Unusual gift
Airpark development
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The Chronicle
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
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Serving Columbia County since 1881
Local couple launch family farm JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Matthew Feinkind and Panthea Bishop have a passion for farming. The two former New Jersey residents are working to make plants and vegetables grow as first generation farmers at their small two-acre family operation located at 34387 Bennett Road in Warren. They are doing so during an era when many farm operations across the nation have gone out of business or are on the brink of financial disaster. Overcast Farm is primarily a vegetable farm operation, growing for 20 families using a CSA vegetable box subscription system as well as supplying a few downtown Portland restaurants, according to Matthew. “CSA means Community Supported Agriculture,” Panther said. “The subscription is a 24-week, once a week box of veggies they either pick up, or that we deliver. We vary what veggies are in the box as things are in their prime.” “We also offer flower bouquets at our farm stand on the weekends and some tea and herb blends,” he said.
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Local firefighters return JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Columbia County fire crews have returned after assisting other crews from around the state at the Mosier Creek wildfire in the Columbia River Gorge. A 13-member crew from Columbia County fire agencies and a command officer were sent to the nearly 1,000-acre blaze Thursday, Aug. 13. Columbia County Fire & Rescue interim Fire Chief Eric Smythe said the local crews were working 15hour a day shifts. “They were supporting line construction, improving defense positions and conducting patrols,” he said. Smythe described the terrain at the fire scene as dangerous. “There are hills with stands of ponderous pine and oak with lots of dry fuels, grasses and other vegetation” he said. “Fire can make a very fast uphill run. Sometimes they can’t see the main fire and there is the potential that the fire could run over them, so they have to be very vigilant.” Smythe said the local crews are specially trained for such wildfire activity. The Mosier Creek wildfire is believed to be human caused. It broke out Wednesday afternoon and forced the evacuation of 900 people and destroyed at least four structures near the town of Mosier in the Columbia River Gorge. Smythe said the wildfire danger is increasing in Columbia County due to the current heat wave, summer drying conditions, and winds. “Until we get substantial rain for four, five or six days, we have to be vigilant,” Smythe said. Outdoor burning is banned in the county and residents should avoid mowing to help prevent wildfires, Smythe said. Governor Kate Brown visited the site of the Mosier Creek Fire in Wasco County on Monday, Aug. 17. Brown received a fire briefing, visited the fire line, met with a family whose home was lost, and saw firsthand the staff of the COVID fire module in action. The COVID module is a new tool for firefighting during the pandemic. This tool allows firefighters to focus on firefighting, while the members of the COVID module focus
See FIREFIGHTERS Page A4
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Farming challenges
Who We Are
Matthew adds that family farming in Columbia County is challenging. “While everyone likes to paint a rosy picture of local agriculture right now, it’s never been easy,” he said. “It took me years to find a suitable piece of property to grow
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Panthea Bishop harvesting carrots at the Overcast Farm at Warren.
See FARM Page A9
New pandemic details emerge CHRISTINE MENGES chronicle2@countrymedia.net
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The results indicate a “substantial” proportion of Oregon residents have undiagnosed and unreported infection from COVID-19.
COVID-19 exposure study STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net
As of mid-June, 1% of Oregonians without COVID-19 had evidence of past infection of the virus in their blood, which is 10 times higher than the reported rate of infections obtained through conventional testing, according to a new study. Oregon Health Authority (OHA) epidemiologists who authored the study, found that nine of 897 blood specimens collected from 19 health care facilities around Oregon between May 11 and June 15, 2020, contained antibodies against the virus that causes COVID-19. The study also suggested that rates of infection increased with
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age, with no antibodies detected in the blood of pediatric patients 17 and younger. The rate was 0.4-0.5% in those ages 18-64; and 1.6-2.1% in those 65 and older. The results indicate a “substantial” proportion of Oregon residents have undiagnosed and unreported infection from COVID-19. “We suspected that a much larger segment of Oregon’s population has been exposed to and infected with COVID-19 than traditional diagnostic testing shows,” said Paul Cieslak, M.D., a study co-author and OHA medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations. “But these results also tell
See EXPOSURE Page A6
Governor Kate Brown and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) have issued revised guidance requiring face coverings or face shields for employees in private office spaces, in addition to public office spaces. The guidance requires face coverings in public and private building hallways, bathrooms, elevators, lobbies, break rooms, and other common spaces, unless employees are at individual work spaces or in meeting rooms where six feet of distance from other people can be maintained. The revised guidance also provides an exception for face coverings, allowing for the brief removal of face coverings in situations where someone’s identity needs to be confirmed for visual comparison, such as interactions in banks or with law enforcement. Columbia County public health officials are urging residents to be vigilant and continue to follow state mandates designed to slow the COVID-19 pandemic. Oregon’s 381st COVID-19 death is a 55-year-old man in Columbia County who tested positive on Aug. 7 and died on Aug. 9 at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed. The virus-related death is the first in Columbia County from
the pandemic. Under state and federal health restrictions, the name of the patient and where he lived has not been made public. “We send our condolences to the family and want to assure the community that we in Columbia County are committed to keeping our citizens safe from COVID-19 as we continue to move forward through this pandemic,” Columbia County Board of Commission Chair Alex Tardif said. Columbia County Public Health Director Michael Paul said the death should remind residents of the reality that the virus is present and spreading in the community. “Statewide data indicates large outbreaks have contributed a diminishing proportion of recent cases, and sporadic cases - or those not linked to another case - have increased,” Paul said. “An increase in sporadic cases is consistent with community spread. Although recent data and state announcements indicate there is a leveling of transmission statewide, the virus continues to spread locally. It continues to cause loss of life in Oregon.” Paul is urging residents to continue to protect themselves, those in their household and fellow community members by wearing face coverings, practicing physical distancing, avoiding large gatherings, and
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