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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.

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Friday, January 1, 2021

State okays alcoholic drinks-to-go JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

Just in time for New Year’s Eve celebrations, local restaurants and bars are able to serve drinks-to-go. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) held a special commission meeting Dec. 22 to enact temporary rules that align with the drinks-to-go legislation, Oregon Senate Bill 1801. Oregon legislators approved the bill as part of a package of economic relief measures during a one-day special legislative session on Dec. 21. Under the new law, OLCC licensees with full on-premises sales licenses (F-COM) will be allowed to sell and deliver mixed alcohol drinks or individual servings of wine in sealed containers for off-premises consumption. At its special meeting, the commission approved temporary rules that define the requirements of alcohol in drink-to-go containers, the boundaries for drink-to-go deliveries, and the public safety obligations for OLCC licensees. “This is a major win for industry, and by no means a cure-all, but a positive step in the right direction,” OLCC Commissioner Kiauna Floyd said. The temporary rules will allow F-COM licensees to sell mixed alcohol “drinksto-go” with limited to specific amounts of distilled spirits or wine, or single servings of wine. Licensees are not required to use a specific type of size of container for the to-go drink, however it must

be securely sealed before it leaves the bar or restaurant where the drink is made. Alcohol “to-go-drinks” are required to be paired with food items cooked or prepared by the same licensed establishment selling the drinks. Consumers may use third party platforms (TPP), such as food delivery ordering app, to order alcohol drinks-to-go as long as the order meets the food pairing requirement. Licensees that deliver alcohol drinks-to-go and TTPs that contract with F-COM licensees to deliver alcohol drinks-to-go are responsible for verifying the age of the person receiving the alcohol drink delivery and must not complete the delivery if the person receiving the order is inebriated. The temporary rules for drinks-to-go take effect as soon as the bill becomes law. OLCC spokesman Mark Pettinger told The Chief he expected the governor would sign the bill late Wednesday. Pettinger said third party persons, such as restaurant or bar drivers, delivering the alcohol drinks-to-go are required to check identification of the person purchasing the alcoholic beverages if there is a question of age. You must be 21 years old to purchase alcohol in Oregon. The delivery drivers must also not complete the delivery if the person purchasing the alcoholic beverages appears to be intoxicated. Pettinger acknowledged that could be challenging to enforce. “There is a challenge,” he said. “We will have to do some work to ensure they are

complying. It is unlawful to provide alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person. If you do, it could result in a criminal citation.” Pettinger did not have immediate access to what that criminal citation could be. The OLCC has created guidance for licensees about alcohol “drinks-to-go” which can be found on the OLCC website under the Alcohol Licensing section at: www. oregon.gov/olcc/pages/ drinks-to-go. From the outset of the pandemic, OLCC Chairman Paul Rosenbaum and all members of the commission made clear that they would do all that they could, within their authority and consistent with public health emergency restrictions, to assist economically challenged licensees. Although the OLCC has a mandate to regulate the sale and service of alcoholic beverages, the commission is also charged with supporting local economic development. “We recognize that a Drinks-to-Go Program, while warranted and particularly critical at this time, is not enough to preserve income streams that sustain small businesses,” said Rosenbaum. Rosenbaum pledged that the commission would continue to look for ways to provide financial regulatory relief to licensees, including working with the governor and legislature to consider waiving license fees the OLCC allowed licensees to defer paying. “Oregon’s local small businesses play a significant role in supporting the social and economic fabric of both our rural and urban

What to Know About Drinks-to-Go

www.oregon.gov/olcc/pages/drinks-to-go.aspx communities,” Rosenbaum said. “The commission must do everything in its power to preserve and protect this industry so that, because be-

lieve me if we don’t, after the pandemic has run its course, these small businesses won’t be around to continue to serve our communities.”

See more about the Drinks-To-Go in a fact sheet prepared by the OLCC attached to this story at thechiefnews.com.

Pandemic impacts Oregon’s drug overdoses STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

Oregon is following a national trend that has seen increases in drug overdose deaths in 2020 – a rise that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is partially attributing to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). Oregon’s deaths Oregon’s 580 deaths from drug overdoses are among the more than 81,000 drug overdose deaths that occurred in the United States in the 12 months ending in May 2020. According to a Dec. 17 report from the CDC, that was the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a 12-month period. The OHA report states that the federal agency surmised that the “disruption to daily life due to the COVID-19 pandemic has hit those with substance use disorder hard.” “Food insecurity and disruptions in access to safe housing and mental health services have compounded stress from job losses, school and social isolation, and other problems brought on by the pandemic,” OHA Public Health Division Deputy State Health Officer and Deputy State Epidemiologist Tom Jeanne said. “The COVID crisis also interrupted ways people with substance use disorder can get help, such as mental health services, 12step programs and ambulatory visits.” By the numbers From January to June 2020, at least 339 people died of a drug overdose in Oregon. This figure is nearly

Metro Creative Connection / The Chief

Oregon’s 580 deaths from drug overdoses are among the more than 81,000 drug overdose deaths that occurred in the United States in the 12 months ending in May 2020.

40% higher than the number of overdose deaths from the same period in 2019 and represents an increase of nearly 35% from the previous six-month period, July to December 2019.

The COVID crisis also interrupted ways people with substance use disorder can get help, such as mental health services, 12-step programs and ambulatory visits. ~ Tom Jeanne, OHA

As OHA has previously reported, there was a spike of drug overdose deaths during the second quarter of 2020. When compared to the second quarter of 2019, the number of overdose deaths increased by more than 63%. Overdose deaths increased in April, reached a peak in May

and returned to near-monthly averages in June and July. While most overdose deaths in Oregon in 2020 have involved opioids, illicit fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, and methamphetamines have been troubling contributors to the drug overdose rate, mirroring national trends. Illegal fentanyl and methamphetamine abuse appear to have driven the spike in overdose deaths in the second quarter of 2020. Compared to the first quarter of 2020, overdose deaths in Oregon involving methamphetamine/ amphetamine increased 37%; those involving fentanyl, 92%; heroin, 9%; and cocaine 57%. Previous research suggests that deaths involving cocaine are likely linked to co-use or contamination with fentanyl or other drugs. Although exact numbers of overdose from recent months have yet to be updated due to pending toxicology test results, early data showed a concerning increase of sus-

pected drug overdose deaths in November. Taking action In line with CDC recommendations, OHA is taking steps to reduce drug overdose deaths: • More than 9,200 active methadone patients in Oregon are receiving methadone through Oregon’s opioid treatment providers (OTPs). Most OTPs are concentrated along the Interstate 5 corridor serving Oregon’s four largest metropolitan areas. As of September 2019, Oregon also had 1,360 practitioners federally certified to prescribe buprenorphine. Coastal and rural communities in Oregon are lacking in access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). • The PRIME+ (Peer Recovery Initiated in Medical Establishments) program provides peer-based harm reduction support for persons who are currently using drugs and are present in medical settings. The program aims to

