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Wednesday, February 24, 2021

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Finally! Fall sports underway at SHHS JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

You can feel the excitement in the air and see it in each play. St. Helens High School fall sports teams are in action this week, preparing for the pandemic-adjusted season. “It is a milestone,” SHHS Athletic Director and Assistant Principal Ted Hirning said. “This whole year has been in flux. We weren’t sure would could play and the kids were down.” Under Oregon Schools Activities Association (OSAA) guidelines, high school football practice began on Feb. 8. This week, SHHS players are able to pull on their helmets for practice. Next comes pads, following that the entire football attire, spread over a regulated time frame. Hirning said each step of the way the coaches and the players are closely following state and county health and safety guidelines in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “We have been working out each day and the students have been great,” he said. “They have to wear a mask

the entire time and practice social distancing. We are maintaining distance. Huddles are quick. We have been working with it and we have been doing all we can to maintain safety.”

The main thing is we wanted just to get them back out here, being involved and back in school. ~ Ted Hirning, SHHS Athletic Director

Approximately 65 kids have turned out for SHHS football for the short fall season that will see five competitive games, which will include matchups against Hillsboro, Wilsonville, Canby, Forest Grove and Scappoose. “The main thing is we wanted just to get them back out here, being involved and back in school,” Hirning said. “They’ve been gone at home for so long and they just want to get back

with their peers and their coaches. That is our priority, just to get them engaged this year, and we are using this opportunity as the platform to do that.” Hirning said high school sports can be a motivation for the students. “It keeps them engaged in school, he said. “That’s their carrot. In athletics, they have to stay eligible and they like being on the field and on the court and engaged in the games and the competition.” Participating in sports involves the students both in the classroom and in life, according to Hirning. “They are building life skills, such as team work, that helps them go on, so that is a huge character development that we focus on,” he said. SHHS head football coach Cory Young said even though the fall football season is different this year, it is still important for senior players. “They have the opportunity to play one last time with their buddies,” Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

­­­­ See SPORTS Page A7

St. Helens Head Football Coach Cory Young adjusts the helmet for a student player heading into football practice.

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

The St. Helens High School football team at practice during a light rain on Monday afternoon.

Mayor pushes for fireworks show STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

Fourth of July fireworks may return to St. Helens this year, pending further discussion and information. Mayor Rick Scholl has instructed Tina Curry, city event coordinator, to return to the city council with more information about what it would take for the event to be hosted. In a Feb. 17 discussion, Scholl suggested hosting a tailgate party at the waterfront, estimating that 500 cars, each paying a $20 admission fee, could raise enough money for a reasonable firework show. To cut costs, Scholl suggested the show be held on the city-side of the water instead of on a barge or on Sand Island. “I love Fourth of July, Independence Day— our birthday, United States,” Scholl said. “Already seeing that Vancouver canceled already it’s just frustrating to me.” The uncertainty about what the case rate and COVID-19 status will

St. Helens is exploring options to bring the annual Fourth of July fireworks show back to town this year.

be like in the county by July, and what scale of events will be permitted, presents a challenge when planning for future events. Requiring cars in order to access the show would ensure 6 feet of distance could be maintained, Scholl said.

“I think it’s definitely doable,” he said. The city needs to make a decision before the end of March in order to put down a deposit for the fireworks through Western Display Fireworks. The Fourth of July fireworks

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show was postponed last year due to the restrictions associated with the pandemic and uncertainty of timelines. The city council considered moving the display to December during the Christmas Ships event, but did not end up moving forward with

that plan. Last year wasn’t the only year fireworks have been absent from St. Helens during Independence Day celebrations. In 2012, a city fireworks committee was unable to raise the $20,000 needed to host the display— which has typically been funded entirely through donations and sponsorships. However, fireworks did make a bang in St. Helens later that summer when the Maritime Heritage Festival organizers stepped in to raise $7,500 for a smaller display hosted over a week later, to coincide with the opening of the festival. Curry said her biggest concern is that the city would not be able to prevent residents from walking into the parking area to view the show and crowding the area beyond distancing requirements. It was decided that a community survey on the topic would be dispersed to gauge interest. ­­­­ See FIREWORKS Page A5

St. Helens, Scappoose lead county population growth JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

St. Helens leads Columbia County cities in population, at 13,915, with Scappoose second at 7,360, according to the latest report from the Oregon Employment Department. The report, by Oregon Employment Regional Economist Erik

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Knoder, shows Clatskanie with a population of 1,795; Rainier at 1,940; Columbia City at 1,980; Vernonia at 2,110; and Prescott at 55. Most of Columbia County’s population increase has been concentrated in its southern portion, such as Scappoose and St. Helens, where commuting distances to the core Portland job market are shorter, and in unincorporated parts of the county. Knoder said unincorporated areas of Columbia County account for 52% of the growth in the county since 2010. About 45% of the county’s population resides in unincorporated areas. Most of Columbia County’s population is on the flat bottomlands next to the Columbia River. The only major interior community is Vernonia, located in the southwest portion of the county. Vernonia has experienced a drop in population since 2010, probably due in part to a large flood the town experienced. Despite being hit hard by the Great Recession, Knoder said Columbia County has been adding people at a good clip. “Columbia’s population growth is fueled by its proximity to the rest of the Portland metropolitan area,” Knoder said. “Housing in the county is typically much less expensive than in adjoining Washington County, which is attractive to commuters.”

The Columbia River is one of the attractions helping boost population growth at St. Helens.

Columbia County’s population grew by 530 in 2020, about 300 less than in 2019. This was still more people than any other county in the region. Northwest numbers The population of Northwest Oregon, including Columbia, Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln and Benton counties, increased by 1,035 to an estimated 262,235 in 2020. The average annualized growth rate since 2010 has been 0.7%, similar to the prior decade and much slower than the 1.5% an-

nual growth during the 1990s. Growth in the region has slipped back to similar numbers in 2012 when the region was starting to recover from the Great Recession. Knoder said the population growth appears tied to the economic performance in the region. The region grew by 2,000 or more people each year from 2005 through 2007. It slowed as immigration slowed during the recession and early recovery. In 2014 population growth jumped by 1,900 and growth had been more than that every year until 2020. All five counties in Northwest

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

Oregon have been growing over the long run and are expected to continue doing so, Knoder’s report states. Benton County Benton County (aka the Corvallis Metropolitan Area) provided 36% of the area’s total population and 29% of the growth in 2020. The county’s resident population increased by 305 in 2020. ­­­­ See POPULATION Page A11

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Wednesday, February 24, 2021

3 selected as Employees of the Year STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

Each year, the city of St. Helens names an employee of the year who consistently goes above and beyond for the public and fellow co-workers. Nominations are submitted by city employees and then reviewed by a panel of community members to make a final selection. Normally, one employee stands out from the rest of the nominees. However, for 2020, the city’s community review panel chose three employees who demonstrated outstanding work ethic and customer service. The city assembled a panel of five community members who are not related to the city of St. Helens to be judges. The panel was asked to set aside all bias and judge the nominees solely based on the nominations received, emphasizing the quality of the nomination and employee rather than the quantity of nominations. Six employees were nominated by their peers and three were selected for the award. The 2020 City of St. Helens employees of the year are engineering project manager Sharon Darroux, recreation

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Sharon Darroux.

Shanna Duggan.

manager Shanna Duggan, and youth librarian Gretchen Kolderup.

ties, she initiated the creation of a roadway database to track problem areas in the city. The database is used to rank road issues so that repairs are completed more efficiently. Her skills with GIS have been utilized not only for engineering projects, but also to create maps for the St. Helens Police Department, municipal court, St. Helens Public Library, public works operation crews, wastewater treatment plant, and community and civic events. Darroux is also an active participant and member of the city’s wellness committee, which was formed to encourage healthy lifestyle choices among employees.

Sharon Darroux Sharon Darroux has worked at the city of St. Helens for over 11 years. She was originally hired as a part-time, term-limited lateral rehab program coordinator in 2009. She was hired full time in 2012 as an engineering technician II. Her job was then reclassified in 2015 to engineering project manager. Darroux’s nomination noted that she never shies away from accepting a challenge or new responsibility. In addition to her engineering division du-

Gretchen Kolderup.

Shanna Duggan / Gretchen Kolderup Recreation Manager Shanna Duggan and Youth Librarian Gretchen Kolderup were jointly nominated for an Employee of the Year award for their coordinated effort to offer youth activities to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Duggan has worked for the city for 10 years. She was hired in December 2010 as a utility billing specialist. In 2018, she transitioned to working part time in the utility billing division and part time as a recreation coordinator when the city first created its recreation program. She was

promoted to a full-time position as the city’s recreation manager in July 2019. Youth Librarian Gretchen Kolderup has worked for the city for almost five years. She was hired in April 2016 as a librarian to oversee the St. Helens Public Library’s youth services. Duggan and Kolderup have worked in partnership during the COVID-19 pandemic to leverage library and recreation resources to create additional family activities in St. Helens. Their nomination noted their deep commitment to the missions of the library and recreation program and their commendable ability to quickly adapt to serve the families of St. Helens. Together, they found funding and support from eight community partners to provide 1,500 free activity kits to elementary school-aged children. Kits were distributed from June to August 2020 at the recreation center and through the Columbia Pacific Food Bank’s kid box program. Each kit contained at least two developmentally-appropriate enrichment activities. Duggan and Kolderup also collaborated to create a Story Stroll at McCormick Park pro-

gram, Storytime and Art in the Park, and a pop-up Let’s Play program that included physical activities, art, and STEM challenges available on a rotating schedule at Godfrey, Campbell and McCormick Parks. Employee of the Year background The St. Helens Employee of the Year program was implemented in 2013. An employee of the year is someone who consistently exemplifies behaviors that reflect favorably on the city. He or she is an employee that goes above and beyond on a regular basis; someone who goes the extra mile to help customers, both internally and externally; responds to inquiries in an efficient and timely manner; regularly participates in employee-related events; puts the city’s interests and the interests of his or her co-workers above their own; has an exemplary attendance record; behaves off duty in a manner that reflects positively on the city since city employees are public officials even outside work; has a positive attitude no matter the circumstances; and is noticed by people in and out of the organization.

