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SHHS Band wins State Championship league championship. “Which is not where we had hoped to finish,” she said. “Since that contest, we targeted every area we still felt was weak and processed all of the feedback from the previous festival judges to try to perform as flawlessly as possible at State. We moved parts around, broke things apart, and doubled other things. Everything we could figure out to do to make the performance better.”
JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
The St. Helens High School (SHHS) Band is the OSAA 5A State Champions. “We finished six points against West Albany, a band that has been dominant in 5A for years,” SHHS Band Director Noelle Freshner said. “This is the ninth State Championship for our Band Program and the first in 20 years! We are overwhelmed with emotion and pride!”
On stage at State
We had the best performance of the year. ~ Noelle Freshner, SHHS Band Director The St. Helens High School Band and Director Noelle Freshner with the 2022 State Championship trophy.
The 32-member SHHS Band performed four pieces Friday, May 13, at the State competition at LaSells Stewart Center on the campus of Oregon State University in Corvallis. “We had the best performance of the year and we’re so happy with it and our sightreading as well,” Freshner said. Getting to State The students worked hard
through everything that the COVID-19 pandemic presented them, according to Freshner. “We kept going with online band rehearsals, refining and deepening our skills,” she said. “The students developed more independent musicianship skills by practicing more at home than they had ever before. Once we could get back in person we did, with once-a-week in-person evening rehearsals during distance learning. Once we came back in a hybrid model we were then able to put together a great spring set last
year and submitted recordings for last year’s Virtual State Festival and had an awesome spring concert.” Freshner said the SHHS Band was the only 5A band to earn a Superior rating from the State festival last year, “which was so awesome,” she said. “Many schools at that time were not allowed to be back in person and we were doing all of this thanks to administrators that trusted us to be safe!” The SHHS Band also was selected to play at the Oregon Music Educators State Conference in Janu-
Courtesy photo
ary. “That was a huge honor,” Fresnher said. “This performance put the band in front of an audience full of music educators in the state way earlier than we are used to performing. We pushed ourselves with a complicated set and they performed so well!” Freshner said the momentum helped the band going into the spring competitive festival set, allowing the students to qualify for State early. The band captured third place in the NWOC Conference after their
Freshner said as the students took to the stage at State Friday, May 13, they were centered, calm, and confident. “They left it all out on the stage,” she said. “It was such a great performance! No matter what the placement we would have been so proud of how we played on stage and later in the sightreading room.” According to Freshner, the SHHS Band faced a number of challenges as they entered the State competition. “Like any big performance, the hope and goal is that every individual has their own personal best performance and that the group is clicking on all cylinders at the same time, for the whole set,” she said. “We couldn’t let nerves get to us but had to be confident and trust ourselves
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$5-plus a gallon in Columbia County JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Metro Creative Connection
The price for unleaded regular in St. Helens has climbed over $5 a gallon, reaching a new historic high.
The price you pay for gasoline in Columbia County has now jumped to over $5 a gallon. Pump prices began rising significantly following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The prices took another sharp jump, over 30 cents a gallon locally between Friday, May 13 and Monday, May 16. The high price for unleaded regular in St. Helens has reached $5.19 a gallon. According to the American Automobile Association’s (AAA) price survey, the national and Oregon averages skyrocketed to new record highs after the price of oil jumped above $110 per barrel over the past week. Pump prices are setting new record highs again this week with the Oregon average climbing above $5 a gallon for the first time ever. The major driver is the high cost of crude oil which is above $110 per barrel. For the week, the national average
for regular jumps 15 cents to $4.52 a gallon. The Oregon average soars 21 cents to $5.06. “When we have high gasoline prices, they do trickle down to every part of the economy impacting all goods delivered by trucks powered by gasoline and diesel,” AAA Oregon/Idaho Public Affairs Director Marie Dodds told The Chronicle. “Everything we purchase and that we need transitions down to additional transportation costs.” Dodds said it’s not likely that there will be any price relief soon. “Unfortunately, crude oil remains significantly elevated because of the ongoing war in Ukraine,” Dodds said. “Oil supplies were already tight before that.” The previous tight oil market is the result the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Dodds. “We saw demand for oil and gas fall dramatically during the pandemic,” she said. “The bottle fell out of the oil market, so production was reduced because of the loss of de-
mand. It takes a lot of infrastructure, a lot of labor and a lot of time to ramp the supplies back up.” Following the Ukraine invasion, countries around the world ceased ordering Russia crude oil, as a protest to the war. “So, Russian crude oil is no longer in place and that oil has to be replaced from supplies around the world and that is why prices are rocketing up,” Dodds said. Pump prices are fueled by the most part from the cost of crude oil. “On the average, abut 53 percent of what we pay for a gallon of gasoline is for the price of crude,” Dodds said. “Twelve percent is for refining, 21 percent is for distribution and marketing, and 15 percent is for taxes.” Dodds said the zooming gasoline prices are having a psychological impact on drivers. “People have done their best in dealing with $4 gasoline, but when you see $5-plus for a gallon posted on the service station signs, that does send shock waves,” she said.
Committee approves budget, preserves library funding ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net
Following discussion of budget cuts, the City of St. Helens Budget Committee is now recommending not to reduce funding for the St.
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Helens Public Library (SHPL). “I don’t think it’s a done deal yet,” said Lynne Pettit, President of Friends of the St. Helens Public Library. “(But) we’re very hopeful.” The City of St. Helens Budget Committee approved the budget during the Thursday, May 12 public meeting, which included funding the youth librarian position, St. Helens Communication Officer Crystal King told The Chronicle. “During the meeting, the committee voted to meet again to explore funding options and fees to address budget items, including the youth librarian position, capital improvements, utility rates, and the public safety facility. This meeting, or meetings, will likely begin after July 1,” King said. The original $87.5 million spending proposal presented by St. Helens City Administrator John Walsh to the city budget committee included a proposal to cut the youth library position. Critics of the proposal were quick to point out the difference in proposed cuts between departments and how beneficial they believe a youth librarian is to the community. “The (youth librarian) position provides outreach, storytime, children’s Makerspace classes,
The City’s budget committee is recommending no major cuts at the St. Helens Public Library.
programming classes, nature walks, literacy services, summer reading programs, collection development, and so much more,” Katelynn Leonard wrote in an opinion letter to The Chronicle. The St. Helens City Council is expected to make final budgeting decisions and adopt the budget in June, following the budget commit-
tee recommendations and approval. Public library or public safety? In an earlier published interview with The Chronicle, Walsh said the St. Helens City Council members were “very vocal” in their desire and need to hire as many public safety officers and police
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officers as the city can while maintaining fiscal reserves. “We came to the conclusion that hiring any new officer was going to have an impact on the budget, including overtime, and
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City looks at buying a 30-passenger boat JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
The City of St. Helens is considering spending $250,000 to purchase a large passenger boat that would assist in the city’s tourism efforts. The St. Helens City Council will conduct a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18, to receive comments on the possible purchase of the used boat, licensed to transport 30 passengers. The proposed use of the water taxi is for transporting visitors and equipment to and from Sand Island for tourism events and other possible destinations. The boat is proposed to be paid for by the St. Helens tourism event
revenues. The Chronicle checked in with St. Helens City Administrator John Walsh with specific questions about the tourism boat.
would be in addition to that shuttle. The Chronicle: Who would operate this vessel and when would it be used? Yearround, spring-summer?
The Chronicle: How much is the cost of this vessel? Would there be additional costs to outfit the boat to meet safety and other required standards? How much? John Walsh: The City has budgeted approximately $250,000 to cover the purchase of the boat, transportation to St. Helens, and any necessary upgrades, including any regulatory requirements for operation. The Chronicle: Who is offering this vessel to the city?
Walsh: The shuttle will be operated by a certified, licensed captain who will be paid for out of tourism funds. The boat is covered so it does allow for year-round use if tourism activities are developed over the winter months.
Walsh: Bargeworx, LLC out of Florida.
Island? If so, is this in addition to that service?
The Chronicle: Isn’t there already a couple that operate a shuttle service between St. Helens and Sand
Walsh: The St. Helens Marina currently operates a shuttle service to Sand Island for the campground. This
River. Sand Island is an asset for creating unique tourism experiences in our region. Having a boat will allow the city to capitalize on the recreational opportunities and tourism-related events which can be developed along our riverfront. The Chronicle: When will a decision be made about this boat purchase and by whom?
The Chronicle: What is the city’s vision of this vessel’s overall tourism benefit for our city?
Walsh: A decision should be made by the St. Helens City Council on Wednesday, May 18 following the 5:30 p.m. public hearing to discuss the purchase of the boat.
Walsh: Purchasing the boat will allow the city to increase access to Sand Island and expand tourism activities along the Columbia
The public hearing will be held via Zoom and in person in the St. Helens City Council Chambers at city hall, 265 Strand Street, St. Helens.
Connecting through ‘Joyful Singing’ JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Voices are echoing once again as the Columbia Chorale of Oregon and the River City’s Children’s Choir resume public appearances. The singers’ latest performance, Joyful Singing, took place at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. Helens Sunday afternoon, May 15. The Chronicle reached out to Marilyn Allen, the chair of the Columbia Chorale Board of Directors, for insight into this local group. The Chronicle: When was the Columbia Chorale of Oregon established and why? Marilyn Allen: This version of Columbia Chorale of Oregon began in the fall of 2001. We met Ryan Heller during an interview for a church choir director. Someone asked Ryan if he would also be interested in resurrecting a community chorus, also called Columbia Chorale, which had been in existence in previous years but had closed. He was eager to lead such a group, and so that fall, we began rehearsing in the St. Helens High School choral room to begin rehearsals. The chorus was registered as a 501(c)3 in 2005. Many of our singers over the years have had substantial vocal music background and were eager to sing with a group. Many singers have also said, “This is the first time I’ve sung since high school or college.” Some of us have been involved in church music, so this was an opportunity to sing in different styles of choral music. And for most of us, it has been a place to belong. The Chronicle: When was the name changed to River City Singers and which name should we be using for our story? Allen: A number of years ago, the board of directors was attempting to help us appeal to a wider audience. Some board members thought a different name might help. There had been a children’s choir a few years previously, not connected to our organization,
which had been known as River City Children’s Choir. So we decided that we could restart that group for children, and also have the adult choir perform as River City Singers. That name has been in use for maybe eight years, but we have always officially been Columbia Chorale of Oregon. The board just this summer decided that we would stay with the official name, for our new website (www.columbiachorale. org), and for performances. We will continue to use the River City Singers name from time to time.
For most of us, it has been a place to belong. ~ Marilyn Allen, Columbia Chorale of Oregon
The Chronicle: How many adults and children are participating with the group? Allen: Before we closed due to COVID restrictions, we had about 30 singers. For this coming concert, we will have about half that. The children’s group several years ago had about 10-12 singers. Again, that group is about at half the number. The Chronicle: What is the range of music presented by this group and why that music? Allen: Over the years, we have sung many standard classical works, such as Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Creation, Mozart’s Requiem, and Britten’s Ceremony of Carols. We have also done popular music, from Cole Porter and jazz, to music of the 1970s. We often perform seasonal music, from Christmas and Halloween, to patriotic music for Memorial and Veterans Days. We also have provided background music for the St. Helens Police Department’s Donut Days, and for events at the fairgrounds and the Scappoose Airport.
The Chronicle: What is it about singing that you believe is inspiring and enriching to our community? Allen: We love to sing! And in this group, we know if this concert isn’t our favorite music, another concert will be more classical, or focus more on popular tunes. Our current Artistic Director, Alice Boyer, challenges us with a wide selection of styles, while helping us to develop our vocal skills. There are very few opportunities to hear or participate in good quality vocal music in the south county region, or anywhere in Columbia County. We have received grants from the Columbia County Cultural Coalition to help keep us afloat during the two years of closure. We appreciate this help from our local community. The Chronicle: What is your role and how long have you been associated with the group? Allen: I have sung with Chorale from the very beginning in 2001, with a few short breaks. I began serving on the board about ten years ago. I am currently the board chairperson. The Chronicle also spoke with Linda Fuller, the River Singers Children’s Choir director. The Chronicle: How many children and what is the age range of the children participating with River City Singers?
Courtesy photo
The Columbia Chorale of Oregon at a performance.
finally regular harmonic part singing. Our selections include American and multicultural folk music, high quality composed music, and musicals. The ultimate goal is to have a children’s choir that can read, learn and perform a wide variety of music for their families and community.
Linda Fuller: After a year of online choir, we are pleased to have five singers meeting for in person rehearsals. Our Choir Quintet is made up of singers in grades one through eight. It is our hope that when we can have a full choir season next year that the choir will grow. The Chronicle: What do you hope the children take away from their experience with River City Singers?
The Chronicle: What do you take away from your experience with River City Singers?
