Public comments over permit
COVID-19 Testing Page A5
Page A3
The Chief
FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2020
$1
VOL. 129, NO. 5
Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891
New School Year Blueprint JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) has issued Ready Schools, Safe Learners as its initial 2020-21 school year guidance following the COVID-19 pandemic and three months of local schools using Distance Learning. Fast Fact
The blueprint will evolve throughout the year based on school district, public health, and community feedback, as well as incorporate new health and safety guidance to adapt to the COVID-19 situation as it changes.
The ODE said in a release that blueprint is designed to provide public and private schools flexibility to develop a local blueprint for safely starting school next year. See the full report with this story at thechiefnews. com. Clatskanie, Rainier and all other school districts across the state were directed to close in March and begin using Distance Learning, a remote electronic education plan between students and teachers with at-home learning. Recognizing that COVID-19 will likely continue to pose a public health risk throughout the school year, and that the prevalence of COVID-19 varies community by community, the
Jeremy C. Ruark /The Chief
Returning to school in the fall will not look the same as it did before COVID-19, according to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. This is a scene at Clatskanie Elementary School a few years ago with children celebrating the school’s new playground.
blueprint instructs districts to develop a back-to-school plan that utilizes a mix of on-site and distance learning options to protect the safety of students, staff, and families, according to a ODE release. Districts are also
to develop communicable disease management plans and contingency plans in the event of COVID-19 outbreaks - including returns to fully distance learning and modified school year calendars as necessary.
Returning to school in the fall will not look the same as it did before COVID-19, according to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. “What the Oregon Department of Education has established is a
process for school districts to listen to the community and develop health and safety plans that make sense for each district, each school, and each student,” Brown said. “Together, we will proceed cautiously, testing each step as we move forward, and taking a step back if necessary to protect the health and safety of our students, families, and education community.” ODE Director Colt Gill said the model provides statewide guidance that each school district will use independently to plan for the education and safety of students during the 2020-21 school year. “We understand and honor the importance of local voice, leadership and control,” Gill said. “These individual plans will reflect the distinct strengths and needs of each district and community.” “The unfortunate truth is that students from historically-underserved communities, particularly Oregon’s Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other students of color, have been disproportionately impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Brown sad. “Every student, regardless of the zip code they live in, deserves access to a high-quality education and the school-based services that will prepare them for lifelong success. At the same time, we must ensure that Oregon’s students, our educators and support professionals, and our parents
See SCHOOL Page A4
Graduation 2020
Health officials are urging caution as Columbia County slowly reopens.
Courtesy photo
Risk of COVID-19 ‘is not behind us’ and the county has the capacity to respond to an increase in people reporting symptoms of COVID-19 through testing, healthcare support and hospitalization. The Phase 2 reopening requirements include, established adequate testing and contact tracing, a declining disease prevalence, and a sufficient personal protection equipment supply.
CHRISTINE MENGES chronicle2@countrymedia.net
Columbia County is now into Phase 2 of the state’s reopening framework. The county qualified for Phase 2 reopening on June 6, following state approval. Columbia County has had a slow case rate increase since the pandemic began in March. The current COVID-19 cases, as of June 11, have remained steady for several days with only one additional case since May 13, bringing the total case count to 17. There also has been no virus-related county deaths
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
These signs were placed along the drive up to the high school, each with the names of the 44 graduating seniors.
“The risk is not behind us.” ~ Heather Bell, Columbia County Community Health
Opinions...............A4 Obituaries............A5 Market Place........A6 Public Notices...A6-7 Sports...................A7 Graduation...........A8
Even though the county is moving forward in reopening its economy and social settings, Columbia County Community Health Nurse Supervisor Heather Bell is urging county residents and visitors to remain vigilant. “Physical distancing is not behind us as Phase 2 reopening begins,” Bell said. “In fact, more of us out and about will lead to more contact with others, and more potential exposure to COVID-19. As we are out and going about our lives it is still very important to continue the protective measures that we have been practicing.” It is still important to keep social circles small, and to stay local when going out, Bell said. She emphasized that people will need to continue practicing intensive sanitation measures, such as frequent and thorough hand washing, using hand sanitizer, avoiding touching one’s
See COVID-19 Page A3
Christine Menges / The Chief
Seniors walk through a hallway at Rainier Jr./Sr. High School in a graduation procession to receive their diplomas outside. JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
The Saturday, June 6 graduation for the Class of 2020 at Clatskanie Middle/High School (CMHS) was far from traditional. Instead of a large formal ceremony in the school gym, this graduation followed state social distancing guidelines in place to slow the COVID-19 pandemic. The 44 graduating seniors ar-
rived separately in vehicles with family at the front of CMHS. Each senior was allowed to exit their vehicle and get set to walk down a long red carpeted runway to the school entrance. There, they would step up on a small stage. Adjacent to the stage stood Principal Jim Helmen at a podium ready to read a personal message to each student. In front of the stage was a small seating area for immediate family members to watch the
ceremony. Following Helmen’s speech, in which he told each student that the school was very proud of them, he presented the senior to the small gathering and the graduate was able to turn his or or cap tassel, a standing tradition for such a ceremony. Each senior walked off the stage to receive their diplomas and
See GRADUATION Page A8
A2
www.thechiefnews.com
Friday, June 12, 2020
Oblack new high school principal CHRISTINE MENGES chronicle2@countrymedia.net
Rainier Jr./Sr. High School vice principal Kim Oblack is preparing for her new role as principal at Clatskanie Middle/High School (CMHS). Oblack will take the position as current principal Jim Helmen moves to the newly created position of the Clatskanie School District’s Director of Education, Innovation, and Improvement / Federal Programs. In the following, Oblack gives us insight into what she hopes to accomplish in her new position at Clatskanie Middle/High School. The Chief: What are your visions and priorities for Clatskanie Middle/High School? Kim Oblack: My vision for CMHS is to work with the staff and learn about their existing systems and find out what can be expanded for the benefit of students and staff. Math has been identified as a priority that needs focus and attention. I would like to collaborate Clatskanie’s staff with other math teachers in Columbia County and with an improvement plan offered by Northwest Regional ESD. Clatskanie is not unique in its struggle to improve math scores, the problem is seen all across Oregon schools at this time. I know schools with outstanding and exceptional math teachers but for some reason our students aren’t excelling
on standardized testing and we would like to figure out where the disconnect is. It’s important that students have good math skills to compete in post secondary options. For example, carpenters use extensive math formulas to calculate building stairs. All degrees and trade schools will require a certain level of math knowledge and we want to make sure our students are prepared for life. The Chief: What are your challenges ahead? Oblack: The major challenge that the district and I will have to deal with is the Back to School plan for COVID-19. Currently Oregon Deptartment of Educaton is saying that we will have to create a blueprint model with details explaining the reentry of students back into our school. This will have to be approved by our school board. It will be a lot of work this summer to ensure student and staff safety. The Chief: What are you most excited about? Oblack: I’m really excited to work with Clatskanie’s teachers who are wellrespected in the county. I’m excited to facilitate and teach professional development with them. I’m honored to be working with Superintendent Cathy Hurowitz, Jim Helmen and lastly I’m super excited to work with students again since it’s been many months away from them.
ODOT $25 million shortfall
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
The Oregon Department of Transportation offers incident response teams during hazardous road conditions and traffic crashes. The state agency is now facing a projected $25 million budget shortfall over the next 25 years. JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
New details are emerging of a projected $200 million budget shortfall at the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) over the next 25 years. That budget gap could impact road and bridge projects in Columbia County and across the state. ODOT representatives outlined the financial challenges this week before a state legislative committee. Even without the COVID-19 pandemic, the financial projections show that ODOT is facing some significant challenges, according to State Rep. Brad Witt (D), who said revenue for the department is increasing at a rate of 2% each year, while the department’s operational costs are increasing at a 6% rate. Witt represents District 31 in Columbia County and parts of Washington and Multnomah counties. “Currently revenue and expenditures are carefully matched, but moving forward without adjustment to operations or additional revenue, their budget will be $200 million short by 2025,” Witt writes in his weekly newsletter. ODOT officials are taking immediate action to avoid this budgetary shortfall, Witt said. “They will have to do more with less, and that means focusing on the most critical problems, becoming more efficient, realigning service levels, shift costs from the state highway fund where appropriate and finding additional revenue,” Witt said. ODOT’s strategies include prioritizing projects in the highest use areas, implement new technology where they can streamline processes, and offer more online services. ODOT is also evaluating service areas where the agency can change service levels without significant negative impacts on customers, shift costs from the state highway fund to federal highway funds through expanded grant opportunities, and consider changes in Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) fees.
