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MEMORIAL DAY 2022

Less affordable housing

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Wednesday, May 25, 2022

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Serving Columbia County since 1881

Summer on local waterways

JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

Memorial Day weekend is traditionally the opening of the summer season. And this year, popular waterways and Oregon’s beaches are expected to be crowded following the easing of restrictions following the COVID-19 pandemic. State and local marine patrol crews and the U.S. Coast Guard have issued advisories about the dangers that come with the enjoyment of waterway recreation. Columbia County Sheriff Brian

Pixley said it is critical that boaters on the Columbia River use common sense and pay attention. “They may not be aware of the local boating rules and regulations,” he said. “It’s important for boaters to always wear their life jackets when on the water and be aware of their surroundings, especially in high traffic areas. Be watchful for swimmers and kayakers. They could be easy to miss.” The Columbia County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol uses education first as a key to keeping everyone on the Columbia safe.

Courtesy photo from the Oregon Marine Board

Most accidents and fatalities on Oregon’s waterways are due to falling overboard, collisions, operator error/misjudgment, and reckless behavior, according to the Oregon Marine Board.

Columbia County Sheriff’s Lt. Shaun McQuiddy said the most common violations made by boaters include safety equipment, navigational, and registration type violations, with fines ranging from $110 to $440. Pixley said some boaters may be influenced by pent up emotions triggered by the pandemic restrictions, and less mindful of the impact of alcohol and other intoxicants. “Alcohol can affect people quicker and stronger during the summer weather,” he said. “We urge people operating boats not to do so

under the influence of alcohol and other intoxicants.” The fine for boating under the influence is $6,250 and up to one year in jail. According to Pixley, speeding on the river is also a frequent violation. “We see a lot of people violating the No Wake Zone, so boaters need to be aware of that zone between the city docks and Sand Island and in the Coon Island area.” “We do not confiscate their boat when violators are arrested. The Oregon Marine board could revoke the boaters’ card.”

First responders encourage parents to keep a close eye on children playing at local waterways.

Pixley said his marine patrol deputies are seeing the same violations with jet skiers. “It is more difficult for people under the influence to operate a jet ski because of the balance required,” he said. Under Oregon law, only those over 16-years-old are allowed to operate a jet ski. McQuiddy emphasizes that boaters need to be prepared for the dangerous areas of the Columbia River.

See WATERWAYS Page A8

City to purchase $250,000 water taxi JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

Columbia City Elementary fifth grader Lucy Swiger mounts her overhead swing to christen the miniboat.

Students christen Flames Unite JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

The third time may be the charm for students at Columbia City Elementary School. The school’s fifth graders have

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christened their third mini boat to be sent off on a journey across the Pacific Ocean to Japan. The project is part of the Columbia River Maritime Museum’s Miniboat program with students building and sending a small unmanned sailboat to Japan. Columbia City Elementary fifth graders have sent two other small hand-made vessels towards Japan in previous projects. The christening was conducted during an all-school assembly Monday afternoon, May 23, on the grassy slope just outside the school. Fifth grade student Lucy Swiger was selected to take a bottle of sparkling cider to use for the vessel’s christening. She carefully lifted the bottle and, with a powerful swing, stuck the side of the boat. The bottle broke apart and the christening was official. “It was very terrifying,” she said. “I got really nervous, but it was really fun.” Columbia City Elementary School fifth grade teacher Yvonne Lewis said the boat building project gives the students a host of learning opportunities. “I hope the students can connect to the community and see a purpose of working together and

learning together,” she said. Lewis said the students learning included ocean currents, weather elements including tsunamis, classroom science and literacy reading beyond building the boat itself. “And they had fun as well,” she said. Local resident Rosemary Jeffrey was selected to help in the christening. “It was absolutely wonderful,” she said. Jeffrey is a frequent walker in Columbia City and often passes by the school. “I’ve watched this project for the past three years and when I see some of the students I ask them what they are doing and how the project is working,” she said. “They are all so smart and so interested in what they are doing, and their teachers are doing a marvelous job. This is a real community connection.” Nate Sandel, Columbia River Maritime Museum’s director of education, said the boat building integrates science, technology and mathematics and is a team building program.

In an effort to enhance waterfront tourism, the City of St. Helens will spend approximately $250,000 for a water taxi. 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, according to city officials. The boat, offered by Bargeworx, LLC., is to be paid for by the city’s tourism event revenues. “The City will put a deposit on the boat, followed by refurbishment work and improvements,” St. Helens Communications Officer Crystal King said. “After the improvements are made, the boat will have a full certificate of inspection (COI) from the Oregon Office of the U.S. Coast Guard. The boat currently holds a COI for 30-passenger occupancy.” St. Helens City Administrator John Wash told The Chronicle in a published interview in early May that the vessel could be used

“year-round.” “The shuttle will be operated by a certified, licensed captain who will be paid for out of tourism funds,” he said. “The boat is covered so it does allow for year-round use if tourism activities are developed over the winter months.” Walsh said the goal is to increase access to Sand Island just to the east of the city and expand tourism activities in the Columbia River. “Sand Island is an asset for creating unique tourism experiences in our region,” he said. “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 St. Helens Marina currently operates a shuttle service to Sand Island for access to the island’s campground. Walsh said the new water taxi would be in addition to that shuttle. The St. Helens City Council approved placing a deposit for the water taxi following a public hearing conducted May 18.

Courtesy Tina Curry and the City of St. Helens

See MINIBOAT Page A8

The City of St. Helens is purchasing a water taxi similar to this vessel to enhance waterfront tourism.

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Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Rapid, dramatic shift toward less affordable housing

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The barrier to entry for first-time buyers is high and remains a distinct challenge for many Oregonians. DAMON RUNBERG Chronicle Guest Column

The COVID-19 pandemic shock resulted in significant impacts to the housing market across the nation. Early lockdowns, a push to more work-from-home, and the large millennial demographic reaching prime family-formation age dramatically increased the number of buyers on the market. The surge in demand led to a shortage of housing and large price increases. Despite these higher prices, very low interest rates and strong wage gains led to more affordable housing through 2020. However, we are experiencing a rapid erosion of affordability that began in summer 2021 and continues today. According to the National Association of Realtors, only 950,000 existing homes were for sale in the U.S. as of April 2022, only about two months of inventory. Before the pandemic closer to 1.4 million existing homes were for sale, roughly three months of inventory. Here in Oregon the situation isn’t any better. In fact, in many markets across the state we continue to see inventory measured in weeks rather than months. For instance, in the Bend market supply has hovered between three and four weeks of inventory since summer 2020 compared with three months of inventory before the pandemic. There are a variety of reasons behind this low supply state we are facing, including demographicinduced demand, years of underbuilding, and low

interest rates through most of 2021. Regardless of the reasons for the lack of supply it is important to know that when supply is tight, prices rise. According to the Zillow All-Home Index, Oregon real home prices for first quarter 2022 were up a blistering 10.6% from the previous year. Before the pandemic the statewide housing market was seeing annualized gains of closer to 3%. The fast growth in home prices the past two years has pushed real (inflation adjusted) housing prices in most markets across the state higher than levels in 2007 during the housing bubble. Incomes, interest rates, and the cost of homes The cost of housing is a critical, if not the most important, component of housing affordability, but it isn’t the only factor that impacts the affordability of housing. In order to better understand affordability trends across the state, we need to take into account how much income Oregonians are bringing home and the cost of borrowing. Outside of home prices themselves, the largest factor affecting affordability is wages. How much money you have in your pocket (or bank account) is going to impact how much home you can buy. There was a period of strong wage gains for the average worker in Oregon through much of 2020, but those gains stalled in 2021. It’s likely some composition issues are affecting these trends. For instance, low-wage workers were

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disproportionally impacted by job losses at the onset of the pandemic. Taking these low wage workers out of the average wage calculations increased the average wage in 2020. As those workers were rehired, it put downward pressure on the average wage. Most of these composition issues have likely worked their way through the economy, yet real wage gains have largely stalled. This is due to increased inflation eroding the nominal wage gains many workers have seen over the past year. The average payroll worker in Oregon saw their wages rise 6.1% by the end of 2021; however, after accounting for a 6.5% increase in the cost of goods and services over the past year the average worker saw their real wages fall 0.4%. To put it another way, after accounting for the changing costs of goods and services, Oregonians were making less money on average than they were a year prior. Earlier in the pandemic, lower inflation and larger real wage gains helped to blunt the impact of rising housing costs. Although most workers would prefer to increase their discretionary spending, new buyers were able to eat those higher housing costs with higher earnings. Today, that trend is beginning to reverse as workers are seeing real declines in their income while at the same time home prices continue to rise. The last major variable that impacts housing affordability is the cost of borrowing, or interest rates. Most of us do not have enough cash on hand to buy a home, particularly those of us concerned about affordability. In order to buy a home we need someone to loan us money and the cost of a loan is a significant factor in housing affordability. During the past few years, 30-year fixed mortgage interest rates have been very low from a long-term perspective, but those rates moved to historic lows after the onset of the pandemic. Many home buyers (and those refinancing) were able to lock in rates below 3% during most of 2020. Similar to wages, the low interest rate environment helped slow the trend towards housing becoming less affordable. However, those rates began to rise dramatically at the end of 2021 and in the first half of 2022. Buyers looking to get a 30-year fixed rate mortgage are getting quoted rates near 5.5%, a 2.5 percentage point increase from a

year ago. That may not seem like a large increase, but each percentage point increase to the 30-year fixed rate mortgage results in roughly 10% less house that buyer can afford. That means that in the past year the average buyer with a mortgage can afford roughly 20% less home while at the same time the price of housing continues to rise. A less affordable Oregon What do we see when these three variables are put together? Our housing affordability index looks at the monthly mortgage of the average house as a share of the average wage in a particular geography. As first quarter 2022 wages are not yet available, these wages were modeled based on recent trends in order to produce an estimate with housing data through March 2022. Across the state, the average monthly mortgage through the first quarter of 2022 was roughly 39% of the average monthly wage, a considerable increase from 27% the same time last year. Affordability varies quite dramatically across the state. The least affordable of the communities highlighted was Hood River, where the average monthly mortgage accounted for 64% of the average monthly wage. The lack of affordability in places like Hood River or Bend are twofold. First, the average monthly wage of workers employed locally is lower than the statewide average, in Hood River’s case by more than $1,400 a month. Second, the average monthly mortgage was around $450 higher than the state. Bend also ranked poorly in housing affordability; the aver-

age monthly mortgage was around 59% of the average monthly wage. Surprisingly, the Portland Metro Area was generally more affordable than the state as a whole due to higher wages that helped to balance the relatively high housing costs. The Salem metro area matched statewide affordability, with an average mortgage accounting for 39% of the average monthly wage. A time-series of this housing affordability measure shows that concerns about affordability are very real for prospective buyers. The higher home prices, rising cost of borrowing, and flat wages over the past year led to a dramatic reduction in housing affordability. Not only are real inflationadjusted home prices near or above the peak from the mid-2000s expansion, but affordability metrics are also fast approaching concerning levels not seen since the peak of the housing bubble in 2007. In fact, the rapid erosion of affordability in the past year was faster than at any time during that mid2000s housing bubble. The real driver in the trend towards less affordability today are interest rates. The historic low interest rates held the dramatic increase in house prices largely in check during much of the pandemic, but that trend has since reversed. The average worker who buys the average house with today’s interest rates will spend a significantly larger share of their income on that mortgage than they would have at this time last year. We all live in the real world and housing affordability is more complex than this simplified index. It is im-

portant not to downplay the role of higher home costs. More expensive housing means buyers need a larger down payment. If you were saving to get a 20% down payment on your first house and you were looking at a $450,000 house you would need $90,000 saved. The average home price in Oregon rose by more than 10% over the last year so that $450,000 house would now likely cost around $500,000. That means your down payment now needs to be $100,000 to get to 20% and avoid mortgage insurance. With real wages largely flat for the average Oregon worker, how could they save for that extra down payment? Pandemic job losses disproportionally impacted lower-wage workers. Due to high demand and low supply, the more affordable homes in most markets have seen the largest price increases over the past year. The barrier to entry for first-time buyers is high and remains a distinct challenge for many Oregonians. That being said, there are some signs on the horizon that housing supply is improving. Higher interest rates are moderating demand for housing and helping to increase inventory in many markets. New housing construction has also been strong for many communities across the state, leading to more inventory. Increased inventory will help to slow home price appreciation as we move further into 2022. Damon Runberg is a region economist with the Oregon Employment Department. He may be reached at damon.m.runberg@employ. oregon.gov or at 541-7060779.