Day Breakers honor OSP trooper

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Kiwanis St. Helens Day Breakers President Steve Howell presents Oregon State Police Senior Trooper Robin May with the groups Community Cares Award at a recent ceremony in St. Helens. JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

Oregon State Police Trooper Robin May is the latest recipient of the Community Cares Award. The award was first presented in October 2020 to Julie McCartney from SAFE (Support, Advocacy, Freedom and Empowerment)— a Columbia County women’s resource center based in St. Helens. “The award was created by the members of the Day Breakers as a means of recognizing unsung heroes in our community,” Day Breakers Lynn Chiotti said. “Often awards are given by groups to those we already know about. This is for those we seldom think of as heroes.” Chiotti said the membership selects the recipient from names of people that have been submitted. The criteria varies, depending on the group or individual the Kiwanis wish to recognize. During the award presentation, held Wednesday, Feb. 17, the Day Breakers provided the following background of May’s career: “Arriving almost 25 years ago to Columbia County, Robin Hall immediately had a

major impact on law enforcement. First stationed at the OSP worksite in Columbia City as one of approximately 10 road Troopers for Oregon State Police, she then moved with the unit to Scappoose and eventually to the current worksite in the St. Helens Industrial Park. As a rookie trooper, Robin immediately made an impact because of her compassion and outreach to the community. She was a participant in two wet labs training law enforcement on handling DUII arrests, stressing what they need to look for as impairment. Robin is known for her work ethic, filing reports that stand up in court when impaired drivers are prosecuted. After her marriage to Jimmy May, she is now Senior Trooper Robin May, with a family, raising a daughter. She shows her compassionate side when dealing with stressful situations, such as assaults, robberies and impaired driving crashes involving death and serious injuries. Working with both victims and offenders, she explains laws and penalties in terms everyone could understand. She often provides a shoulder to cry on at a stressful scene. Recently, Robin began speaking on the Columbia County DUII

Victim Impact Panel, sharing the impact crashes have not only on the victims, but also those in law enforcement. She has continued to expand her knowledge with advanced training in DUII and drug recognition, leading to conducting local trainings for advanced DUII and marijuana. Next time you are out on Highway 30 and see Robin and other troopers, please give them a wave of thanks. They are doing a job keeping us all safe. Thank you, Robin May.” The Kiwanis St. Helens Day Breakers President Steve Howell presented May with the award. It reads: “For outstanding contribution to the safety of our community, through her dedication and professionalism. She is compassionate, caring for those she encounters. She also educates the public and other law enforcement officers by speaking on the victim impact panel, and conducting training that improves officer performance. Robin is a true Hero and gem to all of us.” The Day Breakers are planning to make another Caring Community Award presentation in April, which is Volunteer Recognition month.

COVID COMMUNITY OUTREACH TESTING OHSU IS OFFERING COVID TESTING AT NO COST TO YOU!

Location: St. Helens High School, 2375 Gable Rd., St. Helens, OR Beginning Wednesday, March 3, the event will be moved to the Columbia County Fairgrounds located at 58892 Saulser Road. Dates: Wednesdays Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Sign up: www.ohsu.edu/COVIDVans

SIGN UP TO GET YOUR TEST AT THIS LOCATION How do I get tested? - Go to URL to sign up for your timeslot. - Please carefully follow registration and scheduling instructions. What else do I need to know? - This is an outdoor testing event, so please dress for the weather. - Testing is for those older than 2 months. - If you tested positive before and do NOT have symptoms, you must wait 90+ days before getting another test. - COVID vaccine will not be provided at these events.

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State plans more equitable vaccine distribution ZACK DEMARS worldnews3@countrymedia.net

Oregon is faring better than other states during the COVID-19 pandemic — but not by every measure. The outlook During a press conference Feb. 19, state health officials discussed plans to address racial and ethnic disparities in who’s getting the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as other news about the status of the pandemic across the state. “At a minimum, we need to make sure our vaccinations proportionately reflect the faces of our communities,” said Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen. “But we want to do more. Our COVID-19 efforts should be a model for how we’re eliminating health disparities in Oregon.” Allen pointed to a statistics which show the inequities in Oregon’s vaccine distribution. He said the state’s Latino population has the most pronounced disparities: While Latinos make up 13% of the population and 26% of the state’s COVID-19 cases, Allen said the group only accounts for about 5%

of the vaccines administered to date. On the other hand, white people make up 75% of the population and about half of the state’s virus cases, but account for 74% of the vaccines distributed, Allen said. Allen went on to say that the effects of the pandemic have hit communities of color the hardest, particularly because those communities tend to see higher rates of underlying conditions due to uneven access to care and a history of unfair treatment. “I want to be perfectly clear, health inequities are the product of systemic racism, toxic stress, the targeted marketing of harmful products like tobacco and sugary beverages, and other factors. This is not about personal choice,” Allen said. “This is about the weight of larger social inequities that cut short lives and opportunity more often for people in communities of color.” In response, Allen said the state would promote a more equitable distribution of COVID-19 doses across the state by prioritizing pharmacies and federally qualified health centers which serve communities disproportionately impacted by the virus. “Just by simple virtue of

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Despite delays in doses of the Moderna vaccine due to winter storms across the country, OHA officials said the state remains on track with its vaccination timetables.

who’s eligible, we’ll begin to be able to start addressing that,” Allen said. Doses up, cases down State officials on Friday shared a number of positive data points which suggest Oregon is trending in a better direction in the pandemic than many other states across the country. Gov. Kate Brown pointed to the number of schools which have reopened in Oregon as a positive. Over 130,000 students are back in classrooms, more than

double the number than eight weeks earlier when Brown directed officials to prioritize school reopenings, the governor said. “Our kids will benefit greatly from these efforts,” Brown said. “It’s my expectation that more schools will bring students back for in-person learning in the coming weeks.” Those classroom returns have largely been driven by significant decreases in the state’s rate of new virus cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the past several weeks.

According to State Epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger, the seven-day rolling average of daily cases is down by two-thirds since the beginning of the year, and virus hospitalizations have dropped by more than half in the same time. The state’s test positivity rate is down to its lowest point since the state changed how it calculates the figure in mid-November, too, Sidelinger said. “The downward data trends in cases, hospitalizations and percent positivity reflect the shared sacrifice of Oregonians, and the collaborative efforts of Oregonians to protect their families and their communities by wearing masks, limiting indoor gatherings and keeping physical distance,” Sidelinger said. One number is steadily increasing, though: The state’s expected allocation of COVID-19 vaccine doses. Despite delays in doses of the Moderna vaccine due to winter storms across the country, OHA officials said the state remains on track with its vaccination timetables. That means people over 70 will be eligible for the vaccine starting Feb. 22, and those over 65 will be eligible

March 1, according to Allen. “I want to ask people who are newly eligible the same thing I’ve asked everyone who’s come before them: Please be patient,” Allen said. “Vaccines remain limited. We’re getting more doses, but we still don’t have enough to vaccinate everyone on demand.” Allen said the state expects to receive about 107,000 total doses per week starting next week, up from around 83,000 the week before (not accounting for weather-delayed shipments). As always, the state officials said there’s still risk of the virus spreading faster across the state with new variants or reduced precautionary measures. Individuals should continue wearing masks, social distancing and staying home when sick, and anyone who escaped power outages or winter storms by sheltering in someone else’s home should be vigilant for virus symptoms and get tested if they appear, Brown said. Read more about the COVID-19 pandemic at thechronicleonline.com and follow in-depth coverage in the Wednesday print editions of The Chronicle.

County COVID-19 case rate up slightly STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

Columbia County’s COVID-19 case rate has risen slightly in the most recent two-week period, but not enough to move the county back up to ‘extreme risk.’ Both the county’s case rate and test positivity rate have risen since the last risk assessment two weeks ago. The county is currently in ‘high risk,’ and will remain there for at least another two weeks. Had new cases dramatically increased or decreased, the county would be changing risk levels this Friday, but the numbers have stayed within the ‘high risk’ range. From Feb. 6-20, there were 77 new cases of

COVID-19 in the county, which puts the county at a case rate of 146 per 100,000 people. The test positivity rate was 5.3% for that same time period. High risk counties need a case rate between 100-200 new cases reported over 14 days, and a test positivity rate between 8% to 10%, so Columbia County is still safely in ‘high risk’ territory, which allows restaurants to operate with indoor dining at 25% capacity. The last time the county’s risk level was assessed by the state two weeks ago, there were 69 new cases reported over 14 days (from Jan. 24-Feb. 6) which put the case rate at 130.8 per 100,000 people and the test positivity rate was 4.2%. If cases in the county

continue to trend higher, there is a chance the county could move back up to ‘extreme risk’ and have stricter restrictions reinstated. If cases lower enough in the county, it could move down to ‘moderate risk’ and restaurants and indoor activities could expand capacity to 50%, among other eases of rules. As of now, the county will remain in the ‘high risk’ category until the next risk assessment on March 9; any changes to the risk level will take effect on March 11. The framework The state’s risk level framework framework tracks each county’s COVID-19 case rate and test positivity rate over a two-week period

to determine what set of restrictions that county will follow to reduce the spread of COVID-19. There are four levels: extreme risk, high risk, moderate risk and lower risk. In high risk, indoor dining and indoor entertainment is allowed at 25% capacity. The number of people allowed to participate in outdoor events is also expanded from 50 to 75. Case totals Within Columbia County, there have been 1,217 cases of COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic, and 21 pandemic-related deaths as of Feb. 22. The statewide total number of cases is 153,134 and the death toll at 2,155.

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The county case rate is low enough to remain in high risk, but slightly higher than the previous two weeks.

