Bike for a cure
Gas tax relief
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FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022
VOL. 131, NO. 7
CMHS students leave legacy Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891
Courtesy photo from Jaime Erwin
Art Director Jaime Erwin and members of Clatskanie Bloom stand alongside the art fence created by CMHS art students. ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net
Clatskanie high school art students have made their mark with a vibrant new addition to the Clatskanie Middle/High School (CMHS) campus. On Thursday, June 23, CMHS Fine Arts Director Jaime Erwin brushed the last coat of paint on a multicolored fence that wraps around the school’s garden. On each fence board, one or more cursive letters spell out the phrase “Grow through what you go through.”
The garden belongs to James Byrne, a Biology and Agriculture teacher at the high school. “(Byrne) has a garden out behind the school where his classes grow things, and they have birdhouses that they check out,” Erwin said. “I asked him (if) he is okay if we recreated an art fence and put it back in his garden. He said that’s a great idea.” The idea for a fence painting project was first introduced by Clatskanie Bloom, a group supporting local artists in Clatskanie. “They had a similar project in the park by their art gallery, where
they had a call out to artists,” Erwin explained. “It was (for) adults and kids, and they could come to get a board that gave them guidelines for how to paint the board and have a quote on there as well.” Erwin saw the potential to turn the activity into a campus beautification project for her students, and after receiving a $750 grant from Clatskanie Bloom, she put a plan into motion. CMHS Career Technical Education (CTE)/Forestry teacher Denny Flatz had his wood shop class prepare the materials for the project.
“They primed it all for us, and there’s no bottom of the fence, so they installed bottom boards on the fence so that we (could) screw in the fence boards, up at the top and then the bottom,” Erwin said. The art students, 20 in all, were each given a board to paint and two weeks to complete their original design as part of their final school project heading into summer vacation. Enrichment through art
ciplines, including drama, music, and studio art. Erwin said enrollment in her art course climbed this year, and so far, her students have been incredibly resilient after overcoming learning disruption challenges. “When we came back the second semester last year, and we were in person, I saw a lot more growth and excitement, and that continued through this year,” Erwin said. “We have some really talented kids.”
As the CMHS fine arts director, Erwin teaches a variety of arts dis-
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Qualifying Oregonians to receive $600 JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
The Oregon Department of Revenue was scheduled to distribute one-time assistance payments of $600 to more than 236,000 qualifying households late this week. The payments are being made through House Bill 4157, which provides a one-time $600 payment as part of a program to address negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Payments will be received by direct deposit or by check by July 1, 2022. To qualify households must have received the Earned Income Tax Credit on their 2020 tax filing and lived in Oregon the last six months of 2020. The One-Time Assistance Payments will be deposited directly to the bank accounts of 136,640 recipients and checks will be mailed
to 99,647 recipients. Households that receive a direct deposit will also be mailed a letter explaining the payment. Households that receive a paper check will include information about the payment on their check stub. A total of nearly $141.8 million is expected to be distributed to 236,287 qualifying recipients. Current information on payments being delivered and paid amounts • Eligible households: 236,287; $141,772,200 • Payments by direct deposit: 136,640; $81,984,000 • Payments by paper check: 99,647; $59,788,200 For more information, access the frequently asked questions on the Oregon Revenue Department’s OTAP webpage or email onetime. assistancepayment@dor.oregon. gov.
Metro Creative Connection
The $600 payment is part of a program to address negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
100 days to tame a wild horse ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net
Opinions ................... A4 Community Events A4 Classified Ads ......... A5 Obituaries ................. A5 Legals ....................... A5 Crossword ................ A6
Contact The Chief Phone: 503-397-0116 Fax: 503-397-4093 chiefnews@countrymedia.net 1805 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR 97051
Courtesy photo from Ashley Passmore
Horse trainer Ashley Passmore and mustang Comanche.
A local woman has reached the halfway point of her 100-day journey to tame a wild horse. Around a year ago, Clatskanie resident Ashley Passmore applied for and accepted an extreme mustang makeover (EMM) challenge: a competition in which trainers are paired with a mustang and “spend approximately 100 days preparing for classes that will showcase the mustang’s new skills.” “On day 19, we were able to get him under saddle and ride him,” Passmore said. “He’s been on two big outings in the trailer with my horse. We trailered them to a beach yesterday and trailered up to my parents’ barn a couple of weeks ago. (Now) we’re preparing for our first big trail ride.” The competition, which takes place in the fall, is hosted by Teens and Oregon Mustangs. Performances will be graded based on multiple categories, including showmanship and performance on a riding course.
Training process
Passmore is on day 44 of her horse taming journey, according to the PMR – Wild to Willing 2022 EMM Facebook page. Raised in Jewell, Oregon, Passmore had exposure to horses from a very young age, with a horse training background in “a little bit of everything.” One of the techniques Passmore uses to train her mustang is called approach and retreat. “You’re trying to get the horse not to run away from you; You’re trying to get the horse to face you,” she explained of the process. “Once the horse faces you, it’s kind of an oxymoron, but you walk away from it because that’s releasing pressure. You essentially want the horse to be curious about you and make it their idea to approach you.” To be a horse tamer “takes a lot of trust and patience, because you’re trying to make this 1200-pound animal that’s terrified of you completely (put) full trust
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Friday, June 24, 2022
Parts of 17th century vessel recovered Crossword Solution Solution for the June 17, 2022 crossword puzzle
Courtesy photo from Katie Frankowicz / KMUN
Courtesy photo from Katie Frankowicz / KMUN
Nehalem Bay Fire and Rescue Chief Chris Beswick, left, marine archaeologist James Delgado, center, and Oregon State Park’s Justin Parker, right, begin to haul in a timber believed to be part old shipwreck. JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Researchers believe they have found timbers from a 300-year old Spanish galleon along Oregon’s north coast, according to the National Geographic. “The extraordinarily rare hull remains were removed from sea caves near Manzanita earlier this week in a risky emergency recovery mission involving archaeologists, law enforcement personnel, and search-and-rescue teams from multiple state and local agencies,” National Geographic states in an online article. The discovery was first made in 2019 after a beachgoer spotted the remains, but the pandemic and permitting requirements slowed retrieval of the timbers. “The dozen timbers are believed to be pieces of the Santo Cristo de Burgos, a Spanish galleon that was sailing from the Philippines to Mexico in 1693 when it veered off course and vanished, most likely wrecking on what’s now Oregon’s coast. Its cargo
Artifacts from the shipwreck that have washed up on the beach include fragments from terra cotta pots and bits of porcelain.
included costly Chinese silk, porcelain, and blocks of beeswax for making candles,” the National Geographic online report states. On June 14, state geologists traveled to the site to begin the recovery. Nehalem Bay Fire & Rescue (NBFR) Chief Chris Beswick said he and a NBFR crew of four assisted state geologists in retrieving the timbers. “There are a couple of caves where some artifacts had been washed up, primarily the wood pieces,” he said. “The main piece that we brought in looks like a main timber from the ship. It is about 6-feet long. It was very heavy.” Beswick said his crew navigated the large timber from the cave through the water to the beach, about 200feet, than carried it to a waiting trailer on shore. “We also helped bring in several other smaller pieces of wood,” he said. “The state geologists were very excited about them.” Beswick said the timber recovery was a unique experience and a first-time event for
him and the fire crew. “I never expected in my career as a firefighter that I would be recovering artifacts from a ship wreck,” he said. National Geographic reports that the timbers are now at the Columbia Maritime Museum to be documented and conserved. Oregon State Parks spokesman Chris Havel said this can be a significant discovery that underscores the importance of Oregon’s history. “Hands down, this is an exciting development,” Havel said. “It may well be true that it wouldn’t have been possible if the ocean shore wasn’t protected by the 1967 Beach Bill, so thank Os West and Tom McCall and all the people who worked in the past to make the ocean shore a public place, and who work day-in and day-out right now to keep protecting it. We look forward to learning what researchers can tell us about the recovered timbers so we can share that news with the people who visit.” According to Havel, state parks protect lands that tell many human stories, starting with the tribes that have lived
here for thousands of years, right up to today. “It’s important to recognize the full breadth and depth of that experience and implore everyone to do their part to protect these places,” he said. “As a visitor, that means respecting each other and any signs or warnings you may see, and refraining from searching for artifacts or taking anything from the park other than the memories of a fun, safe visit. It’s not just the law, it’s the right thing to do.” Havel urges anyone visiting the state parks who may find a suspected cultural resource, either on the beach or the surrounding area, to leave the suspected resource in place, do not disturb it, and contact the park office. “Cultural resources are protected under state law, both on public and private lands,” Havel said.
