TCC79

New Clatskanie deputy Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891

CHRISTINE MENGES chronicle2@countrymedia.net

Photo courtesy of CCSO

Columbia County Sheriff Deputy Gery Fiebich begins his full-time duties Monday, July 13 in Clatskanie.

A long-time plan to have one full-time law enforcement officer to cover the city of Clatskanie is becoming a reality.

Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Deputy Gery Fiebich has worked with the CCSO since 2015.

Beginning Monday, July 13, Fiebich will be stationed in Clatskanie.

Clatskanie Mayor Bob Brajcich said the hire was a long time coming.

“Since I’ve gotten to my office, I’ve been wanting to add to the police department for more coverage,” Brajcich said.

Fiebich will be in town from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. That timing will allow for full-time law enforcement coverage in town while school is in session, Brajcich said, which is one of the driving reasons behind having a fulltime officer in town.

While Fiebich will not be assigned as a specific school resource officer, he will be available for schools in town, something that Brajcich said has been lacking.

“That really bothered me that with our time coverage we were paying for, that that wasn’t covered,” Brajcich said. “It’s just an increase in coverage.”

Due to city budget limitations, the Clatskanie City Council closed its city police department and

Elementary principal resigns

contracted in 2016 with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services. The contract includes two deputies with the city paying 85 percent of the cost while the CCSO picks up the remaining 15 percent.

Since that time community members and Brajcich have voiced concerns for the need to strengthen local law enforcement. Repeated school security issues earlier this year heightened those concerns for additional policing. Read more about the school security issues in a series of stories at thechiefnews.com.

Fiebich’s salary will be funded 100 percent by the City of Clatskanie. The Clatskanie City Council approved its new city operating budget in June, which included $470,500 for law enforcement services for 2020-21 through the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the new deputy’s annual salary.

Brajcich said Fiebich’s duties will be wide-ranging throughout the city.

“He’ll assist the emergency departments,” Brajcich said. “We want him to work with us in compliance and have a relationship with the school principals and business operators, so that he’s aware of anything going on around town.”

Clatskanie City Manager Greg Hinkelman told The Chief in late May that the full-time deputy is a key to effective law enforcement in the city.

“The deputy will get to know and be a presence at the grade school and

high school and also get to know and be a public face to the businesses in town and the community in general,” Hinkelman said. “This deputy will also serve as our code enforcement officer.”

Brajcich said he is excited about having a full-time law enforcement officer in town and the perception and the communication the deputy will bring among town residents.

Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley noted the same potential.

“This position will give the residents and city of Clatskanie a dedicated law enforcement presence for 40-plus hours each week,” Pixley said. “I believe the most important thing this position brings with it though is the ability to strengthen the relationship between CCSO and the residents of Clatskanie. This is not a rotational position, so the residents will be able to get to know Deputy Fiebich. I believe this will allow us to form stronger ties in the city.”

Fiebich was on vacation and not reachable for this updated story. In a published interview in The Chief in late May, Fiebich said, “I am looking forward to the opportunity ahead of me.”

The Chief will be closely following Fiebich’s arrival in Clatskanie with updates about how he is doing and the community reaction in future updates. Read those stories at thechiefnews.com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.

Pandemic update JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net Courtesy photo

Clatskanie Elementary School will have three people sharing the role as principal this fall following the resignation of principal Tiffany O’Donnell.

CHRISTINE MENGES chronicle2@countrymedia.net

Clatskanie Elementary School Principal Tiffany O’Donnell has resigned, according to Clatskanie School District Superintendent Cathy Hurowitz.

O’Donnell’s last day was June 30. She had spent one year as the school principal, starting July 1, 2019.

Hurowitz said she could not

comment on the reasons behind O’Donnell’s resignation, stating it was a personnel matter.

This is the second principal in two years to resign from the position at Clatskanie Elementary School. Brad Thorud had resigned from the same position on May 13, 2019. Thorud’s reasons for resigning were not explicitly stated at the time, but Hurowitz said in 2019 that it had been a hard decision for him.

Hurowitz said the school district

is not immediately beginning a search for a new principal due to it being late in the hiring season.

“The Dean of Students will take care of the day to day needs in the building,” Hurowitz said. “I will be the interim principal sharing duties with Jim Helmen, our Director of Student Support and Innovation.”

By press time, O’Donnell had not returned phone calls from The Chief.

COVID-19 had claimed four more lives in Oregon as of July 7, raising the state’s death toll to 224, according to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), which also reported 217 new confirmed and presumptive cases of the virus, bringing the state total to 10,817.

Columbia County had 44 cases of COVID-19 and no deaths linked to the virus, as of July 6.

According to new details from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms

may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.

People with these symptoms may have COVID-19: • Fever or chills • Cough • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing • Fatigue • Muscle or body aches • Headache • New loss of taste or smell • Sore throat • Congestion or runny nose • Nausea or vomiting • Diarrhea Follow daily developments at thechiefnews.com and in-depth reports in the Friday print editions of The Chief.

Celebration: Rainier Days Parade Police Blotters.....A2 Opinions...............A4 Obituaries............A5 Market Place........A5 Public Notices......A5 Clatskanie Grows A6

STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

Rainier Days Parade 12 p.m. Saturday, July 11 Starting at the Rainier Water treatment plant 690 W. A Street, Rainier The City of Rainier has scheduled a community celebration with a parade for Saturday afternoon, July 11.

The event replaces the annual Rainier days, a three-day celebration normally held the weekend after the Fourth of July, but due to the pandemic, Rainier Days has been canceled and in its place will be a modified parade.

Community members are encouraged to follow social distancing guidelines as they participate in the event.

Loyed Rea is the Grand Marshal for the 2020 Rainier Days Parade.

Rea has been selected to lead the modified parade by the Rainier Oregon Historical Museum, which sponsors the Grand Marshal each year.

The parade will be held at noon on Saturday, July 11, starting at the water treatment plant, 690 W. A Street traveling north on E. 4th Street, turning left on C Street, to 1st. Street, turning right to A Street, and ending at the boat marina. Social distancing is advised.

