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Graduations to follow pandemic guidelines

JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

School districts in Columbia County are preparing for Graduation 2021 with COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and guidelines in mind. St. Helens High School (SHHS) graduation organizers are preparing for a drive-through ceremony similar to what was conducted in 2020 due to the pandemic. The 2021 SHHS graduation is set for noon Friday, June 11, at the Columbia County Courthouse Square in St. Helens.

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Week-long events

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

Kayley Siemienczuk, left, watches as her mother guides a small dog over the obstacle course during the dog show in the Old Town District of St. Helens. See more photos with this story at thechronicleonline.com.

Local 11-year-old conducts dog show JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

The pandemic hasn’t stopped a St. Helens 11-year-old from helping the Columbia Humane Society. Karley Siemienczuk organized a dog show held Friday afternoon, April 30, at the Columbia View Gazebo adjacent to the Columbia County Courthouse in the Old Town District of St. Helens. Karley said she saw photos of the dogs being cared for at the Columbia Humane Society and wanted to help them. “I felt really bad because some

of those dogs don’t get adopted,” she said. “That’s very sad because they don’t have a warm home and a special place.” Karley decided to put on a dog show and have those participating with their dogs to donate dog food for the animal shelter. With the help of her family and Molly’s Market, Karley produced and distributed flyers telling of the Friday event and asking dog owners to join the fun. Karley said she designed plans for the show and her dad constructed the obstacles placed in the front of the gazebo used for the perfor-

mances. Karley said the location for the event is special. “I’ve always loved this location because it has such a pretty view, there is a perfect space for everything, and there is plenty of room for dogs,” she said. Karley said she saved money for the show supplies and dog food and her father helped pay the cost of renting the gazebo. About half a dozen families and their dogs attended the event. Each family represented walked their See SHOW Page A12

Push back mounts against county classifications new more contagious variants. She said that Oregon leads the nation for the rate of increase in cases over the last two weeks.

As your Governor, I chose to save lives. ~ Kate Brown, Oregon Governor

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

18 Columbia County elected officials, including St. Helens Mayor Rick Scholl and Scappoose Mayor Scott Burge, have signed and sent this letter Governor Kate Brown asking that she reconsider the state’s COVID-19 health and safety county classifications. It follows an earlier letter by the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association signed by 79 elected officials making a similar request. ZACK DEMARS worldnews3@countrymedia.net

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s latest mandate that moved Columbia County and 14 others into the state’s pandemic Extreme High Risk classification continues to draw fire. The Extreme High Risk move took effect Friday, April 30, the same day 79 county commissioners across the state, including the Columbia County Board of Com-

Opinion ..................... A4 Poll ............................ A4 Obituaries ................. A5 Classified Ads ......... A6 Legals .................... A7-8 TV Guide ................... A9 Garden Plots .......... A10 Crossword .............. A10

Vol. 139, No. 18

missioners singed their names to a letter by the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association asking that Brown reconsider the risk classifications due to the adverse economic impact on the Oregon hospitality. The Extreme High Risk means tighter public restrictions and limitations for businesses, including no indoor dinning at restaurants. On that same day, Brown met with reporters, defending the decision because Oregon’s COVID-19 cases are widespread and driven by

The graduation organizers are encouraging graduates and their families to decorate their home’s front doors and their cars to honor and showcase the seniors time and activities at SHHS. A senior class and community cruise added to the ceremonies in 2020 is again scheduled for the 2021 graduation. “Decorate your cars, your caps, throw on your gowns and load up the car with your family,” the organizers said in the SHHS website post. The cruise is scheduled from 8 to 10 p.m. on June 9. Students are directed to attend a mandatory drive-through at St. Helens High School from 12-2 p.m. June 10, to receive required ceremony information, name tags and other materials. The specific drive-through route will depend on the scheduled building renovation project. A Senior Celebration scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Doc Ackerson Stadium on the SHHS campus will feature all of the annual speakers and presentations from the school’s traditional academic award assembly, senior assembly, and commencement. The Senior Celebration activities will be based on the current pandemic restrictions on that day. The formal graduation ceremony is scheduled to take place at 12 p.m. June 11 at the Columbia County Courthouse Plaza in the Old District of St. Helens. Organizers describe the ceremony as the traditional awarding of the diplomas but in a COVID-friendly drive-up format. Seniors with their families, in one vehicle per graduate, will stage at a predetermined staging location at a specified time, then in groups will be led downtown to the courthouse.

Once at the courthouse the graduate will exit the car, be announced as they ascend the stairs to the courthouse, receive their diploma from the principal, pose for a quick photo with the principal, have a professional picture taken with Bell Studios before returning to the vehicle and exiting the square with their families. More detailed information, such as staging area times and locations will be provided in advance on the SHHS graduation page at shhsasb. weebly.com/graduation-2021.html. Other graduation ceremonies Rainier Jr/Sr High School Principal Graden Blue said they expect to 50 seniors to graduate during the 7 p.m. June 5 event at the school’s football field, rain or shine. Other ceremonies include a senior car parade at 6 p.m. from the school through Rainier, senior awards at 7 p.m. May 27 and Baccalaureate at 7 p.m. May 23, all with pandemicrelated social distancing. Blue said Rainier has never deviated from the idea of having a near normal graduation for the high school seniors. Over the course of the year, the school district administrators’ discussions have been constantly steered in the direction of having as many people as possible attend the event while complying with mandates and guidelines. “With that in mind, we have chosen to hold our graduation outside this year at the football stadium,” Blue said. “We have asked families to come prepared for whatever the weather presents to us. To assist in that we have also asked families to bring their own chairs so that they can distance as families.” Families and students have prepared and looked forward, for at least 12 years, for their high school graduation, according to Blue. “This is a major accomplishment for students and their hard work deserves to be recognized with this culminating event,” Blue said. “Students and families have worked closely with the school this year to support these students. This is a celebration of everyone’s hard work and commitment to getting through this unusual and difficult year. We have made it! Let’s celebrate that achievement!” See GRADUATION Page A3

“I was presented with data showing two paths Oregon could take: One in which we took no additional action and stood by while more people die from this disease, and another that required a temporary tightening of restrictions for certain counties but could save hundreds of lives and prevent as many as 450 hospitalizations over the next three weeks, Brown said “As your Governor, I chose to save lives.” Columbia County concerns Eighteen elected officials in Columbia County, including St. Helens Mayor Rick Scholl and Scapppoose Mayor Scott Burge, sent their own letter to Brown expressing their See COUNTY Page A12

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

In 2020, St. Helens High School seniors were driven to the steps of the Columbia County Courthouse. As their name was called, each walked up the steps to receive their diploma and back down the steps to have their photo taken. The 2021 SHHS graduation will be patterned after that event.

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Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Financial relief sought for Eisenschmidt Pool AURORA BIGGERS chronicle2@countrymedia.net

The financial challenges continue at Eisenschmidt Pool in St. Helens. Pool General Manager Anne Sholz is hopeful for some relief by the St. Helens City Council. On April 21, Sholz delivered a letter to the council during its regular afternoon work session requesting financial leniency for the pool’s water bill. The council agreed to take up the request at its May 5 work session. The pool turns 82 this year, but its survival has been tenuous in recent years, especially since COVID-19 forced Sholz to close the pool, and lay off 25 employees. “A total of 9 employees remained when we reopened with limited hours and occupancy,” Sholz said in her letter. Sholz is also in the process of replacing the pool’s boiler, a $105,000 project of which The Energy Trust of Oregon is paying $42,000,

The Eisenschmidt Pool is 110 feet long and 50 feet wide. It holds 230,000 gallons of water.

leaving $70,000 for the pool to pay through a three year loan from Columbia Pacific Economic Development District. During the pool’s closure, Sholz said she also had to repair a pipe due to damage from a winter storm,

which cost the pool $25,000 and 4000,000 gallons of water. A recent bid for regrouting and re-caulking the pool shell estimated the additional repairs at $78,000. “We are completely unsure how we can get this project started until the COVID

pandemic has come to a complete end,” she said. Sholz enumerated these costs to the council in her letter, and asked the council to consider granting the pool leniency. “With the expenses, limited operating hours/

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

programs and resources, I would like to ask for your consideration in a temporary reduction in the percentage paid on our water bill or at least place a hold on our current percentage paid,” she said. Eisenschmidt pool was

built in 1939 during the Great Depression as part of the Work Projects Administration (WPA), a relief program aimed at getting unemployed people back to work by having them work on a wide variety of projects, and is one of eight functioning WPA pools left in the U.S. Originally built as a lifesaving measure for residents of St. Helens, after three drownings occurred in the Columbia River in the summer of 1936, Sholz said the pool continues its historic legacy today, and she hopes to guide it into the future. “We are extremely proud to be part of its continuing future … We want nothing more than to keep this resource available at an affordable cost to our county residents,” Sholz said. The City Council was set to discuss the request from Sholz during it’s Wednesday afternoon work session, May 5. Follow developments at thechronicleonline.com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Chronicle.

Murder charges filed following fatal stabbing JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

One man faces murder charges and another man is dead following what investigators are calling a domestic

dispute in the Rainier area of Northeast Columbia County. At approximately 8:30 p.m. April 29, Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a Rainier area residence for a possible domestic assault involving a

weapon. Deputies arriving on scene located a 57-year-old man from Deer Island with a stab wound to his groin area. Deputies and Columbia River Fire & Rescue medics attended to the stabbing victim and called LifeFlight

for a medical emergency helicopter to the area. The victim was later pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators learned the suspect had fled the scene prior to their arrival but deputies were able to

identify him as 60-year-old Deer Island resident Harvey Knight. Investigators issued a multi-county alert to law enforcement agencies to watch for Knight and the vehicle he was believed to be operating. A short time later, Port-

land Police officers were able to spot the suspect vehicle and they took Knight into custody. The name of the stabbing victim had not been released by investigators at press time.