Bags of chia seeds wash ashore STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is cleaning up several bags of chia seeds that washed ashore near Florence and Newport Christmas week. Unusual commercialsized bags of “sludge” were reported just north of Nye Beach the morning of Dec. 22. Later that day, another beachgoer discovered the likely source just north of Florence: a battered chunk of

a shipping container and two bags of seeds nearby. Although the seeds are not toxic, they do expand when they come into contact with water. “The bags were too heavy to move by hand. We had to cut them up to remove them, or use equipment to haul them out,” OPRD Ranger Jason Hennessey said. At least four bags have sprouted ashore so far. OPRD is still tracking down information about the source. OPRD said people can help the agency by reporting

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any additional bags — as well as any other beach debris — to beach.debris@oregon.gov. For safety reasons, it’s best for individuals to avoid moving debris themselves. This situation is a good reminder to all to pack out trash according to the OPRD. Some beach access parking lots have cleanup bags, but it’s good practice to carry some from home. For information on keeping Oregon’s beaches clean, go to solveoregon.org or surfrider.org.

reduce overdoses and infecwhichappear to be pharmaceutical narcotics like oxycotions related to harmful drug done, are likely counterfeits use. PRIME+ peer support containing fentanyl. specialists assist people who Health officials are reare using drugs by providing minding people that opioid access to naloxone, safer use use disorder can be successsupplies, HIV and hepatifully treated. Those who need tis C testing, primary care, help to stop using opioids substance use treatment and more. The PRIME + program can talk to their health care is in the process of expanding providers or view OHA’s list of resources. In addition, to 23 sites in 20 counties in Oregon law allows lay people Oregon. to carry and use naloxone, • Oregon recently estabETERSEN LARKE LLC a ETERSEN LARKE LLC medication that can be used to lished a COVID-19 Harm AA tt tt oo rrreverse nn ee yyan ss opioid overdose on Reduction Supply Clearingother people. house to support agencies (503) 556-4120 that serve people at(503) risk of 556-4120 Resources overdose. Supported agencies include community-based Columbia County’s Premier Columbia County’s Premier Learn more about naloutreach, prevention and Personal Injury Attorneys Personal oxone.Attorneys If a person is using harm-reduction programs, Injury sedduse in OOrreego gonn && W Waash shin ingto gtonn the Never LLi icceennse in substances alone, withdrawal and substance treatment programs, and rural Use Alone Hotline (800-4843731) can be a nonjudgmental and frontier first responders and lifesaving point of contact across Oregon. More than 68 for emergency services. organizations ordered $2.4 Oregon-based nonprofit million in harm reduction Lines for Life and OHA supplies, including naloxone, recently launched the Safe + to distribute to people at risk Strong Helpline at 1-800-923of overdose to prevent over4357 (800-923-HELP). The dose deaths. ETERSENline offers LARKE LLC ETERSEN LARKE free, 24-7LLC emo• OHA, in collaboration tional support and resource with Oregon/Idaho HIDTA AA tt tt oo rrreferral nn ee yyto ss anyone who needs (High Intensity Drug Trafit — not only those experiencficking Area), is working (503) 556-4120 556-4120 (503) ing a mental health crisis. with public safety and public The Safe + Strong health partners to impleAccidents •Personal Injury Injury •Wrongful Death •Personal Helpline•Wrongful is a responseDeath to ment Accidents ODMAP – a real-time needs for emotional support suspected overdose surveilaround disasters like COlance data system No to mobilize No Fee Until Until Recovery Fee Recovery VID-19 and wildfires and was an immediate response to a gonn && W Wfunded shin ingto gto OOrreego aash nn the CARES Act. by sudden increase in overdose Callers are routed to a counevents in local communities. FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION FREE INITIAL selor who can provide emoHIDTA recently found that a CONSULTATION tional support, mental health large number of narcotic pill triage, drug and alcohol seizures by participating law enforcement agencies through counseling, crisis counseling or just connection. the third quarter of 2020,

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Friday, January 1, 2021

2021

From Page A1 that 2020 taught us how important it is to put our differences aside and realize that we are all in this together. Clatskanie is a great place to live, people have been so kind to each other and generous in their giving.” It’s through times like these that the community has learned how much they miss the things that may have before been taken for granted, he said, like the art

A3 commission and the programming it brings to the community. “We also miss our social contact with family and friends, and visiting around town,” Brajcich said. “I know I really miss the library.” Overall, Brajcich projected a year of optimism and resilience for Clatskanie as it moves forward. “We go into 2021 with hope and faith that it will be a year with much more good than bad,” he said. “I thank all the people who have helped us get through this tough year.”

Rainier Mayor Jerry Cole also shared insights into the year ahead in his State of the City address. In it he highlights the city’s priority to focus on the creation of a riverfront trail to connect the city park and the downtown area, new city staff members helping to guide Rainier into the future and the updating of master plans. Read Cole’s full address on page A4 and join the conversation. Post your comments about the New Year ahead with this story at thechiefnews.com.

Photo courtesy of Travis Brisbin

Inhalant delivery systems, such as vaping and e-cigarette products, will be taxed at a rate of 65% of the wholesale purchase price.

