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TRIBUTE TO NONPROFITS Pages A12-14

$1.50

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

thechronicleonline.com

Serving Columbia County since 1881

Alleged kidnapper arrested STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

An Aug. 12 court date is set for a Portland man facing numerous criminal charges including kidnapping during an incident in St. Helens. According to St. Helens Police, at 5:39 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4, officers received a report of a shirtless male running through residential yards in the area of Columbia Boulevard in St. Helens. Oregon State Police assisted St. Helens officers in conducting an area search for the male. According to police, the suspect, identified as Jesse Ryan Brower-Gillpatrick, 31, held a knife to a victim on West Street and demanded a vehicle ride to the McCormick Park Apartments at 1691 Old Portland Road and to Motel 6 at 535 S. Columbia River Highway. Investigators said BrowerGillpatrick then released the victim. There were no reported injuries at the time of the victim’s release and police did not publicly released the name of the victim. Police were able to locate Brower-Gillpatrick outside Motel 6 where he attempted to flee from officers. Following a short pursuit, officers were able to catch Brower-Gillpatrick and take him into custody without further incident. Brower-Gillpatrick was lodged at Columbia County Jail on charges of Robbery I, Disorderly Conduct II, Menacing, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Criminal Trespass II, Unlawful Use of a Vehicle, Resisting Arrest, Theft III, Coercion, Kidnapping II, and Theft II. As of Monday. Aug. 9, he remained incarcerated at the jail awaiting the 1:30 p.m. Aug. 12 court hearing at Columbia County Circuit Court in St. Helens. Investigators said the investigation was ongoing and additional charges may be filed. Police are asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact the St. Helens Police Department at 503-397-1521.

Citizens Day 2021 Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

St. Helens Mayor Rick Scholl serves up a burger to a waiting community member during the 2021 Citizens Day in the Park. Members of the St. Helens City Council hosted the event at McCormick Park Saturday, Aug. 7, with support from city agency members and volunteers. See more photos on page 11 and at thechroniceonline.com.

Reaching the $10,000 goal JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

Supporters of the St. Helens High School Band Program are hoping the Saturday, Aug. 7, can and bottle drive and a GoFundMe account will help in their efforts to replace a supply trailer stolen from the high school in mid July. Organizers said they are overwhelmed with the community support that included donations of dozens of large plastic bags packed with cans and bottles that filled a portion of the school’s parking lot at the Saturday event. “We think once we take in the cans and bottles we received we have come close to reaching our goal of $10,000,” St. Helens High School Band Director Noelle Freshner said. “This community and Lions from all over have been unbelievable in the wake of this. We meet alumni this weekend from across the area who

drove in from as far as Vancouver and Gresham to donate to us!” The cans an bottles will be submitted for recycling and the money earned will go toward replacing the St. Helens Band Patrols supply trailer, which included two large marching band and color guard changing tents, a large food tent, tent sidewalls, tent rain drains, spare tent pieces, 100 buckets for students to sit on during performance breaks, shelving, three roaster pans, a microwave, various food service items, bottle and can drive PVC stands, bags, and supplies. The value of the stolen trailer is $10,000. As of Monday, Aug. 9, the stolen trailer and supplies had not been located and police were continuing to ask for any information from the public that might help solve the crime. Those wishing to make a financial donation can do so through the group’s GoFundMe account at: www. gofundme.com/f/st-helens-bandpatrons-fundraiser.

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

Stacks of bagged cans and bottles filled a portion of the parking lot at St. Helens High School Saturday during the donation drive.

Quick action stops remote wildfire Courtesy photo St. Helens Police

Jesse Ryan Brower-Gillpatrick

Opinion ..................... A4 Poll ............................ A4 Garden Plots ........... A5 Obituaries ................. A6 TV Guide ................... A7 Classified Ads ......... A8 Legals .................... A8-9 Citizens Day ......... A10 Sports & Outdoors A11 Nonprofit Guide A12-14

STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

Following several calls to Columbia County 911 from citizens, Scappoose Rural Fire Protection District (SRFPD) crews rushed to a brush fire on Scappoose Vernonia Highway near milepost 10. Fire crews arrived in under 12 minutes after the 4:20 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 3 dispatch call to the fire that was burning in grass and brush and moving toward a timbered area. “The fire was in a very rural area on the western most edge of the fire district,” according to SRFPD Chief Jeff Pricher. “The adjacent fuels were timber and brush, but the terrain included slopes of over 20% grade.

At the time of arrival, the wind gusts were 14 miles an hour, temperature was 95 degrees, humidity was 32% and the probability of ignition was 60%. The potential for rapid rate of spread was significant.” Pricher said fire crews were able to contain the fire by using hand tools and chain saws and stretching fire hoses around the wildfire. Despite the quick knockdown of the blaze, Pricher said it still took over five hours to mop up, which is extinguishing or removing burning material near control lines, felling snags, and trenching logs to prevent rolling after an area has burned and to ­­­­ See WILDFIRE Page A2

Courtesy photo from Scappoose Fire

Crews work to contain the wildfire as it spreads toward a timbered section.

Vol. 139, No. 32

ColumbiaCountyOR.Gov/Vaccine | 503-397-7247


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