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Where We Live
The future of swimming in St. Helens
Zoe Gottlieb / The Chronicle
The Scappoose Swim team held its first home meet at Eisenschmidt Pool last week. JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
The growth of the sport of swimming in St. Helens is moving ahead one lap after another. St. Helens High School (SHHS) Head Swim Coach Chelsie Orr is leading the effort to open swimming up to younger students.
How it began During the past summer, Orr conducted a free swim camp for St. Helens’ youth from second to eighth grade. “We had all 56 spots filled and an average of 42 a day,” Orr said. “High school swimmers served as volunteer junior coaches and taught drills, starts, turns, and more. Each
participant received a free shirt, cap, and goggles.” Orr said the younger student event was made possible by an Oregon Department of Education (ODE) summer learning grant. Earlier, Orr successfully presented a proposal to the St. Helens School District to add a middle school swim program, which will debut this spring under coach Amy
Stobbe. “This will provide an earlier chance for student athletes to try out a new sport and will, in turn, feed the high school program and contribute to more success,” Orr said. Currently the only option for competitive swimming below the high school level in the community is the Sea Lions Club team, according to Orr.
“This is similar to other club sports where it involves more of a financial and time commitment,” Orr said. The middle school swim program would be eight weeks of swim training and this year is completely free,” Orr said. See SWIMMING Page A7
School threats highlight mental health concerns ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net
Parents have been notified and investigations launched following separate school threats in Columbia County. On Wednesday, Dec. 8, police responded to a threat of gun violence at St. Helens Middle School, 354 N. 15th Street. The St. Helens School District issued a letter to parents and community members later that day, describing the nature of the incident. “During afternoon classes a student told a classmate not to show up for school the next
day, claiming that he was going ‘to shoot it up,’ the letter reads. “School officials were quickly notified and local law enforcement responded without further incident. Local law enforcement and school officials have made contact with the student and their parents to secure the threat and ensure the safety of our school community.” The St. Helens School District letter highlighs the school’s efforts to ensure a safe and secure campus for students. “We take safety very seriously at St. Helens Middle School and will not tolerate any kind of threat of violence on our campus,” the letter states. “Our first priority
is the safety of our students and staff, which is why the St. Helens School District and local first responders partner together to ensure that safety is always at the
forefront.” According to the school’s website. another separate incident occurred Friday, Nov. 19. A student displayed a knife on campus, according to school administrators, who notified police. Officers responded to the scene and the student was removed from the campus. Earlier, officials at Rainier’s Hudson Park Elementary School took action following a school safety threat on Dec. 6. Rainier School District Superintendent Joseph Hattrick issued a Dec. 7 letter informing parents that two students at Hudson Park Elementary made threats to other
students, prompting an investigation by the school district and local law enforcement. No one was injured in the incident. “A rumor is going around that a gun was brought onto our campus and was not reported,” Hattrick said. “At no time was there a gun on campus. The school discovered two threat lists at school. It was immediately reported to administration and an investigation was initiated. It was also immediately reported to law enforcement. A student was found to have a pocket knife in their backpack but it was See THREATS Page A4
Local police officers recognized for community service STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net
St. Helens Police Department officers are being recognized for their exemplary service, conduct, and life-saving efforts that went above and beyond the normal high standards of their positions. Officer and Supervisor of the Year St. Helens Patrol Officer Anthony Boswell has been selected as the St. Helens Police Department Officer of the Year. Boswell was described as a natural leader who Letters ....................... A4 Cartoon ..................... A4 Holiday Calendar .... A4 Obituaries ................. A5 Classified Ads ......... A6 Crossword ............... A6 Legals ....................... A7
sets a good example for his fellow officers to emulate. He is a field training officer for the St. Helens Police Department, and he has been instrumental in teaching, coaching, and mentoring new officers. He is noted for taking responsibility for his actions and his willingness to handle any task. Boswell has served as a patrol officer with the St. Helens Police Department for four years. He is a six-year veteran of the United States Army. During his time of service, he received the Army Service Medal, four Army commendation medals, three Army achievement medals, and two overseas ribbons. He was deployed twice, once to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. He still serves as an active National Guard member and recently returned from a deployment to Africa. Boswell was just promoted to Sergeant First Class in the National Guard. Detective Corporal Matthew Smith was named the St. Helens
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St. Helens Patrol Officer Anthony Boswell has been selected as the St. Helens Police Department Officer of the Year.
Detective Corporal Matthew Smith was named the St. Helens Police Department Supervisor of the Year.
Police Department Supervisor of the Year. Smith was described as someone who lives based on a core set of values that he instills in those
around him. His daily interactions reflect his integrity, courage, accountability, respect for others, and excellence. Smith’s can-do attitude
is contagious within the department. In his job and supervisory role as detective, he serves the St. Helens community at a level that is unprecedented and is constantly mentoring, coaching, and empowering staff to always strive for excellence in their work. Smith was hired as a St. Helens patrol officer in July 2020. He was quickly promoted to detective in August 2020 and then again to corporal in December 2020. Smith started his law enforcement career as a cadet and reserve for the Beaverton Police Department before he was hired by the Gervais Police Department in 2002 and then as a patrol officer at the City of Forest Grove Police Department in April 2003. Smith holds a supervisory police certification with the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) which he earned in 2016. While at Forest
Vol. 139, No. 50
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Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Swarm of earthquakes rumble off Oregon Coast
Courtesy from the USGS
This is the area of the latest swarm of undersea earthquakes. JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
A swarm of undersea earthquakes ranging in magnitude from 3.2 to nearly 6 occurred hundreds of miles off the Oregon Coast over the past several days. The quakes began Tuesday, Dec. 7 and as of Friday, Dec. 10 nearly 90 tremors were recorded approximately 200 to 300 miles west of the Newport-Coos Bay area and approximately 10 kilometers deep, according to the Office of Oregon Emergency Management (OMI). In the following conversation, OMI Geological Hazards Program Coordinator Althea Rizzo gives us specific insight into the earthquakes and what they mean. The Chronicle: What is the significance of this latest swarm of quakes, what is causing them and is it a warning of a massive quake ahead? Althea Rizzo: This is
an area with a lot of earthquakes, even more than the San Andreas fault. The Pacific Plate is pushing past the Juan de Fuca Plate and this causes frequent fairly small earthquakes. We are in a time of increased activity, but these earthquakes don’t pose a risk to Oregonians. The area of seismicity is very far away from the Cascadia Subduction Zone, so there is no increased risk from a Cascadia event. The Chronicle: You have told us in previous interviews that the area off the Southern Oregon Coast is a frequent zone for earthquakes. Is it the Blanco Fault zone and what is the difference between this zone and the larger more violent zone that we have been told could lead to a massive earthquake? Rizzo: Yes, this is the Blanco Fracture Zone. The Cascadia Subduction Zone is the one we worry about. Subduction zones, where one plate dives underneath
another, can cause very large earthquakes and tsunamis. The Chronicle: We have heard that there is an active undersea volcano in the same area and that is what is causing the swarm of quakes. Is that true? Rizzo: This area does have thermal vents, but there is no specific volcano in the area. There have been submarine volcanos on the western edge of the Juan de Fuca plate several hundred miles away. The Chronicle: Do you find that despite these quakes and education campaigns to help get people be prepared, the reality is that many are still not prepared? Rizzo: Any time we have earthquakes that catch the public’s attention is a great time to remind folks that earthquakes can happen at any time. It’s important for families and households be prepared to be on their own for a couple of weeks. Even
This illustrates the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
just talking about possible hazards is a start to being Cascadia ready. The Chronicle: What is your bottom-line advice to folks about being prepared? Rizzo: It doesn’t take a big earthquake to need to be prepared; Oregon also gets floods, fires, ice storms and hurricane force winds. Most people would love to be a little more prepared for emergencies and disasters but haven’t made the time or don’t know where to start. Often, just taking the first step toward getting prepared is the hardest part. The holidays can be a great time to introduce low-cost/no-cost preparedness into the lives of friends and family. Some ideas include: Make a Plan. The most important first step to disaster preparedness is having a plan. FEMA offers several free preparedness products that can be downloaded or ordered from its website. Stock an Emergency Kit. Emergency kits are
critical when disaster strikes. Help your loved ones get started on theirs with a few essentials: Flashlights and extra batteries, portable phone chargers and manual can openers are all necessary items that make great stocking stuffers. Include the Kids. OEM has published several Dark Horse Comics describing what to do during specific disasters. These can be obtained through County Emergency Management Offices, or you can download them on OEM’s website. Most kids would also find a battery-powered or handcrank weather radio pretty cool. Sign up for Emergency Notifications. Make sure your loved ones have signed up for OR-Alert. Print out the website on a holiday card and add it to the stocking, or take a moment to sign them up when they come over for holiday celebrations. Create community. Delivering cookies to your neighbors? Use this time to chat about your emergency
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plans. This would also be an excellent time to offer to run essential errands for neighbors who are older, have mobility issues or are at increased risk for severe illness. The Chronicle: What would be best online resources for folks to visit for more details about Oregon earthquakes and how to best prepare? Rizzo: Visit https:// www.oregon.gov/oem/hazardsprep/Pages/IndividualPreparedness.aspx. The Chronicle: Feel free to add any other comments you might have. Rizzo: It’s important to know that you can be better prepared for emergencies with a little planning. Preparedness doesn’t have to be expensive. Start by looking around your home for things you already and have get them organized. Earthquakes don’t have a season, but winter storms are coming.
