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Miles Carter

Dario Cassano Mattee Champion Ethan Coston

Summer Crape Horacio Encabo Matilde Fornasari Dawson Gorley Pearl Guyton

Benjamin Hadley Rebekah Hagen Maya Helmen

Solana Helmen Nathaniel Hendricks

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Alexandria Ray Ernesto Rojas-Bautista

Emma Sadle

Anthony Sebastiani

Gabriel Shefstad Jr Samantha Smiley

Savanah Strong Kylie Thomas

Hannah Veira

Addison Ward Nelson

Warren Alexander Wheeler Hailey Whiteman

Clatskanie’s seniors taking the next step

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

Clatskanie Middle/High School will host its graduation this weekend, and Saturday will mark the end of the high school careers for the 2023 Clatskanie senior class.

There are approximately 45 seniors in this year’s class, according to Principal Dr. Jeff Williamson. The graduation will be at Clatskanie Middle High School’s gymnasium at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, June 10.

The

~ Principal Jeff Williamson

The challenges

While graduation is always a landmark occasion, this year’s seniors have battled through much adversity to get to where they are now, with COVID being the largest challenge for many of these students, according to Williamson.

“The impact of COVID and the time from virtual to packet work has always played a major role into this senior class,” Williamson

said. “This year’s the first year they really get to be true students again, with dances, field trips, and fun activities. So, it’s really been a nice year for them.”

Williamson said this year he had seen more of a return to normalcy for students this year, from seeing them socialize around the school to seeing students take more joy in their schooling and getting to experience young adulthood in a more ordinary sense after the irregularities of COVID.

For Williamson and the faculty of Clatskanie Middle High School, reaching the accomplishment of graduation is not the sole marker of success.

“We want them to remember that success isn’t necessarily measured by a major accomplishment but by how they impact the world around them, and how they see the world, and their vision and their future, and what they want,” Williamson said. “The lessons that we’ve learned here at

the school are beyond the textbooks and exams, but we try to, as a community, try to teach them to be good citizens and carry that through for the rest of their lives.”

Williamson said that one of the highlights this year for seniors considering continuing their education through college has been that the school has brought students to different universities in the state, including Oregon State University.

The return of programs like this and the resurgence of sports have presented great opportunities for seniors to enjoy a year not dissimilar to those before the pandemic, Williamson said.

Magical moment

When asked what the highlight of graduation for Williamson is, he said that it’s getting to shake the hands of the students as they cross the stage.

“My essential moment is when you shake their hand at the end, and you know they’ve made it, and they’ve started the next chapter in their life,” Williamson said. “You see the joy of their family and their friends all together to congratulate them. All that accumulation of all the work of everyone, from parents to family members, the school, the community, all of us coming together for their success that day.”

After a long four years, the class of 2023 will take the next step in their lives, and Williamson said he and his staff could not be prouder of the way each of the seniors have faced up to the challenges of those four years.

“I’m very proud of this class; they’ve worked very hard, they’ve been resilient, they’ve really done a great job,” Williamson said. “We’ve all persevered through COVID, but they really did. They were impacted. Now they see that their future is there, and we prepared them for their future, that next step.”

Follow Clatskanie’s graduation at thechiefonline.com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.

Democrats warn of GOP walkout impact

BEN BOTKIN

Oregon Capital Chronicle

Chief Guest Article

Oregonians have much to lose if the legislative session ends by June 25 without a functioning Senate that can vote on bills, Democrats warned Tuesday, June 6.

The GOP-led Senate walkout is preventing votes on bills intended to benefit average Oregonians from urban Portland to rural eastern Oregon. Examples run the gamut: Bills held up by the walkout would reduce the risk of wildfires racing across rural Oregon, address the homelessness crisis as people camp in tents along city streets and keep health care coverage going for some of the 300,000 Oregonians estimated to lose their access to the Oregon Health Plan, as pandemic-era provisions that kept more people enrolled end.

The GOP-led walkout started May 3, preventing the Senate from having its two-thirds quorum needed to conduct business. For now, the question no one seems to know: How will the session end?

Both Democrats and Republicans

blame each other for the impasse, and there are no visible signs of progress.

In a press conference on the state Capitol steps, Democratic lawmakers and advocates on Tuesday urged Republican senators to return to floor sessions and vote on bills.

“Oregonians have had enough,”

“This Senate shutdown is a subver sion of our democracy.”

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp, R-Bend, told reporters that Democratic leaders in the Senate have failed to work in a bipartisan way that upholds the

constitution.

“Their ire is misplaced, and the Senate Democrats could have ended this weeks ago,” Knopp said. “They chose not to.” He said the walkout is a means to hold the Democratic-controlled Senate accountable “because if we don’t, no one will, and we can’t have a lawless Legislature.”

Senate Republicans started the walkout saying bill summaries fail to comply with a state law that requires them to have an eighth-grade reading level. They also have pointed to bills they oppose, including House Bill 2002, which would shore up abortion rights and access to gender-affirming care for transgender people, including children. Another is House Bill 2005, which would raise the minimum age to purchase most firearms from 18 to 21 years old.

Bills in jeopardy

As the impasse continues, Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday urged Oregonians – and their Republican colleagues in the Senate – to consider what’s at stake.