Fuller: The goal of the River City Children’s Choir is to help young singers learn to use their voices correctly and introduce them to choral singing. As the director, I use the techniques and pedagogy of Hungarian composer and educator Zoltán Kodály to help them become musically literate. We begin by singing in unison, then progress to partner songs, rounds, and
Fuller: Joy. After retiring from full time teaching, I missed making music with children. Working with the children’s choir allows me to use my skills and experiences to help young musicians again. I was blessed to have a job that I truly enjoyed and now I can continue in a much smaller format. It’s fun to sing, play music games, and guide children as
they develop musical skills. The Chronicle: Briefly, what is your background and experience as a children’s choir director? Fuller: I taught general music in grades K-8 for over 30 years in Scappoose, Longview, and Beaverton. During that time period, I directed children’s choirs in grades 3-6, middle school choir, and elementary band. I have a B.A. from Portland State University, a Master of Music Education from the University of Portland, and a Ph.D. in Fine Arts - Music from Texas Tech University. I have served on the Board of Directors of the Oregon Music Educator Association, and as president of the Southern Washington Kodály Educators. I have presented research posters and workshops on the local, state, regional, and national levels.
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‘Stamping out stigma’ in 2022
NAMI, CCMH partner for Mental Health Awareness Month ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net
“Stamping out stigma” is this year’s theme for a Columbia County walk and fair dedicated to raising mental health awareness. National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) Walks Our Way and Columbia Community Mental Health (CCMH) will bring their event to St. Helens Riverfront from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 22, in celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month. The event offers a fun, family-friendly atmosphere, featuring a DJ, food, prize drawings, and a performance from Ukulele Orchestra. “I think it’s going to be a fun day,” CCMH Human Resources Coordinator Naomi Clowdus said. “There’s going to be a lot of laughter, a lot of smiles, and just hopefully (a) warm and welcoming presence to the community.” Participation in the event is free, but donations are encouraged, Clowdus told The Chronicle. The walk starts at the Jordan Center in downtown St. Helens, 297 South 1st St., and ends at Columbia View Park.
Just having a large group of people get together and support mental health awareness helps send the message that it’s okay to talk about mental health. ~ Naomi Clowdus, CCMH Courtesy photo
Walking teams Legacy Devers Dynamos and CCMH Columbia Walkers were all smiles at the 2019 walking event in Portland.
A common goal NAMI Columbia County “NAMI Walk Our Way” and CCMH Mental Health Fair is “a partnership that recognizes the importance and value of working together,” according to NAMI Columbia Chairperson Judy Thompson. Pre-March 2020, NAMI Oregon hosted the annual event “NAMI Walks Your Way NW,” a walking event and fundraiser held on Portland’s waterfront that draws thousands of people from Oregon and Washington.
On Sunday, May 22, NAMI is co-hosting with CCMH its first-ever walk for mental health awareness in Columbia County. As of Monday, May 16, there are seven Columbia County teams signed up to walk. Background Clowdus started her career at CCMH over three years ago as a care coordinator, “which is essentially a counselor case manager,” she said. “As far as CCMH goes,
we are a pretty well-rounded Community Behavioral Health Center, or clinic, I should say,” Clowdus explained. “We have our residential programs, and then we have two facilities for people with mental health issues.” One of these facilities managed by CCMH is the Jordan Center, which offers Peer support for those struggling with
mental health challenges. “They (Peers) (are) someone who has lived experience with mental health or substance use, either on their own or with a family member or spouse,” Clowdus said. “They’re well aware from an experiential standpoint of what that looks like in their day-to-day life.” The Jordan Center has around five or six Peer Specialists and serves between
three and four people at any given hour, according to Clowdus. Clowdus estimates that CCMH, with all of its different programs and services, is utilized by more than 1,000 people throughout Columbia County. The Chronicle asked Clowdus how she believes the Mental Health Walk and Fair will benefit residents of Columbia County. “Just having a large group of people get together and support mental health awareness helps send the message that it’s okay to talk about mental health,” she said. “It’s okay if you have mental health issues.”
The Columbia Community Mental Health Center is located at 58646 McNulty way in St. Helens. For more information, call 503-3975211, or for immediate help, call the crisis line at 503-7824499. Participants must register for the walk. For more information, visit namiwalks.org.
Ribbon cutting at PCC’s OMIC campus
Courtesy photo
Cutting the ribbon are from left, Mark Mitsui, Craig Campbell, Tiffani Penson, Margaret Magruder, Scott Burge and Andrew Lattanner. STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net
Leaders from across the region and Columbia County have celebrated the official ribbon cutting of Portland Community College’s (PCC) Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Training Center (OMIC). A ribbon cutting ceremony was conducted Wednesday, May 11, at the advanced manufacturing training center. The center is the educational arm of the OMIC initiative — a collaboration of industry, higher education and government that combines applied research and development and workforce training. PCC’s facility is traditionally known as the OMIC Training Center and is located at the Columbia County Center at 34001 NE Wagner Ct. in Scappoose. It is PCC’s first permanent, physical location in the region and the college’s first building fully dedicated to providing training for the advanced manufacturing trades. “The new PCC OMIC Training Center is a building purposely designed to replicate a real manufacturing environment that will provide students with the type of experience they will see in the real world,” OMIC Training Center Director Andrew Lattanner said. “This building and this initiative is rooted in collaboration. Our progress to date and our continued success is based on partnerships.” According to PCC officials, locally, Oregon’s manufacturing industry reports a need for shorter, quicker training programs to keep up with change and to engage more young
people in these careers. PCC’s 32,000-squarefoot advanced manufacturing training facility is designed to support both traditional and workbased learning models like registered apprenticeship, pre-trades programs and internships. The facility, which opened its doors last fall, also provides introductory, intermediate and advanced training in computer numerically controlled (CNC) lathe operation, CNC mill operation, welding and fabrication and other areas of advanced manufacturing. “We see this facility as the starting point, and a really important one, to bring the power and promise of the transformative potential of higher education and training,” PCC President Mark Mitsui said. “We are officially opening a facility where we will be able to have leading edge skills provided through education and training that will produce leading edge workers for our companies and corporations to be globally competitive. That is not only important for the United States economy, but also the economic mobility of the folks that live in our region.” The OMIC initiative, and the PCC OMIC Training Center, is an opportunity to work together to build pathways for students to good paying jobs – jobs that fill a critical need for our companies and produce economic mobility in our communities, according to Mitsui. “One of the things that Scappoose is now going to be about is advanced manufacturing, research, development and training, which is something to be proud of, and something that really identifies what
we’re doing and where we’re going,” Mayor of Scappoose Scott Burge said. “I couldn’t be more proud of having helped to work on this project and helped create a future for the city, the county and the state of Oregon.” “Community colleges breathe life into communities by offering students courses that make them job ready. Not just providing a degree, but something that assists them to walk out the door and go to work in high-paying, high-quality jobs,” Columbia County Commissioner Margaret Magruder said. “Community colleges provide meeting space, partnerships with local school districts and a feeling of hope for those who may not have the resources for a university education. They break down barriers, such as access to transportation, and since they’re local, they’re right here where we live. All of this will certainly become an important benefit to the economic development of Columbia County, create more opportunities in Columbia County, and, over time, will help to generate more local jobs, so that fewer workers need to travel to Portland and other neighboring communities to support their families.” PCC promotes sustainable design principles for all of its bond-funded work, which is an integral part of the college’s goals to meet its Climate Action Plan. The OMIC Training Center features the latest sustainable design features, which resulted in it earning LEED Silver in 2021. To enroll in any of the OMIC Training Center’s programs or classes, visit the PCC admissions website: www.pcc.edu/enroll.
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Opinion
Latest LUBA decision means more jobs for lawyers DEBORAH STEELE HAZEN Chronicle Guest Column
In the prepared statement printed in The Chief last week, the Columbia Riverkeepers, the 1000 Friends of Oregon, and their supporters are misrepresenting the facts again. The property known as “Port Westward” has been owned by the Port of Columbia County since 1966. It has been zoned “Industrial” all of that time - 56 years. From 1942 until 1965, the approximately 900 acres was owned by the U.S. military which called it the Beaver Army Storage Point and the Beaver Army Terminal. The name changed to “Port Westward” in 1967 when the Port of St. Helens (now the Port of Columbia County) leased it to a California company called Westward Industries. Portland General Electric (PGE), which operates three generating plants on the property, assumed the lease in 1972. Some of the unused industrially-zoned land at Port Westward is being leased to Columbia River Farms for grazing and to local mint grower, Mike Seely. Seely does not own any land at Port Westward. He does own land on the Beaver Drainage District which is zoned for agriculture.
Opponents of economic development at Port Westward repeatedly use the term “Port Westward” as synonymous with the Beaver Drainage District. That is very misleading, very far from the truth, and gives a false impression to people who do not have complete historical and geographical knowledge of the property. The Beaver Drainage District contains about 6,000 acres. The original Port Westward occupies just over 900 acres. No one lives on Port Westward, there is no “Port Westward Community.” In 2010, the Port purchased 837 acres adjacent to Port Westward from Greenwood Resources, which is phasing out its hybrid poplar plantations around Clatskanie. Greenwood wanted to sell. No one lives on that land either. The Port purchased it with the goals of addressing a state-declared critical shortage of marine industrial sites on the Columbia River, creating much-needed local family wage jobs, and providing revenue for our many tax-supported public services. Since the Port first filed to rezone that 837 acres in 2013, there has been a seemingly endless stream of applications, appeals, remands, modifications, and resubmissions. No one has benefited
from this but the lawyers and the professional obstructionists. Answers have been provided many times to the questions raised repeatedly by the Riverkeepers, the 1000 Friends, Mike Seely, and others who do not want to see family wage jobs in our community and high valuation revenues for our schools, first responders, county roads, library, parks and recreation, cemetery districts, 4-H, vector control, etc. As of last year, when the Port resubmitted the rezone request yet again with more answers, only one question supposedly remained as far as the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) was concerned. “Is rezoning the property ‘reasonably compatible’ with the surrounding farms.” Obviously, it is! Farms have existed around the industrially-zoned property at Port Westward for over 80 years. Assuming the rezone is eventually approved, there would still be 4,000 acres zoned for agriculture on the Beaver Drainage District. Until new industry is sited on the portowned land it will remain in agricultural use. The rezoning proposal allows for large buffer zones between industrial development and surrounding farmland.
Additionally, there are thousands of agriculturallyzoned lands on the rest of the Clatskanie area dikelands the Johns, Clatskanie, Marshland, Midland, Magruder, Westland, and Webb drainage districts. Most of those roughly 10,000 acres are under-utilized for agriculture. Columbia County contains over 440,000 acres of which about 90 percent - roughly 396,000 acres - is zoned “natural resources,” exclusively for farm, forest, timber, wetlands, etc. We can spare another 837 acres to create employment for the 70 percent of local workers who have to travel outside the county to find jobs. In previous remands and resubmissions to LUBA, the types of industries that would be allowed have been limited to: 1. Forestry and wood products processing, production, storage, and transportation; 2. Dry bulk commodities transfer, storage, production, and processing; 3. Liquid bulk commodities processing, storage, and transportation; 4. Natural Gas and derivative products, processing, storage, and transportation; and 5. Breakbulk storage, transportation, and processing. Two of those the liquid bulk commodities and the natural gas processing, storage and transportation - are already taking place
at Port Westward. I have read the 29 pages of legalese released last week by LUBA in response to the Columbia Riverkeepers and 1000 Friends of Oregon most recent appeal. Basically, LUBA has upheld those two organizations’ demands that Columbia County needs to expand the study area which may theoretically be negatively impacted by future, as yet unknown, industrial development within the already specified limitations on the 837 acres, and then imagine the worst possible effect those industries may have and how the imagined problem could be solved. The rezoning proposal approved by the county already requires those issues be addressed in the permits from the county, state, and federal governments when an industry is actually proposed for the property. But now LUBA wants the county to expand the area in which it must imagine all the worst case scenarios of possible future industries, and specify how they would be addressed in the zoning document itself. LUBA was established by the Oregon Legislature in 1979 to “(1) provide an accessible forum for resolving land use disputes quickly and efficiently and (2) make its decisions available as a decision making resource to
state and local legislators, land use professionals, city and county land use decision makers, property owners and the citizens of Oregon.” The three LUBA members are required to be attorneys, and are appointed by the governor to four year terms. The nation’s least popular governor, Kate Brown, appointed all the current members: board chair H.M. Zamudio, members Michele Gates Rudd and Melissa M. Ryan. In the 2021-23 biennium, LUBA’s staff increased from three to four - three of them lawyers. The budget for the seven-member agency increased from $2,273,639 in the 2019-2021 biennium to $2,626,826 in the current biennium - about a 15 percent increase. Most of the budget comes from Oregon’s general fund, but the LUBA attorneys are going to make up a small portion of the difference by increasing the cost of filing appeals from the current $200 to $300, and increasing the cost of citizens getting copies of their actions. At least we know some people will get jobs out of this - the LUBA lawyers, the Riverkeeper lawyers, the 1000 Friends’ lawyers, and the lawyers the county and port must hire to fight them. Deborah Steele Hazen is a Clatskanie resident.
