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Columbia Hills Retirement Center

Construction is well underway at Columbia Hills Retirement Center to repair the damage caused by the grim fire and explosion that took one tenant’s life at the facility on Oct. 5, 2022.

More than seven months later, 21 of its tenants have returned to the Columbia Hills Retirement Center at 36050 Pittsburg Road in St. Helens, according to board member and Treasurer of Columbia Hills Ellen Bailey.

“We were very fortunate to have 21 of our residents move back into their independent living at Columbia Hills,” Bailey said. “There are seven of the residents that we were able to assist with temporary, residential housing until the construction is complete at Columbia Hills.”

What caused the fire?

In a published account in The Chronicle following the fire, CRFR investigators said an explosion occurred during the fire caused by oxygen cylinders stored in the apartment of the fire’s origin. Following the deadly incident, the CRFR investigators stressed that the use of oxygen in homes has an increased risk of catastrophic fire, especially if the cylinders are in places where temperatures are high.

The final cost of the damages has yet to be determined, according to Bailey. Columbia Hills have been working with insurance and other entities and haven’t finalized a total

for damages. While seven residents are still waiting for the construction to resolve, Bailey said many of the tenants were moved back in by midNovember of 2022.

The community was the glue that held everything together. From the first responders to the hotel staff, emergency management, and Red Cross in the initial days to the outpouring of love and support from our staff, family, and the community, our residents couldn’t have felt more love and support during such a difficult time.

~ Ellen Bailey, Columbia Hills Board Member and Treasurer

“The fire occurred on Oct. 5, thirteen residents returned on Oct. 14, eight tenants returned on Nov. 9, and the additional seven are awaiting construction to return,” Bailey said. “We were fortunate to have a community that came together so quickly and provided such a vast array of support to our residents. In such an unsettling time, the community really stepped up to make their transition period so much smoother.”

Clearing abandoned, derelict vessels from waterways

You can see them along lakes and in rivers in Columbia County and in waterways throughout the state.

Now, the State Land Board is urging continued action to address the impacts of abandoned and derelict vessels on public waterways and public schools.

Abandoned and derelict vessels seriously threaten waterway health and safety, creating both environmental and navigational hazards, according to the State Land Board and marine patrol deputies across the state.

Penalties

The penalties for vessel abandonment range from $440 on the low end to thousands of dollars on the high end. If the vessel becomes submerged, it becomes an even greater expenditure to remove the vessel that, for one boat owner, came out to a total of $55,000, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

The most common types of offenders of abandoned vessels range from people living on their boat, to scrappers and owners of “fixer uppers,” but larger vessels, such as

abandoned cargo and military ships are also causing concern.

For years, the Department of State Lands has worked with state, federal, and local partners to remove the most hazardous vessels. But lack of a statewide abandoned and derelict vessel (ADV) program with dedicated funding has resulted in the Common School Fund spending millions removing

vessels, while hundreds more pile up in public waterways.

The Land Board, on April 11, created an Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Program Workgroup to propose a comprehensive ADV program for Oregon, including identifying funding needs and potential sources. Read the agenda item, which includes support letters from each member of the Land

Board or watch the meeting video with this story at thechronicleonline.com

Cleanups connected to school funding

The Land Board oversees school lands and the Common School Fund, as well as Oregon’s publicly owned waterways. Rev-

enue from waterway leases, easements, and other paid uses covers most waterway expenses. But ADV cleanups come with big price tags that far exceed revenue – so the Common School Fund and Oregon schoolkids end up footing the bill.

Since 2017, the Common School Fund has spent more than $18 million removing ADVs from public waterways. Recent costs include $35,0000 for removal of a sunken cabin cruiser from South Slough on the south coast and $150,000 to remove a float home drifting down the Multnomah Channel in Portland.

The largest recent project, removal of the former military vessels Sakarissa and Alert from the Columbia River in Portland, cost more than $4 million, with Metro contributing $2 million. The U.S. Coast Guard spent an additional $2.3 million to raise the sunken vessels and remove oil.

“When irresponsible owners abandon vessels in waterways, our schoolkids pay the price,” DSL Director Vicki L. Walker said.

$18.8 million proposed for vessel removals

See WATERWAYS Page A7

SHHS Music Program prepares for State

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

Courtesy photo

The former military vessel Sakarissa was removed from the Columbia River.

Courtesy photo from Aaron Augustus

Holocaust survivor shares story

A slice of history was brought to the St. Helens community as Holocaust survivor Ruth Bollinger shared her story with an engaged crowd.

Almost 100 people gathered at the Columbia Center Auditorium in the St. Helens Public Library, on April 14, to hear Bollinger speak on her and her parents’ escape from Nazi-occupied Europe.

The crowd was diverse in its age range, with children, seniors, and everything in between. The guest speaker was presented by the Columbia County Coalition for Human Dignity (CCCHD), and Bollinger is a speaker for Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education (OJMCHE).

While Bollinger’s story is one of escape, she emphasized that the impact of the Holocaust is not just limited to those who were sent to concentration camps or death camps. The Holocaust uprooted innumerable lives in a variety of ways.

“There are people who themselves survived the death camps. I have a really close friend who is still alive, who is one of those people

lined up along the Danube in Hungary, and it stopped just a few people before,” Bollinger said. “So it is what I said; it’s a much more subtle story, in its own way equally damaging.”

Bollinger’s story began in Bohemia, Czechoslovakia, on March 18, 1938, when she was born to a Czech father and an Austrian mother. This was right around the time that Hitler annexed Austria on March 11, 1938. Bollinger’s grandfather lived in Austria and won a Nobel Prize in 1936. This connection would become important as Bollinger and her family traversed Europe as they tried to escape.

“What is good news? What is bad news? They came for him, and two of my three uncles, who were home at the time, to put them in prison. So the bad news, of course, was he was well-known as a Nobel Laureate and known as a Jew, and they came and got him,” Bollinger said. “And at the same time, that very Nobel Prize ultimately directly or indirectly saved five lives, including mine.”

Bollinger and her parents fled Czechoslovakia, and Bollinger’s first three years of her life were spent fleeing the Nazis across Europe. Bollinger and her family’s journey took them two six different coun-

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tries, and she learned three languages as they bounced from place to place.

Ultimately, Bollinger and her family escaped and immigrated to New York in 1941. Their journey to safety was a result of close calls, uncertainty, and good fortune at opportune times. Bollinger spent some time during the talk reflecting on those who were not so lucky. Bollinger spoke about first visiting Germany decades after the war for a conference in Berlin with the World Federation of Jewish Child Survivors of the Holocaust and their Descendants.

“We all know we’re really not supposed to be here. We were not supposed to be born. We were not supposed to survive being born if we were Jews, and you know, I was also supposed to be one of those babies who got their head smashed against the wall,” Bollinger said. “Here I am, you know, there’s really sort of no explaining sometimes what life dishes out and what you do with that.”

Organizer Elaine Nussbaum of CCCHD was really happy with the turnout for Bollinger’s appearance. The CCCHD had been trying to bring Bollinger to Columbia County since before the pandemic.

Vote of no confidence

CHUCK CUSTER

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During the Board Meeting on April 11, the Chief, while presenting his “Chief’s Report,” sat glaring at the audience and seemingly attempting to threaten employees of the Fire District and their families in words, concerning some investigation by the Columbia County District Attorney.

When I attempted to ask the Board President, Feige, why this was allowed, I was basically told to shut up. One volunteer Firefighter told of how the Chief talked to his employer regarding some fire department issue.

There’s no point in doing this with me as I retired from TVF&R in 1993 and they probably won’t remember me. The Board should have been closing the purse strings for this Chief in 2021 when he was hired. If as alleged in the $822,217.92 sexual harassment lawsuit now in Columbia County Circuit Court, it would have been investigated and action taken immediately in 2021 when reported to Finance Director and Human Resources Director Manager Merit Nelson. Can we as taxpayers guess where any settlement money would be coming from?