For example, a $70 million rural economic development proposal faces an uncertain fate. That proposal, House Bill 3410, would help small farmers, the fishing industry, outdoor recreation, county fairs and other small businesses, said Rep. David Gomberg, D-Otis.

Other bills would aid economic development at the Port of Coos Bay and bring broadband to rural communities, including a proposal that would pull in about $700 million in federal funding to improve broadband services.

But the bills in jeopardy go beyond money and the economy. For example, House Bill 3211 would make it easier for Oregon to get $60 million in matching federal funding for new dams in Oregon that are vulnerable to earthquakes.

“If the dam fails, lives will be lost,” Gomberg said.

For example, in Newport the bill would help fix two dams that provide water for the coastal community of 10,000 people. Those dams would

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BEN BOTKIN Oregon Capital Chronicle Chief Guest Article

A federal judge is now reviewing a lawsuit that may determine the fate of a voter-passed law to regulate how Oregonians own firearms and ban ammunition magazines with more than 10 rounds.

In November, Oregon voters passed Measure 114, which is intended to help stem the scourge of gun violence and mass shootings and close gaps that allow bad actors to slip through. The measure would require people to get a permit to purchase a firearm, which would require a background check and a safety course. Gun rights advocates challenged it in federal court and in the Harney County Circuit Court, and it hasn’t yet taken effect.

Every year, hundreds of lives are shattered in Oregon from gun violence, suicides or accidental shootings. In 2022, 803 Oregonians visited hospital emergency rooms with firearm-related injuries, according to Oregon Health Authority data. In 2021, 670 people in Oregon died from firearms, according to federal data. The measure also would ban

Courtesy photo from Julia Shumway / Oregon Capital Chronicle

State Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, speaks during a press conference about the Senate Republican walkout on June 6, 2023.

lessons that we’ve learned here at the school are beyond the textbooks and exams, but we try to, as a community, try to teach them to be good citizens and carry that through for the rest of their lives.

Jeremy C. Ruark / Country Media, Inc.

Seniors, their families, school staff, and community members gathered inside CMHS for the 2022 graduation ceremony.

State issues ‘pig butchering’ scam alert

The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) is warning consumers to be wary of an unexpected text or direct message from a stranger – it might be the first step in a “pig butchering” scam. The term pig butchering comes from the practice of fattening a pig before slaughter. These scams often involve fraudsters contacting targets seemingly at random, using social media or common communication apps. The scammer gains the victim’s trust, often by starting a romantic relationship or a simple friendship. The scammer then starts to convince the victim to invest in phony investments, including fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes, before falsely claiming the initial investment grew significantly, according to the DFR. The scammer then asks for more and more money, and demand multiple types of fees if a victim requests to withdraw the funds. Even when the victim pays the withdrawal fees, the fraudster does not refund the victim’s money, but rather disappears

with the funds without any further communication.

Fast Fact Frauds involving cryptocurrency, including pig butchering, represented most of these scams, increasing 183 percent from 2021 to $2.57 billion in reported losses last year.

According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), there are several warning signs to be aware of involving these types of scams:

Unexpected contact: Never respond to unsolicited messages from unknown contacts, even about seemingly benign topics, especially via text message and on encrypted messaging applications.

Refusal to participate in video chats: If someone you consistently have been messaging with declines to interact face to face, they likely are not the person from the profile photo.

Request for financial information: Don’t share any personal financial information with anyone you have never met in person. If a

new virtual friend or romantic connection starts making financial inquiries, put the brakes on the relationship.

Invitation to invest in specific financial products: Be wary of any unsolicited investment advice or tips, particularly from someone you have spoken to only online and even if they suggest you trade through your own account. Always question what a source has to gain from sharing tips with you and whether the transaction fits with your financial goals and investment strategy.

Unknown or confusing investment opportunity: Carefully evaluate the product, as well as the person or company requesting your investment. Along with a basic search, try adding words such as “scam” or “fraud” to see what results come up. Consider running recommendations by a third party or an investment professional who has no stake in the investment and use FINRA BrokerCheck to see if the promoter is a registered investment professional.

Unfamiliar trading platforms: Do extensive research before moving any money, particularly in an emerging market such

as cryptocurrency, which has hundreds of exchanges and new avenues for trading continuing to evolve.

Who controls the platform?

What security measures are in place? How can you withdraw funds if needed? If you don’t know the answers to those questions, don’t put your assets there.

Exaggerated claims and elevated emotions: Take a closer look at any investment that offers much higher than average returns or is touted as “guaranteed.” Fraudsters will also often use their knowledge about you to appeal to your emotions – something like, “Don’t you want to have money to send your kids to college?”

Sense of urgency about an upcoming news announcement or share price increase: Remember that insider trading is illegal, and you should never trade in shares of a company on the basis of material, nonpublic information.

“Romance scams and crypto scams continue to be the source of significant losses for consumers,” DFR Administrator T.K. Keen said. “Consumers who receive contacts out of the blue through messaging

apps on their phone or other means should be especially suspicious of those trying to entice them into cryptocurrency investments.”

Although the division has not received any complaints specific to pig butchering schemes, it knows that this activity is occurring based upon conversations with federal and nearby state law enforcement authorities.