Cigarette, tobacco, vaping taxes STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

Cigarette and tobacco taxes along with a new tax on inhalant delivery products takes effect Jan. 1 in Oregon. The tax increases follow the voter approved passage of Measure 108 in the November general election , the public will see the following changes beginning Jan. 1: • The cigarette tax will increase by $2 per pack of 20 and $2.50 per pack of 25. • Little cigars, collectively weighing less than 3 pounds per 1,000, will be taxed as cigarettes, will require an Oregon cigarette tax stamp,

and must be sold in sealed packages of at least 20. • Inhalant delivery systems, such as vaping and e-cigarette products, will be taxed at a rate of 65% of the wholesale purchase price. • The cap on the tax on cigars increases from 50 cents to $1. The cigarette tax increase is projected to raise nearly $135 million in annual revenue, according to projections from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and Tobacconomics. The new revenue will provide access to health care on the Oregon Health Plan at

a time when health care coverage is critical, and fund the state’s tobacco prevention and cessation programs to help people quit tobacco successfully, according to ACS CAN. Revenue produced by the tax changes will be used by the Oregon Health Authority to fund healthcare coverage for low-income families, including mental health services, and public health programs, including programs addressing tobacco — and nicotine — related disease. For more information about the Oregon cigarette and tobacco tax law changes, interested parties can call 503-945-8120 or email spa. help@oregon.gov.

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief

A key project for Rainier in 2021will be completing a riverfront trail connection to the downtown.

12-23-20 4x12.75 5 Hour Sale:Layout 1 12/21/20 10:49 AM Page 1

Oregon’s food insecurity MOLLY ROSBACH Chief Guest Article

An estimated one million Oregonians — close to one in four people — experienced food insecurity this year, meaning they had a disruption in their ability to feed themselves or their family, Oregon State University researchers illustrate in a new report. After the Great Recession, rebounding employment numbers and efforts by Oregon safety net programs helped bring the food insecurity rate down to around 10% of households statewide by December 2019. But according to the report, the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying employment crisis quickly erased all those gains and brought food insecurity up to at least double what it was a year ago, with Black, Hispanic/Latino and Indigenous households especially hard-hit. “Here we’d been really improving and getting to historically low levels of food insecurity, then suddenly all that got reversed in a very short time, and the new number is extraordinarily high,” OSU College of Liberal Arts Policy Analysis Laboratory Director, sociology professor and report author Mark Edwards said. Researchers measure food insecurity by asking people questions such as if they have to cut down the size of their meals to stretch their food budget, or if they ever have to skip meals or go a day without eating. Those impacted Low-income households, households struggling with unemployment or reduced hours, and single-mother households are most likely to experience food insecurity, Edwards said. The OSU report used the current population survey to measure food insecurity until December 2019, and filled in 2020 data by estimating based on current unemployment numbers. Even when Oregon’s overall food insecurity rate was at a record low, that improvement in access to food did not extend to all communities equally. Roughly 20% of Black, Hispanic/Latino and indigenous households experienced food insecurity in December 2019, compared with 10% of the white population. “So now if you imagine that our food insecurity rate has doubled, then there’s every reason to believe that the number for people of color has doubled into the 30% range — and I’m being really conservative when I say that,” Edwards said. “It’s likely well north of 30%.” Greater food insecurity

stems from other systemic inequities, including higher rates of poverty, unemployment and underemployment among people of color. Based on available data, Asian households are more in line with white households in their rate of food insecurity, though the data does not break down into sub-groups. Food insecurity has farreaching ramifications for physical and mental wellbeing, Edwards said. “Worrying about being able to feed your family and having to make choices that you know are not the healthiest for you and them, cutting meals or portions — this is not how any of us want to live,” Ewards said. Though more people are struggling to put food on the table, Edwards said Oregon’s safety net programs quickly jumped into action when the pandemic first struck. Resources State agencies, like the Department of Human Services and nonprofit organizations like the Oregon Food Bank and Partners for a HungerFree Oregon, were already well-practiced in making sure anyone eligible for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps) could get signed up and start receiving food assistance quickly. Twenty years ago, Oregon’s food insecurity rate was one of the worst in the nation, but collaboration among state agencies and nonprofits helped turn it around, according to Edwards. Those efforts continued this year with programs like using school buses to deliver meals to kids who were receiving free/reduced price school lunch at in-person school. Oregon piloted the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (EPT) program, which helped to quickly get financial assistance to families whose children had been receiving free/ reduced price school lunches. “We were well-positioned to do things like that, because we’re used to being innovative and proactive when it comes to addressing food insecurity,” Edwards said. Next steps As the pandemic continues, Edwards said he will be following up with other food insecurity reports, including a survey of OSU students that will be completed in the coming months. Molly Rosbach works with Oregon State University relations and marketing. She may be reach at molly.rosbach@ oregonstate.edu or at 541-7370783.

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Friday, January 1, 2021

•V iewpoints • •

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief

Rainier Mayor Jerry Cole tosses candy to spectators as he walks the parade route during a pandemic-modified Rainier Days event held in July.

2020 reflections, 2021 hope JERRY COLE Chief Guest Column

Now that 2020 is officially behind us, I would like to take the chance to reflect on what the new year has in store for the City of Rainier and its citizens. ‘A Street’ The city spent much of the last two decades working on the ‘A Street’ project. That seemingly simple process of moving rail lines a few feet ended up involving the replacement of much infrastructure, collaboration between many stakeholders and an eventual cost of over $12 million. But since its completion last October, the end result has been a revitalized business district and plaza area that can be enjoyed by our residents and visitors to the community. Finishing “A Street” enables the city and its staff to pivot their attention to other projects. A top priority for me has been the creation of a riverfront trail that will enhance the connectivity of our city park and much of the downtown area. My hope

