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FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2021

VOL. 129, NO. 36 Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891

Order up! Food carts discussion

ecial Report Sp

2021 T h e C hief

JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

The Rainier City Council is expecting to review recommendations next month as to how to best allow food cart operations in the city. Over the past few months there has been discussions concerning interest in setting up such business operations. Rainier Mayor Jerry Cole said the discussions began just before the pandemic hit last spring and the city’s planning commission forwarded suggestions to the city council about the food cart operations. “Now that we are at near normal again, we are able to dive back into it,” Cole said. “It is fair to say everyone wants it to happen, it is a matter of what it should look like.” Cole said the locations of the food carts would be key discussion points. In other Oregon cities where the food carts discussions have taken place, brick-and-mortar restaurant operators have voiced concerns about the location of the carts. “I do not want them in residential areas,” Cole said. “And I want to make sure traffic is looked at. I also want them to be clean and nice and sanitary.” According to Cole, the city and county health department would regulate inspections of the food carts for health and safety. “We need to find a way that they fit into the livability out our community,” he said. Depending on the number of food cart applications made to the city, Cole said allowing them along the riverfront might be a good location that could help draw people to the city. “It is providing other opportunities for citizens and to bring people in and the carts could encourage others to start something, especially when COVID is over and people are getting out more,” Cole said. Two members of the Rainier City Council, Connie Budge and Mike Kreger, are reviewing the food cart issues and developing recommendations for the full council.

Chambers keep it local in 2021 MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net

Editor’s Note: Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief

This large branch broke off an adjacent tree and came crashing down on the front of this home in St. Helens.

Storms leave area damage JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

Clyde Barlow has lived at his home at 114 North Vernonia Road in St. Helens for 40 years and this was the second time he has had a serious encounter with a wind and rain storm. “At about midnight last night we heard this tremendous loud bang and then the lights when out,” he said. At first, Barlow said he thought it was something happening down the street, but his wife went to the front door and looked outside and told him there was a tree on the house.

Barlow said the crash knocked items off the shelves in his home and broke portions of the porch and the front of the home. Barlow said, fortunately, no one was hurt during the crash. The house had been built before 1900 and Barlow estimated the nearby tree where the branch was ripped off by the wind was about 100 years old. Barlow estimated the branch that struck his house early Wednesday morning, Jan. 13, is about 20-feet long and about 18-inches thick. “It weights several thousand pounds,” he said. On the side of the house, the

large branch knocked a gutter off the house and debris cluttered the space between Barlow’s house and a nextdoor church. Barlow will have a tree expert and insurance adjuster come by to determine the damage estimate and decide if the tree itself should be removed. The first encounter with wind storms and Barlow came about five years ago. He had parked his truck in the church parking lot and after emerging from services, he couldn’t find his truck. In its place was a ­­­­ See STORMS Page A5

Schools prepare for return

Clatskanie food carts Clatskanie City Manager Greg Hinkelman said there are currently no food carts in operation in the city, but the city has initial policies for such business operations. “Any food cart would need permission from the property owner, a city business license, meet current health-code regulations and would only be allowed in a commercial zone,” he said. If there were to be approached by a vendor requesting to establish a food cart operation, Hinkelman said that business operator would likely need to come before the Clatskanie Planning Commission for a conditional use permit. Follow developments of this story at thechiefnews.com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.

Police Blotters...........A3 Obituaries ................. A4 Opinions ................... A4 Classified Ads ......... A5 Legals ....................... A5

Contact The Chief Phone: 503-397-0116 Fax: 503-397-4093 chiefnews@countrymedia.net 1805 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR 97051

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief

Several students from Rainier Jr./Sr. High School hold signs during the early Monday morning Jan. 11 rally urging the Rainier School District to resume in-person classes. MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net

Columbia County schools are planning the return of students to their facilities. Plans for bringing kindergarten through sixth grade students are in the works, said Cathy Hurowitz, superintendent of Clatskanie School District, at the Jan. 11 school board meeting. The tentative start date for kindergarten and first grade students is set for Jan. 25; second and third grade for Feb. 1; and fourth, fifth and sixth grade for Feb. 8. These dates are subject to change pending new information from the state, Clatskanie Elementary School Principal Kara Burghardt said. “We are watching closely the expected announcements on Jan. 19 from the governor,” Burghardt said. If the school is able to open, students will be in the building from 8 a.m. to noon and receive their lunches as they depart the building. While at the facility, students will be in cohorts and required to wear facial coverings at all times and keep 6 feet of distance from each other. Afternoon activities will be asynchronous. The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) will be releasing its updated “Ready Schools, Safe Learners” guidance on Jan. 19, which Hurowitz expects will have updated metrics to guide the return to in-person instruction.

In December, Gov. Kate Brown announced that state metrics would transition from mandatory to advisory for school districts at the start of this year, allowing for more local control. However, schools that do not follow the state reopening metrics from the ODE will lose state liability protection as outlined in House Bill 4402. “We’re not necessarily wanting to move forward with opening schools because we can,” Hurowitz said. “We’re in a holding pattern.” The release from ODE will likely influence many schools in the county. A change to the current metrics could allow for Columbia County schools to be eligible to transition back to in-person classes and maintain liability coverage from the state. The Jan. 19 release from ODE does not guarantee a Jan. 19 start date, Hurowitz said, but rather a date that will inform the district of its next steps. To prepare for the return to school in advance of the ODE update, the Clatskanie School District distributed a survey to parents asking about education preferences between brick-and-mortar education or the Clatskanie Family Academy online education. The survey stated the choice would be for the remainder of the school year. At the meeting, Hurowitz also outlined a COVID-19 illness plan for staff members who experience a prolonged infection of the disease. The plan would come into play