ODOT’s response “The gas taxes we collect are our biggest revenue source and that revenue is basically flat as cars become more fuel efficient,” ODOT spokesman Lou Torres said.” In the meantime, our costs are growing due to inflation and other factors. As a result, ODOT will start running a budget deficit next year, and by 2025 that deficit will reach over $200 million a year if we do nothing.” Torres said the deficit is in the agency’s operating funds, including ODOT’s day-to-day maintenance, such as plowing snow and removing hazards from the road, as well as the agency’s revenue collection at the DMV and other divisions that collect taxes and fees, and ODOT’s administrative costs. “To close this gap, ODOT will need to reduce our costs, including by adjusting our service levels and becoming more efficient,” Torres said. “Transportation projects and grants to local governments are funded through dedicated state and federal funds that aren’t directly impacted by this deficit, so we don’t anticipate significant impacts to projects.” Torres told The Chief that projects currently in construction will not be affected by ODOT’s projected multi-million dollar budget shortfall. “Projects that are slated to go to construction in the current State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) for 2018-2021 should go ahead,” Torres said, “since funding has already been identified for those projects.” Witt said legislators and the public will be included in all discussions as ODOT moves forward. “At some point, it will be up to the Oregon Legislature to consider changes to DMV fees, some which currently do not cover the cost of service,” Witt said. “The agency will continue to work with the Road User Fee Task Force to come up with recommendations for consideration by the legislature. Read Witt’s Chief Guest Column on Page 4 and follow this developing story at thechiefnews.com.
Columbia County’s trusted local news source
The Chief: What is your career and educational background? Oblack: I started my career in the graphic arts field and then got into teaching middle school / high school art. I’ve taught everything from English to special education, but my number one love is art and art history. I hold a master’s degree in Education and a Professional Administrative License from Concordia University. My undergraduate work was completed at Pacific University in Forest Grove. I’ve been in education for 16 years. I’ve been working in administra-
tion for three years in Rainier and worked as the Dean of Students for many years in the Jewell School District. The Chief: Is there anything else you’d like to add? Oblack: I grew up in Vernonia and my family and I live in Mist, Oregon, on a cattle farm. I have two children ages 21 and 16. I understand Clatskanie’s community and history. I respect the hard-working families of this community as they are much like my own. Timber dollars funded my education and my family consists of farmers, loggers,
and educators. As I believe in the traditional college systems of education, I am also a strong proponent of the trades. Clatskanie has a strong college and career readiness model and I would like to build upon their foundation to get more students in post secondary colleges and training centers. Oblack accepted the position three weeks ago and will officially start as principal at Clatskanie Middle/High School July 1. Kim Oblack may be reached at Clatskanie Middle/ High School, after July 1 at, 503-397-2146.
Courtesy photo
Rainier Junior/Senior High School Vice Principal Kim Oblack has been selected to be the new principal at Clatskanie Middle/ High School.
www.thechiefnews.com
Friday, June 12, 2020
A3
Permit draws 1,200 comments CHRISTINE MENGES chronicle2@countrymedia.net
More than 1,200 comments have been submitted to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) urging the agency to deny or make major revisions to Global Partner’s Air Quality permit renewal request. The permit renewal request is for their Columbia Pacific Bio-Refinery facility at Port Westward near Clatskanie. The current permit renewal is for the transloading of ethanol and crude oil. “Transloading” is a term that means the transportation of a commodity from one mode of shipping to another. It is a renewal of a permit that was granted on August 19, 2014. It is different from another air quality permit which was renewed in the fall of 2019, which was for ethanol manufacturing. The DEQ received the statements during the agency’s public comment period which ended on Friday, June 5. Global Partners officials have stated that the intention is for the permit renewal, and that there is no intention of shipping oil through the county. “If we were to resume export of oils, we would communicate in advance with the local community,” Global Partners Communications Officer Catie Kerns told The Chief in 2019 when a similar permit renewal was made. However, numerous environmental groups are still raising suspicions about the latest Standard Air Contaminant Discharge Permit renewal request of an air quality permit for storage and transloading of ethanol and crude oil. The permit had also been modified to include storage and transloading of renewable diesel. The permit allows for shipment of crude oil, although
COVID-19 From Page A1
face and to use face masks in public and at work. While Columbia County’s COVID-19 case count is low compared to nearby counties Multnomah and Washington where cases have topped 1,000, Bell said the numbers should not lure people into a sense of false safety. “The low number of cases in our county up to this point may not indicate the true number of individuals who have or have had COVID-19, since some have had mild symptoms, would not have seen their medical providers, and would not have been reported as cases,” Bell said. Even if the COVID-19 is mild in some people, it can be transmitted to others who can be more severely affected by the virus, according to Bell. “In addition, our community works and accesses necessities outside of our county on a regular basis,” she said. “For all of these reasons, it is important to understand that the risk is not behind us.” What Phase 2 allows Phase 2 allows Columbia County to begin limited reopening of the following sectors under specific guidelines and encouraged social distancing.
Courtesy photo
The Global transloading facility at the Columbia Pacific Bio-Refinery at Port Westward, near Clatskanie.
Global Partners has stated it will move to renewable diesel. The comments submitted to DEQ include concerns that Global Partners will use the same equipment for multiple uses – in this instance, Global is applying for approval for ethanol, biodiesel and crude oil to be transloaded between tanks and rail cars. “Technical experts have told me they are not aware of any other situation where a permit has ever been granted for the same equipment for multiple uses,” Neighbors for Clean Air program director Tori Heroux said. “There cannot be ethanol and crude oil in the tank at the same time. If you’ve got it being regulated by two different permits, it doesn’t seem clear to me how you can actually enforce the permit limits.” According to Kerns, the reason for the two permits – one for ethanol manufacturing and one for transloading operations-- lies in DEQ’s qualifications, which changed in 2013. Previously, Kerns said, Global had inherited a permit for both operations when they originally acquired the facility. “DEQ considers these separate operations and, in 2013, required that we obtain a separate permit to regulate the transloading operations,” Kerns said. Another concern outlines if pollution from the tanks would be accurately measured. “We hired a technical expert to help look at pollution issues with site,” Columbia
Riverkeeper Director Dan Serres said. “What we found was that DEQ’s permit falls far short of accurately representing the pollution that will come from the facility.” If the pollution from the facility is significantly more than current estimates, that would mean Global would have to apply for a Title V permit, which has much more stringent requirements than the current permit. Again, representatives from Global denied the accusations. “We have had 183 inspections by regulatory agencies since 2013, and we’ve passed them all,” Kerns stated in an email to The Chief. Other comments referred to the recent termination of the agreement between PGE and Global for nine tanks from the Beaver Tank farm, and that it is increasingly unlikely that Global will return to crude oil storage. “DEQ would be operating within its authority, and justifiably so, if it declined to include crude oil in Global’s permit when the company has been so publicly vocal about its intentions to shift its operations to ethanol and renewable diesel,” according to one comment made to the DEQ. A final decision could be issued by the DEQ in a few months.
• Recreational sports
Limiting gatherings based on venue capacity, implementing physical distancing measures, thorough cleaning practices, and ending all facility activities by 10 p.m. • Bars and restaurants may remain open until midnight
Prohibiting staff and players who exhibit COVID-19 like symptoms from entering the premises, closing water fountains except for those designed to refill water bottles without contact between the bottle and fountain, and ensuring facility ventilation systems operate properly. • Venues Movie theaters, bowling alleys, and arcades. Closing water fountains except those to fill water bottles in a contact-free manner, posting signs to require physical distancing throughout the facility, and providing handwashing stations or hand sanitizer throughout the facility. • Swimming pools Prohibiting workers with any COVID-19 like symptoms from entering the premises, prohibiting visitors with any symptoms associated with COVID-19, and posting clear signs listing COVID-19 symptoms. • Social, civic, and faith-based gatherings Limiting gatherings based on venue capacity. • Indoor and outdoor entertainment facilities
Follow this story at thechiefnews.com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.
Photo courtesy of Multnomah County
Crews added asphalt to a section of Cornelius Pass Road as part of the 2019 improvement project.
More work at Cornelius Pass JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Columbia County drivers who use Cornelius Pass for commuting will need to plan for alternative routes later this month. More improvement work, left over from a major $5.6 million renovation project in 2019, is necessary, according to planners with the Multnomah County Transportation Division. Exact timing of the road work is pending. Look for more details as they become available at thechiefnews. com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Chief. The specific safety improvements include NW Cornelius Pass Road between Highway 30 and NW Kaiser Road. The work includes signage, vehicle pullouts, barriers and guardrails, and reduced pavement drop-offs. The project also includes larger safety improvements at four locations. The Oregon Legislature allocated funding to Multnomah County for the enhancements.