CLASSES From Page A1

In addition, the legislators also approved legislation during the special session to provide reasonable liability protections for public and private schools during the remainder of the COVID-19 emergency. “As 2021 approaches and we look to the remaining school year just over the horizon, it is clear that the greatest gift we can give to Oregon’s children this holiday season is to redouble our efforts to act responsibly and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our communities,” Brown said. “Our students’ learning, resilience, and future well-being depend on all of us.” Do your part Brown said each and every Oregonian must do their part now to be disciplined and vigilant, to socially distance, wear facial coverings, avoid large gatherings, and follow other necessary public health requirements. “The alternative is for Oregonians to remain at risk from the disease for far longer, and for perhaps 90% of Oregon’s students to continue

is that these kinds of trail systems will someday be able to connect us to county parks and neighboring cities. City staff Speaking of staff, the city’s new librarian, Colette Nordstrom, started late last year and has done a great job of creating a comfortable and inviting atmosphere at our library. The city hired Scott Jorgensen as its new city administrator in September. He’s been working with staff on implementing the directions of our city council and helping to plan for a prosperous future. We’ve seen some changes at the council level, as three of its longtime members have moved out of town. Luckily, new councilors Connie Budge, Brenda Tschida and Levi Richardson have stepped up to serve in place of Sloan Nelson, James Bradfield and Steve Massey. Our Planning Commission has re-formed and started meeting again. That group will be looking at several long-term issues like a comprehensive plan amendment, transportation system plan on the unpromising path of spending the remainder of their school year locked out by this virus from their classrooms and youth activities where they best learn, grow, and find connection, safety, and support,” Brown stated. In her letter to ODE and OHA, Brown directed the state agencies to continue to partner with school districts, educators, and communities in decision-making processes grounded in sound science and public health and safety, with the goal of preparing more Oregon schools, especially elementary schools, to return to in-person instruction by Feb. 15. With educators and school staff to be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccinations, the governor also directed the agencies to work with schools to provide on-site, rapid testing as a safeguard to quickly address symptomatic individuals and those with potential exposure to COVID-19. In addition, Oregon’s school metrics, the measures of local community spread of COVID-19 that guide when it is appropriate to open schools for in person instruction, will be advisory rather than mandatory, effective Jan. 1. Moving forward, decisions to resume in-person instruction must be made locally,

update and potential urban growth boundary expansion. Recreation The city is also looking to re-form a Parks Committee in the hopes of expanding the recreational opportunities that are available around town. To address the city’s infrastructure needs, council will be looking at developing a five-year strategy for updating many of its various master plans. I’ve been fortunate to have served as mayor of Rainier for many years now, through good times and bad. Optimistic I have every reason to be optimistic and feel that we’re on the right track. Hopefully, 2021 will turn out to be a great year for the city and all the people who call it home. As always, I encourage anyone that has questions to please contact me at mayor@ cityofrainier.com or give me a call at 503-396-0683. Jerry Cole is the mayor of Rainier. He may be reached at 503 -557-7301. district-by-district, schoolby-school, according to Brown. “As we move into a new year, we must all rise to the challenges that COVID-19 presents and prioritizing our children is most urgent,” she said. More review Consistent with ongoing updates to the ODE and OHA Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidance, Brown directed the agencies to review the guidance to ensure that all necessary health and safety procedures and protocols are included to allow students the maximum access to in-person instruction in keeping with health and safety standards, including any updates to Oregon’s school metrics, based on scientific data and evidence. In order to give school districts time to plan for any changes, this review will be completed by Jan. 19. Brown said any proposed updates to Oregon school metrics will be reviewed by the Governor’s Medical Advisory Panel and the Healthy Schools Reopening Council in January. Follow this developing story at thechiefnews.com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.

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PANDEMIC From Page A1 Of the 61 new cases reported, 60 were lab-confirmed positive cases and one was a presumptive case. Cases are considered presumptive when the person presents COVID19-like symptoms and had close contact with a confirmed case, according to the county public health department. Nine of the county’s 14 deaths occurred in December. Three occurred in November, one in October and the first in August. “For me, it breaks my heart to think we’ve lost seven additional citizens, neighbors of ours, in Columbia County just in the last month,” Commissioner Henry Heimuller said at the Dec. 23 meeting. “We still have people that really dispute the fact that this is an issue, that this is anything to be dealing with at all.” Reporting deaths According to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), there are two main ways that COVID-19 deaths are tracked: by health care facilities and through death certificates. Death certificates list the cause of death determined by a physician. Death records (whether or not from COVID-19) are sent to the OHA to be recorded, as is required by state law. The OHA then forwards the information to the National Center for Health

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Statistics (NCHS) to be added to the nation’s death statistics. The death record lists information relating to the death, like time, place, location and cause as determined by a doctor or coroner. Deaths in health care settings are often reported quicker than through death certificates, according to the OHA. The two sources of COVID-19 reporting (in health care facilities and through death records) are crossreferenced and compared, and any deaths that appear on list but not the other are followed up to see how they should be categorized. There is often a delay between when a COVID-19 death occurs and when it is announced by the OHA due to the time it takes to verify the records and gather medical records. Categorizing COVID-19 deaths In Oregon, there are three ways a death is determined to have COVID-19 as the underlying cause, according to the OHA. The first is if the death is of a confirmed or probable case within 60 days of the earliest available date of exposure to the confirmed case, onset of symptoms or date of first positive test. The second is if the death results from any cause in a hospitalized person during admission or 60 afters discharge and they had a COVID19-positive test within 14 days prior to hospitalization.

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The third is if the death is of someone with COVID-19 listed as a primary or contributing cause of death on their death certificate, regardless of the dates of diagnosis or death. Underlying conditions Many of the reported COVID-19 deaths in both Columbia County and the state at large identify that there were underlying conditions. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the range of conditions that can complicate a person’s response to COVID-19 is broad. The following is a list of conditions that put adults of any age at an increased risk of severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19, according to the CDC: Cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart conditions, weakened immune system from solid organ transplant, obesity, severe obesity, pregnancy, sickle cell disease, smoking and type 2 diabetes mellitus. There is another range of conditions identified by the CDC that may put people at an increased risk, including asthma, cystic fibrosis, high blood pressure, dementia, immunocompromised state, liver disease, damaged or scarred lung tissue and type 1 diabetes. Follow daily pandemic updates at thechiefnews.com with in-depth reports in the Friday print editions of The Chief.

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Editorial policy Opinions expressed on this page are independent of The Chief 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.

