TCC47

Tulips for scholarships

funds for scholarships.

Philanthropic Educational Organi zation (P.E.O. has been active since it was founded in 1869. To gain insight into the P.E.O. and its fundraising activities in Clatskanie, The Chief has reached out to member Deborah Hazen.

The Chief: Specifically, what is this group, when did the local chapter start, and how does it benefit our community?

Deborah Hazen: P.E.O. stands for Philanthropic Educational Organization. It is an international women’s organization founded in 1869 with chapters throughout the United States and Canada, and total membership of about 230,000.

Clatskanie’s Chapter T, with 34

Hazen: In addition to building bonds of friendship, sisterhood, and mutual respect between its members, P.E.O. promotes educational opportunities for women worldwide through a series of scholarships and educational loan funds on the international, state, and local levels. P.E.O. also owns Cottey College, a private women’s college in Nevada, Missouri. The Clatskanie’s Chapter T gives a Character and Leadership Award to a graduating Clatskanie High School girl each year. In addition to the tulip sale, Chapter T stages the annual “Pie in the Park”

See TULIPS Page A3

Tradition continues with mEGGa Egg Hunt

Peter Cottontail will return to St. Helens this weekend as the 2023 mEGGa Egg Hunt gets underway at the Columbia County Fairgrounds, 58892 Saulser Road in St. Helens, Saturday, April 8.

The mEGGa Egg Hunt is a free family event that has become a tradition since its inception 23 years ago. Gates will open at 10:30 a.m., and the fun will last until 12:30 p.m.

The mEGGa Hunt

The main draw for the event is, of course, the hunt. About 36,000 pieces of candy have been bought for the young hunters, according to event organizer Heather Epperly. Organizers spread candy throughout the fairgrounds fields, and children split by age group have the chance to run around in the grass, collect candy, and win prizes.

“The actual hunt starts exactly at 11 a.m., the fire engine will sound its siren, the kids will run out, [and] search for the candy,” Epperly said. “Each field will have 10 prize coins in them, and those coins can be turned in up at the booth to pick a prize.”

There will be five age groups participating in the hunt: 0-2 year olds, 3-4, 5-7, 8-9, and 10-12. The five groups will separated into different fields so kids are hunting with others their age.

“We divide them off, we have a ribbon around them, and then we have a big flag in the middle that has the age on it, and so then each one is divided,” Epperly said. “We all go at the same time, but they each have their area.”

To help folks get to the event, CC Rider, Columbia County’s bus service, has volunteered to offer a park and ride option from McBride Elementary School.

“Normally, we shuttle people from the St. Helens High School, but because of the construction the high school has going on, we’re actually going to shuttle people from the McBride School this year,” Epperly said. “We are encouraging people to use that because we’ve had so much rain, we don’t know what the fields are going to be like to park in.”

Shuttles will begin running from McBride to the fairgrounds at 10:15 a.m., ahead of the gate opening at 10:30. The final shuttle will return to McBride at 12:45, 15 minutes after the gates close.

“It’s not possible without our

sponsors and our volunteers,” Ep perly said.

The main sponsor of the event is the Samuel S. Johnson Founda tion. An organization also sponsors each age group’s hunting field. Richardson’s Furniture sponsors the 0-2 group, the 3-4 is sponsored by Re/Max Power Pros, the 5-7 by InRoads Credit Union, the 8-9 by Premier Restoration Partners, and the 10-12 is sponsored by Dr. Auto. Pamona Grange sponsors the plant-a-seed, and Warren Grange sponsors the food booth. Dyno No bel and Scaptax - Scappoose Busi ness & Tax Service, Inc sponsor the coloring contest.

Activities beyond the hunt

While the hunt for candy is the main attraction for kids of Co lumbia County, the event will also feature a petting zoo, a scavenger hunt, and even a chance for a photo with Peter Cottontail himself. There will also be a pavilion with food, coloring pages, and a plant-a-seed feature. A special needs area will also be provided, sponsored by Kiwanis.

Oregon hourly earnings on the rise

Obituaries ................. A3

Opinions ................... A4

Classified Ads ......... A5

Legals ....................... A5

Easter ........................ A6

Crossword ............... A7

Sports.........................A8

Contact The Chief

Phone: 503-397-0116

Fax: 503-397-4093

chiefnews@countrymedia.net

1805 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR 97051

Earnings in Oregon increased sharply over the past year, surpassing the high rate of inflation.

Total private average hourly earnings increased by 9.1% between February 2022 and February 2023. This growth rate was much higher than the comparable national growth in private earnings of 4.6% in that same 12-month period, and faster than the U.S. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (U.S. CPI-U) which shot up by 6.2% during that time.

The accompanying chart shows the percent growth in average hourly earnings for the major private-sector industries in Oregon. All of these industries saw rapid hourly earnings gains and all but one shot upward by between 6% and 13%. The slowest growth was still

cently passed the U.S. average and has continued to increase, according to this metric that is based on the monthly survey of businesses.

If wage increases in the U.S. had matched the rate of inflation throughout this period, wages would have only risen to about

was below the rate of wage gains between the starting point of 2013 and the end point in 2022. However, this pattern wasn’t consistent throughout the 10-year period. A careful study of the chart shows

Courtesy photo from Jan Johnson The Clatskanie’s Chapter T P.E.O. Pictured front row from left are: Jeanne Kangas, Elva Groskopf, Jan Gillespie; middle row: Elsa Wooley, Estrella Brown, Margaret Magruder, Becki Horness, Kathy Engel; back row: Elizabeth Kruse, Pam Sigler, Megan Evenson, Connie Sims, Betty Palmrose, and Debbie Hazen.

Courtesy photo

Easter Tulip Sale, April 7-8, Evergreen Shopping Center, 401 W Columbia River Highway, Clatskanie.

Red ink flowing at Oregon hospitals

While Columbia County Commissioners review the need for a hospital in the county, a new report shows rising expenses, workforce shortages, and stalled revenue cratered Oregon hospitals’ operating margins in 2022, putting hospitals in one of the worst overall financial positions seen since 1993.