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Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Oregon taxpayers to share $3B kicker

The state economic forecast summary states that the economic dynamics are shifting. JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

Oregon taxpayers can expect to share a $3 billion kicker. The kicker tax credit goes into effect when the actual state revenue exceeds the forecasted revenue by at least 2%. An amount is then returned to the taxpayers through a credit on their tax returns. The new kicker tax credit figures are detailed in the June state revenue forecast issued by the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis May 18. “The economy continues to boom. Jobs, income, spending, and production are all rising quickly. However, pessimism about the expansion is growing,” is the opening statement in the June 2022 Oregon Economic and Revenue Forecast. “Inflation is at multi-decade highs, eroding household budgets,” the summary reads. “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine created an oil shock and raised fears of increased conflict. A new round of pandemic-related shutdowns in China is set to exacerbate global supply chain struggles.” The summary states that the economic dynamics are shifting. “No longer is the U.S. or Oregon in recovery mode, but in net expansion territory,” the summary reads. “The challenges, risks, and trends associated with a mid-cycle expansion are different than those faced during the initial recovery.” The summary claims the 2022 personal income tax filing season “has been shocking.” The tax season payments will come in more than $1.2 billion (70%) larger than last year. The summary states that

the unexpected revenue growth seen this year has left Oregon with unprecedented balances this biennium, followed by a record kicker in 2023-25.

We have to be careful. Experts are seeing storm clouds on the horizon. ~ Gov. Kate Brown

Kickers • The projected personal kicker is $3 billion, which will be credited to taxpayers when they file their returns in Spring 2024. • The projected corporate kicker is $931 million and will be retained for educational spending. Even so, if balances are not spent, net resources for the 2023-25 biennium will have increased by $427 million relative to the March 2022 forecast, according to the summary. Reaction Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said the revenue forecast indicates that Oregon continues to experience economy strength as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Strong state revenues, coupled with an unemployment rate that is back down to pre-pandemic levels, should be welcome news for Oregonians, Brown stated. “However, I know that not all Oregonians are feeling these positive effects, especially given rising costs of living,” she said. Brown said the continued

Courtesy photo

strength in the economy will allow the legislature to look at additional one-time investments in the coming budget cycle. “Like those we’ve recently made in housing, behavioral health, and child care—to further spur growth and support working families, so that all Oregonians see and feel the benefits of our economic bounce back,” she said. Brown warned that even with revenue growth, the state needs to proceed with caution and plan for the future. “Strong leadership in Oregon has led the state to a place where we have ample reserves to help us weather unprecedented times,” Brown said. “We need to continue that forward-looking leadership as we head into the next budget cycle. We have to be careful. Experts are seeing storm clouds on the horizon. Oregon has done a good job saving. We’ll keep moving forward.” Oregon Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend) said the $3 billion kicker will be a much-needed break from the increasing burden of inflation. “The kicker continues to act as a check against the Democrat’s continuous urge to blow out the spending,” Knopp said. “Now, more than ever, it’s essential to protect the kicker. Too much spending got us into this inflation mess, it’s not going to get us out.” Knopp also urged caution. “Our economists are predicting an economic downturn soon,” he said. “We must budget wisely for the future.” See the full Oregon Revenue Forecast and summary attached to this story at thechronicleonline.com.

$66M in additional SNAP benefits the number of people in your household has changed, it could impact your benefits. It is important to make sure ODHS has the most up-todate information. You can report any changes to your income or household in many ways:

Courtesy photo

SNAP is an assistance program designed to help approximately 1 million eligible, low-income families and individuals in Oregon, including many older adults and people with disabilities, with emergency food allotments and other benefits. STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

Families and single people in Columbia County and across the state who depend on food assistance will see another boost in state benefits in June. The emergency allotments are for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The federal government has approved emergency allotments every month since March 2020. This gives SNAP recipients additional support during the COVID-19 pandemic. These emergency benefits are a temporary support that Oregon can provide because of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency. Because the federal government approved these emergency benefits for June, Oregon will also be able to issue them in July. However, the emergency benefits are expected to end when the federal public health emergency ends. In June, approximately 411,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $66 million in extra food benefits in addition to their regular SNAP benefits. “We know that many

rely on these additional emergency food benefits to get enough healthy food for themselves and their families,” the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Deputy Director of SelfSufficiency Programs Claire Seguin said. “We also know that many Oregonians are still struggling to meet their basic needs and we encourage them to contact our partners at 211 and the Oregon Food Bank for support during this difficult time.” Current SNAP households will receive emergency allotments on June 11. Emergency allotments will be issued June 30 or July 2 for households who did not receive benefits in the first monthly issuance. SNAP recipients do not have to take any action to receive these supplemental benefits as they will be issued directly on their EBT cards. More information about emergency allotments is available at https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/ASSISTANCE/ FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/ Emergency-Allotments.aspx. Questions about your SNAP benefits should be directed to the ONE Customer Service Center at 1-800-6999075. If your household receives SNAP and your income or

• Online at: ONE.Oregon. gov • By mail at: ONE Customer Service Center, PO Box 14015, Salem, OR 97309 • By fax at: 503-378-5628 • By phone at: 1-800-6999075 or TTY 711 Resources to help meet basic needs • Find a food pantry: foodfinder.oregonfoodbank. org • Learn about government programs and community resources for older adults and people with disabilities: Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon at 1-855-673-2372 or www. adrcoforegon.org • Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, www.211info.org • Find local resources and support by contacting your local Community Action Agency: www.caporegon. org/find-services/ • Oregon Department of Human Services COVID-19 help center Oregonians in need can apply for benefits, including SNAP, child care, cash assistance and Medicaid. Learn more at https://www.oregon. gov/dhs/benefits/Pages/index.aspx . For local resources in your area, such as food or shelter, please call 2-1-1 or reach out to the state’s Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) at 1-855-ORE-ADRC or 1-855673-2372.

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Opinion

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Offbeat Oregon

Treasure may still be out there FLINN JD FOHN Chronicle Guest Column

Imagine you’re a gold prospector from the Willamette Valley, on your way to the California gold fields in the first year of the 1848 gold rush. You’re a little late to the party, and you’ve chosen to try to reach the gold fields in a somewhat unusual way: By going over the Coast Range to the beach and traveling south along the coast. As you make your way southward by the great ocean, you reach a broad expanse of black sand. And when the sun hits it just right, you can see it’s actually glittering … with tiny flakes and grains of gold. You’re all alone on the beach. There aren’t even any other footprints. Apparently, nobody else was crazy enough to try to travel to the gold fields via Coos Bay. Everyone else in the area, such as there are, has decamped inland to the gold fields. It’s just you, on the uninhabited edge of a continent, crunching a trillion dollars’ worth of gold under your feet. Such was the situation in which the Grouleaux brothers, Charles and Peter, found themselves in the spring of 1849, near the mouth of the Coquille River in what today is Douglas County. (By the way, the Grouleaux brothers are called “John and Peter Groslius” in some sources.) Naturally, the brothers abandoned all ideas of going to California now. They settled in and got busy separating the yellow gold from the black sand — pounds and pounds of it. They had brought plenty of provisions with them for the journey, and the hunting was good; so they were able to live all summer without leaving their diggings. As their flour sacks were emptied of food, they were promptly filled with “flour gold” from the beach. And at the end of the summer, they returned home to the

Willamette Valley, their pack animals creaking under the weight of hundreds of pounds of pure gold. They were now both rich men. Lots of miners had come back from California with gold, so the brothers’ sudden wealth didn’t attract much attention. Nor did their calculated vagueness when telling friends and neighbors where they’d spent their summer arouse any suspicions. All miners were like that. Nobody wanted to tell a bunch of potential claim jumpers where they had their stakes planted. Possession was nine tenths of the law, and anyway plenty of people in 1849 were perfectly willing to commit a secret murder on a lonely stretch of trail to seize control of a lucrative claim. So when the next spring came, the brothers were easily able to slip away from any prying eyes and hurry back to the beach to spend another season making themselves richer. And the same thing happened again the next year. In fact, it wasn’t until 1853 that someone got wise and figured out where the brothers were going. Whoever it was that figured that out was much less discreet than the Grouleaux brothers had been. The word was out almost at once, and a colossal gold rush ensued as miners flocked to the beaches. “Soon a thousand men milled about on the black sands, staking claims for miles up and down the beach,” Ruby El Hult writes in her book. “Cabins, stores, saloons and gambling houses were hastily erected, becoming the boom town of Randolph. Whiskey flowed so freely that the stream along which the best diggings were located became known as Whiskey Run.” Very quickly after that, the Grouleaux brothers sold their claims to two of the newcomers, the McNamara brothers. They cheerfully remarked that they had made enough money off the beach in their first four

Courtesy photo from Harper’s Monthly Magazine

This image was published in Harper’s Monthly Magazine in 1856, showing gold miners working sluices on the beach near Randolph.