Cruise-in to support local businesses

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A cruise-in is planned for Saturday, Feb. 27, in Scappoose to show support for local businesses. JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

A Scappoose woman who launched community parades to celebrate the Christmas holidays in St. Helens and Scappoose is planning another such event in an effort to show community support for local businesses and the Columbia Pacific Food Bank. Angela Wayman said the event will be a cruisein designed to connect and rebuild the community. “I grew up here,” Wayman said, “and watching the many people and places fall apart and lose everything, just doesn’t sit well with me. There are many people in the community like myself that want to help but don’t know how, many that just can’t sit and watch.” Wayman calls the cruisein the best of all worlds. “There are so many people that are down and feeling hopeless, running the parade route from the Spirit of Christmas back in December allows us to get into a lot of neighborhoods

and spread joy and love to others,” she said. “I called out all classics on this one. To me, that is anything of our roots that has made us who we are. The cars, jeeps, trucks, motorcycles, bikes, farm equipment, our old ways and values.” The cruise-in is set for 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, starting at Scappoose Sand and Gravel at 33485 NE Crown Zellerbach Logging Road in Scappoose and the route will be the same as her Christmas Parade that traveled through Scappoose neighborhoods. “We will be making our way through the community spreading love and joy to others while also benefiting our local businesses and the Columbia Pacific Food Bank,” Wayman said. “I am charging a registration fee per vehicle and all the money from that will go to help our small businesses.” The cruise-in fee is $25 for a truck and trailer, $20 for a single vehicle, and $10 for motorcycles. Wayman said the Columbia Pacific Food Bank trailer will participate in the cruise-

in with curbside pickup of nonperishable food items for those in need in the community. “There is always a need and together in December we picked up over 4,000 pounds of food, between the two cities (Scappoose and St. Helens),” Wayman said. “Being out there for the spirit of Christmas Parade was absolutely amazing, so many people smiling and over joyed with happiness. I think people forgot about things happening in the world for a little while, which we all needed. I think the parade gave people hope, and love when they needed it most.” For more information, contact Wyman at waymaylc@outlook.com Community Cruise-in 1 p.m. Feb. 27 Start at Scappoose Sand and Gravel 33485 NE Crown Zellerback Road Scappoose Columbia County’s trusted local news source

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Viewpoints

Working through 3,000 bills BRAD WITT Chronicle Guest Article

Work at the Capitol was disrupted last week due to the severe winter storm that blanketed the Pacific Northwest with ice and snow, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power, internet and disrupting travel across the region. Back on track House District 31 saw heavy snowfall, freezing rain, and black ice creating treacherous conditions. Salem was hard hit as well, with power outages and storm damage resulting in the closure of the state Capitol on Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 15 and 16. Things are slowly getting back on track with power restoration, but even when there is electricity there is not always internet service, so remote committee work is even more challenging. Oregon voters adopted annual sessions in 2010 and mandated that the legislature would meet for a maximum of 160 days in odd numbered years and 35 days in even numbered years. This year’s session began January 19, and by law must end no later than June 28 at 11:59pm. In order for a bill to become law it must work through the committee process in both the House and Senate chambers.

Legislative process For instance, if a bill is introduced in the House, it is then assigned to a House committee where a public hearing and work session may be held. The bill and amendments are considered, and then if the bill is voted out of committee it moves to the chamber floor where it is read three times before a floor vote. If approved, the bill then moves to the Senate and repeats the process. If the bill is amended in the second chamber it must come back to the first chamber for concurrence. After that it moves to the Governor’s office for consideration. Every step takes time, and often there is not enough time for a bill to make it through the process. Some bills are then introduced in multiple legislative sessions before they become law. This year there are more than 3,000 bills that are being introduced for consideration, and even before the stormcaused shut down, we knew we did not have enough time to get to all of them during the 2021 Legislative session. We are working hard to prioritize and hear the bills that have the greatest impact and benefit for the people of Oregon. Addressing massive problems This has been a challenging year with school closures and economic slowdowns caused by the pandemic,

an unprecedented September wildfire conflagration, and record unemployment. Legislators need to address these massive problems, and it means that some pieces of legislation will have to wait for another session. There are difficult decisions ahead and I’m hoping to hear from you on issues under consideration. Due to the COVID-19 health protection restrictions, the Capitol building remains closed to the public. Committee work is being done remotely, and the public is still able to weigh in on bills and other issues. This can be done in writing, by phone or by computer link-up. It has never been more important to be a part of the process. Be engaged If you have concerns or comment about a state issue, agency or proposed legislation, please contact my office. It is my privilege to represent you in the House of Representatives as we undertake this important work together. Rep. Brad Witt serves House District 31. He may be reached at: • Email: Rep.BradWitt@ oregonlegislature.gov • Telephone: 503-9861431 • 900 Court St NE, H-382, Salem, OR, 97301 • Website: www.oregonlegislature.gov/witt

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Voices of the Community The country’s flight The first seven years of my military service I worked in avionics servicing communication, navigation, and flight control systems. There are three physical laws of flight; yaw, pitch and roll which must all work together for a plane to maintain flight. These three laws can also be applied to politics.

Yaw points the plane (country) in the direction the pilot (administration) wants to go. Pitch is used to lower or raise altitude (economy), nose (interest rate) down gains speed, nose (interest rate) up reduces speed. Roll is used to maintain left and right balance during maneuvering, to yaw right you need to roll right to maintain flight (social) stability. For years American politics have been like an airline whose pilots who

no longer maintain their flight training requirements and planes which no longer meet minimum maintenance requirements. We’ve had a president who applied too much right pedal, a congress which hasn’t applied enough right stick, and an economy which has been placed nose down too long. Now we have a president who is applying too much left pedal, a congress who isn’t applying enough left stick and still has the nose pointed down. It’s no

wonder our country is losing its stability. Joe Turner Columbia City

Community safety is vital As the mother of two small children, to me, community safety means that all of our kids are safe to walk to the park, are safe when we are back in school, and that we

support safety for all of our neighbors. I have been learning more about the need for a public safety facility that offers the tools and a safe environment for our officers and court and space for wrap around supports for families that experience crime. We need to have the backs of our police officers so that they can respond when the call for help comes in. St. Helens is where we choose to raise our family because of safety, livability and an affordable cost of liv-

ing. Yes, raising a family strains our budget, but our city is growing and welcoming more neighbors and we need to make sure that our public safety system keeps up. I am impressed that our city is reaching out, understanding that many struggle financially, and prioritizing affordability. I am willing to step up and pay for public safety on my monthly utility bill. Jen Kehoe St. Helens

Garden Plots: Ice storm lessons learned CHIP BUBL Chronicle Guest Article

Ice storm lessons We get an ice storm about once every 10 years and were probably overdue. I really thought we had escaped again when we weren’t “iced” early in the storm cycle but communities to the south and east of us were. The Sunday icing was not as heavy as it could have been, but it was bad enough. Trees broke and/or toppled on houses, structures, power lines, and roads. Many homes were without power for several days. The line crews that worked diligently to get power restored were fantastic by all accounts. And I think preventative maintenance along the power lines over the last ~10 years paid dividends. So what are some of the lessons that we learned? Some trees are just plain ice-fragile and probably aren’t the best landscape trees. They include birch (also weakened by the bronze birch borer but that is another story), poplars and cottonwoods, big leaf maples, black and honey locusts, walnuts, and mimosas. Douglas fir toppled by the droves. They have amazingly shallow root systems and quite a few have some level of root rot that is the residue of planting Douglas

firs repeatedly without other tree crops to break the root disease cycle. Our white (Garry) oaks also seem more prone to limb shedding than other oaks. There are some things we can do to reduce risk, even with “fragile” trees. Pruning to thin out some limbs and branches will lighten an ice load. On young trees, we can save limbs that attach to the trunk at a good branch angle (~45 degrees) and eliminate ones that are much more acutely attached. The more upright limb attachments have what is called a “bark inclusion” where the limb joins the trunk, making for a weaker connection. Small trees that topple over can sometimes be pulled upright but it isn’t easy and never do it with a vehicle and a chain. I know several who bent the frame of their trucks to save a tree. Trees that split down the middle generally are poor salvage prospects. Some stronger landscape trees include white oaks (but as noted above, our native species is touchy), red maple, gingko, and sweetgum. Some other things we learn from these events are the value of good friends and neighbors and the need to be prepared to survive without external food, heat, and water for several days if needed. Plan for our next emergency now.

Dormant sprays

Most fruit care lists talk about winter dormant sprays. But there is some confusion about which ones to use and what they accomplish. The most important ones are used on blueberries and the cultivated blackberry group (Marion, Logan, Boysen, etc.) for disease control. The best choices are wettable sulfur, lime sulfur (if you can find it) or the copper sprays. All are considered “organic” and

have been used for years. There is a misconception that you can control apple scab and the “worms” in apples by sprays this time of year. They need to be controlled later in the season. You can apply a “scab” spray just before the apple flower buds open and get some control but you get more benefit by applying after the fruit is set. Scab incidence

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is strongly determined by weather. The wetter the spring, the worse the scab. Repeat spraying on dry days in a wet spring will help. Once we get into our dry summer, scab doesn’t get worse. If you are just planting a fruit orchard, consider planting scab resistant varieties. There are many excel-lent choices and you can ignore these scab control instructions. There are two major “worms” in apples. The “worm” (actually a caterpillar) that

makes the large path to the core is the larva of the codling moth. The males and females can fly fairly long distances so you can be getting codling moth parties from many sources. But the party doesn’t start until there are apples on the tree since that is what the caterpillars eat. So spraying for them doesn’t make sense until about a month after full bloom. For us, that

is usually about the middle of May unless the spring has been unusually warm or cold. A repeat spray is done in about three weeks and one in early July. The July spray also catches the emergence of the second “worm”, the apple maggot. This rascal is the product of a fly that waits until the fruit is fairly far along and then gets in a breeding mood. Eggs are deposited on the apple and the little maggots burrow in and wander about the flesh making a few (or in bad years) lots of tiny tunnels. For this pest, you might need one more spray in early August. The best choice for homeowners are products that contain “spinosad” as the active ingredient. This is a compound produced by fermentation of a microorganism and is considered an organic product. It is not perfect but pretty good if used appropriately. As always, read and follow all label instructions. Picture from University of South Florida ETC collection. Have questions? If you have questions on any of these topics or other home garden and/ or farm questions, please contact Chip Bubl, Oregon State University Extension office in St. Helens at 503 397-3462 or at chip.bubl@ oregonstate.edu.