Community Calendar May 21 Scappoose Garden Club Plant Sale 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Scappoose Middle School, 52265 Lower Columbia Highway Scappoose. Sunday May 22 Community Walk and Fair National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) Walks Our Way & Columbia Community Mental Health (CCMH) Fair 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Walk starts 10 a.m. at Jordan Center, 297 South 1st St. Helens. Easy route around waterfront. Mental Health Fair in Columbia View Park. Please register for walk at https://www.namiwalks.org/northwest. Join CCMH Columbia Walkers https://www.namiwalks. org/team/CCMH Visit NAMI Columbia County Oregon Facebook Event. For more Information contact Judy Thompson at 503-397-6056. Ongoing events Farmers Market The 20th season of the
Scappoose Market 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, contact scappoosefm@gmail. com. Lower Columbia River Watershed Council Meets at 7 p.m. every other second Tuesday. Meetings are currently held electronically by Zoom. For more information, contact Council Coordinator Allan Whiting at E-mail: allan@whitingenv. com, or call 503-7899240 Visit the council’s website for agenda postings and Zoom at www. lowercolumbiariver.org/ events-page. Resonate Recovery Meets from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday - Sundays. This is a Bible based, Christ-centered spiritual recovery meeting for those struggling with addictions and compulsive behavior at 220 S. 1st St., St. Helens. Everyone is loved and welcomed. For more information call Debbie at 503-560-0521 or check the
Resonate Facebook page. Columbian Toastmasters Promoting positive learning and leadership through public speaking. Anyone is welcome! Meeting virtually via Zoom from 12-1 p.m. every Thursday. • Zoom meeting: https:// zoom.us/j/8222962563/ Webpage: https://6421. toastmastersclubs.org/ • Social Media: https:// www.facebook.com/ColumbianToastmasters • Phone: 503-369-0329 Overcomers Outreach Meetings are held every Saturday at 9 a.m. at Creekside Baptist Church, 51681 SW Old Portland Rd., Scappoose. Call Fred 971-757-6389. To list an event in the Community Calendar, email details with a phone number that may be published for anyone that might have questions, to chronicleclassifieds@ countrymedia.net, or call 503-397-0116.
The Chronicle Jeremy C. Ruark Publisher - Executive Editor
Zoe Gottlieb General Assignment Reporter
Katherine Mace Advertising Sales
Weekly Online Poll
Last Week’s Results Will you be taking part in the Dead Stranger letter writing exchange?
Are you in favor of the City of St. Helens proposal to purchase a 30-passenger boat to enhance tourism?
Yes
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9.3% Yes 90.7% No
Vote online at thechronicleonline.com The Chronicle (USPS 610-380) is published weekly by Country Media, Inc. 1805 S. Columbia Blvd., P.O. Box 1153 St. Helens, Oregon 97051 Periodicals postage paid at St. Helens, OR 97051
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Chronicle PO Box 1153 St. Helens, OR 97051-8153
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CONTACT US • Phone: (503) 397-0116 • Fax: (503) 397-4093 • Website: www.thechronicleonline.com • Editorial: chroniclenews@countrymedia.net ADVERTISE WITH US: Display ads: chronicleads@countrymedia.net • Classified ads: chronicleclassifieds@countrymedia.net FOLLOW US • facebook.com/sthelenschronicle or twitter.com/shchronicle Editorial policy: Opinions expressed on this page are independent of The Chronicle views and are solely those of the writers expressing them. Write to us: We want to hear from you and encourage you to write letters to the editor. Because of space limitations, shorter letters have a better chance of being printed. We may edit your letter for style, grammar and clarity, although we do as little editing as possible. If you don’t want your letter printed under those conditions, just let us know. Thank-you letters are limited to a general thanks and summary of an 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 blatant inaccuracies. Unsubstantiated or irresponsible allegations, or personal attacks on any individual, will not be published. Letters containing details presented as facts rather than opinions must include their sources. Writers are limited to one published letter per month. All submissions must include the author’s full name, local street address and telephone number (only the name and city of residence will be published). By submitting a letter, writers also grant permission for them to be posted online. Opinions expressed on this page are the writer’s alone and do not represent the opinion of the newspaper or its parent company, Country Media, Inc.
Let us know what YOU think EMAIL YOUR LETTERS TO: CHRONICLENEWS@COUNTRYMEDIA.NET
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School district reviews restroom concerns ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net
As the discussion on transgender accessibility to public school restrooms continues, the Rainier School District (RSD) is opting for a collaborative approach. “It’s our belief and commitment that Rainier School District is a place for all students,” RSD Superintendent Joseph Hattrick said. “We’re looking into how to support all students, (which) includes our students of color, LGBTQSIA+ students, and other historically marginalized students.” Hattrick made the statements as part of his Superintendent Report at the Monday, May 9 school board meeting, addressing concerns submitted by two parents over school restroom use. “Why are there not a few (restrooms) labeled genderneutral?” one parent wrote in public comments to the school board. “If I would have went into the boys’ restroom when I attended this very school, I would have been suspended.” Towards the end of the meeting, school board mem-
ber Christina Usher asked Hattrick when the concerned parents could expect a resolution from the school board. “Some of the work is going to be forthcoming,” Hattrick responded. “I don’t know if there will be enough of a heavy lift to present to the board at the June meeting, but once that work starts, I’ll be presenting updates.” Hattrick also said he is in
All students deserve to feel safe in bathrooms. ~ Marc Siegel, ODE Metro Creative Connection
The RSD is reviewing concerns about school bathrooms.
the final planning stages to develop a council for Equity and Diversity at RSD, which will create a space for staff, students, and parents to continue to “navigate ways in which we support all students.” State and national debate In 2016, North Carolina became the first state to enact
legislation limiting access to restrooms, locker rooms, and other sex-segregated facilities based on a definition of sex or gender consistent with one’s biological sex, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Nineteen other states considered enacting their own “bathroom bills” in response to the North Carolina law, NCSL reports. The South Dakota state legislature
passed a so-called bathroom bill in both chambers, but the bill never made it past the governor’s desk. Other states followed the example of Massachusetts, adopting public accommodation nondiscrimination laws with protections for gender identity. In an interview with The Chronicle, Oregon Department of Education (ODE) Communications Director
Marc Siegel clarified the official guidance that ODE provides school districts on managing public facility accommodations for gender identity. “Oregon state law prohibits discrimination in public schools based on gender identity, and Oregon’s 2016 guidance advises that schools should allow students to utilize facilities consistent with their gender identity,” he told The Chronicle. Siegel explained the rationale behind the guidelines issued by ODE. “All students deserve to feel safe in bathrooms,” he said. “Oregon data shows that transgender and genderexpansive students are routinely harassed, bullied, or sexually assaulted at a higher rate than cisgender students in schools.” Siegel also cited several court cases that ruled in favor of the guidance, such as Grimm v. Gloucester County School Board, in which the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals used Title XI as a basis to uphold the plaintiff’s right to use facilities consistent with their gender identity. “The guidance recommends that alternative
accommodations, such as a single “unisex” bathroom or private changing space(s), should be made available to students who request them but should not be forced upon students or presented as the only option,” Siegel said, adding, “Schools may create individualized safety plans for transgender, non-binary, and other gender-expansive students to address safety concerns a student may have about restroom, locker room, or other facility usage.” According to Siegel, ODE’s guidelines provide a foundation for “safe and supportive school cultures” and are not to be relied on as legal advice. Plans to address the restroom policy at RSD won’t likely be presented to the school board until July or August, Hattrick said. “I plan to reach out to the individuals that did the public comment,” he added. Rainier School Board meetings are held in the Rainier School District #13 Boardroom, 28168 Old Rainier Road in Rainier, the second Monday of the month. The next board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 13.
Fentanyl, Opioid Response Toolkit for schools STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net
The overdose reversal drug Narcan may soon accompany the Band-Aids and tongue depressors in nurses’ offices in schools across Columbia County and statewide. In a Thursday, May 12 press release, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) announced the release of a Fentanyl & Opioid Response Toolkit for Schools to support educators, administrators, school nurses, students and families, following a period of record-breaking accidental overdoses in Oregon. The toolkit provides information about how schools can create an emergency protocol to administer naloxone, also known as Narcan. Included in the toolkit is information on how to access, administer and store the life-saving opioid overdose prevention medica-
tion. The toolkit also contains resources to support staff training, prevention education and other resources essential to developing and implementing school emergency response procedures.
in or around schools, proper response is critical to save lives.” Counterfeit pills
Rising opioid overdose deaths are a public health crisis, and schools are the heart of Oregon communities. ~ Patrick Allen, OHA Director Courtesy photo
“The resources in this toolkit can save lives,” said ODE Director Colt Gill. “We
This photo shows examples of what fentanyl laced-pills could look like.
strongly encourage schools to adopt policies and practices for safe and effective management
and prevention of opioid-related overdoses in schools. When drug-related emergencies occur
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from May 2020 to April 2021, deaths due to accidental overdose surpassed 100,000 for the first time on record. Sixty-four percent of those deaths were attributed to illicitly manufactured fentanyl, which often comes in the form of pills that closely resemble prescription oxycodone or benzodiazepines such as Xanax. In Oregon, fentanyl-related overdose deaths increased by 74% from 2019 to 2020, for a total of 298 fentanyl-related deaths in 2020. “Rising opioid overdose deaths are a public health crisis, and schools are the heart of Oregon communities. Unfortunately, this trend is expected to continue, as Oregon has continued to see an increase
in accidental overdose deaths due to fentanyl,” OHA Director Patrick Allen said. ODE cautions that pills obtained from social media, the internet, or a friend could be laced with fentanyl, advising youth to steer clear from pills obtained from any source other than a trusted pharmacist. There are clear signs that point to an overdose, according to ODE. Whether or not the victim is responsive is a key indicator. Other signs of an overdose include slow, shallow, or no breathing, pinpoint pupils, heavy gurgling or snoring sounds, cold or clammy skin, inability to wake up, or blue or gray skin, lips, or nails. Counterfeit pills may be blue, greenish, or pale, and be marked as “M30.” Visit the Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division for resources: www.oregon. gov/oha/ph/preventionwellness/ substanceuse/opioids/pages/ naloxone.aspx.
Shortage of baby formula challenging families STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net
Governor Kate Brown has issued a proclamation declaring an abnormal market disruption due to the baby formula shortage in the United States and in Oregon. The shortage follows recalls, supply chain and labor disruptions. The proclamation is in response to reports of unusual increases in baby formula prices. “Many Oregon families across the state rely on baby formula to nourish their
newborns and children, and it is critical that they can easily access this nutrition without abnormally increased prices,” Brown said “This proclamation empowers the Attorney General and the Oregon Department of Justice (ODJ) to investigate instances where price gouging on baby formula may be happening, and to take appropriate action if businesses are found to be in violation. Oregonians who believe they have been subjected to excessive prices for essential consumer goods and ser-
vices due to this disruption can report these instances to the ODJ through their Consumer Protection hotline at 877-877-9392. Oregonians can also visit www.OregonConsumer.gov for more information. The ODJ has the authority to investigate unlawful trade practices. Price gouging concerns Brown’s declaration follows a request from Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum who had sent Brown a letter May 12, asking her to immediately declare an “abnormal disruption of the market” in Oregon following the increased shortages of baby formula due to recalls, labor shortages, and supply chain disruptions. Oregon law authorizes the Governor to declare an abnormal disruption of the market in response to “any emergency that prevents ready availability of essential consumer goods or services,” according to a release from Rosenblum’s office. The declaration will allow the Oregon Attorney General to take action against any business, or online vendor, who upsells
the price of baby formula, which is considered an essential consumer product, by more than 15 percent. The ODJ is aware of reports of baby formula being sold online for prices far exceeding its retail value, according to the release. Rosenblum urges Oregonians to be on alert for potential price gouging of baby formula and to report any significant price increases to her office. She encourages parents having difficulty finding formula to speak with their child’s health provider before attempting to dilute formula or make their own, either of which, according to health authorities, can be potentially dangerous to a child. Rosenblum also encourages anyone with extra breastmilk to consider donating it to their local milk bank. “If Oregonians see significant price increases for baby formula, I encourage them to report it to my office immediately,” Rosenblum said. “Anyone who tries to take advantage of this shortage by gouging parents desperate to feed their babies is on notice.” Due to the nationwide
• Get as much information as possible before reporting by taking a picture of the posted price, advertisement, or online listing, including the product name, brand, size or quantity, and unit price. • Keep receipts for purchased items. Report suspected violations to the Attorney General’s Price Gouging Hotline at (503) 378-8442 or online at www.oregonconsumer. gov and attach your pictures, receipt, or other information. More information about Oregon’s price gouging statute can be found at: https://www.doj.state.or.us/ consumer-protection/salesscams-fraud/price-gouging. Congressional pressure
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shortage, the ODJ advises consumers to buy only as much formula as they need and not to unnecessarily stock up; panic buying may intensify the shortage and could encourage sellers to engage in illegal price gouging. It is not price gouging for retailers to limit the amount of formula they sell to individual consumers. When reporting price gouging to ODJ, consumers should take the following steps:
1811 Columbia Blvd. St. Helens diannasformalaffair.com 503-397-3026
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has joined colleagues in a letter calling on infant formula manufacturers to make every effort possible to get parents and families in Oregon and nationwide the formula they need to feed their kids. “We write to express our concern about the infant formula supply shortage which is making it harder for parents and caregivers nationwide to get their children the nourishment they need,” Wyden and the senators
wrote in a letter to Mardi Mountford, President of the Infant Nutrition Council of America. “Formula is a critical source of nutrition for newborns and infants, and this supply shortage has put their health and development at risk. We are calling on you and your member companies to take immediate action and ensure that infant formula manufacturers are making every effort to mitigate this dangerous shortage and get children the nourishment they need.” Over the past several months, partially due to a massive recall following contaminated formula from major supplier Abbott Nutrition, it has become increasingly difficult for families to get access to infant formula. In the letter to the Infant Nutrition Council of America today, Wyden and his colleagues stressed how dire the situation is for families and urged formula manufacturers to take action to increase infant formula production and distribution and prevent future supply chain disruptions. “This shortage has placed an unacceptable burden on parents and caregivers and has put the health of babies and infants at risk. For many families, infant formula is critical for ensuring their children receive the nutrition they need to grow healthy and well-nourished,” the letter continued. “This shortage has been especially challenging for some of the most vulnerable infants, with particularly acute shortages of specialty formulas to address health needs such as allergies, gastrointestinal issues, or metabolic disorders. There is no easy substitute for infant formula, and this shortage has left families across the nation scrambling to figure out how they will safely care for their children.”
