunteers and setting up a CERT team together for the town. Quick said that one of her focuses has been encouraging people to get more involved in the community. “I’ve always believed that instead of complaining, you should get involved. We have a wonderful community in Columbia City; it’s one of the best places to live that I know of,” Quick said. “I want to keep it that way and do whatever I can to have a nice community that is happy for everybody to live in. A very livable community. And part of that is keeping it safe and working with our neighbors to be diligent in today’s world.”

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The Columbia County Chronicle & Chief | February 14, 2024

POLICE REPORTS The police blotter relates to the public record of incidents as reported by law enforcement agencies. All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Information printed is preliminary and subject to change. For specific details about cases listed, contact the appropriate law enforcement agency. St. Helens Police

4th Street. January 29 • Police arrested a 37-yearold male subject for theft II at the 1800 block of Columbia Boulevard. February 3 • Officers arrested a 38-yearold male subject on fugitive warrant at the 100 block 18th Street.

January 27 • Officers arrested a 41-yearold male subject for domestic violence at the 300 block of

February 6 • Police arrested a 19-yearold male subject on simple assault at the 2000 block of Gable Road.

Columbia River Highway.

watch her TV show uninterrupted.

Rainier Police Department February 1 • A caller reported a man was pushing a stroller in the roadway, causing a hazard. No one was located in the reported area.

February 3 • A resident called in a suspicious looking vehicle. It was determined the vehicle was not operational as there was an issue with the battery. February 4 • An employee was concerned about a woman who appeared to be high and was walking around outside. No one was observed in the area. • A resident called to report an abandoned vehicle. The vehicle was tagged, and a letter was sent to the registered owner.

• A caller reported a man in a vehicle that they were concerned about. The man in the truck was sleeping and not in distress. • An officer conducted a welfare check on a friend of the caller. The friend was okay. • A woman called dispatch claiming her dog was hit by a car and took off running. The case is pending investigation.

February 9 • Police arrested a 34-year-old female subject on a fugitive warrant at the 500 block of

February 2 • An officer responded to a reported assault. The victim did not have any apparent injuries. However, the case was forwarded to the District Attorney’s office for review. • A woman called to request a welfare check on a friend of hers. The friend was fine but had taken the telephone off the hook so she could

“It’s always a matter of trying to find what are some things I could write multiple poems about to kind of put together in one way or another. I had had like four poems that I started in a ‘What interesting things can I find out about the dwarf planets?’ [way],” Garrison said. Garrison finished the first poems that will be part of the book before 2021. The final seven haikus that appear in the book were written approximately in late 2022 or early 2023. Though Garrison initially considered pitching the

poems to different magazines, Jean-Paul Garnier of Space Cowboy Books was developing a series of chapbooks for which he wanted Garrison’s poems. The book is being published by Space Cowboy Books, and copies will be available at bookstores and online starting March 2024. It will also be available at the publisher’s brick-andmortar store in Joshua Tree, California. Garrison’s first book is called New Yesterdays, New Tomorrows, and was nominated for the Elgin Award. It is a collection

of 50 speculative poems. Garrison’s work has appeared in Asimov’s, Ember Journal, Fantasy & Science Fiction, Haikuniverse, Science Write Now, Star*Line, and elsewhere. Garrison is also the Managing Editor of the poetry journal Eye to the Telescope. Garrison graduated from Rainier Jr/Sr High School in 2003, and he works in Longview with More Power Technology Group.

tasy, and oftentimes science poetry will kind of fit in there. So mine is certainly

more on the science, nonfiction side,” Garrison said. “The book itself is kind of a small little thing, and so certainly what I’m hoping to do, as well, is get connected and do some school visits.” The material is suitable for middle schoolers as they learn about the solar system. Perspectives and layers in the poetry also provide depth for adult readers to ponder, according to Garrison. Garrison wanted to write poems based on a theme, and Micropoetry for Microplanets centers around dwarf planets.

said. “The Federal Highways Emergency Relief Fund provided partial funding, coupled with a county match spread across multiple budget cycles. With a total project cost exceeding $5 million, these initiatives played a crucial role in permanently fixing these problematic areas.” Pacheco also noted the success of the collaborative

effort of the Public Works Department and the City of Saint Helens in completing a project to enhance sidewalks on Columbia Boulevard. This project created an uninterrupted pedestrian path from Saint Helens High School to McBride Elementary School. Pacheco said these improvements contribute significantly to the community’s safety and

accessibility. Though the Public Works Department has had accomplishments in 2023, Pacheco noted that the budget constraints on the department have also caused issues. “County roads are a prime example of how the county’s budget challenges directly impact the community. Insufficient funding limits our ability to address deteriorating pavement conditions on county roads,” Pacheco said. “The Public Works Department focuses its resources on higher-priority routes with the most significant impact on the dollars spent.” Pacheco said for a typical road, a rough estimate indicates that asphalt overlay for a mile can cost upwards of $500,000. With a pavement preservation budget of $800,000 for all of Columbia County (approximately 390 paved miles), Public Work’s crews are limited to patching asphalt and filling potholes for the time being, according to Pacheco. Pacheco said the County Parks Department achieved significant milestones last year. In June, the federal government officially recognized the significance of the Crown Z Trail, designating it as a National Recreation Trail (NRT). According to Pacheco, the department successfully secured an OPRD grant for the construction of the new Holce Trailhead in Vernonia. “Completing the expansion of camping opportunities at Camp Wilkerson further enriched recreational options

for the community,” Pacheco said. “Through a fruitful partnership with Evenson Logging, the Parks Department executed a successful harvest, generating resources for substantial reinvestments into our parks system. This ensures ongoing improvement and enjoyment for residents and visitors alike.”

83 dump stopper cases, and 12 sharps container exchange requests in coordination with Fire Districts. The Code Compliance team closed 142 cases, emphasizing enforcement through the nuisance abatement ordinance.

February 4 • Police arrested a 43-yearold male subject on a fugitive warrant at the 700 block of West Street. • Officers arrested a 44-yearold male subject at the 100 block of 6th Street.

January 26 • Police arrested a 45-yearold male subject for theft II at the 1000 block of Columbia Boulevard.

old male subject on a fugitive warrant near Gale Road. • Officers investigated a theft of a bicycle at the 5000 block of McNulty Way. • Police arrested a 56-year-old female subject on a fugitive warrant.

February 5 • Police arrested a 48-year-

February 7 • Police arrested a 44-yearold male subject on a fugitive warrant at the 400 block of 18th Street.

February 5

February 6 • A caller wanted to report their spouse as a missing person. It was later determined the spouse was over at the neighbor’s house visiting. February 7 • A stray dog was picked up by animal control.