Landlord Compensation Round 2 STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

Round two of the Oregon Landlord Compensation Fund program opened April 29 and includes $70 million in assistance covering rent owed by eligible tenants that was accrued from April 1, 2020 through May 2021. All applications received by 5 p.m. May 17 will be reviewed and scored. Funds are not first come, first served, according to Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS). The Oregon Legislature allocated a total of $150 million to the Landlord Compensation Fund (LCF). “Oregon’s Landlord Compensation Fund Program is designed to provide relief to residential landlords who have been unable to collect rent due to tenant hardships,” OHCS Director Margaret Salazar said. “We’re grateful to assist landlords in keeping Oregon’s financially stressed tenants in their homes after a remarkably challenging year.” Salazar said OHCS has also made improvements to

the LCF Application Portal that will make it easier for landlords and property managers to submit required documentation. Even with these improvements, there still may be occasional glitches due to the expected high volumes of applicants. “We are working as quickly as possible to get assistance where it is most needed in the easiest way possible,” OHCS Director of Affordable Rental Housing Julie Cody said. “If applicants experience technical difficultly, we ask they be patient and work with our customer service staff to address any issues that may arise.” How it works According to Cody, tenants must provide their landlord with a Declaration of Financial Hardship for Eviction Protection. When tenants provide the form to their landlord, they are protected from eviction through June 30, 2021, and the landlord may use the form to request payment for rental debt owed from April 1, 2020 through May 2021. Participating landlords can receive funding for an

Map courtesy of Oregon Housing and Community Services

Over $40 million was awarded to landlords in the first round, according to the OHCS.

amount equal to 80% of the rental debt owed by qualified residents from April 2020 through the month the application round they are applying in opened. Landlords agree to forgive the remaining 20% of the tenant’s debt as part of the

grant agreement and as a condition of receiving payment. If there are more applications than funds available, OHCS has developed a scoring criteria that weighs portfolio size and percentage of uncollected rent with

preference being attached to smaller portfolios and those properties with higher uncollected rental debt. Landlord Compensation Program During the third Or-

egon Legislature’s Special Session in 2020, legislators enacted an eviction moratorium and established the Landlord Compensation Fund (HB 4401). The Legislature allocated $200 million in rent assistance to support tenants and landlords, which includes $150 million for the Landlord Compensation Fund. The program is designed to provide relief to landlords who have tenants living in their homes who have been unable to pay rent at any point since April 2020 due to a financial hardship. The program will also eliminate the rent owed for those tenants experiencing a hardship. Applications for the first round of funding closed last month. Over $40 million was awarded to landlords in the first round, and award notices were sent to landlord this week and last. Public Housing Authorities will verify ownership, make payments to landlords, and notify tenants that their rent has been forgiven. These resources will help approximately 12,000 tenant households and more than 1,900 landlords.

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

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Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Deputy receives Life Saving Award JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

Courtesy photo from CCSO

K9 Lars and his law enforcement partner and handler Columbia County Sheriff Deputy Cody Pesio.

K9 fundraiser exceeds goal JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

Columbia County Sheriff’s lone K9 will soon be sporting a new bullet proof vest while on duty. A community fundraiser that began in Clatskanie has brought in enough cash to pay for the life safety vest for K9 Lars and more. “Our original goal was $3,099 to pay for the vest, but we ended up receiving over $5,000,” fundraising organizer Jean Hogan said. “The excess money will go into a K9 fund for Lars’ medical expenses and when he retires the money can be used to purchase another K9.” The fundraiser began Feb. 24, but slowed shortly after. According to Hogan, a front page article in The Chronicle highlighting the effort and generous community support pushed the fundraiser over its goal. “I thought I would have to hold several bake sales to reach the goal but The Chronicle’s article really blasted us over the goal,” she said. “Everyone got onboard with donations from $5 to $1,000.” Hogan said state Senator Betsy Johnson and Georgia Pacific each donated $1,000 and a smaller fundraising effort was conducted by local business Flowers ‘N Fluff. “They held a fundraiser for two days and contributed one dollar from the sale of each cup of coffee,” Hogan said. “They brought in $997.

It was amazing.” The money collected during the Flowers ‘N Fluff fundraiser will be used to purchase a K9 trauma kit, which includes first aid materials to be used if the dog is injured. Hogan said a public demonstration showing K9 Lars in action is pending. Reaction “The outpouring of community support to help fund a vest for Lars is truly humbling,” Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley said, adding that the K9 is essentially another Columbia County Deputy who patrols daily with his partner Deputy Cody Pesio. Pesio said he is grateful for the outpouring love and support for K9 Lars and law enforcement by the community. Lars is a patrol dog, which consists of human tracking, apprehension, article searches, area searches, and building searches. “Lars is used to assist in locating fleeing felons, clearing buildings during a search, locating items that may have been dropped by a suspect and in some instances he can be utilized as part of a search and rescue,” Columbia Count Sheriff Brian Pixley said. “The benefit to the Columbia County community is that of officer safety and community safety. Pixley said Lars is able to assist every agency in

Columbia County and is utilized regularly. “Lars allows law enforcement to locate suspects hiding or attempting to conceal someone that may otherwise be missed,” he said. “K9’s are an irreplaceable tool for both law enforcement and the communities we serve,” Pesio said. “Dogs are able to locate humans and their odor far before humans can, which makes officers safer when a K9 has been deployed.” K9 Lars and Pesio train monthly with other agencies and receive certification yearly through the Oregon Police Canine Association. Pesio calls Lars a switch dog. “By this I mean Lars is laid back, loves attention, and loves his back scratched,” Pesio said. “On the other hand when duty calls Lars knows exactly what he needs to do.” “Lars’ personality is that of a lovable goofball until it is time to go to work,” Pixley said. “When Lars is deployed to search for something or someone, he is all business and is very good at what he does. Once the task at hand has been performed, he returns back to his lovable, playful self.” Seven-year-old K9 Lars came from Adlerhorst Kennels in Southern California. Lars is currently the only K-9 employed by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. The dog resides with his law enforcement partner Pesio.

Columbia County Sheriff’s Deputy Gery Fiebich has been recognized with a Life Saving Award from Columbia River Fire & Rescue for his life saving actions. Fiebich was dispatched to assist St. Helens Police on February 8 with a medical call. When Fiebich arrived, he saw St. Helens Police Officer Adam Hartless performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a subject inside a home not breathing. Fiebich brought in to the house his automated external defibrillator (AED) machine and assisted Hartless by applying the AED to the 46-year-old man. Fiebich, Hartless and St. Helens Police Officer Terry Massey continued life saving measures until Columbia River Fire & Rescue medics (CRFR) arrived on scene and took over the medical response. The male became conscious a short time later and was transported to a Portland area hospital. CRFR credited Deputy Fiebich with saving the man’s life. Had it not been for the quick action of Deputy Fiebich and the other law enforcement on scene, the individual would likely not have survived this incident, according to CRFR. Fiebich received the Life Saving Award from CRFR

GRADUATION

From Page A1

Clatskanie School District is planning an outdoor graduation at 2:30 p.m. June 5, at the high school football field. The district has established three graduation plans, depending on what the current pandemic-related county risk classifications are. The first plan is based on Columbia County being at High Risk and will allow a maximum or 600 people on the field to attend the ceremony. That plan will be reevaluate on May 29 for a possible increase in attendance numbers or change in venue. “If the county is at Ex-

Courtesy photo from CCSO

Deputy Gery Fiebich displays the Life Savings Award.

on April 28. Hartless was honored in early April with a Life Saving Award from the St. Helens Police Department. Massey was recognized by CRFR during the St. Helens City Council meeting

April 21 for responding to the call. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office hired Fiebich in April 2015 as a corrections deputy. He transferred to the sheriff’s office enforcement division in July 2017.

treme High Risk, as of May 29, Clatskanie will pattern the ceremonies after the 2020 drive-up graduation,” Clatskanie School District Director of Student Service and Innovations Jim Helman said. “Students will be scheduled to graduate throughout the day. It will be a fast turnaround if we have to decide in the last hour, so student speakers will be asked to videotape their speeches and decide if they will want a walking partner.” If Columbia County is at Moderate Risk on June 5, the graduation will allow 1,000 people on the football field. The Chronicle reached out to Scappoose School District officials for details about the Scappoose High

School graduation. We had not received responses to our question by press time. A post on the high school Facebook page reads: “We are currently working on graduation plans. Our hope is to be back to as normal a ceremony as possible (although we may have to issue tickets depending on state guidelines). What we know right now is the Graduation Commencement will be held on Saturday, June 5 at 1 p.m. Specific details to follow.” Follow update details as they become available about the high school graduations at thechronicleonline.com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Chronicle.

Assisted Living At Home Caregiving advice by Nurse Navigator Katie Klem It’s Wednesday and I am glad that you are here. Thank you for the privilege of your time in being a faithful reader. In my work as a geriatric care manager, there are 3 main issues that most caregiving families deal with. #1. Where should care be provided; home, assisted living or nursing home. #2. Where to get the money to pay for care. #3. How to manage the care especially when there is dementia and or mobility issues. Most of the challenges of caregiving revolve around these three issues and or circumstances associated with them. Last week, we discussed the option of combining in home care, skilled therapy from Medicare and adult day care. This

week’s questions went like this; my mom has the hardest time with change. We want to explore the use of tranquility because we want to cut cost, reduce leaks and urine odor but my mom would not wear a new undergarment. She wears one of the store brands which is grey in color with two poise pads. How do you help a dementia patient trying a new undergarment? A: The good thing is that poise pads are white in color. Tranquility makes two kinds of white colored inserts. One is long and best for overnight use and the other is contoured. The contoured one is best for reducing leaks because it is wider in the peri area. Since she

uses 2 poise pads, it would be easy to just replace the two poise pads with one tranquility long insert. With the proper use, the insert along with the store brand pull up should be able to keep her dry, leak free and odor free. That one small change will reduce the cost significantly and reduce the number of needed changes especially at night. I recommend tranquility undergarment because it costs less, it saves time, work and hours of laundry. I like to say that it is CAREGIVER FRIENDLY. If you would like free samples of the insert or tranquility undergarments, please stop in at Comforting Medical Supply and I will have them for you.