after a staff member infected with COVID-19 has used their sick days. The district is supplying up to 20 additional days of sick leave for COVID-related illness. If the illness extends beyond the employee’s regular sick leave and the additional district-allotted 20 days, the district will deduct the cost of employing a substitute teacher from the employee’s salary and continue to pay the employee. “We’ve heard some horror stories about people losing insurance,” Hurowitz said. “We’re just trying to do as much as we can to support our staff. It’s the right thing to do.” Rainier In Rainier, classes could resume in-person as soon as Feb. 1, Joseph Hattrick, interim superintendent of the Rainier School District. Hattrick outlined the district’s plan for bringing students back into the buildings at the Jan. 11 school board meeting. He stressed that the timeline he presented is subject to change. Preschool students and high school seniors would be prioritized to return first. “There’s a strong push to get students back in person, as well as an even stronger push advocating to prioritize our seniors as well,” Hattrick said. ­­­­ See SCHOOLS Page A4

This is the third in a series of special reports you’ll read in the Friday print editions of The Chief and at thechiefnews.com in the weeks ahead providing insight from members of our community into what we might expect in 2021. The following report focuses on a viewpoint from area Chambers of Commerce. 2020 was a year like none other for individuals and businesses around the world. Sweeping pandemic restrictions closed the doors of many local businesses, some of which are still unable to operate as usual. For Clatskanie Chamber of Commerce Board President Monica Siedl, the last year was all about adapting. “I think as a chamber, we have learned that we must adapt to change,” Siedl said. “That we also need to try and keep everyone as informed as possible.” Rainier Chamber of Commerce Board President Natasha Parvey echoed a similar sentiment about the lesson of 2020. “Communication is key. As a chamber, we focused on communication with our members,” Parvey said. This communication included newsletters to relay important news and social media. In Clatskanie, the chamber will focusing on keeping the community informed and supported, Siedl said. Due to the financial hardships many businesses have faced and continue to face, annual membership fees will be waived this year. Instead, the group will collect the contact information of businesses and continue to invite them to attend the monthly chamber meetings on Zoom. “Our priority is to also get back to life with consideration for safety,” Siedl said. “We are looking at annual activities like Bulky Waste and Heritage Days. The laws and safety of the community are important to stay focused on.” Siedl said the chamber provides service activities and information to local businesses and owners, including information about the state chamber. “We strive to stay relevant and helpful during this difficult time,” Siedl said. In Rainier, the emphasis for 2021 will be about encouraging residents to shop local as much as possible. “We need to shop local and support our Rainier businesses and nonprofits,” Parvey said. “Our restaurants could use our support by purchasing take-out and gift cards. As a community we need to spend where we live, and that includes hiring local professionals donating locally.” As a chamber, Parvey said the priorities will continue to center around connecting, supporting and advocating for members. The group hosts month meetings on Zoom as well to allow businesses to network and bring in speakers focused on economic issues that would affect or benefit members. “Our board also understands the importance of serving as advocates to support and represent Rainier’s local business community for business issues,” Parvey said. “We look forward to partnering with local businesses and organizations for more ribbon cuttings in 2021 to provide networking opportunities.” Learn more about the Clatskanie and Rainier chambers of commerce at clatskaniechamber. com and rainierchamberofcommerce.com.

www.thechiefnews.com

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Friday, January 15, 2021

County still at an “extreme risk” and registration is at columbiacountyor.gov/CoronavirusDisease2019COVID19. Statewide, the death toll rose to 1,708 on Wednesday, and the total case count to 129,109.

MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net

Columbia County will remain classified as at an “extreme risk” of spreading COVID-19 under the state’s risk assessment framework, according to a release from the Governor’s Office. The announcement means that the current restrictions in place will not change for at least another two weeks. 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 new 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 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

Vaccines in Columbia County

Courtesy photo

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 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. 27 to Jan. 8, there were 156 new cases of COVID-19, which equates to 295.8 per 100,000 people.

The test positivity rate was 7.4%. The next assignment of risk levels will be announced on Jan. 26 and take effect on Jan. 29. COVID-19 cases As of Wednesday, there have been 989 cases of COVID-19 in Columbia County since the onset of the pandemic, according to information from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).

Public Health Director Michael Paul said the county is still averaging between 10 to 15 new cases per day. On Tuesday, OHA announced a new death in the county. An 85-year-old man tested positive on Dec. 18 and died on Dec. 29 at Legacy Meridian Park. The county death toll is now 17. Paul announced that surge testing events will resume again at St. Helens High School starting Jan. 20. The tests are free and information about screening

Gov. Kate Brown announced that residents over the age of 65, child care providers and early learning educators will be eligible to receive vaccines starting Jan. 23. Paul said people in those groups should wait until more information is released and advised them against calling their medical providers or public health at this time. “We’re not prepared at this time to receive calls from everyone looking to receive the vaccine,” Paul said. The best place to stay up to date on new information is the county public health website, he said. “If you are in one of these groups, information will be coming.” Compared to other counties, vaccinations in Co-

lumbia County are slightly lower per capita. Paul said this is because the county does not have a hospital, which is where the initial vaccine doses were shipped. The county itself is not a provider of vaccines, Paul said. Instead, the county is partnering with local health care facilities to help connect residents to locations where they can receive vaccines. As vaccinations open up to more groups, it is expected that more providers will enroll and vaccinations will become available at pharmacies as well. The public health department is also connecting volunteers to local vaccine providers to assist with vaccinations as needed, and possibly to host mass vaccination events in the future. As of Wednesday, 631 people in Columbia County had received their first dose of vaccine, and 51 people had been fully vaccinated. Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require two doses to be effective. Across the state, 110,411 people have received their first dose and 9,568 people are fully vaccinated.