Rainier HS graduate publishes poetry book WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

Portland resident and Rainier Jr/Sr High School alum Brian U. Garrison is preparing for the release of his second chapbook, Micropoetry for Microplanets. A chapbook is a small paperback booklet, typically containing poems or fiction. Micropoetry for Microplanets is a collection of eleven haiku poems accompanied by illustrations by North Carolina-based visual artist Gowri Savoor. “It’s all speculative poetry. Science fiction, fan-

Catching

up with Columbia County From Page A1

one on Bennett Road, demonstrating a noteworthy return on investment,” Pacheco

COURTESY PHOTO

Brian U. Garrison

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Reporters

Columbia County by the numbers Pacheco detailed some of the numbers for various departments within the county, which exhibits a lot of the work that goes on behind the scenes. Land Development Services Planning Department Processed 126 land use applications, issued 48 land use permits, conducted nine pre-application meetings, and completed five site design reviews for commercial development. Building Department Processed 1,768 permits, reviewed 345 plans, and conducted over 6,640 inspections. Onsite Program Issued 183 permits, completed 736 inspections, and conducted 194 site reviews. Code Compliance/Code Enforcement Opened 195 new cases, including 100 land use cases,

Preorder online: https:// www.bugthewriter.com/p/ buy-things.html.

A message from the commissioners Speaking on behalf of the County Commissioners, Pacheco said that though the county grapples with challenges, they are discovering opportunities for growth and improvement within those challenges. “As your county commissioners, we are committed to operating efficiently and ensuring that public services meet the needs of our community. Despite the constraints of available resources, we take pride in making the most of what we have. It’s a testament to the resilience and spirit of our community,” Pacheco said. Pacheco and the commissioners invited “every resident” to join them in shaping the future of the county. They described the county and constituents’ partnership as essential to building a “stronger, more vibrant community.” “Our optimism about the future of Columbia County is unwavering, and we look forward to continued progress and success,” Pacheco said. “Thank you for being a part of this journey with us.”

Country Media has immediate openings for Reporters to cover the news that matters to our communities. Successful applicants will have an enthusiasm to cover enterprise journalism, civic meetings, school news, community events, and more. You’ll be writing for multimedia platforms including print, social media, and websites. If writing is your passion, this is the job for you! Positions are Full-time. We will also consider applicants for freelance work. We offer an above average wage with paid holidays, health insurance, paid vacation, sick leave, and more! Submit your resume and cover letter today to Executive Editor, jwarren@countrymedia.net.

A Fireside Christmas

Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024 at 3 p.m.

Tickets: Adults $25, Senior $23, Child $20

Tickets: Adult $25, Senior $23, Child $20

Birkenfeld Theater, Clatskanie Culture Center Theater Clatskanie Cultural Center 75 S. Nehalem St., Birkenfeld Clatskanie, OR Tickets: Adult $25, Senior $23, Child $20 75 S. Nehalem St Clatskanie, OR

www.clatskaniearts.org

Birkenfeld Theater Clatskanie Cultural Center

OPINION

A4 The Columbia County Chronicle & Chief | February 14, 2024

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR “Principles of governing” I attended the City of St. Helens council meeting last Wednesday to ask under what “principles of governing” they have the right to add $10 per month to my water bill and then to use these funds in whatever fashion they choose. I then asked if anyone on the council is aware of the lawsuit brought by private citizens under similar circumstances which took place in Portland. The outcome of this lawsuit is that all money collected under this “principal of governing” will be returned to the citizens who paid it. Additional cost to the City of Portland for this booboo is nearly 3 million dollars in attorney fees. Now, it is my understanding that the City of St. Helens has decided to put a levy on the ballot in May asking that an additional 68 cents per thousand be added to our property taxes to support the police department. This is the type of governing the people have been seeking for over two years.

We do need to support the police department and, if given the choice, I believe the voters of St. Helens will overwhelmingly support this measure. Why, then, would Councilman Gunderson state publicly that if the levy did not pass, they would simply add an additional $25 per month to our water bill as previously planned. This not only is unfair coercion - this is flat out blackmail. Nancy Whitney St. Helens

Thank you As a member and former president of the Midland Water District I am writing to express my deep gratitude and appreciation to our local community for their generous support during our recent water outage. Midland Water District is a non-profit cooperative serving about 75 households. The system is old, much of the distribution pipe is brittle and leaks have always been one of our major problems.

Recently we suffered some leaks in the main line resulting in a total disruption of service. Fortunately we received help from many people both within and outside our district. The list includes our county commissioner Margaret Magruder, the Clatskanie Fire Department, Calvin Schulda, Robert Kaiser, Dustin Hawkinson, Melanie Hudson as well as many members from within the district who volunteered hours in difficult situations to deliver water for people and livestock and facilitate the repairs. It is from the support of our friends and neighbors that we are able to maintain (and work at maintaining) this self-reliant and independent water system and to tolerate the occasional inconvenience of interrupted service. I am certainly newly appreciative that the water flows out of the spigot when I turn the handle on the faucet. There are many in our world today who do not enjoy this luxury.

Community Events

February 18 3 Leg Torso Performance Scott MacGregor 3 p.m. - 3 Leg Torso formed Clatskanie in 1996 as a violin, cello and accordion trio with the mission of creating original modern chamber music for their unique instrumentation. Ticket prices: Adults $25; Seniors (60+) and Students $23; Children $20. Tickets are available online at clatskaniearts.org or by calling Elsa at 503-728-3403. If available, tickets will be sold at the door on the day of the concert.

Garden Plots: Winter upkeep tips CHIP BUBL

Garden Plots Chronicle & Chief Guest Column

Fertilize evergreen shrubs this month Most tree roots start to take up nutrients a long time before we see new shoot growth. Evergreens (and this includes rhododendrons, azaleas, arborvitae, Pieris, etc.) tend to get a light-green washed out look over the winter. This can be corrected by giving them a fertilizer containing slow release nitrogen. Applications made now will give much improved color by late March. Ammonium sulfate (21-0-0) would be a good choice as would an organic material like blood meal. Remember, arborvitaes tend to discolor naturally (some varieties worse than others) in the winter and regain their color just as naturally in the spring. Arborvitaes also routinely shed their inner needles, giving a brownish center appearance. Routine shearing of arborvitaes will keep them dense and reduce bare interior wood.

Metro Creative Connection

of a tree when completely removing a limb. However, we know a lot more about tree physiology now. You should not cut that close. Instead, look for the raised tissue at the base of limbs where they join the trunk. This is called the branch collar or shoulder. The branch collar contains rapidly dividing cells that will ultimately close the wound caused by pruning. If it is removed, the tree will be much slower closing the injury and more likely to develop disease or insect problems at that point. In addition, the branch collar contains cells that put out disease-resisting compounds in response to wounds. These physical and chemical barriers compartmentalize the damage to the benefit of the whole tree. How do you identify a branch collar? On many trees, it is ¼ to ½ inch wide, though it can be larger or oftentimes smaller. The diagram indicates what a branch collar will look like and a little observation in the garden will clarify where cuts should be made. Happy pruning. Retirement

Dormant sprays and moss and lichens on trees I’ve had several calls about whether the dormant sprays like lime sulfur or copper will elim-inate moss and lichens. The answer is that they will, but it is a slow process. Both types of sprays will kill the moss/lichens but it can take a long time for them to weather away, often up to several years. Some people pull off the mosses and lichens prior to spraying, which speeds the process. It is worth noting that mosses and lichens do not hurt the tree. They are not parasitic. Ra-ther, they use the tree to hang on. They extract nutrients from rainwater and photosynthe-size sugars from sunlight. Many birds look for insects within the lichen and moss colonies. Hummingbirds and others use mosses and lichens for nesting materials, So, you can make a good argument for not worrying about moss/lichens on landscape trees that don’t need a dormant spray. But don’t hesitate to spray your fruit trees. Dormant sprays are a key part of home orchard disease management.