Adult Categories • Fruit holiday specialty • Savory • Dietary specialty Kids Categories • Fruit and holiday specialty Entries should be brought to the Snack Shack in
Community Action Team
Are you a veteran? You may be entitled to benefits for serving your country.
Contact your Veteran Service Officer • 503-366-6580 Call CAT at (503)397-3511 to find out if you qualify. Rental and energy assistance applications are available at 125 N. 17th St., St. Helens, OR. Also available on our website at www.CAT-TEAM.org
For more information about cultural resources and Oregon archaeological laws please visit the State Historic Preservation Office website: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/ oh/pages/default.aspx.
Pie Baking Contest The public is invited to enter the Pie in the Park Baking Contest Saturday, June 25, as part of the annual Clatskanie Heritage Days. Pies entered in the contest will be judged in the following categories:
Building Bridges to Self Sufficiency
the Clatskanie City Park between 9 and 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 25. Slices of pie will be sold during the car show Saturday with proceeds benefiting Clatskanie Chapter T P.E.O. scholarship programs. Heritage Days also includes the annual Strut Your Mutt contest at 6 p.m. July 1 at Clatskanie City Park. The family-fun event includes a variety of categories with prizes offered.
Jenessa Mollett is a full service agent with Sheehan Home Group and a St. Helens resident for over 20 years. She would love the opportunity to help you through the complexities of your real estate transaction so you can have the peace of mine throughout the process that you have experience and support 100% of the time.
Jenessa Mollett and Sheehan Home Group work to sell your home faster and for top-dollar. We offer: • Marketing analysis to determine the right time and right listing price • Extensive marketing online and in print. • Open houses convenient to you and to potential buyers. • Assertive price, contingency negotiations and counter-offers. • Advice on contract terms and conditions. • Support every step of the way!
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OREGON REAL ESTATE BROKER 205 SE Spokane St. #300 Portland, OR 97202 Email: jenessa.mollett@exprealty.com Website: jenessamollett.exprealty.com Phone: 971.533.5566
The Clatskanie Heritage Days is a community celebration offering a variety of events. See more at www.facebook.com/clatskanieheritagedays/.
Courtesy photo from Hallie Parker
Clyde and Stella Parker and their cousin Colson White invited all pie bakers to enter the Pie in the Park Baking Contest.
Rainier Days Grand Marshal and residential buildings in Rainier, Clatskanie, Astoria and St. Helens. Then in the mid 1990s, Mike was elected to the Rainier City Council, serving 16 years. During that time, he volunteered on the REDCO Board, Chamber of Commerce, H.O.P.E and Children and Family Services. He served on COLPAC and was elected to the Port of Columbia County serving 16 years there also. Mike and his partner (Steve Oliva) helped to facilitate the Senior Housing and Senior Center by developing the old Crown Zellebach Mill property where Teevin Bros, condos, senior housing and senior center now sits and is soon to be Rainier Museum. Mike is still involved in a number of organizations while overseeing his businesses.
SUBMITTED BY RAINIER OREGON HISTORICAL MUSEUM
The Rainier Oregon Historical Museum invites the public to meet the 2022 Rainier Days in The Park Grand Marshal Mike Avent from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 25 at the Rainier Oregon Historical Museum. Refreshments will be served. Avent was born in Aberdeen, Washington, September 11, 1954. His father worked in construction, so he spent most of his young life moving with the work availability. Mike completed his last two years of high school in Rainier. He then attended college at Lower Columbia College
Courtesy photo
Mike Avent is the 2022 Rainier Days in the Park Grand Marshal
in Longview. He worked in construction himself until buying his own rental properties in the Columbia County area starting about 1977. In 1993 he started his first company with a partner and purchased more commercial
Mike’s interests are collecting antiques and collectibles, metal detecting and ghost towning. He keeps busy these days with eight grandchildren, who adore Poppa Mike, while also working on his new home and property that he just purchased outside of Rainier. “I find it rewarding to work for the community that has given me many friendships and opportunities,” Avent said. The Rainier Oregon Historical Museum is located inside Rainier City Hall at 106 W B Street. For more information, call 360-751-7039. The Rainier Days in the Park celebration is scheduled for July 8-10. The event is described as a community celebration offering a city parade and fireworks.
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Riding through Columbia County for a cure Incurable condition
ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net
A bicycle rider who residents may have seen pass through Clatskanie and other parts of Columbia County is on a 3,811-mile, cross-country journey in support of a cure for rare kidney disease. At 11 a.m. on June 17, Will Kleemeier performed a wheel dipping ceremony in front of the End of Trail Lewis and Clark Statue in Seaside, Oregon to mark the start of his venture from Seaside to Ocean City, New Jersey. Kleemeier will bike an average of 65 miles daily, following maps provided by the Adventure Cycle Association, a nonprofit bicycling organization with 54,000 members. The maps include information on campsites and different lodging along with rest stops. “I’m not creating a route from scratch. I’m using something developed by bikers for bikers, so I know it’s going to be safe,” Kleemeier said.
Kleemeier, a native Pennsylvanian, suffers from a rare, incurable condition known as Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). “I was living a normal life,” Kleemeier said. “When I was 40, my mother talked to me and my siblings and said, ‘I have something called Polycystic Kidney Disease. It’s a hereditary disease. I recommend that you guys get checked out.’ “At 40, I got checked out. I went to a nephrologist (who) specializes in PKD, and they did an ultrasound. We talked about my family history, which up until that point, I knew very little about, but we determined that I had Polycystic Kidney Disease at 40.” PKD is difficult to spot, and people often don’t know they have it, according to Kleemeier. “They continue to multiply and increase in size until your kidney function has declined so dramatically, you either need to go on dialysis or get a transplant,” Kleemeier said.
difficult decision for me,” Kleemeier writes. “But I now freely discuss my journey with others, and the Pedaling for Kidney Disease fundraiser is a continuation of this discussion.” The ride
Courtesy photo from Will Kleemeier
Will Kleemeier poses with his bike upon arriving in Clatskanie.
Kleemeier said he was in denial until the symptoms began to affect his life. “After a couple more years, my blood pressure went way out of control,” he said. “That’s when I started doing research on the disease myself and determined that I need to take this more seriously: alter my lifestyle,
exercise more, eat healthier, and just be better, you know, more conscious of it.” PKD impacts more than 600,000 Americans, according to Pedaling for Kidney Disease, a website founded to raise community awareness for PKD. “As a quiet and private individual, sharing was a
main ingredient used to make gasoline and diesel. On average, about 53% of what we pay for in a gallon of gasoline is for the price of crude oil, 12% is refining, 21% distribution and marketing, and 15% are taxes, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. A year ago, crude was around $69 per barrel compared to $107 today. On January 1, 2022, the national average was $3.29, and the Oregon average was $3.80. By March 1, the national average had jumped to $3.61 and the Oregon average to $4.03. In March, both the national and Oregon averages shattered the old record highs, which had been set in 2008 when the national average reached a high of $4.11 on July 17, and the Oregon average reached its high of $4.29 on July 3. Since March of this year, the national and Oregon averages have set numerous new record highs. The current record high for the national average is $5.016 set on June 14. The current record high for the Oregon average is $5.548 set on June 15. This week, gas prices have backed away from record highs and are a few cents lower.
