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Christmas Ships Parade returns

Photo Courtesy of Christmas Ships Parade, Oregon Heritage Commission and Stephen Cridland

The colorful ships line the docks at a previous Christmas Ships Parade event in St. Helens.

ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net

After facing its share of pandemic difficulties, the annual Christmas Ships Parade along the Columbia and Willamette Rivers will bring a resurgence of holiday cheer to Columbia County in December.

In 2020, the parade was conducted, but all meet and greet events and open house activities were canceled due to the pandemic.

The 2021 Christmas Ships Parade will mark its 67th year with an Oregon Heritage Tradition designation by the Oregon Heritage Commission.

“We are proud to continue as the longest continuously operating lighted boat parade in the U.S.,” Christmas Ships Parade Board and fleet member Kelly Marks said.

The parade kicks off on Dec. 11 in St. Helens and Dec. 12 in Scappoose. Marks told The Chronicle the event will proceed “business as usual,” with organizers anticipating a high turnout this year.

It represents family, community, celebration and hope. It is a positive and uplifting experience unlike any other. ~ Kelly Marks, Christmas Ships Parade “We are still receiving participant registrations, so it’s too early to confirm numbers,” Marks said. “At this point, we estimate that there will be

between 70 and 90 boats this year.”

The event draws in both first time and past parade participants.

“Parade participants tend to return each year – several have been parading for over 40 years,” Marks said. “Quite a few have made this a multigenerational tradition, with the children of previous (parade participants) returning with their own boats and families to parade with us.”

Route details 6 p.m. Dec. 11 St. Helens - The combined fleet (Columbia River and Willamette River Fleets) assembles at St. Helens City Docks and heads downriver to Columbia City, and weather/river conditions permitting crosses to the Washington side and the RV Park, then returns to St. Helens City Docks.

The fleet is out about two hours.

Ships remain overnight at St. Helens City Docks and leave Sunday for the trip up Multnomah Channel.

Parade organizers list the following outdoor viewing locations in Columbia County for the Christmas Ships parade: • Columbia Courthouse - Above the St. Helens City Docks • Columbia View Park - South of the courthouse parking lot • Sand Island - Access the river from St. Helens • Caples House Museum - 1925 First St., Columbia City • Pixie Park - Columbia City History

1954 and has since grown to over 70 participating boats as of 2020. The entirely volunteer operated event runs for 15 nights during December and travels the Willamette and Columbia Rivers in the Portland Metro area providing opportunities for communities to view it from the river front, restaurants, parks, neighborhoods and waysides along the rivers.

In a Dec. 2020 edition of The Chronicle, Oregon Heritage Commission’s Chair Chelsea Rose explained how the parade became part of Oregon’s cultural fabric.

“The designation recognizes those traditions that have helped define the character of the state,” Rose said. “The Christmas Ships Parade ties into the importance of ­­­­

The Christmas Ships Parade began with one decorated sailboat in

See SHIPS Page A5

Replacing 9-1-1 Communication tower equipment JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

Courtesy photo

The equipment on large 911 Columbia County communication towers, such as this one, is slowly being replaced for more efficient operations.

A long-term process to replace the Columbia 9-1-1 Communication District’s 20-year old aging radio system is slowly proceeding.

The system utilizes 12 land towers anchored in various points across Columbia County and two towers in Washington state. But over the years, the ability of the system to effectively support emergency communications between law enforcement, fire and ambulance first responders continues to deteriorate.

“We have the ability to dispatch, but once they get on the road they can encounter poor or no radio coverage,” Columbia 9-1-1 Communication District Executive

Director Mike Fletcher said. “The equipment is failing and needs to be replaced. The parts that are failing aren’t made anymore, so we literally have to find replacement parts online to keep it going.”

The failing system impacts the ability of first responders to reach people requesting 911 services, according to Fletcher.

“All of this communication system is what police, fire and medics rely on,” Fletcher said. “Our goal is to replace it with new and modern equipment and improve radio coverage.”

The towers “Most people think of the system as those big towers spread across the county with transmitters

beneath them and antennas on the towers,” Fletcher said.

The system’s portable and mobile radios are also being replaced.

“The portables are what you see on the hips of police officers and on the outside of firefighters’ uniforms.

The mobiles are radios inside the first responders’ vehicles,” he said.

The system’s microwave antennas, large round dishes attached to the towers, are currently being replaced in a phased in process.

“The microwave antennas support the push-to-talk radios, the portables and mobiles, they tie all of the towers together by simulcasting the voice and video,” Fletcher said.

The District published a Request for Information (RFI) in 2018 seeking responses from communication

vendors. Three vendors responded with options to replace the existing towers and radio systems. In 2019, the District conducted public meetings in St. Helens and one-on-one needs assessments with all stakeholders of the system.

The District then contracted last spring with Federal Engineering, an independent firm, to conduct an assessment of the communication system.

“They looked at what we have today, where our equipment is, the history of the existing radio system, and the proposals from vendors who offered replacement options,” Fletcher said.

Federal Engineering presented ­­­­ See TOWERS Page A10

‘A wonderful advocate’ - Library director to retire JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

After more than a decade of bringing the joy of reading to St. Helens, Margaret Jeffries will pass along the opportunity to someone new.

Jeffries announced her retirement as St. Helens Library Director at the end of October and is set to retire at the end of January.

“This year, my dad turned 96, and with a pandemic, I hadn’t been able to see him,” Jeffries said, of her reason for leaving. “He lives across the country. And I think the pandemic gave me an opporOpinions ................... A4 Holiday Events ........ A4 Obituaries ................. A5 Classified Ads ......... A6 Legals ....................... A6 Garden Plots ............ A7 Readers Choice ..... A10

tunity to reflect about the desire to spend more time with him and other family members, of course, but I felt that this was the right time for me to step away from work.”

Jeffries was hired by the city in July 2009 as a part-time St. Helens Public Library Technician, and subsequently promoted to library director in July 2010 following the resignation of the previous director.

St. Helens Public Library has seen recent innovations under Jeffries’ leadership, one example being the Sept. 30 addition of a “Makerspace” for students to learn about STEM at the library.

United Way of Columbia County Claire Catt said Jeffries has done a lot of work as a member of the advisory committee for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, an initiative to bring books to the personal libraries of kids all over Columbia County.

Dolly Parton Imagination Li-

brary was started in 2018 by United Way of Columbia County as a backbone agency providing library funding and staffing, with a bulk of the work guided by the committee, Catt said. “(Jeffries) has been a wonderful advocate for the program,” Catt said. “She has connected Dolly Parton Imagination Library not only with the work of this public library, but all of the libraries within Columbia County, really being an advocate for the libraries to be hubs where children are signed up.”

In 2019, Jeffries was recognized by the city officials for her work in tying together the community. That recognition was posted on the city’s Facebook.

“Congratulations to St. Helens Public Library Director Margaret Courtesy from the City of St. Helens

­­­­ See JEFFRIES Page A10

St. Helens Mayor Rick Scholl presents St. Helens Library Director Margaret Jeffries with a Length of Service Award Aug. 7, 2019 following recognition by the city council.

Vol. 139, No. 47

ColumbiaCountyOR.Gov/Vaccine | 503-397-7247

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Wednesday, November 24, 2021

New report highlights visitor spending

ERIK KNODER Chronicle Guest Article

Visitor spending fell to $953 billion in Northwest Oregon in 2020.

This was a decrease of 42.3% after adjusting for inflation from 2019. Visitor spending had been increasing since 2011 until the pandemic recession struck and businesses were curtailed in March of 2020.

The fall in spending in 2020 followed growth that had averaged about 3% per year since 2011. The region had seen drops in spending before, such as during the Great Recession, but nothing compared with the collapse in 2020.

Leisure and hospitality was commonly the largest

industry sector in Northwest Oregon. It provided nearly 13,300 payroll jobs on an annual average basis in 2020.

This was about 15% of all jobs (excluding self-employment) in Benton, Clatsop, Columbia, Lincoln, and Tillamook counties combined.

The two largest parts of the sector are the accommodation industry (e.g. motels and campgrounds), and the food services and drinking places industry (e.g. restaurants and bars). The industry’s health depends in large part on spending by visitors.

Visitors also spend money in other industries such as retail trade, transportation, and even health services when vacation accidents happen. But because visitors account for a smaller portion of spending in these indus-

tries, the leisure and hospitality sector is considered the bellwether for tourism.

Visitor spending peaked in 2006 at $1.37 billion (2020 dollars), and then fell 2% the next year. It was up and down during the Great Recession and recovery.

It fell to $1.29 billion in 2011 and climbed from then until the pandemic hit in 2020. Travel and occupancy restrictions reduced the number of customers available for lodging and food service businesses, and many tourism businesses closed or dramatically reduced their offerings.

Benton County had the second-largest drop in visitor spending (-57.2%) of all counties in Oregon. Benton County’s leisure and hospitality industry remains one

of the worst hit in the state.

In September 2021 industry employment remained 18% below the level of September 2019. Multnomah County (Portland) is the only metro county that has a larger loss of jobs remaining. This is probably due to changes by students at Oregon State University. In person learning is just returning to OSU and it may take a while for their leisure and work activities to return to previous levels.

