SNAP clients to receive emergency allotments
Clatskanie football challenges Page A6
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$1.50
FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2021
VOL. 129, NO. 44 Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891
Sea lions return to the Columbia River in Rainier
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
California sea lions have taken up space on this dock at Rainier along the Columbia River. They can be heard from miles as they bark back and fourth. JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
If you live in Rainier, or visit the city, you likely will hear them. Dozens of sea lions have taken up residency along a small portion of the docks at Rainier’s riverfront. “The sea lions have been frequent visitors here for the last four or five years, at least,” Rainier Mayor Jerry Cole said as he watched the large animals congregate on a portion of the docks along the Columbia River at Rainier. Cole said the sea lions can
cause damage to the docks, so the city has taken steps to mitigate the damage. “We put up electric fences along the docks because they were causing several thousands of dollars worth of damage,” Cole said. “They were destroying part of the docks, making it unsafe for everyone.” Cole said the electric fences, small pole-like devices approved for such prevention, are secured to the dock railings and have helped lessen the damage done by the sea lions. “It gives the sea lions a zap, but
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
The sea lions are frequent visitors to this dock at Rainier, feeding on several different species of fish along the Columbia River.
They are smart enough to return to good fishing spots such as the Columbia. ~ Michael Milstein, NOAA Fisheries they get over it,” he said. While Cole said the sea lions can cause structural damage to the dock and eat away streams of fish, they are a public draw. “Yes, people like coming to the
docks to see them,” he said. Cole said he’d like to see the city take advantage of the sea lions appearances by, perhaps, setting up a special area as some costal cities have done to enhance tourism. The California sea lions are a federally protected species, according to NOAA Fisheries Public Affairs Officer Michael Milstein, who said the sea lions at Rainier and other parts of the Columbia River are virtually all male sea lions that spread out across the West Coast and as far north as Alaska during the winter and spring in search of food.
“California sea lions breed in the Channel Islands off Southern California,” Milstein said. “While the females stay to feed their growing pups, males fan out in search of food to put on weight until they return to the Channel Islands for the next breeding season. They are smart enough to return to good fishing spots such as the Columbia.” According to Milstein, the California sea lions are a conservation success. See SEA LIONS Page A3
How the $1.9T stimulus bill benefits Columbia County JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Columbia County is expected to receive $10 million in stimulus relief under the $1.9 trillion package approved by the U. S. House Wednesday, March 10. Individual cities will see a portion of the relief legislation. Clatskanie would receive $370,000, Rainier $410,000, St. Helens is expected to receive $2.8 million, Scappoose $1.4 million and Vernonia $460,000. Individual citizens are also expected to receive $1,400 checks. See the full list with this story at thechiefnews.com. In total, Oregon will receive an estimated $4.262 billion in Coronavirus Relief Funds, according to Oregon U.S. Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, who said the American Rescue Plan will help the people of Northwest Oregon. “It will help the senior citizen in Seaside who needs a vaccine but doesn’t have access to the internet,” Bonamici said in a statement. “It will help the new mom and her husband, both paramedics, who
Metro Creative Connection / The Chief
Under the stimulus relief legislation, Clatskanie would receive $370,000 and Rainier would receive $410,000. See the full Oregon list with this story at thechiefnews.com.
Spring forward March 14 Obituaries ................. A3 Clatskanie Grows .... A4 Opinions ................... A4 Classified Ads ......... A5 Legals ....................... A5 Sports.........................A6
don’t have access to paid family leave and can’t afford child care. It will help restaurants like a beloved Portland eatery that has been shut down for months but could finally reopen thanks to the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.” Bonamici said the legislation also will help school leaders in districts big and small who want to bring students back to classrooms but don’t have the funding to do so safely and the arts industry worker in Portland who has relied on unemployment benefits since last June and can’t afford to lose them now. “I’ve fought hard for this aid based on these and so many other compelling stories, and am grateful the American Rescue Plan will now become law,” she said. Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley said the bill puts checks in Americans’ pockets, shots in arms, kids back in classrooms, and ‘open’ signs in windows across Main Street America and it addresses a huge number of other critical issues throughout our nation. “It’ll mean getting urgently
needed resources to our state, local, and tribal governments so they support the health of our communities and can also pay firefighters, first responders, and other critical employees,” he said. “It’ll mean investing in our schools and educators so we can safely get students back into classrooms. It’ll mean getting personal protective equipment in the hands of our frontline health heroes, and getting shots into arms with a massive, national vaccine distribution plan.” President Biden signed the legislation into law Thursday, March 11. Clatskanie City Manager Greg Hinkelman and Rainier City Administrator Scott Jorgensen said the city councils have yet to hold specific discussions about the federal funding. Hinkelman added that Clatskanie’s council first wants to verify how much it would receive under the legislation before discussing what the money could be used for. Follow this developing story at thechiefnews.com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.