undisturbed years to last a lifetime. They didn’t mention any figures, but the McNamara brothers pulled $80,000 worth out the first year after they bought the claims, and that was after the Grouleaux boys had spent five years skimming the cream.) The brothers packed their animals up and set out northward on the Randolph Trail, a beaten path along the Coast Range foothills to Coos Bay that followed roughly the same route as Seven Devils Road today. But they had $40,000 worth of gold in their saddlebags, and the two of them were almost celebrities in Randolph. Both of them were very nervous about the possibility that they might be robbed on the trail. Highway robbery was common there, since the bad guys knew that successful miners had to use the trail to carry their gold out. So the boys scouted a good spot that they thought they could find again, and cached the gold in two gunpowder cans under a cedar stump. Then they continued on their way. Well, you probably have already guessed what happened next. In fine buriedtreasure style, they lost track of where they stashed the two cans. Neither of them returned for many years — they already had five years’ worth on which to live, and it just didn’t seem worth the trouble. It wasn’t until 20 years

later, in 1873, that Peter, by then the only surviving brother (Charles had died in England), came back to the Coquille to “withdraw” his gold. Peter found the entire landscape so utterly changed that he had no idea where to even start looking for the distinctive cedar-tree stump under which he’d stashed the cans. There were places where the Randolph Trail had changed completely, with old sections overgrown and barely discernible; there were other parts that had been burned over by a forest fire, which had destroyed all the snags, stumps, and other dry wood in its path. Peter got some friends to help him, promising to split the gold with them, but their efforts were in vain. Other members of the Randolph community joined in as well. But, nobody found the gold, and after a decade or so, the whole thing simmered down into

one of those little bits of local legend. Fifty more years went by. Then, in 1922, Peter Grouleaux’s granddaughter, Lillie Tully, came to town. She had a try for the gold as well, enlisting the help of a local timber cruiser. But after a year or so of hunting, they too were disappointed. A few years later, in 1931, a rumor started circulating — a very credible one, later given added weight by an article in the Portland Oregonian newspaper — that the treasure had been found. According to the rumor, a young couple out prospecting had spotted a rusty gun barrel sticking out from under an old stump and investigated. They’d found two old gunpowder cans containing 150 pounds of fine gold. After that, the two had left the area as quickly as possible, because the gold had been on private land and they were afraid if anyone knew where they’d gotten it, the landowner and possibly Lillie Tully would try to claim it. So, was this rumor true? Maybe. The amount of gold found doesn’t quite line up -- 150 pounds of gold at 1853 prices was worth $51,000, not $40,000. But even if the rumor was true, it likely wasn’t the same gold. Painted metal cans of the type gunpowder was sold in don’t last 75 years in the Coast Range; the containers would have rusted to nothing in just a few decades. In any case, it remains possible, if not particularly likely, that the contents of

the original powder cans are still there, buried under the forest duff in a random spot in the middle of the forest — a cache of fine flour gold that would be worth $3.7 million today. But rather than tromping through the forest looking for this bonanza, modernday gold miners would probably be better advised to head for the beach from which it originally came. The black sands of Oregon’s beaches are still full of fine flour gold, especially in places that are far away from streams and creeks that supply the water needed to pan or sluice them. It’s hard work, and not very remunerative; but you can still get gold out of black-sand layers all along the South Coast today, especially in the more southerly, out-of-the-way beaches near Ophir, Pistol River, Port Orford, and of course Gold Beach. (Sources: Lost Mines and Treasures, a book by Ruby El Hult published in 1957 by Binford and Mort; “Beach Gold Diggings,” an article by Cain Allen published on the Oregon Historical Society’s Website in 2006) Finn J.D. John teaches at Oregon State University and writes about odd tidbits of Oregon history. His book, Heroes and Rascals of Old Oregon, was recently published by Ouragan House Publishers. To contact him or suggest a topic: finn@ offbeatoregon.com or 541357-2222.

Voices of the Community Be the Match Foundation The young man in the Be the Match Foundation advertisement is my son, Andrew. He is 36 years old and is married with a 3-year-old daughter. Andrew has recently been diagnosed with leukemia, and the only cure is to receive a transplant from a compatible blood stem cell or bone marrow donor. Fortunately, we were able to find a compatible donor through the Be the Match Foundation, but not everyone is so lucky. Please help others like Andrew fight this disease by texting ENDCANCER to 61474 and joining the Be the

Match registry. Mike Herdrich Deer Island

Pro Responsibility On April 23, my dog and I were walking along a country road. As we started up the hill somebody started target practicing somewhere near Cater Road. After the third shot, I heard pffft just off to our right side. We turned off behind a dirt bank before the next shot. There was a break and we headed uphill through a clear cut. More target practicing followed. Later, I talked to somebody

who lives downhill from that spot. Either on the 23rd or 24th they were working in the yard when they heard a shot and a ping. A ricochet. I’m happy that gun was not an AR I have heard used in the past. The constitution gives us the right to bear arms, with that right comes the responsibility to bear arms safely. Know your surroundings. These shots passed by three homes. The pffft I heard was traveling up a lane of a county road. Know your range. Always shoot into a dirt backdrop. Don’t count on a tree to stop your bullet. Pro Responsibility. Not anti-gun. Richard Russell St. Helens

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Wednesday, May 25, 2022

High stakes for gubernatorial race JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

The race for Oregon Governor could become one of the most expensive and historic election events in state history. Three women are expected to be going head-tohead in the race. Democrat Tina Kotek and Republican Christine Drazan captured their parties’ nomination during the May 17 Primary. Former District 16 Senator Betsy Johnson is expected to also be on the November ballot. “For a statewide office like Governor, the candidate must collect at least 23,744 signatures from active registered voters in Oregon,” according to Oregon Secretary of State Communication Director Ben Morris. “The signature sheets may be submitted to the Elections Division office for verification no sooner than June 1, 2022, and already verified signatures no later than 5 p.m. on August 30, 2022.” Johnson has scheduled a June 14 rally at the Columbia County Fairgrounds in St. Helens in her effort to collect the needed voter signatures. Johnson announced earlier that she was leaving the Democratic Party to mount

her gubernatorial campaign as an Independent. She told Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Dave Miller following the primary election she is a pro-jobs, pro-law enforcement, pro-choice independent candidate loyal only to the people. Johnson estimated she would raise $25 million in her gubernatorial bid.

The candidate who wins in the November General Election will fill the Columbia County Commissioner’s position currently held by Henry Heimuller, who is retiring. In the only money measure on the county ballot, Columbia City residents approved a five-year levy for police services. The unofficial vote tally was 533 yes and 217 no votes. Voter turnout in Columbia County was 31.7%. Certification for the election is scheduled for June 13.

Primary Election results The unofficial Columbia County 2022 Oregon Primary Election results show Kelly Niles and Kellie Jo Smith leading in the race for the open Columbia County Commissioners seat. The final unofficial report from the May 17 election, shows Smith with 3,946 votes and Niles with 3,353 votes. Both candidates are expected to face off in the November General Election. Smith, a St. Helens School Board member, business owner, and former foster care worker, told The Chronicle following the election that she believes the communities are “tired of politics.” “Which I completely understand,” she said. “I’ll continue to try and build relationships within our communities, listening to concerns, historic knowledge

State races Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

Independent gubernatorial candidate Betsy Johnson has placed this large sign along Highway 30 in Scappoose to drum up support for her candidacy.

and memories. I’ll continue to learn, listen and care about our communities and the issues they’d like to tackle. I don’t have an agenda other than being a good steward and positive representative.” Smith characterized said the race so far with Niles as very clean race and in response to The Chronicle’s question if she would consider debating Niles, Smith said, “there’s really no reason to debate as we’re both similar. The forums that we’ve had were not well attended, but fun.”

Niles said given the low Primary Election turnout, he will work to reach more voters to get his message out. “I have to figure out how to get more votes,” Niles told The Chronicle. “That means going debating, going door to door, whatever it takes. I just need to inform the people as much as possible.” Niles said campaigning will be challenging due to his job as a wildland fire supervisor with the Oregon Department of Forestry. In an earlier published interview with The Chronicle,

Niles said frustration with the current board of commissioners prompted him to run for the vacant commissioner seat. “I believe that the current commissioners are not making decisions in the best interest of the people,” he said. According to Niles more family-wage jobs, additional law enforcement, and infrastructure upgrades introduced to Columbia County are important issues facing the county.

In statewide races, Brian Stout gathered 2,865 votes beating Drew Layda who had 1,619 votes in the Republican race for House District 31. Democrat Melissa Busch will face Republican Suzanne Weber in the November General Election for Oregon Senate District 16. Both ran unopposed in the Primary Election. Columbia County voters chose Democrat gubernatorial candidate Tina Kotek and Republican Bob Tiernan in the race for Oregon Governor. Kotek captured the Democrat nomination, while Christine Drazan claimed the Republican nomination.

County to review voter roll concerns ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net

Voter rolls in Columbia County are a “great reason for concern,” says Columbia County resident Kathy Cooper. On Wednesday, May 4, during the public comment period of a regular county meeting, Cooper presented canvassing data from a portion of one Columbia County precinct to the Board of Commissioners. Cooper told the Board how she used a voter roll from January 2021 and canvassed 44 addresses, which gave her information on 226 registered voters. “Of those 226 voters, 98 did not live at the address where they were listed as living on the roll. That’s a 43% error rate on the rolls for our sample groups,” she said. Cooper brought in guest Dr. Douglas Frank, a teacher, chemist, and mathematician from Morrow, Ohio, to provide insight on voter roll anomalies in Columbia County. “We’ve begun an effort where we’re going to begin canvassing throughout Oregon. We’ll probably begin in Columbia County, where we’re going to be canvassing and investigating all these anomalies that we’re finding in your rolls,” he said. During his testimony, Frank estimated there could be

a 10% margin of error in ballots submitted to the county. “What we’ve already begun finding (is) exactly as I predicted, not because I’m some genius, but because I’ve looked at so many other states, I’ve seen what happens,” he said. “This new movie coming out, 2000 Mules, is confirming exactly what we’ve been finding when we do canvassing. We’ll find the same sorts of things in your county.” In 2021, Frank faced media backlash for making stolen election claims during a keynote speech he delivered at a Trump rally in Ohio. County response The Chronicle asked Elections Supervisor Don Clack what precautions his division takes to verify voter roll accuracy. “Columbia County works with the Oregon Elections Division (OED) to regularly update voter registration lists to remove deceased people, people who have moved, and other changes that impact eligibility,” he responded. According to Clack, Oregon is a member of the Elections Registration Information Center (ERIC), a national data-sharing system that ensures sharing of up-to-date voter registration information across states. The county Elections Division also compiles monthly reports from the USPS, state agencies, and the Oregon

Solution for the May 18, 2022 crossword puzzle

Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Clack said the three employees charged with verifying ballot signatures in Columbia County have 22 years of combined experience and are all trained by a daylong in-person course. According to Clack, the Elections Division takes the following steps to verify a ballot per the Oregon Vote by Mail Procedures Manual:

1. When a ballot has been returned by the voter, the signature on the return identification ballot envelope is compared to the signature on the voter’s most current registration record. If the return identification ballot envelope is unsigned, the ballot is only accepted if the elector provides a signature either by signing the return identification envelope or by providing the no signature attestation form. 2. If the signature does not match the most current registration record review, all signatures contained in the registration record in OCVR to determine the validity of the signature. Power of attorneys may not sign the return identification envelope for a voter. 3. If the signature matches a registration record in OCVR, the ballot is accepted and will be tabulated. “We invite anyone interested in observing the process to join us at the elections office

Oregon was the first state to hold a primary election by mail.

and see our work in action,” Clack said. “The process is completely transparent.” Vote by mail in Oregon In December 1995, Oregon became the first state to hold a primary election entirely by mail, according to the Multnomah County website. In 1998, just a few years later, proponents of the Vote By Mail (VBM) system spearheaded an initiative to expand

VBM to primary and general elections, which passed in the November General election by a vote of 757,204 to 334,021. Since its passage, Oregon’s voter turnout has jumped from 51% in the 2000 Presidential Primary to 86% in the 2004 General election. Today, eight states allow all elections to be conducted by mail, including California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont and Washington, the National

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

Conference on State Legislatures reports. Columbia County Elections Division reported a voter turnout of 33.02% in the primary election in Columbia County. Elections Division officials say they will review the information provided by Cooper’s testimony and issue a report to the Board. Follow this developing story at thechronicleonline. com and in Wednesday print editions of The Chronicle.