Rainier Days Committee member Jerry Cole said the modified parade is a good way to celebrate the city.

“We felt we could still celebrate Rainier by having a parade,” Cole said in an earlier published interview with the Chief. “It is designed to provide some sort of joy to the city within the state’s social distancing guidelines, so it’s all sidewalk-based. We felt people would be able to spread out along the revised parade route to keep social distancing.”

Community members are invited to a Meet and Greet for Loyed to be held at the Rainier Senior Center, 48 W. 7th Street, directly after the parade. Social distancing guidelines will be followed and face masks will be required.

Organizers said if you don’t have a face mask one will be provided for you at the Meet and Greet.

Loyed Bio Carl Nys, a director of the Rainier Historical Museum, has submitted the following biography about Grand Marshal Loyed.

Loyed Rea’s family includes three generations of Rainier athletes.

Loyed grew up above Rainier Union High School on Neer City Road within earshot of Columbian football games and could hear the band play, the cheerleaders

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Courtesy photo

See PARADE Page A4

Loyed Rea is the Rainier Days Parade Grand Marshal.

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www.thechiefnews.com

Friday, July 10, 2020

Fire season underway

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief

A $650,000 renovation planned for the Clatskanie City Pool is now moving ahead following a successful project bidding process. Before the work begins, the pool will be in operation offering summer swimming lessons beginning July 13.

Pool to offer swim lessons STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

In June, The Chief first reported that a bidding process for a $650,000 renovation at the Clatskanie City Pool had been on hold. New details have emerged from Clatskanie Par and Recreation that the bidding process is completed and a contractor

has been selected to begin the work. Read more about the renovations at thechiefnews.com.

Before the project begins, the pool operators plan to reopen the pool for summer swimming lessons beginning Monday, July 13 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Daily fees are $3 and weekly fees are $10.

The pool had been closed due to the pandemic.

The Clatskanie City Pool, a popular open-air facility attracts hundreds children, adults and families each summer. The pool has also been a gathering spot for synchronized swim teams.

More information is available online at cityofclatskanie.com in the About Clatskanie section, or by calling the pool at 503-7282757.

Tax filing deadline July 15

Courtesy image

Fire season is declared based on conditions at the local district level, with restrictions intended to help prevent human-caused wildfires.

Fire season has officially been declared on all Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) protected lands.

The declaration went into effect Monday, July 6 based on conditions at the local district level, with restrictions intended to help prevent human-caused wildfires. Fire season generally runs through mid-October and ends based on local conditions.

For residents within ODF’s 12 fire protection districts, the arrival of fire season means the end of unregulated outdoor debris burning, a leading cause of wildfires. While permits to burn may be issued in some areas, debris burning is generally prohibited throughout the summer due to increased wildfire risk. Violators burning without a permit will be cited and held liable for fire

• Courtesy photo

Electronic filing continues to be the easiest and fastest way for taxpayers to file and pay any taxes due, according to a release from the Oregon Revenue Department.

Oregon’s tax filing deadline is looming.

Oregon extended the deadline from the traditional April 15 deadline to July 15 when the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) extended the deadline to file and pay federal taxes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ment deadline for payments for the 2019 return, normally May 15, 2020, is now July 15, 2020.

• Fiscal year returns and related payments due after July 15, 2020 are not extended at this time.

Here’s what personal income taxpayers need to know:

Because of the extension of the due dates for filing returns and making payments, any interest and penalties with respect to Oregon tax filings and payments begin accruing on July 16, 2020.

No automatic extension is provided for the payment or deposit of any other type of Oregon tax or for the filing of Oregon information returns.

• The Oregon return filing due date for tax year 2019 is July 15, 2020.

• The Oregon tax payment deadline for payments due with the 2019 tax year is July 15, 2020.

• The tax year 2019 sixmonth extension to file until October 15, 2020, if requested, extends only to the filing (not payment) deadline.

If you have questions about your personal income tax, contact questions.dor@ oregon.gov.

For corporate income/ excise taxpayers: • The Oregon return filing due date for tax year 2019 is July 15, 2020.

• The Oregon tax pay-

Interest and penalties:

Kicker reminder If your 2018 return is amended or adjusted after you file your 2019 return, we will automatically adjust your kicker amount.

Resources All Revenue offices remain closed to drop-in visitors due to the pandemic.

If you need to speak to one

of the state revenue representatives in person, you must make an appointment.

Go to www.oregon.gov/dor and click on Contact Us to schedule an appointment.

Electronic filing continues to be the easiest and fastest way for taxpayers to file and pay any taxes due, according to a release from the Oregon Revenue Department. You can also make payments on Revenue Online.

You can find resources, such as forms and publications, information regarding filing as an individual or business, and helpful tools like Where’s My Refund and What’s My Kicker, on the Department of Revenue webpage. Also, keep up to date with the latest developments and news surrounding impacts of COVID-19 to your taxes.

You can visit www. oregon.gov/dor to get forms, check the status of your refund, or make payments.

You can call 503-378-4988 or 800-356-4222 (toll-free) or email questions.dor@ oregon.gov for additional assistance. For TTY for hearing- or speech-impaired, call 800-886-7204.

suppression costs.

Other public use fire restrictions are also in effect in several areas. The use of fireworks, tracer ammunition and exploding targets are illegal within ODF protection boundaries, as well as other state and federal lands. Campfires, the mowing of dry, cured grass, cutting and welding, power saw use and other spark-emitting activities are regulated at the local level, depending upon the conditions and fire danger.

For example, during low fire danger, mowing may be allowed all day. However, during moderate, high and extreme fire danger mowing may be restricted to early morning or prohibited entirely until conditions improve.

ODF encourages the public to stay informed of

current fire restrictions by visiting the agency’s Fire Restrictions & Closures website or calling their local ODF or protective association office. To learn more about preventing humancaused wildfires, visit Keep Oregon Green on the web at www.keeporegongreen.org.

Forest operators are required to follow fire season requirements, including providing a water supply, fire tools, spark arresters on equipment, and fire watch. Similar to fire danger restrictions for the public, operators must follow rules under the four-tiered Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) system.