Employment in the leisure and hospitality industry can provide some insight into how visitor spending is faring in 2021 – and it’s improving rapidly but is still not completely recovered.

Employment in the five counties dropped an unprecedented 55% from March to

April in 2020. Employment in April 2021 was 100% higher than the year before, but it remained 14% lower than in April 2019 – the last year before the pandemic recession. As Northwest Oregon’s leisure and hospitality headed towards the winter of 2021, employment was starting its seasonal decline.

Preliminary employment estimates show leisure and hospitality employment this September was 8% more than September 2020, but it remained 2,370 jobs below September 2019.

The long term outlook for visitor spending is good. The leisure and hospitality industry’s employment in Northwest Oregon is expected to grow 44% from 2020 to 2030. Most of that growth is based on the expectation that

the industry recover to its former level. After that, the industry’s employment will probably grow at a little less than 1% per year.

A major unknown factor will be how the pandemic recession and subsequent tight labor market will affect its adoption of labor-saving technology and business practices. Businesses may also be more likely to implement service models, such as takeaway food, that allow them more flexibility in adapting to any future pandemic. There is nothing leisurely in the work life of industry managers.

Erik Knoder is a regional economist with the Oregon Employment Department. He may be reached at 541-3515595.

Oregon Unemployment reaches ‘unusually low’ rate STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

Courtesy photo

The Oregon Employment Department reports 74,443 unemployed and 2,096,973 employed in October.

Oregon’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.4% in October, down from 4.7% in September.

The October figure is an unusually low unemployment rate for Oregon, according to the Oregon Employment Department.

Since 1976, when comparable records began, through October 2016, Oregon’s unemployment rate was never as low as 4.4%. However, during the economic expansion just prior to the pandemic recession, Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.4% or lower for the 41 consecutive months

from November 2016 through March 2020. Oregon’s unemployment rate reached a record low of 3.3% in November and December 2019.

In Oregon, nonfarm payroll employment rose by 4,700 in October, following a revised gain of 700 jobs in September.

In October, the private sector grew rapidly by adding 10,300 jobs, but that gain was diminished by a loss of 5,600 jobs in government. October’s total nonfarm employment gain was less than the average of 6,800 jobs added per month during the prior six months.

Among the major industries, leisure and hospitality and professional and business services each added close to 3,000 jobs in October. Three

other industries added more than 1,000 jobs: construction (+1,500 jobs), manufacturing (+1,400), and wholesale trade (+1,100). Government dropped by 5,600 jobs as schools still had low employment levels in October compared with two years prior.

During the past two months, hiring in local government fell well below seasonal norms, with losses totaling 8,000 jobs during September and October. This left job numbers below pre-pandemic figures. Local government education employed 129,800 in October, which was 8,900 jobs below the October 2019 number. Similarly, local government excluding education employed 93,800 in October,

which was 2,000 jobs fewer than two years prior.

Leisure and hospitality added 3,100 jobs in October, following a gain of 2,200 in September. Despite these gains, leisure and hospitality still accounts for the bulk of Oregon’s jobs not recovered since early 2020, with 30,000 jobs left to recover to reach the prior peak month of February 2020. The industry has regained 73% of jobs lost early in the pandemic.

Professional and technical services has grown rapidly throughout 2021, and the industry is now well above its pre-recession peak. This industry added 4,200 jobs during the past three months and 13,100 jobs since the low point in April 2020.

Oregon’s November revenue forecast positive, upbeat JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

The November Oregon Revenue Forecast is public and outlines progress.

“The economic recovery from the pandemic continues to be robust. Booming wage gains are now offsetting the fading federal aid.

Household incomes and consumer spending remain strong, supporting an overall bright outlook,” according to the revenue forecast summary. “The economy is set to reach full employment a year from now, or three times faster than in the aftermath of the Great Recession.”

Read the summary and the entire forecast attached to this story at thechronicleonline.com.

Gov. Kate Brown issued the following statement Wednesday, Nov. 17, as the revenue forecast was issued by the Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS), the same day the Oregon Employment Department released the states latest unemployment rate report.

“Today’s revenue forecast, along with the good news that Oregon’s unemployment rate has dropped to 4.4%, confirms that we have strong momentum for recovery from the economic impacts of COVID-19. And with a healthy ending fund balance, we have an opportunity to make targeted investments to close the gaps for Oregonians still in need,” Brown said. “We must continue to center equity in our recovery efforts to ensure that the communities dis-

proportionately impacted by the pandemic due to historic disparities.”

Brown said the next step will be discussed Oregon’s February legislative session. Brown said she has tasked a subgroup of the Racial Justice Council, that includes business owners and workers, with developing a package of workforce investments for the February session aimed at helping people get back to work and improving career paths.

“And because lack of stable housing is often the biggest barrier to getting or keeping a job, I am also continuing my conversations with legislative leaders about policy solutions to help people access and retain stable housing,” Brown said.

According to Brown, Oregon now has the opportunity to leverage state revenues with the additional federal resources that are coming from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. “(That is) setting us up for tremendous possibilities to help Oregon’s families and businesses continue to recover,” Brown said. “As we recover, we must support the communities that have been disproportionately impacted. With these critical investments from the Biden-Harris administration, we can now ensure these communities have access to good-paying jobs, affordable broadband, reliable public transit, and other essential resources.”

The Oregon Senate Republicans also released a statement concerning the revenue forecast, stating

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that every single revenue forecast since the pandemic began has exceeded expectations.

“The forecast is more of the same, but now state government coffers are being padded by inflation. The revenue forecast acknowledges that inflation is increasing the cost of living for Oregonians,” the Republican Senators statement reads.

“Inflation is devastating for working families, but pads the pockets of government,” Oregon Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend) said. “Blowout spending from federal government borrowing has given us more money than we know what to do with at the same time most working people have gotten effective pay cuts because everything

is more expensive. Yet, Democrats’ vision continues to be tax, borrow, and spend.

It’s time to give working Oregonians some relief in their family budget.”

The Senate Republicans also stated that “Oregon Democrats have consistently rejected tax relief measures that would have put more money in the pockets of working Oregonians. This year, they voted to tax stimulus checks and basic necessities, denied relief to those struggling with student loans, and denied property tax relief for veterans.”

“The state continues to get bigger budgets, but working families are struggling to make ends meet because of inflation,” State Senator Lynn Findley (RVale), member of the Senate

Finance and Revenue Committee, said. “Oregon Democrats have refused every opportunity to give working families a break. I will be reintroducing legislation to cut taxes for everyday necessities on working families. Prescription drugs, diapers, and feminine hygiene products should not be taxed.”

In September, the Oregon DAS reported a robust revenue forecast which will allow taxpayers to get a $1.9 billion kicker refund credit in the coming months.

The kicker occurs if actual state revenues exceed forecasted revenues by 2 percent or more over the twoyear budget cycle. The excess, including the 2 percent trigger amount, is returned to taxpayers through a credit on their following year’s tax re-

turn, according to the Oregon Revenue Department.

Background The Oregon Economic Forecast provides information to planners and policy makers in state agencies and private organizations for use in their decision making processes. The Oregon Revenue Forecast opens the revenue forecasting process to public review. It is the basis for much of the budgeting in state government. The forecast reports are issued four times a year.

Detailed revenue forecast documents can be found on the Oregon Legislature’s website and at the Oregon Department of Administrative Services website.

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Wednesday, November 24, 2021

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COVID-19 booster doses authorized

Metro Creative Connection / The Chronicle

Vaccinated people are eligible for a booster six months after they completed their initial series if they received a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or two months after they received their Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Everyone age 18 and older is now eligible for a COVID-19 booster dose.

COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and free, according to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), which on Nov. 20, authorized pharmacies, health clinics and other vaccine providers in the state to begin administering boosters.

The state’s orders follow actions by the federal government and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Panel to authorize expanded booster eligibility.

“Every adult who wants a booster can now get one and that is quite simply the extra layer of protection that we need,” OHA Public Health Director Rachael Banks said.

“Booster doses help people maintain strong immunity to disease longer.

The first vaccine series builds up the immune system to make the antibodies needed to fight the disease.

Over time, the immune response weakens. A booster dose stimulates the initial response and tends to result in higher antibody levels that help people maintain their immunity longer,” the OHA states in a release.

While booster doses are available to everyone age 18 and older, they are strongly recommended for people older than 50, people age 18 and older who live in long-term care facilities and anyone who received the Johnson & Johnson vac-

cine. Vaccinated people are eligible for a booster six months after they completed their initial series if they received a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or two months after they received their Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

“The more people that choose to get vaccinated, the safer our communities will be for all of us,” Banks said.

“This review and subsequent approval of booster doses helps to loosen COVID-19’s grip on our communities and it will ultimately save more lives.”

Read the OHA fast facts or visit the OHA’s boosters and third doses webpage or visit https://covidblog. oregon.gov for more information.