Expenses have outpaced revenues for more than two years, or nine consecutive quarters. Hospitals’ median operating margin, which includes federal CARES Act funding, declined to -2.8% in 2022, compared to 3.2% in 2021 and 4.1% in 2020. The data is part of a new Apprise Health Insights report on calendar year 2022 financial results. The full report is attached to this story at thechiefnews.com.

“After two years of losses, hospitals are facing extraordinarily difficult

choices,” said Becky Hultberg, Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (OAHHS) president and CEO. “Organizations will struggle to remain sustainable in this type of environment.”

By the numbers

Rising expenses, especially labor, negatively impacted hospitals all year long. Labor expenses per FTE increased 26% over pre-pandemic levels. The health care workforce shortage contributed to rising labor costs. Meanwhile, total operating expenses rose 11% compared to 2021, exceeding net patient revenue (which also increased, but only by 5.8%) by $1.6 billion.

At the same time, the inability to safely discharge patients to other settings continued to plague hospitals in 2022. Average length of stay (ALOS) was up 20%, and those longer stays often came with no additional reimburse-

ment to pay for staff and other services necessary to care for those patient needs. Apprise Health Insights data show throughout 2022 between 600 and 700 patients statewide were either

OHA reviewing health coverage for 1 in 3 state residents

age experts.

“We are committed to helping eligible Oregon Health Plan members maintain their coverage,” Hittle said. “We don’t want anyone to fall through the cracks. We want to protect and expand health coverage so more children and adults have access to the health care they need.”

Extending health coverage

“boarding” or unable to be discharged, continuing to cause strain on hospitals and families focused on placing patients in the best care setting.

Proposed solutions

Amid these persistently poor financial conditions, OAHHS has proposed a package of bills in the 2023 legislature that will help rebuild the health care workforce, exempt certain labor costs from the state’s cost-growth target and create a task force to explore ways to increase capacity in care settings outside of hospitals.

“These record losses should create a sense of urgency for legislators to act,” said Hultberg. “Economists are predicting 2023 will also be a difficult year for hospitals. We can’t sit back and do nothing, waiting for things to

About OAHHS

Founded in 1934, the OAHHS is a mission-driven, nonprofit trade association representing Oregon’s 62 hospitals. Together, hospitals are the sixth largest private employer statewide, em-

ploying more than 70,000 employees. Committed to fostering a stronger, safer Oregon with equitable access to quality health care, OAHHS provides services to Oregon’s hospitals ensuring all are able to deliver dependable, comprehensive health care to their communities; educates government officials and the public on the state’s health landscape and works collaboratively with policymakers, community based organizations and the health care community to build consensus on and advance health care policy benefiting the state’s 4 million residents.

About Apprise Apprise Health Insights is described as one of the most reliable and complete source of hospital data in Oregon. As the data subsidiary of the OAHHS, Apprise staff have gathered and analyzed data about Oregon hospitals and health systems since 1985.

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is reviewing income eligibility for approximately 1.5 million Oregon Health Plan (OHP) and Medicare Savings Program (MSP) members.

This review follows the end of federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) protections for continuous eligibility that concluded March 31.

State health officials urge OHP members to review any notices they receive from OHA about their health benefits and respond promptly with any requested information. State administrators need updated information to determine whether a member remains eligible for coverage for OHP and other Medicaidfunded services and supports.

During the federally declared COVID-19 PHE the OHA extended coverage for all Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) members to March 31.

What to expect

When the pandemic began, the federal government allowed states to keep people on Medicaid once they became eligible. During an historic health emergency, OHP grew to nearly 1.5 million people, or one in three Oregonians.

March 31 marked an end to the federally enhanced Medicaid coverage. While most people will continue to qualify for existing benefits, OHA is required to review eligibility for all OHP members by mid-2024. Oregon will begin to notify OHP members starting in mid-April.

“We want to do everything

we can to make sure Oregon Health Plan members stay covered as long as they are eligible,” OHA Medicaid Director Dana Hittle said. “It’s important for OHP members to keep their address up to date with us and for people to respond to any notices they receive. We know this process can be stressful for many members. We don’t want anyone to lose health coverage because of a missed notice.”

All OHP households will receive a renewal notice over the next ten months. It is very important that people understand that everyone will receive a notice and receiving a notice does not mean that action is required, according to the OHA. The notice will tell members what they need to do, or if they don’t need to do anything at all.

If someone is determined to be no longer eligible for OHP, they will have 60 days before their OHP benefits will end. State officials will work to connect people who lose eligibility for OHP to the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace to find other health coverage.

The Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace (OHIM) will be sending information to people who are no longer eligible for OHP benefits and advising of potential coverage options and financial help through the Marketplace. People who do not enroll through the Marketplace will receive a second notice 30 days before their Oregon Health Plan benefits end. The Marketplace Transition Help Center will be available starting April 13 to help people understand their options, how to transition to the Marketplace, and to find help from local health cover-

Oregon plans to allow children to stay on Medicaid until age six and allow everyone else up to two years of eligibility regardless of changes in income and without having to reapply. No other state provides more than one year of guaranteed eligibility.

The state has also created a safety net for those who through redetermination no longer qualify for Medicaid but have an annual income below 200% of the federal poverty level, which amounts to about $29,000 for individuals. This safety net will allow someone to keep the coverage they have.

OHP members who have questions about the renewal process can call the ONE Customer Service Center (1800-699-9075 or TTY 711) or local health coverage experts to assist with the renewal process in a free one-to-one visit.

The large number of OHP redeterminations is expected to cause greater wait times, delays, and possible interruptions to people’s OHP benefits.

OHP members are encouraged to respond as quickly as possible after they receive a request for information to avoid any possible delays. The fastest way members can provide an update is by going to benefits.oregon.gov and logging into their ONE account.

More information may be found at OregonHealthCare. gov/GetHelp.

Metro Creative Connection Expenses have outpaced revenues for more than two years.

Courtesy photo

Oregon’s semiconductor workforce efforts

Columbia County officials are carefully monitoring efforts to establish an effective semiconductor manufacturing workforce in the region, hopeful that will help boost the economies in Clatskanie, Rainier, St. Helens, and Scappoose.

