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VOL. 130, NO. 50 Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891

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A girl and her teddy bear ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net

Courtesy photo from Katie Stoddard

Four-year-old Karly Stoddard with her pink teddy bear.

A little girl and her pink teddy bear are reunited, thanks to a Rainier police officer and a good Samaritan.

Four-year-old Karly Stoddard lost Nina, her stuffed companion, at T-ball practice on Friday, April 15.

“I had to go to work, so I dropped her and her dad off at the playground,” Katie Stoddard, the girl’s mother, explained. “She insisted on taking her bear with her because she had 45 minutes before her practice for T-ball. Her dad and I told her to leave it in the car, but she is very determined, so she got her way.”

“I guess when she went to go do her T-ball practice, she set the bear down and then was going to come back and get it afterward,” Stoddard continued. “It was gone.

We’re like well, you learned your lesson. Don’t take your toys when we tell you not to. And then yesterday is when they posted about (the bear).”

On Monday morning, Rainier Police Department Clerk Susan Sullivan opened her email inbox to find an unusual request waiting for her.

“This pink teddy bear was found, lost and all alone in the city

Courtesy photo from Rainier PD

‘Nina’ the teddy bear posed on the roof of a Rainier Police patrol car.

park on April 15, by a concerned and worried young girl,” the email read. “The lass, with fierce determination, brought the obviously wellloved toy to me, and asked us to find its owner, and thereby, reunite this beloved toy with its distraught owner and prove to the world that good things are out there if you just try to find them.”

With photos of the bear for Sullivan’s reference, the sender ended the email with a straightforward

ask: “Can you put this little bear out on the PD Facebook page?”

That sender was Rainier Police Officer Douglas Wheeler.

Sullivan immediately honored Wheeler’s request, issuing the following post under the Rainier PD Facebook account.

“A young lady found a pink bear that was lost at the city park,”

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See TEDDY Page A6

School statements following game probe JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

There are new details about an investigation into alleged racial comments made during a Clatskanie Middle/High School (CMHS) girls basketball game last December against De La Salle North Catholic School.

Following the game, and the reports of racial comments made by each of the teams’ players, CMHS Athletic Director Ryan Tompkins told The Chief, “We are deeply troubled as a school community at the severity of the accusations.”

Two investigations resulted in the allegations. One by CMHS and the other by the Oregon Schools Activities Association (OSAA).

Over the past four months, the Chief reached out to both CMHS and the OSAA for copies of the

investigation results, but the newspaper did not receive the specific results.

The OSAA told The Chief that the actual investigation was completed in February. The Chief again reached out to CMHS for a statement and the results of the investigation. We were told that the school would issue a statement soon.

On the morning of April 20, Tompkins issued the following statement.

On December 14, 2021 there was a girls basketball game between De La Salle North Catholic and Clatskanie High School. Allegations of racial language were brought against the Clatskanie Girls basketball team, including a public Facebook post made by a (now-former) member of the De

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief

CMHS and De La Salle North Catholic School administrators have released statements following the conclusion of an investigation into alleged racial comments at a girls basketball game.

La Salle North Catholic coaching staff.

A thorough investigation was conducted by Clatskanie, where they could not find definitive-proof

that the allegations had occurred.

Following the Clatskanie investigation, the OSAA hired an independent investigator to look into the events. While the independent

investigator could not definitively conclude that the alleged language was used, they felt that “more likely than not” racialized language was used.

Clatskanie and the OSAA believe that based upon the seriousness of the accusations and level of concern brought by the De La Salle community, that there is a strong need to improve safeguards and procedural steps to ensure an incident like this does not occur again.

These steps have been laid out in the form of a probation by the OSAA. Our resolution from these events is to continue to educate and promote students at Clatskanie Middle High School that celebrate differences and embrace equality around them.

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See INVESTIGATION Page A6

Increase in COVID-19 breakthrough cases ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net

With Oregon’s concern over COVID-19 receding and the widespread vaccination push losing steam new data has emerged showing vaccine efficacy to be lower than previously thought.

Vaccine breakthrough cases

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

made up nearly half of Oregon’s COVID-19 cases in the latest report from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).

OHA’s April 7 COVID-19 Breakthrough Report shows that between March 27 and April 2, of the 2,035 COVID-19 cases reported by the OHA 960 were vaccine breakthrough cases (47.2%).

The figure could be even higher than the data shows, as the data includes positive tests reported to public health and not positive athome tests.

The latest report from the agency on vaccination breakthrough deaths reveals a similar trend.

In the month of March, 46.4% of reported COVID-19 deaths occurred in fully vaccinated people.

Vaccine breakthrough cases are defined as instances in which an individual tests positive for COVID-19 at least 14 days following the completion of any primary COVID-19 vaccine series, according to the OHA.

According to the April 7 report, there have been 1,374 recorded breakthrough COVID-19 cases in Columbia County.

Mixed messaging

On April 7, The Chief reached out to OHA Lead Communications Officer Jonathan Modie for comment on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision overturning an injunction on the federal mask mandate.

While Modie told The Chief he couldn’t speak specifically to the court decision, he reaffirmed the importance of getting vaccinated: “vaccines are safe and effective, and vaccination remains the most effective tool to reduce the spread of COVID-19,” he said.

In a separate email, OHA Public Affairs Specialist Rudy Owens could not speak as highly of vaccine

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Metro Creative Connection

See COVID-19 Page A6

OHA’s April 7 COVID-19 Breakthrough Report shows that breakthrough cases made up 47% of overall COVID-19 cases between March 27 and April 2.

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Friday, April 22, 2022

Survivor’s ceremony ‘an inner joy’ ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net

On Saturday, April 16, community members gathered in front of the gazebo at Rainier City Park to watch breast cancer survivor Kay Steele ring a ceremonial bell marking the end of her cancer treatment.

In an interview with The Chief after the event, Steele described what she thought and felt as she rang the bell.

“It was very joyful. I had an inner joy that was peaceful and very nice,” she said.

All community members were invited to attend. The ceremony was held from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Among those in attendance were friends, event organizer and bell fundraiser Stephanie Clune, and members of law enforcement.

Guests enjoyed desserts and music and received minature-sized bells to take home.

Background The Chief last told you about the cancer bell fundraiser organized for Steele in our April 8th edition of the

Zoe Gottlieb / The Chief

Friend Donna Dial holds up the ceremonial bell for breast cancer survivor Kay Steele to ring.

Zoe Gottlieb / The Chief

Cancer survivor Kay Steele hugs her friend Stephanie Clune.

newspaper.