The obvious conclusion

County resident inducted into Agricultural Achievement Registry

A Columbia County resident is among Oregon State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences inductees to the 2023 Diamond Pioneer Agricultural Achievement Registry.

is the CRFR Board condones/approves all of the actions thus far done by the Chief both past and during the meeting on April 11.

Also obvious, is the fact that the CRFR Board has bought into the Dog and Pony Show by total complete inaction. Director Feige “reviewing and looking through” doesn’t cut it.

This board appears to have no control, whatsoever, on operations of the Fire District. It seems to be one-man, 9-Chiefs group mismanaging 39 firefighters and medics. It is unconscionable that this is taking place.

Perhaps the time for recall of Board Members has already started.

Clatskanie resident Margaret Magruder is one of the 12 inductees. She is a third-generation farmer who has followed her family tradition and devoted countless hours to the sheep industry in Oregon and the United States. As owner and manager of Oregon Shepherd, a wool insulation company, she has worked closely with OSU Extension, notably on research surrounding selenium, an essential micronutrient for animals.

Magruder’s family was always active in 4-H and her lifelong interest in livestock production has resulted in her helping improve the quality, economic impact, and natural resource management of animal agriculture.

Magruder has a history of service in industry and government, including the Oregon Sheep Growers Association, the American Lamb Board, and the Oregon Board of Agriculture. In 2008, Margaret was given special recognition by the Oregon Leadership Summit for her efforts to achieve sustainable solutions that benefit rural communities, the environment, and the economy.

Currently serving as an elected Columbia County Commissioner, Magruder brings the same practical skills found in good farming to the larger Columbia County community, according to a release from OSU.

About the Registry

The Diamond Pioneer Agricultural Achievement Registry was established in 1983 when the College of Agricultural Sciences celebrated its 75th anniversary. Since then, the College has honored the significant lifetime contributions to

agriculture, natural resources, Oregon State University, and the people of our great state.

This year’s inductees include:

• Connie Cyrus – Sisters

• Keith Cyrus – Sisters

• Mike Darcy – Lake Oswego

• Dennis Glaser – Tangent

• Conrad Jones – Bandon

• Margaret Magruder –Clatskanie

• Dr. Carol Mallory-Smith

– Albany

• Dr. Stella Coakley –Corvallis

• John Nyberg – Newberg

• Kenneth Thompson –Tigard

• Juanita Wilson – Mon-

mouth

• Lou Ann Wolfe – Hermiston

The College of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State celebrated the lifetime contributions of the 12 new inductees to the Diamond Pioneer Agricultural Achievement Registry during a gathering April 13.

Courtesy photo from OSU

Margaret Magruder, fourth from left in front row, joins the rest of the 11 inductees for a group photo.

JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.

forecasts low steelhead returns

Steelhead are difficult to forecast due to their life history, so the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) pre-season forecast comes with considerable uncertainty. But the 2023 combined preseason forecast for upriver summer steelhead, those destined for areas upstream of Bonneville Dam including the Snake River Basin, is pointing to another poor return year, marking what would be the eighth consecutive year of low returns.

In 2022, the ODFW implemented fishery frameworks for Columbia River tributaries including, the Deschutes, John Day, Umatilla, Walla Walla, Grande Ronde and Imnaha rivers.

The frameworks provide greater transparency on what management actions will be taken when steelhead runs are low so anglers, guides and local communities can be more prepared for fishery restrictions.

What’s ahead

For 2023, the ODFW said anglers should anticipate summer steelhead fishing restrictions and closures in the mainstem Columbia River and tributaries similar to previous years—including broad area and time closures, one-steelhead bag limits when open, and

thermal angling sanctuaries near Oregon tributary mouths upstream of Bonneville Dam. Collectively, these regulations have further reduced the take of ESA-listed wild fish and increased hatchery escapements to help hatcheries collect sufficient broodstock.

Regulations may vary across time and across the basin based on the life cycle,

the strength of individual tributary runs and the level of risk to wild upriver summer steelhead. The run of most concern, upriver A/B-Index summer steelhead, do not enter the lower Columbia River until early summer. The recreational fishery in the lower river (downstream of The Dalles Dam) does not begin to handle these fish until July and even then, the majority

of catch is still destined for lower river tributaries. But A/B-Index fish that entered the Columbia River last summer are still present in the mainstem Columbia River upstream of The Dalles Dam through winter and early spring of 2023. Due to poor returns in 2022, the John Day and Walla Walla rivers are currently closed to steelhead fishing.

Steelhead angling and retention remains open on the Deschutes River as of April 17. Escapement of wild steelhead above Sherars Falls for the 2022-23 run year is expected to exceed 625 fish, the threshold needed to keep fishing open on the Deschutes after June 1. If passage of wild fish over Bonneville does not meet minimum counts from July 1-July 31, steelhead fishing on the Deschutes will close by Aug. 15. See the framework with this story at thechronicleonline.com for full details.

“Impacts from dams, degraded freshwater habitat and predation, and steelhead migration patterns in the

ocean that have put them in warmer, less productive waters are all playing a role in the low returns of summer steelhead,” said Shaun Clements, ODFW deputy fish division administrator. “While conservation is our first priority, we recognize the impact closures can have on anglers, guides and communities. We hope the webinar and frameworks can provide greater transparency about management actions and help communities impacted by closures prepare.”

Be engaged

The ODFW fish biologists throughout the Columbia Basin was scheduled to conduct a webinar to discuss summer steelhead management and upcoming seasons Tuesday, April 18.

For more background on steelhead management in the Columbia River Basin and to sign up for updates, visithttps://myodfw.com/articles/ steelhead-management-columbia-snake-river-basins.

Congresswoman visits St. Helens High School

Oregon Congresswoman

Suzanne Bonamici and staff paid a visit to St. Helens High School to tour the school’s impressive Career and Technical Education (CTE) program facilities.

Bonamici recently became co-chair of the House Congressional CTE Caucus, and the visit saw Bonamici tour the CTE program and the school on April 11. Principal Katy Wagner and St. Helens School Board Director Bill Amos led Bonamici through the various branches of the CTE program and detailed the exciting exploits of their students.

“It’s incredible to have a congresswoman come and display interest and real genuine support of education, and Congresswoman Bonamici has supported education her entire career,” Wagner said. “And the fact that she came to a school to do a tour and really know how it’s impacting students is so important. So, to have that support at the national level to make some changes, specifically around funding and programs, is really incredible.”

The tour started in Jay Groom’s Auto Tech classroom, where he spoke about the opportunities in the auto trade for students. Surrounded by cars, tools, and industrious students, Bonamici spoke with instructor Jay Groom about the development of a diesel program that will address growing industry needs next year for its students. In the auto program, advanced students get handson experience working on cars that belong to community

members who have brought their cars to the shop for service or repair.

Bonamici then walked through instructor Bonnie Adams’ Metals and Manufacturing classrooms, where Congresswoman Bonamici heard about the opportunities created through the manufacturing program.

Bonamici also met EVRAZ employee Cole Fairbrother, who helps mentor and educate students on Gas Tungsten Arc Welding. EVRAZ is an industry partner that works with and supports the CTE program.

The last stop on the CTE program portion of the tour, Bonamici met with the student-run business Lions Manufacturing. Three students shared their experiences and showed off their wares, which included key chains, expertly crafted ornaments, and other knickknacks.

Bonamici supported the students’ business and even insisted on purchasing one of their handmade leather key chains.

The tour finished with a walk-through of St. Helens High School’s Early Learning Center and a discussion of Early Childhood Education and Introduction to Education with teacher Rachael Sara.