Who We Are: Bank staff conducts acts of kindness JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
It’s not just taking money at the teller window and wishing you a nice day. Employees at the Clatskanie branch of Umpqua Bank have been conducting random acts of kindness throughout the city. In the latest community care project conducted in late February, the bank staff collected fresh flowers and handed them to strangers outside the Safeway Grocery store, assemble gift baskets with snacks and toys and distributed them to Clatskanie Grade School, Clatskanie Middle/High School, Clatskanie PUD, city hall and to Clatskanie Rural Fire Protection District offices. The staff also presented a gift bag to the bank’s cleaning lady. Umpqua Bank’s Monica Seidl said the bank has been involved with Random Acts of Kindness for about 15 years. “I love the idea of giving back to my community and spear headed the project,” she said. “Umpqua
Bank’s culture is giving back to the community through volunteerism, grants, and other efforts. I think it is important to show gratitude and kindness and to get your community involved with the efforts to continue that infectious Pay-It-Forward attitude.” The bank staff volunteers over 100 hours annually. “We also have washed people’s car windows in the drive-thru, Seidl said, “hidden prizes around town in random locations and we have given gifts to the Amber residents and participate with many fundraising events. No that is not a typo, we need to have fun too.” According to Seidl, that fun includes giving away 300 hot dogs and ice cream every summer during the bank’s annual customer appreciation day BBQ while supporting the library book sale. The Umpqua Bank employees also help with Scholastic Book Fairs, Heritage Days, hold board Courtesy photo from Umpqua Bank
See UMPQUA Page A3
Savannah Gentry and Misty Roberts hand out flowers to strangers outside the Safeway grocery store in Clatskanie.
www.thechiefnews.com
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Friday, March 12, 2021
Oregon’s top ten consumer complaints STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has released the Oregon Department of Justice’s (DOJ) list of Top Ten Consumer Complaints for 2020. Due to allegations of price-gouging, this year includes — for the first time — a new category: Grocery, Food and Beverage. Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
The Oregon Employment Department reports 1,975,166 employed and 148,835 unemployed in January.
State jobless rate declining STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
More people in Columbia County and across the state are back on the job. Oregon’s unemployment rate edged down to 6.2% in January from 6.3%, as revised, in December, according to the Oregon Employment Department. The state’s unemployment rate dropped by close to four tenths of a percentage point in each of the last three months of 2020, following more rapid declines during the prior five months. Oregon’s peak unemployment rate, as recently revised, was 13.2% in April 2020. The U.S. unemployment rate has also dropped rapidly since April, and reached 6.3% in January. Nonfarm payroll employment rose 8,300 jobs in January, following a loss of 27,500 in December. Three industries each added close to 2,000 jobs in January: retail trade (+2,100 jobs); leisure and hospitality (+2,100); and private educational services (+1,900). Two of the major industries cut about 1,000 jobs: transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-1,000 jobs) and construction (-800). Despite the net job gain in January, employment still remains substantially below pre-pandemic levels. Total nonfarm payroll employment has dropped 162,800 jobs, or 8.3%, since January 2020. Nearly all industries have cut jobs during that time. Leisure and hospitality is still down 76,800 jobs, or 35.6%, since January 2020. Private educational services experienced the second largest percentage decline in that time, as it cut 8,400 jobs, or 22.6%. The only industry to add jobs in the past 12 months was transportation, warehousing and utilities, which added 4,100 jobs, or 5.6%. Newly revised employment numbers show job growth was stronger than initially reported in the second half of 2020. The trend
• $650,000 returned to Oregon consumers who filed complaints with the DOJ consumer Protection Hotline • 31,868 phone calls to the DOJ Consumer Protection Hotline • 7,100 written consumer complaints • 560 reports of pricegouging to the temporary DOJ Price Gouging Hotline • 36 cease-and-desist letters sent to businesses that engaged in price -gouging “2020 was definitely a year for the record books,” Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said. “Thank you to Oregonians for staying vigilant and keeping your eyes out for scammers as well as for basic unfair consumer practices by businesses,” said AG Rosenblum. “No one
2020 top ten list • Telecommunications (1035 complaints) • Auto Sales & Repairs (602 complaints) • Imposter Scams (534 complaints) • Health and Medical (526 complaints) • Financial, Credits and Lending (513 complaints) • Grocery, Food and Beverage (416 complaints) • Travel Services & Products (331 complaints) • Real Estate & Property Management (218 complaints) • Recreation (183 complaints) Building Bridges to Self Sufficiency
Community Action Team
• Construction Contractors (170 complaints) In March 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, DOJ learned some businesses were charging exorbitant prices for essential products, such as toilet paper and cleaning disinfectant. At the request of Rosenblum, the governor issued an order activating Oregon’s price-gouging statute. Days later, DOJ warned Amazon, Facebook, Ebay, and Craigslist that they were not exempt from price gouging laws and urged businesses to refund or credit cancellations due to coronavirus-related restrictions. Within a few months of the beginning of the pandemic, DOJ also announced settlements with six companies and medical clinics selling unproven COVID-19 treatments. In November DOJ settled with two convenience store chains, a Portland-based sock merchant, a travel business, and a skincare company. If you have information about, or think you may have fallen victim to a fraud or scam, contact the Oregon Department of Justice online at www. oregonconsumer.gov or call our Consumer Complaint Hotline at 1-877-877-9392.
Hosting a garage sale?
Are you a veteran? Graph courtesy of the Oregon Employment Department
in the last six months of the year was revised upward by an average of 8,700 jobs. However, the pandemic-induced drop during the spring of 2020 was 8,000 jobs larger than previously estimated. Manufacturing was looking better than the previous estimates indicated, with upward revisions of about 2,300 jobs during the last six months of 2020. Nondurable goods manufacturing has added 3,500 jobs since April. Similarly, wholesale trade employment was revised upward; it added 1,500 jobs since its spring-2020 low point. Professional and technical services was also revised upward substantially. It employed 101,100 jobs in January, which was essentially equal to its high point
of a year ago. For the December data, only three major industries were revised downward substantially due to the annual revisions: retail trade (-2,200 jobs); transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-1,500); and private educational services (-1,500). Fast Fact The state’s unemployment rate dropped by close to four tenths of a percentage point in each of the last three months of 2020, following more rapid declines during the prior five months.