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Classifieds Listings are updated daily at thechronicleonline.com
110
301
502
502
502
602
602
Hauling
Health & Nutrition
Help Wanted
Help Wanted
Help Wanted
Boats & Motors
Boats & Motors
We haul scrap and that’s no crap! Dump runs $75 and up. Senior discount. Scrap metal hauled free, including appliances. Call 503-550-3184.
Anonymous Info-line, (503) 366-0667 www.pdxaa.org
PT Customer Service Associate Yeon MiniStorage NW Postal and Shipping HOURS: Tuesday - Friday 1 PM to 5:15 PM and Sat 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM Independently owned shipping store/mailbox center and self storage facility. The duties of this job are diverse - you will not be bored!! We are looking for someone with great customer service skills, detail oriented and reliable. Call or stop by the store. 503827-3900 3055 NW Yeon
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District (C911CD) is conducting a hiring process for a Chief Financial Officer. Apply online at www.co l u m b i a 9 11 . c o m / careers. Additional information can be
found on our website or by calling 503-366-6971.
been gone through from top to bottom. Power is 9.8, 4 stroke engine. Boat is all welder, no ribbits. Name of boat is GREGOR. Very nice boat in good shape. Asking $2,695. Call 503583-6575 anytime. PS Ready to GO fishing.
Motor for Sale 15 HP Mercury motor, reconditioned, new seals and brain, $900 or OBO. (503) 3691105, leave message and phone #.
502
Help Wanted
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Misc Services
Cans and Bottles If you have cans and bottles that you would like to get rid of call Steve the Can Man at 971-813-9257. Will pick up. Classified Ads & Legal Deadline:
Submit ads by Mondays at Noon.
Alcoholics
Community Health Nurse Columbia County, OR EOE Deadline 6/2/2022 Apply at ColumbiaCounty OR.gov Immediate Opening Shipping/Receiving/Sewing Part time 6-Noon, M-Th. Apply in person only. 33550 SE Santosh St. Scappoose, OR 97056
Advertise in The Classifieds and online Email chronicleclassifieds@countrymedia.net or call 503-397-0116
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For Sale 13.4 Aluminum boat & heavy duty trailer. Motor has
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ASPHALT PAVING Offering Quality Asphalt Paving Services to Columbia County and surrounding areas.
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Kristie Flanagan, Licensed Property Manager 51891 Old Portland Road, Suite “A”, Scappoose OR 97056 (next to the scappoose totem pole)
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Waterman Garage Doors
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Crossword Puzzle
STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: WEATHER 101 ACROSS
1. Found in Pandora’s box 5. Kind of trip 8. Toothy freshwater fish 12. Medieval headdress 13. Ne on periodic table 14. Golfer’s weapons 15. Biblical twin 16. Russian river or Russian mountains 17. Understand (2 words) 18. *Moisture in the air 20. Law school test acronym 21. Layers in plywood 22. Trigonometry abbr. 23. Uses a laser 25. Squawked or crabbed 29. Bitty 30. Two dots above a letter 33. Jasmine of “Aladdin,” e.g. 34. Forbidden, in Islam 36. Bruin legend Bobby 37. Lays in peace 38. “Metamorphoses” poet 39. Charge with crime 41. “For ____ a jolly...” 42. Easily irritated
44. *No clouds 46. Gremlin or pixie 47. *Check the weather before hitting this hiking path 49. Speech defect 51. *Cloudy 54. Classic TV’s Mrs. Brady 55. Same as island 56. “Cheers” regular 58. Elephant poacher’s ware 59. Pb on periodic table 60. *The first sign of rain? 61. Declare untrue 62. Pig’s digs 63. MacFarlane or Rogen
DOWN
1. *Road hazard 2. Eyelid hair 3. Oahu shindig 4. Assumes bad posture 5. Chill-inducing 6. Bearded ruminants 7. Unrivaled 8. *Barometer reading 9. Tiny bit 10. Purl partner 11. Three ahead of PST 13. Certain beachgoers’ philosophy 14. *Cold weather is
needed for this meltable home 19. Part of small intestine 22. Cathode-ray tube 23. Hit the road 24. Falcon’s home 25. Mentor or expert 26. The Obamas’ daughter 27. Bruce Lee’s “____ the Dragon” 28. Treat without respect 29. Wallop 31. Scottish lake 32. *Rainbow shape 35. *Weather warning 37. Archeologist’s find 39. Venom source 40. Filled with dread 43. State indirectly 45. African antelopes 47. Living room centerpiece? (2 words) 48. 4 x 4 race 49. Cleanse 50. #14 Across, sing. 51. They don’t mix with water 52. Sight for what eyes? 53. Between walk and canter 54. El ____ of medieval Spain 57. *Knot alternative, acr.
Solution to crossword in next week’s issue of The Chronicle. Columbia County’s trusted local news source
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Public Notices
PROTECTING YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW
CH22-1101
PORT OF COLUMBIA COUNTY LOOKING FOR PROPOSALS The Port of Columbia County invites proposals from human resources professionals or agencies to act as the Port’s Human Resources Specialist to provide the following scope of work: · Conduct Human Resources Audit. · Knowledge of Compensation/Benefits. · Develop new job descriptions, as needed. Conduct an analysis study for each specified job as it relates to specific skills from time to time. · Provide
support to executive director, commissioners, and managers in recruiting, selection, and orientation of new employees. · Operational policies and procedures: Review existing human resources policies and provide recommendations and strategies for the development of revised and/or new processes, programs, and practices related to human resources. · Performance management: Develop a performance
appraisal process and train managers on goal setting, leadership, and communication as needed. · Ongoing human resources support: Support for the administration of policies and procedures and managers support, including quality control such as time and attendance. · Revise Employee Handbook from time to time, as needed. · Identify areas for improvement of employee relations. · Identify local
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workforce growth, market trends, and its correlation to the Port of Columbia County human resources needs. · Handle workplace investigations, discrimination complaints, and terminations as needed. · Act as Port liaison with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. · Consult to protect Port from liability in employment matters. The Port of Columbia County is a special district of the State of Oregon created
under the ORS 777 with the purpose of economic development. Our primary focus is to create and sustain jobs for our district through the use of transportation infrastructure, land sales, leases, and access to bond finance. We currently employ 20 full-time, permanent employees. Written proposals to provide Human Resources Specialists for a period of up to three (3) years must include the following: ·
Work history and work experience · Professional certifications · References · Cost proposal, including hourly rates, any travel costs, and other expenses. The deadline to submit your proposal in writing to the Port of Columbia County is 4:00 p.m. Thursday, June 2, 2022. Please send your proposals by mail to the address below or email to Robert Gadotti @ gadotti@portofcolumbiacounty.org.
CH22-1103
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA; PROBATE DEPARTMENT; THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DEPARTMENT In the Matter of the Estate of CANDACE G CHAPMAN, Deceased. CASE NO. 22PB04294 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Kathleen J Rendich has been appointed as the Personal Representative of the above estate. All persons
having claims against the estate are required to present them, with voucher attached, to the personal representative at 1030 SE PARK AVE CORVALLIS OREGON 97333 within four months of the date of first publication of this notice or the claims may be barred. All persons whose
rights may be affected by the proceedings may obtain additional information from the records of the Court or the Personal Representative. Dated and first published on May 18, 2022. Kathleen J Rendich, Personal Representative PUBLISH: 5/18/22, 5/25/22, and 6/1/2022.
CH22-1099
SEEKING CANDIDATES FOR BOARD POSITION Northwest Regional Education Service District is seeking candidates interested in filling the remaining term of NWRESD Board Position: At Large. The five elected members of the NWRESD Board will interview and CH22-1096
vote an appointed ESD board member on June 14, 2022. The newly elected board member will take office July 1, 2022 and their term will end June 30, 2026. Candidates may apply online at www.nwresd.org under
Board of Directors - Elections. The deadline for filing is no later than June 1, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. Questions may be directed to the Northwest Regional ESD Board Secretary at 503-614-1401 or vwhite@nwresd.org
In the Matter of the Estate of DAYTON RAY THORP, Deceased. No: 22PB03881 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE is hereby given that the undersigned, Joseph Thorp, has been appointed personal representative of the above estate. All persons having claims against the estate are required to present the same within four months from this date at the office
of VanNatta, Petersen & Anderson, P.O. Box 748, St. Helens, Oregon 97051; and if not so presented, they may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceeding may obtain additional information from the records of the Court, the personal representative or the attorneys for the personal representative. Dated and first published: May 18, 2022. Dated and next pub-
lished: May 25, 2022. Date of final publication: June 1, 2022. JOSEPH THORP, Personal Representative. Personal Representative: JOSEPH THORP c/o VanNatta, Petersen & Anderson, P.O. Box 748, St. Helens, OR 97051. Attorney for Personal Representative: Agnes Marie Petersen, VanNatta, Petersen & Anderson, P.O. Box 748, St. Helens, OR 97051 Phone: (503) 397-4091.
CH22-1100
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of the members of the land situated in the Deer Island Drainage Improvement Company, Columbia County, Oregon will be held on Tuesday May 24, 2022 at 10:00 AM. Due to
the COVID 19 pandemic this meeting will be held by video teleconference. For access information please email didrainage@gmail. com. Purpose of electing two Directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly
come before the meeting. Each member shall be entitled to one vote in person, or by proxy, in writing and duly signed by the member and presented at the meeting, for each acre of land owned by such member within the company.
CH22-1092
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA In the Matter of the Estate of DOLORES A. SWANEY, Deceased. No. 22PB04114 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed personal representative. All persons having claims against the estate are required to present them,
with vouchers attached, to the undersigned personal representative at the address below, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice, or the claims may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceedings may obtain additional information from the records of the court, the
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The statement of procedures for Columbia County are available for review at the Columbia County Courthouse and https.//www.columbiacountyor.gov/departments/Finance/Expenditures.
Road (East of Hwy 30) adjacent to Walmart. Anticipated dates of temporary lane closures - Monday May 23rd to Friday June 24th. Number of days –
personal representative, or the attorneys for the personal representative. Dated and first published May 4, 2022. TED SWANEY, Personal Representative, c/o Lucas & Associates, L.L.C. Attorneys at Law, P.O. Box 519, Rainier, OR 97048, Phone 503-556-3741, FAX – 503-556-0708, Lucasatty@yahoo.com.
STATEMENT NOTICE OF TEMPORARY AVAILABLE LANE CLOSURES of Temporary 25 working days. Expect FOR REVIEW LaneNotice Closures on Gable single lane traffic control on Gable Road intermittently between Monday May 23rd and Friday June 24th during normal working hours.
Public Notice deadline is Fridays by noon. Late submissions are not guaranteed to make it into the paper.
