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FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2021

VOL. 130, NO. 10 Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891

Port Westward rezone tentatively approved Appeal promised

JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

“For someone who has been involved in agriculture my entire life, this is very personal for me,” Columbia County Commissioner Margaret Magruder said. “It is challenging to continue to make a living with agriculture.”

Magruder’s comments followed the commissioners’ deliberations Wednesday, July 14, on an application by the Port of Columbia County for a comprehensive plan amendment, zone change and goal exception to reclassify 837 acres of agricultural resource to resource industrial and change the zoning from primary agriculture to rural agriculture - planned development for the expansion of Port Westward.

The staff recommendation states, “the evidence and facts in the record show impacts can be rendered compatible with mitigation measures proposed as conditions of approval to this supplemental staff report.”

Magruder, and Commissioners Henry Heimuller and Casey Garrett each gave tentative approval to the rezone.

“I wish and I hope that we find other crops that can be of value and that we can find more agricultural uses because that was the original vision of my grandfather when he reclaimed this land,” Magruder said. “But I am looking forward to agricultural and industry being able to work together because the entire bases of reclaiming was for the bet-

Courtesy photo from the Port of Columbia County

Port Westward is a deepwater port with existing dock facilities and direct access to the 43-foot navigation channel in the Columbia River.

terment of the economy in the lower Columbia and I think that this will improve the economy.”

Garrett said the staff report and recommendations provided a thorough job of evaluating the compatibility of the zone change.

“So I think the expansion of industrial opportunities out there can work just fine with agricultural and industrial needs,” he said.

Garrent said Oregon is one of the most environmentally stringent states and with local, state and federal requirements someone would have to jump through for future development.

“So I feel pretty darn confident that future activities out there will have to go through more of a process than what I would prefer, but that’s the way it goes to ensure future compatibility for future development,” he said. “I am very comfortable with supporting approval of this.”

Heimuller said Columbia County is in a good position to develop base stock oil for renewable diesel through existing agriculture and that would be a favorable mix with the rezone for industrial development at Port Westward.

“It is the potential and it is

the future we have to look at,” Heimuller said.

Heimuller said the multiple opportunities for public comment has helped the county carefully evaluate the compatibility issue.

“We have gotten further down the road in having good solid due process,” he said. “So, I also support this.”

While there has been support for the rezone based on its economic opportunities, there also has been opposition based on concerns about farm land erosion and environmental issues such as flooding and pollution.

Environmental watchdog Columbia Riverkeeper’s Conservation Director Dan Serres said his group will appeal the commissioner’s decision to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals.

“The Columbia County Board of Commissioners has run afoul by not protecting high-value farmland,” Serres said. “The Port of Columbia County’s proposal to trade the county’s prime farmlands for dirty fossil fuel development like fracked gas-to-methanol refineries and oilby-rail ignores mounting concerns about health, safety, and impacts to farmland and water quality.”

“This decision is a travesty,” said Jim Hoffmann, a blueberry farmer at Hopville Farms, located near the rezone area. “The Port and the County are turning back the clock on Oregon’s land use progress with plans to pave over wetlands on the floodplains of the Lower Columbia River. The Port’s plans will put at serious risk high-value blueberry farms and other high-value crops like peppermint and spearmint.”

Serres said the timeline for the appeal will depend on when the county officially publishes the zone change approval and the following process “could play out for months,” he said.

The rezone has been an ongoing debate since 2018. See the timeline at thechiefnews.com and associated materials at the Columbia County website.

Columbia County tradition returns JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

Courtesy photo from the Oregon State Fire Marshal

A task force of Columbia County firefighters has been sent to this wildfire near Sisters.

As Oregon burns, locals called to help JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

As wildfires erupt across the state, local firefighters are being called to distance communities to help save lives and protect structures. Early Tuesday morning, July 13, a task force made up of firefighters from around Columbia County left to assist with the firefighting effort at the Grandview Fire near Sisters.

What the team of firefighters bring back to Columbia County is invaluable experiences that can strengthen local fire responses, according to Scappoose Rural Fire Protection District Chief Jeff Pricher.