I retired at the end of January. Eventually, there will be a replacement in the office but it often takes three months or more for that hiring process to be completed and the person on staff. But if you have questions on any of these topics or other home garden and/or farm questions in the meantime, you will still be able to email me (and give me a number where you can be reached) at chip.bubl@oregonstate.edu Events: Feb. 19 Annual Grafting Workshop Saturday, Feb. 17 from 9 a.m. - noon in the OSU Extension office in St. Helens. Participants will receive instruction on grafting and have five rootstocks that they can graft any of a number of different apples onto their root-stocks in the workshop. Cost: $20. We can only accept 15 people since knives will be in use and we need space to keep everyone safe. You can pre-register by calling 503-397-3462 (the Columbia County Extension office).

Don’t cut branch collars

March 2 Columbia County Small Woodlands Tree Sale

For years, the standard pruning advice was to make your cuts flush with the trunk

New Date and Place. The Columbia County Small

Woodlands Association has an annual tree sale in St. Helens. You can purchase a variety of trees in very small quantities. The sale this year will be on Saturday, March 1 at the Columbia County Fairground in St. Helens from 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. They sell both forest tree seedlings, some native shrubs, and some ornamental tree seedlings. Get there early for the best selection. It is very well attended. March 7 Columbia County Beekeepers Monthly meeting. Thursday, March 7 at 7p.m. All are welcome to attend. Contact Linda Zahl at ColumbiaCountyOregonBeekeepers@gmail.com about the March program and for the zoom link if needed. You are welcome to attend in person at the OSU Extension Office in St. Helens. Online Bee School Columbia County Oregon Beekeepers will join Tualatin Valley Beekeepers Association for their online Bee School March 18, 19, and 21. Then we will have our own Field Day on April 6 or 15 depending on the weather in Trenholm. For registration contact Linda Zahl Columbiacountyoregonbeekeepers@ gmail.com. Got food safety or food preservation questions? Give us a call at 503-3973462. You can also get your pressure gauge tested for free at the Extension office. Food Preservation recipes and fact sheets can be accessed online at: https:// extension.oregonstate.edu/ food/preservation Important notes • Donate extra garden produce and/or money to the food bank, senior centers, or community meals programs. It always is greatly appreciated. • The Extension Service offers its programs and materials equally to all people. • The OSU Extension Office is fully open from 8 a.m. .- 5 p.m.

February 20 Columbia River PUD’s monthly Board Meeting 6 p.m. in CRPUD’s Community Room, 64001 Columbia River Hwy., Deer Island, OR 97054. If you wish to submit a written public comment for the Board to review during the meeting, please submit it to comments@ crpud.org prior to 5 p.m. on the day of the meeting. February 22 Scappoose Goodwill Job Connection Job Fair 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Job Connection is holding a Job Fair at the Scappoose Library, 52469 SE 2nd Street in Scappoose. February 22 Scappoose Garden Club Meeting 11 a.m. in St. Wenceslaus Parish Hall at 51555 SW Old Portland Road. Program is Grow a Tea Garden. Anyone is welcomed to attend. February 25 Leapin’ Louie Performance 3 p.m. – Free family performance of Leapin’ Louie who uses circus, cowboy tricks, a six-foot unicycle, and lots of comedy to explore all those wild critters, including us, who fly. Presented by The Clatskanie Arts Commission, Birkenfeld Theatre, 75 S. Nehalem Street in Clatskanie. Ongoing events Mondays Storytime on Mondays 11 a.m. at the Columbia City Library, 2000 Second St. in Columbia City. For questions call, 503-366-8020. 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. Tuesdays Community Meals serves free community dinner 5:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. at First Lutheran Church, 360 Wyeth St., St. Helens. Doors open at 5 p.m. Thursdays Columbian Toastmasters Noon – 1 p.m. Promoting positive learning and leadership through public speaking. Anyone is welcome to visit! Lunch meetings at Warren Country Inn, 56575 Columbia River Hwy, Warren, OR 97053 from 12 p.m.-1 p.m. every Thursday. Call 503-369-0329 for more information. Fridays Caples House Tea and Sweets 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Caples House offers Tea and Sweets: a bottomless cup of tea with a homemade dessert. Cost is $5. In The Cottage, 1925 First Street in Columbia City. Call 503-397-5390 for more details. Fridays – Sundays Caples House Museum Tours 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. - Caples House Museum Tours, 1925 1st Street in Columbia City. Cost is $5. Stop by and see what has changed. Caples House Museum Tours are closed except by reservation until Friday March 1. If you’d like a tour, please call 503-397-3590. Saturdays Overcomers Outreach Meetings are held every Saturday at 9 a.m. at Creekside Baptist Church, 51681 SW Old Portland Road in Scappoose. Call Fred 971-757-6389. Weekly Events 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. For more information call Debbie at 503-560-0521, Daniel Grant at 714-7689327 or check the Resonate Facebook page. Clatskanie Senior Center Lunches Clatskanie Senior Center lunches Clatskanie Senior Center Lunches now served Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at noon at the Castle Cafe, 620 SW Tichenor. Call 503-728-3608 for reservations. Use ground floor entrance to the left of front stairs. Good parking in back off of SW Bryant Street. Castle Tours available by appointment, includes Clatskanie Historical Society museum. Call Debbie at 503338-8268. The Rainier Public Library is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays and 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays. It will be closed Sundays and Mondays. Monthly Events Lower Columbia River Watershed Council Lower Columbia Watershed Council meets the second Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Clatskanie PUD building. Zoom links are also available. Visit the council’s website for agenda postings and Zoom at www.lowercolumbiariver.org/events-page. Avamere at St. Helens 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Avamere at St. Helens hosts a Virtual Dementia Support Group – 3rd Wednesday of each month. For more details, contact Jenny Hicks/Avamere at St. Helens at 503366-8070. To list an event in the Community Calendar, email details with a phone number that may be published for anyone that might have questions, to chronicleclassifieds@countrymedia.net, or call 503-397-0116.

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

The Country County Chronicle & Chief (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 only: $60

OBITUARIES

The Columbia County Chronicle & Chief | February 14, 2024

Margaret Eva (Scholl) Slape

Tualatin Valley

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March 12, 1945 ~ Jan. 30, 2024

Margaret Eva (Scholl) Slape, 78, passed away peacefully on Jan. 30, 2024 at Salmon Creek Hospital in Vancouver, Washington. She was born March 12, 1945 in Portland, Oregon to Joseph H. Scholl and Mary V. (Went) Scholl. She grew up in north Portland and attended North Catholic High School. She married Gary M. Greenhalgh Oct. 12, 1962 and they had four children. She was widowed in June 1968 when Gary was killed in a fishing accident. She remarried in December 1970

and had a daughter in April 1975.

She worked as a security guard at Trojan Nuclear Power Plant for a short time in the early 90s where she met Richard E. Slape, and they were married Oct. 22, 1994. Margaret was a homemaker most of her life but was always involved with horses. She was instrumental in many horse clubs and organizations, where she held many positions of leadership. She won many honors and awards with her horses over the years, often sharing these experiences with her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband Richard E. Slape; five children, Laureen J. (Greenhalgh) Tice of Rainier, Oregon, Michael E. Greenhalgh of Elgin, Oregon, Carma L. (Greenhalgh) Malloy of Gresham, Oregon, Gary M. Greenhalgh Jr. of Rainier, Oregon and Jennifer F. (Wiechern) Ervin of Scappoose, Oregon; two brothers; two sisters; as well as many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. A celebration of life is being planned for this summer.