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The Oregon State University Extension office in Columbia County publishes a monthly newsletter on gardening and farming topics (called County Living) written/edited by yours truly. All you need to do is ask for it and it will be mailed or emailed to you. Call 503 397-3462 to be put on the list. Alternatively, you can find it on the web at extension.oregonstate.edu/columbia and click on newsletters. Many Extension publications available online Are you putting up salsa, saving seeds, or thinking about planting grapes? OSU has a large number of its publications available for free download. Just go to catalog. extension.oregonstate.edu. Click on publications and start exploring. The Extension Service offers its programs and materials equally to all people. Contact information for the Extension office Oregon State University Extension Service – Columbia County • Address: 505 N. Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051 • Phone: 503-397-3462 • Email: chip.bubl@ oregonstate.edu SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 1 month in/out county: $8 One year in county: $60 One year out of county: $80

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Wednesday, February 24, 2021

A5

Timber tax revisions could earn county $5.8M STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

A group of citizens lobbying Oregon legislators are pressing to reverse the timber tax cuts that were imposed in the 1990s. Representatives from the group, Tax Fairness Oregon, came before the Columbia County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 10 to explain the effort and seek support. Investigation The move largely follows an Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) and Pro Publica investigation into Oregon’s timber taxes. Part of the investigation estimated each of the state’s western county’s revenue loss since the severance tax was taken away in 1991. For Columbia County, the estimate federal payment loss came to $29.9 million and the estimated severance tax loss came to $134.5 million, according to data from Pro Publica. The timber tax cuts are es-

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Efforts are underway to reverse timber taxes in Oregon. The result could mean millions in additional revenue for Columbia County.

timated to have cost counties over $3 billion over the past 30 years, the news agency reported. The Endangered Species Act reduced logging on federal land in an effort to protect the northern spot-

ted owl. Private forestland owners, large timber owning companies like Weyerhauser, used to pay severance tax on harvested timber at a rate of 6.5% which was lowered to 3.2% in 1992. Tax Fairness Oregon

founder Jody Wiser estimated that the county could expect $5.8 million in revenue if the harvest tax was brought back at 6% and assuming a similar level of logging today as there was in 1997 with a 60% return in tax rate. She also

said that Oregon is behind its neighboring states in timber tax, like Washington. “Oregon has more forestland with more trees harvested, but severance tax—harvest tax— collects one third of what Washington does,” Wiser said. A citizens’ lead effort has resulted in Senate Bill 288. Senate Bill 288 is the result, and if enacted would return 60% of the tax to counties as property tax. Five percent of the collected tax would go toward funding the Department of Environmental Quality to protect drinking water in logged forests; 20% would go toward water infrastructure, treatment facilities, watershed improvements and land acquisition; and 15% would go toward community emergency preparedness Ecological impact Catherine Thomasson, retired director of Physicians for Social Responsibility and a climate change activist, said the new timber tax bills being introduced will also help pro-

tect local drinking watersheds for communities, some which have been threatened by current logging practices. “Forests are so great at capturing water, storing water and releasing it over time,” Thomasson said. “Roads cause the most persistent damage to drinking water sources. Landslides add silt to water sources which can be expensive and unhealthy to filter out with chemicals.” Logging laws require a 20 foot tree buffer to left around streams, but Thomasson said the buffer is insufficient as the trees are vulnerable to wind and can fall into the water source, adding silt and removing shade. Removing shade warms the water, which can cause algae blooms. By imposing a severance tax, Thomasson hopes the tax incentives will protect some of the older trees which require less water. Follow the proposed timber tax legislation at oregonlegislature.gov/citizen_engagement/Pages/Finda-Bill.aspx

2021 Spring political season begins JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

The filing deadline for candidates running for local districts in Oregon for the May 18 election is March 18 and already there is interest for the Port of Columbia County Board. Position 5, held by Chris Iverson, and Position 4, held by Robert Keyser, are opening. Lifelong Columbia County resident Brian Fawcett has filed to run for port board Position 5. According to the Port of Columbia County’s website, there are five commissioners elected to four-year terms by the voters of the Port dis-

trict. The board serves as the governing body for the Port of Columbia County. Commissioners are responsible for setting port policy, overseeing the executive director, adopting the annual budget, approving all major expenditures, and developing and approving short and long-range plans for the port. Commissioners are accountable to the citizens within the port district. Chris Iverson currently holds Position 5 on the port board. Fawcett is a professional engineer and has worked at Clatskanie PUD since 2011, where he is currently the utility’s conservation and

key accounts lead and works with industrial accounts and governmental entities on economic development, energy efficiency, and electric vehicle programs. In a release, Fawcett said he also serves on the Port of Columbia County Scappoose Bay Marine Park Advisory Committee, Rainier Chamber of Commerce Board, and Hope of Rainier Food Pantry Board. “I have the experience in industrial infrastructure and economic development projects that makes ideal candidate for Port Commissioner,” Fawcett said. “My mission as port commissioner will be to help bring

well-paying jobs to the county and promote port assets that provide recreational opportunities for our citizens and visitors. Local jobs afford our residents more time to be with their families, frequent local businesses, and become more involved in building a thriving community.” Fawcett graduated from St. Helens High School and has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Oregon State University. He currently lives in Prescott with his wife Meagan and his two step sons. Fawcett describes himself as an avid fisherman, outdoorsman, and youth basketball coach.

Brian Fawcett

Courtesy photo

Governor declares abnormal market disruption due to storm STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

Gov. Kate Brown has issued Executive Order 21-03, declaring an abnormal market disruption as a result of the severe winter weather emergency in nine Oregon counties. The order is in response to reports of unusual increases in lodging rates

for Oregonians who have sought temporary stays until power can be restored at their homes. “During a time when so many Oregonians have been without power for days, it is absolutely unacceptable to price gouge those who are seeking a warm, safe place to stay until power is back on in their homes,” Brown said. “This order empowers the Attorney

General and the Oregon Department of Justice to investigate these instances and take appropriate action if businesses are found to be in violation.” “We appreciate Oregon’s lodging businesses that have provided warmth and shelter to families without power due to the President’s Day weekend storm that hit much of the state,” Oregon Attorney Gen-

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eral Ellen Rosenblum said. “However, price gouging is illegal. Please consider this a clear message to businesses that you may not raise the price of lodging, or any other goods or services, due to increased demand from this storm. If anyone feels they have been the victim of price gouging, please contact our Consumer Protection Hotline right away.”

FIREWORKS

From Page A1

“I’m hearing support to do it if we can,” City Administrator John Walsh said. The issue will be discussed further at the March 3 City Council meeting. City events Curry updated the city council on the plans for summer events this year. In August the city will host a sandcastle competition on Sand Island. Curry said award-winning castle builders will come

Oregonians who believe they have been subjected to excessive prices for lodging or essential consumer goods and services due to this disruption can report these instances to the Oregon Department of Justice through the agency’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 877-877-9392. Oregonians can also visit www.OregonConsumer. gov for more information.

The Oregon Department of Justice has the authority to investigate unlawful trade practices. The executive order is in addition to, and does not replace, Executive Order 20-15 or Executive Order 20-57, which declared an abnormal market disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Labor Day wildfires. These orders remain in effect.

to the area and create sand sculptures that residents can view over a weekend and have the opportunity to learn how to create a sandcastle of their own from the experts. “It will be, I think, really fun and encourage people to get outdoors,” Curry said. “They don’t have to crowd together, they don’t have to anything but really have an enjoyable day.” She said there will also be a ‘Zorb ball experience’ offered throughout the summer in a city park. Zorb balls are large, transparent plastic balls people climb into and roll around inside— like a super-sized hamster ball. She

said the balls will be sanitized between each use and the dimensions of the balls themselves ensure distancing. For 13 Nights on the River, Curry said a drive-in method will be used to keep people distanced and the stage will be offset on the waterfront. “I’m just anticipating that we can’t have a big bunch of people together again,” she said. “It might happen, it might not happen. I’m kind of preparing for worst case scenario.” People will be able to sit in lawn chairs around their cars but will be required to stay in their designated area to avoid mixing families, she said.

Pet

of the Month Sookie & Aya Columbia County Fair and Rodeo dates have changed! The New dates are now: July 12th, 2021 - July 18th, 2021. Fair schedule coming soon!

Contact Columbia Humane Society Website: columbiahumane.com Phone: 503-397-4353

Sookie (4 years) & Aya (2 years) are a sweet motherdaughter duo that were surrendered when their family could no longer care for them. Because they are such a bonded pair, they need to be adopted together.

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Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Obituaries Janis Darlene Fletcher

Ronald Gene Hilsinger

Dec. 23, 1942 ~ Feb. 1, 2021

Janis Darlene Fletcher, 78, of Rainier Oregon, passed away on February 1st in Arizona. Janis was born Dec. 23, 1942 in Portland Oregon, to Lavinia & Edwin Wendt. She Grew up in St. Helens and attended St. Helens schools. Janis married Ronald Fletcher, on Nov. 10, 1963 in St. Helens Oregon. They lived for a time in Clatskanie and then moved to the family farm in Goble, where she was a housewife and mother, raising four children, doing farm chores, and growing a large garden annually. Janis was also active for many years in the Beaver Homes Grange and was a life member. She enjoyed playing Pinochle, and Square Dancing. Janis was also immensely proud of her service being a volunteer firefighter and EMT for the Rainier Rural Fire District from the 1980’s to 2007 when she retired. Ron & Janis did park hosting

for the Oregon state parks, at Farewell Bend state park, for a few years before they sold the farm and became full time snowbirds in 2008. Janis called Salome, Arizona her new home from then on and loved the warmer and sunnier climate it offered, enjoying quad riding in the desert, and finding desert creatures. Janis was especially proud of her grandchildren and loved to show the

Sept. 22, 1940 ~ Feb. 3, 2021

photo album she kept of all of them. Towards the end you had to help her name them all in the photos, but she still knew she loved them. She was especially fond of the paintings her mother did also. When they were up here for the summer, she was known to mark off days on the calendar ahead of time to try to trick dad into going back to Arizona earlier. Janis was survived by her husband of 57 years, Ron Fletcher; children, daughter Robin, son-in-law Russell Goosey, son Rodrick, daughter-in-law Vickie Fletcher, son Richard, daughter-in-law Tammy Fletcher, daughter Raquel Ade; eight grandchildren; four great grandchildren; her sister Kaylene Covel; and brother-in-law Robert Covel. Janis got her angel wings on Feb. 1, 2021. Love you Mom. A celebration of life will be held this summer.

