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Clatskanie students take awards at Music Festival

Chief Guest Article

The Clatskanie Middle/High School (CMHS) Jazz Band and Concert Choir students have returned from the Heritage Music Festival in Anaheim, California.

The event April 21 through 23 was the first big trip outside Oregon for the two groups, allowing the students to showcase their prodigious talent. The band and choir were originally scheduled to perform in Vancouver, Canada in 2020, but that trip was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic. This left 50 disappointed students, but no worries.

“But all the music groups kept playing and singing,” CMHS Music Teacher Jaime Erwin said. “They learned their music over Zoom and continued to practice. They worked very hard to perfect their songs. They held practices and concerts outdoors. They wore masks to ensure everyone’s safety.”

“It was a long time coming,”

Erwin said. “Because they were freshmen when our original trip was cancelled. So, this trip was significant. It was really the first time on a plane for most of them, the first time at Disneyland and the first time in California. It was significant for all of them.”

Erwin added that the overall experience in school band and choir gives the students life-long learning skills.

“I keep telling them, that the music world is a small world,” she

said. “They can make life-long friends, life-long connections, as well as learn live-long skills. Playing an instrument and vocalizing is not easy. It takes practice, dedication and selfdiscipline.”

Fast forward three years. With the threat of COVID safely behind them,

to perform. Both groups came back from Anaheim with awards for their performances. Both groups placed in the Silver Categories, meaning they scored above 80 out of 100.

Senior Choir member Som-

mer Burnard received the “Maestro Award” for her solo in Homeward Bound. Twelve students were recognized for their outstanding accomplishments, out of 1,000 total.

Erwin said one of the highlights of the trip was the students and chaperones getting to spend most of Saturday in Disneyland.

The Clatskanie Community Choir will hold their second concert at 7 p.m. April 28, in the Donavon Wooley Performing Arts Center at CMHS. The concert is scheduled to last approximately 40 minutes. A variety of special songs will be included. The cost is free, but donations are welcome.

Social media frenzy sparks county defense

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

Following posts on social media about convictions against Columbia County’s Animal Control Officer from 1995, the county has released a statement to address the comments.

A Facebook post in the Columbia County Transparency & Accountability (CCTA) Facebook group on April 18 detailed convictions against Animal Control Officer Roger Kadell from more than 20 years ago.

“Well DPSST came through today. Roger Kadell, Columbia County Animal Control Office, currently under the supervision of Brian Pixley was convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a

minor. This conviction required revocation of his police certification,” the post states. Columbia County’s Public Information Officer Mark Pacheco issued a statement on behalf of the county to address the social media comments.

The statement reads in full:

• About Columbia County’s Animal Control Officers Animal Control Officers commissioned by Columbia County are not certified law enforcement officers.

The county authorizes these general employees to enforce animal regulations and investigate animal

abuse. The Land Development Services (LDS) Department managed the animal control operation for the county until 2010, when the function was transferred to the Sheriff’s Office.

• About Roger Kadell’s Employment Columbia County hired Roger Kadell as an Animal Control Officer in 2005, and he has been a valued member of our team for 18 years. Roger has been an outstanding employee who provides invaluable services to the community. His

See KADELL Page A4

State issues Paid Leave advisory for employers

tions or concerns.

Oregon Employment Department’s online portal, is also online.

first time employers will include Paid Leave Oregon contributions.

Almost all employers and employees in Oregon are covered by and must contribute to the Paid Leave Oregon trust fund. The only exceptions are Tribal governments and federal employees. Small employers do not contribute the employer portion but must still collect and submit employee contributions.

If employers are reporting subject wages for Unemployment Insurance, then they need to report

for Paid Leave Oregon as well. Even reimbursing employers who do not pay taxes for Unemployment Insurance are responsible for pay-

ing paid leave contributions. We want employers, both large and small, to know we are here to help

• We are offering an open house at noon Thursday, April 27, when employers can drop in and ask questions. Experts from the Oregon Employment Department will provide answers in real time about how to use Frances Online to file combined payroll for both Paid Leave Oregon and the Unemployment Insurance Program.

• Registration is online.

• Employers can call 503-9471488 with contributions questions.

Resources for filing using Frances Online, including video demonstrations, FAQS, and guides are found online. A video showing how to file in Frances Online,

Paid Leave Oregon allows employees to take paid time off for some of life’s most important moments. It covers leave for the birth or adoption of a child, for serious illness or injury, for taking care of a seriously ill family member, and for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or harassment.