Kay “Miss Steele” of Clatskanie was diagnosed with cancer in July 2019.

When Steele began chemotherapy, she wasn’t prepared for the changes and the resulting impact they would have on her.

“I had long hair before,” Steele said. “It would come out in clumps, and I would

just sit and cry. I didn’t realize how much identity I put in my hair. But it was horrible to see on my shower walls or my pillow or in my hand.”

Steele was eventually declared cancer-free, news that warranted a celebration.

However, she missed out on her opportunity to ring the bell amid COVID-19 concerns.

Fast Fact The End of Cancer Treatment Bell originated in the United States Navy.

The End of Cancer Treatment Bell originated in the United States Navy, according to the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas.

A rear admiral in the U.S. Navy, Irve Le Moyne, was undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck cancer and told his doctor, Kian Ang, M.D., Ph.D., that he planned to follow a Navy tradition

of ringing a bell to signify “when the job was done.”

The bell-ringing ceremony, typically organized in medical settings, is a traditional way for patients, surrounded by friends and family, to celebrate milestones in their cancer treatment.

Clune, a friend of Steele’s who Steele had touched with

her kindness, purchased the bell for $300 to recreate the experience.

Following the ceremony, Steele awaits surgery on April 26 to treat the skin damaged by radiation treatment burns.

Read our full story and see more photos online at thechiefnews.com.

Candidates discuss housing, healthcare, economy ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net

Democrats and Republicans at the April 14 bipartisan Candidates Forum united over one central issue: increasing representation for rural Oregonians.

“Your job as a representative is a lot like being a juror in a criminal case,” candidate Drew Layda said.

“Every law passed in Oregon is a potential sentence on the Oregonian people.”

Who’s running?

There are three candidates running for Oregon House District (HD) 31 this year: Republicans Drew Layda and Brian Stout and Democrat Anthony Sorace.

Oregon’s HD 31 serves Columbia County and parts of Multnomah and Washington counties.

On Thursday, April 14, Layda and Sorace attended the 2022 Engaged Citizens Primary Candidates Forum held at Columbia City Community Center, 1850 2nd Street, to address issues central to their campaign and take questions from constituents.

Other speakers at the event included HD 32 Republican candidate Glen Gaither, HD 32 Democratic candidate Logan Laity, and SD 16 Republican candidate Suzanne Weber.

Layda and Stout will face off in the May primary, and the Republican who is nominated will run against Sorace in the November General Election.

The following election coverage provided by The Chief focuses on candidates’ stances on the key issues of housing, healthcare, and the economy.

Drew Layda (R- HD 31) Housing With Real Market Values (RMVs) increasing countywide, affordable housing is one agenda item Layda believes needs reform.

“A lot of people, when they look at a map of Oregon, they think that’s Oregon,” he explained. “No, 48% of that is Oregon. 52% of that is held by the federal government.”

Layda said he plans to work with the legislature to reform outdated land-use laws blocking Columbia County constituents from accessing developable land.

Another problem is high rates and low volume, according to Layda, which he sees as an untenable model.

“Rates are going to keep climbing until they decide to give us our land back and allow Oregonians to inhabit Oregon,” he said.

Healthcare Calling medical freedom “an essential aspect of selfownership,” Layda argues this was stripped away from citizens during the pandemic.

Informed consent is when a doctor or primary care provider explains outcomes to you so you can make informed decisions and is part of the larger concept of medical freedom, according to Layda.

“It’s the ability to decide what procedures you will undergo and what procedures you will not undergo,” he explained.

“The most important thing to anybody in this room is your own life and the life of those closest to you,” he said.

Economy When asked whether he would vote to lower taxes for his constituents, Layda answered “absolutely.”

“I view prosperity a little bit differently than the progressives among us,” he said.

“I view prosperity on the thickness of the wallets of the people in my district, not how much money my state has in the coffers.”

Layda said he supports local control when it comes to spending.

“I think that one of the biggest things we can do is start looking at everything we do through the lens of can we add value to what the people of Oregon need,” he said. “If not, I believe the private sector has a lot more success in enacting successful policy than the government does,” he said.

Before entering the HD 31 race, Layda worked as a project planner/cost-estimator for one of the largest domestic marine contractors in the U.S., according to his

campaign website.

Highlights of Drew’s past political involvements include Precinct Committeeman (PCP) for Multnomah County Republican Party 2019-present, currently MCRP Parliamentarian, founding treasurer of the Libertarian Mises Caucus PAC, 2018 nominee of the Libertarian Party and the Pacific Green Party for Oregon’s 1st Congressional District, 2018 Oregon delegate chair to the Libertarian National Convention, 20172019 Served on the Libertarian National Party’s Convention Oversight Committee.

More information about Layda and his campaign is available on his website: drewfororegon.com.

Anthony Sorace (D - HD 31) Housing Sorace said he believes Oregon’s current housing regulations are “absolutely a problem.”

Agreeing with Layda’s comments that the simple fix would be to build more houses, Sorace emphasized that two factors: working with investors and private industry, and cooperating with the state are key in solving the problem of affordable housing.

“I think we need to look at this top to bottom,” he said.

Healthcare Sorace’s priority objective stepping into office would be to expand coverage to mental health access and care.

“It’s a real problem,” he said. “We’re failing (not only) our youth in particular, but all of our citizens in our area, and we need to work on that.”

Sorace expressed support for Oregon’s handling of substance abuse issues, calling Oregon’s Measure 110, a law decriminalizing drug possession, a “real healthcare and justice win.”

What the state has yet to address, Sorace says, is providing support to those who are already drug-addicted.

“We haven’t done a great job of dealing with people who have suffered from that in the past,” he conceded.

Courtesy photo

Democratic candidate Anthony Sorace.

Economy According to Sorace, lowering taxes is more complicated than it seems.

“I don’t really have a good answer to this question, outside of saying we need to look at this in terms of the overall picture of the services we are providing and how we budget for that long term,” he said in answer to whether he supports lowering taxes.

Sorace said his efforts to support local business would include talking to the individual counties, figuring out what help they need, and expanding broadband access for Oregon’s rural workers.

Sorace also said he would like to see better pay and more work opportunities for rural Oregonians.

“I’d like to see our government take a broader view of community impact when awarding contracts, so we don’t just get the lowest bidder, but instead take into account union jobs and family-supporting wages,” he said.

Sorace’s background is in engineering and engineering management. He also served as a youth minister and the director and treasurer of a non-profit, according to his campaign website.

His political experience includes serving as a PCP for the Columbia County Democrats.

