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Budget committee approves $92.5M budget

Country Media, Inc.

JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.

The St. Helens Budget Committee has approved a $92,548,64 city budget, which is a $4,832,640 increase from the 20222023 budget of $87,716,000.

The St. Helens City Council will review the spending plan at its regularly scheduled public meeting June 7 meeting. Under Oregon law, a balanced budget must be approved by the city council before the start of the new fiscal year, July. 1.

The St. Helens Budget Committee approved the proposed budget at its final public meeting May 4. The budget process has been “exceptionally challenging,” according to the proposed budget document on the city’s website. High inflation, a competitive labor market, and increasing costs for materials and supplies are all cited as reasons for the challenges.

“These conditions have increased the city’s operating costs with limited ability to increase revenues. The federal ARPA stimulus funds that helped the city through the COVID pandemic were appreciated but will be depleted in the coming year, and the city will need to adjust accordingly. A strong note of caution is warranted in the coming year to ensure the long-term financial health of our community,” the document reads.

Budget under stress

Along with the exhaustion of federal COVID relief dollars, the city is experiencing higher costs to support cost of living adjustments (COLA) for unionized city employ

ees, including an assumed 5% COLA for American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and a 6% COLA for St. Helens Police Association (SHPA) employees, and other higher-thananticipated inflationary increases in insurance, materials, and professional services.

“Expenses within the General Fund are budgeted at an overall increase of 10.5% over the previous year. Combining all this information essentially means that in the proposed budget for the next fiscal year, the city will operate at a 5% deficit. To alleviate that deficit, the city is using the available General Fund reserves to create a balanced budget,” the budget document states.

The city’s general fund’s ending balance is projected to be negative for the fiscal year 2025-2026. The city’s adopted financial policy strives to maintain a minimum reserve fund balance of 20% in the general fund. Based on the city’s model, and without adjustment, the city will eventually exhaust the reserve fund.

“It is imperative that the city make the necessary adjustments to align revenues with expenditures and maintain the long-term fiscal health of our community, the budget reads. “This year’s proposed budget would see the general fund’s reserve balance end at 15%, and in 2025-2026, this number is projected to be -6%.”

“Reserve funds are the savings accounts of the government world, and they are one tool that governments use during times of economic downturn when revenues are not matching expenses,” St. Helens Communications Officer Crystal King told The Chronicle. “The City of St. Helens

Scappoose tissue plant closing, St. Helens plant limited

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

One of the regions largest employers is cutting jobs and reducing services.

Cascades Tissue Group has announced that it will cease operations in Scappoose and cut back production in St. Helens, impacting dozens of local workers and the two cities’ economies.

Coming closures

Beginning in July, Cascades Tissue Group will “progressively close underperforming plants” in Barnwell, South Carolina, and Scappoose, Oregon, according to a release on the company’s website. In addition, Cascades Tissue will also shut down one of the two tissue machines at its St. Helens plant.

Cascades filed formal notices of worker layoffs following the announcement in late April, in accordance with the 1988 Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act

(WARN).

The same day they announced the closures, Cascades filed WARN notices of permanent closure of the plant in Scappoose that would have 88 employees terminated. On May 9, a second WARN notice was filed for a large layoff at the St. Helens Paper Mill that would see 27 workers laid off with recall rights and 18 employees terminated.

Scappoose Mayor Joe Backus released a statement following the announcement of the closure in April.

“The City of Scappoose is disheartened by the closure of Cascades Tissue and the loss of 94 family-wage jobs in our community. We extend our sincere sympathies to those who will be losing their employment and hope they are able to secure new positions soon,” Backus said. “In the coming days and weeks, we will work closely with our economic development partners with the intent of finding a viable replacement company who will once again offer local employment opportunities in Scappoose.”

Economic impact

The Quebec-based company spent $64 million on the 284,000-square-foot Scappoose facility, which is located on a former ranch on West Lane. The plant was completed in 2017. Now, just six years later, the plant will close its doors.

Cascades is also the top taxpayer in St. Helens and paid the city $690,417.70 in the fiscal year 20222023. Mayor Rick Scholl said the cuts at the plant will impact the city.

“It’s going to affect the economy by reducing property taxes and living wage jobs in the community,” Scholl said.

Columbia Economic Team (CET) Executive Director Paul Vogel said that his team is already working with local organizations and Cascades to make a smooth transition for the effected employees, and work to fill

Wind Ensemble scores second, Jazz Band off to state

WILL LOHRE

Country Media, Inc.

The St. Helens Wind Ensemble band achieved a second-place finish at this year’s state championships, finishing behind only North Bend High School.

“We were really happy with our performance,” Band Director Noelle Freshner said. “We knew North Bend would be fantastic, and they were!”

After winning the state championship in the 5 A division last year, the Lions changed classification this year as part of an OSAA restructuring. Competing in the 4 A classification, the band performed at the LaSells Stewart Center on the Oregon State University’s campus on May 10. They finished second of the ten schools represented, and neighbors Scappoose High School finished fifth.

Freshner said the end of the year is full of mixed emotions but that it has been a rewarding journey for her and the band.

“It’s bittersweet. It’s sad to perform music you have lived with and worked on for so long for the last time. It’s a lot like finishing a good book,” Freshner said. “You are sad to see it come to an end after spending so much time with it. On the other hand, I am also very excited to dig into new music with them for their end-of-the-year concert and to start looking at what next year’s group will look like.”

The band’s set included the robust Mount Everest, the Pavanne, as arranged by the middle school Band Director (and Noelle Freshner’s husband), Travis Freshner, and Vesuvius. They also had the highest

sightreading score of the day, according to Freshner. Sightreading is the performing of a piece in a music notation that the performer has not seen or learned before.

While the band was not able to take home first place this year, Freshner and the band had a great attitude and performed well. They also got to enjoy the music of other top

programs in the state.

“I try less to focus on the placement and how they felt about it and more on how we felt when we walked off stage or when we walked out of sightreading,” Freshner said. “They felt good about what they had just done and the work they put in leading up to the event. They were very supportive of all the other 4A

Will Lohre / Country Media, Inc.

One of the two paper machines at the St. Helens plant will be shutdown.

Child Care access increasing in Oregon, OSU Study finds

Available child care slots for young children in Oregon grew by almost 5% from March 2020 to December 2022, thanks in part to increased public funding for child care, a new report from Oregon State University found.

In total, OSU researchers tallied 71,153 child care slots for ages 0-5 in 2022, up from 67,981 in 2020. But there is still work to pursue to increase child care throughout the state, state officials said.

The increase lifted several counties out of “child care desert” status. A child care desert is an area where at least three children exist for every child care slot available. Severe deserts are defined as having at most one slot for every 10 children.

For this report, researchers focused on regulated child care for infants and toddlers (ages 0-2) and preschoolaged children (ages 3-5).

Since March 2020, eight of Oregon’s 36 counties have moved out of desert status for preschool-aged kids, and another eight became less severe deserts for infants and toddlers. Though all Oregon counties except Gilliam County remain child care deserts for infants and toddlers, the number of publicly funded slots for this age group increased by 49%.

“We’re seeing a lot of those counties coming out of desert status because of the additional supply being developed from public funding,” said Michaella Sektnan, co-author on the report and senior faculty research assistant in OSU’s College of Public Health and Human Sciences. “Without that public funding, all except three counties would be child care deserts.”

Most of the public funding for child care in Oregon comes from the Early Learning Account created by the Student Success Act of 2019.

One-time child care stabilization grants disbursed as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 helped private child care programs during the pandemic.

Between 2020 and 2022, available child care in Oregon increased by 1,789 infant-toddler child care slots and 1,383 preschool slots. In the same time frame, the number of publicly funded slots throughout the state increased by 4,214, split between 831 infant-toddler slots and 3,383 preschool slots. The public funds came primarily through Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten, Preschool Promise and Baby Promise, which are stateadministered programs that receive both state and federal dollars.