Contributions to the program by large employers and all employees, regardless of employer size, started January 1. Benefits will be available to employees in September 2023.

For more information, call the Oregon Employment Department at 503-947-1488.

Columbia County Animal Control Officer Roger Kadell.

LAUREY WHITE

Courtesy photo from Jaime Erwin

The CMHS musicians and CMHS student Sommer Burnard.

Courtesy photo from Jaime Erwin Summer Burnard holds her award.

Wood products industry still important

BRIAN ROONEY

Chief Guest Article

Once Oregon’s largest manufacturing industry, employment in the wood product manufacturing industry has gone through large, well-publicized losses since the early 1990s. Its employment dropped below that of computer and electronic manufacturing and food manufacturing in recent years. Despite the losses, wood product manufacturing is still a large industry in Oregon and is especially important to rural areas of the state.

Employment Trends

Over the long term, between 1990 and 2020, annual average employment in wood product manufacturing dropped 24,100, or 52%. Similar losses were experienced in all its subsectors. Sawmills and wood preservation dropped 5,900 (49%); plywood and engineered wood products dropped 9,500 (53%); and all other wood product manufacturing, which includes millwork and prefabricated buildings, dropped 8,700 (54%).

Although the industry has been in decline over the long term, it trended upward for a short period during a national housing boom between 2003 and 2005. During that period, the industry increased from an annual average of 31,100 jobs to 32,700, an increase of 1,600, or 5.1%.

Then the Great Recession hit the industry hard. The overall wood product manufacturing industry dropped 13,500 (41%) between 2005 and 2011. After the Great Recession, the industry was slow to rebound, adding 4,000 jobs, or 21%, between 2011 and 2019. Low demand from U.S. single-family home construction coming out of the recession is one reason for the slowness of the rebound. The prerecession peak of roughly 1.7 million starts in 2005 dropped to a low of 430,000 in 2011. Single-family starts had recovered to 888,000 in 2019, causing some increase in demand for wood products.

In 2020, employment in wood product manufacturing declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting restrictions, but not as much as some other industry sectors. The industry declined by 1,200 jobs or 5.2% on an annual average

basis in 2020 compared with the 6.3% decline in total employment. Unlike the Great Recession, housing starts continued to grow during the COVID-19-induced recession, reaching 990,000 in 2020, helping to drive up lumber demand and prices. Annual average employment for wood product manufacturing in 2020 was 22,000. It had grown back to prepandemic levels at 23,400 by 2022.

Smaller Harvest, Technology, and Economies of Scale Contribute to Decline

Several structural shifts in the wood products industry have contributed to the long-term employment decline. First, there was a drop in timber harvests from environmental concerns in the early 1990s. As harvest from federal lands reduced the amount of available raw material to mills, employment dropped, indicating that harvest reductions were a cause for the employment loss in the early 1990s.

New technologies brought another structural change to the industry by making lumber mills less labor intensive. Employment continued to drop even after harvest levels stabilized in the late 1990s and employment did not increase much despite a housing construction boom in the mid-2000s.

Jobs in wood product manufacturing per million board feet harvested dropped steadily after 2000, at least partly due to technology.

Lumber production per worker in Oregon is another way to look at efficiency gains. By combining Western Wood Products Association production data with sawmill employment data we can create a measure of lumber production per worker. It increased rapidly in the early 2000s, going from 806,000 board feet per worker in 2000 to 1.1 million in 2005. It then dropped back to 791,000 board feet during the Great Recession. It’s likely that mills cut production through fewer hours to some extent instead of letting go of workers during the recession. After the recession, production per worker increased to the elevated levels it had reached before the recession, reaching roughly 1.2 million board feet in 2017. Production per worker has stayed close to 1.2 million board feet per worker

through 2021.

In addition to new technologies, smaller mills were shuttered, creating efficiency through economies of scale (larger mills can produce more per worker). The average production of sawmills operating in the western U.S. increased as smaller mills were shuttered and efficiency increased through economies of scale and new technology. Between 1990 and 2021, the number of mills in the western U.S. dropped from 600 to 144 while average production per mill increased from about 35 million board feet per year to 102 million board feet per year.