Experts share vaccine strategy ZACK DEMARS worldnews3@countrymedia.net

Researchers from Oregon State University (OSU) are sharing their expertise on Oregon’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout. Less than half of the vaccine doses delivered to sites across the state have been administered to patients, prompting concerns from the public about the slow rollout. Approximately 270,000 doses have been allocated to Oregon, and 129,781 doses had been administered as of Wednesday. A panel of OSU researchers, ranging from a medical ethicist to a communications expert, agreed the state’s vaccine rollout needs to be equitable and transparent — and fast. The science Gaurav Sahay, an associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the university, discussed the science behind the vaccines. His research has focused on the microscopic delivery system the vaccines use to introduce defense mechanisms to the body. That delivery system is fairly new technology, Sahay said. That means — while clinical trials showed the effectiveness and safety of the vaccines — there are still some unanswered questions about the vaccine, including how long its protection lasts once in the body. “It is not possible to say how long it will last, because it’s a new vaccine for a new virus. What Moderna is saying is for a year, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens,” Sahay said. “The good news is they’re very effective.” Those vaccines are about

95% effective at preventing vaccinated individuals from catching COVID-19, Sahay said. But new technology also means getting vaccines produced takes time. “Right now, with the current vaccines that are approved, ramping up has been a sort of challenge,” Sahay said. Oregon has received only around 270,00 doses of the vaccine— a fraction of what it’ll need to achieve community immunity from the virus. Sahay predicts that level will require 70% or 80% of the community to get vaccinated. Oregon’s population was estimated at 4.2 million in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, which means between 2.9 to 3.4 million residents will need to be vaccinated to reach community immunity. The development and production time is the first reason COVID-19 vaccines are taking some time to hit the community. But there are also other challenges when hospitals and clinics have doses of the vaccine ready for distribution, as they do now. The challenges “The main challenge is encountered with personnel available to administer the vaccine,” said Joe Agor, an assistant professor of industrial engineering focusing his research on how hospitals have prepared for virus surges. Each step of administering the vaccine takes time and expertise, Agor said. It requires trained staff to receive and properly store doses of the vaccine, pharmacists to properly mix the vaccine and prepare it for use, nurses to administer the vaccine and staff members to

Transparency

Metro Creative Connection / The Chief

Overall, the OSU researchers ranging from a medical ethicist to a communications expert agreed the state’s vaccine rollout needs to be equitable and transparent — and fast.

track who’s receiving doses. That’s an entire process that hospitals and health care professionals are still working to understand and comes on top of those staff members needing to take care of their normal duties at the hospital, Agor said. “Another challenge that has been observed to us is that the supply chain can be somewhat unpredictable,” Agor added. Since manufacturers are still ramping up production, and information is limited, it can be difficult to predict when states and hospitals will receive doses and have the staff ready to administer them — not to mention having the patients ready to receive them. “In the absence of a national strategy, you have 50 different strategies, or 50 states trying to figure out how to go about this,” said Daniel López-Cevallos, an associate professor of ethnic studies who researches disparities in public health and access to care. Without that consistent national strategy, LópezCevallos said states have

been left to spend time and resources determining the prioritization “It is clear — again, it is not unique to Oregon — but it is clear that the prioritization process has slowed down quite a bit the distribution,” López-Cevallos said. Prioritization In Oregon, the basics of the prioritization process come from the federal government’s recommendations. But the specific plan is ironed out by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) with the guidance of its vaccine advisory committee. According to Courtney Campbell, a professor of religion and culture who studies medical ethics, the decisions made by OHA and the recommendations of that committee are reflections of the ethical principles at play. “Clearly one principle is health equity, that is a fairly significant one,” Campbell said, noting that the committee largely focuses on ensuring the vaccine distribution doesn’t skip communities that have received unequal

health care in the past. But equity alone doesn’t explain all of Oregon’s vaccine decisions, Campbell said. He pointed to school staff as an example, since the state’s been one of the few to break with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by moving educational staff up the priority list to phase 1B of the vaccination schedule. Campbell said the ethical principles behind that decision — like a commitment to saving the most lives, or the idea of treating people equally regardless their position — aren’t quite clear yet. “We need some principled articulation from the vaccine advisory committee for OHA,” Campbell said. “Right now, it’s really focused on health equity, and that doesn’t get you all the way to the rationale for prioritizing teachers and others.” The Governor’s Office announced on Tuesday that both educational staff and residents over the age of 65 will be eligible to receive the vaccine beginning Jan. 23.

The importance of transparency in the vaccine distribution process was a central theme of the researchers’ comments. “Addressing (access to care) issues might not be enough,” said Beth Marino, an anthropologist researching effective public health messaging. “We know that there are high levels of distrust in government and scientific institutions in some of these groups.” Without recognizing the distrust that communities have in government and health experts, Marino said they may choose not to get the vaccine, which could slow the fight against the virus, or could continue spreading misinformation. “It’s very important because the social context is so divided,” Marino said. “So there needs to be messaging about when to get vaccine, and there needs to be consistent messaging about who’s getting vaccine and there needs to be justification for all of those decisions.” Her research has focused on what kind of messages work for educating various groups — on political, cultural or ethnic lines — about the virus and the vaccine. “Generally, (messaging about) taking care of one’s elders is effective across a very wide swath of those we surveyed,” Marino said. But the bottom line from Tuesday’s research panel? “The ones that are being given are safe, and we should vaccinate as much as we can,” Sahay said. Follow developments at thechiefnews.com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.

