SHC320

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Park funds

Charges lodged

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Wednesday, March 11, 2020

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The Chronicle Serving Columbia County since 1881

Food Bank future

JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

The St. Helens High School Robotics and Engineering Club had been preparing for regional competition this weekend at Wilsonville, however the event at Wilsonville has now been postponed. Club instructor Sharon Shiel tells The Chronicle that all of the teams in the Pacific Northwest division of FIRST Robotics have just received word that all scheduled competitions to be held in the next several weeks must be postponed due to Coronavirus concerns. “We will not be competing this weekend in Wilsonville,” Shiel said. “The PNW league represents 184 teams currently, so this announcement is a huge disappointment to teams across Oregon and Washington. The organization will do its best to reschedule events in the upcoming weeks, but at this point there are no guarantees of if and when this will happen.” The Chronicle will follow the club’s competition once it has resumed.

Courtesy photo

Strike up the band! Runners, walkers and even dogs take off at the start of the Columbia Pacific Food Bank’s fun run/walk. JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

A little foot power is helping the Columbia Pacific Food Bank raise money needed to renovate the former feed and seed building on Columbia Boulevard, where the Saturday race/walk started and ended. The food bank purchased the 12,500 square-foot building for $350,000. It will use a $1.5 million grant from the City of St. Helens and a capital campaign to transform the structure into the new location for the food bank, which is currently located at 474 Milton Way in St. Helens. The Saturday event drew approximately 95 participants and is one of several fundraisers to be held through the food bank’s capital and awareness campaign, according to Columbia Pacific Food Bank

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See FOOD Page A11

JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

T

he members of the St. Helens High School Wind Ensemble are preparing for State competition, which takes place in May at Oregon State University in Corvallis. The ensemble qualified for State last week at St. Helens High School during competition with 16 other high school music programs from across Northwest Oregon. St. Helens High School senior Shelby Turcotte is a self-taught clarinetist with the school’s wind ensemble and said she will major in music arts at the University of Oregon next year. “My passion for music and leadership is beyond the charts,” she said. “When you are a musician you spend many hours in the practice room preparing to be your best.” SHHS senior Joesph Hoffman plays percussion in the ensemble. “It’s a lot about rhythms and feelings,” he said. “You have to feel the music in order to play it, so it’s listening to all the deep undertones, the cords and everything like that to get a feel for it.” During their time at the school Hoffman and Turcotte and the SHHS wind ensemble have placed at State each year. “It is the determination of the students, but a lot of it is our instructor Noelle Freshner,” Hoffman said. “She inspires everyone in the class-

room to do our best, actually care about the music and try.” “She has built this program from the bottom up,” Turcotte said. “She is like my second mom. She is my idol. She gave me love and passion for music.” “Being able to be a part of the music program and to show people that I can do this and I am able to learn so may things from her (Freshner). She is truly inspiring,” Hoffman said. “I have learned leadership skills. How to listen to other people and when to talk and when not to talk. I have learned that band is a huge team. We all have to work together.” “This music program has taught me to be independent, motivated on my own and responsible to get to class on time,” Turcotte said. “Band teaches you to be in sync with the program. I don’t know if I would have my leadership skills had I not taken band.” Freshner said she hopes each student in her program takes away the positive experience music offers. “There are a lot of elements that I hope the kids walk way with and my goal is to teach many skills by putting great music in front of them,” she said. “This program is a family. It allows the students to build friendships and see the world.” As for specific life skills that music offers her students, Freshner said it’s all about responsibility. “You learn that you have to show up on time, that people rely on you,”

she said. “It makes them smarter people. The music program makes them work better with other people and to build their organizations skills, which help them balance their life. It also teaches parents as well as the kids to be on time.” Freshner acknowledges that her goal for the students can be challenging. “It all comes down to what you put in front of them,” she said. “I have to pick the right music that flows and that it’s not too hard, that it challenges them to become better, but to that it is not over-challenging. So each band is different and each year presents challenges to find the perfect fit for the group.” Before her music students head into competition, Freshner offers words of encouragement. “I tell them to relax and fall back on their training,” she said. “We work hard, very hard, every day. They need to do what they have been doing. I try really hard to make sure we are prepared and that we are feeling good about what we do.” Freshner also acknowledges the rewards she takes from the music experience with her students. “I just love it,” she said. “It is tons of fun working with kids, making music every day. It is a rush to be on the stage.” Freshner has been conducting the St. Helens music program for the past 13 years and said she plans to continue. “This is my place,” she said.

“We will do everything it takes, within our power and in coordination with federal and local officials, to keep Oregonians safe.” ~Kate Brown, Oregon Governor St. Helens School District Superintendent Scot Stockwell issued a letter to students, parents and school staff this week following Gov. Kate Browns’ State of Emergency declaration concerning the coronavirus. “The unfortunate reality is that COVID-19 is in our state,” Stockwell’s letter reads. “Updated guidance from OHA is that closing schools may not be an effective method for stopping the spread of the virus. This is the same stance currently being taken by many school districts in other communities around the country and around the world.” In his letter, Stockwell said the best prevention is still practicing good health hygiene habits - washing your hands frequently, covering your cough or sneeze, getting plenty of rest and eating a healthy diet - and avoiding contact with people who are symptomatic. The best way to limit spread is staying home when ill. “Please know that we are doing everything we can to keep our students and staff healthy and safe,” Stockwell said. “Thank you for your partnership in that effort.” Stockwell also encouraged district patrons who might have questions or who would be seeking additional information about COVID-19, to visit the Oregon Health Authority’s website at healthoregon.org/coronavirus or to call 211, a statewide telephone resource. The Oregon Health Authority reported 15 positive coronavirus cases in the state, but as of Tuesday, March 10, there were no deaths associated with the virus in Oregon. The OHA confirmed eight new presumptive cases of novel coronavirus, COVID-19 over the weekend. OHA also announced actions it is taking to slow the spread of the virus and protect Oregonians, in response to Gov. Kate Brown’s emergency declaration. “We are prepared to activate an unprecedented state and private effort to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Oregon by focusing specifically on at-risk populations,” OHA Director Patrick Allen said. “We want to protect Oregonians

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Courtesy photo

Members of the St. Helens High School Band concentrate during a rehearsal at the school’s music room. See more photos at thechronicleonline.com.

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Courtesy photo

Members of the St. Helens High School Band’s wind ensemble give it their best during State qualifying competition. See more photos at thechronicleonline.com.

Courtesy photo

St. Helens High School Band Director Noelle Freshner conducts rehearsals inside the music room at the high school. See more photos at thechronicleonline.com.

Vol. 138, No. 11

thechronicleonline.com

State of Emergency

St. Helens High School Band Director Noelle Freshner leads the wind ensemble during State qualifying competition at the high school last week. See more photos at thechronicleonline.com.

Photo courtesy of Heidi Timmons Photography

$1

THIS WEEK SAVE MONEY

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See EMERGENCY Page A5

Truckload Meat Sale

Save the date March 12th and 13th

1111 Columbia Blvd, St Helens, OR 97051 • 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. • (503) 397-2288


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