“The increased availability of child care slots since 2020 demonstrates the effectiveness of public investments and federal relief. It’s a good sign, but we can’t lose momentum,” said Alyssa Chatterjee, Early Learning System director at the state Early Learning Division. “We need to continue these investments in early learning and child care and communities agree.”

A recent survey conducted by Oregon Values and Beliefs Center, a nonpartisan opinion research group, and

the Children’s Institute, a family policy advocacy organization, found that 80% of Oregonians support increasing state funding to support child care needs, regardless of whether the respondents had children themselves. Results also showed that 60% of Oregonians with young children spend 20% of their monthly income on child care, and 54% of Oregon employers say child care access is a challenge in hiring and retention.

“We see this as our call to action for the state to continue investing in early learning and child care programs,” Chatterjee said. “The long-term benefits of these investments are clear: stronger families, more equitable outcomes for Oregon children and a more robust economy.”

Public funding is currently making a bigger difference in rural counties than in more metropolitan counties, the report found. Overall, 52% of slots for children ages 0-5 in non-metropolitan counties are publicly funded, compared with 20% of slots in metropolitan counties. Only Deschutes, Multnomah and Washington counties would continue to not be deserts without publicly funded slots.

Researchers were pleas-

antly surprised to find that Oregon’s child care availability is actually in a better place now than pre-pandemic, Sektnan said.

“We know Oregon’s child care supply was not adequate before 2020, and the pandemic really highlighted that,” she said. “The current numbers speak to the efforts to restabilize and rebuild child care, but there is still important work to do.”

The report did not look at the specific factors affecting access to child care beyond general availability. Cost, schedules, transportation distances, culture and disability accommodations

all affect whether families can actually benefit from the child care available in their area, Sektnan said.

The Early Learning Division, which will soon become the Department of Early Learning and Care, is currently working to increase availability and improve access by reducing licensing barriers, aligning program administration and reporting requirements, coordinating enrollment and making sure families are aware of the services available to them, Chatterjee said.

The report drew its data from multiple programs administered by the state’s

Maps Courtesy from OSU

Early Learning Division, including Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten, Preschool Promise and Baby Promise.

Researchers also included numbers from federal Head Start/Early Head Start, tribal Head Start, and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs. On the private side, data came from Find Child Care Oregon, which is administered by Child Care Resource and Referral agencies.

Molly Rosbach works at the OSU Department of Marketing and Research. She may be reached at molly. rosbach@oregonstate.edu.

$500M proposed to establish child care centers

STAFF REPORT

Country Media, Inc.

A new effort at the U.S. Congress is designed to help working families access affordable housing and child care.

The Build Housing with Care Act would invest $500 million to construct child care centers in affordable housing buildings and cover the costs of retrofitting to help family child care providers operate in housing developments. Priority will be given to projects that are located in child care deserts or rural communities, including qualified Head Start providers and providers primarily serving low-income children.

The legislation has been announced by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR).

“Investing in children is one of the best investments we can make,” Bonamici said. “Families in Oregon and across the country are struggling to afford child care and put a roof over their heads. We can help address

both of these critical needs by investing in child care centers and home-based providers located in affordable housing to make it easier for families to find care where they live. I’ve seen how this model can work in Oregon, and I am pleased to be working with Senator Wyden to make it available to more communities across the country.”

“Right now families in Oregon and across the country are juggling impossible situations,” Wyden said. “They want and need to work to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table, but child care just isn’t affordable – and some communities don’t even have child care options nearby. Taking care of your family shouldn’t be this hard. I am all in with Congresswoman Bonamici to help close the child care gap and help more families access the care they need.”

It is estimated that funding from the Build Housing with Care Act could build more than 120 new colocated child care centers,

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FREE Hotdogs and Cake

Sponsored by InRoads

2-3pm: Furniture Refinishing demonstration with Sandy Salisbury

supporting the development of critical care supply in connection with affordable housing.

A report from the Low Income Investment Fund, Including Family Child Care in Affordable Housing, highlights the many policy opportunities and benefits of co-location as “an opportunity to respond to severe housing and child care shortages simultaneously.”

“The Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) is proud to support Congresswoman Bonamici’s bill Building Housing with Care Act of 2023,” Low Income Investment Fund President Kim Latimer-Nelligan said.

“This unique grant program addresses two challenges families and communities face every day – accessing affordable housing and accessing affordable child care. Building housing with care is something LIIF champions every day. By constructing housing and child care together, we can harness the assets of each sector –housing developers, child care providers and commu-

nity development financial institutions – to build strong communities of opportunity for all.”

“The high cost and limited supply of child care is being felt in every aspect of our community and our economy,” First Five Years Fund Executive Director Sarah Rittling said. “We know that the cost of child care for two children exceeds annual housing costs in a majority of states -- and too many parents are trying to figure out how they’ll afford to pay for both. We are so grateful to Congresswoman Bonamici for her leadership on the Build Housing With Care Act, and her work to expand access to highquality child care, especially for families in low-income communities.”

“Every county in Oregon is a child care desert for at least one age group,” Family Forward Oregon Sr. Political Director Courtney Veronneau said. “Without investing in new facilities and helping existing providers and programs expand, we will be unable to meet the

demands for early learning and child care. The Building Housing with Care Act makes a critical investment in suitable child care infrastructure to meet the growing need for affordable, reliable, and quality child care that Oregon families deserve.”

A fact sheet on the Build Housing with Care Act can be found here, and the full text can be found here.

The legislation was introduced in the House May 11 and is cosponsored by Representatives Troy Carter, Kathy Castor, Madeline Dean, Dwight Evans, Sara Jacobs, Pramila Jayapal, Derek Kilmer, Annie Kuster, Barbara Lee, Stephen Lynch, Jerrold Nadler, Wiley Nickel, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Dina Titus, and Rashida Tlaib. Senator Wyden will introduce a Senate version of the bill next week.

The legislation is endorsed by: Low Income Investment Fund, National Low Income Housing Coalition, First Five Years Fund, National Housing Law Project, National Women’s Law Center, Council of Large

Public Housing Authorities, National Children’s Facilities Network, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, American Federation of Teachers, Save the Children, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), National Association of Counties, Oxfam America, National Partnership for Women & Families, Prosperity Now, Early Care & Education Consortium, Family Values @ Work, ZERO TO THREE, UnidosUS, National Association for the Education of Young Children, First Focus on Children, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders, National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations (NACEDA), National Association for County Community and Economic Development, KinderCare Learning Companies, Family Forward Oregon, Generation Housing, Purpose Built Communities Foundation, Inc., IFF, and Capital Impact Partners.

Metro Creative Connection

The increase lifted several counties out of “child care desert” status. A child care desert is an area where at least three children exist for every child care slot available.

Oregon Speaker wants Rep. Stout to leave office

JULIA SHUMWAY

Oregon Capital Chronicle

Chronicle Guest Article

House Speaker Dan Rayfield called on Republican state Rep. Brian Stout to resign Tuesday after a Columbia County judge upheld a restraining order against him. Stout, a freshman from Columbia City, has been contesting for months a five-year restraining order brought by a former campaign volunteer who alleged he sexually assaulted her and threatened her life. Columbia County Circuit Court Judge Cathleen Callahan upheld the order Tuesday, writing that the woman who accused Stout was credible and Stout was not.

In a 13-page letter to attorneys representing both parties, Callahan summarized months of court hearings. The former campaign

volunteer, who the Capital Chronicle is not naming because she’s a victim of sexual assault, began a relationship with Stout in 2020. She described a relationship that was violent early on, including a threat from Stout to push her over a cliff at Multnomah Falls if she told anyone about the relationship, pressuring her to engage in sexual acts she wasn’t comfortable with and touching her inappropriately in public.