Write to us We want to hear from you and encourage you to write letters to the editor. Because of space limitations, shorter letters have a better chance of being printed. We may edit your letter for style, grammar and clarity, although we do as little editing as possible. If you don’t want your letter printed under those conditions, just let us know. Thank-you letters are limited to a general thanks and summary of an issue or action. We reserve the right to exclude lists of people, organizations and businesses. Letters received after noon on Friday may not be in time for the following Wednesday’s paper. To verify authenticity, all letters must be signed and include your address and daytime phone number. We won’t print your street address or phone number (just your city of residence). Submissions may be emailed to chiefnews@countrymedia.net, sent via mail, or dropped off at the office. Guest commentary We welcome all variety of community viewpoints in the newspaper. These longer, guest opinions might be columns written

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by newsmakers, public officials or organization representatives. Or you might just have interesting thoughts to share and a penchant for writing. If you’d like to submit a guest column for publication, contact us at (503) 397-0116 or chiefnews@ countrymedia.net. All columns are subject to editing for style, grammar and clarity. However, views expressed in guest columns are independent and do not represent those of The Chief, its staff or Country Media, Inc. Obituaries Obituaries received after noon on Wednesday may not be in time for that Friday’s paper. Obituaries may be emailed to chiefnews@ countrymedia.net, sent via mail, or dropped off at the office. We also accept obituaries written by funeral homes. Include the address and daytime phone number of the person who submitted the obituary, so we can verify information as necessary.

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Fed farm bill boost for Oregon STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

A boost for housing in Columbia County and across the state is part of the millions of dollars in investments in Oregon with the latest federal agriculture spending bill. Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden have announced Senate passage of a fiscal year 2021 agriculture spending bill that the two said will benefit Oregon’s farms and families. The next step for the bill is to be signed into law by the president.

ensuring rural residents have housing they can afford,” Wyden said. “I’m glad this bill helps to achieve all those goals that Oregonians have shared with me on Zoom calls, virtual town halls and socially distanced conversations during this most challenging year.” Key elements of the spending bill to benefit Oregonians include: • Wine Grape Smoke Exposure Research: This year’s unprecedented wildfire season blanketed much of the state of Oregon with dense, hazardous smoke, which has significantly impacted Oregon’s wine grape harvest. To better understand

Metro Creative Connection / The Chief

“In every corner of our state, I’ve heard about the need for investments in our farms and rural industries, affordable housing, and goodpaying jobs—especially as the coronavirus crisis’ toll on our health and economy continues to deepen,” Merkley said. “I fought hard to ensure that those insights, and the specific ideas and priorities Oregonians have shared with me, would make it into this bill, so we can strengthen the vitality of our communities and keep delivering the world-class agricultural products Oregon is known for.” “Building the strongest possible quality of life throughout Oregon requires robust investment to support signature job-creating state industries such as agriculture and fishing, while also

the challenges facing Oregon’s wine growers, the bill includes $3.5 million for research into smoke-impacted grapes at Oregon State University (OSU) and other West Coast universities, building on $2 million secured the prior appropriations cycle. • Rural Housing: The bill includes $1.41 billion for rental assistance and $40 million for Rural Housing Service Vouchers, which will help address the urgent housing crisis facing Oregon’s rural communities. • Rural Development: The bill protects funding for a number of USDA’s Rural Development programs, including rural housing and business development programs that President Trump proposed eliminating. These programs make billions of dollars of investments in rural America

every year. • National Scenic Area: The bill includes $2 million to help Oregon’s rural communities promote economic development through the Oregon and Washington Investment Boards, rounding out a $10 million commitment that was authorized when the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area was created. • Soil Health: The bill includes $1.5 million for the establishment of a Soil Carbon Research Center at OSU focused on research into current and future dryland production practices to increase profitability and yield, conserve soil, enhance soil water storage, and promote sequestration of carbon for soil health. • Water Conservation and Habitat Restoration: The bill includes a $30 million for the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations in Oregon. Funding is included for irrigation districts that need to improve water efficiency and conservation or otherwise improve fish and wildlife habitat. This program is providing critical funding for the collaborative processes underway across the state working to conserve water and keep Oregon’s family farms in business while improving the habitats of endangered species. Construction has begun on several key projects to address water resource interests in Central Oregon, including in Tumalo Irrigation District and Central Oregon Irrigation District, and funding announced today will allow further expansion across the state, such as the East Fork Irrigation District project that has broken ground in Hood River. • Pacific Shellfish: The bill includes $3.5 million of federal funding for cuttingedge research to improve the productivity, sustainability, and health of the Pacific shellfish agricultural system. This research is critical to efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate chaos on the health and

Metro Creative Connection / The Chief

The bill includes $1.41 billion for rental assistance and $40 million for Rural Housing Service Vouchers, which will help address the urgent housing crisis facing Oregon’s rural communities.

economies of Oregon’s coastal communities. • Western Rangeland Livestock: The bill includes $3 million for the establishment of a Western Rangeland Precision Livestock center to develop precision-based nutrition strategies for rangelandbased livestock, as well as technology-based rangeland and livestock management strategies to optimize the health and productivity of Western rangeland-based livestock and the rangeland ecosystem. This funding will be split among land grant universities in Oregon, Montana, and Wisconsin. • Agricultural Research: The Agricultural Research Service received an increase of $77 million in funding for cutting-edge research to improve the productivity, sustainability, and health of the nation’s agricultural systems. In addition, Merkley was able to secure funding for key Oregon agriculture research programs, including funding for research on the Sudden Oak Death pathogen plaguing the south coast. Other research funding victories include research for alfalfa, barley, tree fruits, pear, wheat, hops, hemp, apple, shellfish, small fruits, seaweed, floriculture, nurseries, and rangeland ecology. • Mass Timber Products: The advanced wood products program at USDA received

$3.5 million for work on mass timber products that would enhance Oregon State University’s cutting-edge research. • Summer EBT: The bill continues funding the Summer EBT program at $42 million. This program has provided much-needed nutrition for Oregon families during the summer months when schools are not in session. • Food Corps: The bill provides an increase of $1 million for Food and Agriculture Service Learning. This program helps improve education resources for healthy eating especially among children. • Hemp: The bill provides $16.5 million to implement provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill allowing for the cultivation of commercial hemp, which can be used to make everything from cloth and rope to oil and soap. Hemp has already quickly become one of Oregon’s leading cash crops, and many feel has the potential to bring in more than $1 billion in sales to Oregon in the coming years, but only with a fair and reasonable regulatory framework. In addition, the explanatory statement highlights several concerns raised by Oregon hemp producers over the USDA’s proposed testing and sampling regulations, and directs the USDA to ensure that the final rule for the Domestic Hemp Program is based on