Katie Klem is a certified elder care consultant and CCO of COMFORT Makers & Comforting Medical Supply. 139 N. 21st St., St. Helens, OR 97051 Phone: 503-369-2460 Email: Katie@comfort-makers.com Columbia County’s trusted local news source

Opinion

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Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Viewpoints

A collective step toward healing our nation AURORA BIGGERS chronicle2@countrymedia.net

Over the last year, I have experienced unbelievable stress in my job as a journalist because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But, like so many others, this stress was also in my home, in my relationships with my family and friends, and even in my simple trips to the grocery store. I spent New Year’s in Portugal and by the time I returned home in January, my mother, who is a nurse, was talking about wearing masks at work and preparing for an overflow of patients in her hospital’s ICU. I recall her telling me, “This won’t be good. This isn’t just a flu.” By late March, she was already telling me about a shortage of protective gear. Her and my dad were sleeping in separate beds and living in separate parts of the house, unless unavoidable because she worked on a COVID-19 unit in her hospital. On a family Zoom call, my dad sat in his office, my mother in the bedroom. They both said they couldn’t wait for this to be over. Moving morgues We heard reports of moving morgues in New York City

because the body count was so high, there was nowhere for them to go. One of my relatives lives in Brooklyn and took a part-time job cycling around the city delivering supplies to hospitals. He told me he saw a garbage truck, but there wasn’t garbage inside, there were bodies. The news said the moving morgues were coming to Oregon soon. My grandparents, who live in the midwest, contracted COVID-19 in the summer. They each have comorbidities, which heightened my family’s fear. While a big illness in the family would usually warrant a trip, we all had to stay home and wait for phone calls and texts to give us updates. They ended up recovering from COVID-19, but during their illness it was hard not thinking about how we likely wouldn’t be able to fly out, even if they were hospitalized. If they had died, there wouldn’t have been a funeral, per state and CDC restrictions. My other grandparents, who live in Oregon, housed me during college, and when COVID-19 hit and universities shut down in March, 2020, I had to make a decision. Would I stay and risk infecting my grandparents who are part of the higher risk demographic or would I seek new housing in the middle

of a housing crisis? Then my job at the time called and told me I was furloughed. With my school online and no job to physically show up to, I decided it was best to move back in with my parents, who live in Washington. Social life deteriorates After a month, my job called and said they were reopening, so I moved back in with my grandparents. Slowly, I saw my social life deteriorate. Friends would text and ask if I was available for dinner or drinks, and I had to decline, saying I was concerned about our safety and the safety of my grandparents, who I would be tracking whatever germs I collected back to. I was so afraid of infecting myself or others with COVID-19 that I kept my distance from family and friends for over a year. I even quarantined myself in my room on a few occasions, and often avoided being in shared spaces with my grandparents, since I regularly saw the public for my job. I self-isolated and fell into a strict new routine: work, home, grocery store. In late August, my university reopened for in-person classes, but we were all wearing face masks, sitting six feet

a part, and as a commuter, I wasn’t allowed to hang out on campus after my classes. It was difficult seeing many of my friends’ faces, but only being able to wave or nod at them. I did my first nonZoom, in-person, reporting in January, 2021. I wasn’t vaccinated, but I began to feel hope for a return to ‘normal.’ Finally, in March, 2021, I became eligible for the vaccine. A couple weeks prior, I was sitting in Governor Brown’s virtual press conference, when OHA officials announced that all Oregonians age 16 and up would be eligible for the vaccine in the coming weeks, and President Biden announced that all states would have eligibility opened up by April 19. At first, I didn’t rush to sign up for a vaccine. I knew I would likely have to wait until summer to actually get an appointment. Then one of my editors messaged me. There was a vaccine clinic not too far from me that had a surplus of vaccines, and I qualified because I was a member of the press. Getting vaccinated When the first dose of my vaccine (Pfizer) finally entered my arm, I finally felt a little less afraid, even hopeful. I felt relief. Not only was I

protecting myself, I was protecting my family, my friends, my classmates, my professors, my employers, coworkers, and doing my part to protect the nation. With each vaccine, we all take a collective step toward healing our nation, toward living with less fear and more hope. Many communities are skeptical about the vaccine, especially people of color and women—due to historical record and discriminatory health care practices. The public discourse surrounding symptoms has created fear. While symptoms can take place with any vaccine, and we know that there are rare cases of severe symptoms from any of the current vaccines available, the important thing to remember is that these reactions are extremely rare. With my first dose, I didn’t experience any symptoms. With my second, I felt a ‘flash flu,’ as I’ve dubbed it. I was sore and tired, but the symptoms passed quickly within 24 hours. Ultimately, the vaccine was worth it. I feel safe around my family again. Because Columbia County is now at Extreme High Risk, I am working remotely, but I look forward to returning to an in-person work environment, and I feel prepared to see my coworkers,

engage the public, and do my job with hope, not fear. My recommendation, if you have the chance to get vaccinated, don’t wait. Vaccination information In Oregon, everyone over 16 is currently eligible. If you live in Columbia County, you can seek vaccination at most WalMart, Walgreens, Safeway, and other such retail locations as well as selected medical outlets, including the expanded mass vaccination site at the OHSU Clinic in Scappoose. Drive-through clinics are also established in the Portland metro area. Appointments are necessary. To learn about appointment details and find a location near you, visit the Oregon Health Authority website. For Columbia County residents that cannot seek vaccinations, the county is operating an in-home vaccination program. For more information, call Columbia County Public Health, at 503397-7247. The county is also providing free transportation to clinics, if needed. Aurora Biggers is a general assignment reporter for The Chronicle. She may be reached at chronicle2@ countrymedia.net.

Voices of the Community Firefighters Union Supports Measure 5-285 I am pleased to write on behalf of the men and women who proudly serve as firefighters, emergency medical technicians and paramedics for Scappoose Rural Fire District. First, thank you for your past support and your willingness to consider additional funding so that we can better serve you. You call, and we come as fast as we can. However, there are times when the Scappoose main station is only staffed with one ambulance. This means an ambulance must come from another community when there are multiple calls, which takes time. A fast and reliable paramedic response and transport to the emergency room is critical to survivability in the event of a heart attack, stroke, cardiac arrest or significant trauma. When an ambulance must come from another community, critical care is delayed. This levy will provide the residents of Scappoose Fire District with a faster and more reliable response to medical incidents as well as residential and commercial fires, motor vehicle crashes and other emergencies. This will be achieved by hiring three additional positions, allowing the fire district to staff two ambulances or one fourperson engine 24hrs a day. Your support for this levy will allow us to better serve you. Please join us in voting YES for Measure 5-285, and help us provide you with

faster, more reliable EMS and fire protection services. Justin Krieck Tualatin Valley

port a good cause. Paul and Judy Nys Rainier

Fire Board Rainier/ seeks commuClatskanie nity support Cemetery Levy The Rainier/Clatskanie Cemetery District is again requesting additional funding for the 12 cemeteries in Columbia County covering 39 acres with 13,000 current and future grave sites. The situation and need are dire, to say the least. There is no sexton on the staff anymore, some, if any mowing, is often done by volunteers, the fence on Doan Road is trashed, there is an unfilled vacancy on the Board, the grass is about 6-7 inches at Woodbine (April 30), and finding an employee to manage the cemetery’s work load has not been successful. Expenses continue unabated and some equipment is long overdue for replacement. The request for an additional nickle per thousand for the owner of a home assessed at $300,000 would be $15 per year for five years. It’s certainly a reasonable request and sorely needed. Do we want the local cemeteries to be well managed, grass mowed, headstones trimmed, fences mended, unsightly garbage managed, patron’s requests accepted, phone answered, bills paid on time, equipment maintained, burials professionally managed, and the list goes on and on? Most of us would agree. Please support the small levy for the health of our community. Vote yes and sup-

The Scappoose Fire District Board of Directors urges a YES vote on Measure 5-285 for the support of the District’s emergency response capability to fires, medical emergencies and other emergency service needs. The community’s demand for fire and EMS response is increasing. In 2020 SRFD responded to 1,916 calls, of which 767 were overlapping calls. This means staff were responding to multiple calls at once leaving no local ambulance staffing available. Should a trauma, cardiac arrest, or other critical call come in, you will have to wait for reliable paramedic response from another community. This replacement levy retains all current emergency services staff and adds three additional 24-hour positions, allowing SRFD to staff two ambulances 24/day. The Board of Directors would like to thank the voters of the District for their past support and ask for the approval of the replacement levy that will ensure effective emergency response for the protection of life and property. Please vote YES on Ballot Measure 5-285. Dave Sorenson Mark Gift Susan Reeves David Graham Andy Krieck Scappoose

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issue or action. We reserve the right to exclude lists of people, organizations and businesses. Letters received after noon on Friday may not be in time for the following Wednesday’s paper. To verify authenticity, all letters must be signed and include your address and daytime phone number. We won’t print your street address or phone number (just your city of residence). Submissions may be emailed to chroniclenews@ countrymedia.net, sent via mail, or dropped off at the office. Letters policy: This newspaper’s letters to the editor are limited to a maximum of 250 words and will be edited for grammar, spelling and

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Wednesday, May 5, 2021

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Obituaries Judith Richardson Klein

Judith Richardson Klein, 68, passed away April 21, 2021. She was born to the late George and June Richardson of St. Helens. She is survived by son Randy Klein of Phoenix, Arizona; sister Gina Richardson and brother-in-law Rory Lapping of Vancouver, Washington; and brother Mike and sister-in-law Christine Richardson of Napa, California. She is preceded in death by sister Diane Morrow. She worked as a dental assistant and was known for her love of animals.

James Ronald Hansen

James Ronald Hansen passed away on Dec. 2, 2020 at the age of 80. A graveside memorial will be held at 1 p.m. on June 19, 2021 at Green Mountain Cemetery in Rainier, Oregon. A reception will follow at Hudson Park Pavilion.

Joshua Watson

July 7, 1976 ~ April 27, 2021

Joshua Watson 44, of Clatskanie, Oregon, passed away April 27, 2021 in Longview, Washington.

Kenneth Brown

Oct. 5, 1939 ~ April 30, 2021

Kenneth Brown 81, of Rainier, Oregon, passed away April 30, 2021 in Rainier, Oregon.

Elizabeth “Betty” Huser Betty was born March 20, 1939 in Cumberland, Wisconsin to Walter Huser and Clara (Dearing) Huser. At age nine her family moved to Scappoose, Oregon where Betty graduated from Scappoose High School as a proud member of the class of 1957. During her early years she worked for a Portland Insurance Company as a confidential assistant to the Company President. Betty followed in her parents’ footsteps by being very active in community activities, civic clubs and local government. She served on the Scappoose

Larry Rose 89, of Vancouver, Washington, passed away on Jan. 3, 2021 at SW Washington Center. Interment at Vancouver Barracks National Cemetery.

City Council and was Mayor of Scappoose from 1979 until 1988. In 1989 Betty was

appointed Columbia County Clerk, a position she held until her passing. Betty will be especially remembered by the hundreds of couples who she married as a wonderful part of her job as County Clerk. Betty never forgot a name or face of those she served. Betty was much loved and cared for. She will be truly missed by her extended family of friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Betty is survived by many cousins who she maintained a close relationship. Betty is also survived by her close friend Kay Fail who was like

a sister to her. Betty was preceded in death by friend and business partner Jim Stevens. Betty will be laid to rest beside her parents in Cumberland, Wisconsin, returning to where her life journey began. Due to COVID restrictions a local public memorial service is being delayed. As part of her position as County Clerk, Betty became especially fond of the service provided by the Humane Society and Columbia County Animal Services. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to a local Humane Society or charity of your choice in Betty’s memory.