Kevin Charles Kent

Jan. 1, 1957 ~ Feb. 14, 2021 Kevin Charles Kent was taken from us suddenly and much too soon on Feb. 14, 2021. Kevin was born on Jan. 1, 1957 to Anzel Riley Kent and Helen Mae Kent in Lebanon, Oregon and shortly thereafter they relocated to St. Helens, Oregon. His father Anzel preceded him in death on Dec. 10, 1990 and his mother Helen preceded him in death on Aug. 22, 2011. Kevin was the youngest of three siblings. His sister, Cindy Bentley, preceded him in death on June 20, 2020. His brother John Kent lives happily with his wife Joyce Kent in Beaverton, Oregon. Kevin graduated from St. Helens High School in 1975 and worked for Friesen Lumber Company for 30 years. Kevin was a devout Christian and dedicated 20 years of volunteer service at Sunset Park Community Church and at both Spring Meadows and

Meadow Park Assisted Living Facilities where Kevin assisted with church services for their residents. Kevin married the love of his life, Peggy Ann Kent, on Aug. 5, 1994. They spent 26 beautiful years married and living in Columbia City, Oregon with Peggy’s children, Donald “Bubba” Hubbs, Robert Hubbs and Linda Stafford (Horn). Kevin and

Peggy loved to camp at Fort Stevens Park and spending time with their grandchildren, Robert, Joseph, Ethan and Kamryn Hubbs. Kevin was kind and patient man who never had a bad word to say about anyone. Kevin loved to joke around, and his smile and laugh were infectious. Kevin’s loved ones would describe him as devoted in his faith in the Lord and his deep love for his wife Peggy who he took a great deal of pleasure taking care of. Kevin always had a companion dog by his side who he cared for in sickness and in health. Kevin’s family is celebrating his life and his union with the Lord at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021 at Columbia River Foursquare in St. Helens. The service will be streamed on YouTube by the church if people are unable to attend in person.

Marian “Darlene” (Weigart) Farrell April 2, 1939 ~ Feb. 14, 2021

Marian “Darlene” (Weigart) Farrell (AKA Mama Farrell/Grandma), 81, of Scappoose, Oregon passed away February 14, 2021. She was born April 2, 1939, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Grandma was a business owner in the food and catering industry, and started the first catering truck in Salem, Oregon. She was predeceased by her husband Daryll Farrell. She is survived by children, Curt (Julie) Farrell,

Cyndi Farrell (Jen Piper), Craig Farrell, and Cathy (Bill) Stephens; 12 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren, and four great-great grandchildren. Columbia Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. A celebration of life will be held in late July. Contact Curt for information, or if you would like to attend the celebration of life: Ofc 503-240-9373. Donations to the American Lung Assn in lieu of flowers would be appreciated.

Ron passed away on Feb. 3, 2021 at his home in McMinnville, Oregon. His last days were filled with family and friends coming to give him another memory to keep close to him on his final journey. Ron was 80 years old, born in Clinton, Iowa to Tena and Orville. He married Kaye in 1964, they had four beautiful children, Thomas, Patricia, David (Judy) and Daniel (Wendy). He married his second wife Carol in 1974 which allowed him to become Dad to Sherrie as well. He married his third wife, Barbara in 1979 and was widowed in 1984. After graduation, Ron worked for the railroad, Crown Zellerbach and Boise Cascade. He retired from Boise after 35 years to chase planes, trains and automobiles across the U.S. When gas prices began to rise, he parked his 5th wheel and became a docent for the

Evergreen Air Museum in McMinnville, Oregon. There he used his lifelong love of planes and history to regale visitors with interesting facts about his favorites, especially the Spruce Goose. After a stroke in 2015, Ron had two goals; to be able to drive a car again and to get back to the museum. He accomplished both goals. He loved the crew at the air museum like family and spent many joyful and memorable

years there. Ron could talk about the crew there for hours but the second you got him started on planes, trains, or cars, you had better have some time on your hands. He loved these topics with all his heart. Ron is survived by two of his nine siblings, Joe and Joyce; three of his children, Tom, Trish and Dan; eight grandchildren, Evan, Jacob (Sheena), Bryan, Joshua, Shante, Jessica, Todd (Amy), and James; and eight great grandchildren, whom he loved with his whole heart. Ron was a very giving man and did so with every opportunity. He did all his tours at the air museum for free as volunteer work, and he would happily give to or do anything for his family. He was an amazingly well spirited man. May his soul rest in peace. Due to current restrictions, a service is not being held at this time.

Grants available for veterans STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) is still accepting applications for the Veteran Educational Bridge Grant, a grant program that was implemented last year to help Oregon veterans complete their educational goals. The Veteran Educational Bridge Grant Program provides financial assistance to veterans who are unable to complete their education or training due to the unavailability of one or more required classes or periods of training. The program, which the Oregon State Legislature established in 2019 with the passage of House Bill 2201, provides grants to eligible student veterans to alleviate the financial stress during a gap period when required courses are unavailable, allowing them to stay in school or their apprenticeship training and finish their program. Under the program, eligible student veterans who are unable to complete their education due to the unavailability of required classes or training may receive grants of up to $5,000. Recipients must be a veteran eligible for GI Bill® benefits, must be an Oregon resident and must be enrolled in an Oregonbased academic or training program that is approved by the U.S. Department of

Leslie “Bob” Henderson July 29, 1934 ~ Feb. 10, 2021

Image courtesy of the ODVA

Veterans Affairs. To date, ODVA has awarded over $200,000 to more than 40 veterans in academic and training programs that include traditional degrees, professional certificates, flight programs and apprenticeships (a more specific list of programs this grant has supported is available to interested media outlets upon request). The average award has been $4,382 and the average turnaround from the receipt of a completed application has been just five days. “ODVA is grateful for the opportunity to help so many worthy veterans complete their education or vocational training, which

we know can have a lasting, meaningful impact on the quality of life they are able to lead for themselves and their families,” ODVA Director Kelly Fitzpatrick said. “Particularly in the midst of the unprecedented circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, we recognize the barriers many student veterans face in achieving their educational goals, and our team stands ready to help in any way we can.” Veterans may also be eligible for retroactive funding in certain circumstances. Any veteran who believes they meet eligibility requirements is encouraged to apply. For more information about the Veteran Educational Bridge Grant Program or to apply, visit the ODVA website at www. oregon.gov/odva/agencyprograms/grants/Pages/ Educational-Bridge-Grant. aspx. Questions may be directed to ODVA Veteran Educational Bridge Grant Coordinator Joe Mah at ebg@odva.state.or.us or by phone at 503-400-0540.

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Leslie “Bob” Henderson 86, of Rainier, Oregon, passed away Feb. 10, 2021 in Rainier, Oregon.

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Wednesday, February 24, 2021

SPORTS From Page A1

Young said. “It is something you don’t want to miss as a senior. And for the younger kids, it’s a chance to develop and build for next year.” Young said he and his assistant coaches were disappointed when the season was disrupted by the pandemic. “We are just grateful for what we have now,” Young said. “We know what it is like to be without football, Now, we have it back and we are just lucky to have it.” SHHS cross country, soccer and volleyball teams have also launched their fall practice and head into competition in March. In the abbreviated and adjusted fall sports season, St. Helens is set to host Hillsboro Friday, March 5. While no fans are allowed at the games under the pandemic restrictions, cameras are mounted on the center of the SHHS stadium

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press box and in the school’s main gym, allowing subscription-based video live streaming of the competitions. The school district covered the approximate $5,000 cost for the video equipment. “The nice thing is that the other schools all have them, so when we are away fans can still see the games and that makes it nice,” Hirning said. For the student players, Hirning said not having fans at each game is disappointing but should not be overly impactful. “The fact that they have seen it on TV at the pros and college games, so it won’t be a big shock,” he said. “Right now, they are just happy to get out on the field.” For details about subscribing to the video game presentations, call the high school at 503-397-1900. Check out the SHHS sports schedules at the school’s website and watch for special sports previews at thechronicleonline.com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Chronicle.

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

Passing drills are part of the SHHS football’s workout this week.

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

SHHS Head Football Coach Cory Young watches as his players run a play during practice this week.

A Safety Solution for our Growing Community

BY CHIEF BRIAN GREENWAY Chronicle Advertorial

The City of St. Helens is embarking on a major project to build a modern Public Safety Facility in St. Helens. The new facility will improve the safety of our community and protect our officers who keep you safe. It is designed to meet the increasing needs of our rapidly growing city and is the most affordable way to get the job done. We understand that building a new Public Safety Facility is a large ask. We take this decision seriously, and we are listening to your feedback. Please join your neighbors at an upcoming virtual community engagement event to learn more about the current condition of the police station and share your feedback. You can find a list of the dates and times of these events at the bottom of this article. Current Police Station Our current police station was built in 1971 to serve 6,200 residents, less than half of today’s population. The station has seen almost no change to the original 2,200 square feet of office space and a garage which was added in 1988. The building was built for a police force that

did not handle digital data or face active shooters, school shootings, online child pornography and exploitation, or the opioid and mental health crises of today. Today, the station does not meet operational standards for policing best practices. Our agency cannot be accredited due to the severe deficiencies of the building that our police work out of to serve and protect you. This disqualifies our Police Department from many grants and any federal funding for assistance. The station does not meet basic energy efficiency or seismic standards. It was not built to accommodate the large amount of digital data that our officers now work with. There is not enough space to secure all the Department’s police vehicles indoors or provide dedicated training space for officers. The police station lobby is not ADA accessible. This is a necessity for our community so that we can provide equal access to police services for everyone. The lobby only has enough space to place one two-person bench for seating. There is not enough space to hold confidential discussions with community members who come into the station. This includes having

no private, dedicated interview spaces for those in crisis or secure briefing spaces for officers and partners to coordinate cases. If you are the victim of a violent crime such as abuse or assault, you may have to sit in an area where other staff or community members can overhear you sharing the details of what happened to you. This is unacceptable and we must do more to protect victims in our community. Right now, we have six supervisors that share two small offices. One of these offices also doubles as the kennel area for our police canine. This makes it difficult for supervisors to hold private conversation with an officer or community member. The reporting room is a small office shared by 12 officers who must take turns completing their police reports since there are only three work stations. There is no space available to dedicate to officer training. This limits the amount of classroom and reality-based training that our officers receive. It also means that we must sometimes send our officers outside the city for training that we would hold at our station if there was sufficient space. The station lacks a briefing room for officers. The

current briefing table is in a common area in the center of our staff’s main work area. Many years ago, an extra closet was converted to a breakroom, but this area has no seating and is only large enough for one person at a time, so our officers must also eat meals at the briefing table. Recently, our community has been the location of many serious and complex cases, including an active shooter, kidnapping, multiple attempted murder and bank robbery cases, and numerous child sexual assault cases. These cases often take days or weeks to investigate and require coordination with the FBI, Oregon State Police, the District Attorney, and regional law enforcement agencies. Because we have no area in the station where this can occur, these coordinated investigations occur out of a temporary trailer located next to the police station which was donated by the St. Helens School District. This trailer has no running water or restroom facilities for people working in the building. The building also houses cubicles for police administrative staff. We have no public restrooms to accommodate community members visiting the station. Our officers

share a unisex locker room roughly the size of a standard bedroom (8 ft. x 10 ft.). The locker room contains 18 lockers for 23 employees. It allows only one person to change at a time. Due to the inadequate storage space, our officers must use alternate storage spaces around the station for their police gear and personal items that will not fit in their locker. There is also no decontamination area near the entrance of the building for our officers who are exposed to dangerous chemicals or pathogens while on a call. This means that they must enter the station to clean off. This runs the risk of exposing other officers to contaminants who may then expose the public or their family to these dangerous chemicals or pathogens when they respond to another call for service or go home. Our current garage is not large enough to park and store all our police vehicles. Vehicles must remain outside in a parking lot that is accessible to anyone. This makes the vehicles vulnerable to vandalism, which has occurred. Our community deserves public safety services that better meet your needs and expectations for our future. It is time to build a Public