Stout’s wife interrupted one encounter, and the woman ended the relationship after that, the letter stated. Witnesses described gossip spreading through the small city and seeing Stout intimidate the woman at events. Stout claimed that the woman stalked him and his family after the breakup, an allegation Callahan didn’t find credible.

“Petitioner and respondent began a friendly rela-

tionship and when petitioner ended it, respondent pursued her after the breakup. When that approach failed, he began confronting the friends who were supporting petitioner,” Callahan wrote. “Respondent then amplified the bullying by the malicious and unjusti-

fied harming of petitioner’s reputation.” Stout then “switched to playing the victim,” Callahan wrote.

Rayfield said in a statement Tuesday that he has been deeply troubled by the allegations against Stout since they surfaced. He

removed Stout from committees before the session began following Willamette Week’s reporting on the initial court order.

“The behavior described in the judge’s order does not align with the values of the House of Representatives,” Rayfield said. “I no longer believe he can effectively serve and should therefore resign. Whether he makes that decision or not, he will remain without any committee assignments.”

Stout still is able to vote on bills and speak on the House floor. Rayfield talked with Stout on Tuesday, he told reporters.

“I was very direct with him,” Rayfield said. “He can make the decisions on how he wants to operate in this world and whether he chooses to stay or not, and allow the voters to make the ultimate decision in two years if he chooses to run.”

Stout recited a prepared

statement when reached by phone.

“While always respectful of the judicial process, I strongly disagree with the recent ruling on the hearing, and I’m currently spending some time in review,” he said. “Additional conversations and reflection with my family and community will be ongoing over the next few days and following weeks.”

House Republican Leader Vikki Breese-Iverson, R-Prineville, declined through a spokeswoman to say whether she agreed that Stout should resign. Instead, she shared a onesentence written statement: “Representative Brian Stout is reflecting on the court determination with his family and community.”

Follow developments here online and in the Wednesday print editions of The Chronicle.

Local man sentenced in child sexual abuse case

STAFF REPORT

Country Media, Inc.

A St. Helens man has been sentenced to jail following multiple convictions related to child sexual abuse.

Kurtis Austin, 32, of St. Helens pleaded guilty in Columbia County Court to multiple sexual charges against a minor. The guilty plea stems

from a five-month investigation by St. Helens police detectives after receiving information that Austin reportedly had sexual contact with a 17-year-old minor in the St. Helens area. Austin was arrested on February 6, 2023. After his arrest, St. Helens detectives executed search warrants and located multiple child pornography images of the 17-year-old

victim in Austin’s possession.

The Columbia County District Attorney’s Office presented the case to a grand jury, and Austin was indicted on multiple charges. Austin pled guilty on May 3 to Attempted Using a Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct, Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse 2, two counts of Sexual Abuse 3, Unlawful Delivery of Marijuana, and Furnishing Alcohol to a

Minor.

Austin was sentenced to 190 days in jail and 36 months of probation. His probation includes conditions that he registers as a sex offender, has no contact with minors or be where minors congregate, and that he undergoes sex offender treatment. If he does not comply with the terms of his probation, the court has the option to send Austin to prison for up to three years.

The Columbia County

Sheriff’s Office and the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office assisted St. Helens Police detectives in the investigation.

Austin entered his plea May 3. St. Helens Police detectives encourage anyone with additional information related to Austin having contact with minors to contact Detective Gaston or Detective Smith at 503397-3333.

Increasing fentanyl supply triggers awareness campaign

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Law enforcement and health authorities in Portland have issued a warning about a potentially dangerous batch of drugs circulating on the streets following eight suspected overdoes. The overdoses occurred over the past weekend and six are likely fentanyl-related, the authorities said.

In response to the increasing supply of fentanyl,

Columbia, Clatsop, and Tillamook Counties have launched the Fentanyl Aware Northwest campaign to raise awareness of drug overdose risk and harm reduction.

The effects of fentanyl, a powerful illicit opioid, are seen in the increased calls to 911, emergency room visits, and deaths, according to campaign organizers. The campaign seeks to counteract those effects by using risk awareness and education to promote knowledge and safe behavior.

“Our goal is to save lives and there is no better day to start than Fentanyl Awareness Day,” Clatsop County Public Health Promotions Specialist Kathryn Crombie said.

The campaign includes Narcan education, information on the signs and symptoms of an overdose, what to do when a person overdoses, and resources in the community.

Crombie said Fentanyl Aware Northwest will promote these educational tools on web and social media channels as well as through partnerships and educational opportunities with several school districts and community organiza -

tions in Columbia, Clatsop, and Tillamook Counties.

The campaign will wrap up on Wednesday, August 31, which is Overdose Awareness Day.

The Fentanyl Aware program originated in Lane County and was designed

to promote information on risk and safety to a variety of communities.

To learn more and follow the campaign, visit http://fentanylawarenorthwest.com.

Amanda Loman / Oregon Capital Chronicle

Rep. Brian Stout, R-Columbia City on the House floor at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem.

STAFF REPORT

Courtesy photo from St. Helens Police Police are asking anyone who believes Kurtis Austin had contact with minors to call detectives at 503-397-3333.

News and Views

What a leap! Winter ends, summer starts

CHIP BUBL Garden Plots

Chronicle Guest Column

Winter ended and we jumped straight to July. Soil temperatures are warming fast, and the long-term forecasts are for many more days of mind-80s or warmer. Farmers are cutting some great hay.

Gardeners can transplant tomatoes and even peppers and eggplants, which prefer 60+ degree soils to get off to a good start. With the heat forecast, we will likely need to start watering earlier than normal.

Basil, which shivers below 55°, should be very happy. Basil transplants need to be “pinched” to get the plants to branch and provide you with all the wonderful aromatic leaves used in cooking.

Speaking of herbs, most herbs are generally deerproof. Many also support pollinator insects and some good insect predators as well. The woody, perennial herbs need sun and good drainage.

Some that are proven here include thyme, rosemary, sage, lavender, and bay laurel. All need sun and good drainage. Tarragon, an herbaceous perennial, also seems deerproof. Same with oregano and marjoram. Deer will eat

parsley and some of the carrot family herbs like dill. Spittlebugs will be showing up soon. There are quite a few spittlebug species. We most often see the Meadow Spittlebug, one of the most widely found across North America. Your first clue will be when their “spit” globules show up on herbaceous plants like tarragon and strawberries. The overwintering eggs emerge in the late winter and one stage of their transformation into an adult is the spittle master. They pierce the targeted plant, suck desirable protein and energy rich “sap”, and use what they don’t need to build their house of spit, which protects them from predators. Very clever.

Heavy feeding in commercial farms can result in yield or quality loss. For the gardener, some targeted blasts of water will dissolve the spittle blob and make them easy targets for their predators. Spittlebugs have been known to spread plant diseases. In the drawing, the upper picture is of the nymph (who you would find in the spittle) and lower, the adult. The adults come in many colors.

Weeds go crazy

Given a little heat and

some decent soil moisture, the summer annual weeds have sprung to life. Seeds of these summer annuals can stay in the soil for a really long time. Some for over 40 years. The most significant damage they do is to out-compete and suppress your germinating vegetable seeds. Their quick growth creates a weed canopy that grabs the sunlight that your vegetable seedlings need.

It is very important to learn how to distinguish your crop from your weeds. As your vegetables seeds emerge, start weeding carefully at least 3 inches one either side of the seed row. That give your seedling a head start and allows you to how between your seed rows for more efficient weeding. Some seeds are very slow to emerge and/ or very slow in their initial growth stages. Onions and carrots from seed are two examples. They are easily overcome by a weed onslaught. One of the worse summer annuals is crabgrass. It starts small, but quickly builds a big root system. As they get bigger, it becomes difficult to pull them out without pulling up your seedlings. So be alert and stay focused on your emerg-

Scholarship awarded Briefs

The Deer Island Grange is excited to announce the 2023 Don Coin Walrod Memorial Scholarship recipient is Heather Hayduk from St. Helens High School. This scholarship is for $1,000 and

is awarded to a Columbia County high school senior majoring in agriculture, animal science, forestry, or education. Heather will be attending Lewis Clark State College in the fall where

she will major in Secondary Special Education. Congratulations Heather! Scholarship applications for 2024 will be available from Columbia County high school counselors by Nov. 1.