THERE IS NOT A WORD TO DESCRIBE ~ Words cannot express the gratitude and heartfelt thanks that we have for each and every community member, friend, client, stranger, business, and others who stepped up this past holiday season to help Turning Point and H.O.P.E. of Rainier handle the influx of need for our families. I am overwhelmed with joy at the spirit our communities have shown in others’ time of need. That is truly what Christmas is all about. At first, I was going to list each and every one of you who helped us a ccomplish what seemed impossible this year – but again, the amount of you who opened your hearts to our communities was more than I ever expected. So please accept this small gesture as our way of saying Thank You to each and every one of you. We really could not have done this without the kindness, generosity, and love that came from all of you. Kelly Miller – Executive Director Volunteers & staff Turning Point – Clatskanie H.O.P.E. of Rainier - Rainier

Turning Point: 220 E Columbia River Hwy. Clatskanie, OR • (503) 728-3126 Hope of Rainier: 404 E A St, Rainier, OR • (503) 556-0701 Columbia County’s trusted local news source

CASA For Children CASA (Volunteer) Supervisor, .5 FTE, non-exempt employee – Manages/supports 15+ volunteers serving children in Columbia County office (St. Helens). Need understanding of the culture of poverty, experience with Diversity, Equity & Inclusion concepts preferred, lived experience a plus. Position is in office, computer knowledge, esp Google Drive preferred. Compensation $19.23/hr. Comp includes stipend for med/dental benefits, Life, Short-term disability and 401(k). Very generous paid time off.

E-mail resume/cover letter incl. where you heard about the job to jobs@casahelpskids.org re: CASA Supervisor – Col. County. Deadline to apply: 5 pm on 1/28. Resumes will be reviewed as received. No phone calls please.

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Friday, January 15, 2021

• The police blotter relates to the public record of incidents as reported by law enforcement agencies. All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Information printed is preliminary and subject to change. For specific details about cases listed, contact the appropriate law enforcement agency. Rainier Police Department Dec. 22 • A concerned caller requested someone check on a suspicious woman that seemingly was having some issues. An area check yielded no individuals matching the description given. Dec. 23 • An officer responded to a report of a prowler. Around the residence, an officer was unable to detect footprints in the mud, but did observe a lot of dog tracks. Dec. 26 • While on patrol, officers observed an individual who was known to have outstanding warrants and had escaped detention two weeks earlier, walking on West B Street. Officers made contact and advised the subject he was being detained. On this occasion, the suspect became the bagholder, and was taken into custody without incident. • Officers responded to an alarm at a local business. The building was found to be secure. Dec. 28 • A caller reported that a family member took a vehicle and a firearm without permission. Both items were recovered in another city. The case was referred to the District Attorney’s Office. Dec. 29 • Officers assisted a driver with a disabled semi-truck. Dec. 30 • A stop sign near Pacific Pride was knocked over. • An officer assisted residents who were having issues with some neighborhood juveniles. Peace was restored. • An officer responded to a false business alarm. Oregon State Police Jan. 4 • At around 4 p.m., Oregon State Police officers responded to a single vehicle, non-injury crash on Highway 47 near milepost 57. A 93-year-old Astoria woman’s vehicle was headed northbound and left the roadway and sideswiped a pole. There was no damage to the pole and the vehicle was towed. • Just before 11 p.m., officers responded to a nearly head on crash on Highway 30 near milepost 53. A 38-year-old Clatskanie woman driving a black Suburban was headed westbound on the highway and pulled into the eastbound shoulder. When the vehicle pulled back onto the roadway it crashed into a black Dodge Dart heading eastbound. The Suburban continued to head westbound driving on three tires. The driver of the runaway vehicle was stopped at the scene of another driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII) crash on Beaver Falls Road that Columbia County deputies were handling. The driver submitted to a field sobriety test, was impaired and was transferred to Columbia County Jail with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.16%. Both vehicles were towed.

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Jan. 5 • At around 1:30 p.m., officers responded to a driving complaint/road rage incident on East Columbia Drive in Scappoose. The suspect was cited and released on a menacing charge and the investigation is ongoing. • Just before 7 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Highway 30 near milepost 65.5. The driver was westbound on the highway and struck a state highway sign and left the roadway. The driver, a 35-year-old man from Westport, displayed signs of impairment and consented to a field sobriety test. He was impaired to a noticeable degree and arrested and transported to Columbia County Jail. Jan. 6 • Troopers stopped a vehicle on NW Old St. Helens Highway near Highway 30 in Scappoose for a traffic violation at approximately 9:16 a.m. The 27-year-old driver from Forest Grove was discovered to have a warrant for his arrest out of Washington County. The warrant was confirmed and the driver was placed under arrest and transported to Columbia County Jail where he was lodged for the warrant and his vehicle was towed. • Officers responded to a report of disturbance at Trestle Beach. An investigation revealed a 60-year-old woman was unlawfully camping overnight on the beach and confronted by an unidentified male regarding the camping. She was intimidated and told the reporting party she had been threatened. No indication of a crime occurred and no further action taken. The woman indicated she was in the process of removing a tent and associated garbage. • Around 10:15 p,m,, the Oregon State Police followed a reported stolen vehicle from NW Moreland Road to NW Otto Miller Road near milepost 1.5 until other police units arrived to assist with stopping the reported stolen vehicle. The driver, a 61-year-old man, was taken into custody and transported to Columbia County Jail. His blood alcohol concentration was 0.10%. The vehicle was towed and the Northern Command Center attempted to reach the reporting party, Hertz Rental Vehicles out of Eureka, Calif. Jan. 8 • Oregon State Police were patrolling Highway 30 near milepost 68 around 11 a.m. when a dark colored motorcycle was seen at a high rate of speed, eastbound on the highway. Officers attempted to catch up to the motorcycle, but the rider sped off at a high rate of speed. An off duty Astoria officer observed the motorcycle crash at Highway 30 and Marshland District Road, recover back on the bike and flee the scene. The motorcycle was later located behind a Clatskanie residence and the rider, a 42-year-old Westport man, was identified and arrested for hindering and tampering with evidence. Jan. 9 • The Oregon State Police assisted the Columbia County Sheriffs with a physical domestic call in Warren. An adult grandson had physically assaulted the grandmother and broke a window at the residence. The 38-year-old Warren man was located, detained and arrested. • A report of a hunter who shot a sandhill crane at the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area was received by the Oregon State Police. Prior to arriving at the violation, the suspect hunter called to report he had killed an unlawful bird. The hunter, a 43-year-old Portland man,