science and will ensure a fair and reasonable regulatory framework for commercial hemp producers. The bill also: · Extends the 2014 hemp pilot program until January 1, 2022, providing hundreds of Oregon farmers clear operating guidelines as the USDA smooths out regulatory challenges · Encourages the USDA to study the usage and impact of energy and water in hemp cultivation and to make recommendations on best practices and standards · Directs the agency to establish and maintain a hemp germplasm repository for hemp breeding purposes · Provides $2 million for the agency to conduct regionally-driven research, development, and stakeholder engagement to improve understanding of how to effectively integrate hemp into existing agricultural cropping, processing, and marketing systems · Directs the USDA to work with institutions under its jurisdiction to provide access to guaranteed loans for hemp producers and businesses. • Food and Drug Administration (FDA): The bill provides $3.2 billion in discretionary funding for FDA. As FDA continues to be on the frontlines of addressing COVID-19, the bill ensures the agency continues to have adequate funding to respond to this urgent need. The bill also includes an additional $5 million for FDA to continue work on a regulatory pathway for CBD, a product derived from hemp. Merkley is the only Oregon member of Congress from either chamber since Senator Mark Hatfield a generation ago to serve on the Appropriations Committee. That committee is considered to be one of the most powerful on Capitol Hill. Merkley joined the committee in 2013.

Volunteer of the Year Chief photo

A work station at the Columbia County Law Library in St. Helens.

Law library seeks $50k STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

The Columbia County Law Library is in need of $50,000 and the county is investigating ways to help. County Commissioner Henry Heimuller will team up with the county district attorney and finance director to work with law librarian Brandee Dudzic to see if and how the county can assist. Dudzic presented the library’s need for funding at the Dec. 23 county commission meeting, and said $50,000 was needed to help stabilize the law library so it can advocate for more funding at the state level. “The Columbia County Law Library is an essential service provider, unfortunately with the resources we have right now, we’re not meeting the needs of the community,” Dudzic said. The library is only open two days a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) and one of those days it’s open for just half the day. Dudzic said the library needs to be open for additional two days a week to better meet the needs of the community. “Pre-COVID, the law library was running on a very lean budget,” Dudzic said. “The only source of funding

for the law library is from court filing fees.” The court fees go to the state which then disperses it back to each county depending on its population. Dudzic said one of her goals is to change the way the libraries are funded at the state level.

This virus has a lot of legal issues associated with it, and people need help. ~ Brandee Dudzic, Law Librarian Until that happens, she said assistance is needed from the county to help the library continue to provide services. The services the library provides are essential, she said. “This virus has a lot of legal issues associated with it, and people need help,” she said. Some of the services include help with the protection of children and other victims, end of life matters, estate planning, and court proceedings, including between landlords and tenants. Three of the essential services Dudzic outlined in her written request to the county included the library’s community-based location for people to remotely log

into their court hearings, weekly free court forms clinic and parenting classes for divorcing parents. Parenting classes are required under Columbia County’s Supplement Court Rules for divorcing parents. “What I’m asking from you is a temporary and one-time ask so I can do the work I need to do in order to advocate for more funding,” Dudzic said. Heimuller requested more information about the existing state funding to ensure county taxpayers weren’t paying for something meant to be funded by the state, and suggested that funding could be worked into the district attorney’s budget or come from federal COVID-19 relief money. The commission agreed to revisit the topic at a later date. “We’re leaving it open; it’s not a ‘no,’ it’s not a ‘yes,’ it’s a ‘We’re committed looking at the program and figuring out if we have resources to help and collect more data,’” Commissioner Alex Tardif said. The Columbia County Law Library is located at 270 S. First St. in St. Helens and may be reached at 503-396-5344. Information about the law library and its services can be found at columbiacll.org.

•

Courtesy photo

Pictured from left to right are 2019 My Fair lady Princess Kathy Bauska (St. Helens), Carla Bodenhamer, Judy Brown (Rainier), Queen Patti Younts (Clatskanie). STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

Congratulations to Carla Bodenhamer, Columbia County Retired Senior and Volunteer Program’s (RSVP) 2020 Volunteer of the Year. In a very difficult year marred by record wildfires, business closures, unemployment, and the pandemic, some lights - like Carla Bodenhamer - still shine bright, according to a release from the RSVP. During a difficult year when others have had to step down in their volunteering efforts, Bodenhamer has stepped up her efforts to meet the needs of others, according to Columbia County RSVP Director Monica Cade. “Carla has been actively volunteering with the Rainier Senior Center for five years,”

Cade said. “When we arrived to present the award to Carla, she was surprised because she assumed we were there to honor someone else, but we think she’s a super star and deserves the recognition.” According to Cade, Bodenhamer volunteers many hours every month at the front desk greeting visitors to the center, taking their temperature, and signing them in. Local seniors are also able to order lunch from the center, and when they drive up for curbside delivery, Bodenhamer brings the meal out to their car. “She coordinates the Meals on Wheels drivers and fills in when needed to deliver meals out to homes too,” Cade said. “Carla completes all the paperwork for Columbia Action Team (CAT), watches the gift shop when needed, and also serves

on the center’s board as the secretary.” Bodenhamer represented Rainier in the 2018 My Fair Lady Pageant and was crowned queen. She spent the following year helping RSVP honor other volunteers and veterans throughout the county. Rainier Senior Center Director Jan Rich said Bodenhamer also goes to the Beaverton Costco for the center when the regular Costco employee can’t deliver. “Carla does a little bit of everything,” Rich said. Columbia County Retired Senior and Volunteer Program (RSVP) is a nonprofit senior support organization located at 270 Columbia Blvd. in St. Helens. To reach the office, call 503-3975655, or see RSVP’s Facebook page at, www.facebook. com/columbiacountyrsvp.

•O bituaries • •

George Arment

Dec. 29, 1932 ~ Dec. 12, 2020 George Arment, 87 of Clatskanie, Oregon passed away Dec. 12, 2020 in Longview, Washington.

Lillian Palm

March 17, 1939 ~ Dec. 26, 2020 Lillian Palm, 81 of Longview, Washington passed away Dec. 26, 2020 in Longview, Washington.

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Public Notices PROTECTING YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW CC20-1352

CC20-1350

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA

Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of BONNIE ENBUSK, Deceased. No. 20PB08416 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed personal representative of this estate. All persons having claims

against the estate are required to present their claims, with vouchers attached, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice to the personal representative at P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048, 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 attorney for the personal representative. Dated and first published December 18, 2020. Yvonne A. Hogan, Personal Representative. STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C. Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048.