Traffic Closures NW Cornelius Pass Road will be closed to through traffic between Highway 30 and NW Skyline Boulevard from late June to early September. There will be a hard road closure at NW 8th Avenue where an under-road creek culvert will be replaced. Access will be maintained for local residents, but some residents will have longer routes than usual. Detour routes for through traffic will be in place during the project. • Cars and pickup trucks should detour from Highway 30 to NW Newberry Road then to NW Skyline Boulevard to rejoin southbound NW Cornelius Pass Road. • Large trucks will need to use Highway 30 to I-405 south to Highway 30. • Vehicles carrying hazardous materials should use Highway 30 to I-405 south, continuing to I-5 south, then Highway 217 north to Highway 26. The northern section between Highway 30 and NW Skyline will be closed to through traffic from late June until early September. Inwater work will be conducted
during due to environmental rules. Realignment of the S curves is also planned. History The Cornelius Pass Improvement construction began in 2019 and ended late that year. The work occurred along the steep, winding and narrow section of NW Cornelius Pass Road, which has a long history of traffic crashes. The project was designed to reduce some of the rural road’s sharp curves, increase sight distance for drivers, improve road shoulders, and install caution signs, guardrails and barriers. During the 2019 project, the work detoured approximately 13,000 vehicle trips each weekday onto other roads. All work south of NW Skyline Boulevard is complete. Multnomah County officials said that section will remain open while the new project is underway. For updates, visit www. multco.us/compass. Read a series of reports about the 2019 Cornelius Pass Improvement Project at thechiefnews.com.
Determining maximum occupancy to maintain physical distancing requirements will still be required, as well as ensuring tables are spaced at least six feet apart. • Some additional in-office work Remote work is still strongly recommended Who is responsible The responsibility to adhere to these reopening guidelines will remain with the business owners, according to a release from Columbia County officials, who urge all local business owners to consider the safety of their customers and their part in the ongoing battle to keep transmission rates low. Phase 2 is the last full phase of reopening until there is a widely available treatment or a vaccine for COVID-19. Read the daily reporting of COVID-19 stories at thechiefnews.com.
Clatskanie People’s Utility District is requesting proposals (RFP) for electric vehicle charger installation at one site in the District’s territory. Sealed proposals must be received by 2:00 pm PDT, June 23, 2020 at the District office - 495 E. Columbia River Hwy, Clatskanie, OR, 97016. Complete RFP details, including the scope of work, can be viewed at clatskaniepud.com.
Interested parties may also contact: Brian Fawcett 503-308-4575 or bfawcett@clatskaniepud.com Columbia County’s trusted local news source
A4
www.thechiefnews.com
•
Friday, June 12, 2020
•V iewpoints • •
ODOT’s $200 million shortfall BRAD WITT Chief Guest Column
We heard this week in the Joint Transportation Committee meeting about the impacts of COVID-19 and received updates from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Public Transportation Public transportation plays a key role in providing safe transportation for essential workers, medical appointments and obtaining groceries and other supplies. COVID-19 has impacted providers with early closures, service reductions, urban demand for service and rural demand for supplies. As we enter the Phase One and Two reopening, public transportation providers are required to implement new levels of cleaning and sanitation, obtain personal protective equipment for drivers, and limit ridership capacity to maintain physical distancing standards. Testimony at Monday’s meeting clearly indicated that costs to provide public transportation are increasing, while revenue from fares is decreasing. Department of Motor Vehicles When the COVID-19 orders were implemented, DMV closed down the majority of their offices, with only four remaining open for the purpose of issuing commercial licenses. They have now reopened 60% of their offices, but people do need to schedule appointments for prioritized transactions. More offices will open June 22 for prioritized transactions, and on August 3 all offices will be open and providing all services. Many DMV services were consistently available by mail or online, including certain vehicle title registration and renewal, renewal of licenses, license reinstatement fees, dealer paperwork, driver records and insurance filings. Services that weren’t available included Class C driver
SCHOOL From Page A1 and caregivers remain safe.” What Schools Must Do For the 2020-21 school year, each school will work under the direction of the district to develop an Operational Blueprint for Reentry that is tailored to the local context and informed by local needs. Each Operational Blueprint for Reentry must address eight essential elements including Public Health Protocols, Equity, Instruction, and Family and Community Engagement. Prior to the beginning of the school year, the Operational Blueprint for Reentry must be reviewed by the local school board and made available to the community on the district website. The blueprints will require that every school, under direction of the district,
license issuance, driver skill tests, license reinstatement, disabled parking placards and VIN inspections for new-to-Oregon vehicles. ODOT Budget Projections As elected state officials we have a fiduciary responsibility to oversee state agency budgets. The financial impacts of the COVID-19 shutdown were discussed in detail. The Stay Home Save Lives order reduced overall traffic by 50%, cutting fuel sales, and reducing the fuel tax receipts by about $30 million over the March and April time period. The commerce weight/ mile tax has been resilient as people have purchased more goods, for example more groceries for in-home consumption instead of dining out. As the state reopens, more people are expected to travel, but traffic levels are not expected to normalize until next summer. Even without the pandemic, the financial projections show that ODOT is facing some significant challenges. Revenue for the department is increasing at a rate of 2% each year, while their operational costs are increasing at a 6% rate. Currently revenue and expenditures are carefully matched, but moving forward without adjustment to operations or additional revenue, their budget will be $200 million short by 2025. ODOT officials are taking immediate action to avoid this budgetary shortfall. They will have to do more with less, and that means focusing on the most critical problems, becoming more efficient, realigning service levels, shift costs from the State Highway Fund where appropriate and finding additional revenue. Some of the strategies ODOT is working on is to prioritize projects in the highest use areas, implement new technology where they can streamline processes, and offer more online services. ODOT is also evaluating service areas where they can change service levels without significant negative impacts on customers, shift costs from determine whether they teach all students on-site, teach all students through distance learning or utilize a hybrid model. Local superintendent’s reaction Clatskanie School District Superintendent Cathy Hurowitz told the Chief in last week’s edition that her school team administrators were preparing for the newt school year and waiting to see the specific ODE guidelines. “We are also gearing up to keep our building sanitized, implementing social distancing, and planning protocols for the health and safety for staff and students,” Hurowitz said. “We are also gathering information from our families regarding their preferences in sending students back to school, we are asking about brick and mortar vs. online vs. hybrid models.” St. Helens School District Superintendent Scot Stockwell
the State Highway Fund to Federal Highway funds through expanded grant opportunities, and consider changes in DMV fees. Legislators and the public will be included in all discussions as ODOT moves forward. At some point, it will be up to the Oregon Legislature to consider changes to DMV fees, some which currently do not cover the cost of service. The agency will continue to work with the Road User Fee Task Force to come up with recommendations for consideration by the legislature. Real ID Implementation Federal government response to the pandemic has resulted in an extended deadline for the Real ID implementation date. The new date is October 1, 2021 to use a driver’s license to travel on a commercial airline or access a secure federal building. Oregon DMV will begin issuing those licenses this July but will now have more than a year to meet consumer demand for the upgraded license. Given the expanded timeline, the department expects that many people will obtain the Real ID as part of their regular driver license renewal, and lessen the anticipated surge in applications.
Weekly Online Poll
Last Week’s Results
Will you want your children to continue Distance Learning rather than attend in-person classes in the new school year?
Will the Black Lives Matter marches and rallies make a positive difference?
Yes
Capitol Building status As is the case with many public spaces, the Capitol Building remains closed to the public, but my office staff and I monitor our email and phone daily, and we are working to assist constituents. If you need help or have an issue or concern please feel free to contact my office. Please take care of yourself and each other. Be Safe. Rep. Brad Witt serves House District 31. He may be reached at: • Email: Rep.BradWitt@ oregonlegislature.gov • Telephone: 503-9861431 • Capitol Building: 900 Court St NE, H-382, Salem, OR, 97301 • Website: http://www. oregonlegislature.gov/witt called the ODE’s guidelines a framework provided for schools and the districts to build plans in corporation with local public health departments. “It will certainly change our routines, how is still to be determined,” Stockwell said. “Our challenge is not only keeping our children safe, but our staff which may be more vulnerable than our students. If we have an outbreak, we will quickly run out of substitutes to keep our schools open, to teach and to transport them to and from school. In addition, we are concerned with keeping family members of our students that may be in the high risk categories safe. We feel it is a big responsibility to do this right.” The Chief is closely following Columbia County school districts’ new school year plans as they are developed. Follow this story at the chiefnews.com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.