Brian Stout HD 31 Republican candidate Brian Stout is a PCP for the Columbia County Republican Party, a former HOA Board President, and a small business owner of 25 years.

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Courtesy photo

Courtesy photo

Republican candidate Drew Layda.

Republican candidate Brian Stout.

Stout did not attend the April 14 event, however, he shared the following statement concerning economic issues on his campaign website: “As a lifetime small business owner, I understand what it takes to be successful and the importance of contributing to our economy. We must leverage our resources to create a pro-growth job climate that benefits the community we live in while defending small businesses from unreasonable regulations and taxes.”

In an interview with The Chief, Stout explained his positions on areas of housing and healthcare.

primary care is a continuing challenge in all our rural communities around the state,” Stout said. “To address the shortage of primary care, creative solutions must be employed like creating public-private partnerships that address the needs of our rural communities or creating incentives for providers to practice in rural areas.

“Encouraging better integration of mental health care services with primary care may also result in meeting the needs of our residents. As your State Representative, I would support legislation that focuses on addressing these shortfalls of service to our rural communities.”

Other issues Stout addresses on his website include education, community safety, transportation, constitutional freedoms, and the environment.

See a full list of the issues at stoutforstaterep. com.

Housing “There is no easy answer to the current housing shortage,” Stout told The Chief.

“Affordability and availability continue to be a challenge in our area.”

According to Stout, the issue of affordable housing could be addressed by enacting legislation that would make it easier to build a home.

“Restrictive zoning practices and exorbitant fees are pricing first time buyers out of the market and dissuading developers. These problems must be remedied, on the local and at the state level,” Stout explained. “Homelessness is the other issue associated with this and that is an even more complex problem that involves physical and mental health care, retraining programs, and availability of good paying jobs.”

Healthcare “Lack of access to

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Voter information This year’s Primary Election is set for May 17, 2022, followed by the Nov. 8 General Election.

April 26 is the last day to register to vote.

To change your party affiliation, register to vote, or change your address, visit oregonvotes.gov or submit a card to the county clerk’s office by the deadline. Voters can check their registration status at oregonvotes. gov under the My Vote tab.

You can reach the Columbia County Elections division at 503-397-7214 or email elections@columbiacountyor.gov.

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Friday, April 22, 2022

Rainier Gypsy Joker sentenced to life STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

Two members of the Gypsy Joker Outlaw Motorcycle Club (GJOMC), including a Rainier man, have been sentenced to life in federal prison for kidnapping, torturing, and murdering a former club member.

GJOMC Portland clubhouse president Mark Leroy Dencklau, 61, of Woodburn, Oregon and Portland clubhouse member Chad Leroy Erickson, 51, of Rainier, Oregon, received the life sentences after being convicted at trial in December 2021 of murder in aid of racketeering; kidnapping in aid of racketeering, resulting in death; kidnapping resulting in death; and conspiracy to commit kidnapping, resulting in death. Dencklau also was found guilty of racketeering conspiracy.

“Mark Dencklau and Chad Erickson will rightfully serve the rest of their lives in federal prison. These men prided themselves in using violence to intimidate others and increase their power and influence among club members and rivals. Organized violent crime has no place in Oregon and will not be tolerated. Today’s sentences were years in the making and required a dedicated and coordinated law enforcement effort. We are grateful to all the law enforcement agencies who participated in bringing these men to justice and

exposing the Gypsy Jokers as the ruthless, violent gang they are,” said Scott Erik Asphaug, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

“The heinous nature of these crimes truly warrant these life sentences,” ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan T. McPherson said. “ATF has vigorously investigated, and will continue to investigate, these outlaw motorcycle gangs when they perpetrate criminal acts.”

According to court documents and trial testimony, the GJOMC is a hierarchical criminal organization wherein members and associates maintain their position and status in the organization by participating in, directly or indirectly, various acts of violent racketeering activity including murder, kidnapping, robbery, extortion, narcotics trafficking, and witness tampering. Since the

1980s, the club has been active in several states including Oregon and Washington and, until recently, operated six clubhouses in the Pacific Northwest. The club also has international chapters in Germany, Australia, and Norway.

From 2003 until his arrest, Dencklau served as the president of the club’s Portland chapter. The GJOMC also oversaw several support clubs in Oregon and Washington including the Road Brothers Northwest Motorcycle Club, Solutions Motorcycle Club, Northwest Veterans Motorcycle Club, High-Side Riders, and the Freedom Fellowship Motorcycle Club. Support club members conducted criminal activities in support of the GJOMC and served as a source of new members and revenue for the club.

On July 1, 2015, the body of Robert Huggins, an estranged member of the GJOMC Portland chapter, was found lying in a field in Clark County, Washington.

Huggins’ body was badly beaten, and he appeared to have been tortured prior to his death. Huggins was previously stripped of his club membership for allegedly stealing from the club and, after breaking into Dencklau’s Woodburn residence, tying up Dencklau’s girlfriend and stealing multiple firearms. In the days and weeks following this robbery, Dencklau directed GJOMC members to find Huggins.

belong to Cazee.

After obtaining a search warrant for the email account, investigators located emails wherein Cazee pretended to be a teenage boy or young adult to manipulate and deceive his minor victims. Between September 2006 and March 2010, Cazee persuaded multiple minor victims under the age of 16 to produce and send him sexually explicit content. In at least one instance, Cazee mailed a web cam and teddy bear to a minor victim and convinced her to produce sexually explicit videos for him using the web cam.

On Sept. 27, 2018, a federal grand jury in Portland

returned a 10-count indictment charging Cazee with production, receipt, transportation and possession of child pornography. On April 27, 2021, he pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography.

The case was investigated by the Oregon Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children task force with assistance from the FBI Salem Child Exploitation Task Force (CETF), Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office and the Astoria Police Department.

It was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Kaylynn Foulon of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and

The heinous nature of these crimes truly warrant these life sentences. ~ Jonathan T. McPherson, ATF

Case history

Testimony

Several government witnesses testified at trial to Dencklau, Erickson, and their co-defendants’ roles in the revenge kidnapping, torture, and murder of Huggins. On the evening of June 30, 2015, Dencklau and others kidnapped Huggins from a residence in Portland and transported him to a rural property in

Southwest Washington. Over the course of several hours, Huggins was severely beaten and tortured. He sustained numerous injuries to his head and face, including a fractured skull; lacerations to his chest and torso; and removed nipples. A local medical examiner ruled that Huggins’ death was caused by multiple blunt and sharp force injuries.

Fisher, 48, of Gresham and Tiler Evan Pribbernow, 40, of Portland, with murder in aid of racketeering; kidnapping in aid of racketeering, resulting in death; kidnapping resulting in death and conspiracy to commit kidnapping, resulting in death.