Wood Products Are Still Important in Oregon, Especially in Rural Areas

Even with the longterm decline, wood product manufacturing is still a large industry in Oregon. In 2022, there were 23,000 people employed and roughly $1.5 billion in total payroll in the industry. While statewide the industry makes up only 1.2% of total employment and 1.2% of total payroll, the concentration is much higher in some counties, especially rural ones. For instance, in Curry County 7.6% of total employment and 11.0% of total payroll was in wood product manufacturing. Most of the counties with a high concentration of employment in wood product manufacturing are rural.

In counties where the percent of total payroll exceeds the percent of total employment, average wages are higher in wood product manufacturing than the overall average wage. This is the case in most of the rural counties listed, indicating that wood product manufacturing provides some of the higher paying jobs in rural counties.

Jobs Generally Pay Well and Do Not Require High Levels of Education

The top 20 occupations in wood product manufacturing

are mostly medium wage but do not require high levels of education. All of the top 20 occupations have a typical entry-level education of a high school diploma or less. Some of the more technical occupations like industrial machinery mechanics and electricians have average annual wages of more than $60,000 a year and have a typical entry-level education of a high school diploma, providing opportunity for those who don’t pursue a college degree.

Forecast

Employment projections from the Oregon Employment Department show that wood product manufacturing employment is expected to gain 1,000 jobs (4%) between 2021 and 2031. Like many industries, wood product manufacturing has an aging workforce reaching retirement age. This creates demand for workers

through replacement needs. Aside from gaining 1,000 jobs between 2021 and 2031, there are expected to be roughly 8,700 openings from people leaving the industry and the labor force, largely

due to retirements. Brian Rooney is a Oregon Employment Department Regional Economist. He may be reached at brian.t.rooney@ employ.oregon.gov, or at 541-359-9546.

Endorsed by Larry Ericksen, former Port Commissioner; Rick Scholl, Mayor of St Helens; Bob Brajcich, Mayor of Clatskanie; Chip Bubl, Port of Columbia County Commissioner

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There are expected to be roughly 8,700 openings from people leaving the industry and the labor force, largely due to retirements.

Preparedness, Incident Response Equipment Grant

Country Media, Inc.

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) has announced the recipients of the second round of its $5 million State Preparedness and Incident Response Equipment (SPIRE) Grant

The grants include funding for specialized vehicles and vessels for Columbia County.

The SPIRE Grant funds the purchase and distribution of equipment to be used during an emergency to decrease the risk of loss of life and property damage.

The grant’s most recent round funded 45 awardees with 64 pieces of equipment (a full list of equipment and recipients can be found at the bottom of this release).

“The SPIRE Grant provides practical equipment to help save lives and property during emergencies by allowing for a more efficient response at the local level,”

OEM Grants Coordinator Carole Sebens said. “Oregon Department of Emergency Management is prioritizing filling gaps in communities across Oregon to ensure our partners have the equipment they need to respond to emergencies and disasters that may impact their region.”

Applications were open to any organization responsible for or containing expertise in emergency preparedness that

is a local government, special government body, or a 501(c) (3) private organization, including federally recognized tribes. A selection committee comprised of volunteers from different emergency management disciplines and geographic areas reviewed the applications using criteria provided by the state. Recipients were selected based on four principles: The demonstrated need, the ability to keep and maintain the equipment, an inventory process and a commitment to partnership-based support.

The first round of the SPIRE Grant took place in 2019 and funded 79 awardees with 81 pieces of equipment, ranging from water purification trailers, mass casualty incident support trailers and high-axle all-terrain vehicles to portable power generators, fuel transportation tankers and mobile water tankers. A third grant round will open later this year. Learn more at oregon. gov/oem/emresources/ Grants/Pages/Spire.aspx.

SPIRE Grant round two equipment and recipients

500 Gallon Fuel Trailer

• City of Cannon Beach

• City of Dallas Police Department

• City of Gresham

• City of Oakland

• Clatsop County Emer-

gency Management

• Grant County Sheriff’s Office

• Southwestern Polk County Rural Fire District

• Tualatin Valley Water District

Communications/Tactical Command Vehicle

• Wasco County Emergency Management

Communication Unit

• Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Manage ment Durable 10+Pax Transport Vehicle

• Clackamas County Fire District No.

Kotek takes action to protect medication abortions

STAFF REPORT

Country Media, Inc.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has announced that the state of Oregon has partnered with Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) to secure a three-year supply of Mifepristone – a safe and effective medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over 20 years ago for use in miscarriage management and to end a pregnancy.

The U.S. Supreme Court has delayed issuing a decision on a lower-court ruling

that would limit access to medication abortion.