Oregon, Washington response
The bike route Kleemeier will follow passes through several states, including Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. The journey will take approximately 318 hours from start to finish, according to trip details provided on the website. “My first route had to change because I was going to go through Yellowstone Park,” Kleemeier said. “It’s closed indefinitely, (but) I knew that in Missoula I (could) go straight east.” While he has trained rigorously for the multi-day journey, Kleemeier admitted he cannot prepare for every contingency. “I’ve trained enough to really pay attention to my body to know whether or not I need to rest or bike a
little slower, and some of the things that are actually going to be challenging for me in Pennsylvania I was not able to do,” he said. “I was able to duplicate hills, but I was not able to duplicate the altitude. I have to take (the challenges) as they come and then make plans when I reach that point.” Of all Kleemeier’s reasons to set off on a 3,811mile bike ride, he said he hopes “for more people to become aware of this disease.” “Whatever funds I raise, hopefully, it can accelerate finding a cure because I have three sons, and there’s a 50/50 chance that one of the sons might have the disease,” he said. “If there’s no cure for me, maybe they can find a cure for the next generation.” You can track Kleemeier’s cross-country travels through his website www. pedalingforkidneydisease. org or Peddling for Kidney Disease on Facebook. To arrange a ride-along with Kleemeier in a show of solidarity and support, email info@pedalingforkidneydisease.com.
Biden calls for gas tax pause amid concerns
Metro Creative Connection
The price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Columbia County is approaching $6 a gallon. JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
As gasoline and diesel fuel prices continue to set record highs, federal action may ease the pain at the pumps. President Biden wants Congress to suspend federal gasoline and diesel fuel taxes as a way to slow the surging energy prices. The Chief checked with Marie Dodds, the American Automobile Association’s (AAA) Oregon/Idaho public affairs director, for insight into what the tax suspension could mean for Oregon motorists. The Chief: What sort of a price break at the pumps in our region does the AAA see with this presidential action? Marie Dodds: The federal gas tax is currently 18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24 cents per gallon diesel. But it’s tough to say if the entire amount would be passed on to consumers in savings at the pumps. In addition to the federal gas tax, most states, and some counties and cities also have gas taxes. In Oregon, the current tax
is 38 cents per gallon, plus any local taxes which you can find at www.oregon.gov/ odot/FTG/Pages/Current%20 Fuel%20Tax%20Rates.aspx. President Biden wants the temporary gas tax holiday through September and is urging states to take similar action. According to the Energy Information Administration, federal and state taxes make up approximately 15% of the total price of gas per gallon paid by consumers at the pump. While the federal gas tax has remained at 18.4 cents per gallon since 1993, state gas taxes average about 30 cents per gallon – ranging from less than 10 cents in some states and over 50 cents in other states. Most governments, including Oregon, use fuel tax revenues to build and maintain transportation infrastructure. As a result, gas tax holiday proposals can create a funding gap for road maintenance and repairs. The Chief: Overall, how high have prices risen over the past year in Oregon and at what record-setting pace? Dodds: Gas prices began climbing dramatically in Oregon and every other state in February and March after Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia is one of the world’s major oil producers, and anytime a major producer is involved in a geopolitical conflict, oil prices rise. The U.S. and other nations announced economic sanctions against Russia including a partial ban on imports of Russian oil. Supplies of oil were already tight globally as the world’s economies emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic. So, the war and the embargo sent oil prices even higher due to tight supplies. When crude oil prices rise, so do pump prices, as oil is the
In response to a question from KATU News of whether she would enact legislation to suspend state gas tax, Gov. Kate Brown answered with the following statement: “Governor Brown understands the impact that the rising cost of gas is having on working families and businesses
alike. However, with gas prices having jumped by several dollars per gallon over the last several months, it’s unlikely that Oregonians would see significant savings at the pump under this latest proposal.” KATU News posed the same question to Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who echoed Brown’s statements. “Pausing the gas tax provides yet another opportunity
for oil companies to pocket more profit while significantly hindering our ability to put people to work fixing and building roads and bridges,” he said. The Oregon state gas tax is .38 cents a gallon. Follow this developing story at thechiefnews.com or in Friday print editions of The Chief.
The Chief: Currently, what cities have the most expensive gasoline prices in Oregon and why? Dodds: Among larger markets in Oregon, Medford/ Ashland has the highest price of $5.54. Among counties, these tend to have the highest prices: Clatsop, Multnomah, Curry, Josephine, Deschutes, Lake and Grant. Current prices in these counties range from $5.617 to $5.787. See more at https://info. oregon.aaa.com/2022-oregongas-price-news.
Oregon Judicial Department
Citizen Review Board Oregon’s Foster Care Review Board VOLUNTEER Citizen Review Board members are needed in Columbia County. You can help children and families in your community by volunteering to serve on the CRB.
Every Day Counts
in the life of a child in foster care. For information on becoming a volunteer contact: Volunteer Resource Coordinator Citizen Review Board Volunteer Resource Coordinator Toll Free: (888) 530-8999, ext. 70352 Citizen Review Board E-mail: crb.volunteer.resources@ojd.state.or.us, www.courts.oregon.gov/crb
Toll Free: (888) 530-8999, ext. 70352 E-mail: crb.volunteer.resources@ojd.state.or.us www.courts.oregon.gov/crb
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Friday, June 24, 2022
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Defend Small Business PAC in Oregon LYNN SNODGRASS Chief Guest Column
At the Oregon State Chamber of Commerce, we believe in helping businesses prosper so our diverse communities can thrive. Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities. There is no such thing as a “non-essential” small business – or job. Finally, there is a Political Action Committee (PAC) dedicated solely to protecting small businesses – Defend Small Business PAC. The Defend Small Business PAC is a collaborative effort between Oregon’s local
chambers of commerce to protect and support our small businesses, their employees, and our communities. It is about changing the political culture in Oregon – and replacing the legislature with people who will actually stand up for our small businesses. Oregon State Chamber of Commerce started this effort because in the past two years, we found out that Oregon politicians and state agencies viewed our small businesses as “non-essential.” As a result, large multinational corporations stayed open and made record profits. Small businesses were shut down. Small business em-
ployees were called “nonessential” and sent to a broken unemployment agency. In the meantime, most of our lawmakers and politicians either supported the shutdowns or lacked the courage to do anything about it. And if that wasn’t enough, the legislature then tried to push through a tax on our federal Paycheck Protection loans. That’s right – after all the indignities suffered at the hands of Oregon politicians – they then wanted to tax your PPP loans. Our message is simply this …. “Never again.” Acting alone, it is difficult for a single small business to make a political impact. But
together, our collective voice can be powerful. An easy – and free – way to contribute to the Defend Small Business PAC is to use your Oregon Political Tax Credit. Through our tax system, the State of Oregon gives each tax-paying Oregonian a $50 gift. But you can’t keep it. You have to make a choice, either pay it in state taxes -- or donate it to a qualified PAC. We hope you choose to give it to the Defend Small Business PAC. Each year, thousands of Oregonians contribute their $50 per person, $100 per couple Oregon Political Tax Credit to the PAC of their choice. The Political Tax
Credit is a wonderful benefit as it literally allows you to give critical support to Defend Small Business PAC while costing you nothing! For specific info: https:// www.oregonchamber.org/ defend-small-business-pac/ join-the-fight. By giving your Oregon Political Tax Credit to Defend Small Business PAC, you will join a movement to ensure that small businesses and our employees are never again treated as “non-essential.” For the first time, we will be holding the Legislature accountable to never again abandon their small businesses. Thank you in advance for
whatever you can give, and I’d like to wish you and your family all the best. *There is no limit to what you can choose to donate to Defend Small Business PAC, but the Oregon Political Tax Credit only applies to the first $100/couple or $50/individual. As of January 2013, the Oregon Political Tax Credit no longer applies to tax filers with incomes exceeding $75,000/individual or $150,000/couple.
and technical training. I was born and raised in Rainier, served in the Marines, and spent 15 years as a maintenance supervisor and millwright at Stimson Lumber. My professional career has been defined by a commitment to lifelong learning, which has served me well in a field that is constantly innovating.
There is nothing I enjoy more than working with students and seeing a spark of interest turn into thirst for knowledge and a good-paying career. That is one reason I’m excited about the PreTrades for Advanced Manufacturing program – a shortterm certificate designed specifically to give students the opportunity to try their
hand at welding, machining, and automation, while also receiving the foundational math and safety training necessary to be successful in a manufacturing career. Whether you’re new to the manufacturing trades, a skilled-tradesperson looking to upgrade your skills, or a member of the community interested in learning more, the
PCC OMIC Training Center has something for everyone. Fall registration begins June 27. See the full list of course options available at the PCC OMIC Training Center website. I’m grateful to be working in Columbia County at the new PCC OMIC Training Center, and I look forward to supporting students on their
paths to careers in advanced manufacturing. If you have any questions about the OMIC Training Center’s offerings, please check out the OMIC website or contact us at 971-722-1818.