Several states and federal authorities have issued warnings on this sort of fraud. In 2022, investment fraud caused the highest losses of any scam reported by the public to the FBI’s Internet Crimes Complaint Center (IC3), totaling $3.31 billion.

Frauds involving cryptocurrency, including pig butchering, represented most of these scams, increasing 183 percent from 2021 to $2.57 billion in reported losses last year. The division accepts consumer complaints and will forward to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. Consumers can also make a complaint to the FBI’s IC3 at https:// www.ic3.gov/.

The Division of Financial Regulation is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and www.dcbs.oregon.gov.

Pet, livestock safety target of campaign

put your pet’s collar or harness on and keep them in a secure room. Doing this will allow you to grab them quickly if you need to evacuate.

Many emergency shelters cannot accept animals. Before disaster strikes, find out which hotels/shelters allow animals or which friends outside of the area will be able to help.

STAFF REPORT

Country Media, Inc.

June is National Pet Preparedness month designed to encourage pet and livestock owners to review their emergency plans for the animals. Keep your pets and livestock prepared for emergencies by taking these steps:

• Create and practice your emergency plan for pets and livestock.

• Take inventory of and replace expired emergency supplies such as pet food, medications, and water.

• Stay informed of local hazards and emergencies. Take appropriate steps to keep your animals safe and be prepared to evacuate them with your household.

Plan for Pets

Take animals with you if you need to evacuate. Only as a last resort should animals be left behind. Create a plan with neighbors, friends, or relatives to evacuate your pet if you are not able to do so.

Animals may run away or hide during an emergency. If your area is in a level one or higher evacuation warning,

Be sure ID tags are on collars and consider a microchip. Keep your dog’s license (legally required) and cat’s license (recommended) updated. This helps animal get reunited with their families faster. Keep your pets’ vaccinations and ID tags up to date. Keep a copy of these documents in your family’s Go Bag. Prepare a pet emergency kit with leashes, collars, portable carriers, water, food, medications, sanitation materials, immunization records, first-aid

kit, and photos to prove ownership. Don’t leave pets in vehicles, tethered, or crated without you.

If you have to leave your animals at home, keep them inside a secure area. Leave at least a 10-day supply of dry food and water. Put signs on windows and doors indicating the number and type of animals inside and your contact information.

Be aware that your pet’s behavior may change after a crisis. They may become more aggressive or self-protective.

Plan for Livestock

If your area is in a level 2 or higher evacuation warning, evacuate with your livestock now. Begin preparing your livestock in a level 1 evacuation warning for transport. This will give you more time to

safely secure your animals and get trailers or other equipment on the road before it is too late.

Post emergency contact numbers on barns and/or pasture fences.

Write your phone number on your stock with a permanent marker if you must release them.

Have a supply of feed at a separate location. Involve family and neighbors in an evacuation plan. Make a kit with leads, halters, first aid, quieting hoods, water, photos, and a copy of your ownership papers.

More Resources for Pet and Livestock Emergency

Planning can be found at:

• Ready.gov: Prepare Your Pets for Disasters

• Red Cross: Pet Disaster Preparedness

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office contributed to this report.

971-251-0903

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porters. “We carry shootings like ours forever.”

Broadman also is haunted by a boyhood memory from 1991, when a gunman unsuccessfully tried to shoot and kill his father and missed.

Broadman was 12 at the time.

Measure 114 on hold

For now, the measure is on hold

A Harney County District Court judge temporarily blocked the measure’s implementation as a separate lawsuit proceeds. The Harney County case is set for trial in September.

As a result, the five-day federal trial before U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut in Portland next week will not be the final word on Measure 114. Further appeals are likely from either side.

The Oregon Firearms Federation is the lead plaintiff in the federal lawsuit, along with firearms dealers and others. In court filings, they argued the measure is unconstitutional and infringes on people’s Second Amendment right to bear arms, such as by allowing indefinite delays when background checks aren’t processed in a timely way.

The organization and its

attorneys couldn’t be reached for comment. If they’re successful, they will get a court ruling that overturns Measure 114 and declares it unconstitutional.

Because Measure 114 is a state law, the Oregon Department of Justice is defending it. The Oregon Alliance for Gun Safety, a nonprofit advocacy group, requested and received the federal court’s permission to intervene in the case, which allows the organization to aid in defending Measure 114.

The group plans to argue that the ban on large-capacity magazines and the permitto-purchase requirements are constitutional. Large capacity magazines are accessories, not arms, said Zach Pekelis, an attorney with Seattlebased Pacifica Law Group, who is representing the alliance in court.

“They’re not arms at all protected by the Second Amendment,” Pekelis said. “There’s a long history and tradition of regulating dangerous weapons and other accessories throughout the United States.”

What’s next

There are multiple moving parts of the case. Pekelis said the trial is scheduled to end Friday and Immergut is expected to take a few weeks or months to issue a written decision.

It’s a bench trial, meaning the judge will rule directly on the case without a jury.

The alliance is not directly involved in the Harney County case.

That lawsuit will continue in September regardless of what the federal judge decides. That case, too, is expected to face an appeal regardless of the outcome.