For specific information about the fire season regulations, contact the fire district or fire department in your area.

•B lotters • •

The police blotter relates to the public record of incidents as reported by law enforcement agencies. All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Information printed is preliminary and subject to change.

Rainier Police June 29 • An officer responded to a twovehicle accident on the Lewis and Clark Bridge. There were no apparent injuries and no citations were issued.

• A concerned citizen reported a balding black dog roaming the neighborhood. An officer was unable to locate loose Lab. • Several catalytic converters were stolen from a local business. The case is under investigation.

June 30 • A caller reported seeing an odd vehicle parked in their neighborhood. The vehicle was gone prior to officer arrival.

• An officer removed a large piece of metal from the bridge that was causing a traffic hazard.

July 1 • A vehicle was damaged when

an unknown person attempted to gain entry.

• A subject at a local business was trespassed after he refused to practice ‘social distancing’ around customers and threatened employees.

• An officer removed a piece of carpet from the highway after it was reported as a road hazard.

• An officer did an area check after an anonymous caller reported hearing what they thought was a woman screaming. A group of people were in the vicinity and advised that they had not heard anything suspicious.

• Carla Workman, 42, of Rainier, was cited and released for Reckless Endangering.

July 2 • A couple of reportedly suspicious people were checked and found to be okay.

July 3 • A man who had been trespassed from Chevron earlier, returned to the establishment to complain about a sandwich that someone else had bought him. He was asked several times to leave, but refused to do so. He was taken into custody for Criminal Trespass.

It is unknown whether or not the suspect approved of the food served at the jail.

Oregon State Police July 7 • Oregon State Police assisted Rainier Police with a welfare check. It was reported that a female was outside the Grocery Outlet talking to herself and appeared to be suffering from mental health issues. The woman was contacted and found to be homeless from the Longview, WA area and clearly was suffering from mental health issues. The trooper transported the woman to Longview, WA and left her in the care of her grandmother without incident • Oregon State Police responded to a report of a stolen firearm at a gun store in Vernonia.

Oregon State Police seized one gun, which was a consignment firearm at the store. Investigation is ongoing.

• At about 4:30 p.m. Oregon State Police responded to a possible DUII driver westbound on Hwy 30 from Scappoose.

OSP located the vehicle on Hwy 30 at MP 27 and stopped it for a traffic violation. The driver, Andrew Erickson of Clatskanie, displayed signs of impairment and drug use. Following tests, Ericsson was cited, booked and released. The vehicle was towed

by Drake’s Towing.

The Columbia County Sheriff’s law enforcement logs were unavailable.

Clatskanie Swimming Pool (503) 728-2757 clatskaniepool@cni.net

July 13th through 17th

Morning

Vern Ruch November 12,1934 ~ March 29, 2020

Celebrating the life of a great man.

July 12, 2020, at 1pm Alston Pub & Grub, 25196 Alston Rd, Rainier OR 97017

6:00 - 7:00 AM: Deep End (6) & Shallow End (4) Water Exercise 7:15 - 8:15 AM: Deep End (6) & Shallow End (4) Water Exercise 8:45 - 9:15 AM: Level 6 (4) 9:30 - 10:00 AM: Level 5 (4) Things to remember: 10:15-10:45 AM: Level 4 (4) • Register only by phone or email • Enter through lobby only Afternoon/Evening • 1 person (family) in lobby at any time 5:45-6:15 PM: Family Lesson • Lockers are not in use • Take a cleansing shower 6:30-7:00 PM: Family Lesson • Take your belongings on pool deck • After program, exit through side gate, Prices no showers.

Water Exercise: Daily Fee: $3.00, Weekly: $10.00 Family Lessons*: 2 children: $35.00 Each additional child is $5.00 Lessons*: $20.00 per child

All this is very new for us. Please be patient and don’t hesitate to ask questions about our new protocols.

*A family member is required to be in the pool with each child for Levels Tots through 3.

Please note that the weekly/daily schedule is subject to change at any time.

Columbia County’s trusted local news source

www.thechiefnews.com

Friday, 10, 2020

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Suicides rise in Columbia County CHRISTINE MENGES chronicle2@countrymedia.net

After two years of declining suicides, Columbia County has experienced a sharp increase in the first few months of 2020.

There were seven suicides within the months of January and February, and

by March the county had surpassed all of the suicides in 2019, according to Columbia Health Services Suicide Prevention Coordinator Sarah Trejo.

The numbers have left mental health care workers in Columbia County grappling for answers. While there are no definite reasons, Trejo said there seems to be a worldwide trend with suicides spiking in February and March, which could be weather-related.

One fact that is for certain is that all of the suicides were middle-aged to elderly men, Trejo said.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), middleaged white men account for the demographic with the highest suicide rate.

The trend is something that a task force, made up of community members, Columbia Pacific CCO, Columbia Health Services, Columbia Community Mental Health, local schools, and suicide survivors and other community leaders, is attempting to address.

According to CCMH Crisis Team Clinical Supervisor David Flynn, the task force addresses suicide in a myriad of ways, through “training, education, community meeting, community partnering, and reducing stigma. We bring together a variety of different perspectives and stake holders.

This includes people with lived experience – those who have survived a suicide attempt or whose loved one completed suicide – as well as a variety of professionals and community members who are passionate about this issue,” Flynn said.

Task force review Columbia Health Services Director Sherrie Ford put together the task force in 2018 in response to the rise in suicides. The task force was composed of groups and individuals with an interest in preventing suicide, from law enforcement, to teachers, to suicide

survivors, to “anyone interested in suicide prevention as a whole,” Trejo said.

After the task force was created, Ford put together a grant proposal to Columbia Pacific CCO and requested that they fund a five-year position for suicide prevention, according to Trejo.

That is now Trejo’s position, one that she has held for the past five months. As of now, the position is on a two-year contract, but she is hoping the contract will be extended to at least five years so they can continue the work that they have been doing.