Local student initiated into Phi Kappa Phi

Anela Burg of St. Helens has been initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Burg was initiated at Pennsylvania State University. Burg is among approximately 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires

nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 under the leadership of undergraduate

student Marcus L. Urann who had a desire to create a different kind of honor society: one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 325 campuses in the United States, its territories, and the Philippines. Its mission is “To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.”

ing seedlings well-being by persistent close weeding. The time you spend in the first three weeks after planting will be well-rewarded. Some other summer weeds you should learn to recognize are pigweed, lambsquarter, and purslane.

Will we have the Western Tent Caterpillar this year?

I can honestly say I have no idea. We have two tent caterpillars, the one that shows up soon (the western tent caterpillar) and the other that shows up in the late summer (the fall webworm). The western tent caterpillar loves alder, apple trees, and a few other select but common tree species. We had a large outbreak about 10 years ago, so we may be due. One thing to remember is that they rarely kill trees. They may feed on the leaves of a tree and actually defoliate it. But there is a bud where the leaf joins the stem that will start to push out a new leaf in its place. Four weeks after defoliation, you can hardly see the damage. So don’t cut down tree limbs because there is a tent. Don’t feel you have to get high in a tree to spray them. Let nature take its course. There is a disease that keeps the

western tent caterpillar population largely in check (until it doesn’t).

Food Preservation: You can get up-to –date and accurate answers to your food preservation questions by calling our office at 503 397-3462 and ask to speak to Jenny Rudolph. She also does pressure gauge testing. You may need to leave the canner top with the gauge for several days since her days in the office are limited and do vary from week to week.

Gardening-Related Events

Columbia County Home & Garden Show

Saturday, May 20 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, May 21 from 11a.m.-3 p.m. at the Columbia County Fairgrounds Pavilion, 58892 Saulser Road in St. Helens.

Important notes

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

Donate extra garden produce and/or money to the food bank, senior centers, or community meals programs. It always is greatly appreciated.

The Extension Service

offers its programs and materials equally to all people. Have questions?

If you have questions on any of these topics or other home garden and/ or farm questions, please contact Chip Bubl, Oregon State University Extension office in St. Helens at 503397-3462 or at chip.bubl@ oregonstate.edu. The office is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Free newsletter

The Oregon State University Extension office in Columbia County publishes a monthly newsletter on gardening and farming topics (called County Living) written/edited by yours truly. All you need to do is ask for it and it will be mailed or emailed to you. Call 503-397-3462 to be put on the list. Alternatively, you can find it on the web at http://extension.oregonstate.edu/columbia/ and click on newsletters.

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

Voices of the community

Clumsy attempt

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer has released evidence including bank records dating back to the Obama years revealing how substantial amounts of money from foreign sources including Rumania, China, and Ukraine found its way through 21 shell companies into the personal bank accounts of 9 Biden family members. The 19 limited liability corporations, 1 corporation, and 1 “P.C.” were used to park the money, then distribute it to Biden family members. A former Clinton official and Biden friend, John Robinson Walker was a recipient and principal in at least one of the LLC’s.

The Clinton’s money was harder to discover. They put it through a non-profit 501C-3 that received it from a Canadian non-profit which wasn’t required to reveal its sources.

This clumsy attempt to muddy the sources of giant foreign bribes in an attempt to influence American policy has failed. Whether you put it on page 1 or page 7 as you did, Biden did the deed.

Wayne Mayo Scappoose

‘This is insanity’

Kurtis Austin pleaded guilty on May 3 to Attempt -

ed Using a Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct, Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse 2, two counts of Sexual Abuse 3, Unlawful Delivery of Marijuana, and Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor. Austin was sentenced to 190 days in jail and 36 months probation. This is total insanity. The judge in this case should be recalled immediately. No sane person would consider this a just sentence. If Austin had been charged in federal court he wouldn’t be back on the streets to do this again for minimum of 10 years. People in Columbia County should be mad as hell over this injustice.

Patrick Klein St. Helens

Editorial policy: Opinions expressed on this page are independent of The Chronicle views and are solely those of the writers expressing them.

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State to honor veterans at Salem event

The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs will host Oregon’s annual Statewide Memorial Day Ceremony in person.

The event is scheduled for 11 a.m., Monday, May 29, at the Oregon World War II Memorial located on the grounds of the Oregon State Capitol in Salem.

The event will honor the nation’s fallen service members and include remarks from ODVA Deputy Director Dr. Nakeia Council Daniels, veteran leaders, and state dignitaries, along with a color guard ceremony, performance of the national anthem, and the laying of a wreath followed by the playing of “Taps.”

“On Memorial Day, we remember and honor the service members of all branches and eras of service who paid the ultimate price to preserve and defend the freedoms of this nation,” ODVA Director Kelly Fitzpatrick said. “This year’s event will also include guest speakers who served during Operation Iraqi Freedom in remembrance of 111 fallen soldiers, sailors, airmen, airwomen, and marines who did not return home to Oregon,

as this year observes the 20th anniversary of the start of the Iraq War.” The statewide event will be emceed by ODVA LGBTQ+ Veterans Coordinator and Iraq War Marine veteran Ian Michael. Director Kelly Fitzpatrick will honor fallen service

members at Memorial Day events in Brookings and Gold Beach in southern Oregon.

The Oregon WWII Memorial is located on the corner of Church and Court Street Northeast in Salem. Limited seating will be available. Attendees are welcome to bring

June 24, 1955 ~ May 6, 2023

We are sad to announce the passing of Bobbie Doyle Owens (Bob). He died on May 6, 2023, surrounded by loved ones.

Bob was born in Quincy, Florida to William Jennings Owens and Gladys (Burke) Owens on June 24, 1955.

He was married to his wife Syb for 49 years.

He leaves behind sons, Jeremiah and Erik; daughter-in-love Christena; granddaughters, Olive (Austin Sharp) and Miette; sisters, Nancy Rice, Nadine Goodrich (Virgil), and Gayle many nephews and nieces.

Robert was born near Canaan, Oregon, to Paul and Edna Hargan. He grew up in a loving family with no other siblings.

He is preceded in death by his parents, and brothers, Norman, James Brady, and Bill.

Bob enjoyed fishing, hunting, and being outdoors. He was an avid motorcycle rider. He and his wife spent hours on the road enjoying many adventures. He will be missed by many friends and relatives who enjoyed his music, stories, wit, and wisdom.

Bob took every opportunity to help those in need and performed many anonymous good deeds.

Robert Hargan

1955 ~ 2023

At the age of four, he moved to Waco, Texas with his family, until his return to the Pacific Northwest almost four decades later.

Roger H. Welliver

Robert will be remembered for his kind heart and open welcoming of all. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather.

June 29, 1946 ~ Nov. 15, 2022

Roger passed away in November, losing a hardfought battle with COPD at age 76. He was born in North Platte, Nebraska and grew up in Milwaukie and Gladstone, Oregon. Roger attended West Linn High School. He proudly served in the U.S. Army Airborne, 1st Cavalry Division, with a tour of duty in Vietnam 1965-66.

Roger served on the Portland Police Force from 1968-1973 until he was medically retired. He graduated from Portland State University, then worked as a claim’s investigator for Sedgwick James.

He was married to Nancy (Deahn) from 1969-1986. Their son, Shane, became the absolute joy of Roger’s life. Roger married Mary McCaleb in 1994. His hobbies and interests over the years are too numerous to mention. But he was always doing something

to keep busy. He loved to travel and took some memorable trips: Mexico, Belize, Victoria B.C., and exploring the many wonders of Oregon. A favorite destination was Lincoln City to stay at the Ester Lee overlooking the ocean. He was artistic (wood carving, flint knapping). He was a rockhound, a writer, and an avid history buff.