Fay Fournier

Fay was born on Nov. 2, 1941 to Sylvia (Maxine) Stroup. She passed on March 16, 2021. When Fay was 16 or 17, she met our father. We moved to California and then to Oregon in 1967. My mother lived for another 45 years after my father shot her in the face in 1976. Doctors say she stayed

Nov. 2, 1941 ~ March 16, 2021

alive for us girls. My mother worked at Brandenfelds & Lutrells first as Row Boss and then cannery. She also worked at Meadow Park with Delores Souther. She used to walk from Millard Rd. all the way to Meadow Park. After she was shot, she went to work at Riverside. She then moved to Seaside with Da-

vid Guillaime. They were together for 35 years. She then worked with the clients at the recycling plant in Astoria, Oregon. She is survived by David Guillaime of Seaside; four daughters, Vickie Fletcher (Roderick), Trina Edwards of St. Helens, Oregon, Edna (Sam) Viles Allen, and Margaret (No-

rine) Fournier of Seaside; sister Judy Timmers (Don) of Butte, Montana; three brothers, Kenny Stroup (Sandy), Joe Stroup of St. Helens, Oregon and Albert Stroup (Jonelle) of Scappoose, Oregon; and numerous grandkids, nieces and nephews. My mom was one awesome lady!

John Blankenship

Larry Rose

Dec. 14, 1931 ~ Jan. 3, 2021

March 20, 1939 ~ April 26, 2021

On Feb. 13, 2021, John Blankenship passed away at St. John’s Hospital in Longview, Washington. John Steven Blankenship was born Aug. 25, 1946 in Princeton, West Virginia, the oldest son of John and Bertha Blankenship. John attended Verdugo Hills High School in Tujunga, California. He then enlisted into the Navy and served three tours in the Vietnam War. He was a Gunners Mate Second Class on the USS Farragut until his service ended after six years in 1970. He started out as a young entrepreneur in Southern California where he had a Hauling and

Aug. 25, 1946 ~ Feb. 13, 2021

Clean-up business. In 1973, he moved his wife and five daughters to Rainier Oregon. He started buying and sell-

ing vehicles and turned it into a full-time thriving business from which he retired. He enjoyed being outdoors hunting, fishing, camping and wood working. He loved good movies, great food, and laughing with his family and friends. John was a loving husband, father and grandfather with a great sense of humor and was known for his honesty and fairness in the community. He has left an indelible mark on all who knew him, especially his family, who will deeply miss him. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years Barbara

Blankenship; their children, Suzi Moore (Randy), Deborah Blankenship, Sandra Blankenship, Dawn Naye (John), Brenda Richard (Jason), and Beth Sealy his oldest daughter who he was able to meet later in life. His grandchildren include Kati Moore, Jessy Moore, Caley Rivera, Sarah Schroeder, Cameron Naye and Alexis Richard. He is survived by his two younger siblings, Rick Blankenship and Pamela Cooper. He is preceded in death by his parents. A celebration of life will be held sometime this summer.

Randy Michael Hagedorn Randy Michael Hagedorn of Warren, Oregon passed away at his home on April 22, 2021 at the age of 59. Randy was born May 16, 1961 in Portland, Oregon to Michael Hagedorn and Carole (Larsen) Berke. Randy grew up and attended school in the Portland Metro area graduating from Beaverton High School and later attending Portland Community College. Randy was a general contractor and a proud business owner of RANDY M. HAGEDORN CONSTRUCTION LLC. Randy was

May 16, 1961 ~ April 22, 2021

an incredibly talented and artistic builder. He did some

amazing carpentry work and he thoroughly enjoyed going to work every day. He enjoyed wood working even when he wasn’t at work, but he was also an avid outdoorsman enjoying fishing, hunting, motorcycles, skiing, 4wheeling, wrenching, working on automobiles or even just mowing the lawn. Cooking was another passion of Randy’s. Randy was very personable. He never met a stranger and everyone that did meet him loved him. He is survived by his son Cody Michael Hagedorn; mother Carole L. Berke;

father Michael A. Hagedorn; sister Becky J. HagedornKivett; brothers, Kelly R. Hagedorn and Cary R. Hagedorn; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles whom he loved dearly. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions be made to the American Cancer Society. They would also like to express their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Peter Kane and Dr. David Regan with Providence Oncology. Please sign our online guestbook at www.columbiafh. com.

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

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County clerk, former Scappoose Mayor Betty Huser passes away STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

Former Scappoose mayor and long-time Columbia county employee Elizabeth “Betty” Huser has passed away. The Columbia County Board of Commissioners announced Huser’s passing in a release. “With great sadness, the Board of Commissioners of Columbia County regrets to announce the passing of Elizabeth “Betty” Huser, who has served as Columbia County Clerk for 32 years, on Monday, April 26,” the release stated. Commissioner Chair Margaret Magruder said Huser was a dedicated public servant and a consummate community volunteer. “I remember when Betty became county clerk, performing marriages, providing passports, helping with filing of documents, and managing elections,”

Magruder said. “She was efficient, no nonsense and tireless and expected the same of her staff and clients. She spent hours driving around the county, during elections, picking up ballots. We will miss her historic knowledge. I will miss her counsel and her quirky sense of humor. Magruder said Huser set the bar high. “We will do our best to live up to the standards she set and carry on the duties of Columbia County government and the spirit of community that she would expect,” Magruder said. “It was an honor and a privilege to call Betty a friend.” Huser was born in Cumberland, Wisconsin near the Great Lakes, where her family had a cabin she loved to visit. Her family later moved to Scappoose where she graduated from Scappoose High School and began work for an insurance company in Portland.

Columbia County’s trusted local news source

Betty Huser, left, shares a smile during the 2019 county swearing in ceremony.

Huser served as Mayor of Scappoose from 1979 to 1988 and was president of the Oregon Mayor Association in 1985. When Columbia County Clerk Reta Kerry retired, she asked Huser to accept the appointment of County Clerk. Huser agreed and has served in that role since.

“I am honored that you have elected me to this important position since 1989. It has been my pleasure to issue marriage licenses, manage county elections and provide passports, among my other various duties,” Huser had written in her welcome message at the Columbia County Clerk’s webpage.

Chronicle photo

Huser also served as president of the Columbia County League of Women Voters, president of Scappoose Kiwanis, and was involved with the Scappoose Girl Scouts. On Tuesday, April 27, the Columbia County Board of Commissioners met with the county counsel to discuss

steps to fill the county clerk position. The next election will take place in November of 2022, for a term of four years. The person appointed to fill the county clerk’s vacancy will serve until the beginning of January 2023. The Board of Commissioners has openied an application process for those interested in the position. To qualify for the position, you must be a citizen of the United States, an elector under the Oregon Constitution, and a resident of Columbia County for at least one year. Interested parties should email a letter of interest and their resume to Human Resources Director Jeanine Hohn, at Jeanine.hohn@ columbiacountyor.gov. In the interim, the commissioners announced that Columbia County Elections Manager and Chief Deputy Don Clack will continue to perform the official acts and duties of the clerk’s office.

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Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Public Notices PROTECTING YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW

CH21-1671

CH21-1679

NOTICE OF LAPSE OF DORMANT MINERAL INTERESTS NOTICE OF LAPSE OF DORMANT MINERAL INTERESTS

NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING

A public meeting of the Budget Committee of Meadowview Service District, Columbia County, State of Oregon, to discuss the budget for the fiscal year July Names of Holders: William A. Roozen, Helen M. Roozen, Thomas F. (collectively 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, Shane, Fay Annette Shane, Daniel H. Miller, and Carol "Holders") will be held at 230 Strand Jean Miller Street St. Helens, Oregon s of Holders: William A. Roozen, Helen M. Roozen, Thomas F. (collectively 97051. The meeting will Holders' Last Known Estate of William A. Fay Annette Shane and Shane, Fay Annette Shane, Daniel H. Miller, and Carol "Holders") take place on May 12, 2021 Addresses: Roozen and Estate of Estate of Thomas F. Shane at 11:15 a.m. The purpose Jean Miller Helen M. Roozen 18130 McLean Rd of the meeting is to receive c/o Roozengaarde Mount Vernon, WA rs' Last Known Estate of William A. Fay Annette Shane and 16031 Beaver Marsh Rd 98273-8794 CH21-1688 Mount Vernon, WA Estate of Thomas F. Shane sses: Roozen and Estate of 98273 Fay Annette Shane and Helen M. Roozen 18130 McLean Rd Estate of Thomas F. Shane c/o Roozengaarde Mount Vernon, WA Estate of William A. 18019 Bradshaw Rd Northwest Regional Roozen and Estate of 16031 Beaver Marsh Rd Mount Vernon, WA 98273 98273-8794 Education Service District Helen M. Roozen Mount Vernon, WA is seeking candidates inter15995 Beaver Marsh Rd ested in filling the remaining 98273 Mount Vernon, WA Fay Annette Shane and term of the appointed board 98273 Estate of Thomas F. Shane position: At-Large. The five elected members of the Estate of William A. 18019 Bradshaw Rd Carol Jean Miller and NWRESD Board will vote Roozen and Estate of Mount Vernon, WA 98273 Estate of Daniel H. Miller 17693 Shalyce Pl Helen M. Roozen CH21-1678 Mount Vernon, WA 15995 Beaver Marsh Rd 98274-7786 Mount Vernon, WA Name of Party 98273 Lower Columbia Tree Farm, LLC, ("Owner") A public meeting of the Budget Committee of CoGiving Notice: a Delaware limited liability company lumbia County Development Agency, State of Oregon, to Address of Party Carol Jean Miller and Lower Columbia Tree Farm, LLC discuss the budget for the Giving Notice: c/o Perkins Coie LLP Estate of Daniel H. Miller fiscal year July 1, 2021 to 1120 NW Couch St June 30, 2022, will be held at Tenth Floor 17693 Shalyce Pl 230 Strand Street St. Helens, Portland, OR 97209 Oregon 97051. The meetMount Vernon, WA Attn: Seth J. King ing will take place on May 98274-7786 12, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. The purpose of the meeting is to PLEASE TAKE NOTICE east quarter to a point which is Southeast quarter to the point of Notice of Extinguishing Dormant Mineral Interests Pursuant to

Notice of Extinguishing Dormant Mineral Interests Pursuant to ORS 517.170 through 517.180 ORS 517.170 through 517.180

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 12, 2021

at (https://www.columbiacountyor.gov/meadowviewlighting-district). Notice: If the Pandemic precautions are still in place on May 12, 2021, the meeting will be conducted digitally by phone or by other electronic means. Information about the meetings and public comment process will be placed on the Columbia County website above.