The numbers Different community partners have collected statistics on the social problem of suicide over the past several years. According to those statistics, Columbia County saw an all-time high suicide completion number of 18 in 2018. In 2017, there were 12 suicides. In 2016 there were 15 suicides. 2019 saw an all-time low of seven suicides.

However, that number crept back up in 2020, with the number in March surpassing all of 2019 suicides.

This is on par with national statistics. According to the CDC, the age-adjusted suicide rate increased by 33 percent from 1999 to 2017.

In preventing suicide, Trejo described her role as being one of education.

As the suicide prevention coordinator, Trejo leads frequent “QPR” trainings, which stands for “Question,” “Persuade,” “Refer.”

These trainings can take place at multiple different settings, from businesses to schools. Trejo said

Columbia Health Services is trying to implement the trainings in general as part of the hiring process. In the time of COVID-19, the trainings have been done online through Zoom.

The signals During these trainings, Trejo said she teaches people that if someone’s mood has changed or if someone is looking depressed, or if they have had a lot of really large life events, such as losing a loved one, it’s important to recognize those factors and not be afraid to ask direct questions if they are considering taking their own life.

“You cannot put the thought of suicide into someone’s head,” Trejo said. “Either they’re thinking about it or they’re not.

It’s better to ask someone and get them resources to get help.”

Trejo said she has a list of resources she uses to refer people to get the help they need. One of those resources is a crisis team in Columbia County.

“Our training goes over recognizing potential signs.

The more large events that have happened in someone’s life, the more likely they are to have thoughts of suicide. When you ask someone if they’re having suicidal thoughts, it’s actually a huge relief. Even if they’re not having those thoughts, it’s communication,” Trejo said.

The task force also offers a more intensive suicide prevention training called ASIST, which stands for Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training. According to its website, it is a two-day intensive course

for caregivers to help them recognize suicide risk, and how to take action if necessary.

In addition to ASIST and QPR trainings, other resources to reach out to the community include awareness efforts like the Out of the Darkness walk in Columbia County each year, which raises awareness for suicide prevention. There is also the Connect St. Helens program, launched last year, which aims to create more inter-connectedness within the community, a mitigating factor against suicide, according to Trejo.

A postvention suicide program also exists, which involves providing support to those affected by suicide in its aftermath. In order to

do that, Trejo said that community partners like CCMH and CHS are trying to work with law enforcement so that they can communicate with the CCMH crisis team so that they can get to the scene of a suicide and be a presence of support.

That postvention plan has not always been successful, according to Trejo.

“We keep hitting this barrier where we can’t seem to find someone from the scene to call the crisis line. We’re trying to get CCMH on the scene, we’re struggling there, and having challenges to find the right way to do that, to do postvention support,” Trejo said.

She added the postvention plan will take a little bit more time, effort and communication.

“Our law enforcement is doing so much right now, and we’re trying to add one more thing to do on the scene, we’re trying to figure that one out,” she said.

COVID-19 is also a concern for the individuals trying to prevent suicide in Columbia County. According to Trejo, evidence shows suicides do not increase during the pandemic, but might rise as things start to head back to normal.

“We’re going to help people know that there’s services available to community members, and start preparing for the possibility

of that occurring,” Trejo said.

The most important parts of suicide prevention plan are protective factors, according to Trejo.

“Having a team around an individual,” Trejo said.

“The more people you have working towards keeping someone safe. The more people that know QPR. We compare it to CPR, when someone has a heart attack.

The chance of that person to survive, it increases exponentially. If you know how to ask the question, you can help that person before they get to the point where they’re taking their own lives.”

If you are interested in joining the Suicide Prevention Task Force visit, https:// www.columbia-health.org/ suicide.html If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, CRISIS SERVICES are available 24/7 at CCMH: 503-7824499 or TTY 711. You can also call 911.

Suicides in Columbia County 2016: 15 (all males) 2017: 12 (10 males/2 females) 2018: 18 (15 males/3 females) 2019: 7 (5 males/2 females) 86% males vs.

14% females

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•

Friday, July 10, 2020

•V iewpoints • •

Addressing the epic failure Taking action

BRAD WITT Chief Guest Column

Unemployment insurance was designed as a safety net for Oregonians needing assistance during difficult times.

Safety net This safety net has failed at a time of unprecedented need and desperation by tens of thousands of Oregonians. My staff and I have been working with constituents and state employment officials on a daily basis to resolve unemployment issues. Even with our assistance, there are far too many claimants in House District 31 and throughout the state who have yet to receive payments or who have had their payments halted, only to be told to “go to the back of the line” and file another claim.

This epic failure to provide timely, regular and consistent unemployment and COVID-19 insurance payments to Oregonians has compelled me to request a full and complete audit of the Oregon Employment Department (OED) by Secretary of State Bev Clarno.

The goal is to get the OED to a place where it can efficiently and effectively pay Oregon workers the benefits they have earned and are due. To that end I met with staff of the Audit Division of the Secretary of State’s office to offer suggestions for the scope of the OED audit.

PARADE From Page A1 and the booming voice of the announcer over the loudspeakers at the stadium during football games.

Loyed, a natural athlete, and his athletic brothers and sisters were able to attend football and baseball games by using the trail near their house to get to the stadium and field.

Loyed, along with brothers, Mick and Jim, and sisters, Arlene and Joan, used the RUHS field, where not a blade of grass would grow, but rocks were plentiful, to hone their athletic skills much to the delight of their mother Effie who was happy to have them out of the house.

When in the 8th grade at Rainier Grade School, Loyed played for the Bobcats 8th grade basketball team captained by Gene Flippin and coached by Earl Dinkelocker. Their team won the championship trophy of the area-wide basketball tournament held at the school. Others on the team were Jim Johnson, Frank Counts, John Womack, Joedy Oliva, Ross Corbett and Mick Rea. Loyed’s athletic career in high school included

After four months of frustration with a state agency that seems incapable of meeting their obligations to working Oregonians, I am asking the Secretary of State to: • Provide an accounting of the status of federal dollars that were intended for the OED computer system upgrade.

• Evaluate the efficacy of job assignments and wasted time while employees wait for direction from leadership.