The Chief
No
59% Yes
41% No
Vote online at thechiefnews.com •
•V oices
We Need Change On June 3rd, during a George Floyd/Black Lives Matter Protest, the city of St. Helens got invaded by 70 groups of Patriot Prayer, a farright group that has ties to the Columbia County Republican Party and that has attracted racist and violent followers. The group is similar to the more well known Proud Boys, another violent extremist group. Our police knew, organized, and coordinated with Patriots behind the public eye and this allowed them to intimidate and terrorize Black Live Protesters indiscriminately. This is an outrage and unacceptable, and there needs to be an external investigation into why this was done behind closed doors and why Mayor Rick Scholl blamed Black Lives Protesters for reason to be concerned with when reports have shown any threats being made were coming from the same white supremacist groups the police were working with. We need change and we need it now. #BlackLivesMatter. Thomas O’Hanlon St. Helens
Thank You I would like to thank the people who came in or called and said they would
The Chief (USPS 116-360) is published weekly by Country Media, Inc. 1805 Columbia Blvd, St. Helens, OR 97051
of
T he C ommunity • •
like to keep an eye on the store to make sure nothing bad happened during the protest on the evening of Wednesday, June 3rd. It shows just how great some of the people that live in this town are. I would like to also thank the members of the St. Helens Elks Lodge who came to check on the store. There was a lot of support for our city. Thank you again. Doug Stokes St. Helens
Clean Water Rules I would hope that most Oregonian’s would work to rollback Trump’s substantial weakening of the Clean Water Rules. Trump’s rule change, effectively allows and makes legal the dumping of pesticides into streams, wetlands and groundwater. Sincerely, Marie Westlind Clatskanie
False Narrative There’s a narrative happening in our country right now that you can be either anti-racist or pro-police. That you cannot support your black brothers and sisters while still supporting your
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Chief PO Box 1153, St. Helens, OR 97053
community police officers. It’s false. We’ve been conditioned to look at things as either/or and it runs through everything we do. The truth is that life is lived in the and. In the nuance that understands that America has been built on the racism and exploitation of any people who are not white; that there is a systematic problem in our country that black and brown people live out every day. and that there are police officers who work within the community to dismantle this racism however they can. We can understand that the system is flawed and killing people, and also see the individuals in the system who are using their power to speak out for justice, who would take a bullet for the community members they serve, regardless of their skin tone. Who have signed up to die in my place. And yours. And our black sisters and brothers. I can teach my kids that black lives matter, that white privilege is real and that we respect and support our police. Because all of these systems and groups and movements and protests and organizations and forces are also individuals. It’s living in the messy tension of seeing both that brings understanding and effects change. My heart can be broken for the protestors and the police officers. It is. Sarah Frobisher St. Helens
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: One Year Columbia County & Eastern Clatsop County: $52/year One Year Out of County: $72 $3 senior discount for yearly sub
Contact Us • Phone: (503) 397-0116 • Fax: (503) 397-4093 • Website: www.thechiefnews.com Editorial Email: chiefnews@countrymedia.net • Advertising Email: atrull@countrymedia.net
Write to Us We want to hear from you and encourage you to write letters to the editor. Because of space limitations, shorter letters have a better chance of being printed. We may edit your letter for style, grammar and clarity, although we do as little editing as possible. If you don’t want your letter printed under those conditions, just let us know. Thank-you letters are limited to a general thanks and summary of an issue or action. We reserve the right to exclude lists of people, organizations and businesses. Letters received after noon on Friday may not be in time for the following Wednesday’s paper. To verify authenticity, all letters must be signed and include your address and daytime phone number. We won’t print your street address or phone number (just your city of residence). Submissions may be emailed to chiefnews@countrymedia.net, sent via mail, or dropped off at the office.
Columbia County’s trusted local news source
Send Letters To: The Chief Attn: News Editor PO Box 1153, St. Helens, OR 97051 Email Letters To: chiefnews@countrymedia.net Letters Policy The Chief welcomes letters of 250 words or fewer. Letters are subject to editing for length, clarity or grammar. They should be concise, to the point and original. Letters dealing with disputes or containing criticism of private individuals or businesses will not be published. All letters must be signed (unless emailed) and include the author’s full name, address and daytime telephone number (for verification purposes only). Letters will be published at the editor’s discretion. Letters also may be published on our website.
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. Editorial Policy Opinions expressed on this page are independent of The Chief views and are solely those of the writers expressing them.
www.thechiefnews.com
Friday, June 12, 2020
•
•O
COVID-19 CARES Act Funding
•
bituaries •
STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
Leon Tweet
May 29, 1952 ~ May 28, 2020 Leon Tweet, a longtime resident of Clatskanie, Oregon passed away on May 28th, 2020, he was 67. He was born on May 29, 1952 to Oren and Ellen (Aho) Tweet in Astoria, Oregon. He grew up in Westport and Clatskanie, Oregon and graduated from Clatskanie High School in 1970. He attended Oregon State University for three years, and then transferred to Western Oregon University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. He taught at Quincy Elementary and in the Clatskanie School District for thirty years and retired in 2005. In addition to teaching, he coached a Firemen’s Basketball team, and was a volunteer Firefighter/EMT with the Clatskanie Fire Department for many years. Leon had many interests and hobbies in his life. He loved to play music. He learned to play guitar at an early age and was gifted with the ability to sing. He enjoyed old-time Country Western Music and could be heard at our family reunions singing a Merle Haggard or Johnny
Cash tune. In retirement, he joined the Cowlitz Valley Old-Time Music Association, and was performing at the Clatskanie Senior Center and various senior living facilities in the area, where he volunteered to entertain residents. He was a train enthusiast from an early age, which was sparked by childhood memories of family trips back to Montana and North Dakota. He loved to “talk trains” and had plans to build a model railroad display. Leon enjoyed driving on back country roads and visiting his favorite restaurants along the way. He appreciated science
A5
and followed the space program. He also loved animals and had several special cats over the years, Bobo, Socks and Boots. He was a man of strong faith and was a devoted long-time member of Faith Lutheran Church. Leon will forever be loved by those of us he left behind. He is survived by his sister Arlana (Ken) Hauge of Bend, Oregon; niece Jennifer (Robert) Stammer of Clackamas, Oregon; nephew Josh Hauge of Happy Valley, Oregon; uncles, Marvin (Betty) Tweet of Glendive, Montana and Dean (Marlene) Tweet of Clatskanie, Oregon; aunt Betty Aho Bagley of Svensen, Oregon; and many cousins. He was pre-deceased by his parents Oren and Ellen Tweet of Clatskanie, Oregon. A memorial service is being planned at Faith Lutheran Church when current restrictions are lifted to allow for larger gatherings. Donations can be made in memory of Leon Tweet to the Clatskanie Senior Center, at P.O. Box 383, Clatskanie, Oregon 97016.
Columbia County is likely to receive a share of $247 million in relief funding now available to support Oregonians and small businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The Oregon Legislative Emergency Board approved the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund on Friday, June 5. Congress allocated funding to states through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act as one of 46 different funding streams. The CARES Act is a $2 trillion economic relief package designed to protect citizen from the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19. “The Legislature responded on behalf of Oregonians who are in desperate need of help,” House Speaker Tina Kotek said. “We sent meaningful support to renters, families with young children, and workers in need. But we have a lot more to do.” Kotek said in a release that Congress needs to step up and provide more direct support to the people and small businesses that need
it most. “The scale of this economic crisis is too big for Congress to not act soon,” she said. Senate President Peter Courtney said the action by the Oregon Emergency Board was, “a big deal.” “These funds are going to have far reaching impacts for Oregonians,” Courtney said. “They are going to help people pay rent, keep the lights on, get their kids to daycare. We’re also helping rural areas by investing in expanding broadband and grants to rural hospitals. While we are by no means out of this crisis, today’s actions will help Oregonians get through it.” Funding breakdown • $75 million to support rental assistance, housing stabilization and mortgage assistance. • $10 million in additional support to the Oregon Worker Relief Fund which supports Oregonians who are not otherwise eligible for unemployment benefits. • $15 million to support individuals having difficulty paying their utility bills. • $3.5 million to expand access to affordable telephone and broadband
service for low-income households. • $4 million to support survivors of domestic violence. • $25.6 million to enhance behavioral health services for Oregonians impacted by COVID-19, with a focus on communities of color, Oregon’s federally recognized tribes, and vulnerable populations. • $30 million in assistance to child care providers. • $20 million to support the Rural Broadband Capacity Program to support safe distancing practices by connecting schools, health care providers and businesses. • $50 million for rural hospital stabilization grants. • $10 million to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for small businesses. • $3 million in technical assistance to minority and women-owned businesses. • $1 million for 211 to maintain referral services during the pandemic. Read more about the COVID-19 pandemic impact in Columba County in a series of daily reports at thechiefnews.com.
State to test long-care homes for COVID-19 Oregon is implementing what Gov. Kate Brown is calling a comprehensive coronavirus testing plan to protect the residents and staff of long-term care facilities, prioritizing those facilities at greatest risk for outbreaks. Brown said that from the beginning of the pandemic, it has been one of her top priorities to protect the residents and staff of long-term care facilities. In a release, Brown pointed out that Oregon took early and swift action to enact one of the strictest visitation policies in the country in the first days of Oregon’s outbreak. “I know it has been incredibly hard for residents and their families to not be able to see their loved ones,” Brown said. “But even with those protocols in place, the residents of long-term care facilities are particularly at high risk for serious illness and death due to this disease.” Brown has directed the Oregon Health Authority and the Department of Human Services to implement a plan to test all residents and staff of long-term care facilities, starting with the facilities at highest-risk. “Expanding testing is an essential first step that will allow us to examine how visitation policies can be safely and incrementally eased,” Brown said. See full details of the plan at thechiefnews.com.
