A look at active shooter readiness and gun laws in Oregon
Cornelius Pass set to reopen Oct. 18
with Chief Greenway and Sheriff Pixley
Page A2
Page A5 Out & About A3
•
The Chronicle
Opinions A4
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
• Viewpoints A4-5
• Obituaries A6
• TV Guide A7
• Classified Ads A8
• Public Notices A9
• Blotters A9
$1
thechronicleonline.com
Serving Columbia County since 1881
Special election guide CHRISTINE MENGES chronicle2@countrymedia.net
Another election is coming up for Columbia County residents. Nov. 5, 2019 is the date for the Special Election, which will be an all-measure ballot. Four measures will be available to Columbia County voters. Three of the measures are city-specific, and one is geared toward the entire county. The City of Scappoose will have measure 5-275 on their ballot, a three-cent fuel tax for street repairs and safety projects. If passed, the measure will tax residents three cents per gallon of fuel for fuel purchased in the city in order to fund street repairs and pedestrian safety projects, including sidewalks, according to the ballot summary. “Many of the city’s streets were built more than 40 years ago and are deteriorating,” the measure summary states. “The tax revenue may only be used for construction, reconstruction, improvement, repair and maintenance of streets and sidewalks within the city.” The measure also states the tax will sunset, or end, after 10 years. In Rainier, residents will vote on measure 5-276, which concerns a five-year local option tax for cemetery operations at the Rainier Cemetery District. According to the measure, the Rainier Cemetery District five-year local option tax would impose a $0.07 per $1,000 of assessed property value for five years to fund cemetery operations. The measure also sates the tax might cause property taxes to increase by more than three percent. “Without this additional revenue the district will be unable to replace equipment and hire additional staff required for the operation of the district’s twelve cemeteries,” the measure summary states. The five-year tax will raise a total of $540,735, according to the measure summary. Measure 26-206 renews a fiveyear local option levy for general operating purposes of the Sauvie Island Rural Fire Protection District (RFPD). This measure asks residents to approve a continuation of a $0.35 per $1,000 of assessed property value for five years of operation of the district. The measure would begin 2020-2021 and renews current local option taxes. “Anticipated uses of funds include state required medical testing for all firefighters, required Federal and OSHA testing of equipment and of firefighters use of equipment, physical testing of firefighters and their abilities, annual servicing and safety inspections of vehicles and equipment, including funds for replacement, and continuing volunteer training and certification,” the measure states.
Local Korean War Veteran honored with Quilt of Valor JULIE THOMPSON chronicle1@countrymedia.net
A long-time Columbia City local and Korean War veteran was recently honored with a Quilt of Valor for his four years of dedicated service in the United States Navy. Raymond Edwards, 88, enlisted in the Navy in January of 1951 in Portland, at just 19-years-old. He completed boot camp in San Diego and then came home to marry his high school sweetheart, Jannette. However, just days after his wedding, he was off to California to participate in the recommissioning of the destroyer U.S.S. Halsey Powell. According to Edwards’ grandson, Brandon Sundeen of the Columbia County Museum and Historical Association, the Halsey Powell had been in commission during WWII and was hit by a Japanese kamikaze plane. The Navy saw increased demands as a result of the Korean War and the ship was
recommissioned on April 27, 1951 before shipping overseas to join Task Force 77 – the aircraft battle/ strike force of the United States Seventh Fleet. Edwards, a Boatswain Mate, spent three tours of duties overseas on the Halsey Powell – most of it spent being sent off to the Korean coast to participate in shore bombardments and screening duties where the ship earned two battle stars. The destroyer, acting as plane guard and screening ship, allowed the carrier planes to keep pressure on the Communist lines and shore installations. The Halsey Powell took part in bombardments of Suwon Dam, Wonsan, Hungnam and other areas. The Halsey Powell, with Edwards aboard, left for her second tour in Korea in October 1952 and spent the next seven months taking part in shore bombardment and screening duties. In January of 1953, the crew of the Halsey Powell rescued ten airmen who had been shot down and
were in enemy waters. Edwards was discharged in November 1954, 65 years ago this fall, after nearly four years of service. Sundeen said his grandfather missed many important family milestones during his service, including time with his new wife whom he wrote to nearly every day, the birth of his firstborn son, and the death of his father. Edwards was awarded his Quilt of Valor in the lobby of Avamere in St. Helens in the presence of residents and 24 family members that included four generations. The quilt, stitched in red, white and blue to form the “Three Tours” pattern, was presented to Edwards by Maureen Orr Eldred, her husband Robert Eldred, and Polly Sprague. The Quilts of Valor Foundation began in 2003, and are not just any quilts. Inspired by founder Catherine Roberts’ dream of seeing a despairing soldier comforted by a quilt which shifted his demeanor to one of hope and wellbeing, the first one was awarded in November
2003 to a young Minnesota soldier who had lost his leg in Iraq. “The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor,” the foundation’s website states, and since their inception, they have given out over 230,000 quilts in all 50 states. Sundeen said he nominated his grandfather after he learned about the organization last year through an article that recounted a similar ceremony. He said he did some research and felt like it was a great organization doing a great thing for our veterans. “I’ve always enjoyed learning about my grandpa’s military service and have asked him many questions over the years,” Sundeen said. “It’s nice to see veterans honored at their funeral service, but I wanted him to receive some recognition while he’s still here with us, and to let him know that his family and community appreciate his service.”