“It’s possible one or more of these cases, of course, will go on appeal, which would mean that the process would last a little bit longer,” Pekelis said.

Separately, pending firearms-related bills in the Legislature have drawn sharp objections from Republican lawmakers.

House Bill 2005 would raise the minimum age to purchase most firearms from 18 to 21 years and allow local government agencies to ban firearm possession on government-owned property. Senate Bill 348 would build upon Measure 114 with more requirements, such as giving the state until July 2024 to set up a permit-to-purchase system.

But with the Republicanled walkout in the Senate stalling votes on bills, those measures face an uncertain fate.

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

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flood the city if they broke. On the health care front, a stalled bill would help Oregonians who face losing coverage from the state’s Medicaid program. The proposal would create a “bridge plan” to help people who make too much to qualify for the Oregon Health Plan but cannot afford coverage on the marketplace. The state is now determining how many of the 1.5 million Oregonians who stayed covered because of the federal pandemic emergency still qualify for coverage.

Separately, House Bill 2395 would make naloxone kits that stop opioid overdoses available in public schools, buildings and for first responders to give to people for future use.

“This is going to save lives and give people a chance to recover and we must pass this bill,” said Rep. Travis Nelson, a Portland Democrat and nurse who attended the press conference in his scrubs.

On the education front, there are proposals to put $10.2 billion toward the K-12 state school budget and put $140 million toward early literacy programs. Separately, Senate Bill 283 would give 20% pay increases to teachers and classified staff who work in special education, support initiatives to diversify the educator workforce and guarantee more pay and benefits to substitute teachers.

“This is the legislation Senate Republicans are now holding hostage after we’ve worked together on it for months and months,” said Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland. “This is unacceptable. It’s time for them to join us and together, do our jobs.”

There also are wildfire protection bills that would help people navigate the tangle of homeowners insurance for claims and create programs to help communities and property owners reduce the risk of wildfires.

“If we don’t want a series of summers blanketed by

toxic smoke over increasing expanses of the state, we have to stay the course,” said Sen. Jeff Golden, D-Ashland. “Oregonians in all of these communities are waiting and hoping and needing that we get back to the work of wildfire protection.”

Advocates urge action

Separately, dozens of nonprofits asked Republican senators in a letter on Tuesday to return to work to pass bills affecting thousands of lowincome Oregonians

“We are very concerned that walkout tactics are again preventing action on the serious challenges we face as a state,” they wrote.

They said more than 1 million Oregonians lack enough food to eat and that 18,000 have no stable shelter.

The letter, addressed to 11 Senate Republicans, was signed by leaders of 60 organizations that provide food, housing, child care and other services to residents throughout the state. They said the senators need to end their strike.

“It’s time for legislators to come together and do what’s right for our communities. We need you to return to work now on behalf of Oregon families,” they said.

What’s next

The fault lines are wide.

Even so, Knopp said there’s room to negotiate. For example, House Bill 2002 is particularly worrisome to Republicans because it would allow minors of any age to access abortions without parental notification required.

Knopp said Republicans would want parental notification in place for minors seeking abortion, but with a provision in which consent would not be sought in cases of a parent abusing the minor.

Pham, the Democratic representative, said she understands why parents have questions about that provision of the bill but stressed that child victims need access to care.

“For victims of child sexual abuse, this is an unfor-

tunate, terrible situation, but we still have to protect their rights,” Pham said. “Oregon Democrats can’t give away – are never going to deny –reproductive health care for whoever needs it, and we’re not going to compromise on protecting victims like that.”

Meanwhile, each senator who participates in the walkout faces a $325 fine for each unexcused absence. The fines started on Monday. If the session ends with a stalemate and the bills die, budget bills could only pass in a special session. House Speaker Dan Rayfield, D-Corvallis, said in a separate press conference a special session could possibly happen in midJuly. But no precise dates are set as both sides hold out hope of an agreement that salvages the rest of the session.

Democrats can’t end the session before June 25 and pivot to a special session without Republican senators returning.

The session in 2024 is a short session of 35 days or less with limits on how many bills lawmakers can introduce, meaning that some proposals would have to wait until 2025.

“If we give up on this session – they give up on this session – what are we going to do?” said Dembrow, whose legislative career ends in January 2025 because he decided not to run for reelection.. “We have a short session ahead of us next year. We can only do so much in a short session.”

As for the concerns of Democratic lawmakers, Knopp suggested it’s their fault if the bills die.

“The real question is: Are the Democrats committed to making that happen?” Knopp said. “It appears as though they are so adamant to not have bipartisanship and not have the minority party have a say in what happens that they’re willing to risk the lives of Oregonians.”

Editor Lynne Terry and deputy editor Julia Shumway contributed to this report. Follow developments at thechiefnews.com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.

Lorraine Janene Burger

February 21, 1965 ~ May 28, 2023

Lorraine Janene Burger, age 57, of Scappoose, Oregon passed away on May 28, 2023. She was born on February 21, 1965, in Los Angeles, California.