State adopts psilocybin product rules STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

Oregon has the one of the highest prevalence of mental illness among adults in the nation and an estimated one in every five adults in Oregon is coping with a mental health condition. Gov. Kate Brown has declared addiction as a public health crisis in Oregon and has proposed spending

over $2.8 billion on mental health and behavioral health programs. Following a series of public meetings, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has adopted the first set of final administrative rules related to psilocybin products, testing and training programs. The rules specify curriculum requirements for programs planning to train people interested in facili-

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tating psilocybin services in Oregon. With the adoption of these rules, the Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS) at OHA will begin accepting applications for training program approval in June 2022. The rules also specify requirements related to psilocybin products and testing. With the adoption of these rules, the Oregon Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ORELAP) will set up accreditation criteria for laboratories interested in being accredited before applying for licensure in 2023. This summer, OPS will hold a series of public lis-

tening sessions for partners and the public to share feedback with the section. In addition, OPS will begin to accept applications from individuals who may be interested in serving on Rule Advisory Committees (RACs) that will advise OPS on additional rulemaking later in the fall. The fall rulemaking process will address the remainder of the rules necessary to begin accepting applications for licensure in 2023. Follow the latest updates by subscribing to the distribution list at: oregon. gov/psilocybin

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Wednesday, May 25, 2022

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Public Notices CH22-1106

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Monday June 6, 2022 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Doug Davis has submitted an application for a variance to the rear setback. This property is zone Primary Forest (PF-80), has 7.57 acres, identified by tax map number 7319-00-00201 and is located at 74575 Palm Creek Rd. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Jack Glass has submitted an application for a variance to set backs. The request is for a variance from 55 feet down to 20 feet. SAID PUBLIC HEARING will be held before the Columbia County Planning Commission on Monday, June 6, 2022, starting at 6:30 p.m. During the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Columbia County Planning Commission will be hosting their public hearing via online webinar. Please use the links below if you wish to participate in the public meeting. Monday, June 6, 2022 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM (PDT) Planning Commission June 6, 2022 Meeting Mon, Jun 6, 2022 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (PDT) Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://meet.goto. com/961812629 You can also dial in using your phone. United States (Toll Free): 1 877 309 2073 United States: +1 (571) 317-3129 Access Code: 961-812-629 Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://meet.goto.com/install If you have any questions or concerns regarding access to the meeting or need accommodation, please call the

Land Development Services office at (503) 397-1501. The criteria to be used in deciding the request will be found in some or all of the following documents and laws, as revised from time to time: Oregon Revised Statutes ORS 197.763; Oregon Administrative Rules; Columbia County Comprehensive Plan; Columbia County Zoning Ordinance. The specific criteria applicable to this request is listed and evaluated in the staff report. A copy of the application, all documents and evidence relied upon by the applicant, and the staff report are available for inspection at no cost and will be provided at reasonable cost, at the Land Development Services office, at least 7 days prior to the Planning Commission hearing. Written comments on the issue can be submitted via email to Planning@ columbiacountyor.gov or you can send comments via U.S. Mail to Columbia County, Department of Land Development Services, 230 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051. If additional documents or evidence are provided in support of the application, prior to or during the hearing, any party shall be entitled to a continuance of the hearing to allow review of the new evidence. If a participant requests a continuance before the conclusion of the evidentiary hearing, the record shall remain open for at least seven days after the hearing. At each hearing, the applicant has the burden of presenting substantial evidence showing that the application

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meets all of the applicable criteria. Following presentation of the staff report, the applicant and other persons in favor of the application will be allowed to address the commission, explaining how the evidence submitted meets the applicable criteria. Following the applicant’s presentation, any person in opposition to the application may present evidence and argument against the application. The applicant will then have the opportunity to rebut any evidence or arguments presented in opposition. After the presentation of evidence and arguments, the public hearing record will be either left open or closed by the Planning Commission. The Commission will then make a tentative decision to be followed by approval of a written order and a statement of findings and conclusions supporting the decision, which will be mailed to all parties at a later date. The Commission may, at its discretion, continue the hearing from time to time at the request of the parties or on its own motion as necessary to afford substantial justice and comply with the law. Additional information about this application may be obtained from the Planning Division of the Land Development Services Department, at (503) 397-1501 or you can go to the County website www.columbiacountyor.gov/ departments/LandDevelopment/Planning. May 25, 2022 THE PLANNING COMMISSION Shawn Stewart, Co-Chairman

CH22-1103

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

CH22-1107

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of JODI LYNN HOLMES, Deceased. Case No. 22PB04020 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 present their claims, with vouchers attached, within four months after the date of the first publication of this notice to the personal representative at 52490 SE 2nd Street, Suite 100, Scappoose, OR 97056, 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 personal representative, or the attorney for the personal representative. DATED and first published, May 25, 2022. Lauren B. Holmes, Personal Representative.

CH22-1108

NOTICE OF INTENT TO DISPOSE OF UNCLAIMED PROPERTY In accordance with ORS98.245 and St. Helens Municipal Code 2.04 this Public Notice is issued of intent to dispose of unclaimed property. The City of St. Helens Police Department has in its physical possession the unclaimed personal property described below. If you have any ownership interest in any of this unclaimed property,

you must file a claim with the City of St. Helens Police Department within 30 days from the date of publication of this notice, or you will lose your interest in that property. Individuals may file a claim that presents satisfactory to the City of St. Helens Police Department that the person is the lawful owner or security interest holder of any

property described below. Please contact St. Helens Police Department Property and Evidence Department at 503-397-3333. Various key rings, coins, jewelry, various wallets, electronics, miscellaneous tools & equipment, guns, knives, miscellaneous cash, clothing items, debit/ credit cards and ID cards and other miscellaneous items.

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Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Public Notices

PROTECTING YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW CH22-1104

CH22-1110

FORM OR-LB-1

NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING

A public meeting of the Port of Columbia County will be held on June 8, 2022 at 8:30a.m. at the Port of Columbia County boardroom, 100 E Street ,Columbia City, Oregon. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022 as approved by the Port of Columbia County Budget Committee. A summary of the budget is presented below. A copy of the budget may be inspected or obtained at 100 E Street, Columbia City, Oregon, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. or online at Port of Columbia County website (www.portofcolumbiacounty.org). This budget is for an annual budget period. This budget was prepared on a basis of accounting that is the same as the preceding year.

Telephone: (503) 397-2888

Contact: Robert F. Gadotti, Executive Finance Manager

FINANCIAL SUMMARY - RESOURCES Actual Amount 2020-2021 6,383,184 Beginning Fund Balance/Net Working Capital 5,627,588 Fees, Licenses, Permits, Fines, Assessments & Other Service Charges Federal, State & all Other Grants, Gifts, Allocations & Donations 209,856 Revenue from Bonds and Other Debt 0 Interfund Transfers / Internal Service Reimbursements 0 All Other Resources Except Current Year Property Taxes 2,010,309 Current Year Property Taxes Estimated to be Received 0 Total Resources 14,230,937 TOTAL OF ALL FUNDS

Email: gadotti@portofcolumbiacounty.org Adopted Budget This Year 2021-2022 5,699,693 5,558,337 41,164 0 0 3,797,832 0 15,097,026

FINANCIAL SUMMARY - REQUIREMENTS BY OBJECT CLASSIFICATION Personnel Services 1,745,011 Materials and Services 1,808,464 Capital Outlay 2,095,248 Debt Service 1,211,958 Interfund Transfers 0 Contingencies 7,370,256 Special Payments 0 Unappropriated Ending Balance and Reserved for Future Expenditure 0 Total Requirements 14,230,937

Approved Budget Next Year 2022-2023 7,232,354 7,011,388 394,627 0 0 316,907 0 14,955,276

2,018,130 1,724,286 5,545,000 955,402 0 4,854,208 0 0 15,097,026

2,177,365 2,037,778 5,615,000 1,106,682 0 4,018,451 0 0 14,955,276

FINANCIAL SUMMARY - REQUIREMENTS AND FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT EMPLOYEES (FTE) BY ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT OR PROGRAM * Name of Organizational Unit or Program FTE for that unit or program Executive 533,175 506,288 648,364 FTE 1 1 1 Business Development and Planning 284,499 458,549 555,169 FTE 3 3 3 Finance and Adminstration 512,429 564,999 703,343 FTE 4.5 4.5 5 Facility and Property Management 3,881,427 5,396,098 6,364,251 FTE 6 7 9 Terminal Services 413,484 2,318,372 1,522,846 FTE 2 2 2 Not Allocated to Organizational Unit or Program 8,605,923 5,852,720 5,161,303 FTE 0 0 0 Total Requirements 14,230,937 15,097,026 14,955,276 Total FTE 16.5 17.5 20 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN ACTIVITIES and SOURCES OF FINANCING *

Permanent Rate Levy (rate limit 0.0886 per $1,000) Local Option Levy Levy For General Obligation Bonds

PROPERTY TAX LEVIES Rate or Amount Imposed 2020-2021 0.0000

Rate or Amount Imposed This Year 2021-2022 0.0000

STATEMENT OF INDEBTEDNESS Estimated Debt Outstanding on July 1. $0 $0 $6,912,329 $6,912,329

LONG TERM DEBT General Obligation Bonds Other Bonds Other Borrowings Total

Rate or Amount Approved Next Year 2022-2023 0.0000

Estimated Debt Authorized, But Not Incurred on July 1 $0 $0 $5,600,000 $5,600,000

* If more space is needed to complete any section of this form, insert lines (rows) on this sheet. You may delete blank lines. 150-504-064 (Rev. 11-19-21)

CH22-1105 FORM ED‐1

NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING

A public meeting of the Northwest Regional Education Service District (NWRESD) will be held as a virtual meeting in Zoom on June 14, 2022 at 6:00 pm, refer to the District's webstite for meeting login details. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022 as approved by the NWRESD Budget Committee. A summary of the budget is presented below. A copy of the budget may be inspected or obtained at NWRESD Regional Office, 5825 NE Ray Circle, Hillsboro OR between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or online at nwresd.org. This budget is for an annual budget period. This budget was prepared on a basis of accounting that is the same as the preceding year. Contact: Lori Baker

Telephone: (503)614‐1253 TOTAL OF ALL FUNDS

Beginning Fund Balance Current Year Property Taxes, other than Local Option Taxes Current Year Local Option Property Taxes Other Revenue from Local Sources Revenue from Intermediate Sources Revenue from State Sources Revenue from Federal Sources Interfund Transfers All Other Budget Resources Total Resources

CH22-1098

CH22-1111

NOTICE OF TEMPORARY NOTICE OF LANE CLOSURE MEETING Notice of Temporary of days – 25 working days. Lane Closures on Gable Road (East of Hwy 30) adjacent to Walmart. Anticipated dates of temporary lane closures - Monday May 23rd to Friday June 24th. Number

Expect single lane traffic control on Gable Road intermittently between Monday May 23rd and Friday June 24th during normal working hours.