Best practices Public health officials are also working with long-term care facilities to implement recommended best practices for ongoing monitoring, including: • Conducting active daily screenings for fever and COVID-like symptoms for all residents and staff, providing testing for any residents or staff with even mild symptoms. Residents who test positive should be isolated. • Providing testing for all staff every month on a staggered weekly basis, with the goal of having 25% of all staff tested each week over the course of the month. • Providing testing for all residents and staff if there is a single new confirmed or suspected resident case or a confirmed staff case, and retesting weekly until at least 14 days pass without a new positive result. Residents who test positive and are symptomatic should be isolated. • Testing all new residents prior to admission or readmission, including transfers from hospitals or other health care facilities. Even new residents who test negative should be quarantined for 14 days. Data have shown that the greatest risk of an outbreak is driven by the type of facility and its location, according to the release from the
Open for business Freedom CBD & Fresh Morels Pre-bagged for car pull up to curbside only
practices. According to the testing plan, nursing facilities account for about 50% of the outbreaks at licensed long-term care facilities in Oregon despite representing less than 20% of the total number of facilities. Long-term care facilities in Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Yamhill, Marion and Polk counties account for the vast majority of outbreaks, indicating that facilities in these counties are currently at the highest risk of experiencing outbreaks. Seek federal assistance Courtesy photo
Oregon’s long-term care facilities house about 31,000 residents and employ about 29,000 staff—about 60,000 people in all.
governor’s office. Among facility types regulated by the Oregon Department of Human Services Office of Aging and People with Disabilities (APD) at high risk are nursing facilities that serve medically fragile people, including those in need of memory care. Nursing facilities can face additional challenges to infection prevention and control due to residents’ care needs, behavioral health conditions, and capacity to adhere to infection control guidelines. By the numbers Oregon’s long-term care facilities house about 31,000
residents and employ about 29,000 staff—about 60,000 people in all. As of June 9, 16 of Oregon’s 688 large long-term care facilities had current confirmed COVID-19 cases, down from a recent peak of 27 facilities. At no point during the pandemic have more than four percent of Oregon’s long-term care facilities reported having an active confirmed case of COVID-19 among residents or staff. APD has been tracking licensed long-term care facilities with COVID-19-positive residents and staff since early March, requiring that these facilities adopt stricter infection control
Small businesses are
the heartbeat
The World Famous
of your neighborhood
Farmers Market
Practice Social Distancing and support your community. If you would like to be a part of this advertisement in the future contact Amy at atrull@countrymedia.net or call 503-397-0116
St Helens Every Saturday 11 AM - 3 PM
Located in the parking lot of Strand Street in St. Helens, OR 97051
The state’s ability to quickly test all long-term care facility residents and staff is partially dependent on the federal government’s supply of necessary testing materials to Oregon, according to Brown, who continues to press federal officials for more testing swabs and transport media for testing samples. According to federally-reported figures, Oregon has received far less assistance in terms of testing supplies than many other states, hampering the state’s ability to expand testing capacity. “I am deeply frustrated that Oregon is not receiving equal treatment from the federal government when it comes to supplying testing materials,” Brown said. “Actions speak louder than words, and it’s far past time
for the federal government to step up and send Oregon the testing supplies we need.” By testing residents and staff, DHS, OHA, and local public health officials can more effectively work with long-term care facilities on strategies to prevent new infections of the virus and ensure infection control measures are in place and working. Such strategies can include isolating those who test positive for the virus or had close contact with confirmed cases. The agencies need to complete several crucial steps before the plan can launch. Among them are initiating a communication strategy for informing facility operators, health care providers and laboratories about the new plan, and updating testing guidelines. Considerations also need to be made for ensuring compliance with relevant federal and state employment laws, providing equitable leave options and coverage for staff who test positive or need to be quarantined due to close contact, along with identifying options for temporary housing for staff who have to be isolated or quarantined and can’t do this at their homes. Read a wide-ranging series of the pandemic coverage at thechiefnews.com.
RAINIER APPLIANCE Selling used appliances and repairs
OPEN FOR BUSINESS! 115 Est A Street - Rainier, OR 97048 Mon-Sat 9:30 to 5:30 - 503-556-3005
n e p w o i t l h l i t r s e s s t s r e i c n t i i s o n u s b ? r u o y Is On Sale for just $45
.00
(originally priced $89
.00
Plus a FREE Facebook
)
feed ad.
Columbia County’s trusted local news source
A6
www.thechiefnews.com
Friday, June 12, 2020
Marketplace
It’s easy to place a classified ad in The Chief.
Just call 503.397.0116
Listings are updated daily at www.thechiefnews.com 109
150
Construction Services
BETTER THAN NEW CONSTRUCTION LLC
H47854 H47843
General Contractor looking for Exterior & Interior Painting, Pressure Washing, Siding and Rot Repair, Roofing, Flooring, Interior Remodeling, General Carpentry.
FOR QUICK RESPONSE AND AFFORDABLE QUOTE CALL
503-298-1456
303
Misc Services
Paul’s Tree Service Inc. No bush too small, no tree too tall - Call Paul! Specialized in danger trees, take downs, storm clean-up. Time to prune - pruning Lace Leafed Maples & ornamental shrubberies, chipping, senior or veterans discount, free estimates. CCB# 217173 Lic., Bonded & Insured. 503-440-0723 or 503-543-8274.
860
950
Person to Person
Storage
Real Estate Wanted
Retired Army Veteran
CLATSKANIE Mini Storage
I buy houses and land in any condition. 360-261-4700.
Divorced white male, nice looking clean cut, good health. Wishes to meet nice retired female for long term relationship. No home owners please. Must be able to relocate. No games, must be serious for replys. Call Mike with phone number and leave message.
sell in buy and ieds sif s a the cl
Offering Quality Asphalt Paving Services to Columbia County and surrounding areas.
FREE Estimates
ALL ABOUT DRYWALL, INC.
Hoarder’s Paradise! 20 sizes, Inexpensive RV Storage, Hand trucks, Locks, Fully-lined, Insulated, Condensation free, all units lite. On-site Manager
360-491-4848
25 yrs. • hang exp. • tape • texture • smoothwall • patch work • matching texture
RODDY SHELL, JR.
503.369.2496 rodness72@yahoo.com
garage sale? check the classifieds online at www.thechiefnews.com to find your perfect job offer
view classified ads in the Chief and online at thechiefnews.com
(503) 509-8657
Quality Workmanship At Affordable Prices
Call
The Chief
[Your ad here] Call 503-397-0116
Call Jim today at
Read the news online
Visa/MC/Amex
Need a job?
COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL • INDUSTRIAL Driveways • Roadways • Subdivisions • Parking Lots • City, County, State Specification Products
licensed-bonded-insured CCB#185602
503 728-2051 503 369-6503
Hosting a
Let everyone know with an ad in The Chief. Call 503-397-0116.
ASPHALT PAVING
The chief at 503-397-0116 to place your ad today.
www.thechiefnews.com • 503-397-0116 • 1805 Columbia Blvd, St. Helens, OR 97051
Public Notices CC20-1268
CC20-1267
FORM LB-1
FORM UR-1
NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING
A public meeting of the City of Rainier will be held on June 22, 2020 at 6:00 pm at 106 West "B" Street, Rainier, Oregon. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020 as approved by the Rainier Budget Committee. A summary of the budget is presented below. A copy of the budget may be inspected or obtained at 106 West "B" Street, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. or online at www.cityofrainier.com. This budget is for an annual budget period. This budget was prepared on a basis of accounting that is the same as the preceding year.
NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING
A public meeting of the Rainier Economic Development Council will be held on June 22, 2020 at 5:30 pm at 106 West "B" Street, Rainier, Oregon. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020 as approved by the Rainier Economic Development Budget Committee. A summary of the budget is presented below. A copy of the budget may be inspected or obtained at 106 West "B' Street, between the hours of 9:00 a. m. and 5:00 p. m. or online at redco-or.org. This budget is for an annual budget period. This budget was prepared on a basis of accounting that is the same as used the preceding year.