Court overrules vaccine mandate ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net

Employers with 100 or more workers in Columbia County, across Oregon and around the nation who were previously facing a federal mandate to either enforce mandatory vaccination in the workplace or have their employees undergo regular COVID-19 testing, now are not immediately facing the mandate.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is suspending mandatory enforcement of the COVID-19 vaccination for large employers following a Friday, Nov. 12, court ruling.

On Nov. 12, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted a motion to stay OSHA’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS),

which was to take effect Nov. 5, with a compliance deadline of Jan. 4. The court ordered that OSHA “take no steps to implement or enforce” the ETS “until further court order.”

Enforcement of the ETS is pending future developments in the litigation, according to OSHA. OSHA said the standard would have covered 84 million Americans and protect against “grave danger from workplace exposure to coronavirus.” The ETS also required employers to provide paid time to workers to get vaccinated and to allow for paid leave to recover from any side effects.

Prior to OSHA’s emergency standard, Gov. Kate Brown announced two measures Aug. 19 to combat the coronavirus, eliminating the COVID-19 testing alternative for healthcare workers and ordering K-12 educators, staff, and volunteers be fully vaccinated by the Oct. 18 deadline in order to return to work.

Follow this developing story at thechronicleonline. com and in Wednesday print editions of The Chronicle.

Metro Creative Connection / The Chronicle

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is suspending mandatory enforcement of the COVID-19 vaccination for large employers following a Wednesday, Nov. 12, court ruling.

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Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Viewpoints Supporting Oregon’s Main Streets ANTHONY SMITH Chronicle Guest Column

Shopping local this coming Small Business Saturday, November 27, a nice shot in the arm The state’s leading small-business association is encouraging all Oregonians to reserve some of their holiday shopping time and money for Small Business Saturday, November 27, the day after Black Friday and two days before Cyber Monday.

Oregon’s small businesses are under a tremendous amount of pressure right now. A big day of sales is exactly what many of them need heading into the holidays.

Our local communities always benefit from shopping small, but the ongoing impacts of the pandemic have made this more difficult, for the second year in a row. Last year, many small businesses were forced to close their doors.

This year’s challenges include a severe labor shortage and significant disruptions in the supply chain. You can help your small business friends and neighbors by making Small Business Saturday a priority in your holiday shopping plans.

If you’re looking for a little extra holiday spending cash, be sure to check your local job listings for small businesses still hoping to staff-up before Christmas.

The jobs are available, thanks in part to the passage of Oregon House Bill 3389 earlier this year which provides significant payroll tax relief for Oregon businesses most hard-hit by the pandemic.

The state just started notifying employers of their new tax rates on November 15 – very welcome news.

Now we just need a great day of sales on Small Business Saturday to kick-start

a (hopefully) much brighter new year.

Here are some of the struggles small-business owners are facing that they haven’t in the past: In its latest Jobs Report, released this month, NFIB recorded 49% of its membership reporting job openings they could not fill despite the record high in pay they were offering.

Also this month, NFIB released the latest findings of its special COVID-19 polls showing 62% of small-business owners saying supply-chain disruptions are worse now than three months ago and 90% expecting the problem to continue for the next five months or longer.

Equally troubling, NFIB’s Small Business Economic Trends report found the percentage of small-business owners expecting better business conditions falling four points to a net negative 37%. This indicator has declined 17 points over the past three months to its lowest level since November 2012.

As U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said at a recent Fed Listens session, “I’ve never seen these kinds of supply-chain issues, never seen an economy that combines drastic labor shortages with lots of unemployed people.”

Quick facts • Established during the recession by American Express in 2010 and officially co-sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration since 2011, fully 70% of consumers are now aware of Small Business Saturday, according to a 2019 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey by AMEX and NFIB. • Shoppers at independent retailers and restaurants that day in 2019 spent an estimated $19.6 billion—but that was pre-

pandemic.

• In 2020, when some thought the 2019 numbers couldn’t be matched, spending actually increased to $19.8 billion. Many small businesses pivoted to selling online or through social media platforms to stay connected with customers throughout the pandemic, and these efforts appear to have paid off, with 56% of Small Business Saturday shoppers reporting they shopped online with a small business on the day, an increase from 43% in 2019, according to a report by AMEX. In addition, small business owners rolled out a variety of giveaways and special offerings to consumers, a smart strategy as 43% of consumers reported that they took advantage of special offers or promotions from small businesses on the day, the report states.

• Last week, the research firm Morning Consult found almost 4 in 10 U.S. consumers say they will do the majority of their holiday shopping online: Another 36% plan to evenly split their holiday shopping between stores and online.

Only 1 in 4 consumers will do the majority of their holiday shopping in stores.

• About 50% of those who have started shopping have faced supply chain issues. These include items being out of stock online (48%), in store (48%) or back-ordered or delayed (46%), according to Morning Consult.

Keep up with the latest Oregon small-business news at www.nfib.com/oregon and follow us on Twitter at @NFIB_OR Anthony Smith is the Oregon state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, America’s largest smallbusiness association. He may be reached at 503-3644450, anthony.smith@nfib. org.

On a second note, Ivermectin in India JON HAKIN Chronicle Guest Column

I wanted to let you know personally that Wayne Mayo’s guest column regarding Ivermectin really bothered me. It bothered me both because the claims about Ivermectin were completely false, and because it hit me personally.

I graduated SHHS ‘97, but since 2012 my wife and I have been living in Lucknow, India, in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The same state that Mr. Mayo wrote his article about. If you want proof you can read articles and watch a news story about our work here: https://issuu.com/ hmcommar/docs/hmc_ magazine_fall_winter19issuu/s/10126654 https://www.gaonconnection.com/ badalta-india/a-teacherfrom-los-angeles-givingfree-education-to-poorchild-in-india https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=CwH9T_ ZGUs8 I was disturbed when I read Mr. Mayo’s article because everything he said was false. Ivermectin didn’t save Uttar Pradesh, in fact COVID deaths there were horrible despite Ivermectin having been a recommended treatment since last year. https://thewire.in/health/ uttar-pradesh-covid-19-yogiadityanath-tweets https://www.dailyadvent. com/news/0dbf06afefcbe4 7c88061c7ee647de3d-WeStill-Dont-Know-IndiasTrue-COVID19-Death-Toll The true death toll may never be known because over 80% of deaths in India are never even given a cause of death, but people were dying everywhere. The hospitals were running out of basic supplies like oxygen, the

crematoriums were running 24/7 and still so overflowing that people were burning bodies on the sidewalks and other bodies were just getting washed down the rivers.

In our community alone over 10 people died of COVID. We were just talking to another friend in Uttar Pradesh last week, she was speaking about how literally everyone knows multiple people who died and how the state is still recovering from the trauma.

Ivermectin has been used to treat COVID in India since summer 2020, India is a major producer of Ivermectin and had no qualms about using it. But it simply didn’t help. People still died in horrifying numbers. By September 2021, the Indian government took Ivermectin off of its recommended treatments list because it simply wasn’t working. You can read multiple articles about how Ivermectin didn’t do anything measurable in Uttar Pradesh: https://onepagericu.com/ blog/lecture-debunkingivermania https://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/ no-evidence-suggests-acausal-link-between-ivermectin-recommendationand-the-decline-of-covid19-cases-in-the-indian-stateof-uttar-pradesh/ https://www.politifact. com/factchecks/2021/ nov/12/facebook-posts/ no-scientific-basis-claimsivermectins-success-utt/ The biggest reason the COVID surge stopped in Uttar Pradesh is because it burned out. So many people got sick so quickly that eventually the surge had to come down, just like every surge everywhere comes down. By the end of the surge over 70% of the population tested positive

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for COVID antibodies. The government published a couple articles when the surge ended claiming their treatment programs worked, but no one believed it - no one I know ever saw any of those supposed “COVID kits” that Mr. Mayo talked about and you can go online and see plenty of articles showing that the COVID kits were barely even used in the state. It was just a natural rise and fall of the surge like everywhere else.

Uttar Pradesh is still vigilant and trying to get everyone vaccinated. Despite their poverty, they have already managed to get 130,000,000 people in the state vaccinated (it is a very large state) and are still working hard.

Vaccination is considered to be the key there, not Ivermectin.

I was so bothered by Mr. Mayo’s false article that I sent it to some friends in Uttar Pradesh, and one of my coworkers there (Tom Delaney, who was born in Delhi and has lived in India his entire life), wrote a letter to the Chronicle editor.

For some reason it was not published, yet in today’s Chronicle I see a letter praising Mr. Mayo’s article as if it were accurate.

People trust what they read in the paper. The Chronicle should not be party to the spread of false news.

Jon Hakim is a Yankton, Oregon resident.

Editor’s Note: The Chronicle frequently prints the following on the opinion page of this publication: “Opinions expressed on this page are independent of The Chronicle views and are solely those of the writers expressing them.”

Weekly Online Poll

Last Week’s Results

Will you be celebrating the holidays with a real or artificial Christmas tree?

Do you plan to travel during the Thanksgiving holiday?

Real

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10% Yes

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Vote online at thechronicleonline.com

Voices of the Community Responding to ‘It’s outrageous to me’ I was disturbed to see Wayne Mayo’s front-page column, “It’s outrageous to me”, making false claims regarding the effectiveness of Ivermectin in Uttar Pradesh, India. Unlike Wayne, I live in Uttar Pradesh.