Making the CTE program happen

The CTE program is funded through a variety of channels. Federal, state, and local money comes to the program in different ways.

“Some of our programs do have access to federal Perkins

money, which is different than our Career Pathways money. Career Pathways money is a little bit more flexible in how we use those funds. But we also work through PACTEC, [which is] a consortium of CTE teachers that we work in conjunction with Portland Community College so that we can access money in times and places when we need it,” Wagner said. “So with our consortium, and with coming up with different priorities and different funding sources, we’re able to expand those programs.”

Wagner also said that the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) COVID relief money and summer school funding money allowed St. Helens High School to bolster its CTE program.

“We really took that as an opportunity to support our CTE programs and get students really excited about coming back in person and getting that hands-on experience because, during COVID, they weren’t coming in person and getting those experiences,” Wagner said. “So we knew that we really needed to build that out. So making sure that our investments at the district level and other access to funds were focused on that student experience.”

Bonmici, in her own words

Following the tour, Congresswoman Bonamici took a moment to speak with the Chronicle on the importance of her visit, and some of the things she’s working on in Washington.

tion Committee almost the entire time I’ve been in Con gress, and I know St. Helens is known for its Career and Technical Education programs, but it’s been a while since I visited, as you might have heard, it’s been probably five or six years,” Bonamici said. “So, I am now the new cochair of the CTE caucus, and so I wanted to get some stories, some examples of what I can bring to my colleagues to say, ‘This is why Career and Technical Education is important.”

When asked whether she believes there will be additional federal funding for CTE programs, Bonamici was quick to reference the Carl Perkins Act and Oregon’s efforts to fund these programs.

“It’s been around for decades, and it does provide some federal funding, often times it’s used for equipment. So I’m hopeful that we can get through our, it’s called the appropriations of fund-

ment, get new equipment, et cetera,” Bonamici said. “Our state values CTE; the whole state passed Ballot Measure 98 several cycles ago, recognizing the importance of CTE, but there is a federal funding component as well.”

When asked about what piece of legislation Bonamici is keeping her eye on, she gave some details on some educational initiatives she is working on.

“Right now, I have more than 250 organizations supporting my Parent Students Bill of Rights, which is emphasizing the value of a well-rounded education in a safe school that makes parental involvement, authentic parental involvement, a priority, and non-discrimination a priority,” Bonamici said. “And that’s in response to a partisan bill

parental rights; it’s more about a blueprint for book banning and other policies that don’t really help improve education.” Bonamici also noted the reintroduction of her Arts Education for All bill. This bill focuses on hands-on and artistic activities being available in education. Whether it’s fine arts, music, theater, or band, Bonamici emphasized the importance of creativity and engaging students. Speaking of the St. Helens CTE program, Bonamici got a great feel for the experiential curriculum offered to students.

“Here’s some examples right here, in the district I’m honored to represent, of a school that’s engaging students in many ways, and preparing them for whatever path they take with the CTE programs,” Bonamici said.

Will Lohre / Country Media, Inc.

Bonamici admires a piece of horseshoe metal work with Bonnie Adams and Principal Wagner.

Garden Plots: Wow! It is cold!

I described the cold spring last year as one of three consecutive months of March.

This year is even colder!

Bud break on a number of crops like blueberries are behind even last year, which was quite late. Mason bees are confused about when to come out. Since they need flowers to feed from, it is a life-or-death decision. Hummingbirds are demanding immense amounts of nectar. And if you keep domesticated beehives, you are still having to feed them. Even our winter annual weeds are behind schedule, with some of them just beginning to get going.

Garden soil is so soggy, again like last spring.

Avoid digging or rototilling now unless you have very well-drained soil or raised beds. A lot of people learned last year about how hard it is to fix soils that were rototilled up too early. Some used tarps this year, which does help keep the soil a little drier. The classic way to judge whether soil is safe to till is to put a base-ball sized lump of soil in your hand and gently squeeze it. If it isn’t at least a little crumbly when released, it is too wet.

Early transplants of the cabbage family can be put in now where the soil is not too wet. They are frost tolerant.

Look for strong, young plants of good color and plant them up to their first set

of true leaves. Spacing for broccoli is about 12 inches in any direction, cauliflower about 14”, and cabbage between14-16” depending on variety. They like full sun though will do alright with a modest amount of shade. Lettuce can be planted (watch for slugs!) and quite a few other frost tolerant vegetables. It is going to be awhile before corn, squash, and beans can be planted unless it starts warming fast.

Fertilize garlic with a healthy dose of nitrogen containing fertilizer.

Row covers can be used to insects away from crops like chard, spinach and beets (the leaf miner), the cabbage family (the cabbage butterfly caterpillar and root maggots), and carrots (root maggots). Row covers also add heat and spur growth of these crops.

We are a long way from being able to transplant tomatoes and peppers. Wet soils are cold soils.

Tomatoes are slightly better on marginally cold soils than peppers. A pepper plant goes into a funk when planted too early and it takes a long time and lots of heat to bring them back to pepper happiness. Last year was interesting for peppers. It took a long time to get the soils warmed and worked. I was concerned that it was going to be a poor pepper year. That turned out to be wrong. It was a great pepper year, once it got started. July through almost the end of October were warmer than usual and peppers thrived! Of course, once

the rains stopped (which is normal in the summer), both peppers and tomatoes needed a lot of attentive watering to do their best.

Why you should grow some native plants

Interest in native plants is increasing. There are several reasons to plant them in your garden and landscape.

First, since they evolved in our wet winter, dry summer climate they are generally far better at going through our season with little attention. That means they need little to no water in the summer once they are fully established, which might take a year. With water costs rising if you don’t have a well, this can provide a great landscape with far less water usage. Try to place where they thrived, i.e., sun lovers in the sun, shady lovers in shade, ones that stand “wet feet” in slower drained soils, and those that hate boggy conditions, plant where there is excellent drainage.

Another reason to grow native plants is that you are

Voices of the community

People need to be aware

I realize the Chronicle will not print this letter like they haven’t printed my other letters.

I am a 67-year-old woman who is legally blind and must talk to email. I worked at Boise Cascade for 22 years and now I’m facing serious health issues from the mill. The people I worked with are dealing with leukemias and blood cancers from working at the mill. The port commission, and city planners are aware that when Boise was in operation, they were taking the sides off the boilers so they could vent to the atmosphere. I am not a whistleblower as the Chronicle names people like me. That’s outdated.

I believe people need to be aware of where all this cancer is coming from.

Diana Robinson St. Helens

Supports Patrick Kessi

I am writing to offer my support for Patrick Kessi for the Scappoose School Board. Patrick is well-prepared to be a school board member with a personal and professional record of commitment to this community. Not only did he grow up in Scappoose and graduated from SHS, he is raising his five children in the district as well. He is

passionate about building an incredible future for all kidsmyself included.

As an example, I was interested in a variety of careers while earning my college degree, so I interned at Pat’s company for a year to explore construction and project management. During this time, I learned the value of goal-setting as an adult from Patrick. I knew about setting goals as a student-athlete in Scappoose and later in college, but working with Patrick helped me set meaningful goals for my career and personal life. Whether it’s youth coaching, serving on committees, or providing internships, Pat has always been there to mentor and support students in our community. This is exactly the kind of person we want to be on our Scappoose School Board - a true supporter of what is best for our students, families, staff and educators.

Please join me in voting for Patrick Kessi for the Scappoose School District Board on May 16.

Brennen McNabb St. Helens SHS Class of 2016

Supports Tardif

We would like to express our strong support for Alex Tardif who is running for the Scappoose School Board Zone 7 Position.