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We are sad to announce the passing of Mark D. Jones, 93, on Thurs., Feb. 1, 2024 in Prineville, Oregon of natural causes. He passed peacefully surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Peggy Joyce (Boykin) Jones. He was born to Mark G. Jones and Bertha. The family includes sisters, Lois Ediger, Dorothy Ediger, Billie Nork, and Becky Dalkenberg; daughters, Patti Waisanen and Debbie Collier; sons, Doug Jones, Greg Jones, and Mark Jones Jr.; grandchildren, Charity Marshall, Jason Rusch, Missy Lokan, Cassy Lokan, Tim Johnson, Jeremy Johnson, Katrina Heines, Steven Jones, and Christopher Jones; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and

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Joseph Barnett Miller, age 60, passed away on Sat., Feb. 3, 2024 at his home in Galax, Virginia, where he lived for the past 15 years. Joe was born on Jan. 29, 1964 in Portland, Oregon to Harold Eugene and Ruby Lee DeLong Miller. Joe went to the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Portland. He loved cooking and worked at Nike World as a chef. He also worked at Multnomah Plywood, plus other places

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nephews; 13 great grandchildren; one great, great grandchild; and 5th generation with Debbie Collier’s son, Tim, his son Jaden, and his son Porter Johnson. Mark was preceded in death by his parents;

four sisters; son Mark Jr., grandson Jeremy Johnson; and granddaughter Katrina Heines. Mark grew up in Dallas, Oregon and played football, basketball, baseball, and tennis before attending University of Oregon. He enlisted in the Air Force where met his wife Joyce. After serving, they moved to Florence, Oregon where he managed a grocery store until he moved to Clatskanie, Oregon and was employed at James River Mill along with his wife Joyce. They belonged to the Clatskanie Motorcycle Club during that time. He enjoyed flying and had a pilot’s license and often flew his family to fun places. He and his daughter Debbie Collier had horses and showed at 4H bringing

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in the Portland area in addition to Galax. He is survived by his fiancé Anita Bowers Hanks; son Joseph Miller; stepdaughter Sarah Warner; brothers, Dennis Miller and Rick Miller; sister Rebecca Landers; three nieces, Jennifer, Suzanne and Tiffany; and two nephews, Kevin and Joshua. A celebration of life will be held on April 6, 2024 at Yankton Community Fellowship.

Stanley Edward Hopkins

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Stanley Edward Hopkins, 91, passed away in Bullhead City, Arizona. Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Feb. 20, 2024 at Willamette National Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. on Feb. 22, 2024 at the Elks Lodge in St. Helens.

home quite a few ribbons. Additional activities included camping, fishing, horseback riding, boating, water skiing, snow skiing, golfing, bowling, hunting, and riding motorcycles. Memories of family gatherings, holidays, reunions, and lots of BBQS. Traveling to several states throughout the years made for a full life. After raising his family, the couple together retired and moved to Prineville, Oregon. They briefly lived in Newport, Oregon for two years enjoying boating, cruising, fishing, and crabbing until they returned to Prineville, Oregon, where he continued his love of golfing and a member of the Senior Golf Circuit. At his request there will be no funeral services.

Robert Alan Shadley

Please join us in celebrating the life of Robert Shadley at 1 p.m. on Sat., March 2, 2024 at the St. Helens Elks Lodge.

Michelle Flock receives Tire-less Teacher Award SUBMITTED BY ST. HELENS SCHOOL DISTRICT

Michelle Flock excels in her role as an instructional assistant at McBride Elementary. Her commitment extends beyond delivering outstanding instruction during reading groups; she proactively forges meaningful connections with students both inside and outside the classroom. Michelle’s genuine concern for students makes her a dedicated advocate for their well-being. She goes the extra mile to establish rapport with students, involving them in enriching learning activities and collaborates with teachers to explore innovative approaches for student support. Michelle’s selfless contributions have a positive impact on those around her, and her presence truly enriches McBride Elementary. Congratulations, Michelle!

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A6 The Columbia County Chronicle & Chief | February 14, 2024

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Columbia River PUD is hiring Position Name: Utility Worker. Salary: $32.31/hr during 6 mos. intro. period $35.12/hr thereafter. Deadline: Monday, February 26, 2024 by 5:00 p.m. If you are interested in becoming a part of the Columbia River PUD team, please visti our website at www.crpud.net to view and apply for open positions or call us at (503) 3971844 to have an application packet mailed to you.

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PUBLIC NOTICES CC24-1033

TS No. OR08000158-23-1 APN 24732 TO No 230490730-OR-MSI TRUSTEE’S NOTICE OF SALE Reference is made to that certain Trust Deed made by, THOMAS R CHELBY AND TABBETHA CHELBY, TENANTS BY ENTIRETY as Grantor to FIRST AMERICAN TITLE COMPANY OF OREGON as Trustee, in favor of MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS INC. (“MERS”), as designated nominee for PRIMELENDING, A PLAINSCAPITAL COMPANY, Beneficiary of the security instrument, its successors and assigns, dated as of July 28, 2016 and recorded on July 29, 2016 as Instrument No. 2016006547 of official records in the Office of the Recorder of Columbia County, Oregon to-wit: APN: 24732 LOTS 18 AND 19, BERNDT`S CREEK SUBDIVISION, COLUMBIA COUNTY,

OREGON Commonly known as: 15332 CREEK VIEW LN, VERNONIA, OR 970649425 Both the Beneficiary, Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC, and the Trustee, Nathan F. Smith, Esq., OSB #120112, have elected to sell the said real property to satisfy the obligations secured by said Trust Deed and notice has been recorded pursuant to Section 86.752(3) of Oregon Revised Statutes. The default for which the foreclosure is made is the Grantor’s failure to pay: Failed to pay payments which became due Monthly Payment(s): 1 Monthly Payment(s) from 06/01/2023 to 01/01/2024 at $12,751.79 Monthly Late Charge(s): 1 Monthly Late Charge(s) By this reason of said default the Beneficiary has declared all obligations secured by said