Having a Garage Sale? Advertise your garage sale in the paper and online for only $10 for up to 14 lines! Contact The Chronicle at chronicleclassifieds@countrymedia.net or 503-397-0116 or to get your garage sale in the classifieds. Columbia County’s trusted local news source
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Wednesday, May 18, 2022
LUBA remands Port Westward rezone JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net
More legal discussion will delay current efforts to rezone hundreds of acres of Port Westward at Clatskanie. The Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) has remanded the Port Westward rezone, sending it back to Columbia County for more information. Read the full LUBA decision with this story at thechronicleonline.com. History On Sept. 22, the county commission approved the Port of Columbia County’s application to rezone 837 acres at Port Westward from Primary Agriculture to Resource Industrial Planned Development. “I am looking forward to agriculture and industry being able to work together because the entire bases of reclaiming was for the betterment of the economy in the lower Columbia and I think that this will improve the economy,” Commissioner Margaret Magruder said during the preliminary review and approval of the rezone application in July. Port Westward is a
CHAMPS From Page A1 and each other. 5A has some incredible bands, West Albany in particular! We are honored that the judges felt we were the best band of the day!” Having the music students reach State competition is an important accomplishment, Freshner told The Chronicle in a published interview May 11. “It is incredible that we haven’t lost a step,” Freshner said. “All the work that we did over the two years during
LIBRARY From Page A1 they wanted two,” he said. “So, we looked at the city positions that were vacant, one in parks and one in the library and we proposed not to fill those positions, just to get the discussion going.” The two positions include a parks maintenance position and the Library’s youth librarian position. “That has caused a lot of attention,” Walsh said. “I am a big fan of the library and the youth library and what the programs do for the community. I am hopeful that working through the budget committee, we’ll be able to restore that position and still maintain the city’s long-term financial health.” Community response In a social media post, parent and St. Helens Library Board member Jessica Sturdivant described her shock following the news that the St. Helens City Budget Committee was considering cutting the SHPL youth library director position. “Over the years, my children have benefitted from the many offerings of the St. Helens Public Library,” she wrote. “During the days of being stuck at home in 2020, we looked forward to Youth Librarian Gretchen Kolderup’s videos on Facebook. We enjoyed the Take-andMake program, rushing to pick up the kits on a weekly basis. The Summer and Winter Reading Programs have (also) been a highlight for my children.” “We were absolutely stunned to learn that the St. Helens Budget Committee seeks to eliminate the Youth Librarian position. We have been eager to meet the new Youth Librarian so that my children can begin to build a strong, nurturing relationship with this individual, just as they had forged with Gretchen.” Sturdivant ended her post requesting that the budget committee rescind their proposal.
deep-water port with existing dock facilities and direct access to the 43foot navigation channel in the Columbia River. The 837-acre expansion at Port Westward will address the need, both at the local and state level, for additional industrial land, according to a statement from the Port of Columbia County. Port reaction
Port of Columbia County Executive Director Sean Clark called LUBA’s decision “disappointing.” “We remain hopeful and will continue to work to expand economic opportunity in this underserved part of the state,” he said. The Port is one of very few deep-water ports on the Columbia River and is an incredibly unique asset adjacent to land developed and primed for additional development, according to Clark. “The Port believes that we effectively demonstrated that responsible industrial and agricultural uses can coexist together as good neighbors, as they have for decades at Port Westward,” Clark said. “The Port Commission will consider how to best move forward for economic development in Columbia County.” In its application to the the COVID pandemic made us in ways strong. We stayed really tenacious and didn’t give up. It is always sweet to go to State, but with a band like this, it is just unbelievable that we are back to where we were.” More than 2,500 Oregon high school students competed for trophies in five band classifications and string and full orchestra. The competition was conducted Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14. More recognition Fresher will lead a mix “Our Youth Librarian has put the St. Helens Public Library on the map. To take away this position would be devastating to the children, parents, caregivers, and educators in our community,” she concluded. The Chronicle conducted a poll on May 4, asking readers whether St. Helens city administrators should preserve current funding at the St. Helens Public Library. 82.7% of respondents said yes. 17.3% said no.
county, The Port limited the rezone property to five allowable uses:
• Forestry and Wood Products processing, production, storage, and transportation • Dry Bulk Commodities transfer, storage, production, and processing • Liquid Bulk Commodities processing, storage, and transportation • Natural Gas and derivative products, processing, storage, and transportation • Breakbulk storage, transportation, and processing Opposition reaction
Courtesy from the Port of Columbia County
Port Westward is a deepwater port with direct access to the Columbia River.
Columbia Riverkeeper, 1000 Friends of Oregon, and farmers at Port Westward also issued a statement following the LUBA decision, saying the decision maintains protections for 837 acres of high-value farmland in the midst of prime salmon habitat. “Columbia County Commissioners erred badly in rezoning Port Westward. The land they seek to industrialize has been farmed for generations, providing unique and deep soils that sustain the production of food and other crops that go far beyond this community, from u-pick blueberries to high-quality mint
and cattle,” Port Westward mint farmer Mike Seely said. “LUBA’s decision affirms that Oregon land use laws protect farmland, and that will improve our local economy.” Local farmers, clean water advocates, and uprail communities concerned about long trains bisecting Columbia County cities and towns remain adamant that the Port Westward area is better suited to agriculture, forestry, and fisheries than industrialization, according to Columbia Riverkeeper conservation director Dan Serres. “Again and again, community members have come together to protect the Lower Columbia River’s
of the band and ensemble students in a performance at Disneyland during a trip to California May 27-31. The students have been invited to perform as a marching band during the Disneyland Parade. The trip had been planned for last November but with traveling during the pandemic still questionable, the trip had to be rescheduled for May. “This is important because the kids need to travel, and they need opportunities to get out and to see the world,” Freshner said. “It also allows us to put our
name out on a scale bigger than just in the state. Performing in the Disneyland Parade gives people from all over the world the chance to see us.” For Freshner, directing the music program is a rewarding experience. “I get to watch kids make friendships that last a lifetime,” she said. “These are those experiences that do that. School becomes more than just reading, writing and arithmetic. That’s what music is. Opportunities for more depth than just learning. It is about those relationships that you have with each other.”
Library offers more to the community than just books. “We’re a theme park of discovery,” she said. Funding for the youth
librarian position totals $115,000 a year, which assumes a Step 3 salary with full family benefits, according to King.
Crossword Solution Solution for the May 11, 2022 crossword puzzle
clean water, salmon and other fish, and sustainable jobs,” Serres said. “The decision is a recognition of the importance of Oregon’s land use laws - to protect our irreplaceable farm lands, especially in the face of a changing climate,” 1000 Friends of Oregon Deputy Director Mary Kyle McCurdy said. LUBA agreed with Columbia Riverkeeper, and 1000 Friends on all of the issues they raised, finding that the county failed to consider the important natural resources in the area, failed to adequately evaluate the sensitive agricultural uses (specifically, mint farming), and failed to analyze the scale of the potential adverse
impacts of the proposed uses on the surrounding area, according to Serres. “We hope that the Port and County will get the message. LUBA remanded the Port’s attempt to rezone high-value farmland for the third time,” Serres told The Chronicle. “The public Port of Columbia County should abandon its approach of trying to rezone these 837 acres, and the County Commission should listen to the valid concerns raised by the community at Port Westward.” Follow this developing story at thechronicleonline. com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Chronicle.
Services resume STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net
The City of St. Helens website and email systems are back up following a disruption earlier this week. On Monday, May 9, the City of St. Helens became aware the city’s website was down and various city departments were not receiving external emails. “After doing research, our St. Helens I.T. staff discovered that the issue was occurring with the company that provides the City’s domain registrar service,” a release from
the city states. “Monday evening that company announced that they were hit with a ransomware attack which encrypted server disk files that impacted domain registrar service to their customers.” The city release said the attack did not directly impact any information, files, emails, or citizen information hosted on the City of St. Helens network. “St. Helens data is still safe and secure,” the release reads. “As of 6:35 a.m., Wednesday, May 11, our City of St. Helens website and email service is restored and appears to be fully functioning.”
Obituaries Joseph Burnham
Nov. 4, 1944 ~ May 13, 2022 Joseph Burnham, 67, of Rainier, Oregon passed away May 13, 2022 in Longview, Washington.
A community pillar During the city budget meeting, 14 people delivered public testimony regarding the proposal to cut funding for the library. “(The meeting) demonstrated the commitment of residents, including city council and the budget committee, to the use and overall livability of the city of St. Helens,” said Brenda Herren-Kenaga, interim library director at the St. Helens Public Library. According to Herren-Kenaga, the St. Helens Public
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Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Local students capture awards
Courtesy photos
Pictured left to right, Ellie Luke, Hayden Stram, and Taylor “Rosie” Parsons display their awards with St. Helens Mayor Rick Scholl. STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net
All three first-place winners from the St. Helens “If I Were Mayor....” Student Contest have placed first and second at the Oregon Mayors Association (OMA) state level contest. Yankton Arthur Academy fourth grader Ellie Luke
took first place in the poster category at the state competition. Columbia County Christian School sixth grader Taylor “Rosie” Parsons placed first in the OMA essay category. Hayden Stram, a tenth grader who is homeschooled in St. Helens, placed second in the OMA digital media presentation category.
The OMA received 45 entries from 27 participating cities this year for the statewide contest. First place winners at the state level receive $500 and are invited to attend the Oregon Mayors Association Summer Conference at the Best Western Agate Beach Hotel in Newport, Oregon, for an awards luncheon presentation. Second place winners
receive $300. “I am very proud of all three of our local students,” Mayor Rick Scholl said. “They had excellent presentations and that shows in how well they did against other students around the state.” The “If I Were Mayor...” Student Contest is an annual contest held in partnership with the OMA. Students are asked to share their ideas
about what they would do if they were mayor of their city. There are three categories for the contest: a poster competition for grades 4-5, an essay competition for grades 6-8, and a digital media presentation for high school students. The St. Helens City Council evaluates the local entries based on creativity, clarity/sincerity of thought, proper use of grammar, and
subject relevancy. First place winners from the local contest are then sent to OMA for a chance to win at the state level. In the St. Helens contest, first place winners in each category received $150 cash, and second place winners received a cash prize of $50. All participants are invited to a lunch with Scholl after the contest is complete.
Oregon prepares for ‘difficult’ wildfire season STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net
“All signs point to a difficult 2022 fire season that will challenge our firefighting teams and the capacity of our response systems,” Gov. Brown said in a briefing to reporters about Oregon’s approaching wildfire season. In the Monday, May 16 media briefing, Brown said recent rain systems have not eased what she calls megadrought conditions in parts of the state. “While many of us have experienced a lot of rain recently, in many parts of the state we’re already seeing megadrought — with even worse drought conditions expected to continue. Already this year, I have declared drought emergencies in 15 counties — this is the most I have ever declared by this time of any year as your Governor,” Brown said. Oregon at risk Because of these drought conditions and forecasted weather, early indications are that a larger geographic area of Oregon is at sig-
Courtesy photo
Oregon is at ‘significant risk’ as the state heads into the 2022 wildfire season.
nificant risk for wildfires this season, according to Brown. The wildfire risk has intensified in Southern Oregon up through Central Oregon and into parts of the Columbia River Gorge and Eastern Oregon. Brown said she is asking all Oregonians to do their part in order to prevent and prepare for wildfires. “Being prepared can truly mean the difference between life and death,” she said. “It is also one of the best ways you can help our frontline firefighters do
Being prepared can truly mean the difference between life and death. ~ Kate Brown, Oregon Governor
their jobs. Make a plan with your family, stay informed, and get two Weeks Ready.
And please, be smart and be careful when you’re enjoying our outdoors. You can help prevent tragic loss.” According to Brown, Oregon has one of the best wildfire response systems in the country. “We continue to lead the nation in this space, improving even further as investments from Senate Bill 762 have already allowed us to add both seasonal firefighter capacity to our ranks and additional aviation assets,” she said. “This includes water scoopers stationed
in the Gorge, where we are experiencing more intense wind-driven fires.” In Columbia County, fire agencies began ramping up resources and training for the wildfire season at the begging of the year. “In the past we normally did not see any natural cover/wildfires in our district until late May or early June,” Columbia River Fire & Rescue Division Chief of Operations Eric Smythe told The Chronicle in a published report in March. “Over the last several
years we have seen fires in March and April. This is outside the normal fire season, so we are adjusting our responses and equipment staffing to meet the earlier starts to our wildland season.” Smythe said the local concern is fire behavior and time. “Seasonal fires have become more erratic and potentially dangerous over the last decade. Fire districts are witnessing larger, more aggressive fires that are prone to rapid spread,” he said. “The rapid spread exceeds the local fire resources and requires local, state, and federal resources to mitigate these fires. The issue for most fire districts is that mobilization of additional resources takes time, and time equates to more acreage destroyed and threats to human habitation.” See detailed information about how you can develop fire safety plans for your home and business in a series of reports at thechronicleonline.com. Follow the Oregon wildfire season developments at thechronicleonline.com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Chronicle.
Oregon PUC sets wildfire power outage rules erator or alternative location for power needs. • Keep cell phones fully charged in anticipation of an outage. Consider a car-charger for cell phones and other electronic devices. • Make sure your utility service provider has current contact information for notifications by updating your account online. • Access outage and PSPS information online for Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, and Idaho Power.
STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net
New rules are now in place to protect communities in Columbia County and across the state when power is shut off during high fire danger. The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) has approved permanent rules for investor-owned electric utilities, regarding public safety power shutoffs (PSPSs). Temporary rules were implemented for the 2021 wildfire season while the PUC, utilities, public safety partners, and communities worked to finalize permanent rules. This is a timely decision as May is National Wildfire Awareness Month and wildfire season is quickly approaching. A PSPS is an important safety measure designed to help protect people and communities in high fire-risk areas by proactively shutting off electricity during extreme and dangerous weather conditions, the PUC stated in a release. “De-energizing power lines through a PSPS is a wildfire risk mitigation strategy of last resort because of the significant impacts the loss of power can have on communities and the extensive planning and communication that are needed to effectively implement them,” according to the PUC. These new rules lay out specific communication requirements for the utilities to inform public safety partners,
What to do during a power outage Metro Creative Connection
The Oregon Public Utility Commission has established new public safety power outage rules.
state agencies, local jurisdictions, and the public of the need to implement a PSPS to mitigate wildfire risk, as well as updates at least every 24 hours until service is restored. “Extreme fire weather can clearly happen throughout Oregon,” PUC Commissioner Letha Tawney said. “Implementing a PSPS is a complex decision that impacts communities including use of home medical devices, access to 911 services, and the ability to pump water. However, it’s a tool in the utility’s tool kit to help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires, if they determine necessary.” View the order detailing the PSPS rules at https://apps.puc.state.or.us/ orders/2022ords/22-159.pdf. The PUC is reminding Oregonians to get ready for the 2022 wildfire season
and potential power outages. While the utilities have identified high risk zones, under extreme conditions PSPS could be utilized more widely. How to prepare for wildfires before they happen • Register to receive alerts from official sources. Download the FEMA app and receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations nationwide. Also, sign up for emergency notifications with your local city and/or county, as well as outage alerts from your electric utility service provider. • Develop an emergency plan and make sure everyone in your household knows and understands what to do in the event of an evacuation. • Create a circle of safety
around your home, which is a fuel-free defensible space that can help reduce fire danger. Visit Keep Oregon Green for more information. How to prepare for a potential power outage • Be two weeks ready – Gather food, medical supplies, batteries, pet supplies, among other things, needed by family members during an outage or evacuation for up to two weeks. Learn more about what supplies to consider. • For individuals with a medical condition that requires power, please contact your service provider in advance of an outage to register a Medical Certificate. This certification provides added benefits and helps the utility ensure they meet your needs in the event of an outage. Also, consider a backup gen-
Contact your electric utility service provider to inform them of an outage. Below is the contact information for the electric utilities in the region. If uncertain which utility serves your area, visit https://www.oregon.gov/ energy/energy-oregon/pages/ find-your-utility.aspx. • Columbia River PUD 503-397-1844 • Clatskanie PUD - 503728-2163 • Portland General Electric – 800-544-1795 • Pacific Power – 877508-5088 • Idaho Power – 800-4886151 Take these steps • Avoid downed power lines at all costs. • Stay clear of utility crews working to restore service in your community. • Use flashlights or battery operated lanterns for emergency lighting. Do not
use candles or other potential fire hazards. • Turn off lights and unplug electric appliances except for the refrigerator and freezer to help avoid a surge to the system when service is restored. After turning off all the lights, turn one light on to know when power has been restored. • Use generators safely – Do not run the generator inside the home or garage or anywhere near a window or vent, as these spaces can capture deadly levels of carbon monoxide. Learn more about proper use of a generator to avoid hazardous conditions. • Check on elderly neighbors or community members with special needs who might need additional assistance. Natural gas tips • If required to evacuate, no need to shut off natural gas. • If natural gas appliances do not operate properly once electricity is restored, call your natural gas service provider. • If natural gas service is shut off, do not turn on yourself. Call your natural gas service provider to restore service. • If you smell natural gas, evacuate immediately and call 911. For additional information about fire prevention and preparedness, visit https:// www.oregon.gov/puc/safety/ Pages/Power-Outage-Prep. aspx.
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Sports & Outdoors
St. Helens, Scappoose golf teams wrapping up seasons
Courtesy photo from Mike Weber
St. Helens High School girls golf team member Monica Aguirre-Lopez hits a shot in the regional tournament May 10 at Heron Lakes Golf Course in Portland. MIKE WEBER Chronicle Guest Article
The boys and girls golf teams St. Helens High School and Scappoose High School both competed in the Class 5A District 1 regional tournament May 9-10 at Heron Lakes Golf Course in Portland. It certainly turned out to be a pretty special event for both schools too as their players qualified for the OnPoint Community Credit Union OSAA state tournament May 16-17. St. Helens High School results The St. Helens Lions boys squad took third place with a score 745, trailing runnerup The Dalles (703) and district champion Wilsonville (683). The Lions shot a 369 team score in the May 9 first round. The Lions, guided by assistant Coach Clark Lawrence, posted a team score of 376 in the second round May 10. “We had a real battle and it was a much tougher course to play on the second day than we had on the first day,” said Lawrence. “We had some rough starts, but we battled back and stayed right there, so we did well. We’re glad to have one of our guys going to state and one guy (Thatcher Lyman) fell short of qualifying by just three strokes. We came here and
took third place and we had good showing after we were tied for fourth place on the first day.” Junior Garrett Smith shot 164 and took fourth place to qualify individually for state and he was the only state qualifier for St. Helens. The Lions sixmember squad included Lyman, Logan Johnston, Tyler Tolles, Justice Stanton and Cameron Waite. Stanton (112) and Waite (103) shot non-counting scores at the tournament. Lyman shot a 185 and finished 16th, just three strokes behind Olson, who was in the final state qualifying position. “I’m pretty happy to be going to state for the first time ever and I fulfilled the expectations that I had for this season,” said Smith. The Lions girls squad of Cecily McDole, Monica Aguirre-Lopez, Piper Carlson, Sarah Vanderwerf and Samanth Kent took fifth place with a score of 851. Kent had an excellent score of 90 in the first round, followed by Vanderwerf (94), Carlson (96) and AguirreLopez (103) for total of 383. The Lions didn’t play as well in the second round though, when they shot a score of 468. St. Helens didn’t have any individual state qualifiers. Scappoose High School results The Scappoose High
Courtesy from Mike Weber
The Scappoose High School girls golf team from left to right is Dylan Deitz, Reagan Witt, Molly Hagen, Kylee Nutt, Hope Grogg.
School Indian girls squad had an outstanding performance as they won the regional championship with a first-place team score of 786. The Indians, guided by seventh-year Coach Joe Girres, were led by the quartet of Kylee Nutt, Reagan Witt, Molly Hagen and Dylan Deitz who combined to shoot a score of 375 in the first round May 9, followed by a 411 in round two on May 10. The Indians won by just two strokes over La Salle with 788. “We had four players who had personal best scores on the first day of the tournament,” Girres said. “I’m super proud of the team. It’s a good ending to the season and getting the whole team to state is just a feather in our cap. It was a real good finish and a fantastic year. This is a great accomplishment because we don’t do this every year and having this opportunity is great.” For seniors Nutt, Deitz and Hagen, qualifying for state for the first time ever represents the absolutely best possible way for them to conclude their high school athletic career. “We knew that we put ourselves in contention to win the regional with our good score on the first day on the greenback course,” said Girres. “We played on the big blue course on the second day and it’s a lot harder and more trouble-
some for the girls, so we expected to have higher scores. The girls didn’t realize that, and they felt like maybe they didn’t have a great day, but it was very adequate and enough to finish in first and I’m very proud of them.” Nutt had an outstanding tourney as she shot 90 in the first round, followed by a 97 in the second round for a fourth-place individual finish at 187. Elizabeth Richardson of Redmond took first place at 160. “Qualify for state has been written on my vision board in my bedroom for months, so I’m very excited that we’re going to state,” said Nutt, who has been on the Indians golf team for four years. Deitz finished in ninth place as she shot 97 on Day 1 and 99 on Day 2 for a 196. Hagen shot a 200 score for 12th place and Witt shot a score of 203 for 14th place. Scappoose junior Kelsey Holcomb shot 240 for a non-counting score and finished in 28th place out of 38 golfers. “It’s so exciting going to state and I can’t believe it’s happening,” said Deitz. “I’m so proud of everyone on our team.” Nutt, Hagen (95), Deitz and Witt (93) all shot personal best scores in the first round on May 9. Hagen has been a member of the Indians golf team all four years. Unlike some of
bracket but thy said they felt like they played their best of the season. Nick McCallum made it to the consolation semifinals but ran into the player that took Ernest to three sets. Nick learned from his match and knows what he needs to do for the next three years of his HS tennis career. We had three doubles teams make it to the consolation semifinals, one of which made it to the finals. Hayden Lukich and Linken Furnish played well, coming back from one set down to take it to three sets. Unfortunately, they lost but played really well and adjusted appropriately to their opponents strengths and weaknesses. Just had a few too many balls come off the frame of the tennis rackets. We feel really good
with how our future looks and hope to get more opportunities to play over the summer.
her teammates, it’s the only sport that she competes in, so it’s definitely the highlight of her Scappoose High School athletic career. “It feels great, especially after we had a couple of crazy years that we didn’t really know what was going to happen with our golf season,” said Hagen, who has been on the golf team all for years at Scappoose. “For us to go to state our senior year is really exciting. We came into the season thinking that it was going to be a building season, because we had a couple of years off with all the weird stuff going on. It’s just really exciting that our group is going to state together. We have a really great group of girls and this exceeds all of our expectations that we had at the beginning of the season.” “I had so much fun and the fact that we actually made it to state and won by just two strokes is just awesome,” said Witt. “I was glad to get a good score of 93 on the first day, because I usually don’t break 100.” The 5A girls tournament was held at Emerald Valley Golf Resort in Creswell. The 5A boys tournament was at Trysting Tree Golf Course in Corvallis. Tucker Olson and senior Caleb Glen of the Indians boys squad, qualified individually for the
state tourney. Olson shot a two-round score of 182 for 15th place. Senior Caleb Glenn, who led Scappoose with a score of 161, which included five birdies, had a third-place overall finish. Olson, Glen, Cole Babcock and Chase Stansbury combined for a two-day score of 756. The Indians, guided by fourth-year Coach Ryan Svenson, took fifth place out of the six-team event, which included schools from the Intermountain Conference and the Northwest Oregon Conference. “We kind of dug ourselves into a hole on the first day, but we played a little better on the second day,” said Svenson. “It was kind of a struggle for the two days, but overall we played some young guys and it was good for them to get a good experience in this kind of environment.” Many of the players and teams had a more difficult time in getting lower scores in the second round, which was played on the 18-hole Big Blue course, which is much more challenging for golfers. In the opening round May 9, the teams competed on the much easier Greenback course, which is why most teams had lower first round scores. Follow results from the OnPoint Community Credit Union OSAA state tournament a osaa.org.
SHHS Tennis Team Tournament The following is information from St. Helens High School Athetic Director Daunte Gouge. NWOC Conference Tennis Championships The SHHS Girls Tennis went 5-4 on the opening day. Singles • Lucie Polvogt- Won 6-4, 6-3 • Heather Hayduk Won 6-2, 6-2 • Molly Wheeldon lost day 1 6-4, 6-7, 6-7 (amazing match that Molly lost in overtime) Doubles • The teams of Abi Opdahl and Jezarel Ortiz, Lea Andexlinger and Keira
Augustus, and Theo Janke and Ayla Clark all won their doubles match on opening day. • Abi and Jezarel will have honorable mention for the season and tournament. Boys Tennis
We played well and had fun. Everyone on our team had a really tough draw for the first round. Even Ernest Bernabe had to play the Hillsboro #1 in the first round. They went to three sets which drained him of his energy for the second round. He ran into a really good, 6’2” 9th grader from Wilsonville. Though he lost, he said he still felt good about his game and how he played. All the rest of the team went into the consolation
SHHS Sports Schedule Wednesday May 18 Baseball @ Hillsboro Thursday May 19 • Softball vs Putnam Friday May 20 • Track @ OSAA State Meet Eugene (All Day) • Baseball @ Hillsboro Saturday May 21 • Track @ OSAA State Meet Eugene (All Day) • JV2 Baseball @ Hillsboro
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Police Reports The police blotter relates to the public record of incidents as reported by law enforcement agencies.
priate law enforcement agency.
All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Information printed is preliminary and subject to change. For specific details about cases listed, contact the appro-
April 29 • Police responded to a violation of a restraining order at the 2300 block of Columbia Boulevard.
St. Helens Police
April 30 • Police arrested a 32-yearold subject on DUII-
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Alcohol at the 400 block of Columbia River Highway. May 3 • Police responded to a death investigation in the 400 block of 11th Street. • Police developed probable cause to arrest a male subject on Driving While Suspended. May 6 • Police cited and released
a 31-year-old male on Driving While Suspended near Pittsburg Road. May 7 • Police criminally charged a 27-year-old male on Driving While Suspended at the 100 block of Columbia River Highway. • Police arrested a 46-yearold male on DUII-Alcohol near Columbia Boulevard
and Columbia River Highway. May 9 • Police arrested a 55-yearold subject on Offensive Littering at the 2000 block of Gable Road. May 10 • Police arrested a 32-yearold male on a Fugitive Warrant, Reckless Endangering, Resisting Arrest
and Disorderly Conduct II near Old Portland Road and Bennett Road. May 11 • Police responded to an injury traffic crash at the 400 block of Columbia River Highway. May 12 • Police arrested a 30-yearold subject on a Fugitive Warrant.