McNulty Water PUD Board meeting will be held June 7th, 2022, at 7pm. Located at 34240 Millard Road, Warren, Oregon 97053.

CH22-1109

NOTICE OF PUBLIC FORUM A hybrid public forum will be held on June 9th, 2022 to collect public feedback and discuss possible service changes. The services that may be impacted would be Line 1 from St. Helens to

Portland. Date: June 9, 2022 Time: 10:00AM Location: CC Rider Transit Center, 1155 Deer Island Rd, St. Helens, OR 97051. Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smart-

phone: https://meet.goto. com/346532693 You can also dial in using your phone. United States (Toll Free): 1 877 309 2073 United States: +1 (571) 317-3129 Access Code: 346-532-693

CH22-1097

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR 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

Email: lobaker@nwresd.k12.or.us

FINANCIAL SUMMARY ‐ RESOURCES Actual Amount Last Year 2020‐2021 $20,308,671 12,972,237

Adopted Budget This Year 2021‐2022 $18,776,226 12,800,000

Approved Budget Next Year 2022‐2023 $22,411,195 13,406,000

43,433,859 1,308,244 71,013,712 8,834,547 48,538,528 1,131,285 $207,541,083

40,407,147 842,869 76,331,254 15,053,433 49,263,963 1,100,000 $214,574,892

44,802,087 941,921 89,263,222 21,566,827 50,367,946 0 $242,759,198

$42,229,382 27,774,461 40,843,257 9,100,581 2,946,084 36,921,164 641,000 49,263,963 860,000 3,995,000 $214,574,892

$54,676,883 35,549,692 44,696,112 9,690,430 2,551,759 38,784,735 638,000 50,367,946 1,461,271 4,342,370 $242,759,198

FINANCIAL SUMMARY ‐ REQUIREMENTS BY OBJECT CLASSIFICATION Salaries $35,873,052 Other Associated Payroll Costs 21,834,167 Purchased Services 36,186,648 Supplies & Materials 6,165,374 Capital Outlay 559,798 Other Objects (except debt service & interfund transfers) 25,154,452 Debt Service* 779,379 Interfund Transfers* 48,538,528 Operating Contingency 1,375,000 Unappropriated Ending Fund Balance & Reserves 31,074,685 $207,541,083 Total Requirements

FINANCIAL SUMMARY ‐ REQUIREMENTS AND FULL‐TIME EQUIVALENT EMPLOYEES (FTE) BY FUNCTION 1000 Instruction $55,670,982 $68,307,395 FTE 384.29 395.27 2000 Support Services 46,828,213 57,859,139 FTE 193.60 203.00 3000 Enterprise & Community Service 1,632,142 2,132,290 FTE 9.25 13.75 4000 Facility Acquisition & Construction 42,224 200,000 FTE 0 0 5000 Other Uses 21,599,930 31,316,105 5100 Debt Service* 779,379 641,000 5200 Interfund Transfers* 48,538,528 49,263,963 6000 Contingency 1,375,000 860,000 7000 Unappropriated Ending Fund Balance 31,074,685 3,995,000 Total Requirements $207,541,083 $214,574,892 Total FTE 587.14 612.02 * not included in total 5000 Other Uses. To be appropriated separately from other 5000 expenditures. STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN ACTIVITIES and SOURCES OF FINANCING **

$80,502,850 482.85 69,608,490 254.51 2,633,047 13.75 958,729 0 32,246,495 638,000 50,367,946 1,461,271 4,342,370 $242,759,198 751.11

2021‐22 has continued to challenge educators beyond what we could have imagined only a few years ago. The global pandemic has continued, and with it there have been many difficulties including adapting to rapid and frequent changes to statewide and regional health and safety policies, national and local workforce shortages, the ongoing politicization of school governance, widening gaps in student learning and the social‐emotional wellbeing of historically and presently marginalized children, and all the resulting program and operational changes addressed by our teams almost daily. There has also been great joy as students returned to in‐person learning, educators reconnected with one another and with children and families, and ESDs have been re‐centered in the statewide response to many of the challenges faced in our communities. Our educators have often worked tirelessly, selflessly and with genuine care for the well‐being of the children and families they are committed to serving. This Proposed Budget has been produced with a focus on aligning available resources to the 2020‐25 Board‐adopted strategic plan, which directs the administration to elevate the tenets of equity, partnership, innovation, and student success in program design and implementation. While the ESD is experiencing a tightening in general funding, as the state school fund is not keeping pace with costs, we have conversely experienced significant growth in many of our targeted, contract/grant funds. As such, this proposed budget ‐ while constrained in our general operations ‐ contains exciting opportunities for the ESD to deliver on our mission: “In partnership with the communities we serve, Northwest Regional Education Service District improves student learning by providing equitable access to high‐quality services and support.”

Permanent Rate Levy (Rate Limit $0.1538 per $1,000) Local Option Levy Levy For General Obligation Bonds LONG TERM DEBT General Obligation Bonds Other Bonds Other Borrowings Total

PROPERTY TAX LEVIES Rate or Amount Imposed 0.1538

STATEMENT OF INDEBTEDNESS Estimated Debt Outstanding on July 1

Rate or Amount Imposed 0.1538

0.1538

Estimated Debt Authorized, But Not Incurred on July 1

$1,400,556 $1,400,556

Public Notice deadline is Fridays by noon. Submit legal notices to chronicleclassifieds@countrymedia.net Late submissions are not guaranteed to make it into the paper.

Attention St. Helens businesses! Here is your opportunity to advertise in the...

OFFICIAL EVENT GUIDE ST. HELENS KIWANIS COMMUNITY PARADE Parade Date: Saturday, June 18, 2022 Parade Theme: “Coming Back Together 2022” The Chronicle’s Official Event Guide will contain the participation registration form, route map, and schedule of events, messages and articles by those involved, along with historical vignettes.

Contact Katherine: 503-397-0116 or chronicleads@countrymedia.net Columbia County’s trusted local news source

www.thechronicleonline.com

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

St. Helens Equestrians ride into regionals ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net

Two St. Helens High School (SHHS) horseback riders are off to their next adventure in Moses Lake, WA after wrangling a spot at the Northwest Invitational Championships. Riders Haley Pierson (694) and Lillian Moore (762) were awarded 5th place for their Working Pairs performance at the state meet Friday, May 13, in Redmond, OR. “The St. Helens Equestrian Team has never qualified in working pairs that I remember since I’ve been there for 15 years, so for them to place that high at the state level was huge for us,” SHHS Equestrian Team Assistant Coach Julie Sandstrom said. “We’re very proud of them.” Scappoose High School will be sending horseback riders Mollie Sundin, (714) Ken-

Courtesy photo

The SHHS Equestrian Team riders show off their team spirit.

na Olson, (711) and Ada Kay Evans (709) to the Regionals competition June 17-19. The Northwest Invitational, which draws competitors from Washington and Oregon, includes the top five teams and individuals from each event at each state’s high school equestrian state championship meet, according to the Oregon High School Equestrian Teams

(OHSET) website. The SHHS Lions Equestrian Team took home several awards, including a 3rd place trophy in the 5+ Freestyle Drill. OHSET State Championship Committee Chair Candi Bothum describes the Freestyle Drill as “an event where (riders) can create, choreograph their own pattern and then ride

it.”

“(Riders) have to do it within a certain timeframe, and once they choreograph it, they learn it together,” Bothum told The Chronicle. “Judging is scored based on uniformity, the difficulty of their pattern, and then accuracy - making sure that they don’t bump into each other - their horsemanship and how they ride together.”

WATERWAYS From Page A1 He said during the summer, one of the most dangerous areas are the densely populated areas near Sauvie Island and Sand Island. “In these densely populated areas, operators need to be on alert and cautious as they are operating boats in close proximity to others,” he said. “Most importantly, boaters need to know and be aware of the waterways and the hazards that may be there. As a boater you need to know how the tide affects the water, know the current, and other known hazards above and below the water.” For those heading to Sand and Sauvie Island for swimming, Pixley urges precautions. “The water gets very deep, very fast,” he said. “Swimmers need to be mindful of the current and of boats

MINIBOAT From Page A1 “All the kids have a particular job they have to do, and all of those jobs work well as a whole,” he said. “So, for me, it is a way to teach kids how to work together. They make all the decisions and they solve all the problems.” It was unclear just when the new miniboat would be launched. A decision

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

Kayaks and canoes along the Columbia River often mix with speed boats, jet skis and commercial ships.

along the waterway. Out in the weather, the effect of alcohol and other intoxicants intensifies and swimmers need to be conscious of that.” Pixley urges parents engaging in activities along the waterway to be watchful of their children. “A child can be in danger playing on the docks and not being supervised and running into the water,” he said. “The tide is pretty fast and pretty

strong. The water is still cold. People typically aren’t aware of how cold the water can be and that can lead to hypothermia.” Anticipating thousands to converge on the Columbia River this summer, Pixley offers this safety summary. “People need to be boating and swimming safely,” he said. “It is terrible when we have to respond to a drowning and a boating accident,

so we are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.” Oregon Marine Board Communications Director Ashley Massey agreed with Pixley that lifejackets are essential on Oregon’s waterways. “Life jackets are the most important piece of equipment and significantly improve your chances of survival,” she said. “In 2021, there

Bothum brings 40 years of experience to the equestrian sport. Her previous roles include working as a trainer, an instructor, and a judge for Oregon high school equestrian teams. To become competitive in horseback riding takes an enormous amount of dedication and practice, according to Bothum. “Most of these kids that are doing well, and especially youth who are doing it as a team event like drills, are practicing at least a couple of times that week together and riding on their own (and) practicing their horsemanship skills four or five times a week,” she said. SOHSET, or Southern Oregon High School Equestrian Teams, was founded in 1993 by Glen Litwiller, according to the OHSET website. It was not until 1995 that the sport gained the recognition of high schools in the surrounding

area, and in 1998 that the Oregon High School Equestrian Team became what it is today. SHHS Equestrian Team Coach Marcie Brumbaugh commended the SHHS riders for their dedication and hard work this season, and for what they brought to the Redmond competition. “They outperformed themselves, and they just did an amazing job,” she said. “It was a great team to work with. And their drill was very, very spectacular. It just was amazing that they could put it together so well.” The Northwest Invitational Championships will kick off at the Arnell Pavillion in Moses Lake, WA, June 17-19. Follow this developing story at thechronicleonline. com and in Wednesday print editions of The Chronicle.

were 19 recreational boating fatalities. Eight of the victims were wearing life jackets however, the conditions involved extenuating circumstances in the ocean and whitewater rapids. It is likely that 11 of the victims would have survived their incidents had they been wearing a life jacket.” This year National Safe Boating Week takes place May 21 through May 27. National Safe Boating Week promotes safe boating practices for recreational boaters in order to reduce preventable accidents and deaths. The Coast Guard cautions that as air temperatures rise with the arrival of summer, water temperatures in the Pacific Northwest remain dangerously cold. First responders that have jurisdiction along the Oregon Coast also urge beachgoers to be aware of the hiking dangers along steep slopes and cliffs. They also urge parents to keep a close watch

on youngsters digging in the sand. Sand holes can easily collapse and trap children. An 11-year-old died from such a sand hole collapse in Lincoln City in 2017. Most recently, a teenage boy died in a sand hole collapse at a New Jersey beach May 18. The Columbia County Marine Patrol is funded though the Oregon Marine Board (OMB). Columbia County received $217,469 for the current fiscal year (2021-2022) and for the next fiscal year as well (2022-2023), according to the OMB. The funding is dedicated to marine law enforcement and related activities, such as program administration. Oregon’s funding is entirely provided by recreational boaters – the Marine Board gets no general fund tax dollars. Funds come from boat registration and titling, motorboat fuel tax, and federal dollars distributed by the US Coast Guard.