Safety Facility that enhances the safety of our families, neighbors and businesses and protects our officers who keep us safe. This is an investment in our community and a successful future. Community Engagement Events We welcome your voice. The City is hosting a series of informational community meetings about the proposed Public Safety Facility in St. Helens. This is an opportunity to have more conversation with Councilors, staff and police officers about the proposal and to share your thoughts. These events will be held virtually due to current COVID-19 restrictions. Friday, March 5 at 12 p.m. Saturday, March 13 at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 16 at 5 p.m. Sunday, March 21 at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 30 at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 3 at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April at 6 p.m. You can find complete event details, links to the meetings, and additional information about the Public Safety Facility on the City’s website at www.sthelensoregon.gov.

A new Public Safety Facility is the accountable way to take on crime in St. Helens. This facility will significantly enhance our police force’s ability to keep you safe by: • Eliminating overcrowding • Better securing the facility • Adding safety features that deter active shooters • Creating an ADA accessible building so that all citizens have equal access to public safety services • Establishing a building that’s able to grow and meet the rapidly increasing safety needs of our community as the St. Helens community continues to grow • Improving evidence storage • Providing training space • Adding real interview rooms to protect the privacy of crime victims and conduct suspect interrogations • Safely securing taxpayer funded police vehicles, equipment, and firearms • Providing back up emergency operations center Columbia County’s trusted local news source

A8

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

www.thechronicleonline.com

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.

• A 52-year-old man was arrested for theft III, felon in possession of a restricted weapon, interfering with a peace officer, and probation violation in the 1700 block of Old Portland Road. • Police responded the 400 block of Port Avenue on a report of a burglary. Feb. 10

For specific details about cases listed, contact the appropriate law enforcement agency.

• A 59-year-old was taken into custody on active felony warrants near the intersection of Deer Island Road and West Street.

St. Helens Police Department

• An 18-year-old man was issued a citation for criminal trespass in the second degree following an incident at 1111 Columbia Boulevard.

Feb. 8 • Police responded to the 200 block of Columbia Boulevard for a welfare check. • Police arrested a 20-year-old man at the intersection of West Street and N 11th Street for an outstanding warrant.

Feb. 11 • Police responded to the intersection of N Columbia River Highway and Pittsburg Road on a report of a non-injury hit and run traffic accident.

Columbia County’s trusted local news source

• Police responded to the 400 block of South First Street on a report of theft.

• Police investigated a stolen vehicle at the intersection of McNulty Way and Gable Road.

• A 37-year-old was criminally cited for driving while suspended — misdemeanor level and theft III on Gable Road, St. Helens.

area of Highway 30 near milepost 51 in Columbia County. When law enforcement arrived on scene, they found the gray Pontiac G6 about 20 yards off the road and unoccupied. The complainant stated the car was attempting to pass a semi truck while headed westbound and nearly hit him head on before it swerved and went ff the roadway. Investigation has revealed the vehicle has been sold a couple of times within the last year and it is unknown who was driving it. The case is currently under investigation.

Feb. 15

Feb. 18

Feb. 18

• Police cited and released a 27-year-old for an outstanding warrant out of the Multnomah County Circuit Court in the 100 block of Wonderly Drive.

• Police officers investigated a cold theft in the 400 block of South Ninth Street, St. Helens.

Feb. 16

Feb. 17

• Police investigated a vehicle versus pedestrian traffic crash in the 500 block of South Columbia

• Police were dispatched to the report of a single-vehicle that went off the roadway in the

• The Oregon State Police assisted the St. Helens Police Department with an attempt to locate a bright red Ford Mustang with a back spoiler. The car had eluded the city police during an attempted traffic stop and the department advised they had probable cause for elude and reckless driving. The vehicle was not

• A 33-year-old was arrested on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant on South 18th Street. Feb. 12 • Police cited and released a 42-year-old woman in the 2200 block of Gable Road for theft III.

River Highway in St. Helens. • An arrest warrant was served on a 22-year-old at 901 Port Avenue, St. Helens. • A 33-year-old was arrested for a probation violation in the 100 North Fourth Street block of St. Helens. Feb. 17

Oregon State Patrol

located and the case is being investigated by St. Helens police. • At midnight, the Oregon State Police conducted a traffic stop on a reckless driver along Highway 30 near milepost 22. The driver, a 26-yearold Scappoose woman, had a two year old child in the backseat and was displaying indicators of impairment. The driver refused to perform standardized field sobriety tests. The driver was arrested and the Department of Human Services was took custody of the child. Scappoose Police assisted by attending the child while the driver was transported to the Columbia County Jail where she provided to valid breath samples with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.18%. The driver was booked and released on driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving and reckless endangerment. The child was placed with a family member.

www.thechronicleonline.com

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

A9

Public Notices PROTECTING YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held before the City of St. Helens Planning Commission on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at or after 8:00 PM and before the City Council on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at or after 6:00 PM. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Governor’s declared state of emergency (March 8, 2020) and subsequent Executive Order No. 20-16 (April 15, 2020), and the meeting policies of the City Council (August 19, 2020) the public hearing will only be held virtually

via a phone-and-internet based application. Virtual access information to join the hearing will be available on the applicable agenda. Agendas can be found on the City’s website: https:// www.sthelensoregon.gov/ meetings. The purpose of these hearing is to consider an application as follows: File No: CPZA.1.21 Applicant: City of St. Helens Request: Amendments to the St. Helens Development Code and Comprehensive Plan to comply with Oregon HB 2001 to allow

duplexes anywhere detached single-family dwellings are allowed and other related and unrelated amendments. Testimony from the public in both oral or written form is invited. The hearing will be conducted in accordance with those procedures found in the City Development Code (SHMC Title 17) Chapter 17.20 and any rules of procedure adopted by the City Council. The Planning Commission is authorized to make a recommendation to the City Council who has the authority to approve,

deny, or approve these code amendments with modifications, based on the legislative standards per SHMC 17.20.120. The City’s code can be found online: https:// www.codepublishing.com/ OR/StHelens/ The application file is located at City Hall (265 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR) and all documents in the file are available for inspection. A copy of the staff report will be available for review at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the hearing. There is no cost to inspect the

file or staff report; copies are available at a reasonable cost. As City Hall is closed during this pandemic, please contact someone in the Planning Department to make arrangements to review the file. The report for this application will also be available on the City’s website at https://www. sthelensoregon.gov/meetings as part of the applicable agenda packet. There will also be information available on the city’s website for review at any time: https://www.sthelensoregon.

gov/planning/page/2021development-code-amendments Questions should be directed to the City Planning Department by phone: 503-397-6272, e-mail: jacobg@ci.st-helens.or.us, mail: 265 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051, or in person (by appointment only) at City Hall. Anyone needing special assistance should contact City Hall at least 72 hours in advance to ensure the necessary assistance is available. The Council Chambers are fully accessible.

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held before the City of St. Helens Planning Commission on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at or after 7:00 PM. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Governor’s declared state of emergency (March 8, 2020) and subsequent Executive Order No. 20-16 (April 15, 2020), and the meeting policies of the City Council (August 19, 2020) the public hearing will only be held virtually via a phone-and-internet based application. Virtual access information to join the hear-

ing will be available on the applicable agenda. Agendas can be found on the City’s website: https://www.sthelensoregon.gov/meetings. The purpose of this hearing is to consider an application as follows: File No: Partition PT.1.21 Applicant: Andrew and Lindsay Schlumpberger Request: Divide property into two parcels (2-parcel partition) Location: 160 Belton Road Map No: 5N1W34BC-1100 and 5N1W-34201 Testimony from the public in both oral or written form is invited. The hearing

will be conducted in accordance with those procedures found in the City Development Code (SHMC Title 17) Chapter 17.24 and any rules of procedure adopted by the City Council. The Planning Commission is authorized to approve, deny, or approve this application with conditions, based on the following criteria: SHMC 17.140.040 – Partition approval criteria. SHMC 17.140.050 – Special provisions for parcels created by through the partition process. Failure to raise an issue, including constitu-

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tional or other issues relating to any proposed conditions of approval, in this hearing, in person, or by letter, or failure to raise an issue accompanied by statements or evidence sufficient to afford the approving authority an opportunity to respond to the issue precludes appeal to the applicable appellate jurisdiction (e.g., the Land Use Board of Appeals, LUBA) on that issue, and precludes an action for damages in circuit court. The application file is located at City Hall (265 Strand Street, St. Hel-

ens, OR) and all documents in the file are available for inspection. A copy of the staff report will be available for review at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the hearing. There is no cost to inspect the file or staff report; copies are available at a reasonable cost. As City Hall is closed during this pandemic, please contact someone in the Planning Department to make arrangements to review the file. The report for this application will also be available on the City’s website at https://www.sthel-

ensoregon.gov/meetings as part of the applicable agenda packet. Questions should be directed to the City Planning Department by phone: 503397-6272, e-mail: jacobg@ ci.st-helens.or.us, mail: 265 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051, or in person (by appointment only) at City Hall. Anyone needing special assistance should contact City Hall at least 72 hours in advance to ensure the necessary assistance is available. The Council Chambers are fully accessible.

