Memorial Day 2021
Witt investigation report released Page A2
INSIDE
2021
Presented by
The Chronicle & The Chief
$1.50
Wednesday, May 26, 2021
thechronicleonline.com
Serving Columbia County since 1881
Public safety facility fee passes
Pandemic business impact
AURORA BIGGERS chronicle2@countrymedia.net
St. Helens is preparing to fund construction of a new public safety facility at Kaster Road and Old Portland Road. City officials have stated that the current police station is outdated and to meet increasing public service demands, the new facility is needed. The department employs 23 staff members in the 2,200 square foot building constructed in 1971. The proposed public safety facility would expand to 22,000 square feet and include space for the municipal court, city council chamber and a community room. Over the last few months the city has conducted public meetings and offered a community survey to gain citizens comments about the project. The facility has been controversial among some residents who have questioned the need for the new facility and others who suggest voters should be allowed the opportunity to vote on such an ordinance, but the city council is moving forward with the plans. On Wednesday, May 19, during a regular work session, Deputy City Administrator Matt Brown presented the financial recommendation of the ad hoc committee. The city has two potential options—a $27.8 million, 20year loan, including interest: or a $23.3 million, 30-year loan, including interest. The distinction between the two plans, other than a $4.5 million discrepancy, is the amount for the fee charged to residents’ water bills to supplement the loan payments. If the city chooses to go with the 30year loan, residents won’t notice a difference in their water bill—the $2 public safety facility fee will replace the already existing $2 recreation fee. Alternatively, if the city selects the 20-year loan, residents will be charged $4.25 on top of their water bill ($2.25 more than their current bill with the recreation fee). The ad hoc committee’s recommendation to the city, said Brown, is to adopt the 30-year plan, so residents won’t incur an additional fee. The city council won’t adopt a plan yet, but Mayor Rick Scholl voiced concern over selecting the longer loan. “[The 30-year loan] would be less painful for people that are already used to it, but 4.5 million is a lot of money,” he said. Brown explained to council that they would have the option after the tenth year to pay the loan to pay it off, potentially saving the city money. “Just because we take a 30year loan doesn’t mean we have to take 30 years to pay it off,” Brown said. Originally, the city council was expecting the additional water bill fee to be between $6 and $11 dollars, but Brown expects See ORDINANCE Page A5 Opinions ........................ A4
Poll .................................. A4 TV Guide ......................... A5 Classified Ads ............... A6
Crossword ..................... A6
Legals ............................ A7 Obituaries ....................... A9
Sports ........................... A12
Vol. 139, No. 21
AURORA BIGGERS chronicle2@countrymedia.net
Oregon’s first real grappling with the pandemic hit in mid-March—a perfect spring weekend which drove Oregonians to the coast like Floridian spring breakers with arguably better coffee. Up until that point, Gov. Kate Brown had largely appealed to the good nature and sense of her fellow Oregonians. “I asked and urged Oregonians to stay home,” Brown said in a conference call with reporters, following the spring breaker weekend. “On Friday night, I frankly directed them to stay home. And now I am ordering them to stay home.” Illustration courtesy of the Oregon Health Authority
New face masks guidelines The state’s newest guidance on the issue came after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced fully vaccinated individuals can safely remove their masks in many instances. “Under the updated guidance, people who are fully vaccinated will no longer be required to wear a mask indoors in most public settings where vaccination status is checked. In indoor public set tings where vaccination status is
ZACK DEMARS world3news@countrymedia.net JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Oregon businesses, employers and faith institutions must review proof of vaccination in order to ease up on state masking and social distancing rules, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced Tuesday, May 18.
not checked, masks will still be required,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger. Sidelinger addressed questions about the new policy in a press briefing Tuesday. Here are some answers to a few top questions about the seismic shift in state policy, according to Sidelinger and the state’s guidance.
I am not going to be the mask police. ~ Tom Colvins, Colvins Pub & Grill owner
Initial pandemic impact
See MASKS Page A8
All over the state, businesses were shuttering—to follow mounting COVID-19 guidelines and Brown’s executive order. Bowling alleys, gyms, gift shops, malls, spas, senior centers, and theaters were all scrambling, with virtually no alternate means of operating. The exception: restaurants. Restaurants and bars were left in a space of liminality. Most had closed several weeks prior, via an earlier order from Brown, but were still operating with take-out and delivery services. Still, the guidelines were constantly shifting. Restaurant owners and managers were caught in a perpetual cycle of innumerable calculations. Open for dining outside? Closed until dinner? Open just on weekends? Close indefinitely or shut down permanently? No matter how they sliced the numbers, the options just weren’t in their favor. Restaurants with patios were in luck, those without were less so. Quaint little breakfast cafes were dwarfed by larger facilities. And all across the industry, restaurants were scaling back—guidelines or no—as a new wave of home cooking emerged in every socially distant and quarantined home. In Columbia County, the restaurant industry’s own unique struggle perfectly encapsulated the ecliptic cycle presented by COVID-19, changing restrictions and guidelines, and the individual navigation of each restaurant.
13 Nights riverfront music returns
Chronicle photo
Curtis Salgado closes the 2018 “13 Nights on the River” series before a packed house at the Columbia View Park in St. Helens. AURORA BIGGERS chronicle2@countrymedia.net
St. Helens’ annual summer music event now for 10 years, 13 Nights on the River, is returning for summer 2021. Last year, the event was delayed due to COVID-19 concerns, and the concert was scaled back to meet the state and county
guidelines. This year, the COVID-19 guidelines are more relaxed, but 13 Nights will still maintain current safety measures, city events coordinator Tina Curry said. “Since the concerts are outdoors we will still be encouraging distancing and masks. Of course, we have hand sanitizers available as well. The CDC says that outdoor transmission is practically non-
Navigating the restrictions
existent as of late. However, we will remain as we did last year.” Due to Governor Kate Brown’s Phase 2 guidelines, events at venues have been limited to 250 people gathered outside provided they follow certain guidelines, such as six
Plymouth Pub, 298 S. First Street in St. Helens, had only been open for one year when COVID-19 hit, owner Brad Rakes said. For Plymouth, alternative methods of operating, like take-out service, was incremental in the restaurant’s survival post-one
See MUSIC Page A11
See COVID-19 Page A4
10th Annual 2021 Columbia County
Business
Guide The 2021 Columbia County Business guide is a full color, glossy magazine that showcases local business and highlights current news events. It is the go-to reference for visitors, newcomers, residents, and potential customers of Columbia County. The Chronicle
The Chief
PUBLICATION DATES: CHRONICLE: JUNE 23, CHIEF: JUNE 25 AD DEADLINE: JUNE 9
For space reservation, contact Amy: 503-397-0116 or atrull@countrymedia.net