For more details on the regional competition, visit pnwic.com.

is expected next week. Lewis said it is likely the miniboat will taken by a freighter from Astoria and be launched from the San Francisco area for Japan. The first two studentbuilt mini boats launched for Japan did not complete their journey. One ended up in the Marshall Islands. The other stalled at Christmas Island. Read more about the miniboat project at thechronicleonline.com.

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

Students attached paper flags with good luck messages during the miniboat christening.

Student-built miniboat heads to Japan

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

Crossword Puzzle

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: STEPHEN KING ACROSS 1. Mauritania’s neighbor 5. Arrest 8. Daughter of Zeus and Hera 12. Like fist of some rulers 13. Containing limestone 14. *”Misery” Oscar winner 15. Gulf War missile 16. Throat-clearing sound 17. Earp of the Wild West 18. *’58 Plymouth Fury in a Stephen King novel 20. Hole punchers 21. G in SAG 22. Lennon’s wife 23. Napoleon’s hat 26. Old tree description 30. Ryder Cup team 31. Forecastle, for short 34. Ruptured 35. Harangues 37. Tiny guitar 38. East side of Jersey 39. Brussels’ org. 40. Genie, alt. sp. 42. Soak through 43. Autumnal zodiac sign 45. Stomach sores 47. Basketball hoop 48. Down Under marsupial

50. Ginger-flavored cookie

23. “Auld Lang Syne” poet

52. *”It” clown 56. Nary a soul 57. Larger-than-life 58. Like some rumors 59. Smart _____, pl. 60. Pilaf grain 61. Close in proximity 62. *”The Green ____” 63. Don’t waste 64. RisquÈ

24. *”Children of the Corn” cult leader Chroner 25. Subsection of a poem 26. “Rhinestone Cowboy” singer 27. Kind of change 28. Mistake 29. Oceanic trenches 32. *Rabid Saint Bernard in Stephen King book 33. Mogul rider 36. *Nicholson in “The Shining” 38. Foolish 40. Not bright 41. Subtlety 44. Plumber’s concern, pl. 46. Crying like crow 48. Type of cap, pl. 49. Chilled (2 words) 50. Same as solos 51. Yuletide 52. Paddington Bear’s homeland 53. Beginning of a story? 54. Grand ____ 55. *Like a Stephen King story 56. “Platoon” setting

DOWN 1. Catchall abbr. 2. St. Louis tourist attraction 3. Displeasure on one’s face 4. Rainbow color 5. Root of nihilism 6. Set right 7. *”Stand ____ ____,” film based on “The Body” 8. *”Rita ____ and the Shawshank Redemption” 9. Bibliographical abbr. (2 words) 10. Risky business, pl. 11. “Is” in Paris 13. Hispanic American 14. Boss, in Swahili 19. Rides the waves 22. Buck

Solution to crossword in next week’s issue of The Chronicle. Columbia County’s trusted local news source

www.thechronicleonline.com

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

‘Crime of opportunity’ on the rise the time a suspect serves is not in our control as a law enforcement agency.” Greenway’s recommends residents and business operators take three steps to avoid being a car break-in victim: Lock. Take. Hide. “Lock your car. Take your keys with you. Hide your belongings,” he said. “If possible, do not leave belongings in a vehicle. Report thefts or suspicious activity which occur in St. Helens to non-emergency dispatch at 503-397-1521.”

JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

St. Helens Police report a rise in vehicle break-ins, commonly referred to by authorities as car prowls. St. Helens Police Chief Brian Greenway said the increase is a national trend. “Suspects are taking advantage of car prowls being a crime of opportunity that is generally low-risk on their part with potentially high reward in terms of stolen vehicles, electronics, debit and credit cards, and cash,” he said. According to Greenway, the car prowls tend to be occurring in residential areas where a suspect or suspects can test numerous vehicles in a short span of time. In late November of 2021, St. Helens police responded to a suspicious vehicle report in the area of Edna Barr Lane. The reporting party told police that five suspects had exited a white SUV and proceeded to test vehicle door handles in the neighborhood. Officers conducted an area search but were unable to locate the suspects or the vehicle. St. Helens police continued to receive theft from vehicle reports over the same weekend from the Elk Meadows neighborhood, Parkwood neighborhood, Crestwood Village,

What to do if you are a victim

St. Helens Police have been responding to a rise in car break-ins.

Noble Road neighborhood, and Charming Way neighborhood. Following an investigation, two Portland men were indicted in connection to the thefts from vehicles. Resolving the crime Making a quick arrest can vary from case to case and depends on numerous factors, Greenway said, including whether there is quality surveillance footage, if stolen items are reported as missing, if stolen property is reported as found, if police are able to track usage of stolen credit cards

or phones, etc. The cases can involve weeks of investigation work. “Our ability to investigate can also be dependent on whether we have higher priority calls and enough officers or detectives available to immediately work the case,” Greenway said. “Our officers are thorough, and they do investigate these calls, but reports of child abuse, rape, elder abuse, domestic violence, DUII, etc., are our first priority.” Greenway said the car prowl suspects can vary from a single offender to groups from outside the

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

city. “Anyone can commit this type of crime,” he said. “In St. Helens, we have seen several cases of groups of individuals arriving from outside of St. Helens and conducting car prowls before leaving the area.” Solving the crime and putting the offender in jail can also be challenging, according to Greenway. “Our St. Helens investigators do their best job to ensure we gather solid evidence to bring charges against a suspect that will stand up in court,” he said. “Outside of our investigation work, sentencing and

If you approach your vehicle and see door damage, a broken window or other signs of vehicle tampering, do not get inside the vehicle or remove it. Do document what you see from the outside of the vehicle. Take photos of the damage and list what may be missing from the vehicle. This information will help police and help your insurance company determine reimbursement to you, according to the website SafeWise. Following your assessment of the vehicle damage and missing items, file a report with police. Your assessment may assist officers in tracking down the suspect or suspects.

Spotting a suspect

If you spot a vehicle break-in suspect, Scappoose Police (SP) recommend you do not put yourself in a dangerous situation. If a suspected crime is in progress call law enforcement and provide as much information as possible, such as sex, race, age, height, weight, hair color and length, color and length of facial hair, colors and style of clothing, and identifying marks such as tattoos or piercings. If you can, give the direction of travel if the thief flees. If the thief flees in a vehicle, give the description of the vehicle and a license plate number. Home break-ins While Greenway said SHPD has not seen burglaries increase in the same way that car prowls are on the rise, he still issued the following preventive steps. “Burglaries also are generally a crime of opportunity,” he said. “Lock your residence or business. Install security measures such as surveillance footage or alarms if you are able to do so. Do not leave valuable items visible from a window. Avoid making social media posts about being out of the area or on vacation while you are gone.”

Police Reports St. Helens Police May 9 • Police responded to a previous theft at the 16000 block of Rail Road. • Police arrested a 36-year-old male on a Fugitive Warrant at the 58000 block of Columbia

River Highway. May 10 • Police responded to a theft at the 200 block of Braydon Street. May 12 • Police served a 65-yarold male with a Fugitive

Warrant at the 900 block of Port Avenue. • Police arrested a subject on Telephone Harassment in the 59000 block of Elizabeth Lane. • Officers arrested a 22-year-old male on a Fugitive Warrant in the 100 block of Columbia River

Highway. May 15 • Police arrested a 26-yearold male on a Fugitive Warrant in the 700 block of Columbia River Highway. May 16 • Police arrested a 55-year-

old subject on a Fugitive Warrant in the 700 block of Columbia River Highway. May 17 • Police investigated a report of a Vehicle Theft in the 800 block of Cowlitz Street.

May 19 • Police responded to a Theft call in the 300 block of 2nd Street. • Officers arrested a 51-year-old subject on a Violation of a Restraining Order near Milton Way and S 22nd Street.

OHA issues toxic bloom advisory OREGON HEALTH AUTHROITY Chronicle Guest Article

As summer approaches, and more communities and recreational areas around the state begin reopening amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reminds people heading outdoors to be on the look-out for cyanobacteria blooms that can produce toxins in Oregon lakes, rivers and reservoirs. Cyanobacteria are beneficial bacteria found worldwide in all freshwater. Under the right conditions—when weather, sunlight, water temperature, nutrients and water chemistry are ideal—cyanobacteria can multiply into blooms in any water body. Many blooms are harmless, but some can produce cyanotoxins that make people and animals sick. Exposure to cyanotoxins occurs when water is swallowed while swimming, or when water droplets are

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

The blooms can produce cyanotoxins that make people and animals sick.

inhaled during high-speed activities such as waterskiing or wakeboarding. Symptoms of exposure to cyanotoxins include diarrhea, cramps, vomiting, numbness, dizziness and fainting. Although cyanotoxins are not absorbed through the skin, people with sensitive skin can develop a red, raised rash when wading, playing or swimming in or around a

bloom. Children and pets are particularly sensitive to illness because of their size and activity levels. Dogs can get extremely ill and even die within minutes to hours of exposure to cyanotoxins by drinking the water, licking their wet fur or eating the toxins from floating mats or dried crust along the shore. Similar to dogs, livestock and wildlife

can become ill and die after drinking from waterbodies, troughs or other sources of drinking water affected by blooms and potential toxins. Only a fraction of freshwater bodies in Oregon are monitored for cyanotoxins. Due to continued staffing and safety concerns related to COVID-19, OHA expects less frequent visual monitoring and sampling of affected water bodies than

normal. For this reason, it will be even more important as more recreational areas open and the summer recreation season begins for people to visually observe any water body they choose to recreate in before taking the plunge. OHA recommends that everyone stay out of water that looks foamy, scummy, thick (like pea-green or blue-green paint) or where

brownish-red mats are present. If you are unsure, follow OHA’s guidance of “When in doubt, stay out.” Open recreational areas where blooms are identified can still be enjoyed for activities such as camping, hiking, biking, picnicking and bird watching. By being aware of signs of a bloom and taking appropriate precautions to reduce or eliminate your exposure, you can also enjoy water activities such as canoeing, fishing and boating, as long as speeds do not create excessive water spray and fish are cleaned appropriately. To learn if an advisory has been issued or lifted for a specific water body, visit the Harmful Algae Bloom website or call the Oregon Public Health Division toll-free information line at 877-290-6767. For health information or to report an illness, contact OHA at 971-673-0440. For campground or lake information, call the local management agency.