Roger was predeceased by his father Floyd Welliver and mother Waunita Welliv-

He is survived by his wife Mary; his son Shane (Casey); grandson Logan; sisters, Jeanie Baldwin (Steve) and Marie Ann Scharbrough; several nieces and nephews; and his little dog Pearl.

Throughout his adult life, Roger battled physi cal challenges and bore the invisible wounds of war; yet to the very end he fought to live. The battle is over, and his soul is freed from the constraints of this earth to soar like an eagle, and to rest in the eternal presence of his Lord and Savior. We loved him dearly and miss him fiercely.

A service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sat., May 27, 2023, at Grace Baptist Church, 58690 Ross Rd., Warren, Oregon.

Courtesy photo from the ODVA

their own seating for the park setting and are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather. For those unable to attend in-person, the event will also be livestreamed beginning at 11 a.m. on ODVA’s Facebook page at www.facebook. com/odvavet.

Bob was a member of the recovery community, and he had the privilege of encouraging others to “let go and let God” and to live “one day at a time.” He lived habitually by the serenity prayer and looked to Jesus Christ as his God.

Please join us for an informal celebration of his life and legacy, where we can share experiences of strength and hope from 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. on June 4, 2023 at the Alano Club, 215 North 6th St., St. Helens, Oregon.

A private home service was held to celebrate Robert’s life Fri., May 12, 2023.

Mark was born on Jan. 22, 1955 and passed away on April 16, 2023. A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. on June 3, 2023 at the home of his son and daughter-inlaw, Eric and Kerry DuBach.

Bobbie Doyle Owens

at $956.40 12 Monthly Payment(s) from 03/01/2022 to 02/28/2023 at $982.92 2

Monthly Payment(s) from 03/01/2023 to 04/28/2023 at $1,030.23 Monthly Late Charge(s): $141.10 By this reason of said default the Beneficiary has declared all obligations secured by said Trust Deed immediately due and payable, said sums being the following, to-wit: The sum of $113,044.11 together with interest thereon at the rate of 5.00000% per annum from May 1, 2019 until paid; plus all accrued late charges thereon; and all Trustee’s fees, foreclosure costs and any sums advanced by the Beneficiary pursuant to the terms of said Trust Deed.

Wherefore, notice is hereby given that, the undersigned Trustee will on September 5, 2023 at the hour of 01:00 PM, Standard of Time, as established by Section 187.110, Oregon Revised Statues, Front Entrance, Columbia County Courthouse, 230 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 County of Columbia, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash the interest in the said described real property which the Grantor had or had power to convey at the time of the execution by him of the said Trust Deed, together with any interest which the Grantor or his successors in interest acquired after the execution of said Trust Deed, to satisfy the foregoing obligations thereby secured and the costs and expenses of sale, including a reasonable charge by the Trustee.

Notice is further given that any person named in Section 86.778 of Oregon Revised

Statutes has the right to have the foreclosure proceeding dismissed and the Trust Deed reinstated by payment to the Beneficiary of the entire amount then due (other than such portion of said principal as would not then be due had no default occurred), together with the costs, Trustee’s or attorney’s fees and curing any other default complained of in the Notice of Default by tendering the performance required under the obligation or Trust Deed, at any time prior to five days before the date last set for sale. Without limiting the Trustee’s disclaimer of representations or warranties, Oregon law requires the Trustee to state in this notice that some residential property sold at a Trustee’s sale may have been used in manufacturing methamphetamines, the chemical components of which are known to be toxic. Prospective purchasers of residential property should

be aware of this potential danger before deciding to place a bid for this property at the Trustee’s sale. In construing this notice, the masculine gender includes the feminine and the neuter, the singular includes plural, the word “Grantor” includes any successor in interest to the Grantor as well as any other persons owing an obligation, the performance of which is secured by said Trust Deed, the words “Trustee” and “Beneficiary” includes their respective successors in interest, if any.

Public Notices

YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW

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

Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of ALBERT STANLEY BEAN, Deceased. Case No. 22PB01851 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS Proceedings for this estate have been commenced. Claims against the estate may be presented to the personal representative listed below. Any person who has a claim against the estate must present the claim to the personal representative not later than four months

after the date of the first publication of this notice at the following address: 52490 Southeast Second Street, Suite 100, Scappoose, OR 97056. Any claim not presented within this time period may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the estate proceeding may obtain additional information from the records of the Court, the personal representative, or the attorney for the personal representative. Dated and

first published on: May 3, 2023. Sandra Hoff, Personal Representative, 33304 Royal Drive, Scappoose, OR 97056, Phone: (503) 7538159. Attorney for Personal Representative: Aaron J. Trukositz, OSB No. 204618 LOWER COLUMBIA LAW GROUP LLC, 52490 Southeast Second Street, Suite 100, Scappoose, Oregon 97056, Phone: (503) 5434800, Fax: (888) 543-4806, Email: aaron@lowercolumbialaw.com.

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

Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of ALBERT STANLEY BEAN, Deceased. Case No. 22PB01851 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS Proceedings for this estate have been commenced. Claims against the estate may be presented to the personal representative listed below. Any person who has a claim against the estate must present the claim to the personal representative not later than four months

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after the date of the first publication of this notice at the following address: 52490 Southeast Second Street, Suite 100, Scappoose, OR 97056. Any claim not presented within this time period may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the estate proceeding may obtain additional information from the records of the Court, the personal representative, or the attorney for the personal representative. Dated and

first published on May 3, 2023. Sandra Hoff, Personal Representative, 33304 Royal Drive, Scappoose, OR 97056, Phone: (503) 7538159. Attorney for Personal Representative: Aaron J. Trukositz, OSB No. 204618 LOWER COLUMBIA LAW GROUP LLC, 52490 Southeast Second Street, Suite 100, Scappoose, Oregon 97056, Phone: (503) 5434800, Fax: (888) 543-4806, Email: aaron@lowercolumbialaw.com.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

To: Property Owners of said Drainage Improvement Company 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 Thursday May 25,

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2023 at 10:00 AM. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic and resulting Oregon statutes this meeting will be held virtually. For access information please email didrainage@gmail.com.

Purpose of electing one Director and for the transaction of such other busi-

ness 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.

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

Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of RANDALL LEE LILYA, Deceased. No. 22PB07382 NOTICE TO INTERESTED

PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed personal representative of this estate. All persons having claims against the estate are required to

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present their claims, with vouchers attached, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice to the personal representative at 8655 SW Citizens Dr., Suite 104, Wilsonville, OR 97070, or the claims may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceedings may obtain additional informa-

tion from the records of the Court, the personal representative or the attorney for the personal representative. Dated and first published May 3, 2023. Jasmine Race, Personal Representative. Sharon Maynard, Rupp Law, 8655 SW Citizens Dr., Suite 104, Wilsonville, OR 97070, 503-682-8669, sharon@rupplaw.com.

NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING

A public meeting of the Port of Columbia County Budget Committee, to discuss the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, will be held on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., in the Port of Columbia County Office Boardroom, 100 E Street, Columbia City, Oregon. The meeting will

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also be held in person and via Zoom. https://us02web. zoom.us/j/87659412631

Meeting ID: 876 5941 2631

Passcode: 882492 Or call 1 (253) 215-8782 The purpose of the meeting is to receive the budget message and to receive comments from the public on the budget. This is a public meeting where deliberation of the Budget

Committee will take place. A copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained after May 4, 2023, at the Port Office, 100 E Street, Columbia City, Oregon, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The budget document will also be available on our website after May 4, 2023, at www.portofcolumbiacounty.org.