Perry Technical Institute in talks for potential siting in Columbia County CHRISTINE MENGES chronicle2@countrymedia.net
See ELECTION Page A9
Perry Technical Institute, a private not-for-profit technical school based in Yakima, Washington, could be establishing a satellite campus in Columbia County, although plans are still very tentative at the moment. “It’s not set in stone yet, but it’s certainly going down the right path,” Douglas Hayes, executive director for the Port of Columbia County said. Hayes said the Port has been in talks with Perry Tech since May of this year. During the Wednesday,
Vol. 137, No. 40
Courtesy photos
Raymond Edwards, 88, of Columbia City, was honored with a Quilt of Valor surrounded by four generations of his family.
Sept. 25 Port work session, Hayes mentioned representatives from Perry Tech would be visiting Columbia County next week, and said they were very interested in establishing a satellite campus. The representatives will have a table at Manufacturing Day, an event hosted by the Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center (OMIC), on Oct. 4. Hayes said they will also be meeting with the Port that day, and there is an additional follow-up meeting scheduled for November. Hayes was the party who initiated contact with Perry Tech. “I always felt that having a technical school here would be a great fit for the community,” Hayes said. “Not everyone wants to go to a four-year college, but they want to be trained in a skill that would be profitable.” Christine Cote, President of Perry Tech, said while the technical college is still in the initial stages of exploring a satellite campus option, they were interested in branching out because their current school is at capacity. “We have more students than ever in the history of the school,” Cote said, adding the school has wait-
ing lists for some programs. “In the electrical program, if you walked in today it would be March of 2021 before you could get a spot.” There have been two visits between the parties so far, with Hayes visiting their current campus, and Perry Tech having visited Columbia County two weeks ago to tour some property. It is still not yet finalized where the site of the satellite campus would be, Hayes said. According to Cote, the Perry Tech campus has been operating for 80 years as a single campus. “We’ve never branched out at all, and it’s a very big step if we are to do that,” Cote said. Cote said the school is also in talks with the Port of Kalama, in Washington. Hayes mentioned he had reached out to another technical school, but the process was going more slowly with that institution. He said he is still hopeful with getting the other school to establish itself in Columbia County as well, and he believes the two schools can complement each other. Provided that the process moves forward with establishing a Perry
Tech satellite campus, the first step would be to create a Letter of Intent (LOI). The LOI would allow the Port to do some detailed studies and design work when it comes to land and building designs, Hayes said. After that, the next step would be to develop a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), or even a lease. It is likely that when the satellite campus is established, it will start with three or four incubator-type classes to get started before growing from there, although Hayes noted that Perry Tech is interested in having a conversation with local industries to determine what would be the best startup classes for the institution. While the primary goal of establishing the campus is to provide an additional educational opportunity for students, Hayes said he thinks the campus could serve as a catalyst for bringing more business as well, as well as benefiting already existing businesses. “Something like this would be a benefit to OMIC and industries within the county, as well as the greater Portland region to have a trained workforce available,” Hayes said.
NEXT WEEK
Truckload Meat Sale centerplacemarket.com/sthelens.html • 1111 Columbia Blvd, St Helens, OR 97051 • 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.