Lorraine lived in several towns in the Portland area throughout her life, including Tigard, Scholls, Cornelius, Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Scappoose. After high school, she received an associate degree and was certified as an Oregon State Master Gardener. Alongside her husband, John, she was the owner and operator of John Burger Heating & A/C. At one point, Lorraine sold family valuables to raise money to save the Scappoose Peace Candle of the World from 2011 to 2015. She was involved with the Elks Club and attended Warren Community Fellowship in Warren, Oregon.

Lorraine enjoyed many

hobbies, including gardening, raising chickens, ducks and other fowl, and rock hounding. She combined all of these to create a beautiful garden and home. Lorraine had a big family that she cared for very well. There was a lot of travel time spent going to Texas and Montana to see her six grandchildren from her son Tyler. She spent most of her summer days

with all the children in the family, taking them for nature walks, teaching them to raise baby chicks and ducks, and taking them on toy shopping sprees.

Lorraine is survived by her husband, John Burger; her sons, Tyler Lewis and his wife Jherachyl, and Paul Lewis; her daughter Courtney Piner and her husband Falcon Piner; and her grandchildren Jhester Onod, Andrea Lara, Kayla Lara, Jayden Lara, Jherrod Lewis, and Julien Lewis.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her father, Larry Pasiemiak; her mother, Sharon Korpowski; and her brother, David Pasiemiak.

A viewing will be held on Friday, June 9, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a memorial service will start at 2:00 PM that same day at Columbia Funeral Home in St. Helens, Oregon.

Verlo Bush, 70, of Weiser, Idaho, passed away June 2, 2023, in Weiser.

Verlo Bush

CHIP BUBL Clatskanie Grows

Chief

Guest Column

How dry is the soil?

Quite dry! I heard from a friend that, when he rototilled recently, it was exactly the opposite of last year when the soil was very wet.

This year, the top four to five inches were really dry but deeper, there was some decent soil moisture. I did some testing with my soil probe in various places and confirmed his experience in quite a few different gardens.

If you still have soil to work, either by hand or a rototiller, you might water it first, wait a day, and then rototill or hand work the ground with a spading fork.

This is also a warning that we may need to water newly planted (within the last two years or so) woody trees and shrubs sooner than later.

Lawns will either need water or be allowed to go dormant (they will come back in the fall). Half watering can damage lawns. You need to be either all in or out with lawns.

Vegetable crops are growing well. Peppers are a little disgruntled with some nights that are near 50 degrees, but they will get over it. Tomatoes are doing fine. Same with other vegetables. There is still time to plant most vegetables.

Garlic flowers

Most garlic varieties flower in late May through June. The flowers (called scapes) can be quite exotic, with twisted stems and buds that look like dragons’ heads.

Florists have become interested in these flowers and they are increasingly found in some very classy arrangements. It is not uncommon to see the flower buds for sale in the farmer’s market for a

Angry and disappointed

Senator Weber, I am angry and disappointed that you have refused to show up in Salem and do your job.

Oregon voters made it very clear that we want our representatives to show up, get to work and take votes on bills. Your walkout and failure to do your job reveals your disrespect for your constituents and your allegiance to party over people.

You were elected to work for and represent all your constituents, and it is beyond maddening that you and your fellow Republicans have chosen to grind governance to a halt just because you don’t want to take votes on bills you don’t like. There is important work to do, and you are failing us.

Bebe Michel Gearhart

dollar a stem. Chefs also value the flower bud and stem. The bud tastes distinctly of garlic while the stem has the texture of asparagus with a very mild garlic overtone. The stems are usually cooked like asparagus. The buds may be stir-fried with other vegetables. The stems and buds should be harvested while the stem is still young. When it straightens up, it will be far less tender. From a botanical standpoint, the flower does not make a true seed (except for the elephant garlic which is not a true garlic anyway but closer to a leek). When the flowers emerge, a somewhat mysterious process causes the flower to abort. Vegetative tissue below the flower starts to grow and the head produces little bulbs, called bulbils by botanists. These bulbils will produce a regular garlic bulb, but often have to be left in the ground for two years to do so. The resulting garlic will be identical to the parent since there has been no cross pollination and no true seed.

Gardeners should be glad to see snakes around the garden. These much-maligned reptiles consume garden pests including slugs, grubs, mice, voles and rats.

The vast majority of snakes in Oregon are very beneficial. Some, like garter snakes, eat slugs. Others, like the sharp-tailed snake, eat slugs and grubs. Rubber boas, which still can be found in St. Helens, specialize in eating mice and voles, going down their tunnels after them.

Garter snakes are the type of snake most often seen by urban and suburban gardeners. Two species of garter snakes are commonly found throughout much of Oregon, except the mountains: the abundant western terrestrial garter snake and the common garter snake. In western Oregon, a third species is also present, the northwestern garter snake. Several species can be found swimming in shallow water for tadpoles.

• Walk your lawn before you mow it to scare the snakes into hiding. Lawn mowers are deadly to snakes because they can’t hear like we do. Rather, they feel vibrations.

• Provide habitat for snakes if you have room. Old plywood or corrugated metal roofing left loosely on the ground in an out of the way place on your property provides hiding and nesting places for slithering creatures. Old stumps and large rocks also make good snake habitat. [Editors note: I have a “R2D2” composter that has become a snake incubator.]