Celebrating the Class of 2022 Show your support for our high school graduates with an ad in our paper. We’ll feature names and photos of all the graduates of St. Helens High School and Plymouth High School.

Email chronicleclassifieds@countrymedia.net or call 503-397-0116 to advertise Deadline June 1st

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A10

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Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Elks Student of the Month SUBMITTED BY ST. HELENS SCHOOL DISTRICT

Courtesy from InRoads Credit Union

The InRoads Credit Union Scholarship winners from left to right are Kaitlin Dahla, Jaedyn Maller, Makenzie Hoag and Jax Ekstrom. Not pictured is Karlynn Kenny.

Local scholarship winners InRoads Credit Union has awarded five $1,000 scholarships to Scappoose High School seniors heading off to college in the fall of 2022. Winners included Jaedyn Maller who plans to study radiology at Oregon Institute of Technology, Kaitlin Dahla who is choosing between biology or kinesiology, Karlynn Kenny who plans to study engineering, Jax Ekstrom who will be off to University of Arizona this fall to study nursing, and

Makenzie Hoag who will also be studying to become a nurse. The winners were chosen as part of the InRoads Digital College Scholarship that asks entrants to answer the question “why do credit unions appeal to your generation” digitally. Specifically, those who entered did so via TikTok videos, social media memes, or a short video. “This isn’t an ordinary college scholarship,” InRoads President/CEO Brooke Van Vleet said. “We

look beyond academics and athletics to support those students who think differently and are poised to offer something new to the world. We’re so pleased to award scholarships to these deserving young adults. We wish them the best as they head off to college in the fall.” Winning submissions can be seen at facebook.com/InRoadsCU. Learn more about the InRoads Digital College Scholarship at inroadscu. org/scholarship.

Rotary Student of the Month

St. Helens High School (SHHS) is pleased to announce that Jayden Roylance has been selected as the Elks Teen of the Month for April. According to a release from the St. Helens School District, Jayden is an outstanding student and leader and was highly recommended by several teachers at St. Helens High School for this award. Noelle Freshner, Director of Bands and Activities at SHHS, had this to say about Jayden, “If any student could win this honor their senior year, it would be Jayden. He has always been actively involved with leadership roles in the band program, playing percussion in the Marching Band, Jazz Band, and Wind Ensemble. In addition, Jayden joined SHHS Leadership this year and has made nothing but a positive contribution to everything

More people are back at work in Columbia County and across the state, according to the latest Oregon Department of Employment report. Oregon’s unemployment rate edged down to 3.7% in April, from 3.8% in March, reaching its lowest level in more than two years. The rate is now close to Oregon’s record low of 3.4% which occurred in each of the four months of November 2019 through February 2020. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.6% in both March and April 2022.

Payrolls

SUBMITTED BY ST. HELENS SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Columbia County Rotary Club and St. Helens High School (SHHS) are pleased to honor Sarah Vanderwerf as the May Rotary Student of the Month. According to a release from the St. Helens School District, Sarah is an exemplary high school student and she is fully committed to doing well in whatever she chooses to do at St. Helens High School. She is committed to her studies in the

classroom and holds one of the highest GPAs in the Class of 2022. Sarah’s hard work and dedication have earned her the honor of being one of St. Helens High School Valedictorians for the Class of 2022. Sarah was a natural leader on the court with the St. Helens High School girls basketball team outside of the classroom. She was chosen as team captain in addition to being selected Third Team All-League. Sarah also participated on the golf team for all four years of high school and during her senior year, she was one of the

SHHS golf team captains, contributing to the team’s fifth place finish at the State tournament in 2021. She was an outstanding leader on the team that set an example for her work ethic and integrity. In addition to her many accolades, Sarah was also Lead Trumpet in St. Helens Wind Ensemble, Trumpet Section Leader in the Marching Band, and participated in the SHHS Jazz Band. After graduation, Sarah will take her education a step further as she enrolls at Oregon State in the fall. Congratulations, Sarah!

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he goes, and everyone else follows!” After high school, Jayden plans to major in Computer Science and pursue a career in A.I. Engineering. Congratulations, Jayden!

STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

Throughout the past two years, Oregon and the nation have experienced similar trends as their economies and labor markets have recovered from the pandemic recession. Both saw their unemployment rates spike to unusual highs of more than 13% by April 2020, followed by a drop to below 7% six months later. For the past 21 months, Oregon’s unemployment rate has been within a half percentage point of the U.S. unemployment rate.

St. Helens High School Principal Katy Wagner (left) with Rotary Student of the Month Sarah Vanderwerf.

he has been involved with. He is friendly, outgoing, and not afraid to meet and interact with new people. From attending church events, leadership conferences, band festivals, and dances, Jayden brings the party with him everywhere

Lowest jobless rate in 2 years

History

Courtesy photo from the St. Helens School District

Courtesy from St. Helens High School

Jayden Roylance

Payroll employment

Metro Creative Connection

There were 2,122,538 employed and 78,796 unemployed in April.

trends have also been similar for Oregon and the U.S., with both losing roughly 14% of payroll jobs between February and April 2020, then recovering roughly a third of those jobs three months later, followed by a more gradual recovery leading up to April 2022. However, Oregon has slightly lagged the U.S. jobs recovery overall, with the U.S. adding back 95% of jobs lost during the pandemic-induced recession, while Oregon has only recovered 88% of the jobs. Gains and losses In April, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll

employment rose by 4,200 jobs, following a revised gain of 7,000 jobs in March. Over-the-month gains were largest in health care and social assistance (+1,800 jobs), manufacturing (+1,300), and professional and business services (+1,300). The only major industry to cut at least 1,000 jobs was other services (-1,000 jobs). Professional and business services has grown rapidly and consistently over the past two years. In April, employment reached 261,700, another record high for the industry. Recent revisions to the jobs tallies boosted the past six months’ employment upward by about 3,000 above original estimates.

OSHA’s worker protections STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) announced the adoption of rules to protect workers from the hazards of high heat and wildfire smoke. The heat rule addresses access to shade and cool water, preventive cool-down breaks, and prevention plans, information and training. The wildfire smoke rule includes an array of exposure assessments and controls, and training and communication. Both rules encompass initial protective measures for workers who rely on employer-provided housing, including as part of farm operations. The rules, which take effect June 15 for heat and July 1 for wildfire smoke, are the most protective of

Courtesy photo

their kind in the United States. The rules reflect the need to strengthen protections in the workplace against the extraordinary hazards of high heat and wildfire smoke while focusing on the needs of Oregon’s most vulnerable communities. “As we enter what we expect will be another hot and dry summer, all workers, including Oregon’s hard-working agricultural and farmworkers, deserve health and safety protections from extreme heat and wildfire smoke,” said Gov. Kate Brown. “With these new rules from Oregon OSHA, Building Bridges to Self Sufficiency

Community Action Team

Are you a veteran? You may be entitled to benefits for serving your country.

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

I am proud that Oregon will be a national model for heat and wildfire smoke protections for all workers, regardless of income-level, occupation, or immigration status.” Oregon OSHA – part of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) – adopted the rules, which were proposed in February. Proposal of the rules followed a development process that included worker and community stakeholder listening sessions, input and review by rule advisory committees, and input from employer and labor stakeholders. The rules build on temporary emergency requirements that were adopted in summer 2021 following several months of stakeholder and community engagement. The rules are part of Oregon’s larger and ongoing work – initiated by Gov. Brown in her March 2020 executive order 20-04 – to mitigate the effects of climate change. “We know the threats posed by high heat and wildfire smoke are not going away,” said Andrew Stolfi, director of DCBS. “These rules reflect that reality, and they bolster our ability to prepare for those hazards in the workplace.” “As we move forward with these rules, Oregon OSHA will continue to offer free training and education resources to help employers achieve compliance,” said Renee Stapleton, acting administrator for Oregon OSHA.

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Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Bird flu confirmed in wild birds in Oregon STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Oregon Department of Agriculture report the bird flu, known as the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is spreading in Oregon. Several Canada goose goslings collected from Alton Baker Park in Eugene have tested positive for HPAI, and a larger outbreak is suspected as more sick and dead waterfowl have been observed at the park. A red-tailed hawk from Eugene and an osprey collected from Dorena Reservoir, east of Cottage Grove, May 10 have also tested positive. These cases mark the first known detections of the new avian flu strain in wild birds in Oregon. Earlier this month, the first Oregon case in a backyard poultry flock was confirmed in Linn County and one additional case has been confirmed in Lane County. Regional quarantine Due to federal and international disease control requirements, a regional quarantine for all avian species and vehicle traffic involved with avian species has been issued for an area extending a minimum of 10 kilometers around the infected property. This regional quarantine will prevent the movement of poultry from within this area for a period of time sufficient to allow state and federal officials to conduct surveillance within the quarantine area to ensure no additional cases of HPAI exist. The quarantine also applies to importation of

HPAI (H5N1) is a highly contagious virus that transmits easily among wild and domestic bird species.

all birds from states where a state or federal quarantined area due to HPAI exists. The risk of HPAI to human health is low, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The only known human case involving infection and illness was someone involved in the culling of presumptively infected poultry at a commercial farm in Colorado, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Avoid close contact With the detections this week, Oregon Department of Agriculture officials said it is more important than ever to avoid close contact with waterfowl (ducks and geese) this spring and summer. This includes feeding waterfowl which congregates susceptible birds and enables the disease to spread between birds more easily. If you see sick or dead wild birds, do not collect or handle them but report the incident directly to ODFW

at 866-968-2600 or Wildlife. Health@odfw.oregon.gov. ODFW staff will be conducting surveillance and collecting/testing sick and dead wild birds to monitor for the presence of the disease. Also note that Oregon’s wildlife rehabilitators are not accepting sick ducks and geese at this time in order to protect other avian patients and education birds in their care. If you have domesticated backyard birds such as poultry, increase your biosecurity and keep your birds separated from wild birds, especially waterfowl. If you have poultry that appears sick or has died of respiratory or neurological disease call 503-986-4711 (Alt Phone: 1-800-347-7028). For more tips visit the Oregon Department of Agriculture website at https://oda.direct/AI or en español at https://oda.direct/ AIESP. Hunting season alert Turkey hunting season is currently open in Oregon and it is possible for turkeys

to become infected with avian flu. Waterfowl hunting seasons begin in fall and run through January. The risk of the disease spreading to a hunter is low, but hunters should always wear gloves, thoroughly sanitize equipment that comes into contact with wild birds, cook birds to an internal temperature of 165 degrees and never consume a bird that appears sick or is found dead. Visit https://www.dfw.state. or.us/wildlife/health_program/avian-flu/index.asp for more information. This strain of avian flu is not known to be a threat to songbirds but keep your bird feeders clean and take them down if you see sick or dead birds near your feeder or in your neighborhood. More information is available at https://www.dfw.state.or.us/ wildlife/health_program/ dead_bird_reporting_protocol.asp. About avian influenza Avian influenza is a disease of birds caused by

Courtesy photo from the USDA

a bird-specific influenza Type A virus. This virus has been documented in more than 100 different species of wild birds worldwide. The first 2021/22 detection of Eurasian strain (EA) highly pathogenic avian influenza (specifically referred to as H5N1) in North America occurred in December 2021 in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It was believed to have entered North America in an infected wild seabird or migrating waterfowl. The virus currently circulating in Oregon and other parts of the world is very contagious among birds, and can sicken and even kill many bird species, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys. The USDA and CDC report that infected birds can shed avian influenza A viruses in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible birds become infected when they contact the virus after it is shed by infected birds. Birds also can become infected through contact with surfaces that are contaminated with virus from infected birds.