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stated he was a beginner duck hunter and he thought the bird was a snow goose but realized he was wrong when he retrieved it and turned himself in. The hunter was warned for the violation and the bird was seized for donation. • A trooper observed a hunter shoot a cormorant while the trooper was patrolling the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area. The hunter, a 20-year-old Portland man, was contacted and it was determined he was also hunting outside his designated hunting area. The cormorant was seized and the hunter was cited for unlawful take of protected species. • At around 2 p.m. troopers responded to Washington Way near View Street in Rainier to assist with a crash investigation. Jan. 12 • Troopers responded to a two-vehicle non-injury crash on Highway 30 near milepost 41 at around 3 p.m. A crash investigation was conducted and both vehicles were towed due to damage. Scappoose Police Department

with unpaid merchandise and got into a vehicle heading south on Highway 30. The case is pending further suspect information. Jan. 3 • Police responded to a traffic accident near the intersection of Columbia River Highway and SW Maple Street, with unknown injuries. Following the investigation, one driver was cited for driving uninsured and medics cleared all involved. St. Helens Police Department Jan. 4 • St. Helens Police took a 33-year-old man into custody on a police offer hold in the 500 block of S Columbia River Highway.

Jan. 7 • A 48-year-old man was issued a criminal citation for an outstanding misdemeanor warrant in the 200 block of North River Street at around 7:20 a.m. • At around 9 a.m., a 30-yearold man was arrested on an outstanding felony warrant in the 300 block of N 16th Street. • Just before 1 p.m., a 27-yearold man was arrested for violation of a restraining order near Plaza Square. • A 23-year-old was arrested on an outstanding felony warrant at the intersection of McBride and Matzen streets at around 11 a.m. • At 3:30 p.m., a 48-year-old woman was taken into custody for two active felony warrants out of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office near the 58000 block of Columbia River Highway. • A 41-year-old man was taken into custody for an active felony warrant near the intersection of South 14th and Tualatin streets.

Jan. 6 • At around 10 p.m. a 34-yearold man was issued a citation in lieu of custody for an arrest warrant out of Washington County following a traffic stop at Jan. 8 Commons Drive and Pittsburg • A 51-year-old man was ar01-06-21 3x15D Jan Clearance:Layout 1 1/4/21 12:50 outstanding PM Page 1 Road. rested on multiple

warrants at the intersection of Columbia and Sunset boulevards just after 1 p.m. • At 3:30 p.m., a criminal citation was issued to a 39-yearold man in the 500 block of S Columbia River Highway. • A 26-year-old was cited and released for theft III from Walmart. Jan. 9 • A 40-year-old woman was cited and released for a warrant in the 2200 block of Gable Road at approximately 1:30 a.m. • A 28-year-old man was taken into custody for violation of a restraining order in the 2200 block of Gable Road at approximately 6 p.m. • Just before 1 p.m., a 39-yearold man was arrested on an outstanding felony warrant in the 300 block of S Columbia River Highway. Columbia County Sheriff’s Office • View the complete log of calls to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office online at thechiefnews.com.

Dec. 27 • Police responded to a disturbance on NW Wickstrom Drive. Following the investigation, it was determined that the incident occurred out in the county and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office took over the investigation. • Police were dispatched to Jackpot Food Market to the report of a theft. It was reported that a male subject stole some hunting calls and placed the stolen merchandise into an empty coffee cup. This case is pending location of the subject. Dec. 28 • Officers were dispatched to the report of a possible violation of a restraining order. Following the investigation, a 48-year-old Scappoose man was arrested for violation of restraining order, burglary I and criminal mischief III. He was transported to and lodged in jail. • Police contacted a subject near NW Williams and NE Second Street after receiving a complaint of a motorhome in the area, and it was believed two men were living in it. While talking with the subject, it was determined that he had multiple warrants. As police were placing him under arrest, he fled on foot. After the short foot pursuit, the subject was taken into custody and arrested for the multiple felony warrants, resisting arrest, interfering with peace officer and giving false information to a peace officer. He was lodged in jail. Dec. 29 • A theft report on SE Myrtle Street was taken by police officers. The victim reported that a utility trailer was stolen from his property. After further investigation, the victim also stated that a set of tires, a chainsaw and a tow hitch were also missing. The case is pending further suspect information. Jan. 1 • Police responded to a residence in the 52000 block of Columbia River Highway after the victim reported they had been threatened with a handgun. Following the investigation, a 23-year-old Scappoose man was issued a citation for menacing and released at the scene. Jan. 2 • A theft at the Scappoose Liquor Store was reported to police. It was reported that an unknown female stole a bottle of alcohol worth approximately $17. The female fled the store