“By challenging the FDA’s authority over Mifepristone, the lower court decisions set an alarming precedent of putting politics above established science, medical evidence, and a patient’s health, life, and well-being–with potential implications beyond this one medication,” Kotek said. “This meritless lawsuit is part of a larger campaign to ban abortion in every state, including those with legal protections for abortion access. We cannot afford to stand by and watch our fun-

damental right to reproductive health care be stripped away.”

In response to the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration lawsuit in Texas, part of the escalating efforts to ban abortion nationwide, Governor Kotek directed the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to work with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to explore all available avenues to safeguard access to reproductive health care in Oregon.

The Governor’s office and OHA reached out to Oregon providers to better

understand the challenges and impacts on the provision of reproductive health care in the current environment and what additional state support might be necessary. Kotek then directed the state to partner with OHSU to secure 22,500 dosages of Mifepristone to ensure that reproductive health providers across the state can maintain access and continue to provide patients with safe and effective miscarriage management and abortion care.

In a separate mifepristone-related lawsuit co-led by Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, a federal judge in Washington state issued a decision contradicting the Texas lawsuit and directing the FDA not to make any changes to the availability of the drug within Oregon and the 16 other states and the District of Columbia who joined the litigation as that Washington case makes its way through the courts.

Kotek is also directing the state’s licensing boards to issue guidance to Oregon providers clarifying that Oregon supports providers in continuing to provide reproductive health care, consistent with the estab-

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Gov. Kotek has directed the state to secure a three-year supply of Mifepristone and pledges to protect and defend patients and providers.

lished standards of care, in cluding prescribing, dispens ing and using mifepristone regardless of the upcoming Supreme Court decision in the Texas lawsuit.

As states continue to pass laws targeting abortion patients, providers, and people assisting patients, Kotek said she will refuse non-fugitive extradition of individuals for criminal prosecution for receiving legal reproductive healthcare services in Oregon, supporting patients in accessing reproductive healthcare services in Oregon, or providing legal

Cory Johnson

able to access the medication they need and providers are able to provide that medication without unnecessary, politicallymotivated interference and intimidation,” Kotek said.

“To our providers, to the patients who live in Oregon or have been forced to come to our state for care, and to those who are helping people access the care they need, know that I have your back.”

May 20, 1996 ~ April 13, 2023

Cory Wayne Johnson was born on May 20, 1996, in Tucson, Arizona, to David and Carol Johnson. He grew up in Rainier, Oregon and graduated from North Columbia Academy in 2014. He was a loving father who enjoyed fishing, being outdoors, spending time with loved ones and lending a hand to anyone in need.

He passed away on April

13th in Rainier, Oregon. Cory is survived by his wife Symone Stratton; their three young children, Abel, Gunner and Kacey Bo; parents, Carol and Dave Johnson; siblings, Eric Walker, Matthew Ormsby (Gabrielle), Wesley Ormsby, and Chasity Johnson; and too many friends to mention.

A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

Vance Fraser

Sept. 4, 1958 ~ April 20, 2023

Vance Fraser, 64, of Clatskanie, Oregon, passed away April 20, 2023 in Clatskanie, Oregon.

in unclaimed funds to be returned to Oregonians

the state in 2018.

STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.

The Oregon Treasury will return approximately $10 million in unclaimed funds as part of the “Checks Without Claims” initiative.

The 2023 effort will be the largest mass disbursement of funds by Oregon’s Unclaimed Property Program to date, according to State Treasure Tobias Read.

“We’re excited to return millions of dollars in unclaimed funds to their rightful owners,” Read said. “In-addition to collecting and safeguarding Oregonians’ unclaimed property, Treasury is committed to raising awareness across Oregon and offering easy, accessible ways for individuals to find and claim money owed to them.”

Through “Checks Without Claims”, Treasury will return unclaimed funds to individuals over the course of three phases in the first half of 2023.

• In February, the first phase was to disburse payments to verified owners of unclaimed funds reported to

KADELL

From Page A1

efficiency and professionalism are well-suited to the demands of the position. There will be no other further comments issued by the county on this matter.

Social media discussion

The social media post from Facebook user “Yvonne Pea” on the CCTA Facebook page cited records received from the Oregon Department

• In April, the second phase will disburse payments to verified owners of unclaimed funds reported to the state in 2019.

• In June, the third phase will disburse payments to verified owners of unclaimed funds reported to the state in 2020.