As the Oregon Legislature nears the passage of Senate Bill 4 to maximize federal funds from the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act of 2022, Gov. Tina Kotek joined United States Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Senator Ron Wyden, and Congresswoman Su-

zanne Bonamici to highlight the importance of protecting and expanding Oregon’s semiconductor manufacturing industry.

The visit from the Commerce Secretary April 5, began with a meeting with private sector partners and community leaders to discuss the nature and impact of the CHIPS and Science Act. The group then joined State Sen. Janeen Sollman, State Rep. Janelle Bynum, educators, and students for a tour of the Mechatronics Lab at Portland Community College’s Willow Creek campus. PCC also offers a campus at Scappoose.

The April 5 tour ended with a roundtable discussion on the importance of maintaining Oregon’s presence

as a nationwide leader in the semiconductor workforce with students, educators, community partners, and semiconductor companies.

“Oregon is home to remarkable career and technical education programs that position our state to build a strong workforce and remain a leader in the semiconductor and advanced manufacturing industry,” Kotek said. “I want to thank Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Senator Ron Wyden, and Congresswoman Bonamici for taking the time to tour these programs and engage in a great conversation around Oregon’s leadership in research and development and the future of semiconductor manufacturing innovation.”

State workers remote reimbursement ending

The Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS) today announced its plan to end reimbursement standards for remote work that were established during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The reinstated policy, which comes at the direction of Gov. Tina Kotek, will end the pandemic-era practice of reimbursing employees who work remotely, including those who work out-of-state to travel to their offices in Oregon.

Under the revised policy, which returns to Oregon’s remote work guidelines prepandemic, state employees will continue to be allowed to work remotely as approved by their agencies.

However, remote employees will no longer be reimbursed for commuting to the office. This policy will go into effect on September 1,

2023, which will enable DAS to properly prepare and provide notice to employees about changes to the remote work policy around reimbursement.

“We must ensure that state resources are used effectively to serve Oregonians and that our policies reflect the evolving needs of our workforce and the public,” the DAS Chief Operating Officer and Interim Director Berri Leslie said. “Employees will continue to be allowed to work remotely as approved by their state agencies. We look forward to implementing this change and continuing to refine our policies to meet the needs of our state employees.”

June 3, 1961 ~ March 18, 2023

Sandra Pauline Emrick, 61, of Clatskanie, Oregon, passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 18, 2023 after battling years of COPD. Sandra was born on June 3, 1961 to Donna and Joseph “Paul” Buckman. She attended Astoria High School from 1978-1980.

Sandra worked many customer service positions and may be remembered for her warm smile and friendly service from places such as Corkie’s Market in Hammond, Oregon, Dr. Sheila Landis Chiropractic Clinic, Sporty’s or Dr. Ross’s Dental in Clatskanie, Oregon.

Sandra was married to Brian Emrick for 31 years, marrying in 1992 in Ham

mond, Oregon. They moved to Clatskanie, becoming members of the community for 26 years, where they raised their three children.

TULIPS

From Page A1

contest and sale in conjunction with the Clatskanie Heritage Days events, and, occasionally other events open to the public.

The Chief: Over the years how much money has been raised by this group and what does that money support?

Hazen: From the fundraisers, Chapter T donates several thousand dollars each year to state and international P.E.O. scholarship and loan programs. Additionally, the chapter sponsors local women for the state and international scholarship programs, as well as the Ida Loyd Walrod Scholarship sponsored by the St. Helens Chapter.

Over the years Chapter T has successfully obtained many thousands of dollars

painting, crafting, her pets, and going places with her husband.

Sandra was predeceased by her mother and grandmother Maymie Phillips. She is survived by her father; husband; sister Terri Killion; sister Dawnya Lucas (Dave); son Timathy McDonald; daughter Kristine Crape (Keyton); son Darren Emrick; multiple nieces and nephews; and multiple grandchildren. There will be a memorial service at 1 p.m. on April 15, 2023 at Alston Corner Assembly Church, 25270 Alston Rd., Rainier, Oregon. Potluck reception to follow.

in scholarships for dozens of local women. More information about applying for P.E.O. scholarships may be obtained by contacting Chapter T education committee chair Becki Horness, at 503-308.-2363.

Membership in P.E.O. is by invitation. Those interested in becoming a P.E.O. may talk to a local member or contact membership chair Betty Palmrose at, 503-7032956.

Sandra Pauline Emrick

Jeremy C. Ruark / Country Media, Inc.

Becki Horness serves up a slice of pie during the Heritage Days Celebration in 2019 at Clatskanie City Park.

Sales from the pie sale help support the P.E.O.’s annual fundraising efforts.

Courtesy photo State of Oregon remote workers will no longer be reimbursed for commuting to the office as of September.

Courtesy photo

Dignitaries at the ceremony included Oregon U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, center, Oregon U.S. Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, left, with Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, on Bonamici’s left.

Late winter, early spring gardening challenges

The average date for the last 32-degree spring frost in the St. Helens/Scappoose area is April 20. At higher elevations, the last frost date may be as much as three weeks later. This doesn’t say we can’t get one later. Nor does it say that temperatures will start warming up enough so that we can plant tomatoes and peppers. But it does indicate that transplanting tender vegetable can begin (with a little cold protection provided as needed) as soon as the soils can be worked.

For Clatskanie, the average last frost in the dikeland areas is actually a little earlier but in the surrounding hills, at least three weeks later.

summer. Thus, the gardener will have to supply enough nitrogen in an available form to get the vegetables and flowers off to a good start. I probably don’t have to remind you that nitrogen deficiencies are the most common nutrient issue that I see in home gardens.