In 2021, Uttar Pradesh has been one of the worst places in the world for the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitals were overwhelmed, crematoriums were burning hundreds of bodies a day. In our community multiple people became sick with fever and died. If you want to read a real account of COVID-19

in UP, look up The Wire’s article “COVID-19 and Uttar Pradesh, Six Weeks of Living Hell.”

Ivermectin was promoted

by India since summer 2020.

In UP it was used as a treatment throughout the surge, yet did not reduce deaths.

The surge burned itself out the same way it does everywhere. Hundreds of thousands of people died in the process, most of whom never got counted in the death toll (see the FP article, “We Still Don’t Know India’s True COVID-19 Death Toll”).

India has now removed Ivermectin from its recommended treatments. It wasn’t helping.

Activists like Pierre Kory and Tess Lawrie made false claims about “Uttar

Pradesh’s Ivermectin miracle” in 2020. They ignored all the deaths that followed.

UP is now pursuing vaccination as the main strategy and over 100 million people in the state have received their first doses.

I am aware that people with certain political motivations will keep using our state’s name in order to push their agenda. Please stop. It’s not true.

Tom Delaney Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh India Editor’s Note: Wayne Mayo’s guest column appeared on Page 4 of the Oct. 27 edition of The Chronicle, not on the front page, as the writer states.

Holiday Events Dec. 18 and 19 • Small Business and Craft Fair from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Columbia County Fairgrounds.

The following are area events submitted to The Chronicle.

If you have a bazaar or other community holiday event, send details and contact information to jruark@countrymedia.net

p.m. – 8 p.m. at South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce.

St. Helens

Dec. 10 and 11 • Holiday Gift Bazaar from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. at South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce.

Dec. 20 • Polar Express Part from 4:30 – 6:30 at the Columbia County Fairgrounds. Santa pictures, Polar Express movie and popcorn. $5 per person.

Dec. 17 and 18 • Holiday Gift Bazaar from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. at South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce.

Dec. 21 Elf Movie Night at 6 p.m. at the Columbia County Fairgrounds.

Nov. 26 and 27 • Holiday Gift Bazaar from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. at South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce.

Dec. 3 and 4 • Holiday Gift Bazaar from 4

Dec. 4 • Christmas Bazaar from 9 a.m.

– 2 p.m. at St. Fredrick Catholic Church.

The Chronicle The Chronicle (USPS 610-380) is published weekly by Country Media, Inc. 1805 S. Columbia Blvd., P.O. Box 1153 St. Helens, Oregon 97051 Periodicals postage paid at St. Helens, OR 97051

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Chronicle PO Box 1153 St. Helens, OR 97051-8153

SUBSCRIPTION RATES: One month in county: $8 One month out of county: $10 One year in county: $60 One year out of county: $80

CONTACT US • Phone: (503) 397-0116 • Fax: (503) 397-4093 Website: www.thechronicleonline.com • Editorial: chroniclenews@countrymedia.net ADVERTISE WITH US: Display ads: chronicleads@countrymedia.net Classified ads: chronicleclassifieds@countrymedia.net FOLLOW US • facebook.com/sthelenschronicle or twitter.com/shchronicle Editorial policy: Opinions expressed on this page are independent of The Chronicle views and are solely those of the writers expressing them.

Letters policy: This newspaper’s letters to the editor are limited to a maximum of 250 words and will be edited for grammar, spelling and

blatant inaccuracies. Unsubstantiated or irresponsible allegations, or personal attacks on any individual, will not be published. Letters containing details presented as facts rather than opinions must include their sources.

Writers are limited to one published letter per month. All submissions must include the author’s full name, local

street address and telephone number (only the name and city of residence will be published). By submitting a letter, writers also grant permission for them to be posted online. Opinions expressed on this page are the writer’s alone and do not represent the opinion of the newspaper or its parent company, Country Media, Inc.

www.thechronicleonline.com

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

A5

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From Page A1

the river to Oregon’s heritage and Oregon’s identity. It is an event enjoyed by many as the ships travel the Willamette and Columbia Rivers and is a long-standing tradition for those who view it each year.”

Organizers who work on the parade do so purely out of love for their communities, Marks said.

“A 100% volunteer run organization, Christmas shippers spend countless hours on the chilly river waters to bring smiles to young and old alike,” Marks said.

Volunteers dedicate over 3,000 hours in trainings, meetings, outreach, logistics, and the actual time in the parade.

They host up to three meet and greet events at different locations where community members can see the boats up close, meet the boat owners, and learn about boat safety.

Parade volunteers also partner with various charities throughout the year such as Fallen Firefighters, Ronald McDonald House, William Temple House, Portland Fire & Rescue Toy and Joy Makers, and Columbia River Fire & Rescue Toy N Joy and Holiday Hope.

Marks said the City of St. Helens concentrates its efforts on making the event a spectacle for families to remember.

“The downtown St. Helens restaurants have fantastic viewing opportunities,” she said.

“We understand the city aligns the tree lighting and other holiday festivities with our parade, and some of the businesses offer promotions.”

While Marks said the Christmas Ships Parade is a treasured tradition for many families and community members, for her, the parade is about more than Christmas.

“It represents family, community, celebration and hope,” she said. “It is a positive and

Scappoose

Winter hours closed the weekends *Logs, stumps, pellets, are lumberMon-Fri - no paint or 8am-4pm colored stain * please call foron clarification C11071

C11071

Read the news online

The Chronicle www.thechronicleonline.com 503-397-0116 • 1805 Columbia Blvd.

uplifting experience unlike any other.”

Parade future While organizers have considered extending the parade’s reach to various other holidays, one is more than enough to manage, according to Marks.

“Don’t get me wrong we love it, but it is a major commitment at a busy time of year,” Marks said. “When we finish the season, most of us are exhausted, scrambling to spend some quality time with our families and pay (our) own parade expenses. So, asking participants to consider other holidays is a bigger con-

versation than it may seem.”

With the Christmas Ships Parade’s previous successes, organizers hope to see the tradition to spread its roots around the community.

“We are always excited to see the fantastic participation from the St. Helens and Columbia County community.

The people, the decorations in the Square, the bonfires (and sometimes fireworks!) show such a level of community engagement and we are happy to be a part of it,” Marks said.

“We invite all community members to make us part of your traditions.”

As always, it is possible that individual parade night cancellations may occur due

to unsafe weather conditions.

Notification of any cancellations will be posted at www. chistmasships.org and social media channels.

More information about the Christmas Ships Parade may be found at www.christmasships.org. To register for the parade, email contact@ christmasships.org.

Fast Fact Best viewing areas are along Columbia River public access points, including the open area adjacent to the St. Helens Docks.

Carol L. (Brooks) Hymas

Mon-Fri (503) 8-5 543-3000 Call for deliveries Callweekend for weekend deliveries

*Logs, stumps, pellets, lumber - no paint or colored stain * please call for clarification

Photo courtesy of Christmas Ships Parade, Oregon Heritage Commission and Stephen Cridland

The Annual Christmas Ships bring the spirit of the season to Columbia County through colorful lighted water crafts.

Obituaries

54000 West West Lane Rd Rd 54000 Lane 503-543-3000 503-543-3000 Scappoose Oregon Scappoose Mon-Fri 8-5 Oregon

www.beaverbarkllc.com (503) 543-3000 5400054000 West Lane WestRd.Lane Rd. www.beaverbarkllc.com Scappoose Mon. thru Fri. 8am-5pm & Saturdays 8am-3pm

Photo courtesy of Christmas Ships Parade, Oregon Heritage Commission and Stephen Cridland

The decorated ships light up the dockside along the Columbia County Courthouse in St. Helens.

Dec. 13, 1941 ~ Nov. 15, 2021

Carol L. (Brooks) Hymas of St. Helens, Oregon, went home to her Lord as she was surrounded by family and friends on the evening of Nov. 15, 2021 at the age of 79.

She was born to Dewey and Minnie Brooks (Mann) on Dec. 13, 1941 in Seattle, Washington. Carol was raised in St. Helens, Oregon, the youngest of nine children.

After completing high school, Carol married George D. Stirling Sr., raising five sons and one daughter during a 22-year marriage.

She was a nurse’s aide at St. Benedict Hospital in Parkston, South Dakota for many years.

After praying to the Lord, Carol made the move from

Parkston to Montpelier in 1984 where she met the love of her life, marrying Charles H. Hymas, where she resided for the next 30 years.

Together they ministered to many the wonderful joy they had living in the word of God and their savior Jesus

Christ. They lived life in love until Chuck passed in 2004.

Carol had a passion for baking, music, singing and the outdoors. She enjoyed the extended conversations she had with all she met. She reveled in her adventures in the mountains of Idaho with Chuck.

She and Chuck worked together as custodians of A.J. Winters Elementary School in Montpelier, Idaho.

While she was a woman of simple and basic means, she always found ways to help anyone in need. Often opening her door to strangers that needed help.