The western rattlesnake, the only species of truly venomous snake native to Oregon, feeds on mice, rats, and other smaller animals. Rattlesnakes were once more commonly found on both the west and east sides of the Cascades. But they have all but been killed off on the west side.

by early settlers. There are a few dens left, but only in really isolated places. In southern and eastern Oregon, however, rattlers are more common. Caution should be exercised in rattlesnake country.

For more information, check out the photo-illustrated book, “Reptiles of Washington and Oregon,” published by the Seattle Audubon Society and edited by Robert M. Storm and William P. Leonard. Slightly adapted from Robert Mason, Department of Zoology, Oregon State University

Food Preservation

Are you planning to preserve food from your garden or purchased from a farm this summer? If so, call or visit the OSU Extension Service office before you start canning, freezing, or drying.

Costly and potentially harmful mistakes can be made by using outdated canning recipes and instructions.

Important Notes

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

• The Extension Service offers its programs and materials equally to all people.

Have Questions?

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

Free Newsletter

You will increase the yield of garlic bulbs by removing the flower stalk as soon as you notice it. Yield increases range from 10 to 30% depending on variety and when the flower was removed.

Finally, water your garlic periodically through midJune to improve bulb size.

Statewide flavor ban is a slippery slope

While not surprising, I am disappointed the Oregon legislature continues to advance the statewide flavored tobacco ban.

As a longtime smoker, I know firsthand the addictive nature of cigarettes. After trying to quit on several occasions, it wasn’t until I tried flavored nicotine pouches that I was finally able to stop smoking four years ago.

The flavored component of these products was vital to my success. Flavors are enticing to many adults, and many of us, including myself, would rather return to smoking cigarettes if these flavored alternative products are taken off the market.

Youth vaping is concerning, but surveys show these rates are on the decline. Ad-

Garter snakes generally breed in the spring and give birth to live young (they don’t lay eggs) in the late summer or fall. Often, young are not seen until the following spring, after they emerge from hibernation after their first winter. Most young garter snakes don’t survive into adulthood. They are killed off by predators, cars and lawnmowers.

Rattlers are rare in northwestern Oregon. They were shot out 100 years ago

You can find free publications and pressure gauge testing at the Columbia County Extension office located at 505 N. Columbia River Highway in St. Helens. If you have questions, phone Jenny Rudolph at the office at 503-397-3462. You can download for free all our food preservation publications at https://extension.oregonstate.edu/mfp/ publications. An additional great resource is the National Center for home Food Preservation at http://www. uga.edu/nchfp/.

The Oregon State University Extension office in Columbia County publishes a monthly newsletter on gardening and farming topics (called County Living) written/edited by yours truly. All you need to do is ask for it and it will be mailed or emailed to you. Call 503-3973462 to be put on the list. Alternatively, you can find it on the web at http://extension. oregonstate.edu/columbia/ and click on newsletters.

Contact Resource

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

published. Letters containing details presented as facts rather than opinions must include their sources. Writers are limited to one published letter per month. All submissions must include the author’s full name, local street address and telephone number (only the name and

ditional evidence shows the implementation of flavor ban policies has little correlation with decreased underage use. As we saw with alcohol nearly a century ago, prohibiting products doesn’t eliminate them. In many cases, prohibition exacerbates the illicit market.

A well-regulated legal market is far better at keeping addictive substances out of the hands of children. Even through the internet, adult users can order less harmful flavored nicotine products via sites like Nicokick, while underage consumers are filtered out through rigorous age identification protocols.

I hope the legislature will reconsider their support for this flavor ban. This policy sets a concerning precedent for other flavored nicotine products necessary to reduce harm to public health.

Brock Seaburn Escadata

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@

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.

J.J. LANDSCAPING

Gardening needs, lawn maintenance, clean ups, bark, soil, planting, pruning, aeration, fertilization, weed control, retaining walls, patios, sprinkler systems, installation/ repair/maintenance, plant trees, blackberry removal, free estimates and I have references.

360-241-6889 or 360-762-9220

150 Misc Services

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This year Nature Hills, America’s largest online plant retailer, has an exclusive offerFrench Manicure Panicle Hydrangea. Sale price just $24.60 plus s/h. Call for details and order today. Call Nature Hills Plant Nursery 1-844-5500583 or visit naturehillsdeal.com/ bloom45.

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tection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today.

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Do you want to get up to 100% back on Vet Bills? Physicians Mutual Insurance Company has pet coverage that can help! Call 1-833-975-1626 to get a free quote or visit insurebarkmeow.com/onac.

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Stroke and Cardiovascular disease are leading causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection! Contact Life Line Screening to schedule your screening. Special offer - 5

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Donate your car, truck, boat, RV and more to support our veterans! Schedule a FAST, FREE vehicle pickup and receive a top tax deduction! Call Veteran Car Donations at 1-866-695-9265 today!

Donating your vehicle? Get more! Free Towing. Tax Deductible. Plus a $200 restaurant voucher and a 2-night/3-day hotel stay at one of 50 locations. Call Heritage for the Blind to donate your vehicle today - 1-844-533-9173.