On Nov. 29, 2018, Dencklau; Fisher; Erickson; Kenneth Earl Hause, 64, of

On June 28, 2018, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a fourcount indictment charging Dencklau, Earl Deverle

Aumsville, Ryan Anthony Negrinelli, 36, of Gresham, and Joseph Duane Folkerts, 61, of Battleground, Washington, were charged by superseding indictment with racketeering conspiracy.

In Dec. 2021, the federal jury who convicted Dencklau and Erickson acquitted Erickson and Hause, the GJOMC national president, of racketeering conspiracy.

On April 12, 2022, after previously pleading guilty, Pribbernow was sentenced to 140 months in federal prison. Fisher, Negrinelli, and Folkerts have also pleaded guilty and are

Obscenity Section (CEOS), and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natalie K. Wight and Rachel Sowray from the District of Oregon.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children is encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. Child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document victims’

exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, child victims suffer re-victimization each time the image of their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s website at www.missingkids.org.

The FBI CETF conducts sexual exploitation investigations, many of them undercover, in coordination with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

CETF is committed to locating and arresting those who prey on children as well as recovering and assisting victims of sex trafficking and child exploitation.

Indictment

awaiting sentencing.

Law enforcement partnership Multiple law enforcement agencies and others were involved in the investigation, including the Portland Police Bureau, ATF, the U.S. Marshals Service, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, and the Oregon and Washington State Crime Labs.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In keeping with the Attorney General’s mission to reduce violent crime, the District of Oregon’s PSN program focuses on prosecuting those individuals who most significantly drive violence in our communities, and supports and fosters partnerships between law enforcement, community organizations, and local community leaders to prevent and deter future criminal conduct.

The prosecution is the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the U.S. by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Oregon coast man sentenced for child porn STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

A Warrenton man has been sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting at least two children he met online.

Kirk Richard Cazee, 60, was sentenced Monday, April 18, to 204 months in federal prison followed by a 99-year term of supervised release.

According to court documents, in 2010, the Oregon Department of Justice received a tip that child pornography was being exchanged with an email address later determined to

•

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www. justice.gov/psc.

Fast Fact Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor.

•C rossword P uzzle • • STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: INVENTIONS AND INVENTORS ACROSS

1. Urban haze 5. Da, oui, or si, e.g.

8. Drug-induced state 12. UK art museum 13. Molten rock 14. Hip-hop or classical, e.g.

15. Sportscaster Andrews 16. Angle between branch and offshoot 17. Bioweapon 18. *Reaper inventor 20. Muslim holy man 21. Dampish 22. *The invention of hand sanitizer centered on alcohol as this 23. Stitched again 26. Decipherable 30. United Nations labor agency, acr.

31. Armed robber, on an Indian subcontinent 34. Heart of the matter 35. Impertinent 37. Be in arrears 38. Belgian port city 39. European erupter 40. Popular women’s magazine 42. Back then 43. Make a new sketch 45. Canine’s coat 47. Digital audiotape, acr.

48. Corner joint 50. ____ crazy 52. *Ground beef steak inventor 56. Nordic gl¸hwein 57. Substance abuser 58. Kind of testimony 59. Soft twilled fabric of silk or rayon 60. Casanova, e.g.

61. Anger on road 62. Flock’s affirmation 63. Short for ensign 64. NBA shot

DOWN

1. Flower part 2. Painter Chagall 3. Ear-related 4. DNA sequence 5. Vertical coordinate axis 6. Put out on a curb 7. *Poliomyelitis vaccine inventor 8. *Life-saving maneuver inventor 9. Machu Picchu group 10. Sinister 11. Pecking mother 13. Thin layer 14. Romantic Norwegian composer 19. Disturbing public peace 22. Acquire

23. Early one 24. Carry away, in a way 25. *Edison invented things for its reproduction 26. Stead 27. Flesh of fish 28. Foot-forward squat 29. Glorify 32. *First commercial revolver inventor 33. Harry Potter’s mail carrier 36. *Knitted sweater with open front inventor 38. #4 Down matter, pl.

40. Back of the boat 41. Withdraw from working life 44. Frustration, in print 46. Pergolas 48. *Wide-mouth jar inventor 49. Intestinal obstruction 50. Undesirable location 51. Ruptured 52. Certainly 53. Russia’s mountain range 54. Indian music 55. Big Bang’s original matter 56. Geological Society of America

Solution to crossword in next week’s issue of The Chief.

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• Green jobs and a future to be proud of We live in a critical and transitional time. One where we must bravely face the uncertainty that immediate threats such as climate change have on our collective future.

It is with that in mind that I write in support of NEXT Renewable Fuels’ renewable diesel project at Port Westward.

We must focus our attention and efforts on securing green jobs like those afforded by this project in our com-

•V oices

munity. These are jobs our young people can secure as apprenticeships to build into union-backed careers. Familywage jobs that local workers deserve, and that will help minimize the climate impacts of our members’ typical, out-of-county commutes. Jobs that will put Oregon on the renewable fuels map. Jobs that will make future generations proud, while equipping the current generation with opportunities to stand on the right side of a concerning climate history.

Our community has a unique opportunity to usher in a new wave of green fuel solutions, starting with this re-

• April 23-24 Home & Garden Show 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sunday at the Columbia County Fairgrounds Pavilion Building located at 58892 Saulser Road in St. Helens. The Columbia County Home and Garden Show is presented

by The Chief and The Chronicle and sponsored

by InRoads Credit Union.

See details at thechiefnews.com.

April 23 Rainier Revisited Step back in time to the year 1853 through a living history reenactment of Rainier and local history from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Beaver Homes

of the

newable diesel facility, and we should embrace it. Both for the sustainability of our planet and also for the sustainability of our local economy.

Rarely does doing what’s right for the community and the environment come together in a singular project, but that’s what’s happening with the NEXT Renewable Fuels project. There is no reason to stand in the way of a project with such a direct and positive impact on green job prospects and the environment.

I urge you to support NEXT. Paul Philpott Rainier

Friday, April 22, 2022

C ommunity • •

Supports McQuisten for Governor I am writing to give my full endorsement to Kerry McQuisten for Governor.

Kerry and I became acquainted when I saw her on Fox News shows speaking about the Common Sense Sanctuary that she, Mayor of Baker City, and her city council passed allowing businesses to open in the midst of the shutdowns.