“We don’t have large scale incidents,” he said. “So, these responses help us plan for bigger disasters.”

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Experienced gained While there is a strain by having the county fire agencies away from the area, the experience gained is invaluable when it comes to establishing plans, working challenging logistical obstacles, and managing hundreds to thousands of resources with limited communications while in an austere environment, according to Pricher.

The fire response teams, including firefighters from Columbia County, set up small cities that have to cover making maps for responders, written plans and objectives for the operations staff to follow, resource tracking and ordering, medical support for the responders, maintenance for the hundreds of vehicles and aircraft, facility build outs, 24-hour food operations to support three meals a day, communication specialists that build out the complex communication repeater systems, fire behavior analysts, weather forecasters, logistics folks that maintain generators and loose firefighting equipment and distribute fuel to all of the responders and aviation specialists to manage the rotor wing, fixed wing and unmanned ­­­­ See FIRE Page A6

The Columbia County Fair and Rodeo opened a five-day run on Wednesday, July 14. The event had been cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Preparations have been underway for several days prior to the event at each of the fairgrounds buildings from herding in the livestock to setting up the tents and vendor booths, it has been a flurry of activity.

Columbia County Fair Vice President and Vendor Coordinator Julie Pelletier said she expects attendance will surpass the 2019 fair.

“Because everybody is ready to get out and put smiles or their faces and relax and enjoy it,” Pelletier said.

“And that is our goal. People want to get out of the house and see everybody again.”

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief

The popular rides are always an attraction at the Columbia County Fair. See more photos at thechiefnews.com.

What’s new More shade and water will be available at the fairgrounds.

“We are really focusing on areas where families can rest and to get out of the sun,” Pelletier said. “We have bigger pop-up shades that will be placed all over. We will have a little water area for kids to cool off, so instead of getting over-heated and heading home, we are offering more to keep them here and to help make their experience as enjoyable as possible.”

The popular carnival rides and rodeo will also be in place as well as an entertainment stage.

Fair economy Pelletier estimated that in 2019 the fair brought in about $200,000, money that sustains the fair and fairgrounds annually.

“This year I believe it is going to give us a much-needed financial boost to keep us moving forward, doing the upkeep, the repairs and to be able to make things even better,” she said.

Pelletier said thanks to a financial infusion from the Columbia County Board of Commissioners, needed improvements have been made over the past several weeks, including new

Chief photo

The popular rodeo will return to this summer’s Columbia County Fair. See more photos at thechiefnews.com.

building gutters, restroom repairs, a waterline update and a new roof on the shop building is planned.

“We still have to be self-sufficient,” Pelletier said, who added that she expected the attendance and fair gate profits for this summer’s event to match and even be over what occurred in 2019.

In a published interview with The Chief in March, Columbia County Fair President Jaime Carr said the county fair and rodeo is a tradition that helps sustain the local economy and one that should never fade away.

“For me a fair just doesn’t represent watching a rodeo and getting an

elephant ear,” he said. “It’s the full meal deal. You are supporting local businesses, allowing them the opportunity to interact with the public, and we are giving the community a local event and a place to gather. We are creating jobs and we are building relations.”

Health and safety precautions Pelletier said the fair is also following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. ­­­­

Phone: 503-397-0116 Fax: 503-397-4093 chiefnews@countrymedia.net 1805 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR 97051

ColumbiaCountyOR.Gov/Vaccine | 503-397-7247

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Friday, July 16, 2021

State evaluating response to historic heat AURORA BIGGERS chronicle2@countrymedia.net

After the West Coast’s late June historic heat wave — which has reportedly caused the death of 116 Oregonians, including an elderly woman from Columbia County — the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is now reviewing how the state handled the extreme heat and what changes the state can make before future climate related emergencies.

Temperatures soared across the state, and at the height of the heat wave, reached 116 degrees in parts of Columbia County.

OEM Director Andrew Phelps addressed why OEM didn’t ask Governor Kate Brown to declare a state of emergency.