PUBLIC NOTICE - INVITATION TO BID TRANSFORMERS COLUMBIA RIVER PUD

Notice is hereby given that Columbia River People’s Utility District (PUD) will receive sealed bids for Transformers. Bids will be received by the PUD, 64001 Columbia River Highway, Deer Island, Oregon 97054 until 3:30 p.m., pacific prevailing time, on June 13, 2023, at which time the bids will be publicly opened. The bids will be available for

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public inspection at the PUD office after the bid opening. The bid documents may be examined at the office of the PUD, 64001 Columbia River Highway, Deer Island, Oregon 97054. Paper or electronic copies of the bid documents may be obtained by sending a written request to Columbia River PUD. P.O. Box 1193, St. Helens, Oregon, 97051, or

visiting https://www.crpud. net/my-pud/bid-documents/. Columbia River PUD reserves the right to reject any and all bids that are not in compliance with the bid documents and prescribed public bidding procedures and to reject, for good cause, any or all bids upon a finding by the PUD that it is in the public interest to do so.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN OF PUBLIC HEARING

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

Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of: James Robert Andre, Deceased. No. 23PB03551

NOTICE TO INTERESTED

PERSONS Notice is hereby given that Brock Robert Andre has been appointed personal representative of this estate. All persons having claims against the estate are hereby required to pres-

ent their claims, with proper vouchers, within four (4) months after the date of first publication of this Notice, as stated below, to the personal representative at 1677 St, Helens Street, St. Helens, Oregon 97051 or the claims may be barred. All persons whose rights are affected by the proceedings may obtain additional information from

the records of the court, the personal representative, or the attorney for the personal representative. Dated and first published: May 10, 2023. MARK A. GORDON, P.C, Mark A. Gordon, OSB No. 812424 Attorney for Personal Representative, 1677 St. Helens Street, St. Helens, Oregon 97051, 503.397.9066.

The Columbia County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, May 31st, 2023, at or after 10:00 a.m. at the Courthouse Annex, 230 Strand Street, Room 310, St. Helens, Oregon 97051. The purpose of this hearing is to consider amendments to the Columbia County Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance in order to develop a limited protection program for wetland and riparian corridors. This involves amendments to the Comprehensive Plan Articles VIII Fish and Wildlife Habitat, IX Natural Areas, and X Water Resources. This proposal also involves amendments to the Columbia County Zoning Ordinance Sections 1170 Riparian Corridors, Wetlands, Water Quality, and Fish and Wildlife Habitat Protection Overlay Zone, and 1180 Wetland Area Overlay. The local file numbers for these amendments are TA 22-02 & PA 22-02. This hearing is to afford interested parties an opportunity to be heard on the above-referenced matter. Interested parties may appear and be heard. Any

comments you wish to provide will be appreciated; however, Oregon law requires that testimony and evidence must be directed toward the decision criteria. You may present testimony at the public hearing or provide written comments to the Board of County Commissioners to jacyn.normine@ columbiacountyor.gov prior to 5:00 p.m. on May 30, 2023.

The Columbia County Board of Commissioners is the final local decision-maker for all County Plan and Ordinance amendments. Applicable decision criteria are contained in CCZO 1606; CCZO 1607; CCZO 1611; the Oregon Statewide Planning Goals; the Comprehensive Plan Parts I and XVI; OAR 660-023; and any other statute or ordinance determined to apply. The specific criteria applicable to this request is listed and evaluated in the staff report. This hearing will be held in accordance with the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance. For more information contact Hayden.Richardson@ columbiacountyor.gov; or phone 503-397-1501. A copy

of the application, all documents and evidence relied upon by the applicant (including copies of the proposed changes), and the staff report will be available from the Columbia County Planning Department, 445 Port Ave. St. Helens, OR 97051, and at https://www.columbiacountyor.gov/Hearings,at least 7 days prior to this hearing. Written comments on the issue can be submitted via email to Jacyn.normine@ columbiacountyor.gov or you can send comments via U.S. Mail to Columbia County, Board of Commissioners c/o Jacyn Normine, 230 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051. You may participate in this hearing in person or virtually. To attend virtually go to https://global.gotomeeting. com/join/357054141 or call United States (Toll Free): 1 866 899 4679. The meeting access code is: 357-054-141. The Board of Commissioners reserves the right to continue the hearing to another date and time. If the hearing is continued, no further public notice will be provided.

‘Have a plan,’ wildfire preparedness urged

Gov. Tina Kotek is urging Oregonians to be prepared for the approaching wildfire season.

“No surprise, but wildfires will forever impact our region and much of our country,” Kotek said. “The threats will continue to grow as we grapple with hotter, dryer conditions due to climate change. But we have choices, and how we prepare and respond to the situations.”

During a media briefing

May 9, Kotek detailed several key points that experts have shared with her about the challenges Oregon faces this fire season.

Effective responses

Kotek discussed creating fire-adaptive communities and developing safer and more effective responses to support fire personnel.

Drought intensity across the state is less than it was at this time last year. While Kotek said that many regions have benefited from high volumes of spring rain and strong snowpack, some areas are affected by persistent severe drought. The large amounts of

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will still have an estimated 15% reserve fund balance at the end of next fiscal year, and the city council tasked city staff with exploring additional cost-saving measures and revenue options in the coming year. The city will have to take the necessary steps to balance service levels with available resources. This can be done in two ways for the general fund: exploring additional revenues or reducing expenses.”

King said the city council has directed city staff to come back with options to explore over the next fiscal year that include working with each city department this year to develop a budget that reduced proposed expenses.

It is important to note that the General Fund does not account for other funds such as the Enterprise Funds (water, sewer, and storm), which is what the Public Works Department operates out of, the Special Revenue Funds (Tourism, Community Development, etc.), and System Development Charge Funds.

winter moisture and pre cipitation in May and June will likely cause a “delayed wildfire season,” Kotek said. Despite the late onset of wildfire season, Kotek emphasized the need for preparedness.

“Wildfire prevention efforts, including public information campaigns, early fire detection, leveraging avi ation and ground assets for early deployment for a safe and aggressive initial attack, are all key to our successes this year,” Kotek said.

Fire indixes indicate that there will be an above-av erage fire season in Eastern Oregon, Kotek said. Deploy ing to these remote areas will be a challenge for Oregon’s response system.

Kotek outlined the challenges ahead:

• Capacity to respond in rural areas that rely on volunteer firefighters.

• Competition for natural resources as fire seasons become more complex.

Oregon will continue to rely on the fire mutual aid system, which deploys local fire departments across the state to protect communities, Kotek said.

Using the lessons from past fire seasons, Kotek said

Cost-cutting options

One way the city is moving to cut expenses is leaving vacant positions unfilled, including one police officer, one library position, and unfilled parks and public works positions, King said.

Costs to support city priorities that will affect St. Helens and Columbia County residents will be higher fees to support public safety, water-sewer, and stormwater services.

“The budget committee was presented with multiple fee options to consider,” King said. “$3 is the current public safety fee. The budget committee recommended increasing the public safety fee to $10 in order to service the debt for the construction of the new police station. This still needs to be adopted by city council.

King said the budget committee also is recommending other options to fund the public safety facility and fill vacancies in the police department to maintain the city’s 24-hour law enforcement coverage.

Those options include a possible general obligation

Courtesy photo Wildfires can spread rapidly through Oregon timbered areas.

that agencies have become better at technological efficiency, expanding the monitoring network, localized forecasting, streamlined smoke coordination calls, and simplified templates for air quality advisory. “Leveraging our statewide wildfire coordination system, utilizing technology and advanced firefighting equipment to our advantage, and taking early and aggressive action will be key,”

bond which would need to go out to the voters for approval that could be used to pay back the cost of the police station.