Telephone: 503-556-7301
Contact: Debbie Dudley
Contact: Debbie Dudley
Telephone: 503-556-7301
Email: ddudley@cityofrainier.com TOTAL OF ALL FUNDS
FINANCIAL SUMMARY - RESOURCES Actual Amount 2018-2019 4,178,196 Beginning Fund Balance/Net Working Capital 3,124,601 Fees, Licenses, Permits, Fines, Assessments & Other Service Charges Federal, State & all Other Grants, Gifts, Allocations & Donations 324,628 Revenue from Bonds and Other Debt 493,586 Interfund Transfers / Internal Service Reimbursements 896,114 All Other Resources Except Current Year Property Taxes 909,421 Current Year Property Taxes Estimated to be Received 971,900 Total Resources 10,898,446 TOTAL OF ALL FUNDS
Adopted Budget This Year 2019-2020 4,094,278 2,250,100 992,878 1,542,378 1,099,177 957,695 978,197 11,914,703
FINANCIAL SUMMARY - REQUIREMENTS BY OBJECT CLASSIFICATION Personnel Services 1,531,541 Materials and Services 1,060,519 Capital Outlay 1,569,577 Debt Service 896,114 Interfund Transfers 896,114 0 Contingencies Special Payments 0 Unappropriated Ending Balance and Reserved for Future Expenditure 364,096 Total Requirements 6,317,961
Approved Budget Next Year 2020-2021 4,261,663 2,148,200 1,799,466 490,221 1,435,130 906,595 1,059,365 12,100,640
1,816,724 1,040,720 3,286,461 994,177 1,099,177 2,054,898 0 1,622,546 11,914,703
1,899,057 1,020,820 2,787,561 960,130 1,435,130 793,998 0 3,203,944 12,100,640
FINANCIAL SUMMARY - REQUIREMENTS AND FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT EMPLOYEES (FTE) BY ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT OR PROGRAM * Name of Organizational Unit or Program FTE for that unit or program General Fund- General Government 198,491 260,282 293,194 FTE General Fund- City Building Maintenance 65,764 126,600 14,500 FTE General Fund- Land Use & Development 50,563 15,210 23,109 FTE General Fund- Library 62,637 62,817 62,817 FTE General Fund- Attorney 5,935 7,500 7,500 FTE General Fund- Finance & Administration 33,738 36,454 54,041 FTE General Fund- Municipal Court 112,678 94,282 64,678 FTE Street 144,178 569,863 569,184 GeneralFund Fund- Public Properties 223,753 159,135 152,279 FTE Special FundDepartment 949,068 364,099 459,099 GeneralProjects Fund- Police 799,611 942,606 863,021 FTE Sewer Fund Use Fund 75,211 1,165,000 825,548 GeneralCapital Fund-Improvement Reserved for Future 0 1,066,435 1,502,744 FTE Water CapitalFund Improvement Fund 0 186,500 414,500 Debt Service 1,260,210 1,358,273 1,324,226 FTE Transporatation Capital Improvement Fund 7,850 637,461 764,611 1,541,525 1,934,562 1,829,515 Sewer Fund FTE Water Fund 715,087 1,725,000 1,456,969 Library Trust 7,202 106,400 100,105 FTE Timber 64,460 1,096,224 1,319,000 TotalFund Requirements 6,317,961 11,914,703 12,100,640 FTETotal FTE 0 Street Fund 144,178 569,863 569,184 FTE STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN ACTIVITIES and SOURCES OF FINANCING * Special Projects Fund 949,068 364,099 459,099 FTE Sewer Capital Improvement Fund 75,211 1,165,000 825,548 FTE Water Capital Improvement Fund 0 186,500 414,500 FTE Transporatation Capital Improvement Fund 7,850 637,461 764,611 FTE Library Trust 7,202 106,400 100,105 FTE Total Requirements 6,317,961 11,914,703 12,100,640 Total FTE 0 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN ACTIVITIES and SOURCES OF FINANCING *
Permanent Rate Levy (rate limit 5.2045 per $1,000) Local Option Levy Levy For General Obligation Bonds
LONG TERM DEBT
PROPERTY TAX LEVIES Rate or Amount Imposed 2018-2019 5.2045
Rate or Amount Imposed This Year 2019-2020 5.2045
Rate or Amount Approved Next Year 2020-2021 5.2045
506,634
504,825
508,394 STATEMENT OF INDEBTEDNESS Estimated Debt Outstanding on July 1. $4,066,418
Estimated Debt Authorized, But Not Incurred on July 1
General Obligation Bonds Other Bonds $3,894,109 Other Borrowings PROPERTY TAX LEVIES Total $7,960,527 or Amount Imposed Rate or Amount Imposed * If more space is needed to complete any section of this form, insert linesRate (rows) on this sheet. You may delete blank lines. 2018-2019 This Year 2019-2020 5.2045 5.2045 Permanent Rate Levy11-18) (rate limit 5.2045 per $1,000) 150-504-073-2 (Rev. Local Option Levy Levy For General Obligation Bonds 508,394 506,634
LONG TERM DEBT CC20-1266
STATEMENT OF INDEBTEDNESS Estimated Debt Outstanding on July 1. $4,066,418
Rate or Amount Approved Next Year 2020-2021 5.2045 504,825
Estimated Debt Authorized, But Not Incurred on July 1
Email: ddudley@cityofrainier.com
FINANCIAL SUMMARY - RESOURCES Actual Amount 2018-2019
Beginning Fund Balance/Net Working Capital Federal, State and All Other Grants Revenue from Bonds and Other Debt Interfund Transfers All Other Resources Except Division of Tax & Special Levy Revenue from Division of Tax Revenue from Special Levy Total Resources
Adopted Budget
Approved Budget
999,464
This Year 2019-2020 969,061
Next Year 2020-2021 967,129
75,000 22,962 289,504
10,000 275,000
2,000 275,000
1,386,930
1,254,061
1,244,129
15,700 687,500 275,000
14,500 679,500 275,000
275,861
275,129
1,254,061
1,244,129
FINANCIAL SUMMARY - REQUIREMENTS BY OBJECT CLASSIFICATION Personnel Services Materials and Services Capital Outlay Debt Service Interfund Transfers Contingencies All Other Expenditures and Requirements Unappropriated Ending Fund Balance Total Requirements
12,305 94,600 275,000
381,905
FINANCIAL SUMMARY-REQUIREMENTS AND FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT EMPLOYEES (FTE) BY ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT OR PROGRAM * 106,905 704,061
General Fund FTE Debt Services FTE
694,129
275,000
550,000
550,000
381,905 0
1,254,061 0
1,244,129 0
FTE FTE FTE FTE FTE FTE Non-Departmental / Non-Program FTE Total Requirements Total FTE
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN ACTIVITIES and SOURCES OF FINANCING *
STATEMENT OF INDEBTEDNESS LONG TERM DEBT General Obligation Bonds Other Bonds Other Borrowings
Estimated Debt Outstanding July 1
Estimated Debt Authorized, But Not Incurred on July 1
$2,270,121
Total $2,270,121 * If more space is needed to complete any section of this form, insert lines (rows) on this sheet or add sheets. You may delete unused lines.
CC20-1269
CLATSKANIE PEOPLE’S UTILITY DISTRICT MEETING NOTICE The Clatskanie People’s Utility District Board of Directors has scheduled the next regular Board meeting for Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at 5:30 pm in the community room of the District’s administration building located at 495 E Columbia River Highway, Clatskanie. A Board Workshop will not be held this month. An executive session may be called at the workshop and/or meeting, pursuant to: ORS 192.660 (2) (f) information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection.
AGENDA CLATSKANIE PEOPLE’S UTILITY DISTRICT REGULAR BOARD MEETING on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at 5:30 P.M. I. PUBLIC COMMENTS II. 2019 AUDIT REPORT – Keith Simovic Senior Manager, Moss Adams LLP III. CONSENT AGENDA · Minutes of Regular Board Meeting, May 20, 2020 · Review payment of bills for May 2020 IV. STAFF REPORTS UPDATE · Staff Reports V. POLICY REVIEW · #315 Short Form Investment Policy
VI. ACTION ITEMS · Accept 2019 Audit Report · Policy Review: #109 Public Records Request, #110 Consumer Identity Theft Protections Policy, and #218 Conflict of Interest · NW RiverPartners Request for Support · Appoint OPUDA Representative · Letters of Interest for Subdivision 3 Board Director Vacancy VII. DISCUSSION / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS · Board Comments & Calendar VIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION IX. ADJOURNMENT
CC20-1265
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF THE LANDOWNERS OF THE BEAVER DRAINAGE OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA Probate Department In the estate are required to additional information from IMPROVEMENT COMPANY, INC. the Matter of the Estate present their claims, with the records of the Court, the General Obligation Bonds Other Bonds $3,894,109 Other Borrowings Total $7,960,527 * If more space is needed to complete any section of this form, insert lines (rows) on this sheet. You may delete blank lines. 150-504-073-2 (Rev. 11-18)
Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting for the Landowners and Board Members of the Beaver Drainage Improvement Company, Columbia County, Oregon, will be held Monday, June 22nd, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. via a Zoom Conference
Meeting due to Covid-19 restrictions. Please e-mail full name, tax lot number and acreage to Columbiadistricts5@yahoo. com for meeting ID and Password. Notice is further given that all proxies must be in writing and signed by the owner. The meeting is
Columbia County’s trusted local news source
to elect a director, review financials and discuss any other business that comes before the landowners. Dated this 8th day of June, 2020. Warren Seely, President Beaver Drainage Improvement Company, Inc. Board of Directors
of DONNA ROZANN MASSEY, Deceased. No. 20PB03100 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed personal representative of this estate. All persons having claims against
vouchers attached, within four months after the date of first publications 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
personal representative or the attorney for the personal representative. Dated and first published June 12, 2020. Kimberly A. Dalley, Personal Representative. STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C. Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048.
www.thechiefnews.com
Friday, June 12, 2020
Public Notices CC20-1270
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING Marshland Drainage Improvement Company Annual Meeting Notice Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of the Marshland Drainage
Improvement Company has been called to be held on June 23, 2020 at 6:30 PM at the Lower Columbia Tree Farm office at 350 E Columbia River Hwy,
Grannis Square, for the purpose of electing one director and transacting such other business as may come before the meeting.