Trust Deed immediately due and payable, said sums being the following, to-wit: The sum of $209,325.56 together with interest thereon at the rate of 3.62500% per annum from May 1, 2023 until paid; plus all accrued late charges thereon; and all Trustee’s fees, foreclosure costs and any sums advanced by the Beneficiary pursuant to the terms of said Trust Deed. Wherefore, notice is hereby given that, the undersigned Trustee will on June 10, 2024 at the hour of 12:00 PM, Standard of Time, as established by Section 187.110, Oregon Revised Statues, at the west entrance to the Columbia County Courthouse, 230 Strand St., Saint Helens, OR 97051 County of Columbia, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash the interest in

the said described real property which the Grantor had or had power to convey at the time of the execution by him of the said Trust Deed, together with any interest which the Grantor or his successors in interest acquired after the execution of said Trust Deed, to satisfy the foregoing obligations thereby secured and the costs and expenses of sale, including a reasonable charge by the Trustee. Notice is further given that any person named in Section 86.778 of Oregon Revised Statutes has the right to have the foreclosure proceeding dismissed and the Trust Deed reinstated by payment to the Beneficiary of the entire amount then due (other than such portion of said principal as would not then be due had no default occurred), together with the

costs, Trustee’s or attorney’s fees and curing any other default complained of in the Notice of Default by tendering the performance required under the obligation or Trust Deed, at any time prior to five days before the date last set for sale. Without limiting the Trustee’s disclaimer of representations or warranties, Oregon law requires the Trustee to state in this notice that some residential property sold at a Trustee’s sale may have been used in manufacturing methamphetamines, the chemical components of which are known to be toxic. Prospective purchasers of residential property should be aware of this potential danger before deciding to place a bid for this property at the Trustee’s sale. In construing this notice, the masculine gender

includes the feminine and the neuter, the singular includes plural, the word “Grantor” includes any successor in interest to the Grantor as well as any other persons owing an obligation, the performance of which is secured by said Trust Deed, the words “Trustee” and “Beneficiary” includes their respective successors in interest, if any. Dated: 1/25/2024 By: Nathan F. Smith, Esq., OSB #120112 Successor Trustee Malcolm & Cisneros, A Law Corporation Attention: Nathan F. Smith, Esq., OSB #120112 c/o TRUSTEE CORPS 17100 Gillette Ave, Irvine, CA 92614 949-252-8300 Order Number 99661, Pub Dates: 2/7/2024, 2/14/2024, 2/21/2024, 2/28/2024, THE COLUMBIA COUNTY CHRONICLE & CHIEF

PUBLIC NOTICES CC24-1036

TRUSTEE’S NOTICE OF SALE The trust deed to be foreclosed pursuant to Oregon law is referred to as follows (“Trust Deed”): Grantor: Fredrick L Suhr, an estate in fee simple Trustee: Ticor Title Insurance Company Beneficiary: IndyMac Bank, F.S.B., a federally chartered savings bank Date: February 11, 2005 Recording Date: February 16, 2005 Recording Reference: 2005-002262 County of Recording: Columbia County The beneficial interest in the Trust Deed was assigned through various assignments to Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, not in its individual capacity but solely as owner trustee of the Aspen Income Trust, a Delaware Statutory Trust (“Beneficiary”) in a Corporate Assignment of Deed of Trust recorded in Columbia County on October 21, 2021, as document 2021-012114. TRUSTEE: The Successor Trustee is Miles D. Monson and the mailing address of the Successor Trustee is: Miles D. Monson, “TRUSTEE”, Monson Law Office P.C., 1865 NW 169th Place, Suite 208, Beaverton, Oregon 97006. The Trust Deed covers the following described real property (“Property”): See Exhibit A attached hereto. Grantor’s loan obligation is more than 120 days delinquent. The default for which foreclosure is made is: The Grantor’s failure to pay when due the following sums: Monthly installments of $313.02 beginning February 20, 2022, continuing through the installment due September 20, 2023, plus miscellaneous charges of $672.90. The sum owing on the obligation that the Trust Deed secures (“Obligation”) is: $30,132.06, together with interest of $4,017.84 through October 9, 2023, plus interest on the sum of $30,132.06 at the rate of 7.75 percent per annum from and including October 10, 2023, until paid, together with Trustee’s fees, attorney’s fees, foreclosure costs and any sums advanced by the Beneficiary pursuant to the Trust Deed. The Property will be sold to satisfy the Obligation. The date, time and place of the sale is: Date: April 2, 2024 Time: 11:00 A.M. Place: COLUMBIA COUNTY COURTHOUSE, MAIN ENTRANCE, 230 STRAND STREET, CITY OF ST. HELENS, COUNTY OF COLUMBIA AND STATE OF OREGON. Without limiting the trustee’s disclaimer of representations or warranties, Oregon law requires the trustee to state in this notice that some residential property sold at a trustee’s sale may have been used in manufacturing methamphetamines, the chemical components of

which are known to be toxic. Prospective purchasers of residential property should be aware of this potential danger before deciding to place a bid for this property at the trustee’s sale. RIGHT TO CURE The right exists under ORS 86.778 to have this foreclosure proceeding dismissed and the Trust Deed reinstated by doing all of the following at any time that is not later than five days before the date last set for the sale: (1) Paying to the Beneficiary the entire amount then due (other than such portion as would not then be due, had no default occurred); and (2) Curing any other default complained of herein that is capable of being cured by tendering the performance required under the Trust Deed; and (3) Paying all costs and expenses actually incurred in enforcing the Obligation and Trust Deed, together with Trustee’s and attorney’s fees not exceeding the amounts provided by ORS 86.778. In construing this notice, the masculine gender includes the feminine and the neuter, the singular includes the plural, the word “Grantor” includes any successor in interest to the Grantor as well as any other person owing an obligation, the performance of which is secured by the Trust Deed, and the words “Trustee” and “Beneficiary” include their respective successors in interest, if any. Bankruptcy Information: The personal liability of the grantor to pay the debt owed to Beneficiary may be discharged in the grantor’s bankruptcy, however, the Trust Deed lien against the real property remains in existence and is in full force and effect. Beneficiary is not seeking to enforce the debt obligation as a personal liability of the grantor and is merely foreclosing its lien which will not be affected by any bankruptcy discharge. Any reference to “Debt” or “Obligation” refers to the lien indebtedness. We are a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information we obtain will be used for that purpose. Cashier’s checks for the foreclosure sale must be made payable to Miles Monson, Trustee. DATED: November 6, 2023 /s/ Miles D. Monson, Miles D. Monson, Successor Trustee, 1865 NW 169th Place, Suite 208, Beaverton, Oregon 97006, (503) 8281820. EXHIBIT A LEGAL DESCRIPTION Parcel 1: Beginning at a point which is North 0°29’ East, 393.77 feet and South 89°31’ East, 90.12 feet from the Southwest corner of Tract 51, A Holaday Orchard Tracts as per plat on file and of record in the

Clerk’s Office of Columbia County, Oregon; thence South 89°31’ East, a distance of 109.88 feet: thence North 0°29’ East and parallel to the West line of said Tract, a distance of 198.24 feet to the Southerly right of way of the County Road; thence following said right of way South 76°13’ West, a distance of 53.52 feet, thence North 61°04’ West, a distance of 65.98 feet; thence leaving said right of way South 0°29’ West, a distance of 216.48 feet to the point of beginning. EXCEPTING THEREFROM any portion lying within the tract conveyed to Lynn C. Spencer et ux by deed recorded June 14, 1983 in Book 247, page 535, Deed Records of Columbia County, Oregon. Parcel 2: Beginning at a point on the West line of Tract 51, of A. Holaday Orchard Tracts, Columbia County, Oregon, as per plat on file and of record in the Clerk’s Office of Columbia County, Oregon, which is North 0°29’ East, 393.77 feet from the Southwest corner thereof; thence South 89°31’ East, a distance of 90.12 feet to the Southwest corner of the Jack F. Cleghorn et ux tract as described in deed recorded May 27, 1971 in Book 181, page 741, Deed Records of Columbia County, Oregon; thence along the West line of said Cleghorn tract, North 0°29’ East, a distance 216.48 feet to the Southerly right of way line of the County Road; thence North 61°04’ West, along said right of way, a distance of 102.5 feet, to the West line of said Tract 51; thence South 0°29’ West, along said West line a distance of 265.31 feet to the point of beginning. Parcel 3: Beginning at a point which is North 0°29’ East, 392.00 feet from the Southwest Corner of Tract 51 of A. Holaday Orchard Tracts, in Section 11, Township 3 North, Range 2 West, Willamette Meridian, Columbia County, Oregon; thence South 88°18’ East, a distance of 200.05 feet; thence North 0°29’ East, a distance of 6.00 feet to the Southeast corner of the Dale Lammers et ux tract as recorded in Book 229, page 229, Deed Records of Columbia County, Oregon; thence North 89°31’ West, along the South line of said Lammers tract, a distance of 200.00 feet to the West line of said Tract 51; thence South 0°29’ West, a distance of 1.77 feet to the point of beginning. EXCEPTING, RESERVING AND SAVING any portion thereof lying within that tract conveyed by deed recorded June 14,1983 in Book 247, page 535, Deed Records of Columbia County, Oregon.