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IN THE CIRUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF In the Matter of the Esvouchers attached, to Dawn be affected by the proceedtate of: EVAN ELNATHAN KJORNES, Deceased. CASE NO. 21PB01276 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Dawn Ritenour and Rebecca Schmit have been appointed co-personal representative. All persons having claims against the estate are required to present them, with

Ritenour at 1850 7th Street, Columbia City, Oregon 97018 or Rebecca Schmit at 34047 Church Road, Warren, Oregon 97053, CoPersonal Representatives of the Estate of Evan Elnathan Kjornes, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice, or the claims may be barred. All persons whose rights may

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ings may obtain additional information from the records of the court, the co-personal representatives, or the lawyer for the co-personal representatives, David B. Herr, 33608 E. Columbia Avenue, Suite 110, Scappoose, Oregon 97056. David B. Herr, OSB# 890117, Attorney for Co-Personal Representatives.

COLUMBIA PROBATE DEPARTMENT In the Matter of the Estate of CAROLYN SUE CURTIS, Deceased. No: 20PB08294 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE is hereby given that the undersigned has been appointed personal representative of the above estate. All persons having

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NOTICE OF WORKSHOP NOTICE OF MEETING The Columbia County Fairgrounds is holding a Workshop - March 4th,2021 at 6:30PM in the Pavilion at 58892 Saulser

Road, St. Helens, OR 97051 and virtually by calling 1 866 899 4679 and using access code: 382297-757.

The Columbia County Fairgrounds is holding a Board Meeting - March 8th, 2021 at 6:30 pm in the pavilion at 58892 Saulser

Road, St. Helens, OR 97051 and virtually by calling 1 877 568 4106 and using access code:870-638381.

claims against the estate are required to present the same within four months from this date at the office of VanNatta, Petersen & Anderson, P.O. Box 748, St. Helens, Oregon 97051; and if not so presented, they may be barred. All persons whose rights may be

affected by the proceeding may obtain additional information from the records of the Court, the personal representative or the attorneys for the personal representative. Dated and first published: February 24, 2021. Date of final publication: March 10, 2021.

The Public Notice deadline is Fridays by noon. Late submissions are not guaranteed to make it into the paper.

OHA issues carbon monoxide poisoning alert STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

Four people have died and a dog was killed in three separate carbon monoxide poisonings in Clackamas County this week. Investigators said the accidental deaths came after one man attempted to gain heat from a charcoal briquettes fire inside his home, other incidents involved propane heaters. Medical experts at the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) said winter stormrelated power outages and loss of electricity have some Oregonians using alternate heating sources, many of which come with the added risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. The danger

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, toxic gas produced when anything is burned. Gas and oil furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces as well as wood burning and gas stoves are common sources in the home. If used inappropriately, items that emit heat can produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. Common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. Exposure to carbon monoxide can cause loss of consciousness and death. If carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected, seek fresh air and consult a health care professional right away. The only way to know if you are being exposed to carbon monoxide is by using a detector.

The OHA urges people to follow these important steps to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning: • Use caution with kerosene or gas space heaters; use vented space heaters whenever possible and make sure they are clean and inspected. • Never use a gas range or oven to heat your home. • Check exterior exhaust vents to be sure they are clear of snow, ice and fallen debris. • Do not use charcoal grills or camp stoves indoors. • Never run a portable generator or any gas-powered engine in a basement, garage or other enclosed area, even if doors and windows are open. For more information on carbon monoxide safety, visit the Oregon Health Authority website.

Metro Creative Connections / The Chronicle

Exposure to carbon monoxide can cause loss of consciousness and death.

Local news, every day, online. Keep up to date on local stories, events, and ads by visiting thechronicleonline.com.

The Chronicle 503-397-0116 1805 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR 97051

Columbia County’s trusted local news source

A10

SHHS senior wins music competition

Courtesy photo from Southwest Washington Symphony

Oboist Grace Stearns, a St. Helens High School Senior, won the 2021 Young Artist Competition through the SouthwestWashington Symphony. STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

Oboist Grace Stearns has been awarded $2,000 scholarship from the Southwest Washington Symphony after winning the 2021 Young Artist Competition. Stearns plays in the wind ensemble at St. Helens High School and sings in two vocal ensembles at the school. She was recently accepted into the School of Music at Central Washington University where she will attend next fall, majoring in music education. She has been the Oregon Music Educators Association (OMEA) District III oboe champion every year since 2018, was selected to the top OMEA All-State Wind Ensemble in 2020 and 2021 and was selected for the top Western International Band Clinic wind ensemble this year. Stearns studies with Karen Strand from Portland State University and has studied with Ann van Bever of the Columbia Symphony. Stearns has also been a featured soloist with the Sunset Orchestra for the last three years. The auditions for the competition were a little different from past years due to ongoing restrictions from the pandemic. Students submitted video performances to audition virtually. Five people competed and a panel of three judges selected Stearns and flutist Alison Houglum, a junior at George Fox University from Kalama, Washington. Funding for the award was provided by the Tom and Doris Hall Memorial Fund, the Lee and Dick Wollenberg Memorial Fund and the Southwest Washington Symphony. In addition, the Southwest Washington Symphony Auxiliary will award each of the two young artists a scholarship from the Auxiliary Memorial Scholarship Fund, amount to be determined. A concert featuring the winners will be scheduled when it is safe to congregate again. Learn more about the Southwest Washington Symphony at swwasymphony.org.

www.thechronicleonline.com

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

www.thechronicleonline.com

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

A11

USGS announces earthquake alert system STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

Starting March 11, ShakeAlert-powered earthquake early warning alerts will be available for delivery directly to wireless devices in Oregon, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). In May 2021, Washington state will follow suit and complete the ShakeAlert public alerting rollout across the entire West Coast. California enabled ShakeAlert-powered alerts in October 2019. As massive slabs of Earth squish into and grind past each other off the coast of the Pacific Northwest, many people may wonder when they will feel ensuing earthquakes, according to the USGS, which cannot predict where and when future earthquakes will occur, but the bureau, along with a team of organizations, has created a system to provide vital seconds of warning that an earthquake is happening and shaking is imminent. How it works The ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning system is a network of sensors that collects and shares real-time information about the magnitude, location and expected shaking from earthquakes on the West Coast to distribution partners who then deliver alerts via cell phones and the internet. Partners can also

initiate automatic protective actions such as stopping trains to prevent derailments and closing water valves to protect infrastructure. ShakeAlert can save lives and reduce injuries by giving people time to take protective actions, such as moving away from hazardous areas and making sure to drop, cover and hold on, according to the USGS. Oregon will be the second state to ”go live,” with the ShakeAlert system. California enacted the system on Oct. 17, 2019. Washington state will activate the system in May, which will complete the wireless alert delivery rollout across the entire continental West Coast. For more than two years, a growing number of ShakeAlert technical partners in all three states have been using the ShakeAlert system for triggering automated actions to support public safety. Although ShakeAlert is operational in all three states, the USGS and its university and state partners are working to finish building the seismic network to support prompt earthquake detection. The network is now 70% complete for the West Coast, with 1,132 out of 1,675 seismic stations installed as of Jan. 31 of this year. “The rollout of public alerting for ShakeAlert in the Pacific Northwest is a major milestone in the evolution of this critical system and has the potential to provide users

Courtesy from Marc Biundo

Karl Hagel and Pat McChesney, field engineers with the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network team at the University of Washington, install earthquake monitoring equipment on the slopes of Mount St. Helens, with Mount Hood in the distance.

with life-saving warnings seconds before they experience damaging shaking in future earthquakes,” The USGS’s Gavin Hayes said. “This represents a major achievement for the USGS, the ANSS and for our state and regional partners.” ShakeAlert Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) demonstration in Washington On Thursday, Feb. 25, at 11 a.m. PST, the Washington Emergency ManagementDivision (WEMD) and the USGS will jointly deliver a ShakeAlert-powered WEA test message through FEMA’s Integrated Public Alerting and Warning System across wireless devices in King, Pierce and Thurston counties. This

test coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Feb. 28, 2001, Nisqually earthquake, which was Washington’s most recent damaging earthquake. ShakeAlert-powered alert delivery in Oregon Leading up to March 11, Oregon, in collaboration with USGS and other partners, will use various methods to announce the availability of alerts powered by the ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning system to be delivered to wireless devices. The delivery date coincides with the 10th anniversary of the magnitude-9.1 Great Tohoku earthquake in Japan, which took about 20,000 peoples’ lives, triggered a tsunami that produced waves up to 132 feet high and caused

POPULATION

Various organizations’ social media accounts will be sharing the latest updates and news about ShakeAlert in the Pacific Northwest using #ORShakeAlert and #WAShakeAlert. Visit these accounts to learn more: • @USGS_ShakeAlert on Twitter • @OregonOEM on Twitter • @WAEMD on Twitter • @PNSN on Twitter • @WashEMD on Facebook Read more about earthquakes and early warning systems in the Pacific Northwest with this story at thechronicleonline.com.

STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

Corvallis is by far the largest city in the five-county area, and the only complete metropolitan area. It also has accounted for 58% of the growth in Benton County since 2010. The next largest “city” in Benton County isn’t a city itself; it’s an area commonly called North Albany and is part of the city of Albany, which lies mostly in Linn County. Preliminary population estimates for 2020 aren’t yet available for North Albany so its population is the estimate for 2019. The area had 8,255 residents in 2019, adding 1,792 people since 2010. North Albany is also the fastest growing part of Benton County, averaging 2.5% per year since 2010.