Children’s letters to Santa JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Courtesy photo
Santa’s mailbox, seen to the right is positioned at Scappoose City Hall.
There is still time to drop off your child’s letter at Scappoose City Hall that will be sent to Santa Claus. The city hall staff has set up a special mailbox at Scappoose City Hall, 33568 East Columbia Avenue to collect the letters from the public. City Hall is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The mailbox will be available until Thursday, Dec. 16. Santa and his helpers will send individual responses back to each child. According to Scappoose City Recorder Susan Reeves, the Letters to Santa project was launched by Scappoose Fire District years ago. The Scappoose Senior Center staff also joined the project. Reeves said this is the first year city staff has taken over the project to assist Santa. “It is something that brings joy to kids,” Reeves said. “If someone would like to hand deliver a letter to Santa’s mailbox, this is a local opportunity. Parents can take photos.”
Position: Patient Care Coordinator Position Summary:
In our practice, our Patient Care Coordinators are often the first person our patients see when they enter our office. The Patient Care Coordinator represents the practice in all facets of patient services which include, greeting patients, coordinating recall, scheduling appointments, maintaining patient records and coordinating patient flow.
About Us and Who We Want to Join Our Team:
Healthy Smiles of Scappoose is a fixture of the local community. We have been serving patients for over 50 years throughout the area. Our patients know us, and we know them. We are recognized as the go-to family dental practice because of our loyal team and our commitment to health. Due to growth and expansion, as well as retirement of one of our long-term employees, we are looking for a Patient Care Coordinator to join our cohesive team. This is a full-time position (4 days/week, ~32 hours/week) working Monday through Thursday. We have long-term employees at our practice. The newest hire has been here for 3 years. Some of our employees have worked for us for decades. This demonstrates our commitment to our employees. This is not just “a job” but rather a livelihood. We are committed to employee appreciation, kindness, understanding, and a positive mindset. Our overriding goal is to first find a person who will enjoy being a member of our team, both as part of the organization as a whole and specifically with our incredible team of dental professionals. Characteristics that we are looking for include: • Team collaborative outlook, • Patient-centric and solutions/problem solving approach, • Fun-natured and a sense of humor, • Good communication skills (written and verbal), • Self-motivated attitude, • A desire to make a difference
Santa Wave Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle
We are committed to each employee’s success. As such, we invest time, energy, and money in onboarding and training to ensure competency and confidence with the type and kind of patients we serve. This, combined with your qualifications, represents a winning formula for long-term professional success.
The Spirit of Christmas Parade made its way though local neighborhoods Saturday afternoon, Dec. 11, in its second-ever after a successful debut last holiday in St.1 Helens. Columbia 11-16-11 3x2D appearance, Cuts:Layout 1 6/22/12 3:28 PMseason Page County Sheriff Brian Pixley and a Columbia River Fire & Rescue rig led the small parade which also included Santa along for the ride. Nonperishable food donations were collected at curbside by Boy 11-16-11 3x2D Cuts:Layout 1 6/22/12 3:28 PM Page 1 Scouts and community volunteers with the Columbia Pacific Food Bank walking the parade route.
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COVID-19 Omicron now in Oregon JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
The COVID-19 Omicron variant is now in Oregon, according to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). The OHA reports that a Multnomah County resident who was fully vaccinated tested positive for the variant Dec. 7. The individual traveled internationally to Canada prior to symptom onset. Additional details about the condition of the individual were not immediately available. According to the OHA, two Washington County residents tested on Dec. 9, who were fully vaccinated, also have contracted the Omicron variant. Health officials have expressed concern about the new variant because it is highly transmissible. “On Dec. 1, when the first case was reported in the United States, we shared that it was a matter of ‘when,’ not
‘if,’ the Omicron variant of COVID-19 would be detected in Oregon,” Oregon Health Authority health officer and state epidemiologist Dean E. Sidelinger said. “We recognize this news is concerning to many people. However, if history is our guide, we do know that even if a vaccine doesn’t target a specific variant, the strong immune response you get from being fully vaccinated can still be highly protective against severe disease from all COVID-19 variants,” he said. “It was only a matter of time before we identified the first case of the Omicron variant in Oregon,” Gov. Kate Brown said. “As we continue to learn more about this new variant, we know the measures that are most effective in helping to keep ourselves and our families safe from Omicron, Delta, and other COVID-19 variants: get vaccinated, get your booster, and wear a mask. That’s the key to saving lives
Kelli Nicholson / The Chronicle
Kinsley Nicholson, 9, receives her second dose of the COVID-19 vaccination during a clinic in Scappoose. Health officials say the most effective way to slow the COVID-19 pandemic and its variants is for people to be vaccinated, to receive booster shots, and to wear masks in public indoor settings.
and keeping our businesses, schools, and communities open. If you aren’t yet vaccinated or need a booster dose, get an appointment or find a walk-in vaccine clinic in your area today.”
Sidelinger said OHA and its laboratory partners will continue to monitor the spread of Omicron in Oregon with robust individual-level and community-level variant surveillance.
“As part of Oregon Health & Science University’s ongoing SARS-CoV-2 testing efforts, OHSU genomic sequencing has confirmed Oregon’s first three cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant. OHSU PCR analysis initially flagged three samples as potential cases late last week after PCR analysis showed they had a feature known as the S-gene dropout,” OHSU Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Chair Donna Hansel said. OHSU detected the three Oregon Omicron variant cases. “While not specific for the variant, the S-gene dropout is a potential indicator,” Hansel said. “Full genomic sequencing was completed this afternoon and confirmed the cases involve the Omicron variant.” Oregon ranks 11th nationwide in the proportion of all specimens sequenced during the pandemic. Those efforts include sequencing of positive COVID-19 specimens at the
Oregon State Public Health Laboratory, through academic laboratories, including those at OHSU and the University of Oregon, and at several commercial laboratories statewide; and sequencing of wastewater samples in more than 40 communities statewide through a collaboration with Oregon State University’s TRACE program. “It can’t be emphasized enough that vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19 infection and transmission, including most circulating variants,” along with other protective measures, including wearing masks indoors and in crowded outdoor settings, physically distancing from others, washing hands regularly and staying home when sick,” Sidelinger said. Learn more about the COVID-19 variants at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, CDC.gov.