CC20-1271 FORM ED-1
NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING
A public meeting of the Clatskanie School District will be held on June 17, 2020 at 8:00 pm on Zoom. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020 as approved by the Clatskanie School District Budget Committee. A summary of the budget is presented below. A copy of the budget may be inspected or obtained at 471 SW Bel Air Drive between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., or online at www.csd.k12.or.us. This budget is for an annual budget period. This budget was prepared on a basis of accounting that is the same as the preceding year.
Telephone: 503.728.0587 x2006
Contact: Mark Bergthold, Business Manager
Email: mbergthold@csd.k12.or.us
FINANCIAL SUMMARY - RESOURCES Actual Amount Last Year 2018-19 $757,799 4,168,000 0 1,004,145 13,000 4,354,903 551,000 435,000 50,000 $11,333,847
TOTAL OF ALL FUNDS Beginning Fund Balance Current Year Property Taxes, other than Local Option Taxes Current Year Local Option Property Taxes Other Revenue from Local Sources Revenue from Intermediate Sources Revenue from State Sources Revenue from Federal Sources Interfund Transfers All Other Budget Resources Total Resources
Adopted Budget This Year 2019-20 $850,911 4,288,792 0 1,156,007 98,000 5,294,073 599,785 455,000 170,000 $12,912,568
FINANCIAL SUMMARY - REQUIREMENTS BY OBJECT CLASSIFICATION Salaries $4,716,822 Other Associated Payroll Costs 3,039,287 Purchased Services 754,567 Supplies & Materials 969,608 Capital Outlay 30,000 Other Objects (except debt service & interfund transfers) 290,563 Debt Service* 773,000 Interfund Transfers* 435,000 Operating Contingency 325,000 Unappropriated Ending Fund Balance & Reserves 0 $11,333,847 Total Requirements
Approved Budget Next Year 2020-21 $1,051,235 4,515,404 0 704,800 31,000 5,726,147 684,519 577,673 0 $13,290,778
$5,062,487 3,507,658 1,082,895 1,073,491 220,000 363,037 773,000 455,000 375,000 0 $12,912,568
$5,777,751 3,763,617 897,643 650,743 136,553 194,950 789,556 577,673 502,292 0 $13,290,778
FINANCIAL SUMMARY - REQUIREMENTS AND FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT EMPLOYEES (FTE) BY FUNCTION 1000 Instruction $5,810,596 $6,434,918 $6,384,140 FTE 61.63 63.42 65.92 2000 Support Services 3,495,856 4,220,350 4,318,584 FTE 28.54 30.59 32.59 3000 Enterprise & Community Service 479,395 549,100 496,498 FTE 4.38 5.06 5.06 4000 Facility Acquisition & Construction 15,000 105,200 5,200 FTE 0 0 0 5000 Other Uses 0 0 5100 Debt Service* 773,000 773,000 789,556 5200 Interfund Transfers* 435,000 455,000 577,673 6000 Contingency 325,000 375,000 719,127 7000 Unappropriated Ending Fund Balance 0 0 0 Total Requirements $11,333,847 $12,912,568 $13,290,778 Total FTE 94.55 99.07 102.57 * not included in total 5000 Other Uses. To be appropriated separately from other 5000 expenditures. STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN ACTIVITIES and SOURCES OF FINANCING ** Contractural increases for salaries and associated payroll costs are reflected througout the 20-21 budget. Changes include a 1.0 FTE elementary teacher, 1.0 FTE teacher in classrooms for disabled students, a 1.0 FTE guidance counselor to assist students at CES, a .5 FTE Home Economics teacher at CMHS, and a 1.0 FTE Director of Student Support and Innovation.
Permanent Rate Levy (Rate Limit __________ per $1,000) Local Option Levy Levy For General Obligation Bonds
LONG TERM DEBT General Obligation Bonds Other Borrowings (LED) Other Borrowings (Bus Lease) Total
PROPERTY TAX LEVIES Rate or Amount Imposed 4.6062 0 $645,000
Rate or Amount Imposed 4.6062 0 $719,000
STATEMENT OF INDEBTEDNESS Estimated Debt Outstanding on July 1 $729,619 $419,556 $305,015 $1,454,190
Rate or Amount Approved 4.6062 0 $734,000
Estimated Debt Authorized, But Not Incurred on July 1 $0 $0 $0 $0
Summer Reading Program offered
Image courtesy of the Clatskanie Library District
STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
The Clatskanie Library District’s Summer Reading Program begins June 24. Registration is now open for youth ages 4-17 to “Imagine Their Story” as they travel through a virtual world of fairy tales, folklore, and mythology. Those without online access are still eligible to participate in a Summer Reading Challenge and special finale.
The weekly online program for kids ages 4-12 will take place between 12:302:30 p.m. on Wednesdays from June 24 through August 12. Recordings will often be available for participants who miss the live event. The Clatskanie Library District also will host weekly online events specifically for teens ages 13-17 who also are encouraged to register. A full rundown of the events planned is available on the library Facebook page.
Once registered, participants will receive all the information they need about how to join live events, receive supporting documents, and pick up books, incentives, and craft kits. Organizers said online registration is easy by using the links found on the library’s Facebook page and at the website, www.clatskanielibrary.org., or by calling 503-728-3732 between 10 a.m-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
A7
Clatskanie Grows: June in your garden CHIP BUBL Chief Guest Column
Lasso that mower! We have had great grass growing weather and our lawn mowers are getting a workout. But you need to guide your mower around tree trunks, not race through the job. I have seen a number of trees that never got the chance to live to old age from mower damage to the bark. Some trees (dogwoods, for example) are especially susceptible to fungal disease caused by injury to the base of the tree. But all trees can get attacked by soil fungi that normally can’t get any traction until bark is damaged near the soil line. It can get ugly fast and is cured by a chain saw. So, slow down. Root maggots
We don’t even like to
think about maggots. But gardeners must. There are two flies that can lay eggs that turn into maggots in our crops. First is the cabbage root maggot. The tiny fly legs eggs that hatch and attack the roots of all cabbage family crops. Cauliflower is especially sensitive to their feeding. You may see a fairly large plant suddenly wilt and you have been watering appropriately. When the plant is dug up, the maggots are visible, white and plump from eating the roots. When they feed in radishes and turnips, the ick factor is ramped up, especially if noticed after the first bite of the radish. Another vegetable affected by maggots are carrots courtesy of the carrot rust fly. While the holes and size of the maggots are not as large as the cabbage maggot, they provide a channel for a plant disease to get into the carrot and rot it. Again, not a pretty picture. So how are they controlled? The best answer is to exclude them. Plant radishes under a row cover and keep it on until harvest (35-40 days after planting).You can also use row covers on carrots but they need to be either on some support or be very light weight row covers to allow for more foliage growth in a longer growing season. Finally, rotate your ground to reduce problems. Excessive new growth in hard pruned apple trees If you pruned a lot from your apple tree earlier this
year, you will see a lot of “water sprouts” emerging where major limbs were cut off or on other locations on the limbs. These new shoots can be removed all summer long. Often they can be just
answering phone calls left on our answering machines, email messages (chip.bubl@ oregonstate.edu), writing newspaper columns and newsletters, and working to develop programs that can reach you online. We are really committed to helping our communities in any way we can, especially in our areas of subject matter expertise (farming, gardening, forestry, food, food safety, and nutrition, healthy decisionmaking, and youth education) and any other way we can enrich your life and/ Clatskanie or make you safer Grows in these challenging times. Please do not hesitate to contact us. And please, take all steps necessary to ensure that you and your loved ones are safe. pulled off. Doing it now through mid-August will Free online OSU vegetable reduce the work next winter. gardening class If you want to save a few of these the create branches in https://workspace.oregonselected places, start gently state.edu/course/masterguiding them in the direcgardener-series-vegetabletion you want them to grow gardening with either twine, small weights, or a wooden splint. Prune spring/early sumFree online beginning mer flowering plants now: OSU/Food Bank vegetable Early flowering plants like gardening class (“Seed to rhododendrons, mock orSupper” anges (a native plant blooming right now), camellias, https://www.oregonfoodand many others are best bank.org/our-work/propruned now to guarantee grams/education/gardening/ that you will a good floral display next year. Reasons for pruning include size Free newsletter control, reducing “leggy” growth, and/or stimulating The Oregon State Unian abundance of flowers versity Extension office in next year. Columbia County publishes Watering and mulcha monthly newsletter on ing new trees: Despite all gardening and farming topthe rain last weekend, we ics (called County Living) are still somewhat behind written/edited by yours truly. on rain for this time of year. All you need to do is ask Surface moisture is ok for for it and it will be mailed now but you don’t have to or emailed to you. Call 503 dig very far down to see a 397-3462 to be put on the drier soil. For new trees, it list. Alternatively, you can is important to provide a find it on the web at http:// through soaking each day extension.oregonstate.edu/ for the first week, making columbia/ and click on to get water deep into the newsletters. ground to encourage deeper rooting. Continue the same Many Extension deep soaking technique but publications available you can back off to twice online a week for the next 4-6 weeks. If August is blisterAre you putting up salsa, ing hot and windy, you may saving seeds, or thinking have to water three times about planting grapes? OSU a week to get through that has a large number of its weather. You can mulch publications available for around trees to conserve free download. Just go to moisture but keep the mulch https://catalog.extension. layer no more than three oregonstate.edu/ Click on inches thick and five inches publications and start exaway from the trunk of the ploring. tree. The Extension Service offers its programs and materiThe OSU Extension office als equally to all people. is closed to face-to-face public contact but you can Contact information for still reach us the Extension office Oregon State University We are developing plans Extension Service – Columfor reopening that will bia County have to be approved by the Address: 505 N. CoUniversity and ultimately, lumbia River Highway St. the Governor. Our target Helens, OR 97051 is mid-June. In the meanPhone: 503 397-3462 time, all of us (faculty and Email: chip.bubl@orstaff) will still be working egonstate.edu (mostly out of the office),