Some gardeners and farmers are experimenting with alyssum as a summer cover crop for certain transplanted vegetables, especially cabbage family plants like broccoli. The alyssum isn’t extremely competitive, and it is very attractive to predatory insects (“beneficials”) that may help to control aphids and other insect pests. In addition, it may help to reduce weed growth.

is already done. alike may have disappeared. Some recent experiments in the Midwest demonstrated that soil temperatures played a major role in the degree of damage. At soil temperatures below 64 degrees, seed destruction increased significantly. It will pay the gardener to wait until the soil is well-warmed to plant these crops or to warm the soil with clear plastic for three to five days before planting and to keep the plastic in place if conditions are overcast until the seeds start to emerge. A soil thermometer can be a useful investment.

ous, but don’t buy bedding plants that have wilted and been revived. How do you know if your particular flat has wilted? You don’t. But if you see others wilted, it is a reasonable assumption that overall care and maintenance is not up to snuff. Wilted plants will never perform as well as ones that have not had their growth checked.

Gardening-related events

April 8 Scappoose Bay

Watershed Council’s Native Plant Sale

calling our office at 503397-3462 and ask to speak to Jenny Rudolph.

• Garden Donations: Donate extra garden produce and/or money to the food bank, senior centers, or community meals programs. It always is greatly appreciated.

Have Questions?

Will cover crops put nitrogen back into the soil?

Without a doubt, the answer is yes. However, much of the nitrogen from cover crops turned under in the spring may not be available to the garden until mid-

Here we go again

Seedcorn maggot

The seedcorn maggot can be a real problem with bean, corn, and squash family seeds. You will almost never see the fly but may, if you dig into the seed row in time, may see the white maggots. By the time the gardener realizes that something is wrong and looks in the seed furrow, the damage

es of the

Here we go again another feasibility study to build a hospital.

Columbia County taxpayers got hosed on the last attempt at building a

hospital. Years later the land sits vacant and the money we were duped out of was never returned to us. The only people who benefited were all the consultants and lawyers involved and the people of Columbia County were left holding the empty bag of no hospital.

ommunity

April 7-8 Tulip Sale

The Annual Easter weekend tulip sale by Clatskanie’s Chapter T P.E.O. is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, April 7, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or until they run out, on Saturday, April 8. The sale will be held in front of Hi-School Pharmacy and Farmhouse Coffee at the Evergreen Shopping Center, 401 W Columbia River Highway in Clatskanie. Bouquets of fresh tulips, in a variety of colors, will sell for $9 a bunch. Proceeds will benefit scholarships for women sponsored by the philanthropic educational organization.

April 8 Scappoose Bay

Watershed Council’s

Native Plant Sale

From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the SBWC nursery, located at 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 the 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 information see https://www.scappoosebay-wc.org/native-plantnursery.

Ongoing

Caples Evening Programs

The cost for this evening and all our Fireside Chats will be only $5. Caples will be offering a different program the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at 1925 First Street in Columbia City. For more information, call 503-397-5390.

Lower Columbia River

Watershed Council

Lower Columbia Watershed Council meets the second Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Clatskanie PUD building. Zoom links are also available. Visit the council’s website for agenda postings and Zoom at www. lowercolumbiariver.org/ events-page.

The Rainier Oregon Historical Museum (ROHM) is open from noon - 4 p.m. Saturday (except major holidays weekends). ROHM is located inside Rainier City Hall at 106 W B Street. For more information, call 360-751-7039.

Why are crows sometimes seen chasing owls during daylight hours? A roosting crow is quite vulnerable to night predation by owls, so crows certainly view them with a jaundiced eye. When an owl is flushed from its roost during daylight hours, the crows see it as a threat and gang up to scare it away. The owl is no good at aerial combat and so will flee the irritated crows. But will the owl will

Join the Watershed Council at their Spring Native Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the SBWC nursery, located at 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

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 information see https:// www.scappoosebay-wc.org/ native-plant-nursery.

April 29 The Columbia County Master Gardeners™ Spring Fair

This event will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will 3,000 tomato plants, 700 peppers, and garden related items by other vendors. It will be at the Columbia County Fairgrounds this year.

Important Notes

• The OSU Extension Office is fully open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Extension Service offers its programs and materials equally to all people.

• Food Preservation: You can get up-to-date and accurate answers to your food preservation questions by

If you have questions on any of these topics or other home garden and/or farm wwquestions, please contact Chip Bubl, Oregon State University Extension office in St. Helens at 503-397-3462 or at chip. bubl@oregonstate.edu. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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 http://extension.oregonstate.edu/columbia/ and click on newsletters.

Contact Resource Oregon State University Extension Service – Columbia County 505 N. Columbia River Highway St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-3462

We will never know the true story of what happened with the money. Don’t be duped again. As the lyrics in a famous Who song say it: ‘We Won’t Be Fooled Again.’

Patrick Klein St. Helens

The Rainier Public Library is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays and 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays. It will be closed Sundays and Mondays.

Avamere at St. Helens hosts a Virtual Dementia Support Group – 3rd Wednesday of each month from 2 to 3 p.m. For more details, contact Jenny Hicks/Avamere at St. Helens at 503-3668070.

Clatskanie Senior Center lunches Clatskanie Senior Center Lunches now served Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at noon at the Castle Cafe, 620 SW Tichenor. Please call 503.728.3608 for reservations. Use ground floor entrance to the left of front stairs. Good parking in back off of SW Bryant Street. Castle Tours available by appointment, includes Clatskanie Historical Society museum. Call Debbie at 503.338.8268.

To list an event in the Community Calendar, email details with a phone number that may be published, to chronicleclassifieds@countrymedia.net, or call 503-397-0116.

Dog & Cat Vaccination Clinic PippinDoc, Clatskanie’s Hometown Veterinarian, will host its next Dog & Cat Vaccination Clinic on Tuesday April 11, from 9:0011:00 AM and 1:30-3:30 PM at the Johnson Feed Store. 905 NE Van St. in Clatskanie. See www.pippin doc.com for more details.

Bay City Pearl & Oyster Music Festival

9-1-1 COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District (C911CD) is conducting a hiring process for full̴time Dispatchers (Communications Specialists). Additional information and job description can be found on our website at www. columbia911.com/ careers or by calling 503-366-6978. Online applications will be accepted until 11:45 pm on April 28th, 2023.