As a Clatskanie city councilor, I reached out to her to see if she would help

me put together a similar resolution for our town. She generously gave her time and expertise, and we were able to also unanimously pass a resolution in Clatskanie to support our local businesses opening despite Kate Brown’s lockdowns.

Our business owners and citizens said it was the first time they had felt hope since the mandates had started.

Since that time, Kerry has proven to me time and again that she is an honest, ethical leader and a true conservative on every point.

Rather than flee our state, as many are doing now, she

has chosen to put her life on hold and fight for all of us!

She’s driven over 40,000 miles across Oregon visiting every county at least twice to meet the citizens and address the concerns we have in every corner of the state. She’s a 7th generation Oregonian with deep roots in the natural resource industries of mining, logging, and ranching. With her expertise as a small business owner and in the corporate world, she knows exactly what we need to get our state back.

Jean Sampson Clatskanie

•C ommunity E vents • •

Grange, 31105 Beaver Homes Road in Rainier.

Cost is one can of food or donation to the nonprofit HOPE of Rainier. For more information, contact Rainier/Senior High School History Club or Mr. Demko at 503-5564215.

April 28 Garden Club Scappoose Garden Club meeting begins at 11 a.m. with a social hour. New members and guests are welcome. The event includes an 11:30 meeting with activities and presentations. The meeting takes place at 51555 SW Old Portland Road in St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church Parish Hall. For more information, email

Scappoosegardenclub@ gmail.com.

April 28 9-1-1 Board Meeting Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District Board of Directors Regular Meeting at 1 p.m. at the Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District Meeting Room via Zoom. For instructions on how to join the meeting via Zoom please contact our Administrative staff at 503-366-6973.

April 29 Judge Grove Retirement The community is invited to attend a retirement celebration for Columbia County Circuit Court Judge Ted Grove. The celebration is scheduled from

3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Columbia View Park, 3 Strand Street in St. Helens.

April 30 Master Gardener Spring Fair Columbia County Master Gardener Association Spring Fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Columbia County Fairgrounds Pavilion, 58892 Saulser Road in St. Helens. Tomato and pepper plants, tomato and general gardening information, vendors and displays, raffle tickets and prizes. Please wear a face mask indoors. Free admission. For more information, call 503-397-4231.

May 2 Concert Columbia City will host a Michael Allen Harrison

concert at the Columbia City Community Hall, 1850 Second Street.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

The concert begins at 6 p.m. Food and nonalcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.

Tickets can be purchased at Columbia City City Hall and are $2.

May 14 Arts Guild Event The Columbia Arts Guild invites the community to an elegant evening of fine art, music, appetizers and conversation from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the St. Helens Community Center, 2625 Gable Road in St. Helens. Paintings by local artists will be available for purchase. For more details call 503-396-0875.

Ongoing Church Suppers Warm up to Easter with Soup Suppers Wednesdays 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church located at 34721 Church Road in Warren.

Lower Columbia River Watershed Council Meets at 7 p.m. every other second Tuesday.

Meetings are currently held electronically by Zoom. For more information, contact Council Coordinator Allan Whiting at E-mail: allan@whitingenv. com, or call 503-789-9240 Visit the council’s website for agenda postings and Zoom at www.lowercolumbiariver.org/events-page.

Pump prices hold steady

Weekly Online Poll Metro Creative Connection

Drivers in Columbia County continue to pay higher prices for gasoline compared to the state average.

The slide in gasoline prices has slowed as crude oil prices and U.S. demand for gasoline rise, according to the latest American Automobile Association (AAA) report.

“The ongoing war in Ukraine and concerns of less Russian oil on the

global market have sent crude prices back above $100 dollars per barrel, and that’s putting upward pressure on pump prices,” an AAA spokesperson said in a release Tuesday, April 19.

The national average for regular holds steady at $4.10 a gallon. The Oregon

average ticks up a penny to $4.68.

In Columbia County, pump prices remain above the state average.

Prices at the pumps took a significant jump, approximately 50 cents a gallon, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Chief

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city of residence will be published). By submitting a letter, writers also grant permission for them to be posted online. Opinions expressed on this page are the writer’s alone and do not represent the opinion of the newspaper or its parent company, Country Media, Inc. Guest commentary We welcome all variety of community viewpoints in the newspaper. These longer, guest opinions might be columns written by newsmakers, public officials or organization representatives. Or you might just have interesting thoughts to share and a penchant for writing. If you’d like to submit a guest column for publication, contact us at (503) 397-0116 or chiefnews@

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countrymedia.net. All columns are subject to editing for style, grammar and clarity. However, views expressed in guest columns are independent and do not represent those of The Chief, its staff or Country Media, Inc. Obituaries Obituaries received after noon on Wednesday may not be in time for that Friday’s paper. Obituaries may be emailed to chiefnews@countrymedia.net, sent via mail, or dropped off at the office. We also accept obituaries written by funeral homes.

Include the address and daytime phone number of the person who submitted the obituary, so we can verify information as necessary.

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2022 Columbia County

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Public Notices

PROTECTING YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW

CC22-1617

IN THE CIRCUIT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of JAMES H. RINCK, SR., Deceased. No. 22PB02911 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PER-SONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed personal representative of this estate. All persons having claims against the

estate are required to present their claims, with vouchers attached, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice to the personal representative at P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048, or the claims may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceedings may obtain

additional information from the records of the Court, the personal representative or the attorney for the personal representative. Dated and first published April 22, 2022. Valancia E. Watkins, Personal Representative. STEPHEN D PETERSEN, L.L.C., Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048.

CC22-1618

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING A public meeting of the Budget Committee of the City of Clatskanie, Columbia County, State of Oregon, to discuss the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 will be held at City Hall, 75 S Nehalem St., Suite D. The meeting will take place on May 5th, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. in the ballroom.

The purpose of the meet-

ing is to receive the budget message and to receive comment from the public on the budget. A copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained on or after April 29, 2022 at 75 S Nehalem St., Suite D, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. This is a public meeting where deliberations of the Budget Committee will take place.

Any person may appear at the meeting and discuss the proposed programs with the Budget Committee. A link to attend the meeting on Zoom will be posted on the website. Any person having special needs should contact the City Manager by May 5, 2022 to make arrangements.

For more information visit the city website at www. cityofclatskanie.com.