CC21-1354

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of MAXINE MASSEY, Deceased. No. 20PB08073 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed personal representative of this estate. All persons having claims

against the estate are required to present their claims, with vouchers attached, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice to the personal representative at P. O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048, 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 attorney for the personal representative. Dated and first published January 1, 2021. Homer W. Massey, Personal Repreesentative. STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048.

Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of NEVA JUNE WIESSENFLUH, Deceased. No. 20PB08310 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS. NOTICE IS HERERBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed personal representative of this estate. All persons having claims

against the estate are required to present their claims, with vouchers attached, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice to the personal representative at P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048, 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 attorney for the personal representative. Dated and first published December 25, 2020. Steven Weissenfluh, Personal Representative. STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C. Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048.

CC21-1353

NOTICE OF MEETING The Clatskanie City Council will meet on Wednesday, January 6th, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the ballroom of the Clatskanie Cultural Center, 75 South Nehalem

St. (2nd floor). Agenda items include, but are not limited to: approval of the minutes of the December 2nd, 2020 regular meeting; swearing in of newly elected

officals; presentation of the 2019-2020 Audit by Grove, Mueller & Swank. An updated agenda will be available at City Hall by December 31st, 2020.

The Public Notice deadline is Wednesdays by noon. Late submissions are not guaranteed to make it into the paper.

DMV extends driver’s grace period STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

Oregon residents with a vehicle registration, permit or driver license expiring between Nov. 1, 2020, and April 30, 2021, have up to three months after their expiration date without being cited by law enforcement for an expired license or tags. The Oregon Department of Transportation and Oregon law enforcement agencies agreed to the new grace period as Oregon De-

partment of Motor Vehicles (DMV) catches up with a backlog due to COVID-19 restrictions. Under the agreement, Oregon law enforcement officers will exercise more discretion for recently expired licenses and registration before choosing whether to write a citation. Law enforcement can verify the status of a driver or vehicle registration electronically during a traffic stop. A law enforcement moratorium under Senate Bill 1601 from an Oregon

Special Legislative Session last summer will expire Dec. 31. Under that legislation, a police officer cannot issue a citation for the following DMV products if they expired between March 1 and Dec. 31, 2020: • Driver license and identification cards • Passenger vehicle registrations • Commercial vehicle registrations • Trip permits and temporary registrations • Disabled parking permits

DMV offices open by appointment DMV offices are open by appointment – mostly those that require in-person visits such as driver license and other identification card-related services. In some parts of Oregon, the first available appointment may be two months out, so do not wait until the last minute to schedule your appointment. As DMV catches up with the backlog, more services will become available by appointment. They do not yet

know when walk-in services can resume, but some appointments for vehicle title and registration are available now. Visit www.OregonDMV. com for a complete list of services available by office. See if you can get what you need at DMV2U Many services are available online at DMV2U. Oregon.gov and more will be added soon. Those available now include: • Renew your vehicle registration

• Access your DMV profile • Schedule an appointment • Replace a lost, damaged or stolen license or ID card • Pay a reinstatement fee • Report your change of address • Report the sale of your car • Calculate vehicles fees to mail in title and registration applications The DMV is located at 500 N Columbia River Hwy Suite 400 in St. Helens. The office may be reached at 503-3973515.

Iconic sea star listed as critically endangered STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

You may remember finding them attached to rocks in the surf along the Oregon Coast. Now, the iconic sunflower sea star is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The listing follows a groundbreaking population study led by Oregon State University and The Nature Conservancy. “These sea stars used to be easy to find and were a hit with students and divers because they are unforgettable – they can be as big as a trash bin lid with 20 slimy arms covered in suction cups,” said OSU’s Sarah

Gravem, a research associate in the College of Science and the lead author on the study. “Unfortunately, your chances of finding one now are next to nothing in most of the contiguous United States – this listing is one step above extinction – and I don’t think they’re coming back without help like captive rearing and reintroduction and reducing direct harvest and accidental harvest.” More than 60 institutions joined Oregon State and The Nature Conservancy in the population study on the sunflower sea star, known scientifically as Pycnopodia helianthoides, which plays an important role in maintaining kelp forests, and thus sustaining marine life, along the West Coast from Alaska to Baja, California.

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Photo courtesy of Jenna Nichols

The sunflower sea star, known scientifically as Pycnopodia helianthoides, plays an important role in maintaining kelp forests, and thus sustaining marine life, along the West Coast from Alaska to Baja, California.

Populations of the sunflower sea star suffered dramatic crashes because of a marine wildlife epidemic event, referred to as sea star wasting syndrome, that began in 2013. Scientists used more than 61,000 population surveys from 31 datasets to calculate a 90.6% decline in the sunflower sea stars and estimated that as many as 5.75 billion animals died from the

disease, whose cause has not been determined. Moreover, the research produced no indications of population recovery in any region in the five to seven years since the outbreak. Sunflower sea stars are now nearly absent in Mexico as well as the contiguous United States, the scientists say. No stars have been seen in Mexico since 2016, none in California since 2018, and

only a handful in Oregon and Washington since 2018. Sunflower sea stars are a key predator of purple sea urchins and the sea star decline has helped fuel an explosion in the urchin population in many regions. An overabundance of urchins is linked to a decline in kelp forests already facing pressure from marine heat wave events, making the future uncertain for ecosystems that provide habitat for thousands of marine animals and help support coastal economies. “Because most people aren’t out in the ocean every day, we don’t realize how much it’s being changed and impacted by humans,” said study co-author Sara Hamilton, a Ph.D. candidate in the OSU College of Science. “We need to think creatively

about how to keep our ocean healthy. While drawing down carbon emissions is the most pressing need, rebuilding key predator populations, like the sunflower sea star, can be an important piece of the puzzle too.” The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is an important resource for guiding conservation action and policy decisions, assessing the risk of extinction of a species should no conservation action be taken. Species are assigned to one of eight categories of threat based on criteria linked to population trend, population size and structure and geographic range. Species listed as critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable are collectively described as threatened.