NORTHWEST REGIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT IS SEEKING CANDIDATES for an appointed ESD board member by June 30, 2021. The newly elected board member will take office immediately upon appointment and their term will end June 30, 2022. Candidates may apply online at www.nwresd.org under

Board of Directors Elections. The deadline for filing is no later than May 14, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. Questions may be directed to the Northwest Regional ESD Superintendent’s Office at 503-614-1401 or lslyh@nwresd.org.

NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING

that Owner is the owner of 664.1 feet from the West line beginning. PARCEL C: Begin of Party Lower Columbia Tree Farm, LLC, the property described below of the Southeast quarter of said ning at a point in center of ditch (“Property”). Each Holder has Section. ALSO EXCEPTING that is South 89º49’ West 87.3 g Notice: a Delaware limited liability company a mineral interest in a porTHEREFROM a certain road feet from the Northeast corner tion of the Property under that

30 feet wide along and adjacent

certain Warranty Deed recorded to and North of said railway ss of Party Lower Columbia Tree Farm, LLC on April 8, 1981, at Book 236 right of way over the Southg Notice: c/o Perkins Coie LLP Page 443 et seq. in Columeast quarter of the Southeast bia County Deed Records, quarter of said section. ALSO 1120 NW Couch St reserving a mineral interest in EXCEPTING from Governfavor of William A. Roozen, ment Lot 11 and the Southeast Tenth Floor Helen M. Roozen, Thomas quarter of Southeast quarter F. Shane, Fay Annette Shane, the rights of way and parcel Portland, OR 97209 Daniel H. Miller, and Carol of land as granted by Lizzie Attn: Seth J. King Jean Miller. The first date of W. Tandy et vir to Marshland publication pursuant to ORS 517.180 is on April 21, 2021. A Holder must submit a Statement of Claim to the Columbia County Clerk within sixty (60) days after the last date of publication of this Notice or the Holder’s mineral interest will be extinguished. The last date of publication will be on May 5, 2021. DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY AFFECTED The following parcels of land located in Columbia County, Oregon, more particularly described as follows: PARCEL A: Government Lot 11, Section 3, Township 7 North, Range 5 West of the Willamette Meridian, in the County of Columbia and State of Oregon; ALSO, that portion of the East one half of Southwest quarter of the Southeast quarter and that portion of the Southeast quarter of the Southeast quarter of Section 3, Township 7 North, Range 5 West of the Willamette Meridian, in the County of Columbia and State of Oregon, lying Northerly of the Northerly boundary line of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway; EXCEPTING THEREFROM the following: Beginning at a point that North 89º07’ East 664.1 feet and North 1º24’ East 20 feet from the onequarter section corner between Sections 3 and 10, Township 7 North, Range 5 West of the Willamette Meridian, in the County of Columbia and State of Oregon; thence North 1º24’ East 871.2 feet; thence North 89º07’ East 500 feet; thence South 1º24’ West 871.2 feet to a point that is North 1º24’ East 20 feet from the South line of Section 3; thence South 89º07’ West 500 feet to the point of beginning. ALSO EXCEPTING THEREFROM 20 foot road along the South line of the Southwest quarter of the South-

Drainage District recorded February 24, 1920 in Book 29, page 30, Deed Records of Columbia County, Oregon. ALSO EXCEPTING THEREFROM that portion described in Deed to Columbia County, recorded August 23, 1994, Fee No. 94-8194, Records of Columbia County, Oregon. PARCEL B: Beginning at the Southwest corner of the Northwest quarter of the Southeast quarter of Section 3, Township 7 North, Range 5 West of the Willamette Meridian, in the County of Columbia and State of Oregon; thence East 400 feet to the true point of beginning of the following described tract; thence from this true point of beginning North 800 feet, more or less, along a drainage ditch to a slough; thence following the meanderings of said slough in a general Northerly direction to its intersection with the North line of said Northwest quarter of the Southeast quarter at a point 160 feet East of the center of said Section 3; thence continuing along said slough in a Northeasterly direction to a point that is North 210 feet and East 400 feet from the center of said Section 3; thence Southeasterly along said slough to its intersection with the North line of the Northwest quarter of the Southeast quarter of Section 3 at a point 830 feet East from the center of said section; thence East to the Northeast corner of Northwest quarter of the Southeast quarter of Section 3, Township 7 North, Range 5 West of the Willamette Meridian, in the County of Columbia and State of Oregon; thence South along the East line of said Northwest quarter of the Southeast quarter to the Southeast corner thereof; thence West along the South line of said Northwest quarter of the

of the Southwest quarter of the Northeast quarter of Section 3, Township 7 North, Range 5 West of Willamette Meridian, in the County of Columbia and State of Oregon; thence along the North line of the Southwest quarter of the Northeast quarter and Lot 6 of said Section 3, South 89º49’ West 1772 feet to the Southerly bank of Westport Slough; thence along the bank of said slough South 36º50’ West 306 feet and South 48º33’ West 306 feet to the corner of a tract of land conveyed to Richard Kent Magruder by deed recorded February 14, 1947 in Book 92, page 179, Deed Records of Columbia County, Oregon; thence South 29º27’ East 385.0 feet to the Northerly Bank of District Holding Basin No. 4; thence along said Northerly bank in a Southeasterly and thence Easterly direction to an intersection with the East line of Government Lot 6 in said Section 3 at a distance of 155 feet Northerly from the Southeast corner thereof; thence along said Northerly bank in a general Easterly direction to an intersection with the center of a ditch at a point that is South 89º31’ West 512.3 feet from the Southeast corner of the Southwest quarter of the Northeast quarter of said Section 3; thence along center of said ditch, North 89º31’ East 425.0 feet; thence along center of ditch, North 1º27 ½’ East 1319 feet to the place of beginning. PARCEL D: All of the Government Lots 3 and 10 and a rectangular tract of land comprising 2.60 acres within Government Lot 4 adjacent to and abutting up the entire East line of said Lot 4, and a rectangular tract of land comprising 2.65 acres within, adjacent to and abutting upon the entire East line of the Southwest quarter of the Northeast quarter, all being in Section 3, Township 7 North, Range 5 West of the Willamette Meridian, in the County of Columbia and State of Oregon. By OWNER: LOWER COLUMBIA TREE FARM, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company By: Seth J. King, Perkins Coie LLP Title: Attorney at Law

receive 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 12, 2021 at (http://www.ccdaoregon. org/documents). Notice: If the Pandemic precautions are still in place on May 12, 2021, the meeting will be conducted digitally by phone or by other electronic means. Information about the meetings and public comment process will be placed on the CCDA website, above.

("Owner") CH21-1687

NORTHWEST REGIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT IS SEEKING CANDIDATES Northwest Regional Education Service District is seeking candidates interested in filling the remaining term of the elected board position below. School boards within Zone 2 will vote for an ESD board member by June 30, 2021. The newly elected board member will take

office July 1, 2021 and their term will end June 20, 2023. The position is based on the following school district residency zones: Zone 2: Astoria, Banks, Forest Grove, Jewell, Knappa, Neah-Kah-Nie, Nestucca Valley, Seaside, Tillamook, and WarrentonHammond School Districts

CH21-1691

NORTHWEST REGIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT IS SEEKING CANDIDATES Northwest Regional Education Service District is seeking candidates interested in the elected board position below. School boards within Zone 4 will vote for an ESD board member by June 30, 2021. The newly elected board member will take office July 1, 2021 and their term will end June 20, 2023. The position is based on the following school district residency zones: Zone 4: Bea-

verton (Partial), Clatskanie, Rainier, Scappoose, St. Helens, and Vernonia School Districts Candidates may apply online at www.nwresd. org under Board of Directors Elections. The deadline for filing is no later than May 14, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. Questions may be directed to the Northwest Regional ESD Superintendent’s Office at 503-614-1401 or lslyh@ nwresd.org.

CH21-1694

NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING A public meeting of the Budget Committee of the Columbia SWCD, Columbia County, State of Oregon, on the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, will be held at 35285 Millard Rd., St. Helens, OR. The meeting will take place on 5/12/21 at 5:30 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to receive the budget message. 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 the on 6/16/21 at 4:00 p.m., held at 35285 Millard Rd., St. Helens, OR. A copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained on or after 5/12/21 at 35285 Millard Rd., St. Helens, OR, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Candidates may apply online at www.nwresd.org under Board of Directors Elections. The deadline for filing is no later than May 14, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. Questions may be directed to the Northwest Regional ESD Superintendent’s Office at 503-614-1401 or lslyh@nwresd.org. CH21-1673

NOTICE OF MEETING McNulty Water PUD’s Board Members will be holding an Executive Meeting on May 4, 2021 at 7pm by Zoom. CH21-1684

NOTICE OF WORKSHOP May 18th, 2021 fair Workshop at 6:30PM in the pavilion at 58892 Saulser Road St. Helens, OR 97051. Virtual call-in number: 1 877 309 2073 Access Code: 982-845-357 CH21-1693

PURSUANT TO ORS CHAPTER 87 Notice is hereby given that the following vehicle will be sold, for cash to the highest bidder, on 5/10/2021. The sale will be held at 10:00 a.m. by SCAPPOOSE MOORAGE, 50900A DIKE RD, SCAPPOOSE, OR. 1980 SUNLINER 26 FT BOAT, VIN = MY01784M80C, Amount due on lien $1,947.26. Reputed owner(s) NOEL F LEVEQUE

Local county news, every day, online. Keep up to date on local stories, events, and ads by visiting thechronicleonline.com. 503-397-0116 • thechronicleonline.com 1805 Columbia Blvd. St. Helens, OR 97051 Columbia County’s trusted local news source

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Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Public Notices CH21-1681

CH21-1682

FORM LB-1

NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING

A public meeting of the Greater St. Helens Aquatic District will be held on May 17, 2021 at 5:00 pm at 1070 Eisenschmidt Lane, St. Helens, Oregon. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021 as approved by the Greater St. Helens Aquatic District Budget Committee. A summary of the budget is presented below. A copy of the budget may be inspected or obtained at 1070 Eisenschmidt Lane, St. Helens, between the hours of 8-11 am or 4-8 pm. This budget is for an

Telephone: 503-397-2283

Contact: Anne Scholz

Email: epool@eswim.net

FINANCIAL SUMMARY - RESOURCES TOTAL OF ALL FUNDS Actual Amount 2019-20 176,038 Beginning Fund Balance/Net Working Capital Federal, State & all Other Grants, Gifts, Allocations & Donations 8,753 All Other Resources Except Current Year Property Taxes 158,126 Current Year Property Taxes Estimated to be Received 459,662 Total Resources 802,579

Adopted Budget This Year 2020-21 120,000 200 185,900 420,000 726,100

FINANCIAL SUMMARY - REQUIREMENTS BY OBJECT CLASSIFICATION 418,519 196,616 46,895 42 0 662,072

Personnel Services Materials and Services Capital Outlay Debt Service Contingencies Total Requirements

Approved Budget Next Year 2021-22 100,000 10,200 136,300 470,000 716,500

456,700 228,500 20,000 500 20,400 726,100

418,200 185,450 60,000 31,200 21,650 716,500

FINANCIAL SUMMARY - REQUIREMENTS AND FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT EMPLOYEES (FTE) BY ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT OR PROGRAM * Name Greater St. Helens Aquatic District FTE General Fund General Fund 662,072 726,100 FTE 9 5 Total Requirements 662,072 726,100 Total FTE 9 5 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN ACTIVITIES and SOURCES OF FINANCING *

716,500 8 716,500 8

COVID has changed all activities. Retained a loan through Columbia Pacific Economic Development District for $70,000 for boiler replacement to be repaid within 3 years.