“When I make a recommendation to the governor for an emergency declaration, generally it’s because local resources have been or are in danger of being overwhelmed and state assistance is needed. This is typically in concert with a local emergency declaration,” Phelps explained. “Or there are actions the state needs to take using the tools and resources only available through an emergency declaration. Or rules that need to be waived in order to affect an appropriate emergency response from the state. We also utilize emergency declarations to

request assistance from other states … it’s important to note none of these factors were present during the heat wave event.”

Phelps also said during a Monday briefing with reporters that he is worried that invoking the emergency declaration too often will cause the declaration to lose its power.

The evaluation The main heat wave issues Phelps said Oregon will evaluate are: the number, location, and accessibility of cooling centers and other resources; the speed and frequency with which health related data is provided to emergency management and responders, and how Oregon officials communicate and think about risk.

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) partnered with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to adopt emergency heat protection rules for Oregon employers, said OHA director Pat Allen. The requirements expand access to shade and cool water.

They also include regular cool-down breaks, training, communication, emergency planning and other measures.

Read more about OSHA’s new emergency heat protection rules at thechiefnews. com.

Allen also said that due to climate change, the state will

Metro Creative Connection / The Chief

Oregon agencies are evaluating the number, location, and accessibility of cooling centers and other resources; the speed and frequency with which health related data is provided to emergency management and responders, and how Oregon officials communicate and think about risk.

need to prepare over the next few decades for increasing climate emergencies. Allen cited the approximately 800 heat related deaths in the Pacific Northwest that occurred during the heat wave.

“These deaths are preventable,” Allen said. “But only when they have the means to protect themselves.”

Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Director Fariborz Pakseresht told reporters that in addition to providing Oregonians with food, water, and shelter, his agency and others will focus on better discriminating information about climate emergencies.

No 211 on weekends During the heat wave, ODHS relied on 211— a special abbreviated telephone number reserved in Canada and the United States as an easy-to-remember three-digit telephone number meant to provide information and referrals to health, human, and social service organizations — to help give people information about cooling centers and ways to cope with the heat.

However, Pakseresht said 211 was not staffed over the weekend of the heat wave and ODHS was receiving calls reporting that 211 was

unavailable. Pakseresht said ODHS provided the necessary funding for 211 to keep staff available through 10 p.m. on July 5, and Oregon legislature is giving a multimillion dollar grant to 211.

The state isn’t sure what infrastructure or policy changes officials will consider changing in preparation for future climate events, but Phelps said he “imagines” cooling centers will remain a staple of our future—probably not the immediate future though, according to National Weather Service meteorologist John Baumgardner.

Baumgardner said a heat wave like late June’s likely won’t hit Oregon again this summer.

“What we experienced was very anomalous, unprecedented, and extreme. It was a little bit hard to believe what some of our weather models were predicting going into the heat,” he told The Chief. “We’re not expecting anything like that to happen in the near future.”

Climate change impact Though, as Allen said, climate change will likely impact the frequency of future events.

“It’s hard to say with the changing climate what the return period for something like that could be. The heat that we’re seeing now is definitely like 30 degrees less than what we saw a few weeks ago.

Impact wise, we think that if people could stay cool during that heat event, they will be fine during this week,” Baumgartner explained.

Within the next 7-10 days, Baumgartner said Oregonians can expect a dip in the heat on Thursday through Saturday—possibly dropping as low as 70 degrees.

The heat relief is the product of our geological location—essentially a trough—and lower pressure that is going to be moving into Oregon from the gulf of Alaska, according to Baumgartner. But the high pressure will likely return again next week but only push the temperatures back into the 90s.

Though the National Weather Service isn’t necessarily a political agency that covers climate policy, Baumgartner said the recent heat wave will likely serve as a catalyst for the type of changes Oregon is looking at now.

“What I will say is this last heat event we experienced revealed vulnerabilities in our infrastructure,” he said.

“I think it will be helpful moving forward knowing that what happened is possible and could happen again.”

For information about how to protect yourself during an emergency heat event, visit www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/ preparedness/prepare/pages/ prepareforextremeheat.aspx.

County to receive drought relief funds

Metro Creative Connection / The Chief

Columbia and Multnomah counties small nonfarm businesses are now able to access federal financial relief from impacts caused by the drought.

STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

Small nonfarm businesses in Columbia County and Multnomah County are now eligible to apply for low‑interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The financial aid has been announced by U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Director Tanya N. Garfield of SBA’s

Disaster Field Operations Center-West.

The loans offset economic losses that began in May because of reduced revenues caused by drought on several Washington state counties as well as selected counties in Idaho and Oregon.

“SBA eligibility covers both the economic impacts on businesses dependent on farmers and ranchers that have suffered agricultural production losses caused by the disaster and businesses

directly impacted by the disaster,” Garfield said.

Small nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.

“Eligibility for these loans is based on the financial impact of the disaster only and not on any actual property damage,” Garfield said. “These loans have an interest rate of 2.88% for businesses and 2% for private nonprofit organizations, a maximum term of 30 years and are available to small businesses and most private nonprofits without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship.”

By law, SBA makes Economic Injury Disaster Loans available when the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture designates an agricultural disaster. The Secretary declared this disaster on July

Clatskanie Swimming Pool Schedule 2021 503-728-2757, csp@cni.net

Monday – Thursday (Tots, Basic 1, 2, 3 = 30 min.; Adv. = 45 min.)

6:00 – 7:00AM: Lap Swim 7:00 – 8:00AM: Water Exercise 8:00 – 8:45AM: Synchronized Swimming 8:45 – 9:30AM: Swim Lessons Advanced Levels 4, 5, 6 9:30 – 10:00AM: Swim Lessons Tots & Basic Levels 1, 2, 3 10:15 – 10:45AM: Swim Lessons Tots & Basic Levels 1, 2, 3 10:45 – 11:15AM: Swim Lessons Tots & Basic Levels 1, 2, 3 11:15 – 11:45AM: Swim Lessons Water Babies, Tots 11:45 – 12:30PM: Pool Closed (Lunch/Cleaning/Prepare), Office Hours Only 12:30 – 3:30PM: Open Swim (Pool & Splashpad) 3:45 – 4:15PM: Swim Lessons Tots & Basic Levels 1, 2, 3 4:15 – 4:45PM: Swim Lessons Tots & Basic Levels 1, 2, 3 5:00 – 5:30PM: Swim Lessons Tots & Basic Levels 1, 2, 3 5:30 – 6:15PM: Advanced Levels 4, 5, 6 6:30 – 9:00PM: Open Swim Fridays

6:00 – 7:00AM: Lap Swim 7:00 – 8:00AM: Water Exercise 8:00 – 9:00AM: Synchronized Swimming 9:00 – 10:30AM: Staff In-service (Splash pad and Pool closed to the public) 10:45 – 12:15PM: Open Swim 1st Friday of Lessons (July 16 and 30, August 13) 10:45 – 12:15PM: Family Fun Day the 2nd Friday of Lessons (July 23, August 6 and 20) 12:15 – 1:00PM: Closed for cleaning 1:00 – 4:00PM: Open Swim (Pool & Splashpad) 4:00 – 5:30PM: Open Swim 1st Friday of Lessons (July 23, August 6 and 20) 4:00 – 5:30PM: Family Fun Day the 2nd Friday of Lessons (July 30, August 13 and 27) 5:30 – 6:00PM: Closed for cleaning 6:00 – 9:00PM: Open Swim The pool will NOT be open on Saturday and Sunday, with the exception of pool rentals The pool is available for rentals on the weekends. Please call the office for price and availability.

Swim Lesson Sessions – Monday through Friday (2 weeks) Session 1: July 19th to 30th Registration opens Monday, July 12th Session 2: August 2nd to August 13th Registration opens Monday, July 26th Session 3: August 16th to 27th Registration opens Monday, August 9th NOTE: Registration opens one week prior to first day of session. No exceptions. You may call or email to register. Please be patient as we are a small staff doing our absolute best!

NOTE: With prior notice, this schedule is subject to change with each swim lesson session.

Columbia County’s trusted local news source

6, 2021.

Businesses primarily engaged in farming or ranching are not eligible for SBA disaster assistance.