SNAP clients to receive emergency allotments Oregon has been approved to issue Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) emergency allotments for the month of March 2021. These emergency allotments were scheduled to be available on: • March 11 for current SNAP recipients • March 31 for new SNAP recipients after March 11 Emergency allotments raise each household’s regularly monthly SNAP allotment to the maximum allowable amount based on household size. Per the US Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), SNAP households already receiving the maximum allowable allotment based on household size are not eligible to receive the emergency allotment. SNAP recipients do not have to take any action to receive these supplemental benefits as they will be issued directly on their EBT cards. Total benefits will
2020 stats
should feel ‘ripped off’ and that’s why we follow up with each and every complaint that’s filed with us, either by phone or online— and, yes—even throughout the pandemic.” According to Rosenblum, between the yearlong pandemic and the awful fall wildfires, there were plenty of new opportunities to take advantage of Oregonians, many of whom were in desperate need of hotel rooms, cleaning supplies, masks, toilet paper and even bottled water. “Some businesses clearly took advantage of these opportunities to significantly—and unlawfully—increase the price of goods,” Rosenblum said.
You may be entitled to benefits for serving your country.
Contact your Veteran Service Officer • 503-366-6580 Call CAT at (503)397-3511 to find out if you qualify. Rental and energy assistance applications are available at 125 N. 17th St., St. Helens, OR. Also available on our website at www.CAT-TEAM.org
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Courtesy illustration
Emergency allotments raise each household’s regularly monthly SNAP allotment to the maximum allowable amount based on household size.
be different based on each household’s regular monthly allotment for the month of February. More information about emergency allotments is available at www.oregon. gov/dhs/ASSISTANCE/ FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/ About-SNAP.aspx. Administered by ODHS, SNAP is a federal program that provides food assistance to approximately one million eligible, low-income families and individuals in Oregon, including many
older adults and people with disabilities. Oregonians in need can apply for benefits, including SNAP, child care, cash assistance, and Medicaid. Learn more at govstatus. egov.com/or-dhs-benefits. For local resources in your area, such as food or shelter, call 2-1-1 or reach out to the state’s Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) at 1-855-ORE-ADRC or 1-855-673-2372.
Read the news online
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Location: Columbia County Fairgrounds located at 58892 Saulser Road St. Helens, OR Dates: Wednesdays Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Sign up: www.ohsu.edu/COVIDVans
SIGN UP TO GET YOUR TEST AT THIS LOCATION How do I get tested? - Go to URL to sign up for your timeslot. - Please carefully follow registration and scheduling instructions. What else do I need to know? - This is an outdoor testing event, so please dress for the weather. - Testing is for those older than 2 months. - If you tested positive before and do NOT have symptoms, you must wait 90+ days before getting another test. - COVID vaccine will not be provided at these events.
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Friday, March 12, 2021
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bituaries • Wilma White
April 9, 1932 ~ Feb. 26, 2021 Wilma White, 88, of Rainier, Oregon, passed away Feb. 26, 2021. Wilma was born in Newberg, Oregon to J.D. and Vivian Wehrley on April 9, 1932. She attended McMinnville High School where she met and married the love of her life, Harold White Jr. She was a member of The Daughters of the American Revolution and The Order of Eastern Star, Wabanag Chapter. She is survived by children, Janis Allen, Julie Reno, and Jeffrey White; sons-inlaw, Homer Allen and Rocky
Reno; grandchildren, Rocky Lee Reno, Jaimee Leigh Reno, Ashley Singer, Court-
ney White and Wyatt Allen; and great grandchildren, Mila and Lily Singer. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to Community Home Health and Hospice (1035 11th St. Longview, WA 98632) or to The Order of Eastern Star, scholarship fund for Clatskanie athletes. A service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sat., March 13, 2021 at Macy’s Funeral Home, McMinnville, Oregon. Adam Wehrley and Robert White Jr. will be officiating. To leave condolences, visit www. macyandson.com.
William “Sam” West
March 28, 1950 ~ Jan. 2, 2021 William “Sam” West 70 of Clatskanie, Oregon passed away on Jan. 2, 2021 at home in Clatskanie, Oregon.
Financial assistance for small businesses Business Oregon is now accepting grant applications to assist small businesses that are behind on their lease payments due to impacts from COVID-19 between March 1, 2020 and February 28, 2021. The program provides grants to building owners to cover outstanding lease payments from small business tenants. The grants can go up to $100,000 per business tenant, but not more than $3 million for each landlord. The program is intended to help for-profit small business tenants that have 100 or fewer employees.
The agreement will include additional protections for tenants, such as 6-month non-eviction clauses for non-payment, and a waiver of penalties and interest on COVID-impacted payments. Both the business tenant and property owner will need to participate in the application process and sign the grant agreement, but the initial application needs to be completed by the landlord. The online application is now available on Business Oregon’s website in multiple languages. The application period will be open for two weeks, with eligible submis-
sions chosen by a lottery system that will also ensure geographic distribution across all regions of the state. The information needed for the initial application is minimal, it includes: • Landlord name and address • Tenant name and address • Tenant’s number of workers (part/full-time) • Tenant business classification (industry) • Base rent amount due, and actual paid per month For more details, visit www.oregon4biz.com.
100-Year anniversary planned STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
A socially distanced open house event has been scheduled for Saturday, April 10 to mark the 100year anniversary of Rainier’s historic city hall building. The event is scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. at the front steps of city hall, located at 106 West B Street. It will feature presentations from board members of the
Rainier Oregon Historical Museum, as well as walking and self-guided tours, and will culminate in a ribboncutting ceremony. Historic displays will be available for viewing in the council chambers and the museum, which is located on the second floor of city hall. Rainier’s historic City Hall was first opened to the public April 13, 1921. City staff and museum board members and volunteers have collaborated to create
an open house event that allows attendees to safely participate in a variety of activities at multiple locations inside and outside of city hall to better allow for appropriate social distancing. Attendees are asked to wear a mask and adhere to social distancing standards during the event. For more information, call Rainier City Hall at 503-556-7301.