Carol moved to Denham Springs, Louisiana to live the remainder of her years with family.

Carol was preceded in death by her husband

Charles; father Dewey Brooks; mother Minnie Brooks; three brothers; and two sisters.

She is survived by her children, George D. Stirling Jr., Jane F. Sorrells, Michael L. Stirling (Angela), James Patrick Stirling, Daniel B. Stirling and Matthew R. Stirling (Julie); twelve grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Carol will be laid to rest in Montpelier cemetery in Montpelier, Idaho, alongside her husband Chuck.

Funeral services will be held at noon on Mon., Nov. 22, 2021 in the Schwab-Matthews Mortuary, Montpelier, Idaho. A viewing will take place prior to the services from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Interment will be in the Montpelier City Cemetery.

Lloyd Adelbert Wegner Jr. Sept. 10, 1951 ~ Nov. 14, 2021

Lloyd Adelbert Wegner Jr. was born Sept. 10, 1951 in St. Helens, Oregon to Lloyd Adelbert Wegner Sr. and Edith Louise (Clark) Wegner.

Lloyd lived the majority of his life in Columbia County, except for when he served his country in the Navy from 1971-1975. He was an avid bowler, rifle and archery hunter, duck hunter and fisherman. Lloyd made sure that all of his children

and grandchildren had a fishing pole, some of them handmade by him. Lloyd will be missed by many, but the treasured memories will be cherished.

He is survived by his spouse of 35 years, Sandy; children, Randy, Thomas John (T.J.), and April; sisters, Dorothy and Lorrie; grandchildren Jake, Ashley, Annika, Morgan, Watson, Lenora; and great-grandchildren

Avalyn, Olive and Steven.

He was preceded in death by his sister Anna Mae; and both parents.

A celebration of life will be held at 3 p.m. on Sun., Dec. 5, 2021 at Warren Community Fellowship, 56523 Columbia River Hwy, Warren, Oregon. Those that would like to are welcomed and encouraged to wear camo in honor of Lloyd’s love of hunting and fishing.

Thomas Allen Burke Feb. 9, 1940 ~ Oct. 15, 2021

Chronicle obituaries

Please submit obituaries and death notices to The Chronicle at chronicleclassifieds@countrymedia.net or in office at 1805 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR. Call 503-397-0116 for more information

Tom Burke of St. Helens was born on Feb. 9, 1940 in Edmonton, Canada. He passed away at his home on Oct. 15, 2021 in St. Helens.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Audrey; two daughters, Renatta Burke and Lindsay Burke both of St. Helens; son Michael Burke of Maricopa, Arizona; granddaughter Piper, whom he adored; and sister Judy Burke from Langley, BC. As per his request, there will not be a memorial service. Donations may be made Tony and Aide Regina took to Community Home Health great care of Tom for over & Hospice, 1035 11th Ave, Longview, WA 98632. Nurse five months.

Columbia County’s trusted local news source

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A6

Classifieds

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Listings are updated daily at thechronicleonline.com

105

502

502

502

Cleaning Services

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

Alcoholics Anonymous Info-line, (503) 366-0667 www.pdxaa.org

Class A CDL Truck & Pup Trailer Drivers General Contractor has openings available for experienced Class A CDL Truck & Pup Trailer Drivers, with clean driving record.

Hauling Dirt & Gravel with a Truck & Pup Trailer. Job sites throughout Multnomah & Clark County areas. Preemployment drug screen required.

FT Position, Overtime, 40-50hrs/ week. Salary Depending on Experience & Qualifications / Negotiable.

Please send resume to: jcon structionresumes @gmail.com.

County areas. Preemployment drug screen required.

Must be able to read/understand plans & drawings.

Working knowledge of pipe lasers. FT Position, Overtime, 4050hrs/week. Hourly Rate Depending on Experience & Qualifications / Negotiable.

Please send resume to: jconstructionres umes@gmail. com.

The City of St. Helens is hiring a Library Director $7,494 (step 1) to $9,176 (Step 9).

Apply online at www.sthelensore gon.gov. Open until filled. First Review Deadline: 12/27/21.

Equal opportunity employer.

502

Help Wanted

The Rainier City Library is looking for two or three local individuals to volunteer and/ or substitute in the library when the librarian is away. Volunteers are required to have a background check. Substitutes are required to fill out an application, go through the complete CTA substitute process, and be fully vaccinated. For more information, please call the library at 971-328-5233.

Pipe layers General Contractor has opening’s available for experienced Pipe Layers. Job sites throughout Multnomah & Clark

PORT OF COLUMBIA COUNTY Facilities Maintenance Specialist Clatskanie The Port is hiring a full time Facilities Maintenance Specialist in Clatskanie. Excellent salary and benefits. To learn more and apply, please visit our website. www.PortofColumbiaCounty.org/jobs EOE

690

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$Drake’s Towing is now paying TOP Cash$ 4 Junk Cars!!!

We buy junk/broken cars, trucks, vans, heavy equip.

Top $$ paid to $100-$400.

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Same day service.

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Classified Ads Deadline: Mondays by noon.

Late submissions may not make the paper.

708

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Bazaars

Christmas Trees

stay on Pittsburg, follow signs 7 mi. to Trenholm Valley, right on S. Canaan, 200 yds on left From Deer Island: Canaan Rd 7 mi., 1st left after Pinkney Rd on S. Canaan, 2.5 mi on right. CASH OR CHECK ONLY OPEN Nov 26th - Dec 19th M-F noon-dark Weekends 9am-dark

Christmas Bazaar Sat Dec 4, 9 - 2 Buccini Hall St. Frederic Catholic Church 165 S 14th St, St. Helens Serving lunch, surprise packages, jams and jellies, raffles, crafts, table decorations and more.

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Christmas Trees

TRENHOLM TREE FARM 503-397-3369 U-CUT NOBLE FIR XMAS TREES Hand Pruned Natural Look. Trees $60 regardless of size.

Bring your own handsaw. Limited manual support.

Large trees-bring crew. From St. Helens: Pittsburg Rd to Yankton School,

Read the news online

The Chronicle www.thechronicleonline.com 503-397-0116 • 1805 Columbia Blvd.

VIEW OUR CURRENT RENTAL PROPERTIES AT:

www.therentalcenter.net

River City & Rentals Northwest 503-543-4440 Phone

503-543-7929 Fax

Kristie Flanagan, Licensed Property Manager 51891 Old Portland Road, Suite “A”, Scappoose OR 97056 (next to the scappoose totem pole)

Columbia County

BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY

www.thechronicleonline.com

ATTENTION LAND OWNERS We buy CEDAR and NOBLE boughs. What we pay depends on the quality of your trees. We do all the work and won’t damage your trees.

For more information contact Jorge Martinez (360) 751-7723

Waterman Garage Doors

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Crossword Puzzle

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: REALITY TV ACROSS

1. “Oh, my!”

5. Say untruth 8. Left or right 12. Spiritual leader 13. *”____ing Up with Marie Kondo” 14. Great reviews 15. Related 16. Double reed woodwind 17. Fourth deck 18. *”The ____ ____,” MTV’s trailblazing reality show 20. Affirm with confidence 21. I to Greeks, pl.

22. ____ Baba 23. Powerball and such 26. Swaggering show of courage 30. Spermatozoa counterparts 31. Based on two 34. Has a mortgage 35. ____ dog, gin and grapefruit juice cocktail 37. DNA transmitter 38. *”The Real Housewives” is full of this type of conflict 39. Write on a tombstone 40. Unwholesome atmosphere 42. Hairpiece, slangily 43. Stitched again

45. Unit of electric current flow 47. Solemn pledge 48. Like nose during hayfever 50. Uncouth one 52. *”Who ____ ____ ____ a Millionaire?”

56. Front of cuirass 57. Sixth month of civil year 58. “Jack and the Beanstalk” instrument 59. Travesty 60. Italian money 61. *”Vanilla Ice Goes Amish” and “Cleveland Hustles” state 62. *”____house Masters” on Animal Planet 63. *Not KhloÈ or Kourtney 64. Common allergens

DOWN

1. Gelatin substitute 2. Gospel writer 3. “Tosca” song, e.g.

4. Like sunroom, hopefully 5. Balance in the sky 6. *”Pop ____” and “American ____,” pl.

7. Gave the once-over 8. *”Outwit, Outplay, Outlast” show 9. Not active

10. Point of entry 11. Sixth sense 13. Foot, to a child 14. Aussie bear 19. Buzz Lightyear’s buddy 22. Brow shape 23. *”The Biggest ____” 24. Egg-shaped 25. Same as talcums 26. Civil rights concern 27. In the know 28. Raise objections 29. Missouri River tributary 32. Like a desert 33. Crime scene evidence 36. *Singing competition (2 words) 38. Curses 40. Feline sound 41. “I think I can, I think I can...”, e.g.

44. “For better or for ____” 46. “Monty ____’s Flying Circus” 48. r in a circle, pl.

49. Deprive of weapons 50. *Star of wilderness reality shows, ____ Grylls 51. Fairytale beast 52. Street-crossing word 53. Hawaiian island 54. Londoner, e.g.