Sat., Aug. 26 & Sun., Aug 27

Looking for Vendors

If interested contact Patty Watson 503-201-9912 or Beverly Anderson 503-300-9013

Regular vendors $50 Food vendors $150

H21776

Permit Technician Columbia County, OR EOE Deadline 4/27/2023 Apply at ColumbiaCountyOR.gov

Summer Youth EmploymentCity of Clatskanie, OR The City is seeking applications for temporary, parttime, youth sum-

mer employment. Work will be supervised by the Public Works Department and includes but is not limited to various manual labor tasks to maintain rights-of-way and city facilities. Additional consideration will be given to candidates who are 18 years of age or older with a valid Oregon driver’s license. Employment application is required and may be obtained at City Hall or at www. cityofclatskanie. com. The deadline for application is 3:00 pm, Friday, April 28, 2023. EOE.

Support Services Clerk Columbia County, OR. EOE. Open until filled. Apply at Columbia CountyOR.gov.

BEAVER VALLEY GRANGE

Spring Sale April 13 & 14; 10 AM - 4 PM Clothing, Books, Housewares, Furniture, Lunch Counter. 75942 Larson Rd, Rainier. 860 Storage

CLATSKANIE Mini Storage

Clatskanie People’s Utility District is requesting proposals (RFP) for Equipment Testing and Relay & Battery Testing at the Bradbury Substation. Sealed proposals must be received by 2:00 pm PDT, May 16, 2023 at the District office - 495 E. Columbia River Hwy, Clatskanie, OR, 97016.

Full information concerning both RFPs can be viewed at clatskaniepud.com.

Interested parties may also contact: Brian Taylor. P.E. 503-308-4591 or btaylor@clatskaniepud.com.

Columbia County PRESENTED BY The Chronicle The Chief Vendors wanted Contact Jon at 503-397-0116 SPONSORED BY May 20 - 21 at the Columbia County Fairgrounds buy and sell in the classifieds Call The chief at 503-397-0116 to place your ad today! view classified ads in the Chief and online at thechiefnews.com

Public Notices

PROTECTING YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW

CC23-1750

TS No. OR07000044-22-2 APN 26473 TO No 230061721-OR-MSI TRUSTEE’S NOTICE OF SALE

at $7,722.90 Monthly Late Charge(s): $331.56 By this reason of said default the Beneficiary has declared all obligations secured by said Trust Deed immediately due and payable, said sums being the following, to-wit: The sum of $194,031.89 together with interest thereon at the rate of 3.87500% per annum from September 1, 2022 until paid; plus all accrued late charges thereon; and all Trustee’s fees, foreclosure costs and any sums advanced by the Beneficiary pursuant to the terms of said Trust Deed. Wherefore, notice is hereby given that, the undersigned Trustee will on July 11, 2023 at the hour of 01:00 PM, Standard of Time, as established by Section 187.110, Oregon Revised Statues, Front Entrance, Columbia County Courthouse, 230 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 County of Columbia, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash the interest in the said described real property which the Grantor had or had power to convey at the time of the execution by him of the said Trust Deed, together with any interest which the Grantor or his successors in interest acquired after the execution of said Trust Deed, to satisfy the foregoing obligations thereby secured and the costs and expenses of sale, including a reasonable charge by the Trustee. Notice is further given that any person named in Section 86.753 of Oregon Revised Statutes has the right to have the foreclosure proceeding dismissed and the

Trust

Dated:

March 8,2023 By: Nathan F. Smith, Esq., OSB #120112 Successor Trustee Malcolm & Cisneros, A Law Corporation Attention: Nathan F. Smith, Esq., OSB #120112 c/o TRUSTEE CORPS 17100 Gillette Ave, Irvine, CA 92614 949-252-8300

Order Number 90071, Pub

Dates: 3/17/2023, 3/24/2023, 3/31/2023, 4/7/2023, THE CLATSKANIE CHIEF

CC23-1754

NOTICE OF WORK SESSION/BOARD MEETING

The Board of Directors for Clatskanie School District 6J will hold a Work Session/Board meeting on Monday, April 10th, 2023. The Work Session will begin at 5:30 PM at the Clatskanie

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Elementary Library (in person only), followed by the regular Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Clatskanie Elementary Library and via Zoom. Both meetings are open to the public. Please see

our website at www.csd.k12. or.us on the main page for directions to join the regular board meeting via zoom. Please see our website for an official agenda. The public is encouraged to attend.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public meeting of the Budget Committee of the Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District, Columbia County, State of Oregon, to discuss the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024, will be held virtually at 3:00 p.m. on the 27th of April 2023. The purpose of the meeting is to receive the budget message and to

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receive comment from the public on the budget. This is a public meeting where deliberation of the Budget Committee will take place. The meeting will be virtual. Any person may speak at the meetings to discuss the proposed budget with the Budget Committee. For instructions and information about joining the meeting, visit the District’s website or contact the District’s

administrative staff at 503366-6973. A copy of the proposed budget may be inspected or obtained on or after the April 27th meeting at the District office, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. This notice is also published on the District’s website at www. Columbia911.com. Michael J. Fletcher, Budget Officer.

THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of MARTHA JANE BENSON, Deceased. No.

IN

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 at-

23PB01905 The Public Notice deadline is Wednesdays by noon.

Big Ship

Easter in Columbia County

EASTER

From Page A1

The special needs area has been expanded this year, something Epperly said they have wanted to do for a couple years.

“In the floral building, the special needs kids are going to have basically the same thing that’s in the pavilion, they’ll just have a quieter area to do it in,” Epperly said. “So they’ll have coloring pages in there, and

they’ll have the plant-a-seed in there, and they’ll have a bunny in there that they can take pictures with, and then they’ll have their own hunting area.”

After the event was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19, 2021 saw the mEGGa Egg Hunt return in a limited drive-thru capacity. In 2022, the hunt saw steps toward a return to normalcy, and this year is “kind of back to normal,” according to Epperly.

A call for more volunteers

While the overall event has seen a return to normalcy, Epperly said that the event still needs volunteers to help. With the retirement of long-time organizer Evelyn Hudson, Epperly said there is a lack of volunteers this year.

Volunteers must fill out a waiver, and the paperwork must be done before they can help with the event. Epperly said they are still looking for about 15 more volunteers.