We have known Alex Tardif and his family for several

decades, and work with him regularly in our role at the local Food Bank. Alex grew up in Scappoose and has been involved in the Scappoose School District as a student, volunteer, and as a parent. Now he is well-prepared to serve as a School Board member.

Alex has already held county-wide elected office as a Columbia County Commissioner. Currently he is the Executive Director of the Columbia Pacific Food Bank and serves our community on several ( non-profit ) boards including Columbia Community Mental Health.

He knows the responsibilities of a board member and how boards should function to provide the support an organization needs to succeed in its mission. Alex is adept at strategic planning and connecting agencies with resources, and he understands how state and local governments must interact to get results.

Alex’s degree and professional experience in accounting and his role as current chair of the School District Budget Committee will give him a keen eye for fiscal oversight so we can get the most we can for our kids with the resources available. He is a parent and foster parent who understands the need for a safe and welcoming environment for all kids.

Please join us in voting for Alex Tardif on May 16.

Mike and Kristi Bradley Scappoose

depend on them. Many pollinators (bees of various types and some birds) simply don’t like relatives of some of our native species that evolved a long way from Oregon. So, providing this food source is important to their survival.

One thing that is also clear is that our deer friends love some native plants and avoid others. Since deer are at least occasionally found on every block in Columbia County, here are a list of native plants that generally, they won’t eat to oblivion: Sitka spruce; Grand fir (?); Cascara; Vine maple; Red elderberry; Wild hazel; Indian plum; Pacific wax myrtle; Rhododendron; Red flowering currant; Salal; Oregon grape; Nootka/bald hip rose; Wild strawberry (they will eat the berries); Lupine; Sword fern; Native columbine (?); Iris tenax; Oxalis oregano; Trillium; Wild ginger; Pacific yew; Ceanothus (? but antler rubbing); Oceanspray; Mock orange; Manzanita; and Bearberry.

Food preservation

You can get up-to-date and accurate answers to your food preservation questions by calling our office at 503397-3462 and ask to speak to Jenny Rudolph. She also does pressure gauge testing. You may need to leave the canner top with the gauge for several days since her days in the office are limited and do vary from week to week.

Gardening-related events

April 29 The Columbia County Master Gardeners™ Spring Fair

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will 3,000 tomato plants, 700 pepper plants, and garden related items by other vendors. It will be at the Columbia County Fairgrounds, 58892 Saulser Road in St. Helens, again this year.

May 5 Columbia County Beekeepers Monthly meeting

7 p.m. The group meets in person at the Columbia County Extension Office, 505 N. Columbia River Highway, in St. Helens and by Zoom. Contact columbiacountyoregonbeekeepers@gmail.com for Zoom information.

Important notes

• The OSU Extension Office is fully open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Donate extra garden

produce and/or money to the food bank, senior centers, or community meals programs. It always is greatly appreciated. • The Extension Service offers its programs and materials equally to all people. 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. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Free newsletter

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 503397-3462 to be put on the list. Alternatively, you can find it on the web at http://extension. oregonstate.edu/columbia/ and click on newsletters.

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

Warren

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Metro Creative Connection

CHIP BUBL Garden Plots Chronicle Guest Column

cRosswoRd solution

Solution for the April 12, 2023 crossword puzzle

Tualatin Valley

FUNERAL ALTERNATIVES

tualatinvalleyfa.com

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Gov. Kotek holds the CHIPS Bill that she signed into law April 13. Senate Bill 4 invests $210 million to help develop jobs and attract federal investments to Oregon’s semiconductor businesses.

CHIPS Act signed into law

STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.

Gov. Tina Kotek signed Senate Bill 4 – the Oregon CHIPS Act – into law during a ceremonial bill signing April 13 at the Capitol Building in Salem. Both bills passed the Oregon House and Oregon Senate with bipartisan support last week.

What CHIPS is design to do

Senate Bill 4 dedicates $190 million to develop a grant and loan program to support semiconductor businesses looking to expand in Oregon, providing the opportunity for significant federal funding support provided by

the CHIPS and Science Act that Congress passed and President Biden signed in August 2022.

It also funds $10 million to help communities prepare land for manufacturing sites and $10 million for a University Innovation Research fund that will help public universities secure federal research grants.

The bill allocates $190 million to the Oregon CHIPS Fund to be distributed via grants and loans for:

• Development and acquisition of a site for semiconductor manufacturing

• Semiconductor research and development

• Workforce development, including internships and apprenticeships

An additional $10 million is dedicated to the newly established Industrial Lands Loan Fund for financial assistance to local governments to prepare sites for semiconductor industrial development. The University Innovation Research Fund will also receive $10 million for public universities to leverage federal research grants.

The bill requires that projects funded by OR CHIPS commit to creating permanent, full-time jobs and have a net positive impact on local and state revenues.

Semiconductor research and manufacturing jobs are well-paying, stable careers that often do not require four-year degrees. An estimated 26,000 jobs would be

created by a new semiconductor manufacturing facility in Oregon and could generate billions in state GDP, according to supporters of the legislation.

“Oregon has been at the center of the semiconductor industry in the United States for decades,” Kotek said.

“This bill is an absolutely essential tool for leading a coordinated effort with the private sector to ensure we can compete for federal funds to expand advanced manufacturing in Oregon.

We are poised to lay the foundation for the next generation of innovation and production of semiconductors. I want to thank Senators Sollman and Knopp, and Representatives Bynum and Wallan for championing this bill in the state legislature.”

What the NOAA El Niño Watch means to our weather

Columbia County’s weather, and that of Oregon’s, will likely be impacted in the coming months by El Niño.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center has issued an El Nino Watch. A watch is issued when conditions are favorable for the development of El Nino within the next six months. While we are still

in an ENSO-neutral phase –when no El Niño or La Niña is present – there is a 62% chance El Niño will develop sometime between May and July. This comes after nearly two continuous years of a La Nina.

El Niño: What it is and why it matters

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (or ENSO) is a climate pattern defined by sea surface temperature and precipitation departures from normal across the equatorial Pacific Ocean that can influence weather and climate patterns across the U.S. and around the world.

El Niño is the warm phase of ENSO when ocean temperatures are warmer and precipitation is greater than normal in the area spanning the central to eastern Pacific Ocean.

NOAA scientists will continue to monitor the potential development of El Nino and will issue the next monthly update on May 11.

History

The origin of the name “El Niño” dates to the 1800’s, when fishermen on the Pacific coast of South America would notice that a warm ocean current would appear every few years. Fish catches

obituARies

would drop drastically, negatively affecting the food supply and livelihood of the communities of coastal Peru. This warm water would arrive around Christmastime. Referring to the birth of Christ, they named the warm ocean waters, El Niño, which means “the boy” in Spanish. Fishing in this region is best during La Niña years when cold upwelling ocean water brings rich nutrients offsite link from the deep ocean, resulting in an increase in the number of fish caught. Follow developments here online and in the Wednesday print editions of The Chronicle.

John Clark Burnett

April 30, 1945 - April 12, 2023

John passed away after a short battle with cancer on April 12, 2023. He was 77 years old. John was born in San Mateo, California, to Lewie and Ruby Burnett, and grew up in Escalon, California. He graduated from San Jose State University and served in the Army as a counterintelligence officer in Berlin. He was a long-time resident of Modesto, California, where he worked as a vocational counselor for the State of California for many years before retiring and moving to St. Helens, Oregon.

John was an avid sports fan, a weather enthusiast and

loved to sing in his church choir. He was devoted to his family and loved to chat with friends and neighbors. He is survived by his wife

Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild Presents

“Quilting for the Art of It”

Quilt Show

April 28-29, 2023

of nearly 50 years, Judy; his three children, Tracie, Ka-ri and Aaron; five grandchildren; and his two brothers, Fred and Jim. A viewing will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on Fri., April 28, 2023 at the Columbia Memorial Funeral Home in St. Helens. A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Sat., April 29, 2023 at Grace Baptist Church in Warren. Private burial to be held at Willamette National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Meals on Wheels. Please sign our online guestbook at www.columbiafh.com.