UMPQUA
From Page A1
positions on organizations like Kiwanis and the chamber of commerce, collect supplies for Turning Point (a social service nonprofit) and they have an Angel giving tree during the holidays to encourage customers to participate, and the bank annually provides approximately $10,000 in grants to nonprofits. I appreciate Umpqua Bank for supporting employees, customers, and community,” Seidl said. “I have been in Clatskanie at Umpqua Bank 18 years next month, I think it is important to help locally and afar. I try monthly to create an atmosphere of gratitude and focus on helping others.” Umpqua Bank is located at 199 N Nehalem Street in Clatskanie and can be reached by calling 503-7282103. If you know of someone, an agency or business, or a group, that is making a positive difference in our community and would like to see them featured in Who We Are, email details to jruark@ countrymedia.net.
SEA LIONS
From Page A1
“They have fully rebounded from the days when they were hunted and sometimes encouraged by bounties,” Milstein said. “Now they number more than 200,000 animals. However, it is also important to protect threatened and endangered salmon they may prey on. This is why we have authorized Oregon to manage sea lion numbers at Willamette Falls, for example, where
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Columbia County remains at ‘High Risk’ STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
Gov. Kate Brown released the latest county classifications on Tuesday afternoon, March 9. Columbia County remains at ‘High Risk.’ The framework uses four different risk levels for counties based on COVID-19 spread—Extreme Risk, High Risk, Moderate Risk, and Lower Risk—and assigns health and safety measures for each level. Extreme risk • Social gatherings limited to six people • Restaurants can resume outdoor dining, takeout still recommended • Churches, funeral homes limited to 25% capacity or 100 people for indoor services High risk • Social gatherings limit to six people • Restaurants may resume indoor dining • Gyms and indoor entertainment may resume
operations with limits to 25% capacity • Outdoor recreation and entertainment can increase to 75 people • Visitations allowed at long-term care facilities Moderate risk • At-home indoor gatherings limited to 8 people • Outdoor gatherings limited to 10 people • Indoor dining, recreation, entertainment may allow 50% capacity or 100 people • Malls, stores may increase capacity to 75% curbside pickup still encouraged • Indoor church services may increase to 50% or 150 people Lower risk • Indoor social gatherings may increase to 10 people with a limit to four households • Outdoor social gatherings limited to 12 • Offices are allowed to allow some people back • Outdoor recreation and entertainment may increase capacity to 300 people
Effective March 12 through March 25, there will be two counties in the Extreme Risk level, nine at High Risk, 12 at Moderate Risk, and 13 at Lower Risk. A complete list of counties and their associated risk levels is available here. “We are largely seeing case rates decline across the state, with the most counties in the Lower Risk level since the framework was introduced in November,” Brown said. “This should serve as a reminder that when we follow the health and safety measures we know work against this virus, we can truly make a difference in infection spread. But, we still have more work to do before we reach the level of community-wide protection we need in order to return to a sense of normalcy. I encourage all Oregonians to keep it up and to get your vaccine when it’s available to you.” See the latest list with this story at thechiefnews.com. Updates to Warning Week data and county risk levels will be posted to coronavirus. oregon.gov.
County in-home vaccinations underway STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
Columbia County’s pilot project to test the feasibility of in-home vaccinations for home-bound residents is underway. The project began Saturday, Feb. 27 and is the result of close collaboration between Columbia County Public Health, CareOregon, Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) Family Medicine at Scappoose and Columbia River Fire & Rescue (CRFR). Columbia County Public Health designated candidates who qualified for the COVID-19 vaccination but who would not physically be able to get to a vaccination site. OHSU, which has been holding weekend vaccination clinics, transferred the vaccine and vaccinating supplies to Columbia River Fire & Rescue. CareOregon liaised with the agencies and the CRFR Community Paramedic. The community health paramedic traveled to families in Scappoose, St. Helens and Rainier, conducting screening, administering the vaccine and sitting with each patient to monitor him or her for the required 15 minutes before moving on to the next family. Each patient signed a consent form and received information on possible side effects of the vaccine. The pilot project proved to be a success as well as highlighting ways the vaccination process could be conducted more efficiently to reach more people, according to a CRFR Facebook post.
Courtesy photo from Columbia River Fire & Rescue
COVID-19 vaccines being prepared for in-home distribution in a collaboration between Columbia River Fire & Rescue, Columbia County Public Health, Oregon Health Sciences University, Family Medicine at Scappoose and CareOregon.
More mobile vaccination days are planned in the near future. If you or someone you know cannot leave their house to get to a vaccination site, find out more information about the in-home vaccination project by contacting Columbia County Public Health at 503-397-7247. When you sign up for the “Columbia County COVID-19 Vaccination Interest Form,” you’ll get updates such as the following delivered directly to your inbox. Inside you’ll find answers to:
• Am I currently eligible? • How do I schedule an appointment? • Who do I call if I need transportation? • How do I get my second dose? If you plan to get vaccinated, visit this site to access an interest form signup: mailchi.mp/.../columbia-countycovid-19 Stay informed. Read a series of indepth reports about the pandemic in Columbia County at thechiefnews.com
Vaccinations at Oregon pharmacies STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
Courtesy photo from Umpqua Bank
Snack and goodie baskets to be distributed to city workers, the PUD, high school, grade school, the fire department.
they have preyed on native steelhead in danger of extinction.” California sea lions are protected by the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act. However, there are provisions for deterring them in cases where they may be damaging property or fishing gear, according to Milstein. “More recently, NOAA Fisheries last year authorized Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, as well as the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the Yakama Nation, the Nez Perce Tribe, and the Confederated Tribes
of the Umatilla Indian Reservation to remove sea lions preying on protected salmon and steelhead in part of the mainstem Columbia River,” Milstein said. “This was based on the recommendation of a task force that included representatives of many different interests.” Read more about the protections and management of the sea lions at the NOAA Fisheries website, www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/ marine-mammal-protection/ deterring-nuisance-pinnipeds.