“The one thing that I hear

constantly is there’s no volun teers to make things happen anymore, so people need to get out there and participate,” Epperly said.

Prior to COVID, Epperly said the event took more than 200 people to make the event happen. This year, Epperly said they have maybe 100 volunteers.

To volunteer for the mEG Ga Egg Hunt, visit https:// www.signupgenius.com/ go/508054ca8aa29a1fa7megga#/.

Jeremy C. Ruark / Country Media, Inc.

Peter Cottontail and friends pose for a photo during the 2022 hunt.

Jeremy C. Ruark / Country Media, Inc.

The children scamper from here to there in search of the hidden candy.

One of the largest cargo ships to be on the Columbia River, traveled from Seattle, past Astoria to Portland this week. The vessel, MSC Katie, is

feet long and 158 feet wide. The MSC can carry

containers. The large ship was built in 2012 with a deadweight of 154,792 and gross tonnage of 140,096. The MSC is moored in Portland and will next depart for Vancouver, Canada, passing by Rainier, Clatskanie, and Astoria. See more photos at thechiefnews.com.

America’s first woman governor had crazy early life

If you ask most Oregonians who the first woman governor in state history was, they’ll have an immediate answer … but they’ll be wrong.

Conventional wisdom holds that the first woman to take the gubernatorial purple in the Beaver State was Barbara Roberts, who was elected to the job in 1990.

In fact, that’s almost true … but, of course, “almost” doesn’t work very well as an answer to a true-or-false question.

The truth is, Barbara Roberts was the first elected woman governor in Oregon history. But the first woman to serve as governor of Oregon — or any other state, for that matter — was a remarkable woman named Caralyn B. Shelton.

Caralyn Shelton

It was because of Caralyn Shelton that Oregon, for one historic weekend in early 1909, became the first and only state in the nation with a female governor. This was especially ironic because it wasn’t until 1912 that women won the right to vote in Oregon.

Caralyn Shelton was born in 1876 to Willis and Mary Skiff, prominent members of the business community in the town of Union. Willis was the town’s Justice of the Peace.

By all signs Caralyn’s early childhood was a happy one; but it was derailed by an unknown hand on the night of July 24, 1886, when Willis Skiff disappeared from a deserted railroad platform as he waited for a midnight train. Foul play was strongly suspected; and Pinkerton detectives scoured the scene looking for some sign of his body; but none was ever found. The case is still unsolved to this day.

Two years later the other shoe dropped. Following a short illness, Mary Skiff died in 1888, leaving Caralyn and her two siblings, Nolan and Mabel, as orphans.

So the three children were more or less adopted by Judge John W. Shelton, an attorney and president of the Union Railway, who had handled Willis Skiff’s estate after his death. Shelton and his wife, Mary, had been unable to have children, so having a “ready-made family” come and fill their empty nest worked out nicely for everyone involved — or so it seemed.

Published rumors

But Judge Shelton seems to have been a pretty serious rascal, to put it mildly, because a couple years later, while Mary was on an extended visit to her family back home in California, he apparently got some friends to publish rumors about her engaging in lewd and promiscuous behavior. (This was, of course, back in the day when one needed a good reason to get a divorce.)

The instant these reports were out, Shelton, citing these false published claims (which none of my sources were indelicate enough to get specific about), sued for and got a quick divorce from Mary … and then turned around and married his young ward, Caralyn. The two of them actually eloped, if that’s an appropriate word, across the state line to Weiser, Idaho, to tie the knot.

Mary Shelton returned home to find herself divorced and penniless, and with all of Union County atwitter about whatever nasty and slutty things old man Shelton’s friends had claimed she did.

The 1800s was a time when older men commonly married young women; but they were not usually that old, or that young. Shelton was well past his mid-40s. Caralyn had just turned 16 a few days before. She was Shelton’s stepdaughter. She’d been living in his house since she was 12 years old and she’d looked upon him as a father figure.

Had he taken advantage of that relationship to initiate a statutory-rape relationship with her before divorcing his wife? Well, yeah, of course he had. Had that been the real reason he wanted to divorce Mary? We don’t know, and neither did all the neighbors, but that wasn’t (and isn’t) stopping any of us from speculating about it.

Certainly that is exactly the conclusion Mary Shelton drew from this chain of events, and she immediately got an attorney and set about suing Shelton’s big-mouthed friends for $50,000 for libel, and Shelton himself to have the divorce overturned.

Mary Shelton got a court of law in 1894 to overturn her divorce and thereby annul young Caralyn’s marriage. By this time, though, John Shelton had actually died, so the fight was no longer over the man, but over his estate. Out of that fight Mary emerged victorious, so she inherited Shelton’s estate, and Caralyn, her reputation hopelessly sullied in Union through no fault of her own (I mean, come on, she was a child when all this happened), decided to stay in Portland — where she and her ersatz

husband had moved shortly after their marriage.

Needing a job, she took one as a stenographer for a young attorney named George Chamberlain. (A quick side note: Mary Shelton subsequently sued for and was granted a reinstatement of the divorce from her by-now-long-dead husband. Historian Richard Roth suggests she probably did so to avoid being held liable for his business debts.)

Unwidowed

Over the following few years as the newly “unwidowed” Caralyn settled into her work, her new boss, George Chamberlain, noticed his young typist’s aptitude for the law, which she had probably cultivated during the year or two when she’d been married to John Shelton.

Shelton, who’d had to start up a new law practice in Portland after slinking out of Union with his new child-wife, no doubt had pressed her into service as an unpaid legal assistant while he was working to build up his business. If so, the skills she learned served her well in her new job. (But we’ll probably never know, because in the few interviews she did over the years for newspaper stories, she never said a word about old man Shelton, giving all credit for her legal training to Chamberlain.)

Soon Chamberlain had Caralyn functioning more or less as a paralegal for him, drafting legal documents for his review and signature and doing deep research. Soon she was an irreplacable part of his office.

In 1902, Chamberlain threw his hat into the ring for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Oregon. He won the job with a narrow majority, and then it was time to move to Salem.