Cory Johnson

May 20, 1996 ~ April 13, 2023

Cory Johnson, 26, of Rainier, Oregon, passed away in Rainier, Oregon on April 13, 2023.

June Lampsa

June 1, 1931 ~ April 4, 2023

June Lampsa was born on June 1, 1931. She passed away on April 4, 2023 in West Linn, Ore-gon.

Demonstrations, Youth Presentation, Bed Turning, Small Quilts Raffle, Vendors, Quilter’s Boutique

Admission $5, 4-H & Scouts $1

Children under 12 free

Fri 10am- 5pm, Sat 10am-3pm Youth & Family LINK 907 Douglas Avenue, Longview Find us on

Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild, Longview WA

Nolan Shefstad

Jan. 16, 1948 ~ April 13, 2023

Nolan Shefstad, 75, of Clatskanie, Oregon, passed away April 13, 2023 in Longview, Washington.

Courtesy photo

STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.

9-1-1 COMMUNI-

Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District (C911CD) is conducting a hiring process for full̴time Dispatchers (Communications Specialists). Additional information and job description can be found on our website at www. columbia911.com/ careers or by calling 503-366-6978. Online applications will be accepted until 11:45 pm on April 28th, 2023.

Customer Accounts

Representative I/II Columbia River PUD a community-owned utility is hiring a Customer Accounts Repre-

-

Hr DOQ. Deadline: Open until filled. If you are interested in becoming a part of the Columbia River PUD team, please visit our website at www. crpud.net to view and apply for open positions or call us at (503) 397-1844 to have an application packet mailed to you.

RECREATION ASSISTANT

The City of St. Helens is hiring a RECREATION AS-

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD

THEME: FILL-IN-THE-BLANK

22. Feline 24. Fissure 25. *Silly ____ or ____ down 26. Church part, pl. 27. Antiquity of the past

*Southwest ____ or ____ Minor 31. Lou of The Velvet Underground 32. Rainbow swimmer 33. *Free ____ or ____

34. Glorify 36. Weighted weapon 38. Nevada Wolf Pack’s home

42. Cuban dance

45. 1.094 of a yard, pl. 49. *Doctor ____ or ____ knows?

1. On behalf of

2. “Fine by me”

3. *Basket ____ or ____ study

4. *Adam’s ____ or ____ pie

5. Finely-spun cotton threads

6. Eagle’s foot

7. Workout unit

8. Slightly drunk

9. “Doggone it!”

10. College drilling org.

11. 1/36th of a yard

12. “____, humbug!”

15. #15 Down, pl.

20. Come to pass

51. Description of a fool 54. Give qualities or money 56. More eccentric 57. Theatrical performance 58. Previously mentioned, acr. 59. Hair styling products 60. Annoying biter 61. Irish name of Ireland 62. Very bright star 63. *Easter ____ or ____ salad 65. *Dry ____ or ____ cream 67. Part of tennis match

Public Notices

PROTECTING YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW

CH23-1311

Notice of Budget Committee Meeting

A public meeting of the Budget Committee of the Columbia SWCD, Columbia, State of Oregon, on the budget for the fiscal year July

1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, will be held at 35285 Millard Road, St. Helens 97051. The meeting will take place on April 27, 2023 at 5:00PM.

The purpose of the meeting is to receive the budget mes-

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sage. This is a public meeting where deliberation of the Budget Committee will take place. An additional, separate meeting of the Budget Committee will be held to take public comment. Any person may appear at the meeting and discuss the proposed programs with the Budget Committee. The meeting for public comment will be on

May 17, 2023 at 4:00PM, held at 35285 Millard Road, St. Helens 97051. A copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained on or after April 28, 2023 at 35285 Millard Road, St. Helens 97051, between the hours of 8:30AM and 4:30PM. This is a Notice of a Second Budget Committee Meeting if Needed.

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

In the Matter of the Estate of LARRY E. ATHERTON, Deceased. No: 23PB02610 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS

NOTICE is hereby given that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above estate. All persons having claims against the estate are required to present their claim(s) within four months of the first publication of

CH23-1316

this notice to the Personal Representative 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 proceedings may obtain additional information from the records of the Court, the Personal Representative, or the attorneys for the personal representa-

tive. First published: April 12, 2023. Steven J. Atherton, Personal Representative. Personal Representative: Steven J. Atherton, c/o VanNatta, Petersen & Anderson, P.O. Box 748, St. Helens, OR 97051. Attorney for Personal Representative: Mary Anne Anderson, VanNatta, Petersen & Anderson, P.O. Box 748, St. Helens, OR 97051, Phone: (503) 397-4091.

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

In the Matter of the Estate of SUSAN K. RICH, Deceased. No: 23PB01860

NOTICE TO INTERESTED

PERSONS NOTICE is hereby given that the undersigned has been appointed Personal Representative of the above estate. All persons having claims against the estate are required to present their claim(s) within four months of the first publication of this notice to

the Personal Representative 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 proceedings may obtain additional information from

published: April 12, 2023.

Dwight S. Rich, Personal Representative. Personal Representative: Dwight S. Rich, c/o VanNatta, Petersen & Anderson, P.O. Box 748, St. Helens, OR 97051. Attorney for Personal Representative: Mary Anne Anderson, VanNatta,

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NOTICE OF THE ESTATE OF THE DECEASED WALTER VERNE FERGUSON

In the estate of the deceased Walter Verne Ferguson, of Columbia County Oregon, all persons having claims against the above named estate are

CH23-1319

required to present them to the personal representative on or before the 5th day of May, 2023, 12:01am, or the claims may be forever barred.

Rebecca L Zuber,

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

A public meeting of the Budget Committee of Columbia County, State of Oregon, to discuss the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, will be held at 230 Strand Street St. Helens, Oregon 97051 in room 310. The meetings will take place on May 3, 2023 and May 9, 2023 through May 12, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. The purpose of the meeting is to receive

CH23-1317

the budget message and to receive comment from the public on the budget. This is a public meeting where deliberations of the Budget Committee will take place. Any person may appear at the meeting and discuss the proposed programs with the Budget Committee. A copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained on or after May 3, 2023 at (https://www.co -

lumbiacountyor.gov/departments/Finance). Notice: Budget Committee Meetings will be conducted as hybrid sessions. In addition to the in person location listed above, the meetings will also be available on the web as follows: https:// meet.goto.com/129709213 United States (Toll Free): 1 866 899 4679 Access Code: 129-709-213.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to ORS 294.401, that a public meeting of the Budget Committee of the Northwest Regional Education Service District, Washington County, Oregon, will be held virtually on the 9th day of May, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. to discuss the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. The purpose of the meeting is to receive the budget message and to receive comments from the public on the budget. This

the meeting and discuss proposed programs with the Budget Committee. This meeting will be held in person at Scappoose School District Offices, 33589 SE High School Way, Scappoose, OR 97056, there will also be a virtual option available. Please see the website to register for the virtual option. Public comment will be taken in written and virtual formats. Written comments received by 5 pm on May 5th, 2023 will be read during the public com-

community member. For more information on public comment, please provide your name, phone number, and address to the Board Secretary via phone message at 503-614-1253, or email to budget@nwresd.org. A copy of the budget document may be viewed online at www.nwresd.org on or after May 5th, 2023 or via email request to budget@nwresd. org, or via phone message at 503-614-1253. A copy of this notice is also posted on the Northwest Regional ESD website at www.nwresd.org. ficer and Sherry Ely, Interim

Kelli Nicholson, County Media, Inc.