FENCE
the park by the library and they’re like okay, you know, that’s kind of cool. But then when we started installing it, they’re like, oh, my board’s going to be out here for everyone to see for years.” Aside from building their fine arts skills, the creative endeavor has given Erwin’s students the itch to discover what else they can do to better their community. “That’s the first question I got, is ‘What else? What else can we beautify? What else can I put my stamp on? What else can I
leave my legacy on?’ which I thought was neat,” Erwin said. Megan Kratka, a 10th grader at CMHS, was one of the students who participated in the fence painting project. Kratka said she learned a lot from her time in Erwin’s class and developed better painting and drawing skills and “really everything in general.” “I just really hope that we have multiple opportunities like this because it’s a really great way for everybody to come together,” she said.
Lynn Snodgrass is the Chair of Defend Small Business PAC. The Oregon State Chamber of Commerce can be reached at 503-363-2162.
Charting students’ futures at PCC OMIC JONATHAN BROWN Chief Guest Column
Hello, my name is Jonathan Brown. I’m a millwright and safety instructor at the Portland Community College (PCC) OMIC Training Center. My job is to help prepare students for jobs and careers in the industrial trades by providing hands-on safety
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From Page A1 Takeaways
June 25 Heritage Days Quincy Grange Car Show 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the American Legion Hall at 930 NE 5th Street in Clatskanie. Heritage Days Car Show at Clatskanie City Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chapter T PEO Pie in the Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Food, music and vendors at Clatskaine City Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Farmers Market Pollinator Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Copes Park in Clatskanie. Free swim from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Clatskanie Pool. June 25 Family Scavenger Hunt The event is a fundraiser for the Amani Center for Children’s Advocacy. The hunt begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. at Copes Park, 11 Lillich Street in Clatskanie. Open to all ages. Families are encouraged to join the fun. Teams only play. No team limits. Free ice pops. Grand prize is a two-night stay at Great Wolf Lodge. For more details, call 971-889-1268. June 25 Pride Month Celebration 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Plaza Square in the Riverfront District of St. Helens. Bring your signs and flags. Celebration and Picnic from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Columbia County Fairgrounds, 58892 Saulser Road in St. Helens. Music and fun. Bring a dish to share if able. Hosted by Moving Forward Columbia County. June 29 Blood Drive The American Red Cross Blood Drive from 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the St. Helens Senior Center, 375 S 15th Street in St. Helens. Call 1-800-733-2767 or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter sainthelens to schedule an appointment. July 1 Heritage Days Strut Your Mutt and More
at 6 p.m. at Clatskanie City Park. July 2 Heritage Days Hypnotist Michael Cain, Dr. Feel Good at 7 p.m. at Birkenfeld Theatre. Movie Night in the park at dusk in Clatskanie City Park. July 3 Heritage Days All Class Reunion at noon at Clatskanie City Park. Reunion in restaurants along Nehalem Street in Clatskanie during the evening. July 4 Heritage Days 4th of July Parade. Line up at 10 a.m. at Nehalem and NE 5th Street. City parade begins at 11 a.m. and proceeds to Clatskanie City Park. See more Heritage Days 4th of July events at the Heritage Days Facebook page. July 9 Wabanang Chapter #127 Celebration Order of the Easter Star 105-year celebration at 11 a.m. at the Masonic Lodge, 82 SE Second Street in Clatskanie. A potluck reception at Alston’s Pub and Grub at 25196 Alson Road in Rainier follows the celebration. Call 503-6655257 for more information. July 13-16 Plant Sale The Columbia County Fairgrounds, 58892 Saulser Road in St. Helens, is hosting a benefit plant sale from noon until 7 p.m. on July 13, 14, and 15, and from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on July 16. Free admission. For more information or to volunteer contact the Columbia County Fairground’s office at 503-397-4231. Ongoing Farmers Market Clatskanie Farmers Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
every Saturday through September 24 at Cope’s Park in downtown Clatskanie. Lower Columbia River Watershed Council Meets at 7 p.m. every other second Tuesday. Meetings are currently held electronically by Zoom. For more information, contact Council Coordinator Allan Whiting at E-mail: allan@whitingenv. com, or call 503-7899240. Visit the council’s website for agenda postings and Zoom at www. lowercolumbiariver.org/ events-page. The Rainier Oregon Historical Museum (ROHM) is open from noon - 4 p.m. Saturday (except major holidays weekends). ROHM is located inside Rainier City Hall at 106 W B Street. For more information, call 360-751-7039. Rainier City Hall is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Rainier Public Library is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays and 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays. It will be closed Sundays and Mondays. Avamere at St. Helens hosts a Virtual Dementia Support Group – 3rd Wednesday of each month from 2 to 3 p.m. For more details, contact Jenny Hicks/Avamere at St. Helens at 503-3668070. To list an event in the Community Calendar, email details with a phone number that may be published, to chronicleclassifieds@countrymedia.net, or call 503-397-0116.
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Erwin described her feelings of excitement after learning how the project resonated with her students. “When we were putting it in and installing it, it finally clicked to them that it was going to be on campus for this entire time,” Erwin said. “I don’t think they understood until they started seeing it installed. “I showed them the example of the fence in
Jonathan Brown works at the PCC OMIC Training Center. He may be reached at jonathan.brown@pcc.edu.
57.9% Yes 42.1% No
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CONTACT US • Phone: (503) 397-0116 • Fax: (503) 397-4093 Website: www.thechiefnews.com Editorial: chiefnews@countrymedia.net ADVERTISE WITH US: Advertising Email: chronicleads@countrymedia.net Classified email: chronicleclassifieds@countrymedia.net Editorial policy Opinions expressed on this page are independent of The Chief views and are solely those of the writers expressing them. Letters policy This newspaper’s letters to the editor are limited to a maximum of 250 words and will be edited for grammar, spelling and blatant inaccuracies. Unsubstantiated or irresponsible allegations, or personal attacks on any individual, will not be 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 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.
Obituaries Obituaries received after noon on Wednesday may not be in time for that Friday’s paper. Obituaries may be emailed to chiefnews@countrymedia.net, sent via mail, or dropped off at the office. We also accept obituaries written by funeral homes. Include the address and daytime phone number of the person who submitted the obituary, so we can verify information as necessary.
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PROTECTING YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW
Charles Setzer
Aug. 4, 1945 ~ June 8, 2022
CC22-1615 FORM LB-1
NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING
A public meeting of the Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire Protection District will be held on June 21, 2022 at 7pm located at 12525 Highway 202, Mist, OR 97016. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022 as approved by the Mist-Birkenfeld RFPD Budget Committee. A summary of the budget is presented below. A copy of the budget may be inspected or obtained at 12525 Highway 202, Mist, OR 97016, Monday thru Thursday, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or online at www.mistbirkenfeldrfpd.org. 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.
Contact: Joe Kaczenski
Telephone: (503)755-2710
TOTAL OF ALL FUNDS
Email: joek@mistbirkenfeldrfpd.org
FINANCIAL SUMMARY - RESOURCES Actual Amount 2020-2021
648,684.10 43,104.23 299,322.39 0.00 150,000.00 37,975.91 556,455.41
Beginning Fund Balance/Net Working Capital Fees, Licenses, Permits, Fines, Assessments & Other Service Charges Federal, State and all Other Grants, Gifts, Allocations and Donations Revenue from Bonds and Other Debt Interfund Transfers / Internal Service Reimbursements All Other Resources Except Current Year Property Taxes Current Year Property Taxes Estimated to be Received Total Resources
Adopted Budget
Approved Budget
This Year 2021-2022
Next Year 2022-2023
703,988 47,600 65,000 0 0 33,500 559,389
1,735,542.04
FINANCIAL SUMMARY - REQUIREMENTS BY OBJECT CLASSIFICATION
415,771.65 187,635.91 200,654.41 0.00 150,000.00 106,695.00 0.00 4,000.00 1,064,756.97
Personnel Services Materials and Services Capital Outlay Debt Service Interfund Transfers Contingencies Special Payments Unappropriated Ending Balance and Reserved for Future Expenditure Total Requirements
619,117 50,100 65,000 0 0 31,300 588,555
1,409,477
1,354,072
609,740 227,850 431,248 0 0 136,639 0 4,000 1,409,477
662,700 209,400 356,455 0 0 121,517 0 4,000 1,354,072
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 316,238 479,000 544,700 Personnel Services 5.00 4.00 4.75 FTE 4.75 Not Allocated to Organizational Unit or Program FTE
316,238 5.00
Total Requirements Total FTE
479,000 4.00
544,700 4.75
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN ACTIVITIES and SOURCES OF FINANCING * Funding in 21/22 was used for apparatus and equipment repairs and upgrades. Personnel changes have occurred which require a personnel cost rise to assure enough funding for PERS, Salaries, and benefits. Interest on investments was lower than expected so budgeted interest numbers were reduced. PROPERTY TAX LEVIES Rate or Amount Imposed Permanent Rate Levy
(rate limit $2.0875 per $1,000)
Local Option Levy Levy For General Obligation Bonds
2.0875 0 0
2020-2021
Rate or Amount Imposed
Rate or Amount Approved
This Year 2021-2022
Next Year 2022-2023
2.0875 0 0
STATEMENT OF INDEBTEDNESS Estimated Debt Outstanding on July 1.