Oregonian arrested in U.S. Capitol building violence STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net
The FBI has charged an Oregon man who authorities believe was involved in the violent storming of the U.S. Capitol Building Jan. 6. FBI agents arrested Jeffrey W. Hubbard, of Lincoln City, at his home Wednesday morning, Dec. 8. A criminal complaint charges Hubbard with four counts related to the U.S. Capitol violence.
An anonymous tipster provided the FBI with a video that depicts individuals storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. The FBI investigators were able to obtain several screenshots of individual rioters’ faces from the video, including a screenshot of an individual believed to be Hubbard. In a video, Hubbard is seen with a crowd of rioters in the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, chanting with the crowd “Stop the Steal” and “We Want Trump,” according to the affidavit. Surveil-
lance footage confirmed Hubbard’s presence. He is first seen at 2:22 p.m. climbing through a broken window located next to the Senate Wing door on the northwest side of the Capitol. Over the course of the video, Hubbard moves through the crowds toward a group of uniformed law enforcement officers, who appear to be blocking the forward advancement of rioters, the affidavit states. A physical struggle took place. At 3:16 p.m. Hub-
bard appears to exit the U.S. Capitol. According to the complaint, the misdemeanor charges include entering and remaining in a restricted building/grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building/grounds, conduct in a capitol building, and parading or demonstrating in a capitol building. Hubbard made his initial appearance before a federal judge on Dec. 8 and was released pending a future court date.
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In a video, Hubbard is seen with a crowd of rioters in the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, chanting with the crowd “Stop the Steal” and “We Want Trump,” according to the affidavit. See more photos with this story at thechronicleonline.com.
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Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Credit union selects INspiring Individuals STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net
To recognize local folks whose kindness is inspiring, InRoads Credit Union asked its members and those throughout the community to nominate inspirational individuals. Many community members were nominated for their kindness to others and impact in the community. Three inspired winners won a special all-local prize basket packed with goodies from local businesses. The three winners include Mitch Yen-Kastoff, Suzie Dahl, and Karen Van Winkle. “We received a lot of inspirational stories throughout the community,” InRoads Credit
Union President/CEO, Brooke Van Vleet said. “It’s been a true inspiration to learn about and get to know these incredible individuals.” INspired was the credit union’s way of recognizing those spreading kindness and who go above and beyond, including volunteerism, leadership, or simply sharing their talents with others to make a difference in the community. Of the many entries, one of the winners was Mitch Yen-Kastoff, who is a local teacher. He has inspired and encouraged many teens to finish high school. Suzie Dahl, another winner, is a lifelong Columbia County resident whose work for the county as well as volunteerism has made a big difference in many
lives. The third winner, Karen Van Winkle, not only wears plenty of different hats in her real estate career, she is also a tireless volunteer with 4-H, a nonprofit organization encouraging youth to reach their highest potential, and her church, according to a release from InRoads. The credit union administrators said they plan to ask for more INspired stories in the coming years. InRoads Credit Union (inroadscu.org) a not-for-profit, community-focused, memberowned financial cooperative that’s open to anyone who lives, works, attends school, volunteers, or worships in Columbia, Clatsop, Cowlitz, Multnomah, and Washington Counties.
Holiday Calendar St. Helens and Scappoose Dec. 17 and 18 • Holiday Gift Bazaar from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. at South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce. Dec. 18 and 19 • Small Business and Craft Fair from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Columbia County Fairgrounds. Dec. 18 • 5 p.m Spirit of Christmas Pa-
THREATS From Page A1
determined by law enforcement that this was not associated with the list.” A larger problem U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy issued a public health advisory on Tuesday, Dec. 7, which reflects a mounting concern over the mental health of youth and children. The advisory identifies the trends seen in the U.S. that are contributing to the increase in mental health concerns among youth and in the increasing academic pressure facing students, according to Grace Bullock, PhD, Senior Mental Health Officer at the Oregon Department of Education (ODE). “Mental health concerns are becoming more visible,” Bullock said. “Other factors might be a limited access to mental health care in certain parts of the state. Increased alcohol and drug use also (are) one of those contributing factors. And then of course, there are larger social factors.” Bullock also listed social media as a cause for concern among youth, among societal stressors such as financial struggle, increased racism, gun violence, climate change, and school shootings. Bullock said she believes the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to what she already views as a changing societal landscape for children. “I think that increases in things like depression and anxiety in general definitely preceded COVID,” she said. “But I think that what we’re seeing, particularly (in the) last couple of years since the pandemic, is an unprecedented amount of stress. It’s not just stress that is specific to a person, but we’re seeing it show up in offices (and) in
rade in Scappoose. Nonperishable food donations accepted at curbside. Dec. 20 • Polar Express Party from 4:30 – 6:30 at the Columbia County Fairgrounds. Santa pictures, Polar Express movie and popcorn. $5 per person. Dec. 21 • Elf Movie Night at 6 p.m. at the Columbia County Fairgrounds. healthcare and education.” One in five children from birth to age 18 years has a diagnosable mental disorder, according to the National Center for Children in Poverty. According to Bullock, children, because they are still growing and developing, are more affected by the changes even adults have yet to come to terms with. “Younger children just aren’t equipped to handle these real-world scale life problems, and we cannot shield children from the effects of this pandemic because it’s affecting their daily lives,” she said. “We have this convergence of what it is like to be a child or an adolescent, with all of these societal pressures that I think we are being exposed to but never seen.” The signals Bullock advises parents to be on the lookout for sudden behavioral changes in their children, such as “changes in appetite, changes in diet, sleep patterns, changes in mood,” which could signify underlying mental health challenges. “The child becomes angry, sad, or withdrawn, anything that seems for a particular child to be in extreme would definitely be a warning sign to pay attention to,” she said. Persistent changes in behavior may be cause for alarm, but Bullock said day-to-day mood changes are also to be expected in children. “If a child doesn’t feel like doing something for a few days or they’re in a bad mood, that doesn’t necessarily indicate a problem,” she said. In a Sept. 29 Chronicle Guest Column Bullock said the ODE launched the Care and Connection Campaign to encourage schools throughout the state to foster welcoming, inclusive, communities for students
Rainier Dec. 19 • Pizza and Pictures with Santa at Hometown Pizza, 109 A St. in Rainier from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Bring your camera for free picture with Santa. If you have a bazaar or other community holiday event, send details and contact information to jruark@countrymedia.net
and nurture social bonds. “School districts across the state can promote student mental health by dedicating time each day to activities that build care, connection and community, and allowing staff and students the opportunity to make meaning of their experiences,” she said. “These types of activities and trust building exercises are particularly important and meaningful now, as many students spent much of last year apart from their peers and trusted adults outside their home.” Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark have announced the introduction of the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act, legislation that would greatly boost the availability of mental health resources in America’s public schools. Read the story on Page A7.
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Suzie Dahl, one of three InRoads INspire winners, was nominated by her daughter Abigail Dahl.