• Evaluate the phone systems and procedures to avoid multi-hour hold times for customers only to be disconnected at the end of the waiting period.

• Assess other states’ approaches in resolving PUA backlogs while ensuring timely payments of all other claims.

• Address the need for an “express lane” or “priority pass” for those who waited, only to be denied and then told to go to the back of the PUA line.

Legislative staff have been working to prepare weekly spreadsheets for the OED, to raise the status of our constituents’ claims. It is unclear what actually happens to the data included on those documents, as many of the earliest submitted are still waiting to hear from the OED, and we have not heard what percentage of those cases have been successfully settled.

more mindful of the service they provide to Oregonians.

It is unacceptable, and reprehensible that so many hard-working people have had their benefits delayed for so many months. It has not been uncommon for an individual to make thousands of calls to the department only to receive busy signals, and when they do reach someone, that person is unable to assist them.

I know we can do better, and I’m confident that an audit by the Secretary of State will bring clarity to the OED operations, and put them on track to take care of the hardworking Oregonians who so desperately need the benefits they have earned and rightfully deserve.

That being said, my staff and I are still working within the system to help people negotiate the unemployment system. We want to help and are willing to help you obtain the benefits you are owed. If you would like our assistance please reach out to me by email, and we will channel your requests to the person that can best address your needs.

State agencies need to be

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

basketball, where Loyed was frequently the high scorer for the Columbians, also baseball and football.

After high school Loyed could be found at most high school games, umpiring for baseball games and coaching little league when not at work. Unable to stray far from the games he loved, Loyed played for the Clatskanie-Rainier semipro baseball team in the early sixties. He played for the Portland Thunderbirds professional football team which was in existence from 1962 to 1965. Their games were held at Multnomah Stadium.

In 1965, Loyed quit his job at Van Vleet Lumber Company, and he began longshoring, joining ILWU Local 21 in Longview. That same year he was selected president of the Rainier Jaycees which put on the Rainier Daze celebration. Committee members included Loyed, Jim “Red” Coffman and Tom Ramey.

This was in the early days of the celebration when the Rainier Ski-Bees performed water ski performances, and Kon-Tiki raft races which were held at the Rainier Beach Blast. The Jaycees’ raft, manned by Lonnie Pellham, Dick Hadlock, Jim Coffman and Loyed Rea. They were responsible for sinking many rafts,

including their own.

Loyed loved to coach, so when his sons Casey, Jerry and Tony were old enough, Loyed coached their little league teams. If not coaching, he attended their games and continued through their high school years. His daughter Shellie was a standout volleyball and basketball player for the Columbians, where Loyed could only support her as a parent and fan.

In his 50s, Loyed and other area basketball players, with the sponsorship of Pudgy Hunt who was a well-known basketball player from Knappa, entered an over 50s Masters Basketball Tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

They won the tournament, but Loyed described the ride there and back with the team in one car “a little cramped.”

When grandsons Caymon, Connor, Daniel and Joe were old enough, Loyed had another generation of Columbians to coach and support. Since grandson Jarrod and granddaughter Maggie lived in Kansas with their parents, Loyed had to participate from afar.

Loyed retired from longshoring in 1996, but not from his passion for sports, being a huge Oregon Ducks fan and supporter of kids’ athletics.

Unacceptable, reprehensible

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Razor clamming season closure The annual summer conservation closure for razor clams begins Wednesday, July 15 and runs through Sept. 30 on Clatsop beaches, from Tillamook Head in Seaside to the mouth of the Columbia River.

Clatsop beaches account for more than 90 percent of the total razor clam harvest in Oregon. This regulation has been in place since 1967 and closes all razor clam harvesting on the 18 miles of beach north of Tillamook Head. By protecting newly set young clams from harvesters, the closure gives young clams a chance to establish themselves on the beach during summer.

ODFW staff assess razor clam stocks during the closure period. Last year, assessments showed the third highest abundance since the assessments began in 2004.

The 2020 season has been very productive with most harvesters obtaining their

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limits with a mix of large and medium sized clams. Anecdotal evidence suggests that another juvenile recruitment event occurred which will be quantified by the assessments and could bode well for the next harvest season.

“This annual closure prevents disturbing the young razor clams, increasing the chance of good recruitment for future razor clam harvesting,” ODFW’s shellfish and phytoplankton project leader Matt Hunter said. “It ensures Clatsop beaches continue to provide a great opportunity for razor clam harvesters, and we thank everyone for respecting this annual closure.”

Razor clam harvesting continues to be open on other state beaches though a few closures are in effect due to toxin levels (as of today, razor clamming is closed from Cape Arago to the California border). The best opportunities outside Clatsop beaches are in the Newport area, with

of

the most consistent producers being Agate Beach, North Jetty, and South Beach. Other beaches that can produce razor clams include Cannon Beach, Cape Meares, and Yachats Beach.

Bay clam harvesting is currently open coastwide.

All recreational clamming remains closed to nonresidents due to COVID-19 precautions.

Officials encourage you to always check for toxin-related closures before harvesting clams or crabs by calling the shellfish safety hotline, at 1-800-448-2472. Closures are also noted on the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s (ODA) Recreation Shellfish page and on ODFW’s Recreation Report – Clamming and Crabbing Report.

For more information about clamming on the Oregon coast, visit ODFW’s Crabbing and Clamming page online.

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Public Notices CC20-1272

Scappoose Bay Marine Park Advisory Committee Vacancy The Port of Columbia County is seeking to fill a recent vacancy on the Scappoose Bay Marine Park Advisory Committee.

The committee undertakes projects and advises the Port’s staff and the Board of Commissioners

on a variety of matters relating to the marina.

The meetings take place every other month at 5:30 p.m., on the first Tuesday of the month, at the Port Office. Interested persons can obtain an application by visiting the

Port’s website at www. portofcolumbiacounty.org or by contacting Miriam House at 503-928-3259 or by e-mail house@ portofcolumbiacounty.org.

The deadline to submit an application is July 27, 2020, at 5:00 p.m.