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and pharmacies in Oregon providing COVID-19 vaccines confirmed on Thursday morning. March 11, that the pharmacies in Oregon can continue to serve Oregonians age 65 years and older. The announcement follows an exemption granted to Oregon by the U.S. President Joe Biden administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Earlier this month the administration set a goal to reopen the nation’s schools by having all educators, childcare workers and other education staff receive at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose by the end of March. Unlike many other states, Oregon authorized the state’s estimated 152,000 K-12 education workers, childcare providers and early learning workers to be eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines starting Jan. 25. That eligibility expanded to older adults age 80 and older beginning Feb. 8. Over the next four weeks, eligibility in Oregon expanded to other older adults. Today, older adults 65 and older in Oregon are eligible to be vaccinated
Courtesy photo from OHSU
Participating pharmacies use their own scheduling systems, which require people to be eligible under Oregon’s vaccine eligibility guidance. Appointments for vaccinations are provided as vaccines are available.
statewide, including at retail pharmacies. Five pharmacy chains in Oregon are participating in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program and receive COVID-19 vaccines at 175 locations around the state. This includes 107 Safeway/Albertsons locations, 44 Walgreens stores, 13 Costco pharmacies, eight Health Marts and three Rite-Aids. Participating pharmacies use their own scheduling systems, which require people to be eligible under Oregon’s vaccine eligibility guidance. Appointments for vaccinations are provided as vaccines are available. Demand for vaccinations in Oregon continues to exceed available vaccine doses. OHA appreciates the
assistance provided by the CDC and our federal pharmacy partners, who are working to ensure every Oregonian can be vaccinated as quickly as possible. Eligible Oregonians looking for appointments at a Federal Retail Pharmacy Program participant can find them at the links below: • Costco: costco.com/ covid-vaccine.html • Health Mart: healthmartcovidvaccine.com • Safeway/Albertsons: safeway.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html • Walgreens: walgreens. com/findcare/vaccination/ covid-19 • Rite-Aid: oregon.gov/ oha/covid19/Pages/vaccineinformation-by-county.aspx
Columbia County’s trusted local news source
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Friday, March 12, 2021
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Clatskanie Grows: Vegetable heat, slug patrol CHIP BUBL Chief Guest Column
Adding heat to vegetables More moderate temperatures give hope that this might be a good spring for vegetable growing. In many gardens, soils are still too wet to till. To know if your soil is ready, dig some and form it into a ball. If it remains crumbly when squeezed, it is ready. After you till, cover the soil with black plastic until you are ready to plant. That keeps soil moisture manageable and will stop weed growth, at least for a while. Several days before you want to plant, switch to clear plastic. The soil will rapidly warm up to the time you remove the plastic to plant or transplant. This speeds seed germination and produces more vigorous transplanted vegetables. Don’t get too excited about planting corn, beans, or squash. They need to wait until the weather is more reliably warm. But onions, cabbage family transplants, lettuce (with some protection), potatoes (also with protection), and peas can all go in the ground now. Again, using clear plastic before transplanting or seeding combined with row cover afterwards will really improve plant growth. Transplants are a great way to get the vegetable garden producing earlier. You get the benefit of 4-5 weeks in a greenhouse or cold frame. The plants imagine that they are starting their lives in Georgia. They need to be hardened off before they are transplanted into their cooler Oregon landscape. This involves taking them outside for several hours a day to get strong cuticle on their leaves and some thickening of their stems. At first, they should not be in direct sun for long but after a few days, they should be better able to handle more. Usually, 4 or 5 days of gradually increasing time is enough to get them ready. Again, protection against cold temperatures in the early spring is important. Be-sides row covers, you can make a “cloche” or minihoop house out of plastic pipe or 10-gauge wire. You cover the row with the cloche and cover the cloche frame with clear plastic. On most days, lift the plastic up to ventilate or you may cook your plants. Slug patrol Herbaceous perennials are showing green tips, vegetable starts can be purchased, and on-ion sets should be planted soon. So what time is it? It’s slug time. Yes, they’re back. Of course, I know they never left but at least they stayed out of sight for a while. As slugs emerge from under rocks and from cracks in the soil, the wise gardener must take action. Slug baits come in two basic formulations. The most common active ingredient is metaldehyde. This compound, which by itself isn’t particularly attractive to slugs, is paired with some-
thing they will eat readily. Once consumed, metaldehyde causes intense mucous production and if there is any sun, slugs quickly desiccate. This compound works well as a quick “knockdown” of the slug population and depending on the bait material, may stay active for several weeks. The big concern with “meta” baits is their toxicity to pets, especially dogs. Recent formulations have tried to create repellent compounds that dogs will avoid but slugs will not. The jury is still out on whether they have succeeded in both objectives. I would not allow a dog in an area that has had recent slug-bait treatment with metaldehyde. There are many trade names of products with metaldehyde in them. Iron phosphate is the other common active ingredient. It is far less toxic to pets, though I
Clatskanie Grows