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Friday, January 15, 2021

•V iewpoints • •

Oregon’s new beginning Attention to wildfires, business, agriculture

BRAD WITT Chief Guest Column

Monday, Jan. 11, marked a new beginning in Oregon, as I and other re-elected and newly elected Senators and Representatives took our oath of office to officially begin the work of the 81st Oregon Legislative Assembly. Our laws are developed through committee hearings and work, and this session I will again Chair the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. I will also serve on the House Committee on Water and House Committee on Business and Labor. This week bills will be introduced, committee assignments are officially announced, and lawmakers will prepare for the Legislative Session which convenes Tuesday January 19th. This is an exciting time as we renew friendships and meet new lawmakers who bring new ideas and energy to the lawmaking process. More pandemic relief During the 3rd Special Session of the 80th Oregon Legislative Assembly, we approved additional funding for Pandemic Response, and Wildfire Recovery. The Emergency Board met last Friday to allocate those funds. School districts will receive $325 million in federal funds for grants to meet the education needs of responding to the pandemic, federal funds in the amount of $116 million will go to emergency rental and utility assistance. $100 million will fund a commercial rent relief program, $46 million for the Worker Relief Fund and the Quarantined worker fund, and create a Small Enterprise Fund for business assistance. The Oregon Health Authority will receive $19 million for public health response, and other appropriations will go to support programs for seniors, disabled, daycare, camps and others impacted by COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines.

SCHOOLS From Page A1

A group of district students rallied outside of the district office campus wearing masks and holding signs urging administrators to resume in-person classes the morning of Jan. 11. Hattrick said he was proud of the students for organizing the demonstration and advocating for themselves. Proposed plan Hattrick outlined two possible timelines for the return to the classroom and start of hybrid learning (a combination of comprehensive distance learning and in-person instruction). The first option would have preschool students and high school seniors returning to the classroom on Feb. 1; kindergarten through third grade on Feb. 16; fourth through eighth grade on March 1; and

The 2020 Oregon Wildfire season was the worst on record, and on Friday the E-Board allocated money for wildfire relief, including $36 million for wildfire debris removal, $31 million for shelter, food and other services to Oregonians impacted by wildfires. Jackson County’s Housing Authority will receive a $25 million grant to replace workforce housing lost to fire. $27 million will go to wildlife recovery, prevention and preparedness activities which includes supplementing the wildfire aviation program, increasing fire program staffing and expanding the partnership and planning programs. Among the bills I’ll be introducing this week is House Bill 2730 this bill seeks to set rules relating to business interruption insurance. The legislation would prohibit certain conduct by insurers with respect to business interruption claims, and provide an opportunity for insured business entities to seek actual damages for the insurers’ violation of provisions. In the time of this pandemic, it would hard to find a business that hasn’t suffered an interruption, so this bill will clarify insurance rules. HB 2724 will require the State Department of Agriculture to establish an advisory committee to advise the department on policies related to Oregon crops. Currently, the legislature is asked to decide where to allow certain crops, like canola, to be grown. It’s my opinion that the farming community would have a better idea about implementing agricultural rules and policies, and there are very few farmers serving in the Oregon House or Senate. This will allow farmers to have a stronger voice in regulatory matters. After meeting with constituents and hearing their concerns over the past several months, I’ve developed many other bills I’m introducing and will be writing about those in the weeks to come. ninth through 11th grade on March 15. The second option would push the preschool and senior start date to Feb. 16; followed by kindergarten through third grade on Feb. 22; fourth through eighth grade on March 1; and ninth through 11th on March 8. Hattrick said the timeline will be determined based on the Jan. 19 release from ODE, and the trend in cases in the area. If cases surge, the timeline will have to be pushed back, he said. Families will have the choice between enrolling students in hybrid classes, or continuing with distance learning. Hybrid classes will break students into cohorts that will occupy the buildings on different days, and each grade group will have a different start and end time. Facial coverings will be required for all students and staff in the school buildings, and isolation rooms will be provided for sick or symptomatic students. “If students select the hybrid option but are refus-

COVID-19 vaccinations Oregon began administering the COVID-19 vaccine 90 days ago, and health officials have now administered 100,000 doses. A number of my constituents have reached out to me, asking that we not require everyone to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, due to their fears about vaccine safety. I am not aware of any plans to make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory, but I hope the majority of Oregonians choose to voluntarily receive it as the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been shown to be safe. Until we have built community immunity against this virus, we will have slower progress and recovery from the pandemic. What’s next Because of the COVID-19 restrictions the Capitol building remains closed to the public. The length of the closure will depend on how soon we can get the infection rate under control. With the vaccine and other health precautions, I’m hoping we will soon be welcoming Oregonians back into the Capitol. The rest of this week we will continue our organizational efforts preparing for next Tuesday when the 2021 officially convenes. As we enter the 180-day session, it’s more important than ever that I hear from my constituents. If you have concerns or comment about a state issue, agency or proposed legislation, please contact my office. It is my privilege to represent you in the House of Representatives as we undertake this important work together. Rep. Brad Witt serves House District 31. He may be reached at: • Email: Rep.BradWitt@ oregonlegislature.gov • Telephone: 503-9861431 • 900 Court St NE, H-382, Salem, OR, 97301 • Website: www.oregonlegislature.gov/witt ing to wear masks, they are no longer eligible to participate in the hybrid instruction,” Hattrick said. “Hybrid is for those students who are willing to follow all social distancing and safety guidelines.” The day that hybrid classes begin, activities and sports will return as well, Hattrick said.

Weekly Online Poll

Last Week’s Results

Do you want to see more food carts in Columbia County?

Should restaurants open for in-person dining despite the state-mandated pandemic requirements?