Voices of the Community Being bamboozled When is the Scappoose School Board going to stop being bamboozled by a manipulative Superintendent? Tim Porter demonizes parents for exercising their free speech rights about the concerns of our schools. He accused parents and citizens of Scappoose of security threats and verbally assaulting the very kids they care about. A Public Complaint was filed about Porter’s statements and now he is covering up the public record, that is after he first denied it even
existed. As a former Board member, I witnessed the manipulative actions of the Superintendent. Porter scrubbed the school district website of any way to contact our elected Board Members other than to go through a process where he screens all their emails, for some reason they continue to allow this. Porter’s lack of integrity doesn’t end there, public records show he has filed bankruptcy three times in 2000, 2010 and 2020. That is a terrible precedent for someone who made over $174,000 and is in charge of a multimillion dollar budget with taxpayer money. Everybody
makes mistakes or has bad things happen to them, but three times, that’s a character flaw. On December 13, the school board is to take into consideration the public complaint filed about Porter’s actions. He should be dismissed for his bogus allegations about parents and his moral bankruptcy. That will require a majority of Board members to no longer allow themselves to be duped and to exercise some real leadership. Let’s hope they come to their senses. Lisa Maloney Scappoose
Resources for parents The ODE has a wealth of mental-health resources for students, which Bullock said covers a broad range of topics, including information about ODE’s Care Connection Campaign. ODE’s Mental Health Toolkit is designed for district leaders, school administrators, and schoolbased mental health professionals (i.e. school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, and school nurses) interested in promoting the health and well-being of school communities while creating a culture of safety, care and belonging, according to the ODE website. See oregon.gov/ode for more information or call your local school for more information about student mental health resources. To reach Northwest Connections, a 24 hour mental health crisis hotline in Columbia County, call 1-888552-6642.
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Clarification In the article, Health center shutters detox program, published Dec. 1, The Chronicle incorrectly attributed the following quote to Columbia County Health Promotion Specialist Suzanne Beaupre. “The hospitals pay a lot more than community-based
programs like CCMH, or even primary care clinics like Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and Legacy. This is just my take on it, but as people left the hospital jobs, that created a vacuum. People from the clinic jobs in the community then moved into
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some of those higher paying jobs, which creates a void in community-based jobs.” The quote is actually from Columbia County Mental Health Director of Clinical Operations Miriam Parker. The Chronicle is happy to set the record straight.
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A5
Crossword Solution
Obituaries
Solution for the Dec. 8, 2021 crossword puzzle
Fred Steinmetz
July 11, 1934 – Dec. 7, 2021 Fred Steinmetz passed peacefully on Dec. 7, 2021 at his home in Warren, Oregon, at the age of 87. Fred was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. After serving in the US Navy, he entered a career in newspaper sales which later took him to California. Settling in Oxnard, California in advertising sales and as a part time bartender, he met and fell in love with Fran. Looking for a simpler life for their family, Fred and Fran moved to Portland Oregon where they and their children quickly became a part of the St. John’s community. In the 1990’s Fred
and Fran moved “out to” Warren where they immersed themselves in another com-
munity with a hometown spirit. Through the years, Fred was member of the Moose Lodge, the St. Helens Lions Club (President 20072008) and the Eisenschmidt Pool remodel project. Eager to share his time, Fred helped with the community flag display on patriotic holidays and the Kids Night Out swim events. When Fred wasn’t working as Farmer Fred on his property, celebrating milestones with his family and friends or cheering on his favorite sports team while Fran was at Bingo, he was home with Fran enjoying the
peace and love they shared until his very last day. Fred is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Fran; daughter Mary Seastone; son Mike Sarate (Penny); Denise Martinez Kadlec (Jerry); and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. Fred will join his two sons that passed before him, Steve Martinez and Frank Martinez. Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service at 2 p.m. on Fri., Dec. 17, 2021 at Columbia Funeral Home, 681 Columbia Blvd, St. Helens, Oregon.
Patricia Ellen Leffler
July 11, 1934 - Nov. 27, 2021
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Born July 11, 1934 in Irvine, California to Frank and Clara Moan. Patricia moved with her parents and two sisters, Jeanette Barnett and Gayle Hall, to Myrtle Creek, Oregon where she graduated High School and met the “love of her life”, Charles E. Leffler, Sr. They were married in 1952. Patricia and Charles started their family in Myrtle Creek and eventually moved to Scappoose, Oregon where they raised their four children, Charles (Linda) Leffler, Jr., Allan Leffler, Danielle (Thomas) Weber, and Vonnie (Jack) McGin-
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nis; and their two adopted daughters, Chelsea (Ryan) Murphy and Rochelle Beehler (Jereld Strawn).
away in 2015. In 2020 Patricia moved back to Scappoose and enjoyed her time and newfound family at Brookdale Rose Valley. Patricia passed away Nov. 27, 2021 in her home at Brookdale. She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter Danielle; husband Charles; and her son Allan. Patricia collected friends like flowers and we are blessed with the beautiful bouquets she left for us. She will be greatly missed by many. Please sign our online guestbook at www. columbiafh.com
Roger Eston Bullis
Nov. 4, 1941 ~ Dec. 5, 2021
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Charles and Patricia were blessed with 15 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Patricia and Charles retired to her family home in Myrtle Creek in 2004 where they started their “second act!” Patricia loved reading, painting, gardening, volunteering for the Helping One Another Club of South Myrtle, traveling, playing BUNCO, volunteering for the Portland to Coast race and making wine with her “peeps.” Charles and Patricia enjoyed many years of family and friends in Myrtle Creek where Charles passed
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Roger E. Bullis passed away peacefully on Dec. 5, 2021. Born on Nov. 4, 1941 in Klamath Falls, Roger spent the majority of his younger years in St. Helens, starting at McBride and graduated from St. Helens High School in 1960. During high school, he played with the local band Teen Kings. After high school, he first worked at Jordan Motors, then started at Dyno Chemical plant in 1975 and retired in 2003. Roger married Barbara Grant had three daughters. In his free time, he enjoyed
family time, bowling and golfing. He was a mem-
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Dec. 27, 1942 ~ Dec. 5, 2021 Carol was born to Basil and Edna Beaulieu of St. Helens, Oregon where she attended all her school years. She was married to John Tutt in 1998 until he passed away in 2015. Together they raised a daughter, Janis Tutt,
and lived most of their married years in Aloha, Oregon. Carol worked in the nursing field, for current stores and teaching preschoolers. Carol loved her dog Nell-u, who is 16 years old now, and will be cared for by friends. Carol would
take Nell-u for walks twice a day. Nell-u went in the car every time it moved. She loved to ride. Carol was a friend to all and knew no strangers. She helped many people and was full of life and laughter and everyone loved her. Carol
will be missed by all that knew her. She is survived by daughter Janis Tutt; sister Pat and brother-in-law Eric Halberg; two sisters-inlaw; one niece; and several nephews No services are planned.
POLICE
three officers. Department members take turns serving on the board.
Officers provided emergency first aid until medical personnel arrived on scene.
2021. Corporal Dustin King and Officers Jamin Coy and McKenzie McClure in response to an accidental opioid overdose which led to cardiac arrest in October 2021. Officer McKenzie McClure in response to an opioid overdose in September 2021. Officer Adam Raethke in response to an unconscious individual struggling to breath in July 2021.
From Page A1
Grove, he was awarded the Oregon Peace Officers Association (OPOA) Life Saving Award, FBI Director’s Award of Excellence, OPOA Distinguished Service Award, Employee of the Year twice, Distinguished Service Medal, Medal of Valor, and Meritorious Service Medal. Officer Commendations In addition to officer and supervisor of the year, the St. Helens Police Department presented multiple commendations to officers for extraordinary accomplishments in 2021. Commendations are given to recognize exemplary officer conduct that goes beyond the high level of professional conduct expected of St. Helens officers. A Commendations Board reviews and approves the recommendations for commendation. The St. Helens lieutenant oversees the board and additional members include one sergeant and 2012 COLUMBIA BLVD, ST. HELENS MON THRU THURS 3PM - 11PM FRI & SAT 11 AM-12AM SUN 11AM-11PM
(Billy) Childers; grandchildren, Kaelyn, Kelcey, Kali, and Brayden; stepson David (Oneata) Bundy; grandson James; and stepdaughter Laurel (John) Klem; brother Lester Bullis from Coquitlam, British Columbia; other cousins; and many friends. He was preceded in death by his daughter Kary Bullis. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Columbia County Food Bank. A date to celebrate Roger’s life has not been determined.