LONG TERM DEBT
Estimated Debt Authorized, But Not Incurred on July 1
$0 $0 $0 $0
$0 $0 $0 $0
General Obligation Bonds Other Bonds Other Borrowings Total 150-504-073-2 (Rev. 02-14)
2.0875 0 0
Odetta Mae Hughes
March 5, 1933 ~ June 10, 2022 Odetta Mae Hughes was born to Albert Charles Stonefield and Alice Philomene (Daigle) Stonefield on March 5, 1933, in Yachats, Oregon. She grew up in Yachats, where she attended school. In 1951 Odetta married Ronald Petrick and together they had three children: Julia, Charles, and David. After her marriage to Ron ended, Odetta married Raymond Hughes in 1960 and had two children, Steve and Phyllis, to complete their family. Odetta worked as bookkeeper by profession. She loved gardening, being outdoors, and hunting with her husband and children. She enjoyed learning a multi-
tude of different crafts from soap making to leatherwork to jigsaw puzzles. She was an avid gardener, quilter, and was active in her local church community. She was a faithful servant
of Christ and after years of prayers was able to lead her husband to the Lord before his passing on January 23, 2008 and has now joined him in Heaven. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Raymond; sisters, Muriel, Beryl, and Polly; and grandson Daniel. Surviving her are her five children, Julia Read, Charlie Petrick, David Hughes, Steve Hughes, and Phyllis Castle; nine grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and five nieces and nephews. A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. on July 22, 2022 at Mayger Downing Community Church, Clatskanie, Oregon 97016.
Dad and Papa Chuck Setzer’s life didn’t come to an end with his death. Chuck passed away on June 8, 2022 after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by loved ones who will continue to honor his legacy by living their lives to the fullest. Chuck was born on Aug. 4, 1945 in Great Falls, Montana to Dr. George W. Setzer and Florence E. Setzer. He is survived by one sister Sharon Eyer and preceded in death by his brother John Setzer and sister Sandra Paulsen. Chuck was a proud Dad to three children, Jason Setzer, Casey Setzer and Amy Setzer and a proud Papa to nine grandchildren, who were the loves of his life. Chuck is survived by his football, baseball, basketball mate, Linda Setzer, with whom he shared 52 years with. Chuck is also survived
by his other family, Frank Green, Dan Green, Liz Rowland, Violet Jeffers and Mary Hendricks, whom he considered his brothers and sisters. Chuck retired from Longview Fibre Company after 36 years as a pipefitter. Chuck’s pride was in his work and most importantly
his unconditional love and support of his children and grandchildren. He treasured each and every one of them. Chuck will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts and always remembered on the football fields, the baseball fields, and the basketball courts. Chuck’s love of gardening will continue to grow and will be a remembrance of a kind, caring and humble man. Chuck and his family would like to thank the Hospice Care team who took such good care of him and his family. Chuck’s service will be at 2 p.m. on July 16, 2022 at the Clatskanie Cultural Center in Clatskanie, Oregon at 75 S. Nehalem St. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Rainier Little League program.
Richard Frank Graham May 16, 1926
Richard Frank Graham, 96, son of Theresa and Leo Graham, was born May 16, 1926, in Portland Oregon. He passed away peacefully on June 7, 2022, in Portland, Oregon. He was preceded in death by his 2 brothers, Leo and Robert, his half-sister Mary; daughter Erlasue, grandson Robert, and his wife Erla. Richard left school to enlist in the Navy and serve our country in World War II. He would later be called to fight again in the Korean War. After which, he worked in the shipyards at MetraSteel, until he retired. Richard was, above all else, a family man. He met his wife Erla, in Portland, where he was living with his family. They were married Sept. 7, 1948 – she was just 18. Although he was a soldier and worked many years in the shipyards, at home he was a father to their 8
children, a builder when the house needed additions, a mechanic when the car needed repairs, and an committed husband when his wife needed assistance with one of her projects – from constructing wooden dolls to beading authentically designed outfits. Their 60-year marriage not only braved eight children but also yearly gar-
dens, countless Volkswagen vans, and so many camping trips which included Powwows and rock hunts. No one was ever left behind, however after 60 years, Erla preceded Richard in death in 2009. Since that time Richard lived his remaining years peacefully with family in Rainier and Portland. He is survived by his children, Frances Graham, of Thailand, Theresa Chavan, Portland, Richard Graham, Columbia, Missouri, Timothy Graham, Hillsboro, Mary Graham, Portland, Cynthia Graham, Rainier, and Tamara Graham, unknown; 14 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. A small service will be held 1 p.m. on July 28, 2022 at the Hudson Cemetery in Rainier, 72900 Larsen Rd., Rainier, OR 97048. Instead of flowers, you may donate to charity of choice.
The Public Notice deadline is Wednesdays by noon. Late submissions are not guaranteed to make it into the paper. North Columbia County’s trusted local news source
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County to share equipment, supplies
Courtesy photo from the OHA
This photo series provided by the OHA show the monkeypox on human skin.
The Columbia County Public Works Department is operating a loan program that allows local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government entities to borrow a variety of the countyowned public works department’s equipment, supplies, or materials. The borrowing of equipment by individuals or for personal purposes is not permitted. Organizations must receive pre-authorization before borrowing any Columbia County Public Works Department item(s). The first steps in completing the Columbia County Public Works Loan Agreement are to review the Loan Agreement Policy and submit a completed Loan Agreement form.
Next, submit a completed loan agreement application to the Columbia County Public Works Department before the date that the items are needed, giving adequate time for review and approval by the Public Works staff. Items that can be reserved include: • Variable Message Reader Board(s) • Roll Up Flag Signs and Stands • Orange Cone(s) • Light Tower(s)/ Generator(s) • Barricade(s) • Stop/Slow Paddle Sign(s) • Safety Vest(s) • Traffic Plate(s) • Incident Response Trailer(s)
Links to the Loan Agreement Form and Policy are located on Columbia County’s website in the Borrowing Agreement section of the Public Works Permit and Applications page at, https://www. columbiacountyor.gov/ departments/PublicWorks/ permits.