CC22-1602

NOTICE OF REFERENCE TO TRUST DEED Reference is made to that certain Trust Deed made by, JEFFREY J. MOBERLY AND LAURA A. MOBERLY, AS TENANTS BY THE ENTIRETY as Grantor to TICOR TITLE COMPANY as Trustee, in favor of HOME CAPITAL FUNDING as Beneficiary dated as of September 21, 2006 and recorded on September 29, 2006 as Instrument No. 2006-012801 and the beneficial interest was assigned to WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB NOT IN ITS CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF THE ASPEN G3 TRUST, A DELAWARE STATUTORY TRUST and recorded October 07, 2021 as Instrument Number 202111582 covering the following described real property situated in the above-mentioned county and state, to wit: APN: 17087/4N1W08-CC-02500 PARCEL 1: BEGINNING AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF TRACT 14, MOUNTAIN VIEW AS PER PLAT ON FILE AND OF RECORD IN THE CLERK`S OFFICE, COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON IN SECTION 8, TOWNSHIP 4 NORTH, RANGE 1 WEST, WILLAMETTE MERIDIAN, COLUMBIA COUNTY. OREGON; THENCE SOUTH 68°55`00” EAST, ALONG THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID TRACT 14, A DISTANCE OF 417.58 FEET TO A 5/8” IRON ROD WITH YELLOW PLASTIC CAP MARKED

“REYNOLDS LAND SURVEYING, INC.” AND THE TRUE POINT OF BEGINNING OF THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED TRACT; THENCE NORTH 21°05`00” EAST A DISTANCE OF 104.31 FEET TO A 5/6” IRON ROD WITH YELLOW PLASTIC CAP MARKED “REYNOLDS LAND SURVEYING, INC.” ON THE NORTHERLY LINE OF THE CRAIG A. CARLSEN AND CAROLYN L. CARLSEN TRACT AS DESCRIBED IN INSTRUMENT NO. 96-02621, CLERK`S RECORDS, COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON; THENCE SOUTH 68°55`00” EAST, ALONG SAID NORTHERLY LINE, A DISTANCE OF 222.42 FEET TO THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF SAID CARLSEN TRACT; THENCE SOUTH 21°05`00” WEST, ALONG THE EASTERLY LINE OF SAID CARLSEN TRACT, A DISTANCE OF 104.31 FEET TO THE SOUTHEAST CORNER THEREOF; THENCE NORTH 68°55`00” WEST, ALONG THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID TRACT 14, A DISTANCE OF 222.42 FEET TO THE TRUE POINT OF BEGINNING. PARCEL 2: AN EASEMENT FOR THE LOCATION, USE AND MAINTENANCE OF A PUMPHOUSE AND WELL BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT THE SOUTHWEST

CORNER OF TRACT 14, MOUNTAIN VIEW AS PER PLAT ON FILE AND OF RECORD IN THE CLERK`S OFFICE, COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON IN SECTION 8, TOWNSHIP 4 NORTH, RANGE 1 WEST, WILLAMETTE MERIDIAN, COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON; THENCE NORTH 21°05`00” EAST, ALONG THE WEST LINE OF SAID TRACT 14, A DISTANCE OF 104.31 FEET TO THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF PARCEL 1 OF THE LEO R. GALLENTINE AND PATRICIA A. GALLENTINE TRACT AS DESCRIBED IN BOOK 269, PAGE 521, DEED RECORDS OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON; THENCE SOUTH 68°55`00” EAST, ALONG THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID PARCEL 1 OF THE GALLENTINE TRACT, A DISTANCE OF 341.60 FEET TO THE SOUTHEAST CORNER THEREOF; SAID POINT ALSO BEING THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF PARCEL 2 OF SAID GALLENTINE TRACT; THENCE CONTINUING SOUTH 68°55`00” EAST, ALONG THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID PARCEL 2, A DISTANCE OF 91.40 FEET TO THE TRUE POINT OF BEGINNING OF THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED EASEMENT; THENCE CONTINUING SOUTH 68°55`00” EAST, ALONG THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID PARCEL 2, A

CC22-1613

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF PEGGY J. JOHNSON, DECEASED IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of PEGGY J. JOHNSON, Deceased. No. 22PB01975 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed personal representa-

tive of this estate. All persons having claims against the estate are required to present their claims, with vouchers attached, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice to the personal representative at P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048, or the claims may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceed-

ings may obtain additional information from the records of the Court, the personal representative or the attorney for the personal representative. Dated and first published April 15, 2022. Ernie Johnson, Personal Representative.

STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C. Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048.

CC22-1619

NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE HEARING The Budget Committee of the City of Clatskanie will hold a Public Hearing at City Hall on May 5th, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. in the ballroom, re-garding the

proposed use of approximately $20,000 in State Revenue Sharing Funds in the fiscal year 2022-23 budget. A link to attend the meeting on Zoom will be

posted on the website at www.cityofclatskanie.com.

Any person having special needs should contact the City Manager by May 5, 2022.

DISTANCE OF 9.00 FEET; THENCE NORTH 21°05`00” EAST A DISTANCE OF 3.00 FEET; THENCE NORTH 68°55`00” WEST A DISTANCE OF 9.00 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 21°05`00” WEST A DISTANCE OF 3.00 FEET TO THE TRUE POINT OF BEGINNING. Commonly known as: 58007 FISHER LANE, SAINT HELENS, OR 97051 Both the Beneficiary, WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB NOT IN ITS CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF THE ASPEN G3 TRUST, A DELAWARE STATUTORY TRUST, and the Trustee, Nathan F. Smith, Esq., have elected to sell the said real property to satisfy the obligations secured by said Trust Deed and notice has been recorded pursuant to Section 86.735(3) of Oregon Revised Statutes. The default for which the foreclosure is made is the Grantor’s failure to pay: THE INSTALLMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST WHICH BECAME DUE ON November 20, 2011 AND ALL SUBSEQUENT INSTALLMENTS, ALONG WITH LATE CHARGES, PLUS FORECLOSURE COSTS AND LEGAL FEES, IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS PER THE DEED OF TRUST, PROMISSORY NOTE AND ALL RELATED LOAN DOCUMENTS. 125 Delinquent Payments $26,394.90 Accrued Late

Charge(s) $926.90 Unpaid Charges $951.92 TOTAL REQUIRED TO REINSTATE $28,273.721 Wherefore, notice is hereby given that, the undersigned Trustee will on AUGUST 19, 2022 at the hour of 12:00 PM, Standard of Time, as established by Section 187.110, Oregon Revised Statues, at the west entrance to the Columbia County Courthouse, 230 Strand St., Saint 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 Deed reinstated by payment to the Beneficiary of the entire amount then due (other than such portion of said principal as would not then be due had no default occurred), together with the costs, Trustee’s or attorney’s fees and curing any other default complained of in the Notice of Default by tender-

ing the performance required under the obligation or Trust Deed, at any time prior to five days before the date last set for sale. Without limiting the Trustee’s disclaimer of representations or warranties, Oregon law requires the Trustee to state in this notice that some residential property sold at a Trustee’s sale may have been used in manufacturing methamphetamines, the chemical components of which are known to be toxic.