502

Help Wanted

Pool manager Clatskanie Park & Recreation District is accepting applications for a Pool Manager. Please see the Clatskanie Park and Recreation District’s website (www. clatskanieparksandrecreation.com)

for job description details and requirements: Applications can be returned by mail to; Clatskanie Park & Recreation District, PO Box 737, Clatskanie, OR 97016 or by email to csp@cni.net. If you have any questions, please leave message at 503-728-2757. Applications will be accepted until the position has been filled.

860 Storage

CLATSKANIE Mini Storage

Hoarder’s Paradise! 20 sizes, Inexpensive RV Storage, Carports, Hand trucks, Locks, Fully-lined, Insulated, Condensation free, all units lit. On-site Manager 503 728-2051 503 369-6503 Visa/MC/Amex

Public Notices

CC23-1800

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

Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of EVERETT LOWELL BOZARTH, Deceased. No. 23PB03511 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed personal representative of this estate. All persons having claims

CC23-1803

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

NOTICE OF MEETING

The Board of Directors for Clatskanie School District 6J will hold their monthly Board meeting, Monday, June 12, 2023 @ 6:30 p.m. at the Clatskanie Elementary Library, 815 Nehalem or via Zoom. Please see our website at

CC23-1805

www.csd.k12.or.us for a zoom link. The agenda includes but is not limited to: Superintendent and Principal’s reports, financial report, policy updates and the consent agenda. The public is encouraged to attend.

the records of the Court, the personal representative or the attorney for the personal representative. Dated and first published June 2, 2023. Alan E. Bozarth, Personal Representative. STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C., Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048.

CC23-1797

NOTICE OF AUCTION

Rainier Storage Place, LLC will hold a foreclosure auction at 28610 Dike Rd., Rainier OR 97048 of the contents of the following storage unit: CY4 (8x40) Denny McGuire. Auction is at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 17th, 2023.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA Probate Department No. 23PB04185

the

Drainage Improvement Company has at the home of Margaret Magruder, 12589 Hwy 30, such other business as may come before the meeting.

June 10 Daybreakers

Kiwanis Annual Secure

Shred Day 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. behind State Farm on Sykes Road and Highway 30 in St. Helens. $5 per file box donation.

June 17 St. Helens Kiwanis Community Parade 9 a.m. Check-in and Registration. New Location at Lifempowered, 105 Port Ave. St. Helens, OR 97051. Staging on Milton Way. Judging at 11 a.m. Parade starts at noon. Information contact: Lisa Lewis 503-407-7916 or Judy Thompson 503-397-6056 st.helenskiwanisparade@ gmail.com.

June 20 The Daddy Trains from Portland

7 p.m. Hear about The Daddy Trains from Portland as Sue Glen talks about this unique happening. $5. 1925 First St., Columbia City.

Ongoing Events

Fridays 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Caples House offers Tea and Sweets: a bottomless cup of tea with a homemade dessert. ONLY $5. In The Cottage, 1925 First Street, Columbia City. 503-3975390.

Fridays - Sunday

1 p.m. to 5 p.m. - Caples House Museum Tours , 1925 1st Street in Columbia City.$5. Stop by and see what has changed. 503-397-5390.

Lower Columbia River Watershed Council

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

Resonate Recovery

Meets at 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday - Sundays. This

NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS In the Matter of the Estate of NOLAN WADE SHEFSTAD, De-ceased. 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 addi-tional information from

the records of the Court, the personal representative or the attorney for the personal representative. Dated and first published June 9, 2023. S/Gabriel Shefstad Ga-briel Shefstad Personal Representative STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C. Attorney at Law P. O. Box 459 Rainier, OR 97048

is a Bible based, Christcentered spiritual recovery meeting for those struggling with addictions and compulsive behavior at 220 S. 1st Street in St. Helens. Everyone is loved and welcomed. For more information call Debbie at 503-560-0521, Daniel Grant at 714-7689327 or check the Resonate Facebook page.

Columbian Toastmasters Promoting positive learning and leadership through public speaking. Anyone is welcome to visit! Lunch meetings at Warren Country Inn, 56575 Columbia River Hwy, Warren, OR 97053 from 12 p.m.-1 p.m. every

Thursday. Call 503-3690329 for more information.

Overcomers Outreach

Meetings are held every Saturday at 9 a.m. at Creekside Baptist Church, 51681 SW Old Portland Road in Scappoose. Call Fred 971757-6389.

Celebrate Recovery

For anyone struggling with addiction, hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for coffee, snacks, and fellowship. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. The first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. the doors open for a free dinner. Yankton Community Fellowship,

33579 Pittsburg Road in St. Helens. 503-396-7091. Childcare is available. www. yanktoncommunityfellowship.com.

Watch Spring on Fridays 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Have tea and a sweet in Caples’ Cottage, 1925 1st Street in Columbia City. Cost is $5. 503-397-5390.