would still discourage a dog from playing unattended in a heavily baited area. It does not provide as quick a knockdown as metaldehyde but over a period of several weeks, seems to give comparable control. The trick is to plan ahead. Bait where you know dahlias or other slug-attractive vegetation will soon emerge or where you intend to transplant tender vegetables. Trade names for these materials include Sluggo™ and Escargo™. There are other options. A sharp hoe wielded by a ten-year old with a five cent a slug incentive (on the honor system) can reduce slug numbers dramatically. This is especially true when they figure out that boards laid down across the garden can often cover 30 slugs (read $1.50 per board). This is all from personal experience. Beer baits or similar baits made with yeast and sugar can attract slugs and they either drown or drown their sorrows, depending on the mix. It is a rather gloppy mess to renew but is somewhat effective. Beer is sometimes consumed by dogs with potentially dangerous consequences to doggy judgment around cars. There are other remedies including salt shakers, dousing them with ammonia, and other cruel and highly unusual punishments. Clearly, slugs do not bring out the best in our natures. I once listened to a famous Portland garden writer discussing on the Mike Darcy gardening radio show her use of a propane weeder to flash toast them. She was way too enthusiastic. Start treatment for herbaceous plants like hostas or dahlias (aka slug candy) before new growth emerges. As you prepare beds for flower
or vegetable transplants or seeds, plan your strategies for slug management. If you use floating row covers (see first page), bait under the covers as slugs (and weeds) do well inside that environment. Have questions? If you have questions on any of these topics or other home garden and/ or farm questions, please contact Chip Bubl, Oregon State University Extension office in St. Helens at 503 397-3462 or at chip.bubl@ oregonstate.edu. Scappoose Bay Watershed Council’s Native Plant Sale Saturday, April 10th Join the Watershed Council at their Spring Native Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 10, at the SBWC nursery, located behind Scappoose High School. Look for signs – go east on SE High School Way and turn into the parking lot between the high school and the school ball field areas. This is their semi-annual event to get you ready for spring and summer planting. They have lots of new plants at great prices – all native to our area. Staff and volunteers are available to help chose plants suggest gardening ideas, and provide information on establishing and maintaining native vegetation. For more in-formation see www.scappoosebay-wc.org/ nursery-sales/. This event allows for pre-purchase by April 3rd and pick-up the day of the sale. There will be limited walk-in to the nursery on the sale day itself. Free newsletter The Oregon State University Extension office in Columbia County publishes a monthly newsletter on gardening and farming topics (called County Living) written/edited by yours truly. All you need to do is ask for it and it will be mailed or emailed to you. Call 503-397-3462 to be put on the list. Alternatively, you can find it on the web at extension.oregonstate. edu/columbia/ and click on newsletters. Many extension publications available online Are you putting up salsa, saving seeds, or thinking about planting grapes? OSU has a large number of its publications available for free download. Just go to catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu. Click on publications and start exploring. The Extension Service offers its programs and materials equally to all people. Contact information for the Extension office Oregon State University Extension Service – Columbia County • Address: 505 N. Columbia River Highway St. Helens, OR 97051 • Phone: 503-397-3462 • Email: chip.bubl@ oregonstate.edu
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Grateful for legislation
Coyote killing contests
As a constituent, I am grateful to Rep. Brad Witt for introducing HB 2728, legislation to ban coyote killing contests. It is a reasonable, commonsense measure to prohibit an irresponsible and wasteful practice that has no place in Oregon. In these cruel coyote killing contests, participants vie for cash and prizes for killing the heaviest or largest coyotes or most coyotes over a certain time-period. When it comes to wildlife, Oregonians—whether they live in urban or rural areas— do not tolerate practices that they view as pointless, unsporting, or wasteful. We can support hunting as a tradition and establish restrictions on irresponsible practices, because our wildlife isn’t owned by the small percentage of people who participate in these competitions. Wildlife, including coyotes, belong to all the citizens of the state. Oregon’s hunters and wildlife management professionals have spoken in support of this legislation not only because the events are scientifically unsound, but also because they are damaging the reputation of hunters and jeopardizing Oregon’s longstanding hunting traditions. The bill would not limit opportunities to hunt coyotes or prevent ranchers and landowners from using lethal control to protect their livestock or property from specific coyotes. Rather, it would simply outlaw competitions that offer prizes for an animal’s life. Thank you again Representative Witt for championing this important legislation.
The Oregon State Legislature is currently considering a bill (HB 2728), sponsored by Rep. Brad Witt, to prohibit coyote killing contests in Oregon. Gratuitous coyote killing contests for cash and prizes are not a good representation of Oregon. It is time for Oregon to join the seven other states, including Washington, New Mexico, and Colorado, that have ended these cruel and wasteful contests that are motivated solely by cash and prizes for mass killing the most coyotes over several days. Coyote killing contests are also an affront to the principles of modern, sciencebased wildlife management. In fact, according to an article published in the Oregon State University Oregon Small Farm News indiscriminate killing of coyotes disrupt their social structure and increase their reproduction, pup survival rates, and the likelihood of livestock depredation. As well, HB 2728 draws a distinction between taking coyotes for any legitimate purpose including safety, damage or sport hunting and simply killing vast numbers of them just to win a prize. It’s time for Oregon to end these gruesome, unsporting contests. As a constituent of this district, I am thankful to Representative Brad Witt for supporting this important wildlife issues.