Individuals identified as the owner of unclaimed funds currently held by Oregon’s Unclaimed Property Program will be notified via letter from Treasurer Read a month prior to payment if they are part of the “Checks Without Claims” initiative. Payments, via check, will be mailed to individuals and accompanied by an additional confirmation letter from the Treasurer.

With over $1 billion in unclaimed funds currently held by the state, “Checks Without Claims” is one way to reconnect more Oregonians with their unclaimed money and property, according to Read.

Payments distributed through “Checks Without Claims” represent unclaimed property reported

of Public Safety Standards and Training. The post stated that Kadell had been convicted of “ORS 163.435 (a)being a male engages in sexual intercourse with a female under 18, (c)deviate sexual intercourse with another person under 18 of age or causes that person to engage in deviate sexual intercourse.”

Within the post, concerns about Kadell’s police certification being revoked were raised. The post generated buzz within the group, and there are more than 23 comments from members of the group.

to the state in 2018, 2019, and 2020 by various businesses and organizations that were unable to return funds to the rightful owner. Common examples of unclaimed property include uncashed checks, forgotten bank accounts, tax refunds, credit balances, investment accounts, payroll checks, refunds, and more.

Typically, individuals

Statement from Kadell

In response to the social media discussion, Kadell contacted the Chronicle to provide context and information. Kadell addressed social media comments about his ineligibility for certification.

“The post failed to mention that the Police Policy Committee stated that it must identified and considered mitigating and aggravated circumstances in their decisions. The committee noted favorable treatment and no further issues in his public

need to file a claim with Oregon’s Unclaimed Property Program and complete the verification process to receive the funds they are owed, according to Read.

The state treasury conducts “Checks Without Claims” to proactively verify some owners of unclaimed assets and facilitate payments directly to them. Checks distributed will vary in amount

service career. Based on the period of time and efforts towards rehabilitation, the Police Policy Committee recommended that my eligibility to apply for public safety certification be restored. This motion was carried unanimously,” Kadell said. Kadell gave more detail on why he has not been recertified and addressed other concerns from the social media posts.

Kadell’s statement:

“Key factors listed in the discussion was that the

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between $50 and $10,000.

The effort excludes payments to owners of more challenging claims such as safety deposit boxes, securities, or co-owned property. To recover funds that were not distributed as part of “Checks Without Claims” individuals can search for an unclaimed asset and file a claim at unclaimed. oregon.gov.

conduct did not involve Dishonesty, nor Disregard for the rights of others. My status after this hearing and today remains eligible for certification if hired in a certified position. DPSST, however, does not certify Animal Control Officers.

• “2nd, Social media posts have begun to question if this event was a sex crime and should I be listed as a registered offender or if I ever was a registered offender. The Simple answer to that question is NO. The statute posted from the DPSST infor-

The Unclaimed Property Program advises people who receive letters about the forthcoming checks to wait for the checks to arrive rather than submitting a claim online, as filing a claim may delay receipt of payment.

In July 2021, the state’s Unclaimed Property Program transitioned to Treasury from the Oregon Department of State Lands. Since the transition to Treasury, the program has completed over 47,000 claims, returning over $65.4 million to current and former Oregonians. Searching for unclaimed funds is free and easy. Interested individuals are encouraged to visit Treasury’s unclaimed property website at unclaimed.oregon.gov.

More information about “Checks Without Claims” is available online at unclaimed.oregon.gov/app/ checks-without-claims.

Questions about unclaimed funds or “Checks Without Claims” can be directed to Oregon’s Unclaimed Property Program via email claims@ost.state.or.us or phone at 503-378-4000.

mation has changed over the last 29 years. In 1994-5 the statute was not defined as a sex crime and was listed as a class C misdemeanor. • 3rd, the reported crime at hand was reportedly expunged under Oregon law. While nothing ever truly goes away. The intent of the law was to allow a person to continue their life and obtain employment. Those who needed to know, knew.”

Follow developments online at thechiefnews.com and in the Friday print editions of the Chief.

CC23-1771

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF THE LANDOWNERS OF The Woodson Drainage Improvement District Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting for the Landowners and Board Members of the Woodson Drainage Improve-

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ment District, Columbia County, Oregon, will be held

Tuesday, May 9th, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at the Poplar Tree Nursery Office at 91151 Old Mill Town Rd in Westport, OR. Notice is further given that all proxies must be in writing and signed by

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the owner. The meeting is to elect a director, adopt a budget, and any other business that comes before the landowners. Dated this 25th day of April 2023. John Karamanos IV, President Woodson Drainage Improvement District.

NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING

A meeting of the Budget Committee of REDCO – www.redco-or. org, Columbia County, State of Oregon, to discuss the 23/25 biannual budget will be held at the Rainier Senior Center, 48 West 7th

St, Rainier, OR 97048. The meeting will take place on May 8th, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to receive the budget message and to receive comment from the public on the budget. This

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF THE LANDOWNERS OF The Westland District Improvement Company Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting for the Landowners and Board Members of the Westland District Improvement Com-

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is a public meeting where deliberation of the Budget Committee will take place. Any person may appear at the meeting and discuss the proposed programs with the Budget Committee.

pany, Columbia County, Oregon, will be held Tuesday, May 9th, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at the Poplar Tree Nursery Office 91151 Old Mill Town Rd in Westport, OR. Notice is further given that all proxies must be in writing and signed by the owner. The

meeting is to elect a director, adopt a budget, and any other business that comes before the landowners. Dated this 25th day of May 2023. John Karamanos IV, President Westland District Improvement Company, Board of Directors

NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING

A meeting of the Budget Committee of the City of Rainier, www.cityofrainier. com, Columbia County, State of Oregon, to discuss the 23/25 bi-annual budget will be held at the Rainier Senior Center, 48 West 7th

Street, Rainier, OR 97048. The meeting will take place on May 8th, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. 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 appear at the meeting and discuss the proposed programs with the Budget Committee.

Public Notices

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NOTICE OF COUNCIL MEETING

The Clatskanie City Council will meet on Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall in the Clatskanie Cultural Cen-ter, 75 South Nehalem St. (2nd floor). Agenda items include but are not

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limited to: approval of the minutes of the April 5th, 2023 Council meeting, the April 12th, 2023 workshop meeting, the first reading of a “time, place, and manner” ordinance and a discussion about support and approval for a down -

town beautification project.

Access to the meeting on Zoom will be posted on the city website, www.cityofclatskanie.com. Please call City Hall (503) 728-2622 at least 48 hours in advance if you need assistance.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The Budget Committee of the City of Clatskanie will hold a Public Hearing at City Hall on May 4th, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the ballroom, regarding the

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proposed use of approximately $20,000 in State Revenue Sharing Funds in the fiscal year 2023-24 budget. A link to attend the meeting on Zoom will be

posted on the website at www.cityofclatskanie.com. Any person having spe-cial needs should contact the City Manager by May 4, 2024.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The city of Rainier Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on May 22, 2023, to consider a variety of proposed amendments to Rainier Municipal Code (RMC) Chapter 2.15 Planning Commission; Title 17 Subdivisions, and Title 18 Zoning. The proposed amendment to Chapter 2.15 would authorize the planning commission to set a schedule for its regular meetings at its last meeting of the year for the subsequent year. The hearing will start at 6:00 p.m. in the council chambers at Rainier City Hall, 106 W B Street, Rainier, OR, 97048. The proposed amendments to Title 17 include authorizing the planning commission to make the final decision on preliminary subdivision plats, with an appeal to the city council; shifting the administrative responsibilities of managing development applications from the

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public works supervisor to the city planner and city recorder; granting authority to the city planner to act on preliminary partition plats; streamlining the review and decision process on property line amendments by granting authority to the city planner to take action on such applications. Additionally, preliminary plat and final plat would replace subdivision plan and subdivision plat for both subdivisions and partitions. Proposed amendments to Title 18 include adding definitions for Residential Care Facility and Residential Home (group homes for people with special needs;) making such facilities permitted uses in all residential zoning districts; taking action on request for similar use requests at the staff level with public notice; and amending the notice period on applicable proposed actions to the

Oregon Department of Land Conservation from 45 days to 35 days, consistent with state law. The proposed amendments will be reviewed as required against the applicable provisions of the Rainier Comprehensive Plan and applicable statewide planning goals and/or administrative rules as adopted by the Land Conservation and Development Commission. Draft Ordinance 1091 effecting the proposed amendments is available at City Hall; contact Sarah Blodgett during regular business hours. All interested persons are invited to submit written comments and/or attend the hearing and present testimony. Only those who make an appearance of record shall be entitled to appeal. The staff report to the planning commission will be available for review by the close of business May 15.