Agricultural enterprises should contact the Farm Services Agency about the U.S. Department of Agriculture assistance made available by the Secretary’s declaration. However, nurseries are eligible for SBA disaster as-

sistance in drought disasters.

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at disasterloanassistance.sba. gov/. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance.

Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call (800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

The deadline to apply for economic impact assistance is March 7, 2022.

Job Fair Saturday, July 17th at 8:00 AM to Noon Pacific Stainless Products 58500 McNulty Way, St. Helens Pacific Stainless is seeking to expand its workforce by hiring qualified production and management staff, as well as people with potential. Come and find out what is special about PSP at the Saturday Job Fair. Limited tours will be given on the half hour starting at 8:30 AM – Noon. Hiring managers will be on hand to complete interviews with applying candidates.

Now accepting applications for: Supervisors, Tig Welders (Fab & Assy), Metal Finishers, Powder Coaters, Managers, Mechanical Assy, General Shop Help, Employee Development, Shipping, Drivers, Machinists, and Inspectors.

Starting Wage range from $13 to $22 DOE and ability.

Email – info@pacificstainless.com

www.thechiefnews.com

Friday, July 16, 2021

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Clatskanie, Rainier receive thousands for local projects

Chief photo

The City of Clatskanie has received a $720,000 grant as a first step in replacing the aging city sewer plant at 100 NW 4th Street in Clatskanie.

kiakum Council of Governments to fund the city’s Riverfront Trial project’s third phase. During the regular public Rainier City Council meeting Monday, July 12, the council accepted the grant.

“I am very excited that the city park will be connected to downtown via the trail,” Mayor Jerry Cole said.

“People are using the trail and love it.”

Rainier City Administrator Scott Jorgensen told the council that before the Oregon Legislature adjourned in late June, it passed House Bill 5006. The bill is the legislature’s disbursement of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. Jorgensen said he has been working with Rep. Brad Witt’s office to include $100,000 for the Fox Creek feasibility study in the bill. It is now awaiting the governor’s signature.

Burnt house

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief

The City of Rainier will have a contractor remove the remains of this burnt house on E Street that has been deemed dangerous and a neighborhood nuisance.

Quality compliant and shovel ready,” he said.

Hinkelman has been seeking funding options because having the city attempt to fund the new plant would likely mean a minimum of $25 dollars a month or more customer rate boost if Clatskanie had to finance the construction of the plant, he said.

“With securing the outside funding sources, I do not anticipate us having a significant rate adjustment,” he said.

In other developments, the Clatskanie City Council on July 7 approved a request fro Hudson Garbage to increase rates by 2.6%. The council also approved an additional $35,000 to cover the increase in the city swimming pool renovations.

JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

Clatskanie City Manager Greg Hinkelman said the city has been awarded a $720,000 state community development block grant for an engineering and environmental assessment for the city’s new sewer plant.

“This is a first significant step in moving forward in replacing the city’s existing aging sewer plant,” Hinkelman said. “We still need $9.3 million to build the plant and $700,000 for a new access road.”

Hinkelman said the city is still seeking state and federal funding for the new sewer plant.

“This block grant is a significant step to allow us to do the engineering and environmental assessment needed and when it is completed it will make this plant Oregon Department of Environmental

Rainier council The City of Rainier has been awarded a grant of $84,715 by the Cowlitz-Wah-

The Rainier council also took new action to remove what has been deemed a dangerous abandoned burnt house at 516 East E Street by approving an ordinance to have the building remains removed and the property cleared to make the area safe. The council agreed by consensus that the property should be abated by the start of the next rain season. Cole suggested and the council agreed that a resolution be drafted to abate the nuisance by the end of September.

Cole said the city can hire a contractor to demolish the house and place a lien on the property. Council agreed by consensus.

The council also agreed to the Hudson Garbage 2.6% rate increase request. The company said it is facing increasing costs from Columbia County, as well as higher costs for labor, materials and fuel.

Cole said a customer using a single trash can once a week would see an increase of 66 cents per month, or $7.92 per year. The rate takes effect Aug. 1.