Permanent Rate Levy

(rate limit .2347 per $1,000)

PROPERTY TAX LEVIES Rate or Amount Imposed 2019-20 .2347

Rate or Amount Imposed This Year 2021-22

.2347

STATEMENT OF INDEBTEDNESS Estimated Debt Outstanding on July 1, 2021 $0 $0 $45,000 $45,000

LONG TERM DEBT General Obligation Bonds Other Bonds Other Borrowings Total 150-504-073-2 (Rev. 11-18)

Rate or Amount Approved Next Year 2021-22 .2347

Estimated Debt Authorized, But Not Incurred on July 1, 2021 $0 $0 $0 $0

CH21-1689

NORTHWEST REGIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT IS SEEKING CANDIDATES Northwest Regional Education Service District is seeking candidates interested in the NWRESD appointed board position: Social Services. The five elected members of the NWRESD Board will vote for an ap-

pointed ESD board member by June 30, 2021. The newly elected board member will take office immediately upon appointment and their term will end June 30, 2025. Candidates may apply online at www.nwresd.org under

CH21-1690

NORTHWEST REGIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT IS SEEKING CANDIDATES Northwest Regional Education Service District is seeking candidates interested in the NWRESD appointed board position: Higher Education. The five elected members of the NWRESD Board will vote for an ap-

CH21-1692

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: SCAPPOOSE BAY MARINE PARK DUMP STATION INSTALLATION The Port of Columbia County is seeking proposals for Installation of a Dump Station at the Scappoose Bay Marine Park. Interested contractors may obtain the

RFP documents from the Port’s website, www.portofcolumbiacounty.org; from the Port Office located at 100 E. Street, Columbia City, from 8:00 to 5:00pm; or via email

at jensen@portofcolumbiacounty.org. Submissions must be received by 5:00pm on Tuesday May 11, 2021. For questions, please call 503-397-2888.

CH21-1695

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING On Monday May 17, 2021 On May 17, 2021 at 6:30 PM, the Columbia County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing regarding a request from OHM Equity Partners LLC, represented by Joe Kessi, who has submitted an application for a Subdivision in a Rural Residential zone. (RR-2) This property is has 10.09 acres and is located at 56627 Hazen Rd, Warren Or. During the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Columbia County Planning Commission will be hosting their public hearing via online webinar. Please use the links below if you wish to participate in the public meeting. Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/296294021 You can also dial in using your phone. United States (Toll Free): 1 877 309 2073 United States: +1 (571) 317-3129 Access Code: 296-294-021 SAID PUBLIC HEARING will be held before the Planning Commission on Monday, May 17, 2021. If you have any questions or concerns regarding access to the meeting or need accommodation, please call the Land Development Services office at (503) 397-1501. The criteria to be used in deciding the request will be found in some or all of the following documents and laws, as revised from time to time: Oregon Revised Statutes

ORS 197.763; Oregon Administrative Rules; Columbia County Comprehensive Plan; Columbia County Zoning Ordinance. The specific criteria applicable to this request is listed and evaluated in the staff report. A copy of the application, all documents and evidence relied upon by the applicant, and the staff report are available for inspection at no cost and will be provided at reasonable cost, at the Land Development Services office, at least 7 days prior to the Planning Commission hearing. Written comments on the issue can be submitted via email to Planning@ columbiacountyor.gov or you can send comments via U.S. Mail to Columbia County, Department of Land Development Services, 230 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051. If additional documents or evidence are provided in support of the application, prior to or during the hearing, any party shall be entitled to a continuance of the hearing to allow review of the new evidence. If a participant requests a continuance before the conclusion of the evidentiary hearing, the record shall remain open for at least seven days after the hearing. At each hearing, the applicant has the burden of presenting substantial evidence showing that the application meets all of the applicable criteria. Following presentation of the staff report, the applicant and

other persons in favor of the application will be allowed to address the commission, explaining how the evidence submitted meets the applicable criteria. Following the applicant’s presentation, any person in opposition to the application may present evidence and argument against the application. The applicant will then have the opportunity to rebut any evidence or arguments presented in opposition. After the presentation of evidence and arguments, the public hearing record will be either left open or closed by the Planning Commission. The Commission will then make a tentative decision to be followed by approval of a written order and a statement of findings and conclusions supporting the decision, which will be mailed to all parties at a later date. The Commission may, at its discretion, continue the hearing from time to time at the request of the parties or on its own motion as necessary to afford substantial justice and comply with the law. Additional information about this application may be obtained from the Planning Division of the Land Development Services Department, at (503) 397-1501 or you can go to the County website www. columbiacountyor.gov/ departments/LandDevelopment/Planning. May 5, 2021 THE PLANNING COMMISSION, Linda Hooper, Chairman

COLUMBIA RIVER FIRE & RESCUE PUBLIC CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TO PROVIDE: Demolition, project management and remodel services for CRFR Administrative building located at 270 Columbia Blvd, St. Helens OR Notice is hereby given that Columbia River Fire & Rescue is seeking proposals from qualified firms for demolition, project management and remodel services of the CRFR Administrative building. Proposals will be received until, but not after, 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, 2021 at Columbia River Fire & Rescue Administra-

tive Office, 270 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, Oregon 97051. Proposals that are received after the closing time will not be accepted for any reason and will be returned unopened. Delivery to an office other than the office identified above is not acceptable. The District may reject any proposal not in compliance with all prescribed public bidding procedures and requirements and may reject for good cause any or all proposals upon a finding

of the Districts that it is in the public interest to do so. The Columbia River Fire & Rescue Board of Directors reserve the right to reject any and all proposals and to waive any and all informalities in the best interest of the Districts. Columbia River Fire & Rescue is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Dated April 26, 2021 Marit Nelson, Director of Finance & Human Resources, Columbia River Fire & Rescue

CH21-1697

NOTICE The Columbia County Sheriff's Office located at 901 Port Avenue in St. Helens, Oregon has in its physical possession the unclaimed personal property described below. If you have any ownership interest in any of the unclaimed property, you must file a claim with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office within 30 days from the date of publication of this notice, or you will lose your interest in that property. If you have any questions regarding this property, you may call the Sheriff's Office at 503-366-4611 or email evidence@columbiacountyor.gov Case # 120054174

Receipt # 12118

Description Cellphone

150032863

10258

Rifle Stock

150050266

14761

Cash

150092398

13247

Rifle Stock, Trigger, Pistol Grip

160044359

13177,13178

Tools, Chainsaws

160044359

12700, 12702, 12705

Tools, Binoculars, Backpack, Carhart Jacket

160044359

12703

SKS Rifle w/mag and owner manual, Recorder

170012228

12456

Cellphones, Cougar Rifle, Chainsaws

170012228

12455

Cellphones, Tablet, GPS, Knife

170012228

13504

Tools, Tablet, Cellphone

170012228

13813, 12458, 13701

Cellphone, Hammers, Machete

170012703

13411, 12534

Maverick Shotgun, Springfield Handgun

170025061

12879

Ford Bronco

170036590

14657, 13480,14658,

Pressure Washer, Jewelry, Dewalt Drill

170036590

14659, 14660

Cellphone, Tools, Saws All, Knives

170060372

13611

Go - Cart

170074889

1842

Cellphone

170082527

13860

Cellphone

170083143

14420, 13769

Tools and Cellphone

170083652

14175

Stevens Shotgun

170083821

14764, 14765, 14767

Cellphones

170083846

14424, 14773, 13481

Bolt Cutters, Weedeaters, Firing Table, Slide Rule

170083846

14772

Tools, Ax, Chainsaws, Chopsaw

170083846

14771

Backpack, Game Camera, Sawsalls, Cellphone, Tools

170083846

14770, 14769

Tools, Torch Heads, Gas Cans, Tool belt, Cellphone

170083846

14768

Bolt Cutters, DVR, Gloves, Sword, Remington Rifle

17086146

14685

Cellphone, Winchester Rifle

180002711

12286

Cellphone, Paperwork

180009047

15250

Cellphones

180021521

13633, 13534

Cellphones, Tablet, Bag

180029170

13649, 13399

Cellphones, Tablet

180036177

15103

Backpack, Wallet, Cellphone

180040585

14177, 14608

Purse, Axes, Motorcycle

180043371

15273

Remington Pistol w/ mag, Muzzle Loader Rifle

180044382

7178

Keys, Documents

180068861

12479

RV Battery

180075775

18567

IPad, Cellphone, Tablet

190025530

15027

Beretta Handgun, Colt Pistol, Gun case

190060029

18060

Backpack, Bag, Cash, Cellphone

190062833

18271

ID / Debit Cards and keys

200000877

18108

Backpack

200013318

18115

Cellphone, Roof Racks, Subwoofers, Speakers

200013318

18115

Amplifiers, CD Player, Bike Rack, Bag

200015675

12824

Hatchet

200021648

18324

Knife

200020263

14069

Bicycle

200023468

14074

Backpack

200025243

14384

Cellphones

200026163

17756

Nissan Altima

200027215

10879

Documents

200027225

12827

BMW Vehicle

200030008

12730

Glock Pistol

200030892

17760

Jewelry

200033921

10881

Knife

200034247

17769

Wallet

200045723

8516

Nissan Pickup Truck

210002970

17808

Honda Accord

210005027

17465

Knife

210006048 210008708

17466 17472

Wallet Honda Civic

210010292

17469

Backpack

210012890

14387

Taurus Handgun

210013615

12838

Smith and Wesson Pistol

210014800

17479

Sentry Safe

210015335

18335

Knives, Tools

210015795

18336

Backpack

The Public Notice deadline is Fridays by noon. Late submissions are not guaranteed to make it into the paper. Columbia County’s trusted local news source

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

www.thechronicleonline.com

St. Helens Burn Period

Courtesy photo

Before burning anything in your yard, a burn permit must be obtainedthroughColumbiaRiver Fire & Rescue (CRFR).