CC20-1274

Notice of Private Sale Pursuant To ORS 90.675 This is a notice of private sale of personal property (a mobile home) pursuant to ORS 90.675. 1. The personal property is abandoned. 2.

The former tenant’s name is Shawn Harris, Latara Harris aka Latara Moore and all others. 3. The address where the property (mobile home) is located is 74866 Doan Road, Space #38, Rainier, OR

97048. 4. The mobile home is identified below: Liberty manufactured home Serial # 09L21908X/09L21908U Home ID# 253577; X PLATE: n/a 5. The sale is a private bid sale. 6. The landlord is accepting private sealed bids. The last date on which such sealed bids will be accepted is July 17, 2020. Please submit bids to

Western Hills, C/O Mark G. Passannante, 1050 SW 6th Ave., Suite 1220, Portland, OR 97204 7. Please contact Western Hills/Michael Werner or Denise Werner at (360) 253-5603 to inspect the home. 8. Lienholder(s): Western Hills Mobile Home Village, LLC, 4611 NW Fruit Valley Rd, Suite 102, Vancouver WA 98660

CC20-1278

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, July 15, 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 CC20-1277

NOTICE OF REGULAR BOARD MEETING The Rainier School Board will hold a regular board meeting on Monday, July 13, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. A link to the livestream will be available on the district website.

law from public inspection.

AGENDA CLATSKANIE PEOPLE’S UTILITY DISTRICT REGULAR BOARD MEETING on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at 5:30 P.M. I. PUBLIC COMMENTS II. CONSENT AGENDA · Minutes of Regular Board Meeting, June 17, 2020 · Minutes of Special Board Meeting, June 24, 2020 · Review payment of bills for June 2020 III. STAFF REPORTS UPDATE · Staff Reports IV. POLICY REVIEW · #313 Financial

Policy and New Policy #113 Service Location Technical Standards Policy V. ACTION ITEMS · Oath of Office Subdivision 3 Director · Election of Officers – Vice President · Policy Review: #315 Short Form Investment Policy · OPUDA Alternative Representative · Resolution 20-01 PTP to NT Service VI. DISCUSSION / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS · Board Comments & Calendar VII. EXECUTIVE SESSION VIII. ADJOURNMENT

CC20-1275

PUBLIC NOTICE The Board of Directors for Clatskanie School District 6J will hold a Board meeting, Monday, July 13th, 2020, 6:30 p.m. at Clatskanie Elementary School, Media Center, located at 815 S Nehalem. Social distancing will be required. Please see our website at www.csd.k12. or.us on the main page for

Get your ad in The Chief Contact Amy at atrull@countrymedia.net

directions to join the meeting via Zoom. The agenda includes but is not limited to: Superintendent and Principal’s reports, a bond information presentation, financial report, organization of Clatskanie School District and the consent agenda.

The public is encouraged to attend.

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•O bituaries • • Elyse Rachelle Smith-Naegeli Nov. 27, 1991 ~ June 25, 2020

Elyse passed away peacefully at OHSU June 25, 2020 at the age of twenty-eight after prolonged medical problems. COVID-19 was not a cause.

Elyse was born in Astoria, Oregon to Dan Naegeli and Nancy C. (Smith) Naegeli.

Elyse attended schools in Rainier, Oregon, Longview, Washington and Kent, Washington. She participated in Running Start program where she earned her Phlebotomy Technician Certificate from Renton Technical College. Elyse graduated from Lower Columbia College in Longview, Washington, receiving her Associate in Arts Degree. She also graduated from University of Washington, majoring in Psychology.

Elyse was preceded in death by her grandfather Stephen Lane Naegeli; and great grandparents, Dorothy and Casper Naegeli.

She is survived by her fiancé Rick Maxwell; father Dan Naegeli; mother Nancy Johnson; sisters, Teolina Naegeli, Alayna Doan, and Maddy Johnson; brothers, Shadrach Wood and Jonah Bataeff;

grandparents, Janie (McDonald Naegeli) and Robert Eder; Donald and Janet Smith; great grandmother Sylvia Kato; aunts, Erica Bomar (Chuck Spittles), Linda Bittinger, Cathy McKendrick (Joe), Andrea Yost (Eric), Cindy Waddell (Aaron), Corrine Eder (Mohamed El Khatib), and Jolene Eder; uncle Brian Eder (Alisha Parker); many great aunts and uncles; and numerous cousins and friends, near and far.

Elyse was excited about beginning her life with her fiancé Ricky. They both felt so lucky having found each

other. Ricky will carry her in his heart forever. His love for her is deep. All of us will miss Elyse greatly. Whether she knew it or not, Elyse taught us life lessons.

Elyse loved her two cats who were wonderful companions for her. She was also passionate about painting.

After becoming quadriplegic, you would find Elyse with a paint brush in her mouth creating beautiful art, which brought her joy. Elyse’s lifelong friend, Nikole Young, captured this part of Elyse’s life when she wrote the following in a poetic tribute; “Painting fills your last years of life. You do it handless, without any hint of strife. But something went wrong, and now you can’t fight. What’s left are canvases, memorializing your dimmed light.”

Elyse will always be remembered as a fierce fighter.

Private interment under the direction of Waud’s Funeral Home will take place at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Tillamook, Oregon.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital

Jim Thomas

March 11, 1937 ~ July 2, 2020 Jim Thomas, a resident of Clatskanie from 1974-2004, passed away on July 2, 2020. No funeral is planned at this time. His ashes will be spread at sea at a later date.

Chinook fishing open in Oregon Fishery managers in Washington and Oregon have set additional Chinook salmon fishing days following an upper Columbia summer Chinook run that is exceeding original forecasts.

According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), recreational fishing opened July 9 through July 15 for the retention of hatchery Chinook (adults and jacks), in the mainstem Columbia River from the Tongue Point-Rocky Point line upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge at Pasco, Wash. The daily adult bag limit is two hatchery Chinook. All other salmon and steelhead must be released.

All other permanent regulations, including bag limits for jack Chinook, apply.