Carol Ann Tutt
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ber of the St. Helens Golf Course, Yacht and Elks Club. Roger, a St. Helens Alumni, loved helping plan reunions for his graduating class. After his wife, Barbara, died he married Sandy Bundy. They spent 15 wonderful winters in Green Valley, Arizona, hosting numerous friends from St. Helens and entertaining new ones. His gentle laugh and kind words for all will be greatly missed. Roger is survived by his wife Sandy Bundy; daughter Tracy (Frank) Valdespino; daughter Kristy
Exemplary Service Awards The Exemplary Service Award is presented to an individual or unit for a singular accomplishment of substance without risk to personal safety but under adverse and difficult conditions. Detective Dylan Gaston for a child abuse investigation in May 2021 that resulted in the safe removal of multiple victims from a situation involving repeated physical and sexual abuse and the successful arrest of the suspect without incident. Officers Anthony Boswell, Bryan Cutright, Kolten Edwards, Matthew Molden, Sergeant Jon Eggers, and Corporal Matthew Smith for a shooting investigation in May 2021 that hospitalized one victim and led to the arrest of a suspect after a domestic disturbance. Officers Anthony Boswell and Luke Marshall for their response to a citizen in distress in September 2021.
Life Saving Awards The Life Saving Award is given to an officer for an extraordinary act or effort that resulted in the saving of a human life or lives that would have died without the officer’s direct involvement. This may include a situation involving more than routine first aid, steadfast medical intervention, life threatening immediate emergency situations that an officer was not trained or equipped to handle, or heroic physical intervention. Officers Kolten Edwards and Bryan Cutright in response to a victim with self-inflicted stab wounds in September 2021. Corporal Dustin King and Officer Terry Massey, Jr. in response to a choking victim which led to cardiac arrest in June 2021. Corporal Dustin King and Officer Anthony Boswell in response to an accidental opioid overdose which led to cardiac arrest in October
Service Awards Two St. Helens officers were also recognized for providing lengthy and distinguished service in special assignments. Officer Jeremy Howell for eight years of service as the St. Helens School District’s School Resource Officer. Sergeant Jon Eggers for twenty years of service as the St. Helens Police Department’s K-9 handler. The honors were presented during the St. Helens Police Department’s annual awards banquet ceremony Friday, Dec. 3.
Local county news, every day, online. Keep up to date on local stories, events, and ads by visiting thechronicleonline.com.
Reach out to potential customers. Get your ad in the paper today. Call 503-397-0116
The Chronicle 503-397-0116 • thechronicleonline.com 1805 Columbia Blvd. St. Helens, OR 97051
Columbia County’s trusted local news source
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A6
Classifieds
Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Listings are updated daily at thechronicleonline.com
301
502
502
502
702
Health & Nutrition
Help Wanted
Help Wanted
Help Wanted
Garage Sales
Alcoholics Anonymous Info-line, (503) 366-0667 www.pdxaa.org
Land Use Compliance Specialist Columbia County, OR. EOE Deadline: 1/14/2022. Apply at Columbia CountyOR. gov
TRAINING & CERTIFICATION COORDINATOR Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District (C911CD) is conducting a hiring process for a Training & Certification Coordinator. Apply online at www.columbia911. com/careers. Additional information can be found on our website or by calling 503-3666978.
5:30 p.m. If you are interested in becoming a part of the Columbia River PUD team, please visit our website at www.crpud.net to view and apply for open positions or call us at (503) 397-1844 to have an application packet mailed to you.
Accumulation furniture & fixture sale Dec 17 & 18. 12pm to 5pm. 1271 Columbia Blvd. St. Helens. Furniture, shelving & fixtures, pictures. Last days.
690
FREE TO GOOD HOME
502
Help Wanted
Columbia River PUD is hiring a Building & Grounds Specialist Salary: $24.53 $34.98/hr DOQ. Deadline: Open Until Filled. If you are interested in becoming a part of the Columbia River PUD team, please visit our website at www.crpud.net to view and apply for open positions or call us at (503) 397-1844 to have an application packet mailed to you.
The City of St. Helens is hiring a Public Works Utility Worker I Regular Full-Time. Apply online at www.sthelensore gon.gov. Deadline to apply: 12/30/21. Equal Opportunity Employer. The City of St. Helens is hiring Parks Utility I Regular Full-Time. Apply online at www.sthelensore gon.gov. Deadline to apply: 12/30/21. Equal Opportunity Employer.
Columbia River PUD is hiring a Mechanic Salary: $37.13 per hour during six month introductory period, $41.25 per hour after six month introductory period. Deadline: Tuesday, December 28, 2021 by
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Pets
Two crested gecko lizards, each in a 29 gallon aquarium/ terrarium. You could house them in a smaller pen and use the aquarium with a $100 light hood, which has white or blue light.
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Lowell (503) 397-3554
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Crossword Puzzle
STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: WINTER FUN ACROSS 1. Rope fiber 5. Mai ____ 8. Russia’s Terrible one, e.g. 12. “What ____ Happened to Baby Jane?” 13. Tattled 14. Actress Reed 15. Internet share-able 16. Inwardly 17. Black tropical hardwood 18. *Winged impression in winter 20. Home of the Hawkeyes 21. Investigative report 22. Chicken or this? 23. Not dense 26. Early-day supercontinent 30. Afternoon shut-eye 31. Even though 34. Picture on a coat 35. Anti-seniors sentiment 37. Jean of Dadaism 38. Crewneck alternative 39. Half-man, half-goat 40. Arm cover 42. Victoria Beckham ____ Adams 43. Lacking sense of moral standards
45. Flying high 47. Often part of disguise 48. Queen-like 50. Wood file 52. *____ ____ Plunge 56. Secret stash 57. Damien’s prediction 58. Not at work 59. Opposite of cation 60. Abbreviated seconds 61. Precedes stated rank 62. Moon pull 63. *Like toddy or cocoa 64. Trans-Siberian Railroad city
22. Nibble
DOWN
40. Actors’ grp.
1. Shortens pants 2. Like fair share 3. Short for memorandum 4. Antebellum 5. Polynesian kingdom 6. Ten-pin establishment 7. Bucolic poem 8. *Ride on runners 9. *Winter building material 10. Tolstoy’s Karenina 11. R&B Charles 13. *Glittery decor 14. Condescend 19. Indian black tea
23. Big mess 24. Like a Druid, e.g. 25. Celery, technically 26. *Snowman’s corn cob accessory 27. Are not 28. Wedding singer, e.g. 29. Questioned 32. *Snow____, ammunition 33. *”But I heard him exclaim, ____ he drove out of sight...” 36. *Winter walking aid 38. Type of consonant 41. a.k.a. strict vegetarians 44. Mature, as in fruit 46. Like Silas of “The Da Vinci Code” 48. Young Montague 49. Decide at the polls 50. Jasmine of “Aladdin” 51. Turns blue litmus red 52. #42 Across, once 53. Cheese from Netherlands 54. Contributions to the poor 55. Stink to high heaven 56. *Arctic ____, snowmobile brand
Solution to crossword in next week’s issue of The Chronicle. Columbia County’s trusted local news source
www.thechronicleonline.com
Wednesday, December 15, 2021
A7
Public Notices CH21-1843
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DEPARTMENT In the Matter of the Estate of Thomas James Lomnicky, Deceased. No. 21PB09771 Notice to Interested Persons NOTICE is hereby given that Carol Jones, 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 from this date at the office 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: December 1, 2021. Date of final publication: December 15, 2021. Personal Representative: Carol Jones, 35220 Firlok Park Blvd., St. Helens, OR 97051. Attorneys: VanNatta, Petersen & Anderson, Attorneys at Law, P.O. Box 748, St. Helens, Oregon 97051. Telephone: (503) 397-4091.