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief

Shaved iced to cool off at the county fair. See more photos at thechiefnews.com.

FAIR

From Page A1

“If you are vaccinated you don’t need to wear a mask,” she said. “For those people who are not vaccinated, we are asking that they follow the CDC guidelines, social distancing and to wear a mask, however we are not going to ask for the vaccine card, so hopefully everyone will be self-accountable and selfresponsible. We just have to be careful.”

Pelletier, a long-standing volunteer at the fair, said the return of the event is heartwarming.

“Seeing people coming in with a smile on their face and knowing that we are presenting a place to forget about any issues that are going on personally and worldwide and just relax and have a good

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief

Quilts on display at the 2021 Columbia County Fair. See more photos at thechiefnews.com.

time,” she said. “There are so many smiles and I absorb all those smiles.”

The Columbia County Fair runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Wednesday and Thursday and from 10 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Sunday the fair runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $9 for adults, $6 for seniors and $6 for chil-

dren 7-17. The fair admission includes the rodeo. See the full schedule with more information at the Columbia County Fair website and Facebook page.

The Columbia County Fair is located at 58892 Saulser Road in St. Helens. To reach the fair office, call 503-3974231.

St. Helens Elks

CRUISE~IN All vehicles welcome. Saturday, July 24, 2021. 8 AM - 2 PM Benefit for Oregon Elks Children’s Eye Clinic “The Casey Eye Institute”

Registration $20

Dash Plaques

Trophies

St. Helens Elks Lodge 350 Belton Rd., St. Helens, Oregon 97051 Veteran’s breakfast 8-10:30 AM Silent Auction ~ Raffles Food ~ Beverages Family fun and more!

Contacts: Gordon @ 503-396-5658 Buck @ 503-369-1925 elks1999@comcast.net

LIVE MUSIC BY

“THE DECADES” ROARIN’ RUMBLE BACK TO COOL

MAYGER COMMUNITY SALMON BARBECUE Saturday, July 17 Lunch 12 noon - 1:30p.m.

Visiting: 1:30 - 3p.m.

at Mayger-Downing Community Church 80071 Life Lane, Clatskanie Learn about the history of Mayger area COME ENJOY - FOOD, FRIENDS, FUN! BRING A SALAD, FRUIT OR DESSERT, Questions? Please call 503-728-4542 Columbia County’s trusted local news source

www.thechiefnews.com

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•

Friday, July 16, 2021

•C latskanie G rows • •

Clatskanie Grows: Food preservation, landscaping Extension Statewide Food Preservation Hotline (1-800354-7319) will open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. starting on July 13 and ending on Oct. 11.

CHIP BUBL Chief Guest Column

Food preservation questions? OSU Extension Service has answers

Garden and landscape topics

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

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

You can find free publications and pressure gauge testing (available from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays) at the Columbia County Extension office located at 505 N. Columbia River Highway in St. Helens.

If you have questions, phone the office at 503-397-3462.

You can download for free all our food preservation publications at extension. oregonstate.edu/fch/foodpreservation. An additional great resource is the National Center for home Food Preservation at www.uga. edu/nchfp/. In July, the OSU

•

Slugs hide when it’s hot.

They cram themselves into cracks in the soil or under boards or rocks. But with cooler weather in the forecast for a week or two, they may start foraging (and mating.) again. Survey at night with a flashlight and be ready to bait or chop if they threaten your tender crops or your peace of mind. The slugs we have in our gardens are not native to this continent but came with European settlement of North America.

Tomatoes get blossom end rot this time of year. It appears like a blackened, leathery patch on the bottom of the fruit. It is not a disease (at least initially) but rather due to skin and fruit cells dying in that portion of the fruit. The reason that they die is that they are short of calcium.

Calcium shortage can be reduced by liming your soils once every three years with agricultural lime at the rate of about 10 pounds per 100 square feet. It should be worked into the soil either in the fall (best) or spring before you plant. But that is not the whole story. Calcium is gathered into plants through roots. Once in the plants, it is shunted to fruits (your to-

matoes) or the tomato shoots.