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DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE CELEBRATE SAFELY THIS NEW YEAR’S EVE New Year’s Eve is a time to celebrate. But for hundreds of people each year, the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day proves fatal. According to fatality data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over the last five years an average of 300 people died in drunk driving fatalities between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Holiday celebrations, and New Year’s Eve festivities in particular, tend to include alcohol, raising the stakes during this festive, yet too

often fatal, time of year. The sobering statistics provided by the NHTSA don’t have to prevent people from toasting a new year. In fact, there are many ways to have fun this New Year’s Eve without putting yourself in harm’s way. • Don’t overindulge in alcohol. For many people, overindulging in alcohol is part and parcel during New Year’s Eve celebrations. Such behavior puts everyone at risk, even people who don’t drive. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism,

conservative estimates suggest that roughly one-half of sexual assaults on American women involve alcohol consumption by the perpetrator, victim or both. While alcohol and its relationship to traffic fatalities draw the bulk of the attention on New Year’s Eve, even people who don’t intend to drive should recognize the dangers of overindulging in alcohol and drink responsibly. • Arrange for transportation. If you need a car to get around on New Year’s Eve and plan to drink alcohol, arrange for someone else

to do your driving for you. Groups of friends should choose someone to be their designated driver or pool their money and hire a taxi or bus service for the night so no one who’s been drinking gets behind the wheel. The NHTSA even offers a free app called SaferRide that is compatible with Apple and Android devices and enables users to call a taxi or a friend to be picked up. • Host responsibly. Even people who don’t intend to leave their homes can take steps to make New Year’s

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Be safe. Be smart. Don’t drink and drive.

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Don’t wreck your holidays. Don’t drink and drive

Drink responsibly.

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may feel full, which may discourage them from having extra drinks. While many people will expect to drink alcohol on New Year’s Eve, don’t stock up on too much alcohol, the availability of which may encourage guests to overindulge. Hosts also should keep the phone numbers of local taxi services handy just in case some guests cannot drive themselves home safely. New Year’s Eve should be as festive as possible. Celebrating responsibly can ensure everyone has a fun and safe time.

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Eve safer for everyone. If you’re hosting a party at home, do so responsibly, making sure none of your guests overindulge and making the party less about drinking and more about having fun. Shift the focus from toasting drinks to games and activities that don’t include alcohol. Make sure to have plenty of food and nonalcoholic beverages on hand and encourage people who are drinking to eat full meals and drink water throughout the night. People who fill up on food and water during the party

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DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE

Ridesharing savvy can help you get home safely A night on the town is an enjoyable way to spend time with a significant other or a group of friends. Those who indulge in a few cocktails while out on the town must put safety first to ensure they and others get home safely. According to data from the National Highway Safety Administration, drunk driving fatalities decreased by 65% between 1982 and 2016. Education about impaired driving no doubt played a role in that

reduction, as have the bevy of options adults now have in regard to getting home without getting behind the wheel. Ridesharing is one such option that many people now rely on when spending a night out on the town. While ridesharing services are a safe way to get home at night, caution must still be heeded when utilizing services like Lyft or Uber. • Stay inside when requesting a ride. Avoid lingering outside too long and

looking vulnerable, particularly if you are alone. Request the ride before you leave the venue and then you can hop in the car when it pulls up. • Confirm the identifying features. Make sure the vehicle make, license plate number and driver’s details are the ones listed on the rideshare app so you know you are getting in the right vehicle. Imposters posing as rideshare drivers prey on unsuspecting passengers. • Check the driver’s rat-

ing. Various stories have surfaced of drivers from popular ridesharing services assaulting passengers. A driver who has had prior incidents is likely to have a poor rating. Cancel the ride if the driver on the way has bad reviews. • Ride in the rear. Put a safety barrier between yourself and the driver by riding in the back seat instead of the front. • Map the ride home. Use your phone to map the trip home so you can

see if the driver is keeping the course or leading you astray. • Use “share status” to alert others. Give friends your ride information through “share status” or “send ETA” so they can see your trip and estimated time of arrival. The driver’s information and other details also will be shared as an extra safety precaution. • Never pay cash. There’s no need to have cash on hand when utilizing ridesharing apps. A driver

should never ask for cash, even for a tip. Keep your wallet out of sight at all times. • Get dropped off down the street. Do not share personal information during the ride, and ask to be dropped off on a corner away from your actual home. Ridesharing can be a great way to get home after a night out on the town, especially when users take steps to ensure their safety during the ride.

5 ways to stay safe during the dangerous holiday driving season The holidays can be the happiest time of the year, but unfortunately, they can also be the most dangerous, with more fatal car crashes occurring due to increased travel time, more alcohol use and excessive speed, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “No one wants to think about what can go wrong, especially at such a joyful time of year, but as the saying goes, prevention is better than cure,” said Jon Bloom, vice president, Erie Insurance. “The good news is that there are specific things that people can do help keep themselves and their families safe this holiday season.” Erie Insurance offers these five tips for safer holiday driving. • Keep your car road-ready. Proper maintenance will help keep your car in shape for whatever road conditions you encounter. In addition to

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getting regularly scheduled oil changes, make sure your car’s fluids are topped off and that filters, hoses and other components are in good working order. If they’re showing signs of wearing out, replace them. • Maintain properly inflated tires. Not maintaining the right tire pressure can lead to flats and blowouts, which could cause you to lose control of your car and crash. Pay close attention to your car’s tire pressure monitoring system. If you see an alert that tire pressure is low, fill them as soon as possible. • Be ready for emergencies. While maintaining your car can reduce your chance of being stranded along the side of the road, it could still happen. Keep an emergency kit in the car with a cell phone charger, blanket and first aid kit, along with bottled water and snacks. Also, check with your insurance agent to ensure your policy includes Emergency

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Roadside Service coverage so that if your car does break down, you can call for help. • Give yourself plenty of time. With speeding being one of the top causes of car crashes, it’s important to remember that there’s no prize for arriving first. It’s much better to drive the speed limit — or even lower, depending on road conditions and build in a few extra minutes to get where you’re going, especially when driving near busy shopping malls or on holiday travel days when traffic is heavy. • Stay sober or designate a driver. Celebrating with a holiday toast? Plan ahead and have a designated driver, or use a cab or ride sharing service to get home. Regardless, never get behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking. While the holidays can be a particularly perilous time to drive, taking precautions can help ensure you, and others on the road, have a safe season.

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