CH21-1844
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA In the Matter of the Estate of LLOYD H. PELLHAM, Deceased. No. 21PB10082 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed personal representative. All persons having claims against the estate are required to present them,
with vouchers attached, to the undersigned personal representative at the address below, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice, or the claims may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceedings may obtain additional information from the records of the court, the
personal representative, or the attorneys for the personal representative. Dated and first published December 8, 2021. JENI NOELLE FORD Personal Representative c/o Lucas & Associates, LLC Attorneys at Law P.O. Box 519 Rainier, OR 97048. Phone 503-5563741. FAX - 503-556-0708 Lucasatty@yahoo.com.
CH21-1847
Oregon House Bill 2788 (2011), requires State Agencies, Boards, Commissions, and Education Service Districts (ESDs) to post notices of public meetings. The Board of Commissioners for the Northwest Oregon Housing Authority will meet for its regular monthly business meetings on the first Thursday of each month. Meetings are convened at 10:00 am and may be conducted either in person or virtually. Until further notice, all NOHA board meetings will be conducted virtually and the meeting link will be posted at www.nwoha.org at least one (1) business day prior to the scheduled meeting. The schedule for Calendar Year 2022 follows. • January 6, 2022 • February 3, 2022 • March 3, 2022 • April 7, 2022 • May 5, 2022 • June 2, 2022 • July 7, 2022 • August 4, 2022 • September 1, 2022 • October 6, 2022 • November 3, 2022 • December 1, 2022 Members of the public are invited and encouraged to participate in the NOHA Board Meetings. Regular meetings will include an opportunity for public comments. The Board of Commissioners reserves the right to convene in Executive Session during any board meeting. Executive sessions are held in accordance with all applicable Oregon regulations and laws. Typically, the board will discuss matters related to staffing or personnel, real estate and/or legal matters in Executive Session. No official actions will be taken during the Executive Session.
CH21-1597
CH21-1850
NOTICE OF PROJECT BASED NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VOUCHER PROGRAM MEETING The Board of Directors and Capital Budget. Intermade at least 48 hours in adThe Greater St. HelCH21-1845
for Columbia River PUD will conduct a Public Hearing on December 21, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. in the Community Room at Columbia River PUD Headquarters in Deer Island, Oregon, to receive public testimony regarding the proposed 2022 Operating
ested parties may get more information by contacting the PUD office, either by telephone or in person. All interested parties are invited to attend. This meeting is accessible to persons with disabilities. A request for further accommodations should be
CH21-1851
NOTICE OF MEETING McNulty Water PUD Board Meeting will be held December 21, 2021, at 7pm in person at 34240 Millard
Road, Warren Oregon. If you would like to attend this meeting, please call Shannon at 503-397-1301.
vance by contacting the PUD at (503) 397-1844. The PUD Board meetings are conducted pursuant to the public meeting laws of the State of Oregon and anyone wishing to attend is welcome. By: Michael J. Sykes, General Manager.
Project Based Voucher Program Request for Proposals December 10, 2021. The Northwest Oregon Housing Authority (NOHA) is accepting proposals from owners and developers for the Project Based Voucher (PBV) Program. Competitive
Proposals with subject line labeled PBV Proposal must be sent to the email below by 2:00 pm on Friday, January 14, 2021. The Request for Proposals may be obtained at www.nwoha.org or via email upon request at director@ nwoha.org.
ens Aquatic District board meeting will be held on December 20, 2021 at 5:00 pm at Eisenschmidt Pool, 1070 Eisenschmidt Lane, St. Helens. Due to COVID restrictions, please call 503397-2283 prior to attending the meeting.
The Public Notice deadline is Fridays by noon. Late submissions are not guaranteed to make it into the paper.
Federal effort for youth mental health services Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark have announced the introduction of the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act, legislation that would greatly boost the availability of mental health resources in America’s public schools. Merkley said in a release that mental illness affects one in five - 20 percent - of American youth, and most recently, the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, issued a new Surgeon General’s Advisory stressing the urgent and critical need to address the country’s youth mental health crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bicameral legislation will put additional mental health providers in elementary and secondary schools across America, according to Merkley. “Mental health care is essential health care, now more than ever,” Merkley said. “Our country has neglected this fact for far too long, and our children are paying
the price. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic still greatly impacting the growth and experience of our schoolaged kids, it’s time to do a lot more to ensure mental health programs are available to every child in every school.” “We know that our students’ success in school is about more than just test scores – they need the social and emotional support of mental health professionals in order to thrive,” Clark said. “As kids return to school in new and unfamiliar ways coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s even more important that we invest directly in school nurses, social workers, and counselors. The Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act will help public schools meet the counselorto-student ratios necessary to foster safe schools and promote the long-term health and welfare of our nation’s youth.” The Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act would establish five-year renewable grant programs for elementary and second-
ary schools to hire additional school counselors. “Students’ unmet mental health needs can be a significant obstacle to student academic, career and social/ emotional development and even compromise school safety. We know the current staffing ratios are simply too high - all students deserve access to a school counselor – and this legislation is a step towards that goal,” American School Counselor Association Executive Director Jill Cook said. “Increasing schools’ capacity to provide comprehensive mental and behavioral health services for all students is predicated on access to school employed mental health professionals, like school psychologists,” National Association of School Psychologists’ President Laurie Klose said. “Unfortunately, we are experiencing a critical shortage which leaves schools and communities without access to care, which is especially critical as we address increased mental health needs related to the COVID-19
pandemic. The Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act would help high needs districts work toward recommended staffing ratios so that every student has access to the mental care and support they need in school so they can focus on what is most important: learning and achieving their potential.” “Supporting the mental health needs of our children is essential to ensure they can thrive and grow, and it’s of particular importance as students and families continue to navigate the challenges of the pandemic,” National Association of Secondary School Principals’ CEO Ronn Nozoe said. “We applaud Senator Merkley and Representative Clark for introducing the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act because every school should have the resources necessary to recruit, train, and employ school-based, mental health professionals.” “The American Psychological Association strongly supports the Elementary and Secondary School Counsel-
ing Act, which would help address the nationwide shortages of school-based mental health professionals, including school psychologists. This need existed even prior to COVID-19,” American Psychological Association CEO Arthur C. Evans said. “Schools are often vital to providing health care to many children, particularly as they can be essential to both early detection and intervention efforts. School-based mental health providers are not only critical to students’ behavioral well-being, but also play a key role in their learning and academic achievement, as well as helping to foster positive and healthy school climates.” Prior to the pandemic, there was already a huge unmet need for greater access to mental health services in schools, according to Merkley. The recommended student-to-counselor ratio is 250 students per counselor, but the national average is 455 students per counselor and continues to rise. For school psychologists
SWIMMING From Page A1
“The only sports without options below high school besides club level are swimming, tennis, and golf,” she said. “I was motivated to change that to provide more options to the community. Even more than that I hope to continue a youth program each summer to further the availability.” Life-long skills According to Orr, competitive swimming is a sport unique from others because it’s the only one that also combines a life-saving skill. “Many of our high school swimmers become lifeguards and swim lesson instructors at Eisenschmidt Pool,” she said. “I feel our sport has been in the background for a long time and I would like to see it have
Zoe Gottlieb / The Chronicle
St. Helens High School Swim Team Coach Chelsie Orr meets with members of her team on the pool deck.