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Bronze • Columbia County Bistro 305 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-410-5680 • Colvins Pub & Grill 135 Nehalem Street, Clatskanie, OR 97016 503-728-4122
Asian:
Gold • Zhens Chinese Restaurant 1671 Columbia Boulevard St. Helens, OR 97051 503- 397-4686 Silver • Happy Garden Chinese Restaurant 52595 Columbia River Highway Scappoose, OR 97056 503-366-4298 • Lotus of Bangkok 295 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-410-5155 • Oriental Café 555 S Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5466 Bronze • Simm Oriental Cuisine 33466 Havlik Drive, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-543-4098
Coffee:
Gold • Dutch Bros Coffee St. Helens: 2274 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 541-955-4700 Scappoose: 33503 SW Chinook Plaza, Scappoose, OR 97056 Silver • Javalation 399 S Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-3094
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The Chronicle & The Chief
Bronze • Cathedral Coffee 33555 E Columbia Avenue #111, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-935-4312
Dessert: Gold • Dari Delish 1680 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-2129 Silver • Brown Butter Bakery 51320 SW Old Portland Road, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-987-1740 Bronze • Warren Country Inn 56575 S Columbia River Highway, Warren, OR 97053, 503-410-5479 • Bamford Bakeshop 33608 E Columbia Avenue #120, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-987-1274
Dinner: Gold • Dockside Steak and Pasta 342 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-366-0877 Silver • Plymouth Pub 298 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5108 Bronze • Columbia County Bistro 305 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-410-5680
Food Cart: Gold • Kimbo Spice 305 S Columbia River
Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051 971-813-9364 • Hacienda las Juanitas 555 S Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-369-7834 Silver • Eat @ George’s 305 S Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051 971-363-5773 • Hallows Pizza 305 S Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-6536 • Hawaiian Plate 175 Bowling Alley Lane, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-987-0808 Bronze • Patriot Burger 175 Bowling Alley Lane, St. Helens, OR 97051 971-203-3306
Fine Dining: Gold • Dockside Steak and Pasta 342 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-366-0877 Silver • Columbia County Bistro 305 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-410-5680 • Plymouth Pub 298 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5108 Bronze • El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant St. Helens 2105 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens 503- 397-1465 /
Rainier 117 W A Street, Rainier, 503-556-8323 • Warren Country Inn 56575 S Columbia River Highway, Warren, OR 97053, 503-410-5479
Frozen Desserts: Gold • Dari Delish 1680 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-2129 Silver • Dairy Queen 33500 SW Chinook Plaza, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-543-2311 Bronze • Yo Place 58735 Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-6983
Burgers: Gold • Plymouth Pub 298 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5108 Silver • Dari Delish 1680 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-2129 • Johnny’s Bar & Grill 1750 Old Portland Road, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-4594 • Patriot Burger 175 Bowling Alley Lane, St. Helens, OR 97051
971-203-3306
Bronze • Yankton Store & Restaurant 33144 Pittsburg Road, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-7974
Happy Hour:
Gold • Dockside Steak and Pasta 342 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-366-0877 Silver • Plymouth Pub 298 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5108 • Pour House 2098 Old Portland Road, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-366-2694 • Running Dogs Brewery Whisker Room 291 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-1103 Bronze • Warren Country Inn 56575 S Columbia River Highway, Warren, OR 97053, 503-410-5479
Italian:
Gold • Dockside Steak and Pasta 342 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-366-0877 Silver • Sunshine Pizza 2124 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-3211 Bronze • Mod Pizza 2298 Gable Road Suites 110 & 120, St. Helens, OR 97051
503-410-5218
• El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant 2105 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-1465 • Hometown Pizza 109 E A Street, Rainier, OR 97048 503-556-3700
Columbia County’s trusted local news source
A12
www.thechronicleonline.com
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
2022 Columbia County Readers Choice Awards Lunch: Gold • Plymouth Pub 298 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5108 Silver • Roof 31 Cowlitz Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5514 Bronze • Ichabod’s Restaurant 52049 Columbia River Highway, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-543-2450 • Molly’s Market 290 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5479 • Fork’d 52395 Columbia River Highway, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-543-5030
Bronze • Plymouth Pub 298 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5108
Bronze • Plymouth Pub 298 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5108
Pizza:
Sushi:
Gold • Pizza Vendor 33705 E Columbia Avenue, Scappoose, OR 97056, 503-543-7197 Silver • Sunshine Pizza 2124 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-3211 Bronze • Fultanos Pizza 770 E Columbia River Highway, Clatskanie, OR 97016 503-728-2922 51511 SE 2nd Street, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-543-5100
Mexican:
River View:
Gold • Ixtapa Mexican Restaurant 33452 Havlik Road, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-543-3017 640 E Columbia River Highway Suite A, Clatskanie, OR 97016 503-728-3344 Silver • El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant St. Helens: 2105 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens 503- 397-1465 / Rainier: 117 W A Street, Rainier, 503-556-8323 Bronze • Hacienda las Juanitas 555 S Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-369-7834
Gold • Roof 31 Cowlitz Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5514 Silver • Dockside Steak and Pasta 342 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-366-0877 Bronze • El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant 117 W A Street, Rainier, OR 97048 503-556-8323
Organic Food: Gold • Walt’s Farm to Table 53758 W Lane Road, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-543-3385 Silver • Market Fresh 111 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-2288 Bronze • Scappoose Farmers Market 33568 E Columbia Avenue, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-543-3469 • Deer Island Farms 66582 Bishop Creek Road, Scappoose, OR 97054 deer.island.farms.order@ gmail.com • Kimbo Spice 305 S Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051 971-813-9364 • Safeway 795 Lower Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-2630
Patio Dining: Gold • Roof 31 Cowlitz Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5514 Silver • Running Dogs Brewery 291 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-1103
Sandwiches: Gold • Vinnies Chicago Sandwich Shop 1521 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-3135 Silver • Roof 31 Cowlitz Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5514 Bronze • Plymouth Pub 298 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5108
Seafood: Gold • Dockside Steak and Pasta 342 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-366-0877 Silver • Plymouth Pub 298 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5108 Bronze • El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant St. Helens: 2105 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, 503- 397-1465 / Rainier: 117 W A Street, Rainier, 503-556-8323
Steak: Gold • Dockside Steak and Pasta 342 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-366-0877 Silver • Longfellows Inn 52535 Columbia River Highway, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-543-9996
Columbia County’s trusted local news source
Gold • Miyako Restaurant 1835 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-9701 Silver • Noi’s Thai Kitchen 524 Milton Way, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-410-5191
Vegan/ Vegetarian: Gold • Columbia County Bistro 305 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-410-5680 Silver • Noi’s Thai Kitchen 524 Milton Way, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-410-5191 • Running Dogs Brewery 291 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-1103 • Simm Oriental Cuisine 33466 Havlik Drive, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-543-4098
Annual Event: Gold • Spirit Of Halloweentown Sept. 17 - Oct. 31, 275 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 Silver • Columbia County Fair & Rodeo July 20, 24, 58892 Saulser Road, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-4231 Bronze • Toy N Joy www.crfr.com/toynjoy Make donations to: St. Helens Fire Station: 105 S. 12th Street, St. Helens, OR 97051, Columbia River Fire & Rescue Administration Office - 270 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR Rainier Fire Station - 211 W. 2nd Street, Rainier, OR 97048 • Rainier Days July 8 - 10, W A Street, Rainier, OR 97048 www.rainierdaysinthepark. com • Christmas Ships Parade Dec. 10, St. Helens Waterfront www.christmasships.org • July 4th Let Freedom Bells Ring July 4, 230 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051
Bartender: Gold • Stephanie Davis at Pour House 2098 Old Portland Road, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-366-2694 Silver • Kristen Mason at Pastime Tavern 2019 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-7972 • Kristen Mason at Pour House 2098 Old Portland Road, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-366-2694
Bronze • Jesse Lagers at The Klondike Hotel & Tavern 71 Cowlitz Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-782-8002
Esthetician: Gold • Julz Barber at Platinum 51 Salon 150 St. Helens Street Suite C, St. Helens, OR 97051, 503-410-5167 Silver • Rosie at Belleza Health & Beauty Center 115 N 21st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-4772 Bronze • Haley Stirling at Bliss Hair Studio 51081 Columbia River Highway, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-987-1573
Financial Advisor: Gold • Topher Mood at Edward Jones 2504 Sykes Road, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-1125 Silver • Adam Sommers at Sommers Financial Management 144 S 14th Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 51605 Columbia River Highway, Scappoose, OR 97056, 503-397-1545 Bronze • Kara Sotir at H&R Block 2159 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-4156
Food Server: Gold • Jodi at Fultanos Pizza 770 E Columbia River Highway, Clatskanie, OR 97016 503-728-2922 Silver • Milane Bjork at Dockside Steak and Pasta 342 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-366-0877 Bronze •(Heather Smith at Running Dogs Brewery 291 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-1103
Hair Stylist: Gold • Jodi Tupper at Scandalous Hair Design 261 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-0310 Silver • April Payton at Bliss Hair Studio 51081 Columbia River Highway, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-987-1573 • Laura Ives at Shear Perfection 2015 St. Helens Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-4247 Bronze • Katherine Stanton at Platinum 51 Salon 150 St. Helens Street Suite C, St. Helens, OR
97051, 503-410-5167 • Jennifer Stanton at Platinum 51 Salon 150 St. Helens Street Suite C, St. Helens, OR 97051, 503-410-5167 • Jessica Palmer at Bodak Beauty 52490 SE 2nd Street #130, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-369-9693
Health Professional: Gold • Roxana Abbott at Legacy Health 475 S Columbia River Highway Ste 100, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-0471 Silver • Legacy Urgent Care 475 S Columbia River Highway Ste 105, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-7119 Bronze • Dr. Heather Sorber at Columbia River Natural Medicine, LLC 1510 St. Helens Street Suite C, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-410-3134
Insurance Agent: Gold • Sheryl Teuscher at Country Financial 112 W B Street, Rainier, OR 97048, 503-556-0186 Silver • Heather Epperly at American Family Insurance 1570 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-2033 Bronze • Joel Avina at State Farm Insurance 2534 Sykes Road Suite A, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-4808
Manicurist: Gold • Heather Hoge at Vanity Room 155 N 18th Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-366-1920 Silver • Jenny at Colorful Nails & Spa 33548 Edward Lane Suite 130, Scappoose, OR 97056, 503-987-1780 Bronze • Lisa at Colorful Nails & Spa 33548 Edward Lane Suite 130, Scappoose, OR 97056, 503-987-1780
Massage Therapist: Gold • Shannon Preston, LMT 52485 SW 1st Street, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-396-6599 Silver • Mandy Hawkins at A Better Way Massage 500 N Columbia River Highway #410, St. Helens, OR 97051, 503-410-5623 Bronze • Dea at Pure Serenity Health Spa 440 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-366-8084
Mortgage Agent: Gold • Peggy Pense at Guild Mortgage 51669 Columbia River Highway., Suite 140, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-543-9797 • Pat Olson at Guild mortgage 51669 Columbia River Highway #100, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-543-9797 Silver • Matt McHugh at Cascadia Home Loans 51895 SW Old Portland Road, Scappoose, OR 97056, 503-543-9999 Bronze • Ashley Locken at InRoads Credit Union 425 S Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051, 503-397-2376
Police/Fire/EMT: Gold • Sheriff Brian Pixley, Columbia County Sheriff 901 Port Ave, St. Helens, OR 97051, 503-366-4611 Silver • Dustin King, St. Helens Police Department 150 S 13th Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-3333 Bronze • Jon Eggers, St. Helens Police Department 150 S 13th Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-3333 • Clatskanie Fire District 79704 Quincy Mayger Road, Clatskanie, OR 97016, 503-728-3000
Real Estate Office: Gold • John L. Scott Real Estate 1845 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5668 Silver • Lea Chitwood, Real Estate RE/MAX PowerPros 33465 SW Maple Street, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-730-4554 Bronze • Ark Real Estate 200 E Columbia River Highway, Clatskanie, OR 97016 503-728-0161 • Urban Pacific Real Estate 253 S 1st Street St. Helens, OR 97051 503-329-7269