55. Narrative poem 56. Back of a boat

Solution to crossword in next week’s issue of The Chronicle.

Columbia County’s trusted local news source

www.thechronicleonline.com

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

A7

Public Notices PROTECTING YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW

CH21-1838

2021 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT The City of St. Helens is eligible to apply for a 2021 Community Development Block Grant from the Business Oregon. Community Development Block Grant funds come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The grants can be used for public facilities and housing improvements, primarily for persons with low and moderate incomes.

Approximately $12 million will be awarded to Oregon non-metropolitan

cities and counties in 2021.

The maximum grant that a city or county can receive is $1,500,000. The City of St. Helens is preparing an application for a 2021 Community Development Block Grant from the Business Oregon for the lifempowered Empowerment Center. It is estimated that the proposed project will benefit at least 75 persons, of whom 95% will be low or moderate income. A public hearing will be held by the St. Helens City Council at

6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 265 Strand Street, St. Helens, plaza entrance.

The purpose of this hearing is for the City Council to obtain citizen views and to respond to questions and comments about: community development and housing needs, especially the needs of low- and moderate-income persons, as well as other needs in the community that might be assisted with a Community

Development Block Grant project; and the proposed project. Written comments are also welcome and must be received by November 30, 2021 at City of St. Helens, 265 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051. Both oral and written comments will be considered by the St. Helens City Council in deciding whether to apply.

The location of the hearing is accessible to persons with disabilities. Please contact Kathy Payne, City Recorder, at 503.366.8217 if you will

need any special accommodations to attend or participate in the meeting. More information about Oregon Community Development Block Grants, the proposed project, and records about the City’s past use of Community Development Block Grant funds is available for public review at 265 Strand Street, St. Helens, Oregon, during regular office hours.

Advance notice is requested.

If special accommodations are needed, please notify Kathy Payne, City Recorder

at 503.366.8217, so that appropriate assistance can be provided. Permanent involuntary displacement of persons or businesses is not anticipated as a result from the proposed project. If displacement becomes necessary, alternatives will be examined to minimize the displacement and provide required/reasonable benefits to those displaced. Any low- and moderate-income housing that is demolished or converted to another use will be replaced.

CH21-1835

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Monday December 6, 2021 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that United Pacific Forest Products has submitted an application for a Design Review for the installation of a 75,000 gallon fire suppression tank for sprinkling the on-site building and for the demolition of an existing 16,800 square foot building and the installation of a new 16,500 square foot building in the same location SAID PUBLIC HEARING will be held before the Columbia County Planning Commission on Monday, December 6, 2021, starting at 6:30 p.m. During the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Columbia County Planning Commission will be hosting their public hearing via online webinar. Please use the links

below if you wish to participate in the public meeting.

Columbia County Planning Commission on Mon, Dec 6, 2021 from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (PST) Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https:// global.gotomeeting.com/ join/197099373 You can also dial in using your phone.

United States (Toll Free): 1 866 899 4679 United States: +1 (571) 317-3116 Access Code: 197-099-373 New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https:// global.gotomeeting.com/install/197099373 If you have any questions or concerns regarding access to the meeting or need accommodation, please call the Land Development Services office at (503)

397-1501. The criteria to be used in deciding the request will be found in some or all of the following documents and laws, as revised from time to time: Oregon Revised Statutes ORS 197.763; Oregon Administrative Rules; Columbia County Comprehensive Plan; Columbia County Zoning Ordinance.

The specific criteria applicable to this request is listed and evaluated in the staff report. A copy of the application, all documents and evidence relied upon by the applicant, and the staff report are available for inspection at no cost and will be provided at reasonable cost, at the Land Development Services office, at least 7 days prior to the Planning Commission hearing. Written comments

on the issue can be submitted via email to Planning@ columbiacountyor.gov or you can send comments via U.S. Mail to Columbia County, Department of Land Development Services, 230 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051.

If additional documents or evidence are provided in support of the application, prior to or during the hearing, any party shall be entitled to a continuance of the hearing to allow review of the new evidence. If a participant requests a continuance before the conclusion of the evidentiary hearing, the record shall remain open for at least seven days after the hearing. At each hearing, the applicant has the burden of presenting substantial evidence showing that the application meets

CH21-1836

CH21-1137

In the Matter of the Estate of JeanAnn Marie Mullins, Deceased. No. PB09693 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE is hereby given that Jeanette Mullins has been appointed personal representative of the above estate. All persons having claims against the estate are required to present the same within four months

The Board of Commissioners for the Northwest Oregon Housing Authority is seeking public comments on its proposed Housing Choice Voucher Program Administrative Plan. Written comments must be received no later than 2:00 pm PST on Friday December 31, 2021.

The Board will convene a Public Meeting on Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at 9:00 am, where the written comments will be introduced as well as

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DEPARTMENT from this date at the office of VanNatta, Petersen & Anderson, P.O. Box 748, St. Helens, Oregon: and if not so presented, they may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceeding may obtain additional information from the records of the Court, the personal representative or the attorneys for the personal

representative. Dated and first published: November 17, 2021. Date of final publication: December 1, 2021.

Personal Representative: Jeanette Mullins, 58844 Morten Lane, St. Helens, Oregon 97051. Attorneys: VanNatta, Petersen & Anderson Attorneys at Law, P.O. Box 748, St. Helens, Oregon 97051.

Telephone: (503) 397-4091.

all of the applicable criteria.

Following presentation of the staff report, the applicant and other persons in favor of the application will be allowed to address the commission, explaining how the evidence submitted meets the applicable criteria. Following the applicant’s presentation, any person in opposition to the application may present evidence and argument against the application. The applicant will then have the opportunity to rebut any evidence or arguments presented in opposition. After the presentation of evidence and arguments, the public hearing record will be either left open or closed by the Planning Commission. The Commission will then make a tentative decision to be followed

PUBLIC NOTICE verbal comments accepted.

Due to COVID-19, the public meeting will be held virtually. A copy of the plan and a link to the meeting are posted at www.nwoha.org.

To receive a printed copy of the plan, please contact us as (503) 861-0119, (800) 9279275 (TTD) or receptionist@ nwoha. org. Copies of the plan have also been provided to all public library branches in Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook Counties.

by approval of a written order and a statement of findings and conclusions supporting the decision, which will be mailed to all parties at a later date. The Commission may, at its discretion, continue the hearing from time to time at the request of the parties or on its own motion as necessary to afford substantial justice and comply with the law. Additional information about this application may be obtained from the Planning Division of the Land Development Services Department, at (503) 397-1501 or you can go to the County website www.columbiacountyor.gov/ departments/LandDevelopment/Planning. November 24, 2021 THE PLANNING COMMISSION Linda Hooper, Chairman CH21-1811

NOTICE OF WORKSHOP December 8th, 2021 fair board Workshop at 6:30 PM in the 4H Building at 58892 Saulser Road St. Helens, OR 97051.

Please submit legal notices by Friday at Noon Call 503-397-0116 for more information

Garden Plots

Garden Plots: Winter fruit sprays needed CHIP BUBL Chronicle Guest Article

Fungi and bacteria love moist weather. They work their way into trees and berry plants through injuries, buds, leaf scars or other locations.

The peach leaf curl symptoms that we see in April are caused by the curl fungus infecting peach buds over the next few months.

Many diseases can be lessened by winter dormant fungicide applications over the next three months. The forecast as I write this is for fairly nice weather in the next week or so. Useful products for the home gardener are sulfur powder that can be mixed into a liquid spray and copper. Both are considered organic and both are reasonably effective. There are a number of trade names available. Ask your garden store or feed and seed dealer. Lime sulfur (Polysul) has become harder to get since there were issues with eye damage and it got taken off the retail market.

Peaches, especially, should be sprayed at least four times over the next few months. The more you spray

the better results you will have. Pick a dry day when temperatures are above freezing. Many products have a spreader-sticker to adhere them to the branches and twigs. I find that using warm water to make up these spray mixtures help the fungicides go into solution.

These spray treatments can be used on any fruit or berries with this exception: Do not use sulfur on apricots as they are very sensitive to sulfur.

How to speed winter compost

Plant decomposition slows in cold, wet weather.

Moisture fills pore spaces within the compost pile, reducing the oxygen available to the rotting fungi, bacteria and small invertebrates.

Rain also reduces the pile temperature. This isn’t the end of the world. The pile of vegetation will continue to decompose, but at a much slower rate.

You can speed up composting by covering the compost pile. Some gardeners use clear plastic to get some heat gain from the sun.

Chipped and/or shredded materials you add to the pile

will decompose faster than larger pieces. So, will the addition of nitrogen sources such as vegetable trimmings (usually high in nitrogen), manure, synthetic fertilizer that contains nitrogen, or bloodmeal. The nitrogen “feeds” the microbes and their population booms, also speeding the composting process.

Planning for new fruit trees The best selection of new fruit trees and berry bushes is available in February.

There are several things you can do right now to help ensure a successful start for them.

Read catalogs to understand which varieties seem most suitable for our area.