The spring burn period for residential open burning in the city limits of St. Helens begins on the first Saturday in May, running from May 1-16. Burn periods are established for residents to burn yard debris. Burn periods do not apply to activities such as using a charcoal barbecue or recreational outdoor fire pit. Before burning anything in your yard, a burn permit must be obtained through Columbia River Fire & Rescue (CRFR). Residential burn permits are available through CRFR’s website at www.crfr.com/ burn-permits.html. Burn permits can also be obtained at CRFR’s administrative office. Due to the increasing threat of brush fires and wildfires over the last several years, it is extremely important to be aware of burn bans and exercise caution when creating an outdoor fire. Burn bans may still be in effect even if you have obtained a burn permit. Always check the burn line at 503-397-4800 to find out if it is an open burn day. CRFR urges you to take the following safety precautions when conducting an outdoor burn: • Place yard debris in an open area away from structures, trees and power lines. • Create small piles (4’ x 4’) to better manage the burn. • Cover portions of piles with polyethylene plastic (landscape material) to keep a portion dry for lighting later (preferably in late fall or winter). • When conditions improve, check with your local fire agency for any regulations in place. • Never burn under windy conditions. • To maintain containment, create a perimeter around the pile at a minimum of 3 feet, scraped clear to bare mineral soil. • Keep a shovel and charged hose nearby to manage the burn. • Make sure the pile is dead out before leaving. • Return periodically over several weeks to make sure the pile is still out: No heat, no smoke. Burn permits last for one year from the date of issue. However, there are only two authorized burn periods within St. Helens city limits, on the first Saturday in May for 16 consecutive days and the third Saturday in October for 16 consecutive days. Burning household garbage, plastics, petroleum products and rubber products is not allowed. Burning may only be conducted during daylight hours. For more information about the spring burn period, see St. Helens Municipal Code Chapter 8.36 online at www.codepublishing.com/OR/sthelens/ or contact the Columbia River Fire and Rescue’s Administrative Office at 503-3972990.

www.thechronicleonline.com

A10

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Garden Plots: Hot garden topics CHIP BUBL Chronicle Guest Article

Disease pressure is relatively low at this point. Trees and shrubs that would already be showing signs of scab (apples), black spot (roses), anthracnose (dogwoods) and many others are looking quite nice. The reason, of course, is that we haven’t had much rain recently. That may well turn out to be a problem and we will get to that later, but for now, no spraying necessary. However, watch the extended weather forecast and if you see a series of moist days heading our way, do some preemptive spraying before the rain sets in, especially on roses. Yes, I know Colombia (the country) isn’t spelled like Columbia (the county). But in my last column, some readers didn’t. My readers clearly are sharp and attentive, and for that, I appreciate you. Aphids started to show up early on roses. I thought we were in for a bit of a battle with them on all sorts of plants this summer. But then they disappeared. That was probably due to some good resident biocontrol. But aphids can return in waves. And when they find your plants, they reproduce at a fevered pitch, with or without aphid sex. Aphids can be removed with a strong water spray, but a few will be left on plants to return to making

more aphids while they are sucking nutrients from your plant. Sticky leaf surfaces created by the “honeydew” they secrete is a tell-tale sign. Aphids come in many colors and can be winged or nonwinged.

Aphid management starts with a landscape that supports aphid predators. Good plants to grow and attract natural predators include yarrow buckwheat, white sweet clover, fennel and any of the carrot family in flower, hairy vetch, sweet alyssum, spearmint, phacelia, and others. Letting last year’s parsley go to flower right now is a good, short term boost to predators. As noted above, a blast of water knocks many aphids off the plant to provide meals for ground roaming predators. And if you are going to use an insecticide, insecticidal soap is good on softbodied insects like aphids but isn’t harmful to the predators that might be present. Aphids on trees are often protected by ants (especially carpenter ants) that collect their honeydew. Sticky tape around the trunk will to stop the ants will allow predators like yellow jackets (yes, I know) and others to work the

aphid flock. Speaking of yellow jackets, a dry spring tends to predict a higher yellow jacket population over summer and into fall. There isn’t much you can do to alter this pattern around your property. But as summer progresses, be alert for ground nests. They are the most likely to cause problems and are fairly easy to control. If you see yellow jackets flying about in sort of a pattern, just stand and watch. Often you will find the ground nest. Aerosol sprays used in the evening generally work well unless there is a bend in the tunnel that leads to the cavity holding the paper nest. In that situation, sprays are far less effective. And generally avoid treating nests of bald-faced hornets. They are excellent caterpillar predators and their nests are usually quite high so your risk in trying to treat outweighs the benefit. Both the hornets and yellow jacket nests only live for one year. In fact,

bald-faced hornet nests seem to die about 124 days after they are started by a pregnant queen. Nests started several weeks ago will check out on their own by mid-August. We now have quite dry soils for this time of year. We are entering a time when we nor-mally get very little rainfall (less than 4 inches total from June

through August). But gar-den plants may use up to 8 inches a month at the peak of their growth. So we start the “irrigation” season with a marginal soil moisture bank. Plan your irrigation where it is needed most and with the most effective delivery systems. I watered y garlic bed already, something that usually starts in mid-May or not at all. Recently planted trees and shrubs need special attention. Vegetables and berries are heavy users. So are tree fruit, especially those on “dwarf” or growth controlling root systems. Make every effort to

control moles, especially in the vegetable and berry garden areas if you are using soaker hoses. Mole tunnels create air spaces around roots so it is harder to keep plants evenly watered. Moles don’t eat plants, they mainly eat earthworms. They also allow those pesky voles (meadow mice) easier access to your vegetables. Vole numbers are very high so consider starting to trap them as well. Shallow 6-inch deep trenches that can be covered with a board or plywood can be a good place to trap them. Put some apples pieces out to see if they are there. If yes, bait traps with peanut butter and remove dead voles daily. They aren’t very smart, unlike rats. Voles make up for that with a prodigious reproductive rate. We don’t have gophers which is a major blessing. Mole drawing from University of British Columbia

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.

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 503 397-3462 to be put on the list. Alternatively, you can find it on the web at extension.oregonstate. edu/columbia and click on newsletters. Many Extension publications available online Are you putting up salsa, saving seeds, or thinking about planting grapes? OSU has a large number of its publications available for free download. Just go to catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu. Click on publications and start exploring. The Extension Service offers its programs and materials equally to all people. Contact information for the Extension office Oregon State University Extension Service – Columbia County • Address: 505 N. Columbia River Highway St. Helens, OR 97051 • Phone: 503-397-3462 • Email: chip.bubl@ oregonstate.edu

Crossword Puzzle

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: FICTIONAL FATHERS ACROSS

1. Like Annapolis Academy 6. Pine juice 9. One in a manger 13. Like a good athlete 14. Modern address 15. Printer cartridge contents 16. Cate Blanchett’s movie “____ on a Scandal” 17. 2nd largest living bird in world 18. U in UV 19. *HonorÈ de Balzac’s “Le PËre ____” 21. *Nemo’s dad, named after a sport fish 23. “____ of the morning!” 24. Seaside bird 25. Tax accounting specialist, acr. 28. Back of the neck 30. Chew the fat 35. Country dance formation 37. Greek goddess of fertility 39. Waterwheel 40. *Drunk and, incidentally, Huck Finn’s Pap 41. Metallic sounding 43. Quite a stretch 44. Place to dry out 46. Like the White Rabbit 47. Dr. Robert Bruce Banner’s green alter ego 48. Sun-____ 50. Toothy wheel 52. Bad-mouth

53. Made a rug 55. Low-____ image 57. *Simba’s father in “The Lion King” 60. *Luke’s and Leia’s father 63. Golfer’s sun protection 64. Romanian monetary unit 66. Introverted one 68. Follow as a consequence 69. Pooh’s wise friend 70. Territory in China known as Las Vegas of Asia 71. Young woman 72. *”That ‘70s Show” dad 73. One-room school house “notebook”

DOWN

1. A Bobbsey twin 2. Awestruck 3. *The Godfather’s given name 4. Heads-up 5. Wound 6. Cooking grease 7. Hammer holder? 8. D’Artagnan’s hat decoration 9. Weevil’s target 10. Not in favor of 11. Capital of Switzerland 12. Chapter in history 15. As opposed to turn-off 20. 1960s abstractionism 22. Rainbow shape 24. Like ones between 13 and 19 years old

25. *Griswold family patriarch 26. Mushroom caps 27. Egyptian symbol of life, pl. 29. *Jay is to Claire as ____ is to Haley 31. Flood survivor 32. Father of psychoanalysis Sigmund 33. Garlicky mayonnaise 34. *Both father in “Mary Poppins” and father in “Father of the Bride” 36. Unfledged hawk 38. Casino chip 42. Pine 45. ____ of dog! 49. “I ____” at the altar 51. Middle Earth and Kingdom of the North, e.g. 54. Courage in the face of danger 56. Smokeless tobacco brand 57. Short skirt 58. It was Brezhnev’s domain 59. Unplayable baseball 60. Old in Scottish 61. Cuzco valley empire 62. Straight pour from the bottle 63. Chill in front of TV, with ‘out’ 65. Ovine mom 67. Beluga yield

Solution to crossword in next week’s issue of The Chronicle.

