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Fifth-graders launch miniboats

Don’t forget

Daylight Savings

Fire Chief Mike Greisen retires after 45 years of dedicated service

to sail across ocean

November 3

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The Chronicle

Opinions A4 • Out & About A5 • Obituaries A6 • TV Guide A7 • Classified Ads A8 • Public Notices A9 • Blotters A9 • Little Spooks Parade A10

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Two CCSO officials placed on administrative leave JULIE THOMPSON chronicle1@countrymedia.net

Two members of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) have been placed on administrative leave for unrelated issues due to personnel matters, according to Sheriff Brian Pixley. Pixley said the move to place Corrections Officer Sgt. Carolyn Townsend and Jail Commander Cpt.

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Little Spooks Parade 2019

Tony Weaver on leave was prompted by two separate complaints the office received. He said there is no criminal investigation underway, and currently, there are no disciplinary actions being taken. The sheriff said he has appointed an acting jail commander to fill Weaver’s spot in the interim. Pixley said the complaints are being taken seriously and more information will be released pending a personnel investigation.

ShoeString troupe faces closure of permanent home

Christine Menges/The Chronicle

Mayor Rick Scholl, Little Spooks Parade Grand Marshal, poses with a parade participant on Saturday, Oct. 26. See winners on A10.

County fire units deployed to California

Photo: ShoeString Community Players

The ShoeBox Theater, which ShoeString Community Players moved into only last year, will most likely no longer serve as headquarters for the theater troupe. CHRISTINE MENGES chronicle2@countrymedia.net

ShoeString Community Players, a St. Helens-based non-profit theater troupe, which recently celebrated its one-year anniversary of having a permanent home, is now on the brink of losing it. The ShoeBox Theater, located at 231 S. 1st Street in St. Helens, has been home to the ShoeString Players since September of last year, according to Shannon Vaerewyck, President of ShoeString Community Players. The home, which celebrated its grand opening in March of this year, provided permanent storage and rehearsal space for the theater group. Before moving into their space last year, the ShoeString Players were homeless, moving from place to place to secure practice space. Sometimes that meant

practicing in garages or driveways, or even in Vaerewyck’s store, Bertucci’s. The troupe was usually able to secure performance space, such as the Deer Island Manor or the Loo Wit Room at St. Helens High School. Sometimes, though, they would have to secure last-minute performance space, usually performing in Vaerewyck’s driveway. The troupe has been part of St. Helens for a long time, having first formed in 1982. Vaerewyck was one of the charter members when the group was first founded, and she has been on the board of directors off and on since then. Over the years, the troupe has called many different places home. First, they were in the old Episcopal Church on the corner of Plaza Square, where they stayed for many years before their landlord changed their requirements, and they had to move. Then they were established in the Pythian ballroom, on the upper floor of 2Cs Vendor Market. That building was then sold to different owners and the troupe had to move again. Since then, the troupe has been homeless, using storage units to store their props, but continuing to do productions and find rehearsal space wherever they can. Vaerewyck, who had been on a leave of absence from the troupe last year, said the previous board did not anticipate the difficulty that their new space posed. “We’re not architects, we’re not

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See SHOESTRING Page A6

Courtesy photo

Local crews gathered on the morning of Oct. 27 before deploying to California to join the firefighting efforts against nine confirmed wildfires across the state. JULIE THOMPSON chronicle1@countrymedia.net

The Columbia County Taskforce was deployed on the morning of Oct. 27 on orders from the Oregon State Fire Marshals Office (OSFM) to help fight wildfires in California. Four Columbia County units in total were sent to provide aid – one from Scappoose Fire District, two from Columbia River Fire & Rescue (CRFR) and one from MistBirkenfeld Rural Fire Protection District. According to CRFR, a unit from Clatsop County was deployed as well. CRFR Communications Officer Jennifer Motherway said these crews have been assigned to the Kincade Fire in California’s Sonoma County. According to California news outlets as of Tuesday morning, Oct. 29, The Kincade Fire had spread to 75,415 acres and was

HOLIDAY MEAL DEAL Vol. 137, No. 44

1111 Columbia Blvd, St Helens, OR 97051 • 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

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15 percent contained. OSFM said the fire had forced the evacuation of approximately 18,000 people. Crews had been assigned to support efforts to mitigate structure threats and construct control lines. Oregon resources deployed to the Kincade Fire worked on stretching hose lines, conducted burn out operations and extinguishing hot spots on Oct. 28. According to OSFM, nine strike teams, represented by Assistant Chief Les Hallman of Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, are responding to the Kincade Fire. “It’s very humbling to be a part of a large-scale mobilization of resources and see how quickly Oregon can respond in a time of need,” State Fire Marshal Jim Walker said via press release. “To assemble 75 fire engines and 271 firefighters in a matter of hours to respond to our neighbors in need is extraordinary. I appreciate the more than 60 fire

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agencies that answered the call, the work of our OSFM staff and Office of Emergency Management in assembling the response, and Chief Hallman of Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue and Chief Ruiz-Temple of OSFM in providing support for our firefighters while deployed to California. I truly appreciate all that you do.” Firefighters are currently battling nine confirmed wildfires in the State of California, according to local reports. A total of 103,823 acres are still on fire, making up more than 162 square miles. On Sunday, Gov. Gavin Newsom, of California, declared a State of Emergency due to “an historic wind event” that struck California, “resulting in nearly statewide red flag warnings due to extremely dangerous fire weather conditions.” OSFM said the deployment of Oregon resources could last as long as 16 days.

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