“A local option levy and gas tax to hire additional officers are other options brought up by the committee. These would also need to be approved by voters,” King said. Sewer, water, stormwater fees

Additionally, to meet the needs of the city’s sanitary sewer program, the proposed budget includes a sewer rate adjustment of 8% for the fiscal year 2023/24. The city is working to prioritize the “greatest system deficiencies” while deferring lower-priority projects. This year, the city will continue to address the $10.4 million sewer main upsizing project located in a basin overcapacity and a second $4.9 million upsizing project in 2024/25, according to the spending plan.

The stormwater program will see a similar rate adjustment. The proposed budget includes a $2.40 rate adjustment for the coming year to address capital projects and maintenance needs neces-

Kotek said. “But it’s going to be up to every single one of us, every Oregonian, to do our part to prevent humancaused fires before they

Kotek ended her address with ways Oregonians should prepare for fire season as the weather becomes hot and dry.

“Prepare your yard. Have an evacuation plan. Have a to-go kit. Have a plan if there’s smoke in your community,” Kotek said. “Above all, do everything you can wherever you are to prevent fires from starting in the first

Defensible space

In a separate action, The Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is asking Oregonians to make sure they a defensible space around their homes and property as added protection against wildfire.

“Defensible space can prevent embers from igniting your home or prevent flames from reaching it,” A release from the OSFM Office states. “Another important advantage of defensible space is it creates a safe space for firefighters to work during a wildfire.”

Creating defensible space can seem like a daunting task

for some homeowners, but tackling one project at a time over the course of Wildfire Awareness Month can make all the difference, according to the OSFM adding that Oregonians should tackle defensible space projects now before the heat of summer arrives.

“Pick a project to complete this weekend; maybe it is making sure your gutters are clear of needles and leaves. Next weekend, limb your trees to ensure flames can’t reach the lower branches,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana RuizTemple said. “Simple steps over time can culminate into added protection against a wildfire.”

Start with a plan

Walk around your home and identify areas where an ember could land and ignite. Look at the base of your home and work outward. Studies show the leading cause of home fires during a wildfire is embers igniting combustible materials, spreading fire to the house.

Consider the following defensible space projects at your home:

• Space and prune trees.

• Remove leaves, needles,

wood, bark mulch, and other debris from within 100 feet of the structure or to the property line.

• Keep roofs and gutters clean of leaves, needles, and other debris.

• Move flammable material away from the outside of your home, including mulch, flammable plants, leaves and needles, and firewood piles.

• Keep flammable or tall plants from growing directly under the eaves; a minimum of five feet away is recommended.

• Keep firewood piles and lumber at least 30 feet from any structure.

• Keep plants in your yard healthy and maintained. Clean out old leaves or pine needles from your plants. Prune away any dead portions.

One home with defensible space gives added protection against wildfire for that single home. When neighbors create defensible space as a community, protection increases exponentially for everyone involved, the release states.

For more information, contact your local fire district or fire department or visit the OSFM Wildfire Awareness Month page.

graphic from the City of

Courtesy

sary to adequately operate the system.

“The storm rate adjustment is $2.40 per Equivalent Dwelling Unit (EDU) per month and applies to all utility customers, not just residential customers,” King said. “If adopted by the city council, the new rates will be effective the first full billing

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cycle of the 2023/24 fiscal year. This means that the new rates take effect July 15, 2023, and the August 2023 billing will be the first full billing cycle to reflect the new rates.”

The city’s main redevelopment project along the Columbia River waterfront is still a key priority funded by grants,

system development charges, private partnerships, and urban renewal funds.

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD

THEME: THE 1990s

52.

55. Santa ____ winds, CA

57. *TV show with Central Perk

61. *Popular Disney movie with a genie

65. Caterpillar precursor

66. Accompanies wisdom?

68. *Pinky or The Brain

69. Architectural projection

70. CrËme de cassis plus wine

71. Un-written exams 72. ____pool or ____pit

73. One or some or all

74. Find new tenant

DOWN

1. *”____ Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus

2. Highlands hillside

3. Raise the roof

4. Leopard marks

5. Bungle (2 words)

6. Part of a hammer

7. “____ the land of the free...”

8. Heathrow craft

9. Type of missile, accr.

10. Aquarium organism

11. Indian bread

12. “____ Kerenina” by Tolstoy

to

crossword

15. Breadcrumb, e.g.

20. Contain the ashes

22. Pen juice

24. Amount in one’s lap, pl.

25. *The Vampire Slayer

26. Accustom

27. *”A ____ to Kill” and “Nick of ____”

29. Bell sound

31. Front or back one

32. Factual evidence

33. Quick and nimble

34. *First cloned mam-

mal’s name

36. Swarm like bees

38. Don’t go

42. Pertaining to the ear

45. Pertaining to reign

49. Motion of assent

51. Bewitch

54. Port city in Japan

56. *Christian Dior’s “J’____”

57. Mass of particles

58. Of low density

59. Pupil controller

60. December 24 and 31

61. Bald eagle’s nest

62. Two-fold

63. Same as island

64. *TV show “Empty ____”

67. *”____ and Juice” by Snoop Dogg

SHHS Lions wrap up 2023 season

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

St. Helens High School girls golf season has ended.

The team fell just short of its goal of a berth to the OSAA Championship State Championships. Competing at the Special District 1 Championship on May 8 and 9, St. Helens finished sixth of the 22 teams in the tournament. While they didn’t ultimately qualify for the next round, Head Coach Jared Phillips was happy with his team’s performance this year.

“Overall, we had a good season. We won 3 out of the 5 COWAPA league tournaments and finished 2nd overall at the League Championship tournament on May 1st at Astoria Golf & Country Club,” Phillips said.

“We finished 6th overall at the OSAA Regional District tournament.”

Some of the team’s greatest successes came from the growth their shared as a group. Phillips said that the girls showed a tremendous amount of growth, resilience, and determination throughout the season. Part of what has made the group special is the togetherness and the teachings of older players to those who will be the future of the program. “Our team has shown great camaraderie and integ

rity during the season. It has been a fun group of girls to coach, and they have rallied around each other and made each other better,” Phillips said. “They have bonded as a team, and it has been great to see the veteran players help the inexperienced players improve throughout the year. They have also played the game with integrity and learned valuable life lessons

Future in the fairway

Two of the drivers for success for the Lions have been Junior Piper Carlson and Senior Sam Kent. They have been the one and two golfers for St. Helens this season. With four graduating seniors next year, the Lions will count on their nine returning players to step up to the tee.

According to Phillips, the younger athletes will be ready for the task. Three of the underclassmen contributed to the team’s overall score at districts, and Carlson is also returning as the top golfer on the team. Going into next year, Phillips and his squad will use the off-season to sharpen their skills.

“With the season being over, we will continue to develop players throughout the summer and keep getting them on the golf course

“Piper Carlson returns next year after finishing in the top 10 individually at the district tournament, which had more than 60 golfers.”

While the season may be over, the future looks bright

program have been their seniors. Seniors Kayla Trenaman, Samantha Kent, Danielle Martin, and Hannah Matney have been leaders for

the team this year, and during about who helped them along the way, and some of their favorite memories as part of the team, with this story at thechronicleonline.com.

Student golfers return from regional competition

MIKE WEBER

Country Media, Inc.

The boys and girls golf teams from St. Helens High School and Scappoose High School competed in the OSAA Class 4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 1 regional tourney May 8-9 at Quail Valley Golf Course in Banks.

The St. Helens Lions boys squad, guided by longtime (20 years) Coach Dave Lawrence, had a solid performance with a fourth place team score of 718 out of 11 teams. Garrett Smith, Logan Johnston, Cameron Waite, and Thatcher Lyman combined to give the Lions a strong finish, just 25 strokes behind the third place The Dalles High Riverhawks (693).

The top three teamsCrook County (672) Molalla (689) and The Dalles, qualified for the state tournament May 15-16 in Corvallis. Smith, a senior, took sixth place individually at 166, just missing a state qualify-

BAND

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of nerves and emotions. The Wind Ensemble has a large contingent of seniors this year; of the 36 members in the band, 22 are seniors. Many of those seniors have had Freshner as a director since middle school.