February 14, 2024

CC24-1035

The Columbia County Development Agency (Agency) has published the FY 2022/2023 Annual Report. It is on file at the offices of the Board of County Commissioners located in the Columbia County Courthouse, Room 331, at 230 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 and with the Agency. The full information is available to all interested persons. In FY 2022/2023, the Agency received $119,475 in current and prior year property tax revenue. Expenditures from FY 2022/2023 were $8,499,049. The County terminated this urban renewal area in FY 2022/2023. Foregone Revenue From Taxing District

Foregone Revenue as % of Total Permanent Rate Levy

$11,498

0.13%

0.00%

Col 9-1-1 Comm District

$1,916

0.12%

Columbia Vector Rainier Cemetery

$1,095

0.16%

$780

0.72%

Taxing Jurisdiction Columbia County Columbia 4H & Extension

Rainier Cemetery Local Option

$312

0.45%

Clatskanie Park & Rec

$2,980

0.83%

Clatskanie Library Columbia SWCD

$2,364

0.79%

Clatskanie RFPD

$638

0.10%

$14,754

0.86%

NW Regional ESD

$1,278

0.01%

Clatskanie 6J School District

$39,525

0.76%

CC24-1041

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Board of Commissioners for the Northwest Oregon Housing Authority is seeking public comments on its proposed FY 2025 Annual Plan. Written comments must be received no later than 2:00 pm PST on March 27, 2024 The Board will convene a Public Meeting on Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 9:00 am, where the written comments will be introduced as well as verbal comments accepted. The public meeting will be held virtually. A copy of the plan and a link to the meeting are posted at www.nwoha.org. To receive a printed copy of the plan, please contact us at (503) 861-0119, (800) 927-9275 (TTD) or receptionist@nwoha.org. Copies of the plan have also been provided to all public library branches in Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook Counties.

CC24-1042

NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE VACANCIES The St. Helens School District No. 502 is seeking applicants for three (3) vacancies on the District Budget Committee. Each term has an initial three year appointment. Due to the mid-term resignation of some position holders, not all vacancies have a full three year term remaining. Position vacancies and their expiration are as follows: Position 1 2 4

Years of Appointment 2 Years Remaining 2 Years Remaining Full Term – 3 Years Remaining

Calendar Date Expiration 6/30/25 6/30/25 6/30/26

Budget Year Expiration 2025-2026 2025-2026 2026-2027

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, March 1 st, 2024. In the case of multiple applicants, the Board will interviews interested persons at the board meeting on Wednesday, March 13 th, 2024.

CC24-1039

PUBLIC NOTICE - INVITATION TO BID CLATSKANIE PEOPLE’S UTILITY FLAGGING SERVICES COLUMBIA RIVER PUD CC24-1045

DISTRICT MEETING NOTICE The Clatskanie People’s Utility District Board of Directors has scheduled the next regular Board meeting for Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at 6:00 pm in the community room of the District’s administration building located at 495 E Columbia River Highway, Clatskanie. A Board Workshop will be held at 5:30 pm. An executive session may be called at the workshop and/or meeting, pursuant to: ORS 192.660 (2) (f) information or records that are exempt from disclosure by law, including written advice from an attorney. AGENDA CLATS-

KANIE PEOPLE’S UTILITY DISTRICT BOARD WORKSHOP Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at 5:30 P.M. I. BOARD TRAINING & WHA INSURANCE REPORT: Jeff Griffin, WHA Insurance II. POLICY REVIEW: 101 Credit and Collections, 112 Distribution Facility Overload, 200 Organization Authority, 201 General Policy, 202 Board of Directors, 203 Oath of Office, and 204 Officers of the Board III. RESOLUTION 24-01 SURPLUS ITEMS IV. WRAP BINDING SEASON UPDATE: Chris Roden, Director of Energy Resources V. STAFF REPORTS

UPDATE. CLATSKANIE PEOPLE’S UTILITY DISTRICT REGULAR BOARD MEETING Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at 6:00 P.M. I. PUBLIC COMMENTS II. CONSENT AGENDA · Minutes of Board Workshop, January 17, 2024 · Minutes of Regular Board Meeting, January 17, 2024 · Review payment of bills for January 2024 III. ACTION ITEMS · Policy Review: New District Operations Policy 322 Power Resource Management IV. DISCUSSION / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS · Board Comments & Calendar V. EXECUTIVE SESSION VI. ADJOURNMENT

CC24-1044

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DEPARTMENT In the Matter of the Estate of BETTY J. LANEY, Deceased. No. 20PB02574 Notice to Interested Persons Notice is hereby given that TERRY LANEY has been appointed personal representative of the above estate. All persons having claims against the estate are required to present the same within four months from this date at the office

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

14, 2024. Date of second published: February 21, 2024. Date of final publication: February 28, 2024. TERRY LANEY c/o VanNatta, Petersen & Anderson, Attorneys at Law P.O. Box 748, St. Helens, Oregon 97051. Attorneys: VanNatta, Petersen & Anderson, Attorneys at Law, P.O. Box 748, St. Helens, Oregon 97051, Telephone: (503) 397-4091.

Notice is hereby given that Columbia River People’s Utility District (PUD) will receive sealed bids for Flagging Services for 2024-2025. Bids will be received by the PUD, 64001 Columbia River Highway, Deer Island, Oregon 97054 until 3:30 p.m., pacific prevailing time, on March 11th, 2024, at which time the bids will be publicly opened. The bids will be available for public inspection at the PUD office after the bid opening. No bids will be

received after 3:30 p.m., pacific prevailing time, on the 11 th day of March, 2024. All bids shall include a statement that those parties named in the bid are the only parties with an interest in the bid and that the bid is made without any collusion with any other bidder, official or employee of the PUD. The bid documents and specifications may be examined at the office of the PUD, 64001 Columbia River Highway, Deer Island, Oregon 97054. Electronic

copies of the bid documents may be obtained by visiting https://www.crpud.net/ my-pud/bid-documents. Columbia River PUD reserves the right to reject any and all bids that are not in compliance with the bid documents and prescribed public bidding procedures and to reject for good cause any or all bids upon a finding by the PUD that it is in the public interest to do so. Dated: February 6, 2024 at Columbia River People’s Utility District.