As a precaution to limit additional take of sockeye salmon, fishery managers also closed shad fishing from July 9-15 in the mainstem Columbia River from Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam (Bonneville Pool). Columbia River

sockeye fishing closed June 25 after a successful fishery (anglers did so well that harvest exceeded the 1 percent ESA take limit allowed at that time).

An upgrade in the sockeye run has eliminated the overage, though the non-treaty fisheries remain at the 1 percent allowed. In the lower river, the risk of additional sockeye handle is rapidly declining as the majority of the sockeye run has migrated through this area. But there is a higher risk of sockeye handle upstream of Bonneville Dam, particularly in the Bonneville Pool shad fishery.

Fishery managers are taking a conservative approach due to the sockeye take limit being met, but since the sockeye run continues to be strong (with nearly 13,000 passing Bonneville Dam on July 7), managers will consider additional summer Chinook opportunity, as well as hatchery steelhead fishing, at a hearing next week (scheduled for July 15 at 2 p.m.).

“A summer Chinook fishery downstream of Priest Rapids Dam was not originally planned this year due to the pre-season forecast, but with significant upgrades to both summer Chinook and sockeye abundance, we’re pleased anglers will get some more summer opportunity for salmon fishing this year,” ODFW Columbia River program manager Tucker Jones said.

Anglers are also reminded that thermal angling sanctuaries to protect wild steelhead take effect July 15.

All fishing is closed in these sanctuaries adjacent to, and within the lower reaches of Eagle Creek, Herman Creek, and the Deschutes River.

See details at the Columbia River Zone regulations page, https://myodfw.com/recreation-report/fishing-report/ columbia-zone#TSA. For the latest Columbia River regulations, visit https://myodfw.com/recreation-report/fishing-report/ columbia-zone.

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Friday, July 10, 2020

Clatskanie Grows: Temperatures, water CHIP BUBL Chief Guest Column

How cool has it been?

Growing degree days are used to measure accumulated temperatures that support crop growth. Vegetable farmers generally use April 1 as a starting point and a 50 degree F baseline. The high and low temperatures are added together, divided by two and the resulting number has 50 subtracted from it. This is the number of “heat units” for that day and are added up day by day. So above, in the table, are the cumulative heat units from April 1 through July 4 for St. Helens, Rainier, and Clatskanie. It has been cool and it is such a shame because cool also is cloudy and many vegetables, especially the sub-tropical ones like tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, corn, cucumbers, and squash and the like are definitely not happy to be losing out on the heat and sunlight of the longest days of the year. That said, the greens have done just fine.

How do you know when to water?

Watering vegetables is a bit of a learned art. Some plants can tolerate temporary moisture deficits and be fine but if onions run short of

Town

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

St. Helens Rainier Clatskanie

894 847 768

1009 914 828

917 880 814

853 804 735

961 892 793

The numbers for each year represent the accumulated heat units for April 1 through July 4 for all cities. water once they have started to bulb, they stop and never get any bigger, no matter how much you water. Carrots unevenly watered can fork or split. Blossom end rot on tomatoes is significantly increased by uneven watering.

Raised beds can be tricky.

One important reason for raising a bed is so the soil drains better in the spring.

This allows for earlier gardening. But that can make summer watering more challenging. The soil mix in the beds generally promotes better drainage and also deeper rooting but sometimes doesn’t work in ways that best support vegetable plants.

Watering may need to be done more often but less each time. Your plants will usually tell you but not always.

You can buy small moisture meters with 8-10” probes that many people use to check container plants but they do work well in the garden. They don’t use batteries and mine has lasted 30+ years. Or you can take a small trowel and dig down about 14-18 inches away from the main stem of your tomato and see what the soil moisture is like. And remember, moles can really affect watering when their tunnels disrupt root to soil contact.

So do what you need to do to slow the moles and collapse their tunneling near your vegetables.

Most of you gardeners probably already have a good

instinct for when to water.

Trust your instincts. While we had quite a bit of rain in May and June, the downpours were spotty.

Never count on midsummer rain giving us much.

Water as if we didn’t get any. At least July through August. Ultimately as you build compost in your raised beds or regular garden soil, you will have more of a moisture buffer.

Here are a few written pieces that might help: • https://catalog.extension. oregonstate.edu/sites/catalog/ files/project/pdf/em9027.pdf.

This is a good OSU gardening publication on a lot of topics with a decent watering section.

• https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/timing-canbe-important-when-wateringvegetables. This has some information on critical times to water for given crops.

Summer feeding Most vegetable garden-

ers start their crops with a balanced fertilizer that is worked into the soil prior to planting. For light-feeding crops, this will be enough to carry them through to maturity.

Nitrogen is the plant nutrient that is most often re-applied after the crop is up and growing. There are several reasons for doing this. First, nitrogen is crucial for vigorous plant growth. A lack of nitrogen produces pale green to yellowish

plants that often are stunted.

Second, nitrogen is readily soluble, unlike other plant nutrients, and can move from the soil surface to the root zone if it is irrigated in.

Gardeners often side dress their crops in mid-summer with a cup of ammonium sulfate (21-0-0) or about half that amount of urea (46-0-0) per ten feet of row. Scatter the fertilizer close to the growing plant and water it in.

Some organic fertilizers like blood meal will also work well. It is amazing how fast crops will respond to this treatment. It is not uncommon to see a major change in crop color within two weeks.

Corn, onions, the cabbage family, and squashes are particularly responsive. In general, it is not a good idea to apply extra nitrogen to peas and tomatoes.

Clatskanie Grows

Pressure Gauge Testing 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays to July 29. Free, at the Extension office in St. Helens.

Contact for questions and requests for accessibilityrelated accommodations: by phone and a message option 503 397-3462 or by email at Jenny.Rudolph@oregonstate. edu.

Pressure canners with a dial gauge need to be tested every year before you use them for accuracy. Canning with a gauge that is off can result in under-processing of home canned foods, which is unsafe. For complete instructions on this opportunity go to: https://extension. oregonstate.edu/columbia/ events/pressure-canner-dialgauge-testing-service COVID restrictions are still in place at our office which is located at 505 N. Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, Or 97051.