Yes

No

The Chief

42% No

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State parks reservation changes STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) will accept new reservations from one day to six months out beginning Jan. 14. The change is the latest step in managing future reservations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Early last summer, the reservation booking window temporarily changed from one day to two weeks, then to 30 days, while OPRD slowly re-opened camping after a two-month closure. In normal times, the reservation window is one day to nine months out. “A shorter reservation window helps us deal with the uncertainty posed by state management of the COVID-19 emergency, and the financial hit of changing, canceling and refunding reservations,” OPRD Director Lisa Sumption said. State parks are funded by

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revenue from park visitors, a small share of the Oregon Lottery, and a portion of state recreational vehicle registrations. “Although revenue stopped during the twomonth closure and continues to be less than what we’ve earned in past years, we’ve adjusted our operations and now are comfortable extending the reservation booking window,” Sumption said. “All of us extend a heartfelt thank you to our visitors as we continue to evaluate our operations to better serve campers and day-use visitors

as we head into the spring and summer.” In addition to the reservation booking window change, all new campsite, yurt and cabin openings will become available at 6 a.m. each day rather than midnight. This minor change is being made to improve customer service. “No more staying up to midnight to make an online reservation,” Sumption said. “If you try to reserve a site beyond the 30-day window at midnight Jan. 14, you will see the sites marked with an ‘X’ for unavailable. All available sites will be marked with an ‘A’ at 6 a.m., Jan. 14, and each day going forward.” Sumption said more changes to the reservation window are possible. Oregon State Parks reservations are accepted online, and by phone at 800-4525687, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday (closed holidays).

•O bituaries • • Mary June Burnham

Next steps Hattrick said the district will send a survey to parents to explain the options to them today and cohorts will be established after parents make their choice. Hattrick said he will continue to watch case rates in the area and advocate for vaccinations for staff members. In a survey of 73 district staff members, 72.6% indicated that they would want a vaccine when it becomes available to them, Hattrick said, and that he has contacted local elected officials to advocate for vaccine prioritization for school staff.

58% Yes

June 3, 1931 ~ Jan. 9, 2021

Mary June Burnham 89, of Rainier, Oregon, passed away in Rainier on Jan. 9, 2021.

Philip Lyman Chamberlain March 9, 1940 ~ Dec. 3, 2020

Philip Lyman Chamberlain passed away in Longview, Washington on Dec. 3, 2020. He was buried in a family plot at Murray Hill Cemetery.

Virginia Rose Erickson Feb. 26, 1933 ~ Jan. 8, 2021

Virginia Rose Erickson 87, of St. Helens, Oregon, passed away on Jan. 8, 2021 in Portland, Oregon.

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Friday, January 15, 2021

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CC21-1358

CC21-1363

NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING CLATSKANIE PEOPLE’S UTILITY The regular meeting of lumbia County Offices (the SOCIAL DISTANCING the Clatskanie Park & Recre- Old Middle School). Items RULES IN PLACE AT THE DISTRICT MEETING NOTICE ation District will be held on on the agenda include, but TIME OF THE MEETThursday, January 21, 2021 at 6:00 at 555 SW Bryant St, Clatskanie, OR, Port of Co-

are not limited to: General park maintenance and pool renovation update(s). ALL

ING WILL BE STRICTLY FOLLOWED. Board Chair, Andrew Mustola

CC21-1364

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of MARGO JEAN KOLSTAD, Deceased. No. 20PB08309 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 included, 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 15, 2021. Cathy Sorenson, 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 Representative. STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048.

The Clatskanie People’s Utility District Board of Directors has scheduled the next regular Board meeting for Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 5:30 pm via WebEx. A Board Workshop will not be held this month. An executive session may be called at the workshop and/ or meeting, pursuant to: ORS 192.660 (2) (f) information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection. AGENDA CLATSKANIE

PEOPLE’S UTILITY DISTRICT REGULAR BOARD MEETING on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 5:30 P.M. I. PUBLIC COMMENTS II. CONSENT AGENDA · Minutes of Regular Board Meeting December 16, 2020 · Review payment of bills for December 2020 III. POLICY REVIEW · Policy 103 Budget Payment Plan Policy · Policy 319 Record Retention Policy IV. STAFF REPORTS UPDATE · Staff Reports Up-

date · 2020 Accomplishments and 2021 Goals V. ACTION ITEMS · Oath of Office: Bob Wiggins Subdivision #1, Merle Gillespie Subdivision #2, Jeannie M. Mustola Subdivision #3, and Stephen D. Petersen Subdivision #5 · Board of Directors Officer Selection VI. DISCUSSION / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS · Board Comments & Calendar VII. EXECUTIVE SESSION VIII. ADJOURNMENT

CC21-1359

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of DARLENE T. REA, Deceased. No. 20PB08820 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 8, 2021. Kerry D. Rea, Personal Representative, STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C., Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048.

District approves superintendent contract

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief

Crews clearned mud, rocks and debris from this slide area Wednesday along Highway 30 near Sauvie Island.

large tree knocked over by the wind. “The tree had fallen onto my truck,” Barlow said. “It was totaled. So, this tree into the house was not my first encounter with wind storms. I can’t believe it. Two times in the last five or six years.” Landslides Regional roads and highways were inundated with high water and some affected by landslides during the storm,

Tuesday night, Jan. 12. A mud and rock slide briefly closed a portion of Highway 30 near Sauvie Island. A larger slide closed a 20-mile stretch of I-84 near Troutdale, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). Clatskanie city officials briefly close the city’s main park in the downtown area following flooding. The park was reopened on Wednesday. No other major storm damage was reported in the area. Across the region, utility crews were restoring power Wednesday following outages related to the storm. Early Wednesday ODOT issued a travel advisory warn-

ing drivers and residents of the storm aftermath. “Travelers are reminded to slow down, especially through high water,” the ODOT advisory stated.” Driving through several inches of water at high speed can cause you to lose control of the car; it could also splash water into the engine and stall it. Going fast through high water can also cause wakes which can be hazardous to other vehicles. Lowering your speed helps you prepare for sudden stops caused by disabled cars, debris and other wet-weather hazards.” For travel condition updates, call 511, or visit TripCheck.com online.