Wild birds that typically carry the virus include waterbirds (such as ducks, geese, swans, gulls, and terns), and shorebirds (such as plovers, and sandpipers). Dabbling ducks such as (mallards, pintails, and wigeons) serve as reservoirs hosts for avian influenza A viruses although it often does not cause disease in these species. The disease can also infect raptors (hawks, eagles) that prey on or consume sick or dead waterfowl. The wild bird species in Oregon most at risk from this strain of virus currently appear to be all waterfowl, shorebirds, eagles and scavenging species such as crows, ravens and turkey vultures. Currently, the outbreak has affected 68 species in 1326 positive detections. Of the 40 states with infected birds, 37 states have HPAI detected in wild birds, 27 states with the virus in backyard poultry flocks, and 19 states have had infections in commercial poultry operations. All 10 Canadian provinces have HPAI infections in wild birds or poultry. While avian flu can kill multiple birds at a specific outbreak location, wildlife managers in other areas have not measured significant impacts to wild bird populations at this point. Susceptible species that occur at lower population numbers may be at greater risk. ODFW does not expect the disease to have a significant impact on the waterfowl population in the Pacific flyway that includes Oregon. Follow this developing story at thechronicleonline. com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Chronicle.

Grasshopper invasion ‘Severe outbreak’ expected JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) is forecasting what it calls a severe outbreak of grasshoppers and crickets this summer. Oregon suffered its worst outbreak of grasshoppers and Mormon crickets in 50 years last summer. As a result, a record 10 million acres of range land in 18 counties, mostly east of the Oregon Cascades, suffered damaging infestation levels. Rangeland in Oregon and across the western United States is a valuable agricultural resource for livestock production and provides an important habitat for wildlife. Grasshoppers and Mormon crickets are natural components of

this ecosystem. However, their populations can reach outbreak levels and cause serious economic losses to rangeland forage, especially when accompanied by a drought, according to the United Sates Department of Agriculture. Todd Adams at the Oregon Agriculture Department said most of the infestation is in the southwest corner of Oregon along dry range lands. And it is the dry conditions that fuel the grasshopper population. “A lot of it is drought,” Adams said. “Grasshopper outbreaks are driven by drought.” A pesticide treatment that only targets insects is used to mitigate the infestations. “We survey where the infestation is and then we direct treatment,” Adams said. “We only spray before they become adults because

Mormon cricket control and suppression cost-sharing program. More than $4 million is allocated for suppression/ treatment and more than $800,000 for pre-treatment and post-treatment surveys. Participation in the Grasshopper and Mormon Cricket Survey and Suppression Program is open to private landowners and land managers for properties within the state of Oregon.

Courtesy photo from the USDA

The adult male grasshopper is one of the most damaging rangeland grasshoppers.

that is the most effective treatment.” While Columbia County has seen some grasshopper infestation, the usual cool, wet weather helps reduce the chances of such severe outbreaks, Adams said.

State response In response to the severe outbreak, in 2021, the Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 5561 to provide funds and resources to support a grasshopper and

How to apply Complete an Oregon grasshopper and Mormon cricket outbreak reporting form and request a site survey. https://oda.fyi/GHMC. Based on survey results, treat all or a portion of the ODA recommended acreage and location. Complete and submit

the reimbursement form and IRS form W-9 before August 1, 2022. https:// oda.direct/GHMCApp. Applicants may be reimbursed up to 75 percent of the actual cost for treatment, including product and application costs. Approved treatments are with insect growth regulator diflubenzuron. This chemical is generally of low toxicity to humans, other mammals, birds, and honeybees, according to the ODA. Visit ODA online for information about grasshoppers and Mormon crickets in Oregon, their control, and their impact on Oregon agriculture (https://oda. direct/GMC). You will also find more information about SB 5561 and the cost-share program, including details about eligibility, requirements, and scheduling.

We’re looking for a

Media Consultant to join our team in the advertising department. Email resume to Jeremy Ruark at jruark@country media.net or call 503-397-0116 to set up an interview or for more info.

The Chronicle

The Chief Columbia County’s trusted local news source

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www.thechronicleonline.com

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Scappoose, St. Helens golfers at State MIKE WEBER Chronicle Guest Article

Golfers from Scappoose High School and St. Helens High School have returned home following competition in the OnPoint Community Credit Union OSAA Class 5A Golf State Championship Tournaments May 16-17. The Special District 1 Regional Champion Scappoose High Indians concluded a historic season by qualifying a girls team for the first time ever in the state tournament at Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell. The Indians, guided by seventh-year Coach Joe Girres, took seventh place out of nine teams with a score of 870. The Northwest Oregon Conference Champion Wilsonville Wildcats won the team title with a score of 766. “It was an incredible accomplishment for the girls to qualify for the State tournament,” Girres said. “We certainly didn’t play our best golf there, because the course presented challenge’s that the girls have not seen before. There were green sized bunkers that were everywhere. They got a taste of that a little

bit at the regional (May 9-10) at Heron Lakes in Portland. Winning that event was the highlight of the season. However, Emerald Valley is called a championship course for a reason. It has unique challenges on the greens that are very difficult to read for a high school golfer that just doesn’t have the experience that others may have.” For the Indians senior trio of Dylan Deitz, Molly Hagen and Kylee Nutt, competing at State for the first time ever, they said, represented one of the biggest highlights of their Scappoose High School athletic career. “For our five seniors, it really was an exceptional year,” Girres said. “The fact is, these student athletes endured a high school career that nobody in recent history has ever faced. The abrupt stop to the school year in their sophomore year was followed by them being unable to play for an entire year. Then as juniors, they came back and played a makeshift schedule without any OSAA sanctioned events.” Having to go through a multitude of obstacles in their career and then balance being

A Scappoose High girls golf team and a St. Helens High player competed at State.

in and out of school, along with all the health regulations was a monumental task in itself, according to Girres. “I’m just so glad that they got to experience a normal golf season in their last year of school,” he said. Deitz led the Indians with her two-round score of 214, including a 104 in the first round and 110 in the second round for a 25th place individual overall finish, tying her with Catie Tassinari of the La Salle High Falcons. Hagen shot a 114 and 104 for 218

and a 31st place finish. Nutt was 32nd, which included her team best first round score of 103, followed by a 116 in the May 17 second round. “Our girls are a little more than just recreational golfers since they’re on our Scappoose High School team,” Girres said. “They’ve obviously put in a lot of work to get here. Seeing a course like that is very challenging when you don’t know all the nuances of the game. I’m not going to say we had a great tournament. It was difficult,

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and the girls were disappointed with their results and they walked off the course at the end in tears. As a coach, I am not disappointed. I’m so proud of their efforts and their ability to overcome all the obstacle’s and challenges that were on the course.” Juniors Reagan Witt and Kelsey Holcomb also contributed to the Indian’s five-member state qualifying squad with strong performances too. Witt shot a 105, followed by a 119 for total of 224 and a 35th place finish. Holcomb shot

a 118 in the first round, followed by a 114 in the second for 232 and tied for 40th place out of 58 total golfers. The Indians had two golfers competing individually in the boys Class 5A tournament at Trysting Tree Golf Course in Corvallis, as sophomore Tucker Olson and senior Caleb Glenn participated in the event. Glenn, who was competing in the final event of his Scappoose High School athletic career, shot an 82 in the first round, followed by a 78 in the second round for a total score of 160. Glenn finished tied for 14th individually with Owen Bascom of North Bend. Olson shot a first-round score of 89 and 94 in the second round for 183, tying him for 44th place overall with Drake Cummings of Redmond. St. Helens St. Helens High School junior Garrett Smith competed in the tournament and shot an 84 in the first round, followed by an 86 second round score for 170 and tying him for 26th place with Keeler Lawson of The Dalles High.

Middle school wrestlers recognized JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

It’s not just local high school student athletes being honored this year for sports team achievements. Wrestlers at St. Helens Middle School captured back-to-back District Championships. The wrestlers, led by head coaches Donnie Brummer and Jeff Andrehsen, went on to compete at State competition. Two of the boys from the team, Ethan Story, and Greg Hall, qualified for State competition. “Greg Hall had an amaz-

ing tournament,” Brummer said. “He was unseeded. He had several come from behind victories in arguably the hardest weight class in tournament (125lb class), to make the state finals. He battled hard and finished with a second-place trophy.” Story qualified for state by placing third at regionals. He participated at State but did not place. “Our girls team won second place in the state of Oregon out of 127 teams and two third place finishes,” Brummer said. In the following interview, Brummer gives us his insight into middle school

wrestling.

The Chronicle: Why do you believe middle school wrestling is important for the students? Donnie Brummer: Wrestling mirrors life better than any other sport. It is you versus the competition. The separation is in the preparation. The better you prepare the more likely it is you will win. There are lessons in every match, win or lose. The Chronicle: What do you hope the students take away from their middle school sports experience

that they can use as real-life lessons? Brummer: We hope each and every wrestler we coach learns that you get what you earn. If you want something, find a way to work for it. Live inside the work. Find little ways to work more. The Chronicle: As a middle school coach, what do you take away from your experience guiding the students?

Brummer: Coaching the St. Helens Middle School team is our investment in our local community. A

child that goes through our program will know what it looks like to set goals and to work hard toward those goals. We focus on correct behavior, celebrate academic achievement, and continually coach them to fight to improve themselves. I would like to also to add something about the growing sport of girls wrestling. It is the fastest growing sport in the United States. Our high school girls team mentors the middle school athletes throughout the season. The high school team recently hired their own coaches and are having great success early in our communities’ new program.

The St. Helens wrestling program owe so much to Greg and Amy Grabois for tirelessly working to improve the youth, middle school and high school program. Youth wrestling is provided to our St. Helens community completely free of cost thanks to the hard work by Greg and Amy. Donated wrestling shoes, wrestling uniforms, mat time with our experienced coaches, and joining the St. Helens wrestling family is completely free for our kids. For more information, contact St. Helens Middle School at 503-366-7300.

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