NOTICE OF WORK SESSION

The Clatskanie City Council will hold a work session on Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall in the Clatskanie

Cultural Center, 75 South Nehalem St. (2nd floor) to discuss and consider a “time, place and manner” ordinance in the City of Clatskanie. Access to the meeting on Zoom

will be posted on the city website, www.cityofclatskanie.com. Please call City Hall (503) 728-2622 at least 48 hours in advance if you need assistance.

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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, 2023 to June 30, 2024 will be held at City Hall, 75 S Nehalem St., Suite D. The meeting will take place on May 4th, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the ballroom. The purpose of the meeting is to

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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 28, 2023 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 Commit-tee 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 web-site. Any person having special needs should contact the City Manager by May 4, 2023 to make arrangements. For more information visit the city website at www. cityofclatskanie.com.

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

Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of BRADLEY E. CLOSSEN, Deceased. No. 23PB03066 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

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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 28, 2023. Christine Pruett, Personal Representative. STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C. Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048.

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

Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of IRENE RUTH GIBSON, Deceased. No. 23PB02909 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

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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 21, 2023. James, W. Gibson, Personal Representative. STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C. Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

A public meeting of Columbia County 4-H and Extension Service District, Columbia County, State of Oregon, to discuss the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, will be held at 230 Strand Street St. Helens, Oregon 97051 in room 310. The meetings will take place on May 11, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. 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 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 copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained on or after May 11, 2023 at https://extension.oregonstate. edu/columbia, by email chip.

bubl@oregonstate.edu or call 503-397-3462 and leave a message to have a copy sent.

Notice: Budget Committee Meetings will be conducted as hybrid sessions. In addition to the in person location listed above, the meetings will also be available on the web as follows: https://meet. goto.com/289007645. United States (Toll Free): 1 866 899 4679 Access Code: 289-007645.

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: U.S. STATES

19. Selfish one 22. Pavlova’s step 23. Middle East natives 24. Permissible 25. In a fitting way 26. Half a ticket

Sober Ness 28. Not a soul (2 words) 29. Operatic voice

32. *Home to Arches National Park

33. Tucker of “Modern Family”

36. *State with panhandle

38. Round openings

40. School of thought suffix

1. Have a bawl

2. Potato’s soup partner

3. Initial stake

4. Happenings

5. Lickety-split

6. Shenanigans

7. Friend in war

8. *State with longest

9. It’s enough?

10. Pond gunk

11. Joaquin Phoenix 2013 movie

13. Relating to eye 14. *Michigan’s “____ City”

41. Google search category

44. Often-missed humor

46. Hide craftsman

48. Little one

49. Lowest deck on a ship

50. Timeline divisions 51. His was a merry old soul 52. Tiny bottle 53. *”Field of Dreams” movie setting 54. Port in Yemen 55. Tax pro 58. Bit of work

Clatskanie softball making solid contact

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

Clatskanie Middle/High School is smack in the middle of the league portion of their season, and the teams of the 2A/1A-SD1 Special District 1 are jockeying for position.

Claskanie currently sits third in their league behind Nestucca and Willamina.

While they are battling it out for the top spot in Special District 1, the Tigers currently sit ninth in the OSAA’s standings of the 52 teams in the 2A/1A classification. Only Willamina is ranked higher of the teams who are in their league.

After finishing their nonleague pre-season 3-4, the Tigers have had a good start to their regular season, going 5-2 in their first seven games at the time of writing. Both

losses came against Willamina on April 4 and April 24 by scores of 2-6 and 3-4, respectively. Their five wins have come

against Vernonia, Nestucca, Gaston, Vernonia, and Faith Bible / Life Christian. The highlight of those victories was the 15-0 drubbing of

Faith Bible / Life Christian on April 21. The Tigers have been strong at home, and of their seven league games, five have been played at home,

and four of those games were victories.

Clatskanie’s defense has been their strong suit through league play. In their five victories, they have not surrendered more than three runs. Even in the games that they did not win, the Tigers have held teams to six runs or fewer. Conversely, Clatskanie will hope to put up more runs in their future games, as they have only scored more than six runs in only two games since the start of their league schedule.

Clatskanie’s win away at Vernonia on April 25 is hopefully a precursor to more offensive displays. The Tigers battered Vernonia 21-1, and that win will hopefully galvanize Clatskanie’s offense in the coming weeks.