Start your engines, but with no fans MIKE WEBER Chief Guest Article
The Columbia County Racing Association (CCRA) expects to start the River City Speedway track season at 5 p.m. Saturday, June 13. “That’s what we’re getting ready for and we’re doing everything that we possibly can to start the season on Saturday,” club President Darrin Rye said. “There’s going to be rules and regulations that we have to abide by, including a 10 p.m. curfew and social distancing monitors on site at all times.” The COVID-19 state restrictions on large outdoor events postponed the racing season at the Columbia County Fairgrounds track in St. Helens earlier this spring. Now, under the less restrictive Phase 2 reopening framework, racing can resume, but without fans for the time being. Columbia County’s move into Phase 2 on June 5 signaling a much anticipated and
welcome economic boost for area residents, business owners and also for cultural activities, such as stock car racing. On the track The track will have 70 cars that can compete, which is a significant number since it will allow the CCRA to include more race classifications to participate at the speedway. Under the Phase 2 guidelines, a total of 250 people will be allowed at the track which would allow 25 CCRA employees and 155 pit crew members to attend the races each week. Drivers won’t receive points this year, so there will not be any division champions like in previous years. “We’re very excited that we can have a total of 250 people, which will allow us to have several divisions that will be able to compete,”Rye said. “Our sponsors - Napa Auto Care Center, Chubb’s Chevron and Skinny’s
Photo courtesy of Mike Weber
Bob Berg (#0) of St. Helens, will be driving his Cozy Lawn Maintenance sponsored 1997 Dodge Neon in River City Speedway stock car races at the Columbia County Fairgrounds in St. Helens.
Texaco, our absolutely the most important part of our organization and we’re all very grateful to have their help every year. It will be nice to have 250 people seeing all the sponsors banners and posters at the track.”
Classes that will comprise CCRA events include Sportsman, Modified, Tuner, Four-Cylinder, Dwarf Cars and Pure Stock, which was formally known as Street Stock. Area drivers who are considered division frontrunners include St. Helens drivers Bob Berg, Greg Brumbaugh, Jim Potter, Warren’s Terry King and Dick Gaboury of Rainier. The Dwarf Cars and the Four-Cylinder Division will be the two featured classes in Saturday’s opener. Drivers ready to start their engines “I’m ready to go and I’m really excited to start racing my new car (a 2001 Toyota Celica) in the Four Cylinder class,” Berg said. “It’s definitely going to be much different than other years, because there won’t be any fans there. There won’t be point standings either, so we won’t be competing for a
championship, which is kind of unfortunate. It will still be a fun season though and I’m ready to start competing.” Berg’s wife Tiffany competed in the Four-Cylinder class in a Neon and she took fourth place last year. The husband/wife duo will be racing together in the same class on Saturday, which is something rarely seen at the speedway. Brumbaugh, took second to 2019 Street Stock champion King and he’ll be back driving the CLT Trucking/Hoyt Construction sponsored 1985 Chevrolet Malibu in the Pure Stock Class. Potter finished eighth in the Tuner Class last year and he’ll also be a top driver again this season. Gaboury took second place along with co-driver Trenton Brogan of Kelso in the FourCylinder Class while driving his Economy Auto Wrecking 1992 Nissan Sentra. King and co-driver Broc Ross of St. Helens, teamed up to win the Street Stock title last year
in the Ross Diesel & Auto 1987 Buick Regal. King will compete again this year in the Pure Stock class. Berg won the 2018 Tuner Division title and he followed with a fourth place finish in the series points standings last year while driving his Cozy Lawn Maintenance sponsored 1997 Dodge Neon. Berg’s wife Tiffany competed in the Four-Cylinder class in a Neon and she took fourth place last year. TJ Landis of West Linn, won the Tuner Division championship last year and he’ll return and likely continue to be a frontrunner again this season. During inclement weather conditions it’s best to call the speedway at 503-397-6506 to verify the schedule. If Saturday’s race is cancelled, the rescheduled opening day will be June 20, followed by the second event June 27. River City Speedway is located at 58892 Saulser Road in St. Helens.
Columbia County’s trusted local news source
A8
www.thechiefnews.com
Friday, June 12, 2020
North Columbia Academy Dylan Etten
Kearin Fowler
Daniel Hendrix
Kaylee Henlin
Joshua Hilsinger
Lexie Lane
Spencer Lentini
Christian Matthews
Emily McElroy
Gaven McGlone
Ryan Pumphery
Alexa Price
Christian Purdy
Anthony Rivera
Joshua Stone
Ethan Tamlin-Marsyla
Charlie Thompson
Barbara Tuck
GRADUATION From Page A1 congratulations from Clatskanie School Superintendent Cathy Hurowitz and school board members. Following the ceremony each senior was allowed a few moments with family for photos. Graduating senior Gabriel Katon said the final year for him and his classmates was challenging due to the pandemic impacts and resulting
Distance Learning. Yeah, but it wasn’t as bad as everyone played it out to be,” he said. “We managed to stick together and get through it by a lot of phone calls, texting and sticking together however we can, but staying six feet in the park, is how we got through it.” Gabriel said hopes to attend Oregon State University to study chemical engineering. Clatskanie School District Superintendent Kathy Hurowitz said the nontraditional ceremony went well.
“The photo opportunities for the families is awesome,” she said. “It gave the families the opportunity to gather together and take pictures and to be fully engaged wth the graduation.” Although far from tradition, Helmen said the ceremony captured the moment of intent. “This is all about students and family and a very personal way to do it,” he said. Helmen’s oldest son also was part of the 2020 Clatskanie graduating class.
Rainier High School Graduation On Saturday night, June 6, seniors at Rainier Jr./ Sr. High School celebrated their graduation in another unconventional ceremony. The seniors paraded into the school and were segregated to individual classrooms to await receiving their diplomas. The ceremony was live streamed on the school’s website. Immediate families could watch from their vehicles.
Senior Jenna Lefebvre told The Chief while she felt “pretty excited” to graduate, she said the the state’s social distancing restrictions, which forced the nontraditional ceremony, was sad for her. “I’m a little bit sad that I don’t get to see my parents and see the people that I wanted to invite while this is happening,” she said. Jenna said she had no specific plans after graduation but would eventually like to work at LifeWorks,
a Washington-based company that helps the disabled. She volunteered with the company during her time at the high school. Rainier graduating senior Nathan Gaines said he is glad to be done with high school. “I just feel like it’s been long overdue.” he said. Gaines said he is planning to attend the University of New Mexico and hopes to play football there.
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
At the Clatskanie Middle/High School ceremony, students were able to walk down the traditional red carpet despite the untraditional ceremony.
Christine Menges / The Chief
Rainier Jr./Sr. High School seniors sat in classrooms waiting to have their names called to come to head of the room to receive their diplomas as part of the state’s social distancing requirements.
Join us on Zoom for monthly meetings and special events
SHOP Local!!! Stores and restaurants are opening!! Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
CNHS Principal Jim Helmen poses for a photo with a graduating senior.
Columbia County’s trusted local news source
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/ClatskanieChamber Website: www.clatskaniechamber.com Heritages Days Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/clatskanieheritagedays Clatskanie Chamber contact: Info.clatskaniechamber@gmail.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/rainierORchamberofcommerce Website: www.rainierchamberofcommerce.com
Sponsored By The Chief in support of the Chamber of Commerce and small businesses