CC24-1043

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF THE STATE OF IDAHO IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF KOOTENAI BRANDI NICOLE SMITH, Petitioner, vs. DONAVIN LEE RIDDLE, Respondent. CASE NO. CV28-23-4500 SUMMONS TO: DONAVIN LEE RIDDLE You have been sued by the Petitioner, Brandi Smith, in the District Court in and for Kootenai County, Idaho, Case No. CV28-23-4500. The nature of the claim against you is a Petition for Divorce, wherein the Petitioner is requesting that Petitioner be granted sole legal and sole physical custody of the parties’ minor children, that Petitioner be awarded the tax credit for the children, and that Petitioner be granted a decree

of divorce from Respondent on the grounds of Irreconcilable Differences. Any time after 21 days following the publication of this Summons, the Court may enter a judgment against you without further notice, unless prior to that time you have filed a written response in the proper form, including case number, and paid any required filing fee to the Clerk of the Court at PO Box 9000, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83816, 324 West Garden Avenue, Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, 83814, (208) 4461160, and served a copy of your response on Petitioner’s attorney, John H. George, Palmer | George PLLC, 923 N. 3rd Street, Coeur

d’Alene, ID 83814, (208) 665-5778. A copy of the Petition and Summons can be obtained by contacting either the Clerk of the Court or the attorney for Petitioner. If you wish legal assistance, you should immediately retain an attorney to advise you in this matter. DATED: 8/1/2023 12:14:15 PM, JENNIFER LOCKE CLERK OF THE DISTRICT COURT, ALYSSA MARYOTT, DEPUTY CLERK. JOHN H. GEORGE PALMER GEORGE PLLC 923 N. 3rd Street Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814 Telephone: (208) 665-5778 Facsimile: (208) 676-1683 Email: rachelle@ cdalawoffice.com ISBN 5481 Attorney for Petitioner.

A8 February 14, 2024

PUBLIC NOTICES CC24-1040

CC24-1038

BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF COMMISSIONERS FOR COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA Probate Department In 2024. Claims against the esthe records of the Court, the OREGON NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING the Matter of the Estate of tate may be presented to the personal representative, or NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN The Columbia County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at or after 10:00 a.m. at the Courthouse Annex, 230 Strand Street, Room 310, St. Helens, Oregon 97051. The purpose of this hearing is to consider an amendment to the Columbia County Comprehensive Plan map for the City of Vernonia to amend its acknowledged Urban Growth Boundary. This proposal involves swapping out approximately 37 acres of Rural Residential and Primary Forest zoned property that is currently located within the city’s Urban Growth Boundary for approximately 49 acres of Rural Residential zoned property. This proposal will affect approximately 22 tax lots which are identified in the file information. This hearing is to afford interested parties an opportunity to appear and be heard on the matter described above. Interested parties may appear

and be heard. Any comments you wish to provide will be appreciated; however, Oregon law requires that testimony and evidence must be directed toward the decision criteria. You may present testimony at the public hearing or provide written comments to the Board of County Commissioners to jacyn.normine@ columbiacountyor.gov prior to 5:00 p.m. on March 12, 2024. The Columbia County Board of Commissioners is the final local decisionmaker for all County Plan amendments. Applicable decision criteria are contained in ORS 197.175, ORS 197.610, ORS 197.797 and ORS 203.035; Columbia County Zoning Ordinance Sections 1606 and 1607. and any other statute or ordinance determined to apply. The specific criteria applicable to this request is listed and evaluated in the staff report. This hearing will be held in accordance with the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance. For more information contact

planning@columbiacountyor.gov; or phone 503397-1501. A copy of the application, all documents and evidence relied upon by the applicant, and the staff report will be available for at https://www.columbiacountyor.gov/Hearings at least 7 days prior to this hearing. Written comments on the issue can be submitted via email to Jacyn. normine@columbiacountyor.gov or you can send comments via U.S. Mail to Columbia County, Board of Commissioners c/o Jacyn Normine, 230 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051. You may participate in this hearing in person or virtually. To attend virtually go to https://global.gotomeeting. com/join/357054141 or call United States (Toll Free): 1 866 899 4679. The meeting access code is: 357-054141. The Board of Commissioners reserves the right to continue the hearing to another date and time. If the hearing is continued, no further public notice will be provided.

BERTHA MAE SCHMIDT, Deceased. Case No. 23PB08318 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS BY SUCCESSOR PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE Proceedings for this estate commenced on October 16, 2023. On January 25, 2024, the original appointed Personal Representative, John Benhardt Schmidt, passed away. Notice is hereby given that Karen Cook was appointed as the successor Personal Representative by the Court on February 5,

personal representative listed below. Any person who has a claim against the estate must present the claim to the new personal representative not later than four months after the date of the publication of this notice at the following address: 52490 Southeast Second Street, Suite 100, Scappoose, OR 97056. Any claim not presented within this time period may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the estate proceeding may obtain additional information from

the attorney for the personal representative. Dated and published on February 14, 2024. Karen Cook, Personal Representative, 254 Dubois Lane, St. Helens, OR, Phone: (309) 224-6605. Attorney for Personal Representative: Aaron J. Trukositz, OSB No. 204618 LOWER COLUMBIA LAW GROUP LLC, 52490 Southeast Second Street, Suite 100, Scappoose, Oregon 97056, Phone: (503) 543-4800, Fax: (888) 543-4806, Email: aaron@ lowercolumbialaw.com.

CC24-1012

COLUMBIA COUNTY NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS) LOCAL WORK GROUP MEETING When: February 28, 2024 Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Virtual Location: Virtual Zoom Online Meeting Only Please contact Hannah Isaacs at hannah.isaacs@usda.gov for Zoom passcode and login information. The purpose of the meeting is to receive public input from farmers, ranchers, foresters, agencies,

and groups to help guide the conservation efforts of the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Columbia County. Due to COVID concerns, our meeting will be offered both in-person at the office and virtual via Zoom online for those that wish to join that way. For questions or persons with

disabilities who require accommodations to participate in this meeting, please contact Hannah Isaacs with the USDA-NRCS at (503) 438-3146 by February 16, 2024, or dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunication relay services. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

GAMES & PUZZLES Solution for the Feb. 7, 2024 crossword puzzle

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: U.S. PRESIDENTS ACROSS

1. Falling out 5. Bottle top 8. Door fastener 12. Shoe emanation? 13. Staff note 14. Home to Buccaneers 15. Actress Spelling 16. Thor’s father 17. Kidman’s husband 18. *He served two nonconsecutive presidential terms 20. *JFK and RFK’s relationship, abbr. 21. Foreword 22. J. Edgar Hoover Building org. 23. Pac-Man venue 26. Long and adventurous journey 30. Rudolph’s Clarice, e.g. 31. Like life, according to some 34. Is it enough? 35. Jalisco plant 37. As opposed to rent 38. Grassy mound 39. Flat-top hill 40. *W in George H. W. Bush 42. Nicki Minaj’s genre 43. Reusable painting

pattern 45. Sacred songs 47. Horse control 48. Laughing predator 50. Gunk 52. *Nobel Peace Prize winning president 56. Social media button 57. Tangerine-grapefruit hybrid 58. Greek god of love 59. Cautious gambler 60. Trousers 61. Baltic capital 62. Port in Yemen 63. Follow ems 64. Not ever, poetically

DOWN

1. Campus drillers 2. One on a pedestal 3. Golfer’s warning 4. “Jeopardy” question, e.g. 5. Closet wood 6. ____ acid 7. Body between England and U.S.? 8. *President who spent the shortest time in office 9. Orator’s stand 10. Pampering establishments

11. J.M. Barrie’s Peter 13. Like hot lava 14. Short and plump 19. Endow 22. *WW2 Pres. 23. *Thomas Jefferson was his VP 24. “Thesaurus” author 25. Cut it out 26. Sound on Old MacDonald’s farm 27. Annoy a bedfellow 28. “Bravo! Bravo!” e.g. 29. Online reviews 32. Delivered by a mare 33. Hole punching tool 36. *a.k.a. Old Kinderhook 38. Danish money 40. Intelligent humor 41. Vomiting 44. Pressed beverage 46. Tap house 48. TV classic “_____’s Heroes” 49. Egg parts 50. Past tense of chide 51. Sand trap tool 52. Ill-mannered 53. Albany-Buffalo canal 54. Theater section 55. Russian ruler 56. #10 Down, sing.