Oregon’s ‘probable case’ of monkeypox PASSMORE STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is reporting the first case of probable hMPXV, the human version of the monkeypox virus, in Oregon. The individual has traveled to a community with confirmed cases, according to a release from the OHA. The patient remains isolated and is following recommendations from public health officials and medical providers. Confirmatory testing is being done at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). OHA officials said they are working closely with the CDC, local public health and the patient’s health care providers to ensure appropriate actions are taken to identify individuals at potential risk for exposure. “hMPXV does not spread easily between people, so the risk to other people is generally very low,” OHA Public Health Physician Dr. Richard Leman said. “Unlike COVID-19, which can be spread easily from person to person through the air over several feet of space, hMPXV spreads between people primarily through direct contact with infectious sores, scabs, or body fluids. Less commonly, it can be spread by respiratory secretions during prolonged face-to-face contact.” Though hMPXV is in the same group of viruses as smallpox, it is not smallpox. hMPXV is much harder to catch, and it is not as severe. There are two strains of this virus, and the one that’s circulating now causes milder disease. Most people are recovering at home without any special
treatment. Additionally, there have been no deaths reported nationwide, the OHA release states. Historically, people have become infected by handling wild animals, but hMPXV can also be transmitted person-to-person. This can happen through prolonged, close contact, either skin-toskin, contact with fluid from hMPXV lesions, or less commonly from large respiratory droplets. “An ill person who coughs or sneezes on someone else could possibly spread the infection. However, most transmission in the current outbreak appears to be from prolonged, skin-to-skin contact,” Leman said. What are the symptoms? Initial symptoms of hMPXV often include fever, headache and muscle aches. These symptoms are followed in one to three days by a rash, often on the face, spreading to the limbs. The rash starts with flat patches that then form large, firm bumps, which then fill with fluid or pus. These then scab and fall off, usually over two to four weeks. Symptoms usually start within seven to 14 days after exposure, with a range of five to 21 days. When can a person ill with hMPXV spread it to others? Ill people can potentially transmit the infection from when symptoms start until the rash has resolved. However, this is not an easy infection to catch. hMPXV typically requires prolonged, close con-
tact. People at increased risk include sexual partners of an ill person, or family members and healthcare workers caring for someone ill with hMPXV. Are there vaccines for hMPXV? There is a vaccine specifically for hMPXV and smallpox called Jynneos. It could be used to protect people with high-risk exposure to someone ill with hMPXV. There is another vaccine, ACAM2000, that is approved to prevent smallpox. It could be used under special arrangements with CDC, but it is more likely to cause adverse effects. Vaccines would be used to protect people who have known exposure to someone ill with hMPXV infection. It works to prevent or decrease disease even after someone was exposed. Members of the public who haven’t been exposed don’t need this vaccine. How is OHA responding to the outbreak? Currently, there are 84 cases across 18 states, no deaths and one case in Oregon. OHA is working with community partners to share information about hMPXV, the outbreak and infection prevention strategies with people who might be at increased risk of infection. OHA is sharing information with clinicians about the outbreak, how to recognize and test for hMPXV illness and how to prevent spread. For more information about hMPXV, visit the CDC website.
From Page A1 into you and allow you to tell it what to do,” she said. “And then you just grow your bond from there. It’s super rewarding.” Passmore stressed that the horse taming challenge is not for novices but experienced horse trainers because of the dangers involved. “There’s a lot of risk in doing it,” she said. “That’s why they call it an ‘extreme’ makeover.” Background Teens and Oregon Mustangs was founded in 2009 by Josh and Erica FitzGerald and is sponsored by the Youth and Yearling Challenge, according to the organization’s website. The event was modeled after the Extreme Mustang Makeover, a production of the Mustang Heritage Foundation (MHF). The Mustang Heritage Foundation (MHF), a 501(c)3 nonprofit established to “help find forever homes for thousands of mustangs and burros each year.” MHF hosted the first EMM competition in 2007 in Fort Worth, Texas. An adoption bid event for the newly-trained mustangs follows the competition. Although Passmore is no longer a teen, she is eligible to compete because the program expanded to include adult competitors. According to Passmore, “the program is about taking in wild horses that wouldn’t survive for very long out in
Jess Passmore performs a stunt with Comanche.
the wild due to lack of feed and water: They eventually either starve to death or die from injury,” she said. “So, they take in these horses and give them to trainers to make them be willing partners.” There are 50,000 wild horses currently in holding corrals, according to the MHF. MHF has placed 20,000 mustangs and burros into private care since its inception in 2007. Rewards It doesn’t take long to get attached to the animals, Passmore admitted, adding that her husband Jess has already given the horse the name Comanche, and when
Courtesy photo
the competition concludes, he hopes to adopt him. Passmore is also hopeful that her 10-year-old daughter will carry on the family tradition now that she is old enough to compete. The Chief asked Passmore why she participates in Teens and Oregon Mustangs. “For me, it’s always the end game,” she answered. “You know what to expect going into it, but I love to see where they get, who gets to enjoy them, and where their lives go.” Passmore competes with her mustang in Albany, Oregon, September 3-4. Learn more about Teens and Oregon Mustangs and how to adopt at their website: www.teensandoregonmustangs.org.
Crossword Puzzle
STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: FOURTH OF JULY ACROSS
1. Cutting the mustard 5. French vineyard 8. Expression of satisfaction 11. Chicago’s Navy ____ 12. Not that 13. Lock horns 15. Sound of pride 16. Tom Hanks’ character had this in “Philadelphia” 17. Dre’s headphones 18. *Handheld firework 20. Eurozone money 21. Chinese weight units 22. Campaigned 23. *Popular July Fourth salad 26. Ltd 30. A in I.P.A. 31. Type of embellished surface 34. Dunking treat 35. Potato state 37. Type of poem 38. Rabbit trap 39. “I, Claudius” role 40. As much as necessary 42. Opposite of trans- in chemistry 43. Bring into servitude 45. *Bottle ____
47. Ill temper 48. Olive branch 50. Campaign worker 52. *Declaration signer 55. Extinct Italic language 56. Forsaken or desolate 57. Rumpelstiltskin’s weaver 59. Between Egypt and Algeria 60. Heed 61. At the summit 62. Beaver’s construction 63. “I Thee ____” 64. *Liberty Bell did it to mark Declaration reading
DOWN
1. Calendar abbr. 2. Life stories, for short 3. Faith jump? 4. Misprints 5. *Cooler purpose 6. *Fair attractions 7. CCCP, in English 8. Lab culture 9. Type of pilot 10. “For ____ a jolly ...” 12. Hit 80’s song “____ ____ Me” 13. Crosswise, on deck 14. *Popular type of July Fourth gathering
19. Two to one, e.g. 22. Antonym of keep 23. *”Common Sense” author 24. *Like the days of 1776 25. Crocodile ones are insincere 26. Place, in French 27. Race course 28. Causing fear 29. “That thou ____, do quickly” 32. Like a certain ranger 33. Fuss 36. *4th of July, e.g. 38. Sudden upset 40. The night before 41. Dad’s mom 44. Gladiators’ battlefield 46. Cold storage 48. Space exploration mission 49. Dog-____ pages 50. “Heat of the Moment” band 51. Intercontinental ballistic missile 52. Opposite of ebb 53. I, to a Greek 54. High part of day 55. Like Methuselah 58. Fuel economy acronym
Solution to crossword in next week’s issue of The Chief. North Columbia County’s trusted local news source
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COVID vaccine rollout for children under 5 ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net
Children 6 months and older are the latest group to become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine after the state granted its approval over the weekend. The Office of Oregon Gov. Kate Brown reported Sunday, June 12, that the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup had completed its review of the federal process and unanimously concluded that the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are safe and effective for children as young as 6 months old. The Moderna two-dose vaccine series and the Pfizer three-dose vaccine series are now available to children 6 months to 5 years old, according to a press release from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). The OHA informed healthcare providers that they could begin administering the vaccines as soon as Monday, June 20. The news comes after State Epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger, joined by OHSU School of Medicine Professor of Pediatrics Dr.
Dawn Nolt, announced the FDA’s approval of pediatric doses for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines at a press conference held Friday, June 17. “Today is a monumental step forward in our nation’s fight against the virus, with virtually every American now eligible for the protections that COVID-19 vaccines provide,” President Joe Biden said. “For parents all over the country, this is a day of relief and celebration.” Children aged 6 months to 5 years are the last subgroup to become eligible for the vaccine. The pediatric vaccine rollout will expand eligibility to 230,000 Oregon children and 20 million children in the United States. Pandemic outlook At the June 17 media briefing, Sidelinger touched on several points, including the downward trend of COVID-19 hospitalizations and Oregon’s level of community spread. According to Sidelinger, COVID-19 test positivity rose slightly from 11.4% on May 16 to 11.7% on June 14, and during the last month,
daily reported case counts have leveled, from a rolling seven-day average of 1,401 cases reported on May 16, to 1,487 on June 14. “We assume these numbers are a dramatic undercount of the actual number of cases because we know many people are using athome tests and not reporting the results,” Sidelinger said. “We also know many others are not getting tested. Trends in this state and around the country tell us there are higher levels of transmission.” As of Friday, June 17, there were 1,596 new COVID cases and six hospitalizations (309 overall). Vaccine efficacy
According to a CDC report on the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine efficacy for children aged 6 months to 4 years, vaccines were 41.5% effective against COVID-19 infection up to 2.5 months after receiving a second dose. The CDC reported similar findings with vaccine effectiveness for adults aged 18-64 years at the height of Omicron. The CDC’s COVID-19
Data Tracker shows that the Omicron variant was still the dominant variant the week of June 5 - June 11, making up 62.4% of infections in the United States. Learn more about vaccine efficacy for pediatric doses on the CDC website.