Order early as selection decreases quickly. Good sources are Motz Nursery near Skyline and Cornelius Pass Road intersection, One Green World (east Portland) and Raintree Nursery (Mor-

ton, WA) The last two have extensive online catalogs.

Get deer fencing up before you plant. They will show up!

You can lose all your investment in trees in one year.

Remove existing sod or cover the areas you want to plant trees into with compost and black plastic or landscape fabric to kill the grass before you work the ground.

Some things to do • Check stored potatoes, onions, garlic, winter squash and apples for rot or sprouting. Pull off potato sprouts and discard anything diseased.

• Water outside plants under eaves.

• Cover vegetable garden with several inches of manure and shavings from a local stable.

• Lime your vegetable garden (before you put down manure mentioned above) with 100 pounds of lime per 1,000 square feet. This lime

is enough for the next four years. Use the same rate to top-dress lawns.

Important notes • The OSU Extension Office is fully reopened. Masks are still required inside.

Planning for an OSU Master Gardener class next spring • We are actively planning for an in-person OSU Master Gardener class starting next February. The class would most likely be held in St. Helens on Monday, during the day, for about ten weeks. If you think you might be interested, let us know. Call Sonia Reagan or myself (Chip Bubl) at 503397-3462. Your statement of interest doesn’t commit you to anything but will give us some idea if people are ready to return to in person classes.

If COVID mutates again, it might have to be a digital only class.

• Donate produce and/or cash to the food bank, senior centers, or community meals programs. It is greatly appreciated.

• The Extension Service offers its programs and materials equally to all people.

Have questions?

If you have questions on any of these topics or other home garden and/ or farm questions, please contact Chip Bubl, Oregon

State University Extension office in St. Helens at 503397-3462 or at chip.bubl@ oregonstate.edu. The office is open from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday.

Free newsletter The Oregon State University Extension office in Columbia County publishes a monthly newsletter on gardening and farming topics (called County Living) written/edited by yours truly.

All you need to do is ask for it and it will be mailed or emailed to you. Call 503397-3462 to be put on the list. Alternatively, you can find it on the web at http:// extension.oregonstate.edu/ columbia/ and click on newsletters.

Many Extension publications available online Are you putting up salsa, saving seeds, or thinking about planting grapes? OSU has a large number of its publications available for free download. Just go to https:// catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu. Click on publications and start exploring.

Contact Information Oregon State University Extension Service – Columbia County 505 N. Columbia River Highway St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-3462

www.thechronicleonline.com

A8

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

New tradition: Thanksgiving on wheels ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net

Block Grant hearing STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net

The public is encouraged to attend a special St. Helens City Council meeting Dec. 1 to help the city establish specific community needs.

The City of St. Helens is eligible to apply for a 2021 Community Development Block Grant from the Business Oregon. The grants can be used for public facilities and housing improvements, primarily for persons with low and moderate incomes.

Community Development Block Grant funds come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Approximately $12 million will be awarded to Oregon non-metropolitan cities and counties in 2021. The maximum grant that a city or county can receive is $1,500,000.

The City of St. Helens is preparing an application for a 2021 Community Development Block Grant from the Business Oregon for the lifempowered Empowerment Center. It is estimated that the proposed project will benefit at least 75 persons, of whom 95% will be low or moderate income.

The St. Helens City Council has scheduled a public hearing for 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1, in the St. Helens Council Chambers at City Hall, 265 Strand Street, St. Helens to obtain citizen views and to respond to questions and comments about community development and housing needs, especially the needs of low-and moderate-income persons, as well as other needs in the community that might be assisted with a Community Development Block Grant project and the proposed project.

Written comments are also welcome and must be received by Nov. 30, at City of St. Helens, 265 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051. Both oral and written comments will be considered by the St. Helens City Council in deciding whether to apply.

The location of the hearing is accessible to persons with disabilities. Please contact Kathy Payne, City Recorder, at 503-3668217 if you will need any special accommodations to attend or participate in the meeting.

More information about Oregon Community Development Block Grants, the proposed project, and records about the City’s past use of Community Development Block Grant funds is available for public review at 265 Strand Street, St. Helens, Oregon, during regular office hours. Advance notice is requested.

Permanent involuntary displacement of persons or businesses is not anticipated as a result from the proposed project. If displacement becomes necessary, alternatives will be examined to minimize the displacement and provide required/reasonable benefits to those displaced. Any low-and moderate-income housing that is demolished or converted to another use will be replaced.

Thanksgiving took on a different look at the 24th annual Thanksgiving Dinner at the St. Helens Lodge on Old Portland Road in Warren.

Due to the pandemic restrictions, the free community holiday meal was served as a drive-thru pickup event instead of the usual sit-down feast on Thursday, Nov. 18. The holiday tradition, held annually by Columbia County Mental Health Services (CCMH) and St. Helens Moose Lodge members, had been canceled last year because of the coronavirus.

This year, community members were invited to sign up in advance to receive the holiday meal.

“I think we had like 235 slots available,” CCMH Executive Assistant Heather Johnson said. “And they were all filled.”

The event was designed to make the Thanksgiving experience more universal.

“We do it to give back to the community,” Johnson said.” We understand that a lot of people don’t have family around or the actual ability to make Thanksgiving meals.”

The pickup service comes at a more critical time than ever, given a cascade of food insecurity and supply-chain shortages set off by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a 2021 survey conducted by The American Farm Bureau Federation, the cost of Thanksgiving dinner for 10 has jumped 14% from last year, to $53.31. The survey shows that the star of the Thanksgiving table, the turkey, costs $23.99 for a 16-pound bird, which works out to about $1.50 per pound, a price increase of 24% since last year.

At the Moose Lodge drive-thru pick-up, each Thanksgiving meal kit came with turkey and stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, pie, and

dinner rolls.

Local grocery stores such as St. Helens Market Fresh, Fred Meyer, Safeway, and Costco all made either specific item donations or financial contributions to the event this year.

For Johnson, giving back is a natural outgrowth of what she has been doing professionally for a long time.

“I’ve been working in the human services field for about 15 years,” she said, of her motivation in assisting with such community events. “I think working in that field helps me as a human to want to like give back and give more.”

CCMH, founded July 15, 1975, is a nonprofit behavioral health provider located at 58646 McNulty Way in St. Helens. The annual Thanksgiving dinner is one of the ways CCMH chooses to pay it forward.

“Community outreach is super important to us,” Johnson said. “And just letting community members know that we’re there.”

Zoe Gottlieb / The Chronicle

A CCMH staff, one of several volunteers, hands out bags of hot food for the Thanksgiving holiday to Columbia County residents during the drive-thru project.

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Wednesday, November 24, 2021

A9

Landslide dangers increasing statewide JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

The National Weather Service (NWS), Oregon Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral and Industries (DOGAMI) issued weather advisories prior to this month’s heavy rain events, flooding and the potential of landslides.

The Chronicle contacted DOGAMI geologist Bill Burns for insight into the landslide risks in Columbia County and the state during and after such weather events.

The Chronicle: What specific areas are at risk for landslides and why?

Bill Burns: • Canyon bottoms, stream channels, channel outlets • Steep slopes and bases of steep hillsides • Areas where slopes of hills have been altered by excavated or steepened or recently burned • Places where slides or debris flows have occurred in the past Our Statewide Landslide Information Database for Oregon (SLIDO) map can help people understand where the potential landslide risk is generally higher or lower: https://gis.dogami.oregon. gov/maps/slido.

As you will see, much of western Oregon has a moderate to high susceptibility to landslides and thus our concern during large storms like the one happening now.

The Chronicle: Specifically, how does the heavy rainfall increase the risk of landslides?

Burns: During the next several days, the NWS is forecasting an atmospheric river type storm in northwestern Oregon. This means we could have intense rain over prolonged time. Storms like these are the ones that have caused landslides in the past and thus the concern right now. The soils can’t drain fast enough, and the combination of too much water too fast, steep slopes, and weak geology all contribute to the potential for landslides.

Even after the heavy rains, what should property owners and travelers watch for that could indicate further erosion and landslides?

We created a homeowner’s guide to landslide that can help with this question: https://www.oregongeology. org/Landslide/ger_homeowners_guide_landslides. pdf.

The Chronicle: We understand landslides can move quickly. How is that and what recommendations do you have for personal safety?

Burns: Certain types of landslides, notably debris flows, can move rapidly (10s of miles per hour). These types of landslides tend to start in the upper portions of a drainage and can accelerate and grow as they flow down the channel. When they reach the mouth of the channel they tend to fan out

Courtesy photo

Oregon geologists warn drivers traveling through landslide areas to be aware of the potential danger following intense rain events. This photo shows a previous slide following a heavy rain event.

and inundate the areas at the mouth of the channel.

Unfortunately, the channel outlets are sometimes where people and infrastructure are located. These types of areas are the most concerning. People that live or are traveling in these areas should be extra cautious and be prepared to evacuate.

These types of landslides are common in post-fire areas.

The combination of the potential long distance from where they start to where they end up and the speed they move is why they are of extra concern and can be life-threatening.

