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Murder suspect shot, killed
‘Hang up and call us’ JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net
Law enforcement agents shot and killed a murder suspect following a disturbance at a Scappoose business. The incident began just before 10 a.m. Thursday, March 31, as Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers and Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputies responded to a disturbance involving a suspect at Grumpy’s Towing at 53279 Columbia River Highway in Scappoose. As law enforcement officers arrived on scene, witnesses said they ordered the armed suspect involved to put down his weapon, according to a KOIN report. The suspect, later identified as 39-year-old Michael Stockton, fired multiple shots at two law enforcement officers, and the officers returned fire, hitting Stockton, according to investigators. No officers were injured during the gunfire. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including St. Helens and Scappoose Police also responded to the incident. Officers at the scene rendered aid to Stockton until medical personnel could take over. Stockton was later pronounced deceased. Following the shooting, investigators located two different handguns in Stockton’s possession confirming he fired multiple shots in the direction of the law enforcement officers, according to Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) Detective Shannon Wilde. The WCSO is the lead investigating agency in the Scappoose shooting. During the investigation, officers learned that Stockton was wanted by Gresham Police for the fatal shooting of a 25-year-old man at a storage facility in Gresham, according to Wilde. Investigators said the shooting March 31 in
Tear Down Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle
Construction crews have begun the demolition phase of St. Helens High School with large construction equipment leveling specific older sections of the building. The demolition is a key part of the estimated $67 million-dollar renovations at the campus site along Gable Road in St. Helens. See more photos and read the history of the project at thechronicleonline.com.
Illustrations courtesy from the St. Helens School District
Above are conceptional drawings of what the new St. Helens High School is expected to look like following the renovations.
Columbia County Election 2022
Meet the candidates for County Commissioner
Kelly Niles
Jonathan Barclay
ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle
Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the Scappoose shooting. See more photos with this story at thechronicleonline.com.
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As the primary election draws near, four candidates are vying for the open Columbia County commissioner seat. One of these four candidates Jonathan Barclay, Brian Brust, Kelly Niles, and Kellie Smith - will replace Position #2 held by Henry Heimuller, a former paramedic and longtime resident of Columbia County. Heimuller was first elected to represent the board in Nov. 2010 and has served three four-year terms. As a voice for Columbia County, Heimuller prioritized tourism and public health. The Chronicle reached out to Commissioner Heimuller too find out why he has decided not to run for reelection, we have not recieved a response as of press time. Commissioners serve four-year terms. This year’s primary election is set for May 17, 2022, followed by the Nov. 8 general election. Kelly Niles Oregon Department of Forestry Wildland Fire Supervisor Kelly Niles said frustration with the current board led him to run for the vacant commissioner seat. “I believe that the current commissioners are not making decisions in the best interest of the people,” he said. “How many working people in
2022 Columbia County
Kellie Jo Smith
Columbia County have employers that will let them sit there at their desk and watch two-hour County Commissioner meetings where we can have some honest public input?” he asked. “Probably not very many. That’s just an example of why I think we’re making decisions in a vacuum.” “It seems like everybody in the county is operating independently,” he added. “I would like to see us work together more instead of against each other.” Niles also said he would like to see more family-wage jobs, additional law enforcement, and infrastructure upgrades introduced to Columbia County. In preparation for the May primary, Niles advises Columbia County residents to do two things: get out and vote and do your research. On Friday, March 25 at 6 p.m., Niles held a town hall at the Big River Taproom on 305 Strand Street in St. Helens. Niles said he has raised approximately $700 for his campaign. He hopes to raise a total of $3,000 to $5,000. See Niles’ full bio at thechronicleonline.com.
Brian Brust
Kellie Smith
job. I want them to be in the position and a good representation of our community,” Smith said. “It just felt like at the end of the day that I’m homegrown, I’m here, I care about everyone, and I was the best one for the job.” As a volunteer for Connect St. Helens, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and St. Helens sports leagues, Smith believes she has insight into the issues that impact Columbia County residents. Smith also highlighted interpersonal skills as being one of her strongest attributes. As commissioner, Smith said her focus would be on jobs, roads, and increasing support for public safety. “We only have Highway 30 to get into our area,” she said. “If (only) we could have more businesses out here so that people could live out here, play out here kind of thing. I know that’s everybody’s theme, but that is true.” Roads are increasingly dangerous, Smith explained, and the traffic accidents will need to be addressed, along with 24-hour policing. “The 24-hour service that we get from the county sheriff and our first responders in general, they don’t have enough support. I think that that’s possible within the county budget,” she said. Taking a stance against political
St. Helens School Board member, business owner, and former foster care worker Kellie Jo Smith stands firm in her belief that she is the most qualified to serve Columbia County. “I want someone that can do the
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Columbia County Public Utility Districts (PUDs) are warning customers of a renewed and threatening telephone scam. “Over the past week we have had several customers alert us that someone is calling them, saying they had 15 minutes to pay the money demanded or their power would be shut off,” Clatskanie PUD’s Sarah Johnson said. “It is very threatening.” Columbia River PUD’s Kyle Boggs said his agency is also taking calls from customers about the phone fraud. “We hear about scam calls going around pretty regularly. In fact, we received a handful of reports just yesterday (March 29),” he said. According to Boggs, the scam calls have become more sophisticated. “One customer said she was told by the scammer that she’d be transferred to an automated system where she could punch in her credit card information,” he said. “Scammers also use Caller ID to their advantage. They have spoofed our name, so that when their call appears on a customer’s phone it shows up as Columbia River PUD from a local phone number.” Boggs agrees with Johnson’s description that the current fraud calls are threatening. “Typically, scammers will threaten customers with immediate disconnection of their power if they don’t make a payment,” he said. “Sometimes they request prepaid credit cards or gift cards, which is something we do not do.” In fact, both PUDs issue letters and work closely with customers to deal with any payment issues. “We have a very definite process with letters and a reminder phone call,” Johnson said. “And we ask that they call back to our main phone number. We would never call and say you need to pay us immediately,” Johnson said. “If a customer is actually facing disconnection, we will reach out to them multiple times in different ways before actually disconnecting their power,” Boggs said. “We do not disconnect someone immediately. We offer ways to work with our customers to make payment arrangements as well.” Both Boggs and Johnson urge customers to not to be deceived by the fraud calls. “Any time a customer has the slightest bit of doubt about the authenticity of a call, they should hang up and call us directly,” Boggs said. “We won’t take offense if they hang up on us inadvertently in an attempt to stay safe from a scammer.” Johnson said the scam calls “come in spurts.” “It’s been about six months since the last one,” she said. “They target different areas. There will be a big rash of calls and then it dies down and then there are more such fraud calls.” According to Johnson, there have been customers who have lost money through the fraud calls. “In the past, there have been times that people have paid the scammers and there could be more who have just not admitted they were victims,” she said. Johnson and Boggs urge customers to call law enforcement if they have been an actual fraud victim. The fraud calls aren’t limited to public utility companies. In February 2020, the St. Helens Police Department (SHPD) issued a warning about persons making similar threatening phone calls. For more safety information visit www.crpud.net/scams<http://www. crpud.net/scams>.
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