Real Estate Agent: Gold • Shelley Paulson, Urban Pacific Real Estate 253 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051, 503-410-1982 Silver • Tammy Scamfer, John L. Scott Real Estate 503-806-3820 Bronze • Linda Bolen, John L. Scott Real Estate 503-730-1646 • Lea Chitwood, Real Estate RE/MAX PowerPros 33465 SW Maple Street, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-730-4554
A13
www.thechronicleonline.com
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
2022 Columbia County Readers Choice Awards Tattoo Artist:
Appliances:
Gold • Dana Lathrope at Real Eye Zing Art 203 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5018
Gold • Stan’s Refrigeration & Appliance Service 58481 Old Portland Road, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-5510 Silver • Rainier Appliance 115 E A Street, Rainier, OR 97048, 503-556-3005 Bronze • Hi- School Pharmacy 33454 SW Chinook Plaza, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-543-6316
Veterinarian: Gold • Robyn Rieger at Columbia Veterinary Clinic 150 N 15th Street, St. Helens, OR, 97051 503-397-1928 Silver • Dr. Lewis Fowler at Midway Veterinary Hospital 34453 McGary Lane, Warren, OR 97053 503-397-6470 Bronze • Jessica Anderson at Pawsitive Critter Care 135 Nimitz Street, St. Helens, OR 97051
503-396-7613
Accommodations: Gold • Best Western 585 S Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-393-3000 Silver • Twilight Swan House 184 S 6th Street, St Helens, OR 97051 Bronze • Scappoose Creek Inn 53756 W Lane Road, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-543-2740 • Clatskanie River Inn and RV Park 600 E Columbia River Highway, Clatskanie, OR 97016 503-728-9000
A Fun Time: Gold • Becki Bozart Cruise Planners 32525 Highland Road, Rainier, OR 97048 971-340-8660 Silver • The Columbia Theatre 212 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-9791 • Oregon Trail Lanes 735 S Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-1011 Bronze • Pour House 2098 Old Portland Road, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-366-2694 • Roof 31 Cowlitz Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5514
Accounting: Gold • Judi Brackin at Brackin CPA 134 S 14th Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-1555 Silver • Scappoose Business & Tax 51671 Columbia River Highway, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-397-6993 1510 St. Helens Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-6993 Bronze • Windy Ridge Accounting & Tax Service E A Sreet, Rainier, OR 97048, 503-556-8299
Auto Body: Gold • St. Helens Auto Body & Painting 560 Milton Way, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-9720 Silver • Emmert Motors 2175 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-438-4143 Bronze • Ricks Auto Body 325 S 12th Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-380-7895
Auto Service: Gold • Pro Automotive and Diesel 50038 Columbia River Highway, Scappoose, OR 97056, 503-987-4000 Silver • Eaton’s Tire & Auto Repair LLC 1780 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-3145 Bronze • Emmert Motors 2175 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-438-4143 • Jim’s Garage 430 N Nehalem Street, Clatskanie, OR 97016
503-728-2638
Boutique Shopping: Gold • Woodland Cottage 241 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 541-953-9994 Silver • The Real Deahl Gift Store 254 N Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051, 971-303-2033 Bronze • Feathers and Leathers 295 S 1st Street, St Helens, OR 97051 503-943-0208 • Rose Street Boutique 2250 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-410-5255
Cannabis Dispensary: Gold • Sweet Relief 52515 Columbia River Highway, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-987-1193 1809 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5382 Silver • Emerald City Dispensary 50414 Columbia River Highway, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-987-1028
• Gnome Grown Dispensary 100 St. Helens Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5268 Bronze • Green Lion Dispensary 365 S Columbia River Highway, St Helens, OR 97051, 503-397-3545 50178 Columbia River Highway, Scappoose, OR 97056, 503-987-1063
Caregiving: Gold • Comfort Makers Supportive Living Services Comfort-makers.com 503-369-2460 Silver • lifempowered 105 Port Avenue, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-1922 Bronze • Avamere 2400 Gable Road, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-366-8070
Clothing: Gold • Harrington’s Clothing 1817 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-4052 Silver • Feathers and Leathers 295 S 1st Street, St Helens, OR 97051 503-943-0208 Bronze • Rose Street Boutique 2250 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-410-5255
Computers Sales and Service: Gold • Preheim Computers 33480 SW Chinook Plaza, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-543-4884
Cars & Trucks: Gold • Emmert Motors 2175 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-438-4143 Silver • Dealers Market 51801 Columbia River Highway, Scappoose, OR 97056, 503-980-4792 Bronze • St. Helens Auto Center 57895 Columbia River Highway, Warren, OR 97053, 503-397-5454
Cultural Experience: Gold • Becki Bozart Cruise Planners 32525 Highland Road, Rainier, OR 97048 971-340-8660 Silver • Great Vow Zen Monastery 79640 Quincy-Mayger Road, Clatskanie, OR 97016, 503-728-0654 Bronze • Clatskanie Library 11 Lillich Street, Clatskanie, OR 97016 503-728-3732
Customer Service: Gold • Becki Bozart Cruise Planners 32525 Highland Road, Rainier, OR 97048 971-340-8660 Silver • Running Dogs Brewery 291 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-1103 Bronze • Topher Mood at Edward Jones 2504 Sykes Road St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-1125
Date Night: Gold • Dockside Steak and Pasta 342 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-366-0877 Silver • Scappoose Cinema 7 33520 Southwest Edwards Place, Scappoose, OR 97056, 503-543-3537 • Plymouth Pub 298 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5108 Bronze • The Columbia Theatre 212 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-9791
Entertainment: Gold • The Columbia Theatre 212 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-9791 Silver • Becki Bozart Cruise Planners 32525 Highland Road, Rainier, OR 97048 971-340-8660 Bronze • Scappoose Cinema 7 33520 Southwest Edwards Place, Scappoose, OR 97056, 503-543-3537
Electrician Service/Install: Gold • Peak Electric Group 57096 S Morse Road, Warren, OR 97053 503-397-7818 Silver • Vilardi Electric 79106 Alston Mayger Road, Rainier, OR 97048 503-556-2951
Family Attraction: Gold • Becki Bozart Cruise Planners 32525 Highland Road, Rainier, OR 97048 971-340-8660 Silver • The Columbia Theatre 212 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-9791 Bronze • Scappoose Cinema 7 33520 Southwest Edwards Place, Scappoose, OR 97056, 503-543-3537
Fishing/Hunting Equipment/ Supplies: Gold
• Bi-Mart 51536 SE 2nd Street, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-543-1075 Silver • Walmart 2295 Gable Road, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-366-5866 Bronze • 4 Directions Guide Service-Billy Fisher 503-807-9467
Financial Service: Gold • Topher Mood at Edward Jones 2504 Sykes Road, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-1125 Silver • InRoads Credit Union 52691 Columbia River Highway, Scappoose, OR 97056, 503-397-2376 425 S Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051, 503-397-2376 Bronze • Sommers Financial 144 S 14th Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 51605 Columbia River Highway, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-397-1545
Fitness/Well Being/Spa: Gold • Pure Serenity Health Spa 440 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-366-8084 Silver • Anytime Fitness 1538-1540 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051, 503-397-0027 Bronze • Pacific Athletic Club 320 A Street, Columbia City, OR 97018 503-397-1000
Florist: Gold • Flora Designs 52658 NE 1st Street, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-543-3135 Silver • Flowers N Fluff 45 E Columbia River Highway, Clatskanie, OR 97016, 503-728-4222
General Contracting/ Construction: Gold • Rich Bailey Construction www.richbaileyconstruction.com 503-880-6679 Silver • Kneeland Brothers 33459 SW JP West Road, Scappoose, Oregon 503-319-6871 Bronze • Doug Baker Construction 360-431-5092
Gardening Supplies and Plants: Gold • Means Nursery 27400 NW St. Helens Road, Scappoose, OR
97056, 503-543-3223 Silver • Flowers N Fluff 45 E Columbia River Highway, Clatskanie, OR 97016, 503-728-4222 Bronze • The Real Deahl Gift Store 254 N Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051, 971-303-2033
Groceries & Sundries: Gold • Market Fresh 111 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-2288 Silver • Safeway 795 Lower Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-2630 Bronze • Grocery Outlet 205 Brayden Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-410-5533
Heating and Air: Gold • Columbia NW Heating & Air Conditioning 52734 NE 1st Street, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-543-3624 Silver • Western Heating and Cooling 50618 Columbia River Highway, Scappoose, OR 97056, 503-303-0771
Hiking Trails: Gold • Crown Zellerbach Trail 34005 Mobile Lane, Scappoose, OR 97056 Silver • Beaver Falls Beaver Falls Road, Clatskanie, OR 97016 Bronze • McCormick Park 475 S 18th Street, St. Helens, OR 97051
Home Improvement: Gold • Dahlgren’s Do it Best Building Supplies 58351 Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051, 503-397-0086 Silver • Ace Hardware 155 S Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051, 503-366-1363 Bronze • Habitat for Humanity 164 Little Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-366-1400
Home Furnishings/Décor: Gold • Richardson’s Furniture Mattress Gallery 2015 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-1329 Silver • Theresa Holt Design 503-438-0871 Bronze • Fred Meyer 51501 Columbia River Highway, Scappoose, OR 97056, 503-543-4500
Columbia County’s trusted local news source
A14
www.thechronicleonline.com
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
2022 Columbia County Readers Choice Awards Jewelry: Gold • Fred Meyer Jewelers 51501 Columbia River Highway, Scappoose, OR 97056, 503-543-4515 Silver • Columbia River Jewelry 33555 E Columbia Ave Suite 116, Scappoose, OR 97056, 971-813-4366 Bronze • Alterations By Heather 2145 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-839-9112
Landscaping: Gold • Ramos’ Yard Maintenance 57703 Old Portland Road, Warren, OR 97053 503-366-7863 Silver • Alonzo Yard Maintenance Columbia City, OR 97018 503-410-5632 Bronze • EZ Mow ezmowlandscape.com 971-225-8011
Live Entertainment: Gold • 13 Nights on the River June 2 - August 25 3 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 • Hit Machine www.hitmachineband.com
• Roof 31 Cowlitz Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-396-5514 Silver • Rosebud Café 50316 Columbia River Highway, Scappoose, OR 97056, 503-987-1374 • Wisteria Lodge www.facebook.com/ vvisteriaLodge Bronze • The River City Singers www.facebook.com/ MNRiverCitySingers
Museum: Gold • Columbia County Historical Society and Museum www.colcomuseum.org 971 225-3971 Silver • Caples House Museum 1925 1st Street, Columbia City, OR 97018 503-397-5390
Outdoor Recreation: Gold • Next Adventure Scappoose Bay 57420 Old Portland Road, Warren, OR 97053 503-397-2161 Silver • Sand Island Campground sandislandcampground. com, 503-310-0235
Outdoor Sports Equipment: Gold • Next Adventure Scappoose Bay 57420 Old Portland Road, Warren, OR 97053 503-397-2161 Silver • Walmart 2295 Gable Road, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-366-5866
Overnight Camping: Gold • Sand Island Campground sandislandcampground. com, 503-310-0235 Silver • Scappoose Bay Marina 57420 Old Portland Road Warren, OR 97053 503-397-2888 Bronze • Columbia County Fairgrounds www.columbiacountyfair grounds.com/p/rentals/ camping-information 503-397-4231
Pet/Livestock Supplies: Gold • Purrz and Paws (All About Pets 52567 Columbia River Highway, Scappoose, OR 97056, 503) 543-5740 Silver
• Wiggle Butz Gourmet Pet Bakery & Gifts 1945 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-410-5752 Bronze • Clatskanie Feed and Seed 905 NE Van Street, Clatskanie, OR 97016 503-728-3140 • Columbia Feed and Seed 33559 NE Prairie Street, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-543-5156
Pharmacy: Gold • Walgreens 175 S Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051, 503-397-7862 Silver • Hi- School Pharmacy 33454 SW Chinook Plaza, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-543-6316 Bronze • Rite Aid 785 S Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051, 503-397-6787
Roofing: Gold • Kneeland Brothers 33459 SW JP West Road, Scappoose, OR 503-319-6871 Silver • RA Construction 32459 Tide Creek Road,
Deer Island, OR 97054 503-397-3787 Bronze • A Peak Above Roofing 56347 Columbia River Highway, Warren, OR 97053, 503-397-6356
Sales & Rentals: Gold • Don’s Rental 2274 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-0585 Silver • Dahlgren’s Do it Best Building Supplies 58351 Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051, 503-397-0086 Bronze • Ark Real Estate 200 E Columbia River Highway, Clatskanie, OR 97016 503-728-0161
Senior Living: Gold • Avamere 2400 Gable Road, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-366-8070 Silver • Brookdale Rose Valley Scappoose 33800 Frederick Street, Scappoose, OR 97056 503-543-4646 Bronze • Spring Meadows Assisted Living
Community 36070 Pittsburg Road, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-0401
Support Group: Gold • NAMI Columbia County www.facebook.com/ ColumbiaCountyNAMI Silver • Columbia Community Mental Health 58646 McNulty Way, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-5211 Bronze • Alano Club 215 N 6th Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-9530
Visual Arts: Gold • Columbia Learning Center and Public Library 375 S 18th Street A, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-4544 Silver • ShoeString Community Players 2375 Gable Road, St. Helens, OR 97051 503-366-4406 Bronze • Gilded Bloomers Studio & Gallery 555 SW Bryant Street, Clatskanie, OR 97016 503-440-7477
A big thank you to the community for a successful
2022 Columbia County Home & Garden Show
The Chronicle and The Chief want to thank everyone who attended the 2022 Columbia County Home & Garden Show sponsored by OnRoads Credit Union held May 23 and May 24. Thank you to InRoads for bringing in Shannon Quimby as a speaker and the credit union’s staff for greeting everyone at the door. We also want to thank the OSU Extension Service Columbia County Master Gardeners for providing speakers and demonstrations throughout the event. Thank you to kwprofessionals, National Property Inspections and Guild Mortgage for the Free Shred Day event. Please join us for next year’s Columbia County Home & Garden Show scheduled for April 22 and 23 at the Columbia County Fairgrounds. If you are interested in joining us as a vendor, call 503-397-0116 or email chronicleclassifieds@countrymedia.net
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