Prospective purchasers of residential property should be aware of this potential danger before deciding to place a bid for this property at the Trustee’s sale. In construing this notice, the masculine gender includes the feminine and the neuter, the singular includes plural, the word “Grantor” includes any successor in interest to the Grantor as well as any other persons owing an obligation, the performance of which is secured by said Trust Deed, the words “Trustee” and “Beneficiary” includes their respective successors in interest, if any. Dated: March 24, 2022 By: Nathan F. Smith, Esq., OSB #120112 Successor Trustee Malcolm & Cisneros, A Law Corporation Attention: Nathan F. Smith, Esq., OSB #120112 c/o Special Default Services, Inc. 17100 Gillette Ave, Irvine, CA 92614 (949) 225-5945 Order Number 81170, Pub Dates: 4/8/2022, 4/15/2022, 4/22/2022, 4/29/2022, THE CLATSKANIE CHIEF

CC22-1616

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING A public meeting of the Columbia County 4-H and Extension Service District, Columbia County, State of Oregon to discuss the budget for the fiscal year July1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 will be held on Thursday, May 12th, 2022 at 10:15am at the Courthouse, Room 310, 230 Strand Street, St. Helens, Oregon. The purpose of the meeting is to receive the budget message

and to receive comment from the public on the budget. This is a public meeting where deliberation of the Budget Committee will take place.

Any person may attend to ask questions or comment on the budget document. A copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained on or after May 12th, 2022 at https:// extension. oregonstate.edu/ columbia or email chip.bubl@

oregonstate.edu or call 503 397-3462 and leave a message to have a copy sent. Notice: The meeting will be conducted in person and digitally over Go To Meeting: https://meet.goto. com/289007645 United States (Toll Free): 1 866 899 4679 Access Code: 289-007-645.

Information about the hearing process will be placed on the Extension Service website above.

CC22-1620

NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING The Clatskanie Planning Commission will meet for a regular meeting on Wednesday, April 27th, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, upstairs in the Clatskanie Cultural Center. Agenda items in-

clude but are not limited to the following: Approval of the minutes of the February 23rd, 2022, regular meeting; a Public Hearing will be held to review a request for home occupation permit and a temporary housing

permit, both at 1000 Jeff Court. An updated agenda will be available at City Hall

by April 22, 2022. Please go to the city website, www. cityofclatskanie.com to access the link to attend the meeting on Zoom.

A6

www.thechiefnews.com

Friday, April 22, 2022

•

•C rossword S olutions • •

Solution for the April 15, 2022 crossword puzzle

Photos by Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief

Children scamper across the field, searching for the Easter treats during the mEGGa hunt event at the Fairgrounds.

Easter Egg Hunt: A children’s affair Helens. Young and old alike lined up at age-appropriate sectioned-off locations in the grassy field at the Columbia County Fairgrounds for the Easter event.

A Columbia River Fire & Rescue crew aboard a large yellow fire truck parked

alongside the field sounded the rig’s horn to signal the start of the hunt.

Children swarmed the field, reaching down and picking up bright colored wrapped candy and before you knew it, the hunt was over, and all the candy re-

trieved.

The 2020 mEGGa Egg Hunt had been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and last year’s hunt was held as a drive-thru event.

Other Easter egg hunts were conducted in Clatskanie, Rainier and Scappoose.

according to the post. “The bear was brought to the police department where it had quite an adventuresome evening. The bear is now ready to be reunited with its family. Please call or stop by the department if this is your furry friend. 503-556-3644.”

Stoddard said she first

became acquainted with the Facebook post when it circulated in one of her group chats.

“I’m in my son’s baseball team group texts,” Stoddard said. “One of the moms saw the post and sent it in the group text, and that’s how I saw it.”

At around 3:30 p.m., Stoddard took Karly to the police station to retrieve her furry companion.

According to Stoddard,

Karly’s initial reaction was, “want(ing) to know if they could find out who stole her teddy bear.”

“I think it’s great. It’s beautiful. I thought it was very sweet,” Stoddard said of the Rainier Police Department’s response. “It was a kind gesture.”

“Even with the police posing the bear on their car with the lights and stuff, I thought that was very funny and very cute,” she added.

“I’m very thankful for our community.”

According to Sullivan, the officers’ scope of responsibilities goes beyond chasing down bad guys and making arrests.

“I think criminal calls are only a part of what we do.

We actually do a fair amount of community policing,” she said. “If we have something that’s important to the citizens, it’s important to our department.”

COVID-19

Changes to COVID-19 data reporting

vaccination and booster rates, and other developments.”

Breakthrough cases aren’t a new phenomenon. In an April 8, 2021 press release, approximately one year ago from today, the OHA reported 168 breakthrough infections.

“No vaccine is 100% effective, and vaccine breakthrough cases will occur,” the April 2021 release states.

“Fortunately, these cases remain uncommon.”

Cieslak, M.D., medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations, why an adult with a low risk of hospitalization or death from COVID-19 should get vaccinated as breakthrough infections become more common.

“I would say that there is a risk,” he responded. “It is much smaller in younger people, but there is definitely a risk for severe disease. We know that kids can get this multi-system inflammatory syndrome, which can put them in the hospital and really be quite serious even if they don’t succumb to it. And then remember that there’s the risk of long COVID. So I do think even in young people COVID-19 is worth preventing for those reasons.”

JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

Hundreds of families braved the chilly Saturday morning, April 16, to join the fun at the 22nd annual mEGGa Egg Hunt in St.

TEDDY From Page A1

From Page A1 efficacy, telling The Chief that vaccines don’t prevent spread “nearly as effectively” as the risk of hospitalization and death.

“As the proportion of the vaccinated population increases, we will see an increasing proportion of cases, hospitalization and deaths which are vaccinated even if vaccine effectiveness remains the same,” he added.

According to the OHA’s own COVID-19 Vaccination Metrics, the number of people in Oregon completing their COVID-19 vaccination series increased only modestly from December 2021 to April.

The data would suggest that an increase in people receiving their primary vaccination series is insufficient to explain the month-by-month rise in COVID-19 breakthrough infections.

INVESTIGATION

From Page A1

Down the road, we look forward to the possibility of doing this alongside the De La Salle North Catholic community.