Joseph Hattrick, the interim superintendent of Rainier School District, will be sticking around the area. The Rainier School Board voted to approve Hattrick’s contract for the permanent superintendent position in a 4-3 vote at the board meeting Jan. 11. “We have heard from the community: Over 75% said ‘Keep him,’” said Kari Hollander, chair of the school board. Those on the board who voted against the contract did so primarily due to the rate of the annual salary. According to the contract, Hattrick will make $148,000 per year. For comparison, the former Rainier superintendent had an annual salary of around $135,000 and the Clatskanie superintendent has an annual salary of around $120,000, according to information previ-

this much,” board member Darren Vaughn said. Part of the reasoning behind raising the salary for Dr. Hattrick is due to his doctorate degree. “I just have a problem with the dismissal of higher education when we were paying somebody to do this job who did not engage with the school district, and Dr. Hattrick has gone out of his way to meet with parents, stakeholders, everybody involved,” board member Elizabeth said. “I have a real problem with any arguments to the contrary.” Vaughn said Hattrick Courtesy photo had done a great job in the The Rainier School Board apposition, but was conproved a three-year contract to cerned that the rate was retain Hattrick in the district as set too high compared to superintendent. other district salaries. The ously told to The Chief. contract does not contain When Hattrick was hired hidden perks, and Hattrick as interim superintendent, said it remains a goal of the his annual salary was set at board to be transparent in $124,000. its business practices. “I don’t agree with the “I do want to thank the premise that if we’re payboard for approving, I’m ing the old guy that much, excited to continue servwe can pay the new guy ing,” Hattrick said. Columbia County’s trusted local news source

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Friday, January 15, 2021

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Library receives $3,000 grant

which added that studies show public libraries can foster social support and help with decreasing isolation. More than 300 libraries applied for the grant.

STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

Oregon State Police K-9 Jaxson has retired.

Courtesy photo from OSP

OSP K-9 Jaxson retires STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

Oregon State Police (OSP) announced the retirement of K-9 Jaxson. OSP outlines Jaxson’s distinguished career in a Facebook post, which states that Jaxson provided a valuable service to the State of Oregon in criminal interdiction during his service. Jaxson started his career with OSP in March of 2015. While working with his handler, Jaxson has been responsible for the following total career finds and seizures: • U.S. Currency: $1,721,275.50 • Methamphetamine: 257,307.39 grams (567.26 pounds) • Cocaine: 48,917.59 grams (107.84 pounds) • Heroin: 51,711.08

grams (114 pounds) • Marijuana: 142,782.06 grams (314.70 pounds) 200 Plants • Marijuana Extract: 3,628.74 grams (8 pounds) • Psilocybin Mushrooms: 20,348.00 grams (44.80 pounds) • Fentanyl: 3,813.79 grams (8.4 pounds) • Ecstasy: 836.24 grams • Ketamine: 148 grams • OxyContin: 615 grams • Xanax: 1,000 tablets • Firearms: 24 • Total K9 field applications: 174 The OSP Facebook post states that Jaxson’s life will continue to be with his handler enjoying family time and spending summers camping and traveling with the family. In its Facebook post, OSP wished Jaxson a comfortable and happy life in retirement.

Welcome to the new year

LAKEN GORTLER Sponsored content

Well folks, we’re certainly glad 2020 is over and we’re looking forward with great anticipation to 2021. Here at Dahlgren’s, we had the largest increase in feed sales in the entire operation in the Pacific Northwest, and we’re looking to expand on that even more. We’ll be bringing our baby chicks back in February! You might remember this sale was very successful last year, and this year, we have expanded on our resources. We’ll have eight

or nine different types of chickens, ducks, and quail. So please remember us for all your bird-related needs! Also coming soon, we’ll have our popular Garden Cedar gardening boxes back on sale, so be on the lookout for those. As has been the trend, the prices on lumber and plywood are still a bit up in the air, and we don’t know when we’ll see any relief on that. We hope you all made it through 2020 okay and had your own causes to celebrate at the beginning of the New Year. Remember, we’re all in this thing together.

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The Rainier City Library is one of 200 libraries selected to participate in Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries. The effort is an American Library Association (ALA) initiative designed to help library workers better serve their small and rural communities. The competitive award comes with a $3,000 grant that will help the library focus on enhancing library services for patrons who rely on the library for community outreach, current publications, and needful internet connections, while also providing adequate library workspace, according to Rainier Library Coordinator Colette Nordstrom. “We are so proud to be chosen for this amazing opportunity,” Nordstrom said. “This grant will allow our library to get to know our residents better and help us build a happier and healthier community for our families.” As part of the grant,

About the Libraries Transforming Communities initiative

Chief photo

Local dignitaries gathered in September to cut the ribbon during a ceremony recognizing the renovations of the Rainier Public Library.

Nordstrom will take an online course in how to lead conversations, a skill vital to library work today, she said. Nordstrom will then host a conversation with residents about alleviating isolation in elderly patrons and use the grant funds to

increase awareness in the community. As the pandemic rages on, elderly people are limiting their outings and spending more hours at home, which increases loneliness and isolation, according to a release from the ALA,

Since 2014, ALA’s Libraries Transforming Communities initiative has re-imagined the role libraries play in supporting communities. Libraries of all types have utilized free dialogue and deliberation training and resources to lead community and campus forums; take part in anti-violence activities; provide a space for residents to come together and discuss challenging topics; and have productive conversations with civic leaders, library trustees and staff, according to the ALA release. If you are interested in getting involved or taking part in the conversation, contact Colette Nordstrom, at 503556-7301.