some time to shine!” Orr said swimming helps students learn life skills and gave an example that currently many kids participate in swimming lessons and become ‘water safe’ at a young age through the lesson programs at Eisenschmidt Pool. “When there are more ways for athletes to improve
and build on their skills as well as increase their endurance in the water they become not only safer for themselves when swimming but could assist if someone were to need help,” she said. “Competitive swimmers are used to being able to swim 2,000-5,000 yards in a practice, so if they are in a body of water with friends and
Zoe Gottlieb / The Chronicle
The new state-of-the-art swim timing system is positioned along the wall at the end of Eisenschmidt Pool in St. Helens and relies on underwater touchpoints.
someone is struggling, they would have the endurance to help them. This is a lifelong skill.” Timing system Orr said the new state-ofthe-art swim timing system also is funded through the ODE grant. The system includes
touch pads and was scheduled to be used at the SHHS swim team’s first home meet last week. “The timing system will be utilized by our high school team and has been offered to the Sea Lions Club team for use as well at Scappoose High School,” she said. “It will also be used
the recommended ratio is 500 students per provider and 250 to 1 for school social workers. The need for youth mental health programs remains, and this need has only become more urgent as the COVID-19 pandemic has brought massive disruption and uncertainty to children’s lives, according to Merkley. He added that the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act would help ensure that students receive the mental care and support they need in school so that they can focus on what is most important – learning and achieving their potential. The Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act is endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers, American School Counselor Association, American Psychological Association, National Association of School Psychologists National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, School Social Work Association of America and the National Education Association. for future swim camps we can offer through the school district. Installation was made possible by Andrew at Lower Columbia Engineering.” Orr said the new timing system helps move Eisenschmidt Pool into the future. “I believe this system brings our community pool facility up to the level of other pools in our league such as Shute Park and Parkrose who have similar systems,” she said. “It will also be a draw for the pool to have the ability to host bigger events much like the Artman Invitational swim meet because of the accuracy of the times from the touch pads.”
Eisenschmidt Pool is located at 1070 Eisenschmidt Lane in St. Helens. The pool may be reached at 503-3972283. For more information about the St. Helens High School Swim Team, call SHHS at 503-397-1900. Columbia County’s trusted local news source
www.thechronicleonline.com
A8
Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Superintendent under investigation ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net
The Scappoose School Board is requesting an investigation of a public complaint issued against Scappoose School District Superintendent Tim Porter. At the board’s Dec. 13 regular public meeting, members passed a motion to investigate the public complaint against Porter. Board members voted unanimously in favor of the motion. “We ask our board chair to contact our district attorney to put into place the investigation of this complaint per our policy,” Scappoose School Board Member Michelle Graham said. Background In an Oct. 29 letter to parents, Porter relayed concerns on behalf of students whose “sense of security was threatened,” during an Oct. 25 medical freedom rally at the intersection of High School Way and Highway 30 near Scappose High School. “These incidents include adults verbally assaulting children on their walk to school and blocking their sidewalk and crosswalk access,” Porter’s letter reads. The letter elicited a public complaint filed by the rally’s participants. In the complaint, rally members allege Porter made defamatory and inaccurate statements against the group. “Tim Porter owes the community of Scappoose a written apology for his reprehensible comments and false allegations he made against parents and commu-
Courtesy photo
Superintendent Tim Porter
nity members at the rally. He should not be making heinous accusations based on hearsay and/or lies,” the complaint reads. Additionally, the complaint included a request for an investigation by the school board in absence of a retraction from the superintendent. Bus concerns addressed After hearing new concerns from parents, the school board addressed school bus blackouts, which were brought up by a parent as an area of concern at the Scappoose School Board’s Nov. 8 meeting. Without speaking to any solutions recommended by Amanda Normine, a concerned parent, the superintendent read a statement from Durham School Services, the bus provider for Scappoose School District. According to the statement, Durham is still facing a hiring shortage, despite offering competitive pay, generous incentives and sign-on
bonuses. “Regarding transportation, the district continues to work with Durham bus services to increase the number of routes each week but without an increase in the number of drivers we will continue to experience blackouts of routes,” Porter told The Chronicle prior to the Dec. 13 meeting. Another concern that took center stage at the previous board meeting was the alleged discrimination of students at Scappoose School District based on their vaccination status. The topic was not covered by the school board at the meeting, but during the public comment portion of the Dec. 13 session, one school district employee cited several concerns over discrimination against unvaccinated school district employees. According to her complaint, unvaccinated employees are required to sit away from other employees while eating lunch, double mask, complete daily symptom forms, and undergo weekly testing, all under the threat of unpaid leave. “There is no discrimination of students based on vaccination status,” Porter told The Chronicle before the Dec. 13 meeting. The school board follows a formal process of review for all concerns expressed during the public meetings. The school district previously placed specific details about the public compliant procedures on its website. Follow this developing story at thechronicleonline. com or in Wednesday print editions of The Chronicle.
Courtesy from St. Helens Police
If you recognize any of the items pictured, contact St. Helens Police investigators at 503-397-1521.
Suspects still at-large in vehicle break-ins, thefts JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
A few items have been recovered that may be linked to a series of vehicle breakins and thefts in St. Helens. St. Helens Police began conducting the investigation into a series of thefts from vehicles which occurred in late November in several St. Helens’ residential neighborhoods. “Officers have successfully recovered items that may be related to these car prowls,” a St. Helens Police Facebook post reads. “While these items may not have significant monetary value, the successful identification of where the items came from and to whom they belong will aid in our ongoing investigation.” On Sunday, Nov. 28, at approximately 4:14 a.m. St. Helens Police responded to a suspicious vehicle report in
the area of Edna Barr Lane. The reporting party told police that five suspects had exited a white SUV and proceeded to test vehicle door handles in the neighborhood. Officers conducted an area search but were unable to locate the suspects or the vehicle. St. Helens police continued to receive theft reports over the same weekend from the Elk Meadows neighborhood, Parkwood neighborhood, Crestwood Village, Noble Road neighborhood, and Charming Way neighborhood. The car prowls and thefts are all believed to be related to the same group of suspects. Based on the current investigation, it appears that some of the suspects came from the Portland area. The investigation is ongoing. Investigators said they are still working to determine suspect identities.
Police have also issued the following precautions designed to help ensure that you do not fall victim to car thefts or car prowls. • Always keep your vehicle locked. • If possible, park your vehicle inside a closed garage or behind a locked gate. If you must park your vehicle on a street or outside, choose a well-lit area with good visibility on all sides. • Never leave valuables inside your vehicle where they are visible from the outside. This is particularly important during the holiday season when car prowlers are on the lookout for Christmas shopping bags. If you have any information that could help solve the car break-ins and thefts, you are asked to call St. Helens Police investigators at 503397-1521.
Vandalism spurs local action ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle
Oregon State Police (OSP) responed to two fatal traffic crashes in Columbia County last week, including a vehicle rollover near Clatskanie and a bicyclists-vehicle crash near Scappoose.
2 fatal crashes in one week STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net
Oregon State Police (OSP) report traffic crashes have claimed two lives in Columbia County. A California man died Friday night, Dec. 10 following a traffic crash along Highway 30 near Scappoose. According to OSP, 60-year-old Jeff Neel was crossing the highway with his bicycle near milepost 23 just after 9 p.m. Friday night, Dec. 10, when he was struck by a vehicle traveling eastbound. Investigators said Neel was not wearing reflective clothing and did not have
illuminated lights on the bike. The driver stayed at the scene of the crash and cooperated with law enforcement. Highway 30 was closed for approximately two hours during the fatal crash investigation. OSP reports one person died following a traffic crash on Highway 30 in the Clatskanie area on Dec. 8. Troopers responded at 6:51 p.m,. to the single vehicle rollover crash near milepost 59 on Highway 30. According to the OSP log, the driver of a silver Ford SUV lost control of the vehicle, which went off the westbound shoulder and overturned multiple times.