On Thursday, May 12, Multnomah County officials urged residents to consider readopting face coverings in public indoor spaces after the COVID-19 daily case count more than tripled from April to May. While the recommendation fell short of a mandate, after conducting interviews with OHA officials, The Chief learned that the possibility of reimposing mandates is not out of the picture. In an email correspondence, OHA Public Affairs Specialist Rudy Peter answered a question from The Chief as to whether there is a potential for mask mandates to come back in the fall should case numbers rise. “The Oregon Health Authority monitors communicable disease outbreaks, including COVID-19 case
rates and hospital capacity,” Peter responded. “If hospital capacity is strained, unable to care for the public, OHA will take steps to ensure hospital care is accessible to those in need.” According to Peter, keeping a close eye on COVID-19 caseloads and hospital admission rates in service areas will be critical in determining whether hospital capacity is at risk. “New COVID-19 admissions and the percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied represent the current potential for strain on the health system,” he said. “Data on new cases acts as an early warning indicator of potential increases in health system strain in the event of a COVID-19 surge.” In December 2021, The Chief reported that the OHA filed a proposed rulemaking notice with the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office, requesting changes to the current rule requiring the adoption of the indoor masks in Oregon, that would have expired on Feb. 8, 2022. In February, the OHA’s Public Health Division filed a Permanent Administrative Order repealing the temporary order.
Attorney’s office in 2018. As the Justice Reinvestment Prosecutor for the county, Keppinger has been instrumental in building and working in treatment courts to better serve the public. Keppinger is very involved in the Columbia County community. Among other things, she is a board member of SAFE of Columbia County, Columbia County Legal Aid, and the Columbia Community Mental Health Board. She is also a member of the Local Public Safety Coordinating Council, Local Behavioral Health Advisory Committee, Oregon Center on Behavioral Health and Justice Integration Steering Committee, and the Oregon Minority Lawyers Association.
Denise Espinoza Keppinger will be appointed as judge at the Columbia County Circuit Court.
Back to masks?
The order reads in part as follows. “The Authority gives the Oregon State Public Health Director or the Oregon State Health Officer the authority to rescind and reinstate all or parts of the rule taking into consideration, at a minimum, information and data related to COVID-19 transmission, hospitalizations and deaths, disparate effects on communities of color and tribal communities, guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and rates of vaccination for COVID-19.” CDC data shows Columbia County as in the medium-risk category for COVID-19 transmission, meaning recommendations are as follows: • If you are at high risk for severe illness, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions. • Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. • Get tested if you have symptoms. See covid.cdc.gov for more data, resources, and updates about COVID-19.
Governor to appoint new county judges STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
Governor Kate Brown has announced that she will appoint Denise Espinoza Keppinger to the Columbia County Circuit Court. Keppinger is a deputy district attorney focused on treatment courts in the Columbia County District Attorney’s office and will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Ted E. Grove. Both appointments are effective immediately. Brown also appointed Kirk Wintermute to the Clatsop County Circuit Court. Wintermute is currently a criminal defense attorney
in Clatsop County. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Cindee S. Matyas. “Both of these talented individuals bring deep legal experience to the bench, as well as important perspectives on the different ways the justice system can work to protect the community, while at the same time supporting our most vulnerable Oregonians,” Brown said. “I am excited to see the contributions they will make to the Clatsop and Columbia County Circuit Courts.” Denise Espinoza Keppinger According to a release
from Brown’s office, Keppinger was raised in Arizona, earned her bachelor’s degree from Loyola Marymount University, and obtained her law degree from the University of Oregon in 2003. Keppinger started her legal career at the Marion County District Attorney’s office. From there, she worked at St. Andrew’s Legal Clinic from 2005 to 2006 and was a deputy district attorney in the Columbia County District Attorney’s office. For three years, from 2014 to 2017, she operated her own firm that focused on family law, but ultimately returned to the Columbia County District
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Friday, June 24, 2022
Tina Kotek’s race for Oregon Governor ELLIS CONKLIN Chief Guest Article
If elected in November, she will become America’s first lesbian governor, this, after becoming the nation’s first lesbian speaker of a state House of Representatives in 2013, a job she held longer than anyone in Oregon history. 55-year-old Tina Kotek also seeks to keep one of the country’s longest streaks by electing a Democrat to the state’s highest office. Not since incumbent Gov. Victor Atiyeh crushed Ted Kulongoski in a landslide 40 years ago has the Republican Party won the governorship in Oregon. That’s 10 gubernatorial elections ago. Utah is tied with the Beaver State, having also chosen a governor from the same party – albeit the GOP – since 1982. Priorities In an interview at a picnic table in northeast Portland’s Columbia Park, not far from the home she shares with her wife Aimee Kotek Wilson, Kotek said, “I am running because I want things to work in Oregon.” A public advocate for the Oregon Food Bank before being elected to the state House, Kotek went on, “None of us are outsiders. We’ve all worked for a longtime in Oregon politics, but the question is, “Who has style and the persistence to get things done?” She added: “Housing and homelessness are by far the biggest concerns Oregonians have,” and will likely be the driving force – particularly finding solutions to building affordable housing, as well s workforce housing in the heavy tourist-driven areas of the state – when the campaigns move into high gear after Labor Day. Kotek gets high praise for her legislative knowhow. Under her leadership, Democrats were able to pass
a school funding increase they had been looking to do for 30 years. Born and raised in York, Pennsylvania, Kotek headed west in 1987, attending the University of Oregon, where she earned her degree in religious studies. Asked how being a lesbian might influence her governing if elected, Kotek said, “I know what it feels like to be left out, and I want to send a message to our young people that you can do anything. I want every child in this state to feel like they can celebrate their authentic selves.” Kotek said she realizes that Portland and her deep ties to the embattled city will be on the ballot. Recent polling for Oregon Public Broadcasting says less than 20 percent of voters think the state is headed in the right direction. Having left office in April to concentrate fulltime on the governor’s race, Kotek knows she’ll face stiff headwinds in her quest to replace term-limited and hugely unpopular Kate Brown. In addition to a challenging national environment, Kotek said she is confronted by many voters, mainly rural ones, who pillorize her Portland home base as a mismanaged eyesore. Worsening matters is independent Betsy Johnson’s credible candidacy, which has opened up a lane for Republican Christine Drazan to break the Democrat’s long hold on the governor’s office.
Courtesy photo from Ellis Conklin
Gubernatorial Democrat candidate Tina Kotek.