Solution to crossword in next week’s issue of the newspaper.

The Columbia County Chronicle & Chief | February 14, 2024

SPORTS

League playoffs for Clatskanie girls basketball WILL LOHRE

Country Media, Inc.

The 2A high school basketball playoffs are upon us, and Clatskanie’s girls basketball team is hoping to stay healthy and win their league playoff matchup with Gaston. Over the past few weeks, Head Coach Mary Sizemore and the Tigers have been dealing with a rotating cast of players as sickness has affected different team members during their season. “Most of my team has been out sick on a rotating basis, and it has affected our play and the outcome of many games,” Sizemore said. Between Jan. 20, and Feb. 2, the Tigers had a record of 2-5 during their illnessridden stretch. Fortunately, the Tigers returned to their winning

ways Feb. 6 with a 53-35 win over Mannahouse Academy. Clatskanie then went on to win its next two games, and they enter tonight’s league playoff game against Gaston on a three-game winning streak. “We have a solid seven varsity players that are producing well on a nightly basis, and our swing players are quickly catching up in skills and IQ to round out our bench,” Sizemore said. Sizemore said that some of the high performers game in and game out have been Joey Sizemore, Lacey Willis, Olivia George, Mya Jensen, Karielle Carlson, and Bethany Hagen. Sizemore said that the team’s focus is to sharpen their offense. The team is squarely .500 right now, having gone 7-7 in league play and 12-12 overall. If the team

can hone its offensive skillset, they will be in a good position to perform against Gaston in tonight’s league playoff game. “We have a solid defense in place, and now it is time to finetune our offense and continue to develop basketball IQ within our players,” Sizemore said. League playoff games for the 2A-1 Northwest League will dictate the final standings and who makes it to the state tournament. Knappa and Vernonia will play in another playoff matchup on Feb. 15. Clatskanie and Gaston’s matchup tonight promises to bring the heat, though Gaston will have home-court advantage in the league playoff game. Gaston also has an 11-11 overall record and a 7-7 league record. In OSAA’s 2A rankings, Clatskanie is ranked 22nd, and Gaston is

ranked 24th. The teams split their first two matchups of the season, with Clatskanie winning 47-40 on Jan. 11, and Gaston getting revenge with a 55-45 win against the Tigers on Jan. 31. With little to separate the two sides, both teams will feel there is a good chance to advance past the first league playoff game. “Our goal is to get through the remainder of the season healthy with our full squad available on the bench and come out in the third place spot at the end of league playoffs,” Sizemore said. We’ll see if the Tigers can keep their winning run going and forge on to the state tournament. Follow CMHS sports results at https://www.osaa. org/teams/53154.

COURTESY PHOTO FROM MARY SIZEMORE

Clatskanie’s Karielle Carlson in a matchup against Faith Bible / Life Christian.

National Senior Independence Month 2024 Ways to help seniors maintain independence SUMBITTED BY HOMEWELL CARE SERVICES

What does maintaining your independence look like to you? While that vision probably looks different for each person, everyone deserves the opportunity to live independently with dignity—especially our senior loved ones. Although independent living for older adults may require a few additional considerations, there are some preventative measures you can take to help them age peacefully from the comfort of home. Since February is Senior Independence Month, let’s look at some ways you can help foster independence and improve the standard of living for you and your aging loved one.

Companionship: Loneliness and social isolation are risk factors for severe illnesses like depression and dementia. Making sure there is companionship, whether in the form of visits or helping them maintain an active social life outside the home, is critical for seniors living alone. Exercise: Seniors can practice solo exercise on their own, like walking, but research has found group exercise classes are excellent for promoting good physical health and emotional connections. Check around your local area for senior exercise groups and get connected. Technology: Teaching your loved ones how to use

technology to stay connected can provide you with peace of mind while they’re home alone. You may consider helping them set up their social media account or teach them how to make a video call so that they can see and speak to you or others whenever they want. Eating Habits: They say you are what you eat, right? It’s never too late to start making the right food choices. Ensuring that you’re getting the nutrients you need and following a proper diet can help you stay active, healthy, and independent. If cooking for yourself or your loved one is too much, try starting small and simple with one-pot meals or meal prepping.

How can seniors remain independent? Facilitating senior independence could include several things from making upgrades to the home and encouraging social interaction to even being mindful of their eating habits; so what makes sense for your situation? Here are some things to keep in mind: Safety & Accessibility: Ensuring adequate accessibility and safety should be top of mind. This can include complex structural changes such as fixing uneven concrete or simple fixes like installing brighter lighting. A home safety checklist can help ensure nothing gets missed during your accessibility inspection. Caregivers: If your loved one needs an extra hand with everyday tasks around the home, hiring an in-home caregiver may be the perfect solution. Caregivers can assist with the practical needs of daily life so your loved ones can continue being safe, comfortable, and happy at home. They may prefer this arrangement over a nursing home or assisted living facility.

Our Goal Is To Be Your Valued Financial Partner Breta Grumbois, Tracy Aalvik, & Scott Thompson are LPL Financial Advisors with Fibre Financial Group located at Fibre Federal Credit Union. They’re available to consult with you at no initial cost! BRETA & TRACY 360.414.4223

SCOTT 360.575.5705

Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. Fibre Federal Credit Union and Fibre Financial Group are not registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL offer products and services using Fibre Financial Group and may also be employees of Fibre Federal Credit Union. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not affiliates of, Fibre Federal Credit Union or Fibre Financial Group. Securities and insurance offered through LPL or its affiliates are: Not insured by NCUA or Any Other Government Agency

Not Credit Union Guaranteed

Not Credit Union Deposits or Obligations

May Lose Value

When to seek additional help The reasons behind the loss of independence are complex and vary personto-person. Activity levels, cognitive decline, the loss of a spouse or loved one, and even genetics all play a role. When complications arise,

it can become challenging for seniors to handle daily activities and function independently. Although aging is inevitable, it doesn’t mean we can’t navigate it with dignity and grace. If you’re noticing signs that you or your loved one may be at the point of needing help to maintain your

independence at home, don’t hesitate to reach out for help and support. You’d be surprised what a little bit of help can do to help keep you safe, healthy, and happy at home. Learn more about this topic and HomeWell Care Services at https://homewellcares.com.