This group has been growing together for years, but part of what made this senior class special for Freshner is that this will be her final year directing her son Kaven as part of the band.

“This group of seniors are so special, and for me, even more so as my son is graduating this year,” Freshner said.

Tolles, Lyman and Waite, the regional at Banks marked the conclusion of their St. Helens High School golf career. Smith, a 2022 state qualifier, shot an 89 in the first round and then he had a muchimproved performance on

“He had many solos in our set, and I had to fight the urge to get swept up in those moments while we were on stage. He has always been a part of our band program in some way. He was 2 when I took this job and grew up around the band. Next year will be very different for me.”

Next year will be different for the band as a whole as well. With 22 seniors leaving, there will be plenty of opportunities for students to step into bigger roles from the concert band and the incoming first-year class. While there will be a large amount of turnover, the program’s legacy of success shows that the band likely won’t take a big step back from a quality

fell just short of his goal. The Lions won the Cowapa League title May 1 at Astoria and Smith was the co-medalist with a score of 76 with Tillamook senior Elliot Lee. Lee was the medalist at the regional at 140.

standpoint.

Since 2007, the band has won the NWOC League Championship 4 times and has placed in the top 5 at the OSAA 5A State Band Championships 6 times. In 2017 and 2018, the Wind Ensemble placed 2nd in the OSAA 5A State Championships, and in 2022 the Wind Ensemble won the OSAA 5A State Championship, according to the band program’s website.

Jazz band up next at state

While the Wind Ensemble’s competitive portion of the year has come to a close, the St. Helens Jazz Band will be the next group of musicians that will compete for a state

(255) and Danni Tracy com bined to shoot a four-player score of 910 to take sixth place in the tourney. Crook County (783), Banks (797) and Riverdale (892) and were the top three teams that qualified for state.

championship. Noelle Freshner also directs the Jazz Band at St. Helens High School.

“We are excited that we get to go and love the set we have prepared. We wait to perform! The State Jazz Championship is a newer event, and it is difficult to qualify for,” Freshner said. “We have only gone 2-3 times before this year and hope to attend consistently in the future. This year there are only three other 4A bands competing which shows how difficult it is to qualify.”

On May 19, the Jazz Band will head to Mt. Hood Community College to compete in the OMEA 4A State Jazz Band Championships. St. Helens will go against only

CASCADES

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the void left by Cascades’ exit.

“Clearly, the immediate impact is one of shock and personal impact for the 100+ employees that will be affected. Fortunately, our regional workforce partners, including NW Oregon Works, WorkSource, and PCC/OMIC already are in touch with Cascades’ HR team and to some extent, possibly, the employees directly,” Vogel said.

“We’ve also been contacted by Wauna Credit Union, which wants to directly reach out to affected employees to provide whatever planning and assistance they can as a lender with mortgage holders, other borrowers, and customers/members.”

These cooperative efforts are intended to support and lessen the impact of these jobs going away, Vogel said. The longer-term impacts will be determined by “the disposition of the plant itself.” The CET has a meeting scheduled with Cascades’ executive leadership to recruit prospective buyers for the plant.

“The best case would be a coordinated approach within the paper-making sector to identify an appropriate new owner as quickly as possible, one that can immediately absorb a trained local workforce that’s available,” Vogel said. The job layoffs and plant reductions plants in South

The Scappoose High Indians girls squad took fifth place with a team score of 916 and they enjoyed a very successful season after winning the Cowapa League championship May 1 in Astoria with a team score of 398. The Indians, guided by first-year Coach Keely Nudo, were led by Brooke Babcock, who shot a 111. Babcock was followed by Keldsy Holcomb (112), Reagn Witt (114) and Julia Smith (119). Courtney Hall and Hannah Hendrix shot a combined two-day noncounting score of 131 for

“We had a great season since we won our league championship,” Nudo said. “We struggled a little bit at the regional, so we didn’t make it to state. We started the season with only four returning golfers and one freshman and only two varsity players. We finished the season with a total of 11 solid players. I’m super proud of my team, they

three other teams in the competition. The main difference between the Jazz Band and the Wind Ensemble is the size of the group and the style they play.

“A jazz band has a more limited instrumentation and play music in traditional and contemporary jazz style. Our jazz band is a ‘big band’ with saxes, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section only,” Freshner said.

With the exception of one musician, the entire Jazz Band is made up of students who are also part of the Wind Ensemble. The band is made up of six saxes (three altos, two tenors, and a bari), four trombones, five trumpets, two percussionists, a piano player,

Carolina, Scappoose, and the St. Helens were ordered by the company because the facilities have not been meeting the expected capacity. The facilities have a combined total annual rated capacity of 92,000 short tons of tissue paper and 10 million cases of converted product and have been operating below capacity producing 56,000 short tons of tissue paper and 5 million cases of converted product in 2022, with many of these shortcomings being on the West Coast, according to Cascades’ news release.

Economic strategies

While the closures are an unwelcome development, Vogel said there were indications of financial trouble in early 2022. The company’s interest and need to expand its market share on the West Coast was crippled by pandemic shutdowns.

“Unfortunately, production ability doesn’t shape the market, the market shapes production and off-take,” Vogel said. “Cascades’ Scappoose plant didn’t really get a solid running start due to these unforeseen and unprecedented circumstances.”

Vogel also said he has concerns about the commercial viability of the operation in St. Helens due to operating at a limited capacity. Regarding Scappoose, Vogel said that the optimal outcome would be to attract another

had an amazing amount of growth not only as golfers, but as a team. They’re just an outstanding group and I feel lucky to be their coach.”

The Indians will lose six players, including top player Reagan Witt and three graduating seniors and three foreign exchange students. Witt shot a personal record score of 96 at Astoria May 1.

“I’m super proud of Reagan, our team captain who made it her goal at the beginning of the year to be our No. player each week and she nailed that,” Nudo said. “She was pretty proud of herself, and she’s broken 100 in the last couple of tournaments, so that was good. My seniors are leaving with a great amount of improvement and they’re also just outstanding athletes who were fun to work with.”

The Scappoose boys squad of Tucker Olson, Chase Stansbury, Cole Babcock and Kade Fisher took seventh place in the 11-team boys tourney.

and a bass player. Their set features four songs by four different composers.

Freshner said they will be playing Invitation by Bronislau Kaper (a light swing chart that moves into an Afro-Cuban style), Goodbye My Heart by Mike Smukal (a ballad featuring one of the senior alto sax soloists Sam Kent), Late in the Quarter by Mike Dana (a New Orlean’s street beat tune with lots of soloists) and Hard Right by Bret Zvacek (an up-tempo swing chart).

Follow coverage of SHHS programs at thechronicleonline.com and in the Wednesday print editions of the Chronicle.

paper manufacturer to take over the plant, which is still in good condition. Barring that, the backup strategy includes helping market the building and property as assets.

St. Helens Communications Officer Crystal King said that St. Helens is looking at a variety of ways to increase economic development by utilizing local partners like CET, South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, and St. Helens Main Street Alliance. City projects and initiatives like the riverfront project, an Enterprise Zone, and a designated Opportunity Zone.

“While we won’t know the extent of the impacts right away, the City of St. Helens has numerous economic development initiatives it is working on,” King said.

“Economic development in St. Helens is a key goal identified in the City Council’s Strategic Plan, and City efforts under this goal are focused on building a solid economic foundation for a strong, diverse, and sustainable local economy.”

Closure costs at the Columbia County facilities and the South Carolina plant, including severance, are expected to total approximately up to $25M, according to Cascade Tissue group.

Follow developing stories at thechronicleonline.com and in the Wednesday print editions of the Chronicle.

Courtesy photo

The SHHS girls golf team and coaches.

Courtesy from Mike Weber Scappoose Junior Julia Smith shooting during the regional tournament in Banks.