try this year. You have three women representing the full ideological spectrum – Kotek, the progressive, Johnson, playing the middle, and Drazan, the conservative,” observed Marc Johnson, who, from his home on the north Oregon coast, writes an influential political and history blog entitled “Many Things Considered.” “Tina needs to be concerned about being labeled Kate Brown 2.0,” Johnson added. “Betsy’s problem is that she’s held elected office [since winning a seat in the state House in 2000], and until six months ago, was a Democrat. And Drazan’s biggest problem is that if she comes off as too moderate, it will offend the Trumpian wing of the party.” According to Johnson, Betsy has another problem, too – her hardline stance on guns. Unlike many of her former Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate, she has opposed most gun control measures in Oregon. In 2018, she received an A rating from the NRA. During an unannounced TEDxPortland interview with Johnson at the Moda Center on May 28 - four days after 18-year-old Sal-
By the numbers so far A poll of likely Oregon voters conducted at the end of May showed Drazan in a virtual tie with Kotek – almost 30 percent for Drazan to nearly 28 percent for Kotek – with the unaffiliated Johnson drawing more than 19 percent support. Almost a quarter of Oregon voters remain undecided. “It’s the most interesting governor’s race in the coun-
vador Ramos used an AR-15 rifle to kill 19 students and 2 teachers at an Uvalde, Texas elementary school - the socalled political maverick was booed when she blamed the onslaught of mass shootings on a “shitty mental health care system.” At one point, Johnson said, “People in this country are going to have guns. The style of the gun doesn’t dictate the lethality.” Johnson was born in Bend and grew up in Redmond, Oregon, but has lived more than two decades in the Columbia County city of Scappoose (pop. 6,592), 22 miles southeast of Vancouver, Washington. “I worry about both of them (Johnson and Drazan),” said Kotek. “When it comes to climate change and guns, I have big differences. The number one job of being governor is to keep Oregonians safe.” The Oregon electorate, according to Salem-based pollster John Horvick, is 35 percent Democrat, 25 percent Republican, and almost the remaining 40 percent are independent or unaffiliated. In handicapping the contest, pollster Horvick said Kotek is associated with the status quo, but held the
Democratic base, garnering almost 58 percent of the Democratic vote in the primary over state Treasurer Tobias Read’s 32.4 percent, as of June 8. Drazan, meanwhile, collected just 23 percent of the GOP vote, though in an extremely crowded field. As for Betsy Johnson, who ran a helicopter company in Oregon for 20 years, Horvick said, “Look at the website and you’ll find nothing from her on issues. She’s just the feisty lady on TV who is playing to the frustrated.” Christine Drazan is a former House minority leader and lives in Canby, Oregon, in Clackamas County, a bellwether county southeast of Portland. “She’s no RINO: Drazan is pro-life and opposed climate legislation. She also returned a level of savvy and fundraising skills to House Republicans,” wrote Willamette Week when it endorsed Kotek and Drazan for their respective party nominations. “Drazan faces criticism from the right for failing to obstruct every piece of legislation unpopular with conservatives that came before the House. Firearms activists, for instance, blame her for letting Democrats pass a pretty innocuous gun safety bill last year. “They wanted her to order her caucus to deny Democrats a quorum and are now blasting her for that. Drazan stuck around, perhaps because she knows walkouts are unpopular with the electorate.” The money The race for governor of Oregon could well be the most expensive one in the state’s history. Betsy Johnson has already raised close to $9 million and has proven she can get big checks from major Republican donors, including Nike co-founder Phil Knight. She has about $5
million on hand. In an earlier published interview with The Chief, Johnson said she will likely spend $25 million in the race. Drazan spent $2.7 million during the primary while Kotek spent $2.5 million. Said political blogger Marc Johnson: “I don’t see that any of the candidates are talking substance. They are still introducing themselves because none of them are well-known to most Oregonians.” In the endorsement front, Kotek managed to get the backing of Yamhill’s Nick Kristof, whose brief gubernatorial campaign was mainly spent railing against entrenched Oregon Democrats, like Tina Kotek. He endorsed her two days after she won her party’s nomination. Earlier this year, the wellknown former New York Times columnist was considered a leading candidate for the Democratic nomination but was forced out for failing to meet the state’s three-year residency requirement for governor. Betsy Johnson, meanwhile, is ringing up endorsements from the old guard. Two high-profile endorsements came shortly after the primary when former Republican U.S. Senator Gordon Smith and former Democratic Governor Ted Kulongoski announced their support in a joint statement. Ahead of the primary, Kotek and Drazan each secured endorsements from a large number of current and former lawmakers as well as county and local officials. It is anyone’s guess as to who will win in November. As Marc Johnson put it: “It’s a real crapshoot.” Ellis Conklin is a news correspondent for the Headlight Herald. The interview with Tina Kotek was conducted June 8. Look for more Election 2022 coverage at thechiefnews.com and in the Friday print edition of The Chief.
Clatskanie Heritage Days 2022 Clatskanie Heritage Days 2022 Tentative Schedule of Events TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
DATE Saturday, June 25 Saturday, June 25 Saturday, June 25 Saturday, June 25 Saturday, June 25 Saturday, June 25 Saturday, June 25
EVENT Quincy Grange Car Show Breakfast Hertiage Days Car Show Chapter T PEO “Pie in the Park” Food, Music, and Vendors Farmers Market Pollinator Festival Amani Center Family Scavenger Hunt Free Swim
Friday, July 1 Saturday, July 2 Saturday, July 2 Sunday, July 3 Sunday, July 3
Strut Your Mutt Hypnotist- Michael Cain, Dr. Feel Good Movie Night in the Park All Class Reunion Reunion in the Restaurants
Monday, July 4 Monday, July 4 Monday, July 4 Monday, July 4 Monday, July 4 Monday, July 4 Monday, July 4 Monday, July 4 Monday, July 4 Monday, July 4 Monday, July 4 Monday, July 4 Monday, July 4 Monday, July 4 Monday, July 4 Monday, July 4 Monday, July 4 Monday, July 4 Monday, July 4
4th of July Parade (Line up at 10 am) 11 a.m. Music in the Park Dennis Harris 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. Food and Vendors All Day Magician/Balloon Artist/Astoria Clowns 12:30 p.m. Kiwanis Bingo Starting at noon Kids Center Activities (Bounce house, etc) 12:30 - 5:30 pm 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament 12:30 p.m. Free Swim 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Life Flight Demonstration 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. CMHS Forestry Program Demonstration 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Ice Cream Eating Contest 1:30 p.m. Softball Game 2:30 p.m. Petting Zoo 2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Donkey Races 3 p.m. Rubber Ducky Race TBD Button Raffle Drawings 4:30 p.m. New Romeo Loafers Band 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Featured Band: Ted Boursaw Band 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR When it is Dark
clatskaniechamber.com
TIME 7 a.m -10 a.m. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. 1 p.m - 4 p.m. 6 p.m. 7 p.m. Dusk Noon Evening
LOCATION American Legion Hall Clatskanie City Park Clatskanie City Park Clatskanie City Park Cope’s Park Cope’s Park Clatskanie Pool Clatskanie City Park Birkenfeld Theatre Clatskanie City Park Clatskanie City Park Nehalem Street Nehalem/NE 5th streets Clatskanie City Park Clatskanie City Park Clatskanie City Park Clatskanie City Park Clatskanie City Park Clatskanie City Park Clatskanie Pool Clatskanie City Park Clatskanie City Park Clatskanie City Park Field along 5th Street Clatskanie City Park Clatskanie City Park Clatskanie River On the stage: City Park On the stage: City Park On the stage: City Park Skies over the Park
ClatskanieHeritageDays@clatskanieheritagedays
Any changes or additions to events, times, or locations will be announced ASAP.
For full schedule and more information check the clatskaniechamber.com website and Clatskanie Heritage Days Facebook page
Set up in the Clatskanie City Park to get the best view of the fireworks. No personal fireworks will be allowed in the park due to the safety concerns. North Columbia County’s trusted local news source
Button Perks & Prizes
Only $10 Perks: These will be available to the button wearer(s) ONLY and not to the entire party. Offers are good from June 25 through July 4, 2022
Buy your button now at the following locations: Wauna Credit Union, Umpqua Bank, and Clatskanie PUD
Alston Pub & Grub – 10% off food (Excludes Alcohol) Big Guy – 20% off food (Dine in or take out Excludes alcohol) Bundy’s – Free small cone with combo purchase Clatskanie Builder’s Supply – 20% off all Milwaukee and Diablo tools Colvins Pub & Grill – 10% off food (Excludes Alcohol) Conestoga – 10% off food and non-alcoholic beverages (Excludes Alcohol) Flowers N Fluff – $1 off 16 oz iced or hot coffee, any way you want it. Fultano’s Pizza – $2 off large pizza or $3 off family pizza, pick up or dine in only. Ixtapa – $2 off guest meal (Excludes Alcohol) Scotty’s – 10% discount
Raffle prizes: Berry Patch – Gift Basket Clatskanie River Inn – One night Stay Clatskanie Fire Department – Family Pool Party Package Clatskanie PUD – Emergency Kit Clatskanie Tan LLC and Wellness Salon – 5 tanning or red light sessions Farmhouse Coffee – Gift Basket Finn’s Custom Tackle & Cafe – Gift Basket High School Pharmacy – Gift Basket Tom Poor Auto Detail – Bucket of Detailing Products Umpqua Bank – Gift Basket Wauna Credit Union – Gift Basket Drawing will be held on July 4th in the park.