The damaged portion of the retirement center has been in disrepair and under construction for more than seven months.

REBUILDING

From Page A1

Construction of the new wing is expected to be completed in November of 2023, according to Bailey. Before any construction could be started, the debris and wreckage needed to be cleared from the site. When asked whether precautions have been taken to address the cause of the

first fire, Bailey said an emergency plan is in place.

“We strive to provide the utmost care and safety for our residents. We have an emergency and safety plan in place that we review with residents, and continue to stress the safety measures and requirements we have in place to keep them safe,” Bailey said.

When the fire occurred in October, three St. Helens Police Department (SHPD) of-

ficers were the first to arrive at the scene of the fire and immediately began assisting the tenants. They helped pull tenants through windows and ran down halls, and knocked on doors to ensure the tenants were evacuating the building. CRFR firefighters arrived and began attacking the fire and assisting with evacuating residents. Firefighters found one resident unconscious in the hallway of the building and

WATERWAYS

carried her outside. SHPD officers, a Columbia County sheriff’s deputy, and a Scappoose police officer provided resuscitation efforts, but the woman died at the scene.

Community component

The months since the fire have been difficult for Columbia Hills residents, and the tenants eagerly await the return of the seven other residents who are still in

temporary arrangements. The retirement center had a strong sense of community, and part of that community is still missing.

While this transitional period has been a trying time, Bailey emphasized that the community has been critical in getting the retirement center up and running and on the return to normalcy.

“The community was the glue that held everything together,” Bailey said. “From

the first responders to the hotel staff, emergency management, and Red Cross in the initial days to the outpouring of love and support from our staff, family, and the community, our residents couldn’t have felt more love and support during such a difficult time.”

See police body cam footage of the fire rescue with this story at thechronicleonline. com.

CHOIR

From Page A1

From Page A1 tion of music through various exercises, drills, and musical selections.

The goal for all students is to leave the program with the skills needed to enter a college ensemble or play on their own after high school. The SHHS Chor Leonis is the high school’s premiere festival chorus.

An auditioned ensemble, each member of this choir commits to a rigorous rehearsal schedule, along with weekly sectionals and personal practice time. The ensemble tours around the Northwest, representing the school at music festivals, competitions, and through informed performances for the public. Members are required to perform at multiple concerts each year, at the high school, in our local community, and all over the northwest.

The 2023-25 Governor’s Recommended Budget for DSL includes $18.8 million to remove ADVs accumulated in public waterways. Removing those vessels will address current hazards and risks, with the ADV Program Workgroup simultaneously seeking long-term solutions.

The ADV Program Workgroup will explore all elements of a statewide ADV program, with work culminating in a report to the State Land Board no

later than April 2024. The report would include a program framework addressing prevention, response, enforcement, education and outreach, and potential long-term funding needs and sources, as well as recommendations for legislative action in the 2025 Legislative Session.

Walker said DSL will immediately convene the ADV Program Workgroup, which is anticipated to include stakeholders with varying perspectives, interests, and expertise, such as local

environmental organizations, vessel insurance, vessel salvage, and public safety, as well as relevant federal agencies, other coastal states, and Oregon state agencies.

“Working with partners and stakeholders has been essential to our ADV efforts thus far,” Walker said. “Continued collaboration will be critical to the success of the ADV Program Workgroup and, ultimately, to implementation of Oregon’s statewide ADV program.”

About the State Land Board and the Department of State Lands

The State Land Board consists of Governor Tina Kotek, Secretary of State Shemia Fagan and State Treasurer Tobias Read.

Established by the Oregon Constitution in 1859, the Land Board oversees the state’s Common School Fund.

The Department of State Lands is the Land Board’s administrative agency, managing the lands and resources that help fund Oregon’s public schools and protecting the state’s waterways and wetlands for the many benefits they provide.

Will Lohre, Country Media, Inc.

A fresh foundation stands in stark contrast to the images of the burned out building from October.

Courtesy photo from Jeanelle Clark

The SHHS Chor Leonis Choir preparing to perform.

Courtesy photo from Aaron Augustus The SHHS COWAPA League Championship trophies.

Courtesy from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Abandoned vessels are a continuing hazard along waterways throughout Oregon, according to state and local marine patrol teams.

A love letter to humanity from the depths of our oceans

Our ocean is loving and tolerant, but she can only absorb so much of our pollution and hate. Every drop of excess heat and waste is taken in and accumulated despite how insignificant we think it is.

Think of a teapot of boiling water. There are signs that things are heating up, but we ignore it until it’s reached its boiling point and blowing steam everywhere. Salt water, like our oceans, takes even more heat to boil over.

Our ocean will reach a tipping point too, and her wrath and fury will strip away our security. Water will wash

away our cities on the coast and rain down and cleanse our mess on land. She’ll call on Fire to burn down the areas she can’t reach, while Earth and Air will accelerate the process. And every one of us will feel the effects because we are all connected.

It has already begun. The warning signs are there. Our climate is changing. Our storms and wildfire seasons are worse and more frequent. Sea levels are rising. The last nine years are among the hottest ten years in the 143-year record (NOAA NCEI). It is damaging our food security. People are being displaced or relocating in response. It is happening even if you don’t see it or believe it. We must

see the signs now before it all boils over. Please don’t wait to take action in any way you are called to. Let our imagination run wild with ideas of sustainability, mutual aid, and community building. Revolutionary ideas are already out there!

What matters most to you?

Start locally, find groups, talk to friends and family, find inspiration from nature, listen to your heart, and wear it on your sleeve (like literally mend the hole on your sleeve and keep wearing that sweater!). We have the internet; we can learn from each other.

Don’t wait until you have things figured out. Let these ideals and moral compass guide you through the chal-

lenges of life rather than our current mindset which has and always will be inadequate. There will never be a better time in the future. The time is now.

It’s a difficult and painful process but inaction will only bring more pain and suffering. We have to trust that there is a brighter future that we are collectively working toward, otherwise what are we living for? You can count on me to do everything I can, to constantly evolve and be a better person. Talk to me! Can I count on you?

Emy Syrop is an artist, marine biologist, and mother residing in Newport.

Oregon to receive $4M to tackle climate pollution

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced $3 million in grant funding to develop innovative strategies to cut climate pollution and build clean energy economies across Oregon. The Portland metro area was allotted $1 million.

Strategies

Section 60114 of the Inflation Reduction Act provides an investment of $5 billion to support efforts by states, municipalities, air pollution control agencies, and tribes to develop and implement strong, local greenhouse gas reduction strategies. This twostaged grant program provides funding of $250 million for noncompetitive planning grants, and $4.6 billion for competitive implementation grants.

The CPRG planning grants will support states, territories, Tribes, and air agencies, in the creation of comprehensive, innovative strategies for reducing pollution and ensuring that investments maximize

benefits, especially for lowincome and disadvantaged communities.

Clear message

“This funding sends a clear message that everyone deserves a seat at the table as we tackle the climate crisis,” EPA Region 10 Administrator Casey Sixkiller said. “This effort builds on an aggressive climate strategy already underway in Oregon, providing additional resources to the state to engage urban and rural communities, and develop climate solutions.”

The EPA announced the availability of the funds through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program earlier this month. Oregon submitted the state’s intent to participate in the new program on March 14. The state will use the funds to update its existing climate action plan.

“Prioritizing climate action is essential to conserving the natural beauty of our state,” Gov.Tina Kotek said. “Oregon’s environmental priorities require continued and urgent action – especially in the face of a worsening climate

crisis, which disproportionately impacts communities of color and rural communities.

Oregon thanks our federal partners for recognizing the growing need for resources to states to combat climate change and build climate resilience.”