Crossword Solution Solution for the April 28, 2021 crossword puzzle

A Neighborhood Store with a Bit of Everything Molly Matchalk Owner 290 First Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5479 * mmmatchak@gmail.com

We speak cottagecore 215 S 1st Street St. Helens • 503-410-5280 • www.2csvendormall.com

Columbia County’s trusted local news source

The Chronicle www.thechronicleonline.com

www.thechronicleonline.com

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

A11

Study highlights forest sector tax burden

Illustrations courtesy of Oregon Forest & Industries Council

STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

The Oregon Forest & Industries Council today released what it calls a groundbreaking report detailing the total tax burden on the private forest sector in Oregon. The national accounting firm Ernst & Young report’s primary finding concludes the Oregon forest sector pays more than one-and-ahalf times more on average than other Oregon businesses. “By looking at a variety of publicly available tax and economic data sources for fiscal year 2019, we concluded the tax burden on Oregon’s forest industry is greater than other Oregon industries, including the agriculture and manufacturing sectors, and is one-anda-half times greater than the overall total Oregon business tax burden,” said Caroline Sallee, project lead on the report and Senior Manager with Ernst & Young LLP’s

Quantitative Economics and Statistics Group. Ernst & Young’s report is the first time a comprehensive analysis has looked at the aggregate forest industry tax burden and comes at a time when the Oregon Legislature is considering legislation that would further increase taxes on the sector. “Our intuition told us this had to be the worst possible time to further increase taxes on businesses, and on the forest sector in particular,” said Todd Payne, Chairman of the Oregon Forest & Industries Council’s Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer for Seneca Family of Companies. “We’ve just suffered the worst wildfire season in history – private forestland owners lost over 400,000 acres in the Labor Day fires and we are actively working to restore and replant those lands at significant costs. Many of our rural communities are suffering multiple extreme hardships as they struggle to rebuild post-fire

while the global pandemic and business shutdowns are taking enormous tolls. This report unequivocally concludes our sector already pays more than its fair share in taxes and it vindicated our sense that additional tax increases are motivated more by philosophical differences about forest management than they are by any sense of tax equity.” The report calculated the total tax burden by aggregating all taxes paid by the sector, including property taxes, income taxes, small tract forestland taxes, corporate income and excise taxes, fire assessments and privilege taxes. All told, in 2019 the forest sector contributed over $142 million to state tax coffers. “Given the report’s findings, we now know that legislation under consideration in the 2021 legislative session would effectively double the total taxes currently paid by the forest sector,” said Adrian Miller, Chair of the Oregon Forest

& Industries Council’s Tax Committee and Director of Public Affairs for Rayonier. “That would increase the forest sector’s effective aggregate tax rate to nearly three times more than other Oregon businesses pay. At a time when the latest state revenue forecast indicates the Legislature has nearly $800 million more to work with this session than it originally thought and has billions of dollars in reserves, doubling the tax burden on the forest sector seems unnecessary.” As the number one softwood lumber and plywood producer in the nation, Oregon’s forest sector is one of the state’s cornerstone industries and serves as the economic backbone for many rural counties. Lane County, where the report was unveiled, combined with neighboring Douglas county are often considered the wood basket of the United States as the two counties together encompass over a quarter of the state’s annual

timber harvest. Over 80% of this timber is harvested from privately owned forestlands. “When the Chamber was first made aware of this study, we were thrilled at the opportunity to bring the project lead in front of our Government Issues Committee,” said Vonnie Mikkelsen, President and CEO of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. “In Lane County alone, the forest sector provides over 7,000 jobs that pay, on average, 130% of the county annual wage. 85% of Lane county is forested, and we are home to nearly 30 primary wood products manufacturing facilities. This study is the first time we’ve seen information like this put together and underscores that the health of the forest sector has a direct bearing on our local economies.” Ernst & Young was commissioned by the Oregon Forest & Industries Council to complete the report at the end of 2020, after reviewing prior work done by the firm. Oregon Business and In-

dustry commissioned Ernst & Young in 2020 to quantify the impact of recently enacted state tax programs on the total tax burden borne by Oregon businesses. That report concluded in the past few years, the Oregon Legislature has increased the tax burden on businesses by 41%. “We never before had reason to commission an exercise like this until we saw legislation introduced that attempted to change the forest tax program in Oregon,” said Miller. “We felt to have a reasonable conversation about that we needed to first establish a baseline for what the sector currently contributes to state taxes. We selected Ernst & Young from among several leading regional and national economics firms largely because of the experience they – and Ms. Sallee, in particular – had in analyzing the impact of diverse state and local taxation programs on businesses, both in Oregon and across the United States.”

$805,500 for the arts STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

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

Location: Columbia County Fairgrounds located at 58892 Saulser Road St. Helens, OR Dates: Wednesdays Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Sign up: www.ohsu.edu/COVIDVans

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

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is recommending an award of $803,500 to the Oregon Arts Commission (OAC) in the first distribution of funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP). The emergency rescue funding is designed to support the arts sector as it recovers from the devastating impact of COVID-19. It is part of the $135 million allocated to the Arts Endowment which represents a significant commitment to the arts and a recognition of the value of the arts and culture sector to the nation’s economy and recovery. “We are excited and extremely grateful to receive these American Rescue Plan funds to help Oregon’s arts organizations recover from the pandemic and plan for reopening,” OAC Executive Director Brian Rogers said. “Over the next several weeks, arts Commission staff and

Image courtesy of the Oregon Arts Commission

The funding is designed to help support jobs in the arts sector, keep the doors open to arts organizations nationwide, and assist the field in its response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the OAC.

commissioners will review federal guidance to develop a statewide distribution plan for the funds.” Oregon Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici said she has advocated for robust funding that will help arts and culture organizations survive the economic devastation of the coronavirus pandemic. “Arts and culture bring our

communities together, sustain our economy, spark our imagination and bring us comfort - especially during difficult times,” Bonamici said. “The release of these American Rescue Plan funds marks an important step in the economic recovery of the creative sector,” NEA Acting Chair Ann Eilers said. “The knowledge of the Oregon Arts Commission about the arts and culture landscape in Oregon makes it an ideal steward of federal dollars.” The remaining 60% of the ARP money will be awarded by the Arts Endowment directly to non-profit organizations to help support jobs in the arts sector, keep the doors open to arts organizations nationwide, and assist the field in its response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the OAC. Guidelines and application materials for a second phase of American Rescue Plan funding from the Arts Endowment are expected to be available in June, pending review.

10th Annual 2021 Columbia County

Business

Guide PUBLICATION DATES: CHRONICLE: JUNE 23, CHIEF: JUNE 25 AD DEADLINE: JUNE 9 The 2021 Columbia County Business guide is a full color, glossy magazine that showcases local business and highlights current news events. It is the go-to reference for visitors, newcomers, residents, and potential customers of Columbia County. The Chief

The Chronicle

For space reservation, contact Amy: 503-397-0116 or atrull@countrymedia.net

Let us know what YOU think EMAIL YOUR LETTERS TO: CHRONICLENEWS@COUNTRYMEDIA.NET

Columbia County’s trusted local news source

www.thechronicleonline.com

A12

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Air, ground wildfire preparation JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

Crews with the Scappoose Rural Fire Protection District (SRFPD) are using all the tools they can to effectively train and prepare for the summer and fall wildfire season. In late April, the crews conducted air-to-ground communications using a helicopter equipped with a water bucket. Depending on the type of helicopter and the weather, buckets can carry from 70 gallons on the smaller aircraft up to 2,500 gallons on larger aircraft, according to SRFPD officials. “Coordination between aerial and ground resources is crucial, the SRFPD said. “Good communication

COUNTY From Page A1

concerns about what they said are the pending closures of businesses impacted by the state’s pandemic health and safety county classifications. “Our neighbors share our frustrations with us,” the letter states. “Our business owners come to us with questions about how they will be able to operate under continued restrictions.” The elected officials letter states that many citizens and businesses initially understood the COVID-19 health crisis as it spread across the state last year. “They were willing to do what they could to help minimize risks to their families and customers,” the letter reads. “Their

reduces confusion, which requires more time and cost for the helicopter, the safety of both the pilot and the firefighters, and making sure the wet stuff gets to the red stuff.” According to the SRFPD, ground resources have to relay directions from the pilot’s perspective as they direct the water to its intended target. “This is not as easy as it may seem,” the SRFPD officials said. “Sometimes the biggest challenge is making the ground resources visible for the pilots, which is needed for the spatial relationships needed for describing the location of where the water needs to go.” SRFPD crews are partnering with Hillsboro Aviation for the specialized helicopter training. struggles were evident in the emptiness we saw in our commercial corridors for months on end.” The letter said the community job creators have patiently followed the health and safety guidelines and eager to phase-in their operations over time and they invested in their businesses when they were finally allowed to re-open. Staff was brought back and new employees hired to fill vacancies. “We would ask that instead of emphasizing shutdowns that the state focus its priorities on ensuring the widespread distribution of available vaccines, especially to the rural parts of Oregon,” the letter states. The elected officials letter follows a letter sent last week by the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association and also signed the Columbia County Board of Commissioners and 78 oth-

Courtesy photo from SRFPD

The Scappoose Rural Fire Protection District crew gets a briefing during the specialized helicopter training.

er elected officials, asking Gov. Brown to reconsider the risk classifications. Overall impact The new letter states that the issue goes beyond the hospitality industry. The elected officials said they are hearing from owners and employees of various athletic clubs, bowling alleys, movie theaters and other entertainment venues, as well as organizers of annual events that bring communities together and who are unable to do any kind of planning. Aside from forging a spirit of local unity, those events also bring us together as people from neighboring communities and generate much-needed economic activity, according to the letter. “We respectfully request that you consider the needs of our communities,

merchants, and residents when implementing policies that could devastate their ability to provide goods and services to their customers, as well as livelihoods for their families and employees. We hear directly from them, and are increasingly familiar with the growing desperation, fear and uncertainty that they are facing to this ongoing crisis,” the letter states. The letter is signed by 18 elected officials in Columbia County, including St. Helens Mayor Rick Scholl, Scappoose Mayor Scott Burge, Clatskanie Major Bob Brajcich, Rainier Mayor Jerry Cole, Vernonia Mayor Rick Hobart, Columbia County District Attorney Jeff Auxier and Larry Ericksen, Port of Columbia County Commissioners, Columbia County Commissioners Margaret Magruder, Casey Garrett,

and Henry Heimuller. The Chronicle has requested a statement from Gov. Brown specific to the Columbia County elected officials letter sent to her office April 30. Brown’s office sent us the governor’s reply in a letter she had sent to counties following the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association’s letter April 30. In that letter Brown encourages the counties to direct their full energy toward helping their employees, neighbors, family, and colleagues get vaccinated if they haven’t done so yet. “We are working hard to reach all communities with vaccines, especially those that this pandemic

has hit hardest,” Brown stated in her letter. “We have more work to do. Too many Oregonians are still not protected against COVID-19, and vaccinations are the best way to protect one another and lift the restrictions this pandemic has forced upon us. Right now, there are appointments available statewide.” Read the full response letter from Gov. Brown with this story at thechronicleonline.com. We’ll continue to update daily pandemic developments at thechronicleonline.com with in-depth reports in the Wednesday print editions of The Chronicle.

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360.414.4223 Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

A pet owner helps his dog make it over the teeter-totter during the dog show. See more photos with this story at thechronicleonline.com.

SHOW From Page A1

dogs through the obstacles, which included a wooden

fence and a long teeter totter. Laughter and cheers could be heard as each animal made its way through the course. “This makes me feel very happy,” she said. Karley’s mother, Jamie

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

Food for dogs collected during the show were donated to the Columbia Humane Society.

Stockeale, said her daughter is “pretty incredible, and I am very proud of her.” The Columbia Humane Society is located at 2084 Oregon Street in St. Helens and may be reached at 503397-4353.

If you know of someone, an agency or business, or a group, that is making a positive difference in our community and would like to see them featured in Who We Are, email details to jruark@countrymedia.net.

Scott

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