Naturally, Chamberlain wanted his most valuable aide to come with him to the capitol. And when he was setting about building his cabinet, he appointed her to

the position of Governor’s Private Secretary. To modern ears, “Governor’s Private Secretary” sounds like a frivolous position at best — or maybe like the name of a “sexy” Halloween costume from that Spirit Halloween store that pops up in vacant storefronts every September. But that’s because for the last 100 years or so we have all gotten used to the idea of secretaries being little more than typewriter operators and call screeners.

A secretary in 1902 was much more than that, more like a junior executive — a secretary in the “secretary of defense” or “secretary of state” sense of the word. In 1902 it was almost unprecedented for a woman to have the job of private secretary to a state governor. Caralyn may actually have been the first one in the nation.

Serving as governor

Chamberlain served six years — one and a half terms — as Oregon governor with Caralyn Shelton by his side. His wife, Sallie Welch Chamberlain, had no desire to leave her social and family connections up in Portland and was more than busy with their seven children, so the Chamberlains maintained their home up in the big town for the family and George “batched it” in the governor’s mansion, traveling home as frequently as he could. Caralyn basically took over the social-secretarial functions of a First Lady so that Sallie could focus on her family up north.

In his book, historian Richard Roth says she and Chamberlain likely had an long-running affair during this time, and that may be so, but I’ve found nothing in my research that supports or even suggests this, and Salem has never been a town that can keep a secret, especially one involving both sex and partisan politics, for anywhere near that long

Resigned as governor

Halfway through his second term in office, Chamberlain ran for a seat in the U.S. Senate, and won the election. He resigned his office as governor in favor of his Secretary of State, Frank W. Benson, and prepared to board an eastbound train to take his new seat. There was a problem, though.

The entire freshman crop of senators from all across the country, every new senator who had won the 1908 election, was slated to be sworn in and seated on March 4, 1909. As seniority

was determined by the date of swearing-in, all those senators, including Chamberlain, would have equal seniority to one another … unless one of them arrived in D.C. late and missed the swearing-in. If that happened, the latecomer would be junior to all the other members of his incoming class.

And that was a problem because March 1 was the day Benson was scheduled to be sworn in as Oregon governor.

If Chamberlain stayed in Oregon through the end of his term, he wouldn’t arrive in D.C. until three or four days later, and he’d miss the swearing-in ceremony. That would mean that every other member of the incoming 1908 freshman class of senators would have seniority over him.

No problem

This had happened before, and the solution was an easy one. The incoming governor simply came in a few days early with the title of Acting Governor; then, when March 1 came along, he’d be sworn in for real.

But there was a problem this time. On Feb. 27 when Chamberlain boarded that eastbound train, Secretary Benson, who was already struggling with the recurring illness (possibly malaria) that would kill him three years later, was too sick to play his part.

Well, this wasn’t uncharted territory either. There was a contingency plan in place. If the Secretary of State couldn’t step in as acting governor for any reason, the job fell to … you guessed it … the governor’s private secretary.

And thus it was that, on Feb. 27, the state of Oregon became the first in U.S. history to have a woman governor.

Oath of office

March 1, 1909, was a Monday, and by 10 o’clock Benson was feeling well enough to take the oath of office and step into his new role; this brought Caralyn Shelton’s 49-hour political career to a triumphal end.

By the way, the newspapers in 1909 found this whole exchange highly amusing and covered the situation extensively. Governor Shelton made a point of telling them she would veto no bills, promulgate no executive orders, and grant no pardons during her term. As far as I’ve been able to learn, nothing much happened during her time in office; but if anything had, she would have been the state’s chief executive

in charge of dealing with it. And it’s clear that everyone involved had total confidence in her ability to do so, if she had to.

And after Benson took over, Caralyn boarded a train to D.C. to take her place in Chamberlain’s office. She served there in Chamberlain’s office in D.C. throughout his two terms as a Senator, and, when he was defeated for re-election in the 1920 “red wave” of anti-Woodrow Wilson votes (don’t get me started on THAT guy), settled down in D.C. in private practice. And in July of 1926, a suitable interval of time after Sallie Chamberlain’s death at age 70 … reader, she married him.

Another first

This was, of course, another “first” — the first case of two former state governors marrying each other in U.S. history. By this time, Chamberlain was 72 years old, and Caralyn a youthful 50. They had been friends and business partners for most of their lives

George and Caralyn Chamberlain only got to live together as husband and wife for a few months. Shortly after (or possibly before; the records aren’t clear) the marriage, George suffered a paralytic stroke. He lingered on for some months after that, an invalid, being cared for by Caralyn; but in 1928, three days before their second wedding anniversary, he died. Caralyn followed 10 years later, on Feb. 2, 1936, at the age of 59. Oddly, none of the many obituaries that ran in newspapers around the state even mention her 49-hour term as governor!

A quick footnote: There is much confusion about Caralyn Shelton’s name. Newspaper articles about her, of which there were many, called her “Carolyn.” Her great-great niece, Anne Mitchell, told Bryan Vance of OPB that her birth name was Carrie, but that she changed it to Caralyn to sound more formal in her role as George Chamberlain’s top paralegal. In any case, the name used in her obituary and carved on her gravestone is “Caralyn,” so that’s what I have adopted for this story.

Finn J.D. John teaches at Oregon State University and writes about odd tidbits of Oregon history. His book, Heroes and Rascals of Old Oregon, was recently published by Ouragan House Publishers. To contact him or suggest a topic, visit finn@ offbeatoregon.com or call 541-357-2222.

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD

THEME: ANATOMY 101

52. Tokyo, formerly 53. Alpine transport 55. Cuckoo 57. *Vein to “go for” 61. *Cell body, axon and dendrite 64. Use the other side of pencil 65. Caviar alternative

67. Mafia’s top dogs

69. “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft

70. Fuss 71. Modern correspondence 72. Opposite of want

73. Japanese currency

74. Pep gathering DOWN

1. Annoying pop-ups

2. “Yes, ____!”