The OSU Extension office is closed to face-to-face public contact but you can still reach us We are developing plans for re-opening that will have to be approved by the University and ultimately, the Governor. Our target is midJune. In the meantime, all of us (faculty and staff) will still be working (mostly out of the office), 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/or make you safer 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.

Free newsletter The Oregon State University Extension office in Columbia County publishes a monthly newsletter on gardening and farming topics (called County Living) written/edited by yours truly.

All you need to do is ask for it and it will be mailed or emailed to you. Call 503 397-3462 to be put on the list.

Alternatively, you can find it on the web at http://extension. oregonstate.edu/columbia/ and click on newsletters.

Many Extension publications available online Are you putting up salsa, saving seeds, or thinking about planting grapes? OSU has a large number of its publications available for free download. Just go to https:// catalog.extension.oregonstate. edu. Click on publications and start exploring.

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

Contact information for the Extension office: Oregon State University Extension Service – Columbia County 505 N. Columbia River Highway St. Helens, OR 97051 503 397-3462 Email: chip.bubl@oregonstate.edu

Summer Travel: Trips by car this summer Look for more and more visitors traveling to destinations in Columbia County, the Oregon Coast and Central Oregon this summer.

Columbia County is becoming more of a destination for some visitors, according to AAA Oregon/ Idaho public affairs director Marie Dodds.

“Columbia County has a lot to offer to visitors,” Dodds said. “It’s just a short drive from the Portland area as well as the northern Oregon Coast, and offers a wealth of activities and stunning scenery. Whether you like camping, hiking, swimming, cycling, exploring historic sites, and/ or shopping for antiques, you’ll find it in Columbia County.”

The AAA’s summer travel outlook finds the great American road trip will be the most popular way to travel this summer, according to the Oregon/ Idaho American Automobile Association (AAA).

Dodds tells thechiefnews. com that AAA is seeing a pent up demand to travel.

“It’s related to the stay at home orders, as well as the choices people have made to limit activities due to the coronavirus pandemic,” she said. “Many of our AAA members tell us they look forward to being able to see friends and family who they haven’t seen for some time due to the pandemic.

Grandma and Grandpa want to see their grand kids, for example.”

At the same time, the decision to travel is highly personal, Dodds said, and each individual has to decide whether travel is right for them and their families, and when they feel it is safe to go.

“As our numbers indicate, many people are choosing to hold off on taking vacations or trips,” she said. “We have seen pent-up demand for travel other times in fairly recent history, including after 9-11, and after the Great Recession.”

Americans will take 700 million trips between July and September, a drop of 15 percent compared to last year and the first decline in summer travel since 2009, according to AAA. Here in the Pacific Region (AK, CA, HI, OR,

WA), residents will take 107 million trips, a drop of 17 percent compared to 2019.

tions or changes to the checkin process.

Many properties have reduced face-to-face interactions with guests.

• Check on the cleaning standards.

By car Car trips are the most popular way to go with a whopping 97 percent of travelers choosing to drive to their destinations, Dodds said.

Car trips will also see the smallest decrease in travel volume of just three percent year-over-year. Air travel will be off by about 74 percent, while rail, cruise ship and bus travel will slide by 86 percent.

Were it not for the pandemic, AAA would be projecting 857 million trips during the third quarter, a 3.6 percent increase over last year. By this analysis, the pandemic wiped out nearly 150 million person-trips this summer.

“With travel restrictions constantly changing and social distancing recommended due to the coronavirus pandemic, it’s understandable why 97 percent of summer trips are road trips,” Dodds said. “That’s up from an average of 87 percent over the last five years. An added bonus is that gas prices are relatively low, about 50 to 60 cents a gallon less than last summer. This will be the cheapest summer for fillingup since 2016.”

“Summer travelers are especially interested in destinations that are fairly close to home—within a day’s drive—and most are interested in long weekend getaways instead of extended vacations,” AAA Oregon/ Idaho senior vice president of travel Doreen Loofburrow said. “Road trips also allow travelers to make their own schedules and itineraries, pack their own food and supplies, and is usually an easy and less expensive way to travel, especially for those with small children.”

AAA tips, advice for travelers during the coronavirus pandemic “The bottom line is traveling during the coronavirus pandemic requires more planning,” Dodds said.

“Book your lodging and activities in advance, and plan your stops for food, gasoline and EV charging. Many national parks and attractions

Columbia County’s trusted local news source

Top Summer Destinations

Courtesy photo

Car trips are the most popular way to go this summer with a whopping 97 percent of travelers choosing to drive to their destinations, according to AAA Oregon/Idaho.

will limit capacity so it’s best to make arrangements for these in advance.”

• Heed all official warnings and remain vigilant while traveling.

Refer to the latest updates from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Department of State to help decrease the spread of COVID-19. Check the CDC’s COVID-19 data tracker, municipal and state

health departments and local news for updates on coronavirus cases and continue to do so while on the road.

• Check in advance on travel restrictions for each destination you plan to visit.

Many states, counties, cities and countries still have travel restrictions in place.

AAA has developed an interactive TripTik map with COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Just click on the destination

you’d like to visit for the latest information. AAA’s U.S. & Canada COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Map at TripTik. AAA.com.

• Book your lodging, camping and rental car in advance.

Many providers are limiting the number of guests and/ or allowing more time between guests, so availabilities will likely be reduced.

• Ask about any restric-

Bookings at AAA Oregon/ Idaho and online at AAA. com/travel show slow and steady increases since mid-April. Here are the top searches at AAA.com by members of AAA Oregon/ Idaho over the past 90 days: • Boise • Bend • Oregon coast: Lincoln City / Seaside / Newport / Florence / Cannon Beach • Portland • Northern California: Redding / Eureka / Sacramento • Las Vegas • Yellowstone National Park and surrounding areas including Wyoming and Montana • Utah: Ogden / Moab • Colorado: Grand Junction / Colorado Springs • Washington: Seattle, Walla Walla • National parks, state parks and locations that provide an escape from crowds are also of great interest.