Jennifer Adams Portland
The Chief (USPS 116-360) is published weekly by Country Media, Inc. 1805 Columbia Blvd, St. Helens, OR 97051
Haley Stewart-Reynolds Portland
Not based on morality
based on morality, as he claims, it’s rooted in prejudice, bigotry and discrimination - behaviors that Oregon Democrats declared would have no place in their legislative agenda this year. What they actually meant though, was except where those traits are useful to further their virtue signaling agenda on behalf of pseudointellectual, urban elites and so-called “progressive” radicals. If it were immoral to participate in a hunting contest, then Witt would be going after the Boone & Crockett, Safari International and dozens of other similar clubs who give awards based on dead animals or the “big buck” contests held throughout the State. Instead, he’s criminalizing the single event with the lowest participation rates held in regions with the least populations, votes and money and attended by those with the most serious socio-economic challenges. Talk about offensive conduct. How would enlightened Oregonians emote if Witt took his “woke” action to eliminate the traditions of a POC community? Just because you find someone else’s customs and culture to be repugnant shouldn’t mean that you have the right to use your power to force a minority to adhere to your philosophy. That’s not democracy, it’s mob rule. Witt and other elected Oregon Democrats’ continual demands for tolerance and inclusiveness are meaningless in the face of their hypocritical legislation, justifiable only in their hatred and contempt for how other people chose to live their own lives.
Rep. Brad Witt’s bill to ban coyote contests is not
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Friday, March 12, 2021
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CLATSKANIE PEOPLE’S UTILITY NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Pursuant to ORS tions, advice, objections or disabilities requiring special DISTRICT MEETING NOTICE 477.250, notice is hereby remonstrance’s to the proarrangements should contact The Clatskanie People’s Utility District Board of Directors has scheduled the next regular Board meeting for Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 5:30 pm in the community room of the District’s administration building located at 495 E Columbia River Highway, Clatskanie. 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) (i) to review and evaluate the performance of
an officer, employee, or staff member if the person does not request an open meeting. AGENDA CLATSKANIE PEOPLE’S UTILITY DISTRICT REGULAR BOARD MEETING on Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 5:30 P.M. I. PUBLIC COMMENTS II. CONSENT AGENDA · Minutes of Regular Board Meeting February 17, 2021 · Review payment of bills for February 2021 III. POLICY REVIEW · Policy 102 Landlord/Renter Agreement Policy
· Policy 210 Meetings of the Board IV. PRESENTATION AND STAFF REPORTS UPDATE · Draft Strategic Plan 2021 – 2022 Presentation, Marc Farmer & Paul Dockery · Staff Reports Update V. ACTION ITEMS · Accept Pole Inspection and Treatment RFP Results · Resolution 21-01 Interconnection and Wheeling Agreement VI. DISCUSSION / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS · Board Comments & Calendar VII. EXECUTIVE SESSION VIII. ADJOURNMENT
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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA
Department of Probate In the Matter of the Estate of LARRY W. GEORGE, Deceased. No. 21PB00972 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed and has qualified as Personal Representative nof the estate. All persons yhaving claims against the estate are hereby required to present their claims, with
proper vouchers, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice, as stated below, to the Personal Representative at: Olsen, Horn LLC, 1510 St. Helens Street, Suite B, St. Helens, Oregon 97051, or the claims may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceedings in this estate may obtain additional information from
the records of the court, the Personal Representative, or the attorney for the Personal Representative. DATED and first published this: February 24, 2021. James R. George, Personal Representative. Address: 79576 Stewart Creek Road, Clatskanie, OR 97016. James C. Horn, Attorney OSB# 822815, 1510 St. Helens Street, Suite B, St. Helens, OR 97051.
forward and falling back year after year only creates unnecessary confusion while harming Americans’ health and our economy. Making Daylight Saving permanent would give folks an hour back of sunshine during the winter months when we need it most.” The bipartisan legislation, if enacted, would apply to states that currently participate in DST, which Oregon and most states observe for eight months out of the year. Standard Time, from November to March, is only observed for four months out of the year. The bill would simply negate the need for Ameri-
cans to change their clocks twice a year, and could have benefits for nation’s health and economy. Potential national effects of making Daylight Saving Time permanent:
given that a public hearing will be held at the Oregon Department of Forestry, Forest Grove District Office, 801 Gales Creek Road, in Forest Grove, Oregon, on Friday, March 26, 2021, at 3:00 pm, to receive from any interested persons sugges-
posed budget for the Forest Protection District. A copy of the tentative budget for the Forest Protection District may be inspected during normal working hours. To ensure the broadest range of services to individuals with disabilities, persons with
Renae Shippey, at 503-3597424 or renae.shippey@ oregon.gov at least two working days in advance of the scheduled hearing. OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, PETER DAUGHERTY, STATE FORESTER
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting for the Landowners and Board Members of the Beaver Drainage Improvement Company, Columbia County, Oregon, will be held Tuesday, March 16th, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. at the Port of Columbia County’s Office located
at 555 SW Bryant Street in Clatskanie, OR. Due to Covid-19, there will also be a Zoom remote option. Please e-mail full name, tax lot number and acreage to Columbiadistricts5@ yahoo.com for the Zoom Meeting ID and Password. Notice is further given that all proxies must be in writ-
ing and signed by the owner. The meeting is to elect a director, review financials and discuss any other business that comes before the landowners. Dated this 1st day of March, 2021. Warren Seely, President Beaver Drainage Improvement Company, Inc., Board of Directors.
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NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE OF BIDS TO NOW RAINIER LEThe Rainier Drainage District is now accepting bids to mow the Rainier levee.
