Mayors look ahead to 2021 MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net
Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of special reports you’ll read only in The Chief in the weeks ahead providing insight from members of our community into what we might expect in 2021. Our first report focuses on viewpoints from city hall at Clatskanie and Rainier. With a new year comes new goals and a look ahead at what’s to come. Clatskanie Mayor Bob Brajcich shared optimism about the coming months in 2021 and what projects are in the works for the city. “I am hoping next year will be looking much better,” Brajcich said. “With the vaccine rolling out we can start to get back to normal.” He said he looks forward to swimming in the new recondition pool, a project the city has been working toward. The pool was built in 1958 and is in need of upgrading and renovation estimated to cost around $600,000. “I am hoping that through this tough year we have become a closer community, since now we
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
A key project for Clatskanie in 2021 will be a nearly $600,000 renovation of the city’s swimming pool.
know how much we need need each other,” Brajcich said. “We have some rough months ahead of us to start the year out.”
One of the largest topics on Brajcich’s mind is the wellbeing of the children in the community who have missed out on a lot this year,
he said. “It will be great to get them back in school,” he said. Exactly when that may happen is not set in
Metro Creative Connection / The Chief
quality education to all students regardless of where they are going to learn, in-person or at home.” Rainier Interim School District Superintendent Joseph Hattrick told The Chief decisions to resume in-person instruction are still in the planning process. “Since the governor decided to make her announcement just before Christmas, I elected to allow my admin team, teachers, and board to enjoy winter break,” Hattrick said. “This decision will require feedback from many so we will meet when we return from break.” Hattrick said he plans to present in-person instruction options at the district’s special board meeting Jan. 11. Governor’s directive
stone, but the state recently relaxed the rules around in-person education to put more control into local governments. Brajcich also said local dining establishments are on his mind and need the support of the community. “I ask all to give them all your support during this trying time,” he said. “They have served us well and we need them to always be there for us.” The largest project on Clatskanie’s radar, however is upgrading the sewer plant and finding the funding to support it. City Manager Greg Hinkelman previously told The Chief the new plant will cost approximately $10 million and the city is looking for community block grants to help secure some funding. The sewer plant and the pool are the largest projects in front of the city for 2021, Brajcich said. The lessons learned from 2020 will follow the community into the new year too, he said. “What we learned from 2020 is to wear a mask, social distance, wash your hands and avoid large groups,” he said. “I also believe
Clatskanie to resume in-person classes JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Decisions to bring students back to the classroom at the Clatskanie School District are in the works, but are still pending at Rainier School District. Gov. Kate Brown announced Dec. 23, that school districts across the state would have the opportunity to resume in-person instruction as early as Feb. 15. Clatskanie School Superintendent Cathy Hurowitz said the district plans to resume in-person classes Jan. 25 at Clatskanie Elementary School beginning with kindergarten through first grade students. “If our metrics are safe and if the Columbia County Health Department is in agreement,” she said. “We are in the development phase of planning for opening Clatskanie Middle/High School.” Hurowitz said the district plans to conduct two Zoom meetings on Jan. 6 to outline the options for
The Clatskanie School District has announced it will resume in-person instruction in January depending on the pandemic metrics. Rainier School officials said final decisions are still pending.
families. “At that time we will survey families whether or not they are planning to send their students back for in-person instruction,”
she said. “It is critical that we get accurate numbers for our planning purposes as we will adhere to the safety guidelines given to schools. Our plans are to offer high
Brown has directed the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Health Authority to implement several new policy initiatives, with the goal of putting more school districts on track to return students to in-person instruction, especially elementary students, by
Feb. 15. Brown said in a letter to the agencies that state and federal resources dedicated to school reopening put this goal within reach for school districts, if communities continue to work together to stop the spread of COVID-19 over the next several weeks. Funding assistance
About $109 million in CARES Act funds were distributed to public schools in 2020. Brown also dedicated $28 million for technology and internet assistance for students and schools. Both the Oregon Legislature and Congress have dedicated new resources for safe school reopenings in 2021, including an additional $50 million approved during the Oregon special session, Monday, Dec. 21, to support schools in the transition to in-person instruction.
Pandemic death toll rises to 14 MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net
Columbia County reported another COVID-19-related death Tuesday, raising the county’s death toll to 14. The county’s increase in deaths have largely mirrored its increase in cases. In a county commission meeting Dec. 23, Public Health Director Michael Paul said the county is averaging between 10 and 15 new cases a day. “For the last 14 days we’ve seen a
plateau,” he said. “We saw the highest case count at the end of November, beginning of December.” The county entered December with 523 cumulative cases of COVID-19 and as of Monday, there were 819 cases. Nearly 300 new cases have been reported in December in Columbia County. The state announced Tuesday that Columbia County will remain categorized as at an extreme risk in its risk assessment framework intended to curb the spread of COVID-19. The risk level for each county is assessed based on its case rate and test positivity rate over a two-week period, and at the end of each two week period the state will announce the categorizations. Columbia County has remained at an extreme risk since the framework was announced in early December, and has been under strict guidelines associated with the risk level. Counties at an extreme risk (24 in Oregon) are restricted from indoor dining, indoor recreation and entertainment, and must cap social gatherings at six people from two households total. If case rates and test positivity rates improve in Columbia County, it may be classified as at a high risk and be able to ease some restrictions, like offering limited indoor dining. In order to be classified as high risk
Jan. 15.
people currently infectious, meaning
Graph courtesy of Columbia County
Columbia County remains on the state’s list as an extreme risk county concerning the pandemic.
instead of extreme risk, the case rate must be between 100-200 per 100,000 people over 14 days and the test positivity rate must be between 8-10%. In the 14-day period from Dec. 6 to Dec. 19, the county’s case count per 100,000 people was 286.3 and the test positivity rate was 5%. The next assignment of risk levels will take effect
While Oregon is faring slightly better than some of its neighboring states, Paul said it is important to stay on top of prevention. “Portland as a major hub continues to see cases, and our proximity means we need to continue to be vigilant,” he said. As of Dec. 24, the county public health department reported 48
it had been 10 or fewer days since the onset of their symptoms. In the week between Dec. 17-23 there were 12 hospitalizations in the county and 61 new cases of COVID-19.