Since the 2020 Labor Day fires, DOGAMI landslide team has been focused on the potential post-fire debris flow hazard. We were just awarded a large multiyear, multiagency FEMA grant to work on understanding the post-fire debris flow

risk and identify areas of risk throughout many of these recent fires in western Oregon. The end goal of these projects is to use science to understand the post-fire debris flow landslide risk and collaborate with the communities in these wildfire areas to reduce the landslide risk.

Take action The following information is provided by DOGAMI. Landslides take place most often where they’ve occurred in the past. They’re also more common in areas that have recently been burned by a wildfire.

Before • Make an escape plan and build a kit.

Be aware of warning signs of possible landslides: • Increased pooling of

water or newly wet ground.

• New cracks or unusual bulges in the ground, street pavements or sidewalks.

• Soil moving away from foundations.

• Tilted or bent trees.

• Sagging or taught utility lines.

• Sunken or broken road beds.

• Leaking or broken water pipes.

Reduce the chances of landslides by: • Draining water from surface runoff, downspouts and driveways well away from slopes.

• Planting native groundcover on slopes.

• Refraining from adding water to steep slopes.

• Avoiding placing fill soil and yard debris on steep slopes.

During • If you suspect imminent danger, evacuate immediately. Inform affected neighbors if you can, and contact your public works, fire or police department.

• Listen for unusual sounds that might indicate moving debris, such as trees cracking or boulders hitting one another.

• If you are near a stream, be alert for any sudden increase or decrease in water flow and notice whether the water changes from clear to muddy. Such changes may mean there is debris flow activity upstream so be prepared to move quickly.

• Be especially alert when driving—watch for collapsed pavement, mud, fallen rocks and other indications of pos-

sible debris flow.

• If you are ordered to or decide to evacuate, take your animals with you.

After • Stay away from the slide area. There may be danger of additional slides.

• Check for injured and trapped persons near the slide without entering the direct slide area. Direct rescuers to the person’s location.

• Listen to local radio or television stations for the latest emergency information.

• Watch for flooding, which may occur after a landslide or debris flow.

Floods sometimes follow landslides and debris flows because they may be started by the same event.

• Look for and report broken utility lines to appropriate authorities. Reporting potential hazards will get damaged utilities turned off as quickly as possible, preventing further hazard and injury.

• Check the building foundation, chimney and surrounding land for damage. Signs of damage may help you assess the safety of the area.

• Replant damaged ground as soon as possible since erosion caused by loss of groundcover can lead to flash flooding.

Additional information about landslides is available on the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (oregongeology.org) and the Washington Department of Natural Resources (dnr.wa.gov) websites.

Columbia County Sheriff’s office seeking history JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) has launched a project to create a lobby display at the headquarters, 901 Port Avenue in St. Helens, that

would showcase the history of the men who have held the office of Sheriff of Columbia County.

“We are seeking the assistance of the public in obtaining photographs, artifacts (old uniform photos, old badges,

photos of old CCSO vehicles, elections campaign items, etc.) and biographical information,” A CCSO Facebook post states.

The CCSO has acquired photos of more than half of the former sheriffs who have

served the county.

“Our hope is that our friends on social media can spread the word regarding this project and the items that we would like to obtain,” the Facebook post reads. “We realize that finding photos

of our former sheriffs from the 1800s and early 1900s is unlikely, but perhaps we will get lucky in that someone out there knows a descendant with information.”

See the list of those who have served as Columbia

County Sheriff attached to this story at thechronicleonline. com. Information can be sent to Malinda Duran, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, 901 Port Ave. St. Helens, OR 97051, or emailed to malinda. duran@columbiacountyor.gov.

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A10

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

DEQ Commission approves ‘Clean Trucks Rule’ Oregon Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) has approved two new rules that will reduce pollution on the state’s roadways and protect the health of Oregon’s most vulnerable communities.

The new “Clean Trucks Rule” requires manufacturers of medium and heavyduty vehicles, like large pickup trucks, buses and tractor-trailer cabs, to sell a certain percentage of zero emissions electric vehicles starting with the 2025 model year.

TOWERS From Page A1

their report and recommendations to the District board in September. The 9-1-1 District Board, and the Columbia County 9-1-1 Advisory Committee, comprised of all the police, fire and EMS pro-

JEFFRIES From Page A1

Jeffries on reaching 10 years of service with the City of St. Helens! Margaret was recognized at today’s City Council meeting,” the Facebook post reads. “Margaret is credited with hiring exceptional staff who together have created amazing programs at the library that engage children and adults of all ages.”

“Today’s decision is a monumental step forward for cleaner air in Oregon,” Department of Environmen-

tal Quality (DEQ) Director Richard Whitman said. “Signaling that Oregon is open for business for zero emissions trucks is an important part of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and diesel pollution, particularly for communities located near our highways and rail yards.

We thank the EQC for their leadership in today’s decision.”

The Clean Trucks Rule adopts California’s Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Rule and Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Omnibus

rules (HD Omnibus). Under the ACT Rule, Oregon requires medium- and heavyduty vehicle manufacturers to sell zero-emission vehicles as a certain percentage of sales, beginning with the 2025 vehicle model year.

The HD Omnibus rules strengthen nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emission standards for new truck engines (both diesel and non-diesel engines), in addition to other requirements for these engines. Together, the rules will not only ensure new

diesel trucks are as clean as possible, they also put Oregon on a path towards a zero-carbon transportation future.

“Transportation accounts for approximately 40 percent of statewide greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon and trucks are among Oregon’s fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions and rising,” DEQ’s Senior Air Quality Planner Rachel Sakata said. “In Oregon, heavy-duty trucks and buses are responsible for nearly 23 percent of total transporta-

tion sector greenhouse gas emissions.”

Health effects from diesel pollution can include certain cancers, lung disease and cardiovascular impacts.

Diesel engines are responsible for approximately 25 percent of all noxious emissions in the state, a precursor to the formation of ground level ozone. Communities across Oregon, including the Portland-metropolitan area and the Rogue Valley have experienced increasing levels of ozone in recent years.

viders, reviewed the report and recommendations.

Fletcher estimates replacing the communication system could cost anywhere from $9 million to $25 million.

“We know the entire replacement of the radio system is going to be in the millions of dollars, so we began a replacement project

a couple of years ago for the microwave portion of the system,” Fletcher said. “Incrementally, we have been upgrading the microwave network.”

Fletcher said the incremental upgrade will be cost effective.

“Every dollar that we spend today on those microwave systems is a dollar that

we don’t have to ask the voters for when we go out for a bond (to cover the cost of the entire system replacement),” Fletcher said. “The upgrade replacements will work with any new radio system that the board approves.”

The District is working with Federal Engineering as its consultant for the replacement process. The District

has scheduled its next regular monthly board meeting for 9 a.m. Dec. 9 to review a $15,000 contract extension with Federal Engineering to fund a workshop in early 2022 to review questions from stakeholders about the system replacement needs.

“Hopefully, the board will make a decision on which solution to pursue,”

Fletcher said. “Federal Engineering will likely be asked by the board to conduct the design of the new system and negotiate contractors with the needed vendors.”

Fletcher said much work must be done before the District goes to voters with a general obligation bond to fund the system replacement.

“We wish her very well after serving the City of St. Helens for over ten years and providing excellent guidance and leadership at the library,” Communications Officer Crystal King said, acknowledging Jeffries’ contributions.

The library director performs many functions for the city, serving on various interagency committees in addition to the mayor, city council, city administrator, and staff about library issues,

and manages seven employees, according to King.

“The position performs complex supervisory, administrative, and professional work in planning, developing, organizing, scheduling, directing, supervising, and implementing a year-round, citywide library program,” King said.

The monthly salary for a library director offered by the city ranges from $7,494 to $9,176, along with the following benefits:

• Diverse health, vision and dental insurance packages for employee and family with only a 2% out-of-pocket premium • Fully paid participation in the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System • 13 paid holidays • Two to six weeks of paid vacation • Accrued sick leave (12 days per year) • Longevity pay: $50-200 per month depending on

length of service • Management leave: 96 hours per fiscal year • Possible housing incentive • $50 monthly towards a health club membership • Life insurance

tion is open internally and to the public, and the City of St. Helens is relying on different mediums to get the word out, including local newspapers, statewide and national government and library professional associations, and job-seeker websites.

King said Jeffries is in the middle of conducting interviews of applicants for the director’s position. The Chronicle will follow up with a one-on-one interview with Jeffries in a future article.

Applicants are encouraged to apply online at sthelensoregon.gov. The position remains open until filled, and applications will be reviewed starting Dec. 27.

Recruiting for the posi-

2022 Readers’ Choice Awards PRESENTED BY

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Best in Columbia County Your vote counts.

Vote online today through December 1 (Vote here)

www.thechronicleonline.com & www.thechiefnews.com

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People - Best At What They Do Include first and last names of individuals and place of business

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Return ballots to The Chronicle at 1805 Columbia Blvd, St. Helens, OR 97051 or mail to PO Box 1153, St. Helens, OR 97051 Votes must be received by Wednesday, December 1. If you are voting for an individual; provide full name, business, and city location. Only one ballot per reader. Enter one person/business per category. Businesses can only be voted for service they provide.

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