“Climate chaos is wreaking havoc on our forests, our fishing, and our farming. We have to do all we can to combat it,” Oregon U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley said. “These funds will help communities in Oregon, both rural and urban, reduce the global warming gases driving that chaos.”

“These federal resources for Oregon represent the latest solid example of how the Inflation Reduction Act is supporting our state’s transition to a green economy – generating jobs and cleaner air,” Oregon U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said. “I’m proud to have worked to pass this landmark legislation and will keep battling to ensure Oregonians get our full share of its transformational and generational investments.”

“I am pleased that funding provided by the Inflation Reduction Act is being rapidly deployed to fight climate

change,” Oregon U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer said. “The Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program will help Oregon’s communities and Tribes develop strategies and tools to reduce climate pollution and accelerate our clean energy transition.”

“This funding to reduce climate pollution is great news for Oregonians,” Oregon U.S. Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici said. “The Inflation Reduction Act will help our state cut emissions and other harmful air pollution while growing the clean energy economy.”

“This grant will help bring Oregonians together to strengthen the state’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Oregon Department of Energy Director Janine Benner said. “As recent analysis by the Oregon Global Warming Commission shows, the programs and policies we have in place put us on a path to achieving our emission reduction goals and transitioning to an equitable clean energy future. This funding will support bringing all voices to the table as we build upon existing plans and ensure that the programs

deliver on their goals. The Oregon Department of Energy looks forward to partnering with the EPA and our fellow state agencies to support this important work.”

“Oregon already is a leader on climate protection and these grants will help further Oregon’s progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in all Oregon communities,”

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Director Leah Feldon said. “At DEQ we are tackling climate

change through our Clean Fuels Program, which lowers the amount of carbon emitted by cars and trucks, and our Climate Protection Program, which puts a cap on emissions from burning fossil fuels and lowers that cap each year. These are proven methods for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and they already are having an impact in Oregon.” EPA Region 10 expects to award and administer the state funding agreements in summer 2023.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SCAPPOOSE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLUMBIA CITY SCHOOL

Yard

DONATIONS APPRECIATED

Courtesy from Emy Syrop

Artwork by Emy Syrop.

The Amani Center gives services to children in need

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month in the United States. While just one month does not adequately represent the importance of drawing awareness to victims of child abuse, it is a time when the cause comes to the forefront.

The Amani Center, located at 1621 Columbia Boulevard in St Helens, is a Child Advocacy Center (CAC) with services available to children in Columbia County who are victims of abuse.

The Amani Center is a non-profit organization where alleged child victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect, and/or domestic violence and witnessing violent crime can receive forensic and medical evaluations and support services in a child-friendly setting.

the overarching agency in the country that advises children’s advocacy centers on best practices and sets standards for facilities to meet.

On April 21, the Amani Center will host a “ribbon cutting” ceremony with the Chamber of Commerce to unveil new renovations and celebrate its accreditation status. Development Manager Beth Pulito gave some details on the upcoming event.

“So we’re kind of ribbon cutting a physical space that was renovated by volunteers and local efforts, but we’re also ribbon cutting the title of NCA Accredited Center,” Pulito said.

medical exam, by a nurse practitioner or doctor who’s been medically trained in recognizing signs of abuse, paired with a child forensic interview by an interviewer that’s been trained in child development and trauma sensitive interviewing. In addition Victim Advocates/ Community Health Workers meet with victims and families/caregivers to provide support, referrals to services and resources, help them navigate the criminal justice process and ensure they have what they need to start on the path to healing.”

Qualified interviewers

medical provider on staff, we had only had part-time up until last September; she saw 30 kids in two months, which was equal to half of what we saw last year in just medicals. Last year we provided services for 224 children.”

According to Pulito, the state mandates that each county must have a designated CAC. This doesn’t mean that each county must have a CAC, but it must have one that its citizens can access. This can result in less populated counties not having their own CAC but still having access to one that is near geographically.

In October of 2000, the Amani Center was established by local grassroots efforts in response to a community need, to develop and operate a community-based center to help children suspected to be victims of abuse and or domestic violence.

Accreditation with the NCA

This year’s exciting development for the Amani Center is its National Children’s Alliance (NCA) accreditation. The NCA is

The Amani Center has long been an affiliate of the NCA, and its new accredited status is the highest level of NCA membership and denotes excellence in service provision. The services the Amani Center and Columbia County Investigative partners provide are now certified at the highest level.

“The Amani Center exists to provide forensic child abuse assessments to kids who are suspected victims of abuse and neglect in Columbia County. We’re obviously situated in St. Helens, but we serve all of the kids of Columbia County,” Pulito said. “What that means is we provide a head-to-toe

Interviewers go through a process with the state of Oregon called Oregon Child Forensic Interview Training, which specializes in forensic interviewing. Oregon Child Abuse Solutions runs the program. Each of the Amani Center’s four interviewers has graduated from these programs, with a fifth finishing up their observation training.

Intake numbers for the Amani Center “shift a lot,” according to Pulito. This is primarily related to mandatory reporters, as many of the children seen in the facility come through referrals.

Before COVID, in 2019, the Amani Center handled about 350 cases. The caseload dropped during the COVIDladen year of 2020 and into 2021.

“It went down in 2020 significantly, with COVID, because kids didn’t have eyes on them from mandatory reporters. They didn’t have teachers, coaches, church, daycares, any of that. So those numbers plummeted,” Pulito said. “They’re starting to pick back up. And now that we have a full-time

“That’s actually why we exist, because before we existed, kids had to go to Portland for these types of services,” Pulito said. Services in Portland were limited, with very few children able to receive services and it was a barrier to justice and medical care for many victims as transportation is often difficult, travel and wait times were long and stressful for families, according to Pulito.

Mitigating trauma

At times, Columbia County children still need to go to Portland if a higher level of medical care is needed due to the lack of a hospital in Columbia County. When this happens, kids will be referred to the Amani Center if necessary. If possible, the Amani Center will coordinate cases from the beginning, to limit the trauma of the whole process.

“We do everything we can to have a child come to us initially because the whole reason that a children’s advocacy center exists is to reduce trauma and provide services to a child in a continuous space

that is comfortable and less threatening than a hospital or a police department,” Pulito said. “You know, before kids were able to come see an agency like ours, they would have to see multiple people and tell their story multiple times. To the first responding officer, then the detective, then a CPS worker, then a councilor, then a medical provider, then the DA, the jury. We do that all here, one time, one interview, and, all of our work is admissible in court. And so our staff can speak on behalf of that child on the stand if that is what is agreeable between the defense and prosecuting attorneys so that a child doesn’t have to get up and tell their traumatic stories again and again.”

This piece protects children from the “subsequent trauma” of the legal process.

The Amani Center acts as a “hub” for people needing to connect with community partners and access services.

During COVID, this was especially true. Some of these partners are law enforcement, child protective services, schools, healthcare professionals, and mental healthcare professionals.

During April, the Amani Center receives support from the NCA to bring more attention to child abuse. While this month is an important observance of this issue, Pulito emphasized that it is a year-round issue.

“Child abuse isn’t selective about the children and families that it impacts. Because it’s so wide spread, some of it’s neglect, some of it’s sexual abuse, some of it’s physical abuse. And all of those things impact different families in different ways,” Pulito said.

The Amani Center is funded through a variety of

channels. They see support through medical insurance reimbursements, grants, fundraising projects, Child Abuse Multi-disciplinary Intervention funds grant, private donations, Crime Victims Compensation reimbursements, volunteers, community support, and inkind donations.