Clatsop County had the fastest growth of the three non-metro counties in Northwest Oregon, but growth slowed abruptly in 2019 and remained low in 2020. The county added only 125 residents in 2019, the smallest gain since 2013. The county has had an average growth rate of 0.6% since 2010, slower than Benton County (1.0%) and slower than Columbia County (0.8%). The county’s population is older on average than Columbia County and relies more on migration for population growth. Clatsop County’s fastest growing city has been Warrenton, which is on the coast and has land for development. But even Warrenton’s growth has averaged only 0.7% since 2010. Astoria has been ham-

ShakeAlert on social media

‘If I Were Mayor’ Contest

From Page A1

Clatsop County

the meltdown of three nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. After traveling across the Pacific, the tsunami rose to more than 26 feet in Hawaii and more than 6.5 feet in California and Oregon, causing debris to wash up on the Oregon coastline. A task force made up of state and federal agencies, along with non-governmental organizations, worked together for three years to coordinate nearly 900 clean-up events during which an estimated 40,000 volunteers picked up more than 446,000 pounds of debris on the Oregon coast. Alert delivery using the WEA system will go live on March 11, with a WEA demonstration for educational purposes planned for July 2021 to allow time for Or-

egon, USGS and partners to broadly promote the system and effectively train the public on how to opt into the test and participate in a statewide alert experiment. “Oregon is one of the most earthquake-prone areas in the continental United States, and over the years, we have had many earthquakes – large and small,” Oregon’s Office of Emergency Management Geologic Hazards Program Coordinator Althea Rizzo said. “Warning resources such as ShakeAlert can help to mitigate loss of lives, severe injury and devastating damage to infrastructure.”

Illustration courtesy of the Oregon Employment Department

pered by a shortage of buildable land. More than one-third of this county’s population resides in unincorporated areas and unincorporated areas account for two-thirds of the county’s growth since 2010. Clatsop County’s major population centers are along the coast and the Columbia River. Lincoln County Lincoln County also relies heavily on migration for population growth. The county added only 45 residents in 2020, down 82% from 2018. The county’s population has grown slowly since the Great Recession, only 0.5% per year. “The county attracts retirees, and the recovery of the stock market and national housing prices have probably helped people who want to

retire to Oregon’s beautiful coast.” Knoder said. “Slow job growth, lower wages, and high housing prices limit the county’s ability to attract more migrants.” Most of Lincoln County’s population also lives along the coast. Siletz is the only truly interior city. Although Lincoln City has grown by 935 since 2010 the published change includes about 360 residents added by an annexation. Lincoln City contains 41% of the growth since 2010. The two biggest cities, Newport and Lincoln City, and unincorporated areas are adding the most residents. Unincorporated areas account for about 27% of the growth since 2010. Tillamook County Tillamook County’s population is nearly as old as Lincoln County’s. Deaths of-

ten outnumber births and the county relies on migration for growth. The county’s population increased by only 30 in 2020 and down 71% from the previous year showing the least growth since 2011. From 2010 to 2018 the county grew only 0.5% per year. Tillamook County has the smallest population of the five counties in Northwest Oregon and its cities are also smaller. About 63% of the county’s population lives in unincorporated areas. “The principal city of Tillamook has not had a significant population change since 2010,” Knoder said. “Almost all the growth (81%) has occurred in unincorporated areas.” See the Northwest Oregon population chart with this story at thechronicleonline. com

It’s not everyday that local students have the opportunity to be the mayor of their city. The St. Helens City Council invites local students to share their creative ideas about what they would do if they were mayor of St. Helens. First place winners in each category will receive $150 cash and lunch with Mayor Rick Scholl. This year, second place winners will also receive a cash prize of $50 and lunch with Scholl. The “If I Were Mayor…” Student Contest is held in partnership with the Oregon Mayors Association (OMA) and is open to local students enrolled in school or being home-schooled for the 2020-2021 school year. Students can submit entries to St. Helens City Hall in one of three categories: • A poster competition for grades 4-5 • An essay competition for grades 6-8 • A digital media presentation for high school students. Completed submissions must be received at St. Helens City Hall by 4 p.m. Thursday, April 8. A complete contest packet and entry form are available to download on the city’s website at www.sthelensoregon.gov/news. Hardcopy versions of the application packet can also be mailed upon request, or picked up in person at St. Helens City Hall by appointment. Please contact Lisa Scholl at lisa@ ci.st-helens.or.us or 503366-8216 to make arrangements to receive a hardcopy. This is the first year that St. Helens is offering cash prizes for second place winners. First place winning entries from the local contest will be sent to the state competition for a chance to win a prize worth $500. All completed submissions will be reviewed at the Wednesday, April 21,

Image courtesy from the City of St. Helens

Local students are encouraged to share their creative ideas about what they would do as mayor.

City Council Work Session. The council will evaluate the entries based on creativity, clarity/sincerity of thought, proper use of grammar and subject relevancy. In past years, St. Helens students who have won at the local level have had great success at the state competition, according to a release from the city. City spokesperson Crystal King said the city council received three 4-5 grade entries, three middle school entries, and no high school entries for the 2020 contest at the local level (see list of names below). The local St. Helens winners received $100 cash prizes and all participants were invited to a lunch with Mayor Rick Scholl. There was not a second place category last year at the local level. Olivia Fantus was the state runner up in the 4-5 grade category. She won second place and received $300 at the state level. Posters 4-5 Grade Winner: • Olivia Fantus – Grade 5 Participants: • Giovanna Anderson – Grade 4 • Sara Jesse – Grade 4 Essay 6-8 Grade Winner: • Lucie Polvogt – Grade 8 Participants: • Katelyn Leonard – Grade 8 • River Bennett – Grade 6 Building Bridges to Self Sufficiency

Community Action Team

Are you a veteran?

You may be entitled to benefits for serving your country.

Contact your Veteran Service Officer • 503-366-6580 Call CAT at (503)397-3511 to find out if you qualify. Rental and energy assistance applications are available at 125 N. 17th St., St. Helens, OR. Also available on our website at www.CAT-TEAM.org

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www.thechronicleonline.com

A12

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Storm food loss help STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is able to replace food purchased with SNAP benefits if there was a loss of food due to the recent power outages. Food may be replaced for SNAP recipients who: • Lost food due to a

power outage, home damage or other misfortune • Make a request to replace the food loss within 10 days of the date the food is destroyed in a household misfortune. SNAP households that lost or tossed food that was unsafe to eat, can request SNAP replacement benefits but they need to do so within 10 days of the loss.

Replacement benefits are not automatic. The amount of replacement benefits each SNAP household will receive is based on the value of the food that was destroyed. More information is available online at www.oregon.gov/dhs/ASSISTANCE/ FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/ Replacement%20-Benefits. aspx.

You can help add carbon-free energy in the region BY MICHAEL J SYKES Chronicle Advertorial

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

Columbia River Fire & Rescue firefighters head to the Elks Lodge to determine the cause of the emergency call.

Firefighters rush to Elks Lodge JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

A smoke scare at the St. Helens Elk Lodge sent Columbia River Fire & Rescue (CRFR) crews and St. Helens Police rushing to the site on Belton Road. At 4:25 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, first responders were dispatched to a call of a commercial fire at the Elks Lodge. “Early reports stated there was smoke coming from the inside of the build-

ing,” according CRFR. Several CRFR fire vehicles with crew members aboard and a utility crew and their vehicle arrived at the scene shortly after the emergency 911 call. The CRFR crews made sure everyone had gotten out of the building safely and with the assistance of the Elk members the area was secured. Fire investigators began an extensive search inside and outside of the structure looking for any fire. The CRFR crew located a seized electrical motor

with burnt wires inside one of the heating units on the roof of the Elks Lodge. The fire crew cleared any hazards with the motor to ensure safety of the building. “The Elks staff and members did a great job,” a CRFR spokesperson said following the event. “We are grateful the result of this event kept members safe and limited the damage to their facility.” Specific cost estimates of the damage to the lodge from the incident were not immediately available.

School community meeting Sauvie Island School Virtual Middle School Information Night is open to all interested and not limited to Sauvie Island residents. When: 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 2 By: Zoom at sauvieislandschool-org.zoom.

us/j/85219265817 Sauvie Island School organizers said the information night is a great way for current and prospective middle school, grades 6-8, families to learn about the school sauvieislandschool. org. Find out about the place-based approach to

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education and emphasis on community stewardship. Teachers, students, and alumni will share their experiences and answer your questions. For more information, visit info@sauvieislandschool.org

When most people think about renewable energy resources, wind and solar power are the two that come to mind. So it may come as a surprise that here in Columbia County, those two resources combine to make up just a little more than 10% of our renewable resource portfolio. Hydropower is our main source of renewable energy. Dams in the Columbia River Basin create about 85% of the renewable energy that we use. Hydropower has many benefits. One of the biggest is that it’s a great backup for intermittent resources like wind and solar. Because of hydropower’s flexibility – the ease at which its production can be increased or decreased – it pairs perfectly with wind and solar. This is a critical quality that helps maintain the reliability of our electric system. For the electric grid to operate properly, the amount of power produced must equal the amount of power being consumed every second of every day. So, on a windy day hydropower production can be scaled back by restricting the amount of water running through the dams, allowing more wind power to come online. Similarly, on clear, sunny days, reducing the amount of hydroelectric

generation allows more solar power onto the grid. On calm, cloudy days when the

sun’s not shining and the wind isn’t blowing, dam operators can increase the amount of water running through the dams to meet demand. In the Pacific Northwest, we are lucky to have such a robust hydroelectric system. As the nation continues in the effort to move away from carbon-emitting resources, we can rely on hydropower while we build other clean energy infrastructure. As a Columbia River PUD customer, you have the option to help further develop renewable energy resources – specifically, wind power. We buy Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) on an annual basis. These are tradable, non-tangible energy commodities in the US. RECs are the currency of

the renewable energy market. They are uniquely numbered and tracked. One REC represents proof that one megawatt hour of electricity was generated from an eligible renewable energy resource. In this case, that resource is 100% Northwestgenerated wind power. One megawatt hour is equal to 1,000 kilowatt hours. For reference, our typical residential customer’s usage averages out to about 1,070 kilowatt hours per month. By choosing to pay an additional 1.5¢ per kilowatt hour for the electricity you use, you can help fund the purchase of these RECs. Currently, all of the RECs we purchase originate from a wind farm in Eastern Oregon. Our Wind program helps continue the region’s effort to generate more carbon-free energy and move away from fossil fuel-based electricity. You can sign up for 100% Wind Power through our website at crpud.net/wind. Enrolling in this program typically adds about $16 to the average monthly residential electric bill.

Michael J. Sykes General Manager, Columbia River PUD