The passenger of the SUV was ejected during the crash and both occupants were transported to a hospital. The passenger succumbed to his injuries while being treated at the hospital. The driver showed numerous indicators of impairment and Washington State Patrol assisted OSP with further DUII investigation and conducted a blood draw. OSP conducted a crash reconstruction and the SUV was towed to secure storage. The investigation was ongoing as of Thursday, Dec. 9. The deceased passenger was a 58-year-old Salem resident.
Vandalism sites emerging in Scappoose park restrooms pose a public health risk, according to Scappoose City Manager Alexandra Rains. The city took swift action Nov. 19, announcing the immediate closure of park restrooms on its Facebook page following vandalism. Rains said the vandalism has been an ongoing problem, describing a state of disarray in the affected bathrooms. “Since the beginning of October, we have been made aware of a couple occasions where feces have been smeared inside city restrooms,” she said. “We have also had vandalism reported inside the restroom located at the Trtek Trailhead off of the CZ trail. On one occasion there, the toilet paper dispenser was ripped off the wall and the toilet paper was unraveled all over the floor.” Police had not identified suspects and no arrests had been made in the investigations as of Dec. 14, according to Rains. Rains said this latest vandalism is considered more than destructive. “In instances where human waste has been smeared all over the interior of the restroom at Chief Concomly
Park, yes, I would say it’s a health issue,” she said. Scappoose Public Works crews were dispatched to clear up the human waste at the city’s park restrooms. Region challenge Park restroom vandalism has escalated in other areas of Columbia County over the past few months. Rainier Public Works Director Sue Lawrence told the members of the city’s newly formed parks and recreation committee during an Oct. 25 meeting that the city staff began locking the restrooms at the city’s main riverfront park at night after discovering the site had been vandalized. Lawrence said it’s not unusual to see vandalism at the city’ parks restrooms, but this latest round, required more forceful action by the city. “We’re always fixing something, always cleaning something, always doing something,” Lawrence said. “It’s not that it’s totally and completely unusual. It just when it gets to the point that it’s bad enough that we actually have to lock something up because it becomes unsafe, then it’s a little bit more remarkable.” Lawrence said fall and winter are can provide more opportunities for vandals to strike.
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“For here, usually about the wintertime (is) when people start wanting to be in where it’s warm. That’s when it really kind of hits,” she said. Public works staff routinely clean up the bathrooms in an effort to make them more amenable to the public, but according to Lawrence, the work backlogs. “We have hoses at our bathrooms,” she said. “We hose our bathrooms down every day. But (when) the doors are locked, sometimes they’ll leave feces outside the bathrooms. It’s disgusting.” Lawrence said she believes keeping bathrooms consistently clean sets the standard for others to follow. “What I’ve seen, what I’ve heard is that if you leave graffiti, then it just creates more and more graffiti,” she said. “If you clean it up, then it doesn’t build. The same thing as garbage, bathrooms, (and) public facilities, doing your best to maintain it in the best condition can stop some of the buildup of problems in my experience.” As of press time, police in Scappoose and Rainier had not identified suspects or made arrests in the vandalism cases. Follow this developing story at thechronicleonline. com and in Wednesday print editions of The Chronicle.
www.thechronicleonline.com
Wednesday, December 15, 2021
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Temperatures rising, especially daily lows STEVE LUNDEBERG Chronicle Guest Article
Oregon State University’s new maps of 30-year U.S. climate “normals” show the area east of the Rockies is getting wetter, the Southwest is getting drier, and temperatures are inching upward – with daily lows rising faster than daily highs. “When we publish the new normals every 10 years, we’re taking away one decade from a 30-year period and adding another, which means the changes we see are subtle,” Geospatial Climatologist Chris Daly said. “But temperatures are definitely creeping up, and daily minimum temperatures are increasing faster than the maximums.” PRISM stands for Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model, and the 30-year normals are the climate group’s signature product, one that is “uniquely accurate and detailed,” according to Daly, who is a professor in the Oregon State University (OSU) College of Engineering and the founding director of OSU’s PRISM Climate Group. “These maps are the flagship of our suite of digital weather and climate datasets that seamlessly cover the entire lower 48 states and are downloaded tens of thousands of times each day and used everywhere,” he said. “PRISM data sets are used by many government agencies including National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and NASA and the departments of Defense, Energy and the Interior. The private sector relies on PRISM data too, in a broad range of applications that include agriculture, hydrology, engineering, ecology and
economics.” Private citizens can also use the maps to check average conditions in their hometown by going to the normals page and selecting the data and month of interest, and the applicable color-coded map pops up on the screen. PRISM is a computer model, developed by Daly in 1991 when he was a Ph.D. student at Oregon State, that digitally mimicked the techniques used by 20th-century climatologists who hand-drew climate maps for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Working in concert with NRCS hydrologist/climatologist Phil Pasteris of Tigard, Daly helped “usher the USDA into the digital world” by creating a computerized replacement for a process so time-consuming that climate maps hadn’t been updated in nearly 30 years, Daly said. With funding from the NRCS, PRISM released its first 30-year normals, for the period from 1961 to 1990. Since then PRISM, part of the OSU-based Northwest Alliance for Computational Science & Engineering, has published updated normals every 10 years, each time adding data and modeling from the most recent decade and dropping the least recent. This latest update of the normals, which covers the years 1991-2020, was sponsored by the USDA Risk Management Agency, which oversees the federal crop insurance program. “What we try to do every time is improve on the technology and our data inputs to make the normals as close as possible to the current state of knowledge of the average spatial patterns of climate,” Daly said. “NOAA is the official
Courtesy photo from OSU
This is an OSU map showing the climate trends.
purveyor of climate change statistics and we stay out of that. Our focus is on the spatial aspect and creating a seamless coverage of climate patterns across the continental United States. This year, our fourth time doing it, we made a big push to add new data sources from new weather station networks.” PRISM added 9,000 precipitation stations, for a total of 26,600; 3,000 temperature stations, bringing the total to 19,500; 2,400 dew point stations, for a total of 6,400; and 2,800 vapor pressure deficit stations, increasing that total to 6,400. Solar radiation was added to the climate normals for the first time, thanks to a three-year collabora-
tion between the PRISM group and David Rupp of the OSU College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. Solar radiation data reached PRISM via a variety of sources, including state agricultural networks and the Citizen Weather Observer Program, a public-private partnership with more than 7,000 stations in North America. Nearly 90% of the precipitation data comes from citizen science programs, with one of them, the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network headquartered at Colorado State University, sending the PRISM group thousands of reports from around the nation daily, according to Daly.
While PRISM uses many data sources, Daly said one of the beauties of the state-of-the-art algorithm is that it allows for filling in gaps in information. “We can interpolate where we have no weather stations; the PRISM modeling system accounts for how the Earth’s features affect the spatial patterns of climate on the landscape,” he said. “We have programmed in mountains, valleys, rain shadows, coastlines and water body sources, so we can make pretty accurate estimates on what average conditions are like across the lower 48. Our maps feature tens of millions of grid cells, half-mile by half-mile squares.”
While the 30-year-normals are PRISM’s trademark product, the group also has monthly climate maps of the same resolution back to 1895 and daily maps dating to 1981; those maps incorporate the same variables as the normals, whose information is ubiquitous in climate science. “Anytime you see a detailed map showing percentage of average or deviation from average, most likely PRISM normals are underlying that calculation,” Daly said. Steve Lundeberg is a researcher and writer for Oregon State University Relations and Marketing. He may be reached at steve.lundeberg@oregonstate.edu
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