“We want people to know, we’ve been here for over 20 years,” Pulito said. “Yet not everybody knows who the Amani Center is or what the Amani Center is because, frankly, Amani Center doesn’t really say what we are... A lot of times, people don’t know who we are unless they’ve had some sort of involvement with us or they are already our supporters. And so, we are trying to educate our community that we exist that, we’re out here, we are providing this service locally at a national level of excellence and, we provide these services at no charge to children and families.”

Upcoming events

Along with its upcoming ribbon cutting, the Amani Center has other events to raise funds and get out into the community. There is a karaoke night fundraiser sponsored by Columbia Theatre and open to families and kids on April 25 from 6-9 p.m. It’s $5 per person and $10 per family.

There is also a 5k, 10k, and a 1-mile family walk fundraiser on April 29. The 5k and 10k are both $50 to join, and participants will receive a t-shirt. The 1-mile walk is $25. All proceeds will help support the Amani Center and its services. Registration is still open at the Amani Center’s website and you can use FORTHEKIDS23 for a discount.

The Amani Center exists to provide forensic child abuse assessments to kids who are suspected victims of abuse and neglect in Columbia County.

~ Beth Pulito, Development Manager

Will Lohre / Country Media, Inc.

The Amani Center is located at 1621 Columbia Boulevard.

Will Lohre / Country Media, Inc.

The newly renovated family room will be unveiled on Friday, April 21.

Rainier trap team to defend state title

The Rainier High Jr/Sr School Trap Team is starting its season in the Oregon State High School Clay Target League.

To prepare for their regular season, members of the team competed in a tournament separate from its league schedule.

The Rainier Columbians Trap Team made the trip to Vancouver Saturday, April 8, to participate in the Woodland Beaver Open.

“What I like to do is look for other opportunities for the team to get some practice in tournament format,” RJRHDS

Coach Jeff Sorenson said. “So, there’s another youth shooting organization that the Woodland trap team belongs to that hosts tournaments across

Washington and Oregon, and so the Woodland team hosted that tournament in Vancouver on Saturday. So, I brought some of our kids over to shoot in that just to help prepare for our season here.”

In a tournament that included teams from around Oregon and Washington, the Columbians took home second-place honors in the Team event, finishing behind

the host Woodland team. The top five shooters for Columbians contributing to the team score were Tristin Stout, Lilly Langhorne, James Watkins, Levi Hall, and Brighton Stout.

Individual honors for the Columbians were received by Tristin Stout (2nd place 22 yds), Lilly Langhorne (1st place Continental, 3rd place 22 yds), James Watkins (2nd place 22 yds JV, 2nd place

Continental JV), and Levi Hall (1st place Continental JV).

Oregon Clay Target League

The high school team is separate from the Trap Team, but Sorenson brings shooters from the high school team to get them more experience because there is only one tournament in the Clay Target League’s season.

“The way the Oregon Clay Target League works is all the schools across Oregon; I’m not sure, there’s about, there’s over 50 this year, I think it’s probably about 55 schools have a trap team in Oregon,” Sorenson said. “We just shoot at our home range, and record our scores and enter those virtually every week. And then, at the end of the season, there’s one big tournament where all the teams get together, it’s in Hillsboro this year, and have

a head-to-head tournament, and so that’s the only time that we actually travel and shoot against the other teams in our league.”

Last season, the Rainier High School team won the state tournament in the Class 1-A division, which is comprised of programs with 25 shooters or less. Sorenson and his sharpshooters will look to win back-to-back championships this season.

Takeaways for top shots

Aside from developing expert shots, Sorenson said that the takeaways from the activity go beyond the range.

“There’s a few things, right? Obviously, since we’re a shooting team, safety is the first priority. And so, they have to demonstrate the responsibility and maturity to safely handle guns in that type

of environment,” Sorenson said. “Past that, it really just comes down to discipline and practice. The key to shooting is consistency, and so for a lot of kids that’s a challenge.”

The Rainier team began the campaign to defend their 2022 State Title in the Oregon State Clay Target League Sunday, April 16, at the Rainier Rod and Gun Club. Sorenson’s two top shooters, Stout and Hall each shot a 48/50, but they won’t know where they stand in the competition until each school’s scores are submitted.

“The shoot Sunday went well but since it’s a virtual competition we don’t actually know how we stacked up against the rest of the league until next week,” Sorenson said. “Teams have 7 days to enter their weekly scores and our shoot was on day 1 of that seven day period.”

Vernonia man receives award for planting Hiroshima peace tree

If Vernonia has felt more peaceful over the last year, it may be because a Hiroshima Peace Tree was planted in Ora Bolemeier Park.

In March, Oregon Community Trees and the Oregon Department of Forestry awarded Vernonia Resident Michael Calhoun with the annual statewide 2023 Oregon Urban & Community Forestry Award for planting the Hiroshima Ginko peace tree in the Vernonia park.

Calhoun decided to bring the peace tree to Vernonia when he learned about a program created by Hideko Tamura-Snider that aimed to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of World War 2 by spreading Ginko trees across Oregon.

“There is a survivor of World War 2, a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing lives in Southern Oregon,” Calhoun said. “She brought seeds of these trees, mainly Ginko trees, that survived the bombing of Hiroshima, and they were germinated in Oregon and then distributed

to different communities. And I, starting about two years ago, wanted to bring that to my hometown of Vernonia; I thought it was an incredible story.”

The work to get the tree to Vernonia took work, according to Calhoun. There was a lot of behind-the-scenes work that was needed to get the project done. Calhoun worked with city officials in addition to Tamura-Snider. Calhoun first needed approval from the Vernonia Parks Committee and then needed approval from the Vernonia City Council.

“It wasn’t just, ‘hey let’s do this,’ its the whole channel. And that’s a lot of what slowed it down, was all the personalities in every department, one by one making sure they agreed,” Calhoun said.

Some of the limiting factors were that the tree needed to be displayed in a publicly available place, outside of flood zones, and where it wouldn’t affect other trees.

In August 2022, the city held a ceremony to dedicate the tree, and a consulate representative from Japan gave a presentation during the ceremony. Oregon Department of

Forestry worker Jim Gersbach presented Calhoun the award at a Vernonia City Council meeting Monday, April 10.

The Oregon Department of Forestry and Oregon Community Trees have been recognizing individuals with awards since 1994. The award recognizes people who “demonstrate outstanding accomplishments and leadership in urban and community forestry,” according to the email announcement of the award Calhoun received.

The annual Oregon Urban & Community Forestry Awards Program celebrates

Oregonians who “understand that healthy urban and community forests foster thriving communities,” Calhoun’s award letter reads. Ironically, Calhoun did not know that he was up for the award until he received it in his email.

“For this award, it was a surprise to me, but I’m honored, and I’m a proud Vernonia and Columbia County resident, so I wanted to highlight the community that I’m from,” Calhoun said. Calhoun was born and raised in Vernonia and has a passion for conservation.

Calhoun chairs the Columbia Soil and Water Conservation District and the Upper Nehalem Watershed Council. One of the things that inspired Calhoun was the resiliency of the Vernonia community.

“A reason to get this tree was Vernonia also experienced a tragic event that people had resiliency to bounce back

from. Two flood events, we didn’t know after the second one, what’s the future of our town,” Calhoun said. “And then this tree from Hiroshima, and their story of resiliency, so I thought the both the United States, Vernonia, Oregon, and Hiroshima share that story and then that’s one of the reasons I brought it to Vernonia.”

Courtesy photo from Pam Stout

The Rainier Jr/Sr High School Trap Team members James Watkins, Levi Hall, Lilly Langhorne, Brighton Stout, Tristin Stout and Bree Cole.

Courtesy of Michael Calhoun

Michael Calhoun with his 2023 Oregon Urban & Community Forestry Award.

Courtesy of Michael Calhoun

Michael Calhoun with the Hiroshima Ginko peace tree, which was planted at Ora Bolemeier Park.