Bids close March 31, 2021. Please contact Terry Deaton (503)369-2245.
off from nocturnal wildlife’s behavior. • Reduces risk for cardiac issues, stroke and seasonal depression. • Reduces the number of robberies by 27%, according to a 2015 Brookings Institution because of additional daylight in the evenings. • Benefits the economy, according to a study by JP Morgan Chase, which found that there is a drop in economic activity of 2.2% – 4.9% when clocks move back. • Reduces childhood obesity and increases physical fitness, according to studies published by the International
Journal Behavioral Nutrition Department of Energy found and Physical Activity and the that during the 4 weeks the Journal of Physical Activity U.S. extended daylight savand Health, children see an ings from the 2005 law, there increase in physical activity were savings of about 0.5% in during DST. The Journal of electricity per day. Later studEnvironmental Psychology ies have also shown that the found that DST increased energy savings are minimal but pedestrian activity by 62% a small savings does occur. and cyclists activity by 38% because of additional daylight. In addition to Wyden, the • Benefits the agricultural Sunshine Protection Act introeconomy, which is disproporduced by U.S. Senator Marco tionately disrupted by biannual Rubio, R-Fla., is co-sponsored changes in time by upsetting by U.S. Sens. James Lankford, the synergy between farmers’ R-Okla., Roy Blunt, R-Mo., schedules and their supply Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., chain partners. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., • Reduces energy usage, Rick Scott, R-Fla., and Ed a 2008 study by the U.S. Markey, D-Mass. Columbia County’s trusted local news source
Making Daylight Saving Time permanent STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
On Sunday, March 14 at 2 a.m., we move our clocks forward one hour for Daylight Saving Time. You know the drill, “Fall Back, Spring Forward.” Oregon’s U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has reintroduced legislation that would make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent across the country. “The Sunshine Protection Act takes a common-sense step to provide some muchneeded stability for families in Oregon and across the nation,” Wyden said. “Springing
• Reduces car crashes and car accidents involving pedestrians: better aligning daylight hours to drivers’ standard work hours’ increases visibility, according to the American Journal of Public Health and the Journal of Safety Research. Also reduces the number of vehicle collisions with wildlife by 8% – 11% by shifting normal traffic patterns to an hour
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Friday, March 12, 2021
Staying positive in an abbreviated sports season
Jeremy C. Ruark /The Chief
Conditioning and stretching are part of the basics during the Clatskanie Middle/High School varsity football team’s drills.
Jeremy C. Ruark /The Chief
The Clatskanie Middle/High School varsity coaches worked out with the players preparing for the game against Corbett. JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Clatskanie Middle/High School’s varsity football team players spent the week conducting ‘back to basics’ drills as they prepared for their gridiron matchup against Corbett Friday, March 12. Last Friday, Clatskanie lost 50-0 to Rainier. But each Clatskanie player and the team’s coaches are staying positive and looking ahead. The Chief checked in with head coach Judd Stutzman for his insight into the rough start of the abbreviated fall season and what’s next. The Chief: After last Friday’s loss to Rainier, what is the message of support and guidance you are giving your team heading into the game against Corbett? Coach Judd Stutzman: Continue to get better every day. Hard work is always rewarded. Love the process,and there is no substitute for hard work. Those are the messages of support we push everyday. The Chief: What specifically are you concentrating on in practice this week to strengthen the team’s overall play? Stutzman: The emphasis this week has been on com-
munication and first contact (being the aggressor). These are two areas that we did not excel at last week. The Chief: What do you see as the strengths of Corbett’s team? Stutzman: Corbett’s strength is their offensive line and defensive line. The Chief: At the end of the day, what do you hope the players take away from their experience during this abbreviated fall season? Stutzman: The experience for the players is about creating and giving them the tools to become better young men and helping each player grow athletically and gain a deeper understanding of the game. Building championship people and a championship program. The Clatskanie Middle/ High School varsity football team is scheduled to play Rainier March 19. Due to the pandemic health and safety guidelines, no fans are allowed at the games. However, video cameras are positioned at the football field and main gym for sporting events coverage. The events are streamed under a subscription system. For more information, contact Clatskanie Middle/ High School at 503-7282146.
ShakeAlert live in Oregon
Courtesy photo
Specializedearthquakemonitoringequipmentforthenewalertsystem has been installed on the slopes of Mount St. Helens as well as other areas across the Pacific Northwest. STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
The earthquake detection tool operated by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), known as ShakeAlert® Earthquake Early Warning System, was set to go live on Thursday, March 11 in Oregon. Be engaged No sign up is required to receive ShakeAlert notifications, and the only action needed is to enable emergency alerts through a cell phone’s settings. For instructions on where to find these settings, visit ORShakeAlert. us. ShakeAlert uses science and technology to detect significant earthquakes quickly and sends a real time alert to people via their cell phone before shaking arrives at their location. The USGS said the important alerts come automatically on most cell phones, making a distinctive sound and displaying a text message that reads, “Earthquake detected. Drop, cover, hold on. Protect yourself.” This message is also available in
Spanish for phones set to receive alerts in that language. “Recent disasters that have impacted our state have taught us the importance of being prepared,” Oregon Office of Emergency Management Director Andrew Phelps said. “ShakeAlert notifications can offer critical seconds of warning before we feel the impacts of an earthquake, giving people a chance to take action to protect themselves.” What it does ShakeAlert does not predict when or where an earthquake will occur or how long it will last. It detects earthquakes that have already begun, offering seconds of advance warning that allow people and systems to take actions to protect life and property from destructive shaking. The system can also be used to trigger automated actions such as closing a gas valve or slowing a train, actions that can prevent infrastructure failures in the aftermath of an earthquake.
Learn more at ORShakeAlert.us. Columbia County’s trusted local news source
Jeremy C. Ruark /The Chief
The Clatskanie Middle/High School varsity football team puts their‘all’ into this drill.
Jeremy C. Ruark /The Chief
Players listen to the coach’s instructions during drills this week.