Ryan Tompkins Clatskanie Middle High School Dean of Students/Athletic Director After receiving the CMHS April 20 response, The Chief sent Tompkins the following questions in which he responded: The Chief: You state in the release: “Our resolution from these events is to continue to educate and promote students at Clatskanie Middle High School that celebrate differences and embrace equality around them.” Given this event, how specifically is the Clatskanie School District educating and promoting students now, and what more needs to be done to help students celebrate and embrace equality?

Ryan Tompkins: Clatskanie will (and has) been promoting equity and tolerance education with our student body: • CMHS held implicit bias training for staff last school year and will provide it for student athletes/ coaches through NFHS learn (National Federation of State High School Associations Learning Center) for the 2022/23 school year.

• CMHS with support of the OSAA Foundation’s

On March 30, the OHA announced it would reduce COVID-19 breakthrough infections reporting from weekly to monthly publications.

The Chief asked Owens why the OHA would release fewer reports when breakthrough infections are at an all-time high.

Owens offered the following response.

“As we explained in our March 30 release announcing our new reporting cadence, with cases and hospitalizations having declined following a surge due to Omicron, and with public having the knowledge and tools to protect themselves, OHA is adapting to the latest phase of the pandemic.”

“Our cadence for sharing data does not mean the pandemic is over. As we shared, OHA will continue to monitor and report cases, deaths, hospitalizations, variants, Equity and Diversity Grant, had a guest speaker presentation on equity for Martin Luther King Day. • Clatskanie Athletics has applied to become an OSAA S.T.A.R. school. This will include actions regarding the posting of signage for sportsmanship and harassment reporting, communication procedures prior to contests, and utilizing the Public Address announcer for sportsmanship scripts.

• The CSD will continue to promote equity, with their recent implementation of a District Equity Team.

• The Clatskanie school board has been at the forefront of promoting equity and inclusion with their early adoption of the “Every Student Belongs” rule in October 2020.

The Chief: What do you hope the students involved and the parents of those students understand about what occurred during the game and how such alleged incidents can be damaging and should be avoided?

Tompkins: As they should, both the Clatskanie and De La Salle communities have vehemently supported their girls regarding the events from that night.

Unfortunately, as both the Clatskanie and OSAA investigations have shown, there is no definitive way to determine the complete details of what was said. I feel for the girls from both schools and hope that these events have not affected their view of the causes of social justice in a negative way. In order to help prevent this from happening again, the following has been ensured:

OHA case update During a Wednesday, April 20 press briefing, OHA’s Public Health Division Deputy State Health Officer and Deputy State Epidemiologist Tom Jeanne, M.D., M.P.H., said that as of April 19, the seven-day average case count was 600.

Daily hospitalizations, on the other hand, have dropped to fewer than 100 from Winter’s peak.

At Wednesday’s briefing, The Chief asked Paul • A clearer path for the reporting of harassment • Establishment of a policy of action for addressing reports of harassment • Clear communication routines to ensure the protection of all student athletes from feeling unsafe or harassed during co-curricular activities.

The Chief has reached out to administrators at De La Salle North Catholic School for a response. The following is a response from Oscar Leong, President of De La Salle North Catholic School.

Although this has been very traumatic for our girls, coaches and community, I do believe a whole lot of good has come out of it that will positively impact student athletes of color in the shortand long-term future in the State of Oregon.

New and very meaningful protocols for ALL high school sports, game officials and how future incidents are handled have been created from this specific incident.

I am thankful for the help and support of both OSAA and the third-party investigation team through this entire process - the voices of our girls, coaches and community were heard and validated by both the required action items and the probation brought upon Clatskanie HS as a result of the incident that occurred on December 14, 2021.

The OSAA’s Peter Weber told The Chief that the association doesn’t share its letter to schools or the third-party investigative report.

North Columbia County’s trusted local news source

For the latest information and updates on COVID-19, visit govstatus.egov.com/OROHA-COVID-19 and follow developments at thechiefnews.com and in Friday print editions of The Chief.

“As with any situation like this involving our member schools, our efforts are focused on education and training for schools, officials, and communities to interrupt behaviors, prevent re-occurrence, and promote healing for those impacted,” Weber said. “The OSAA remains resolute that all involved in interscholastic activities must be able to participate in a welcoming and safe environment and is committed to working with our membership to make that happen.”

Read previous coverage at thechiefnews.com.

•

•O bituaries • •

Beverly Jane Lahti

March 4, 1936 ~ March 25, 2022

Born to August and Gertrude Koski, Beverly “Bev,” was the youngest of twelve children growing up and attending Westport and then Clatskanie schools. On Aug. 3, 1953, Bev married her high school sweetheart Alvin “Leroy” Lahti.

Together, Bev and Leroy had four daughters, then to their surprise, they welcomed Craig Leroy Lahti on Nov. 29, 1965. Tragically, he was taken in a hunting accident on Thanksgiving Day 1983.

Bev drove a school bus in Clatskanie for 22 years, taking many trips out of town with various sports teams through the years.

In addition, she and Leroy owned the Ford garage in Clatskanie and Hilltop Bowl in Seaview, Washington.

Bev enjoyed hosting family gatherings for every occasion, cooking and spend-

ing time with loved ones.

Her other favorite pastimes were clam digging, bowling, reading, collecting books and of course her trips to the casino. On her last trip, all four daughters were able to go, having a Lahti ladies good time.

Surviving are daughters, Janet (Joren) Isaacson, Gayle (Gary) Palm, Terri Lahti, and Debbie (Phil) Bounds; eight grandchildren; and 15 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by all of her siblings; husband Leroy; and son Craig.

A private graveside service was held. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to hospice or your favorite charity.

A special thank you to family friend Malcomb (and Jackie) Groulx for speaking at the service and for all the help you have given.

Robert Allan Erickson

Nov. 27, 1939 ~ March 28, 2022 Robert Allan Erickson, 82, of Clatskanie, Oregon passed away at Peace Health in Longview on March 28, 2022. Robert was born in downtown Clatskanie in the then upstairs hospital on Nov. 27, 1939 to Irvin Oscar and Jennie Marie Erickson.

Jennie’s family ran the Sippo Dairy for some time, and he grew up in Mayger, Oregon.

He finished high school and entered the US Navy. He served 22 years.

He had one brother Jon and sister-in-law Colleen, and niece Ginger Stinson of Gresham, Oregon.

He married Barbara (Bob-

bi) Lentz in 1985, and after RVing about ten years, they bought a home in Clatskanie where he lived until his death.

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Come see us at the Home & Garden Show April 23 & 24 Columbia County Fair Grounds.