3. Beige

4. E-wallet content

5. Resentment

6. Musketeer’s sword

7. *Smallest bones location

8. Work the dough

9. Diamond in a cutting tool

10. “Wonderfilled” cookie

11. a.k.a. Indian Lilac

12. Grammy of sports

Solution

15. Like a Haunted Mansion visitor?

20. Minimum

22. Endorsement

24. Alfresco

25. *It contains cerebellum and parietal lobe

26. Big Dipper shape

27. Hiker’s path

29. *Largest organ

31. Fogginess

32. Speak one’s mind

33. *AB+ or B-

34. Vigorous fight

36. Outback birds

38. Dam-like structure

42. Snail trail

45. Like certain Cr¸e

49. Giannis’ league

51. Cup holder

54. Orderly arrangement

56. Popular movie genre

57. J in B. J. King

58. Serve as motive

59. Em’s and Dorothy’s

last name

60. CPO, in auto industry

61. Glowing gas

62. Iridescent gem

63. Byproduct of wool combing

66. Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem

68. Canny

Courtesy from the Library of Congress Caralyn B. Shelton on the job in then-Senator George Chamberlain’s office in Washington, D.C., circa 1915.

Clatskanie Middle/High School running the bases

Pre-season is over, and league play is ahead for Clatsknaie Middle High School’s baseball and softball programs. With their league record being the defining factor in their playoff hopes, the Tigers will hope their pre-season fixtures have prepped them to hit the ground running.

Softball roundup

Competing in the 2A-1 Northwest League this year, the Tigers have split their first eight games, going 4-4. They finished their pre-season matches on March 30 with a loss to Astoria, ending with a 3-4 record in those games. However, Clatskanie rebounded and took a vic-

tory in their first league game against Vernonia, winning 6-1. This win has them in third in 2A/1A-SD1 Special District 1, behind Willamina and Nestucca. Clatskanie’s overall 2A/1A ranking is 14th out of the 52 teams in that classification. The Tigers have proven relatively inconsistent in their first eight games but have shown flashes of major offensive potential. In their four wins, they won three of the games by margins of five runs or greater. They’ve also been able to score more than ten runs in three of their victories this season. On April 7, the Tigers travel away to St. Paul and will try to notch their second league win. St. Paul is 0-3 on the season, and Clatskanie will do their utmost to keep them winless.

Following the St. Paul game, their April 11 contest against Willamina has been canceled, according to the OSAA website, and their next opportunity to take the field

will be on April 14 against Nestucca. The Tigers will play each of their league counterparts twice over the course of the season.

Baseball update

Since our last baseball update on March 23, the Tigers have played just one game after their March 30 contest against Rainier was canceled. The canceled contest was their last pre-season game, and they finished their early season with a record of 1-4.

Now into the league portion of their schedule, Clatskanie is off to a good start following a 17-7 trouncing of Portland Christian at home on April 4. Of the seven teams in OSAA’s Special District 1, Clatskanie is ranked second; however, four of the teams have yet to play a league game. Looking at their overall record, Clatskanie is ranked 34th of the 50 teams in the 2A/1A classification. Clatskanie will travel away

to Portland Christian for a doubleheader on April 7 with a good chance to jump in the rankings. Portland Christian is currently ranked 50th on OSAA’s website and is without a win on the season.

Given their 17-7 win over Portland Christian in their first game, the doubleheader will give them a chance to solidify their dominance. For the baseball team, they play each of the five schools in their league three times. Their next games will be away against Gaston on April 11, and then they will host a doubleheader against Gaston on April 14.

Follow CMHS sports at osaa.org, and find our coverage of local sports at thechiefnews.com and in the Friday print editions of the Chief.

Local students make university Honor Roll

Names of local students who have made the Oregon State University (OSU) Scholastic Honor Roll Winter 2023 have been announced by the university’s administration. OSU reports that 12,307 students earned a B-plus (3.5) or better to make the listing. To be on the Honor Roll, students must carry at least 6 graded hours of

EARNINGS

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that consumer price inflation was more rapid than U.S. wage growth during

course work.

Clatskanie students

• Brandyn M. Brownfield, Senior, Forestry

• Martha L. Coe, Senior, Psychology

• Nichole Engel, Freshman, Computer Science

• Dawson T. Evenson, Junior, Business Administration

• Foster A. Evenson, Senior, Forest Engineering

• Levi D. Mcdonald, Senior, Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences

• Jessica A. Specht, Senior, Earth Sciences

• Shayla M. Spiva, Sophomore, Agricultural Sciences

Rainier students

• Jared R. Goodwin, Senior, Physics

• Jenna K. Kamppi, Sophomore, Animal Sciences

• Kelsea M. Kees, Senior, Human Devel and Family Science

• Jack T. Richardson, Senior, Chemistry

• Jacob B. Sorensen, Sophomore, Chemical Engineering

About Oregon State University

As one of only three land, sea, space and sun grant universities in the nation, Oregon State serves Oregon and the world by working on today’s most pressing issues.

The more than 35,000 students come from across the globe. OSU operates programs in every Oregon

county. The university receives more research funding than all of the state’s comprehensive public universities combined.

According to OSU, campuses in Corvallis and Bend, marine research center in Newport, OSU Portland Center and award-winning Ecampus, excel at shaping today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders.

mid-2021 through mid2022, when consumer prices spiked dramatically. Also, a more localized CPI-U figure would be helpful here to address the recent large gains in Oregon average earnings and how they compare

with local inflation, but the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not produce state-level CPI figures. These numbers come from the monthly Current Employment Statistics

program, a federal-state cooperative program in which data are produced by the BLS in cooperation with the Oregon Employment Department. The monthly estimates are based on a sample of businesses that re-

port total pay and total hours for their payroll employees. For Oregon’s February sample data, 792 employers, totaling $189 million of weekly payroll, provided data as a part of the matched sample.

David Cooke is the Oregon Employment Department’s Current Employment Statistics Coordinator. He may be reached at david.c.cooke@employ. oregon.gov, or at 971-3755288.

Metro creative Connection

CMHS baseball and softball have started league play, and each team is off to a good start having notched wins in their first games.

Courtesy from the Oregon Employment Department

Courtesy from the Oregon Employment Department