With nine games left to play, as of April 20, there is

still a lot of season left. Some of the biggest games that the Tigers will circle on their schedule will be the rematch with Nestucca on May 4 and their two fixtures against Knappa on April 27 and May 8. Nestucca sits above Clatskanie in the 2A/1A-SD1 Special District 1 league, with a 5-2 league record, with their two losses coming against Clatskanie and Gaston. With Willamina sitting at 6-0 in pole position, a berth at state could come down to Clatskanie and Nestucca’s battle for the second spot.

Follow Clatskanie softball game results at osaa.org and look for CMHS sports team features at thechiefnews.com and in the Friday print editions of the Chief.

Sampled California condors test positive for bird flu

Chief Guest Article

At least seven deceased California condors from a northern Arizona population were infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza this spring, the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Oregon State University (OSU) has found.

As of April 17, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reported a total of 20 deceased condors in the Arizona flock, with 10 confirmed positive for HPAI, including those tested at OSU. OSU is currently testing additional deceased condor samples for HPAI. The deceased birds to date represent nearly 4% of the condor population left in the world.

The OSU laboratory detected HPAI in samples from 11 dead condors from the Arizona population. Seven of those have been confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory, and OSU lab supervisors are awaiting final confirmation on the last four samples OSU tested. The same virulent H5N1 strain of avian influenza has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40 million egg-laying hens in the U.S since the current outbreak began in January 2022, with the losses also contributing to rising egg prices. The virus, which has no cure, is spread via bird-to-bird contact and

also affects many mammals. There are only about 500 California condors in the world, so a highly pathogenic, highly contagious disease hitting the species is alarming, said Kurt Williams, director of the diagnostic laboratory housed in OSU’s Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine.

Due to many human factors including poisoning, shooting, habitat degradation and the collection of eggs and feathers, California condors nearly went extinct in the 1980s, with a population low of 22 birds. Conservation and breeding programs have helped increase their numbers, but the birds are still at high risk, especially from lead poisoning caused by eating carcasses full of bullet fragments left by hunters.

“Their numbers are low enough that any individual leaving the population prematurely is an important event for the species,” Williams said. “This is a species that has made a remarkable recovery through conservation, and now to have this disease hit is pretty devastating.”

The 20 dead condors this spring were part of a population that spans several national parks in northern Arizona and southern Utah, with the first deceased female in the flock collected on March 20, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. The carcasses were all sent to the National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Lab in Ashland, Ore., for necropsies to deter-

mine cause of death.

Spleen samples from the birds were then sent to the diagnostic laboratory at OSU, where technicians extracted RNA and conducted PCR tests to identify the virus, said Donna Mulrooney, quality assurance manager in the laboratory.

Once OSU positively identified avian influenza, the condor samples were sent to the National Veterinary Service Laboratory in Iowa for final confirmation. Seven are confirmed and four are “presumed non-negative,” OSU lab supervisor Dawn Dirks said.

The disease affects several organ systems, primarily the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, symp-

toms in birds include lethargy, inability to fly, erratic behavior, loss of coordination, cloudy eyes, swimming in circles and head shaking. Birds typically die within 72 hours of showing clinical signs.

Several factors have made the current outbreak much more severe than previous avian flu outbreaks, Mulrooney and Williams said.

In the past, avian flu was more seasonal, flaring during spring and fall when waterfowl migrate but then subsiding in the off-seasons. The outbreak that started in January 2022, however, has not really had an off-season, Williams said.

This outbreak is also affecting a much wider range of mammals, which carries the threat of spreading to humans, though the risk is low and

only a few human cases have been reported this year, all outside the U.S.

In addition to both domestic and wild birds, in the last year the OSU laboratory has detected the virus in two feral cats, several skunks, a racoon and an American marten.

The current outbreak has also had a massive economic impact, costing the poultry industry tens of millions of dollars last year and contributing to soaring egg prices.

While the risk to humans

is low, people still need to be cautious around wildlife, Williams said.

“Don’t pick up sick or dead birds or mammals; just leave them be and steer clear,” he said.

Molly Rosbach works at the OSU Department of Marketing and Research. She may be reached at molly. rosbach@oregonstate.edu. Read more about the bird flu in Oregon at thechiefnews. com.

MOLLY ROSBACH

Courtesy from OSU

As of April 17, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reported a total of 20 deceased condors in the Arizona flock, with 10 confirmed positive for HPAI, including those tested at OSU.

Courtesy from OSU

Due to

Courtesy photo from Amy Mustola

The CMHS Softball team’s defense has been its strong suit this season, holding teams to under six runs in each game this season.