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

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: TV DADS

24. Calm and peaceful

25. *Mr. Addams “The Addams Family”

26. Outhouse

27. Propelled like Argo

29. *Mr. Winslow in “Family Matters”

31. Give the cold shoulder

32. Twofold

33. *Mr. Johnson in “Black-ish”

34. Glittery stone

____”

71. Big Bang’s original matter

72. Compass bearing

73. Type of stocking

1. Olden-day aerosol can propellant, acr.

2. Lawrence, for short

3. Aid and ____

4. Like gelled hair

5. Relating to pelvis

6. a.k.a. Xi’an

7. Credit card rate, acr.

8. Putin’s country house, e.g.

9. Samoan money

10. Deed hearing

11. Egghead

12. Up to the present time

15. a.k.a. melon tree

20. Organ swelling

22. What organza and forgiveness have in common

36. Like certain Ranger

38. Seaside bird

42. Old hat

45. Scatterbrained, in U.K.

49. Top seed

51. Nickname for dad (2 words)

54. Speak like Cicero

56. ____ Buchanan of “The Great Gatsby”

57. China’s Great one

58. Often goes with “willing”

59. Rumpelstiltskin’s weaver

60. Upper hand

61. Not top-shelf

62. Popular symbol of extinction

63. *Mr. Pritchett in “Modern Family”

65. *Mr. Conner in “Roseanne”

67. Skin cyst

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

Marshland

Chevy Farner Charles Figueredo

Evan Finnell

Tyler Garland

Johnathan Gibbons

Abraham Girt

Henry Hackenberg Hunter Hendricks

Daysha Holmes Jackson Jones

Kyel King

Morgan Kyser Manon Lever Logan Lewis-Boyd

Stella Lindahl Gavin Mclane

Adrian Mohammad Halee Nordstrom

Niki Nordstrom Leucan Peters

Jeremy Phillips

Kathryn Placido

Wade Resler

Grace Richardson

Alexa Roberts Hailie Schaffner

Paige Schimmel

Wyatt Smart Donovan Smith

Freeman Souders

Austin Stout Samuel Tygret

CMHS baseball and softball seasons end

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

Clatskanie baseball and softball seasons are over, with both teams qualifying for state, but ultimately seeing their runs end in the first round and quarterfinals respectively.

Baseball Clatskanie Middle/High School’s baseball season ended in heartbreak as the Tigers lost in the first round of the playoffs against Bonanza High School in the first round of the 2023

OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 2A/1A Baseball State Championship on Monday, May 22.

Despite leading for much of the game, Clatskanie ultimately just fell short by a score of 2-3, though they jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead within the first couple of innings.

It was always going to be a close game, as the two teams were similarly ranked.

Clatskanie came into the game ranked 15 of the 51 teams in the 2A/1A classification, with an overall record of 13-10. Bonanza entered the day ranked 18 with an overall record of 13-7.

It was the first time the two teams faced off this season, and Bonanza was able to make the key push down the stretch to secure victory. The game was a grind, and pitcher Ayden Boursaw registered his highest pitch count of the season, throwing 101 pitches.

For the Tigers, this season was still a success. The

team finished with an above .500 record after a couple of down seasons, and there is plenty of young talent on the roster. Five of the 17 players on their roster are seniors, according to OSAA’s website. Next year the Tigers will hope to see its prominent junior class step up.

Bonanza moved on to the second round and faced the #2-seeded Umpqua Valley Christian on May 24.

Softball

Clatskanie Middle/High School’s softball season has come to an end, as Grant Union/Prairie City bested the Tigers in the quarterfinals of the 2023 OSAA / OnPoint Community Credit Union 2A/1A Softball State Championship.

7-seeded Clatskanie won their first playoff game against Pilot Rock/Nixyaawii/Ukiah on May 24 by a score of 4-1. Their game against Grant Union/Prairie City took place on May 26, and the 2-seed side beat Clatskanie 8-0 but played a full seven innings.

Grant Union/Prairie City is a formidable side and will play in the state finals against Weston-McEwen/ Griswold on June 2. For Clatskanie, the season was a return to the big stage after the team was unable to qualify for the state tournament last year. For a Clatskanie program that won state in 2019 and the COVID-shortened state tournament in 2021, their 3-9 record in league play last season was a blip for a team that has enjoyed a lot of success over the past five years.

This year, the Tigers were back to their high standards and finished with a 13-3 league record, and finished the season on a 9-1 record. Head Coach Teauna Hughes told the Chief that the team mentality was the biggest component of their improvement.

“I think the biggest factor in this year’s success up to this point has been the girls coming together as a team.

‘Playing for the girl next to you rather than for yourself,’” Hughes said. Looking ahead to next season, the program will deal with the same challenges that many high school programs deal with; the loss of its seniors.

Of the 17 players on Clatskanie’s roster on OSAA.org, six of the athletes are seniors. The departure of more than a third of the team means that younger players will need to step into more prominent roles, not only on the field but as leaders in the locker room.

Luckily, the Tigers have a good crop of young players to help shoulder the burden. Seven of the player on the roster are freshmen this season, and they will likely be the foundation for the program’s success next year and in the coming seasons. While the Tigers will have wanted to end the season holding the trophy, this season has shown tremendous strides for a team that will continue to compete in the future.

Follow local sports coverage at thechiefnews. com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.

Courtesy photo from Ryan Tompkins

CMHS All League winners from left to right: Ayden Boursaw, Finn McDonnell, Brendan Schroll, Chris Knaus, Topher McDonnell, Ben Blackwood, Ernesto Rojas-Bautista.

Photo from OSAA.org

Clatskanie’s softball team is back to competing at the highest level.