The shoots win the contest for calcium if it is in short supply. Your fruits come up short and show blossom end rot symptoms. Some judicious shoot pruning can reduce the competition but don’t prune too many of the shoots off or you will have no leaves to make sugars to make tomatoes. Complicated isn’t it?

To stretch your brain further, if you water too sporadically and your soil gets pretty dry before you water again, when the roots start taking up water again, they grab lots of minerals but, at first, not much calcium. It is a rather balky mineral for

roots to capture.

Even watering throughout the growing season can prevent the interruption of the calcium flow and thereby reduce blossom end rot. Some varieties are more prone to blossom end rot than others. The first harvest of San Marzano tomatoes often has BER but the later harvests do not.

spinach, and overwintering onions.

OSU Master Gardeners™ Demonstration Garden at the Columbia County Fair

In summary, to reduce blossom end rot: • Lime every three years, • Water evenly, • Prune out excess shoots to reduce the competition for calcium, and • Make a note of which varieties are more prone to the

Clatskanie Grows

problem in your garden from year to year.

Fall and winter vegetables need to be planted this month or by mid-August.

Good candidates are leeks (if planted right away), snow peas, kale, chard, lettuce in waves of plantings, radishes the same way,

The Columbia County Fair starts Wednesday, July 14 and runs through Sunday, July 18. For 33 years, participants in the Master Gardener program have managed a demonstration garden out at the fairgrounds. This year is no exception. The flower beds, fruit areas, pollinator displays, and other special areas like the shade and succulent beds are wonderful. It has been a challenge with the heat and Pandemic restrictions until recently.

As always, there will be Master Gardeners there to answer your questions or guide to various areas. Plan on making a trip to the fair this year and stop by at the garden. It will be well worth your time.

Plant an extra row for the food bank, senior centers, or community meals programs. Cash donations to buy food are also greatly appreciated.

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

Have questions?

If you have questions on any of these topics or other home garden and/or farm questions, please contact Chip Bubl, Oregon State University Extension office

in St. Helens at 503 3973462 or at chip.bubl@oregonstate.edu. The office is open from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Monday through Thursday and will be fully open in August.

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 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 catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu. Click on publications and start exploring.

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

•O bituaries • • Stanley Morris Payne Sr. Aug. 30, 1932 ~ June 20, 2021

On Sunday, June 20, 2021, Stanley Morris Payne Sr. passed away peacefully at home in Rainier, Oregon at age 88.

Stanley was born in Craig, Nebraska to Carl and Grace Payne on Aug. 30, 1932. In 1953 Stanley married Vione Darlene Chandler and they raised five children together.

Stanley was preceded in death by his mother; father; wife Vione; and son John.

He is survived by several siblings; his children, Alethea, Stanley Jr., Denise, and Cindy; several grandchildren; as well as several grandchildren.

No funeral or memorial services are being held.

Gary Niemi

March 21, 1943 ~ July 9, 2021 Gary Niemi 78, of Westport, Oregon, passed away at home on July 9,2021.

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What do you think should be located at the former Humps Restaurant?

Craft brewery Fast food restaurant Specialized shops

Will you go for a swim when the Clatskanie Pool reopens?

46% Yes

54% No

Vote online at thechiefnews.com

The Chief

Rainier Days in the Park Chief photo

This child takes part in an art project during the annual Rainier Days in the Park held along the riverfront July 9 through July 11.

The events included a parade through the city and a nighttime fireworks display at the city park, all designed to celebrate the City of Rainier. Mayor Jerry Cole thanks all the volunteers who returned to the park Monday morning to clean up after the celebration.

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CC21-1490

NOTICE OF RECEIPT OF BALLOT TITLE Filed in the Office of County Clerk 7/7/2021 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a ballot title for a measure proposed by initiative petition 21-01 has been filed in the office of the Columbia County Clerk on July 7, 2021. The ballot title caption is: Columbia County Campaign Finance Regulation Ordinance. Caption Columbia County Campaign Finance Regulation Ordinance

Question Shall Columbia County Regulate the size of campaign donations in local candidate elections and require donor information in campaign communications?

Statement This ordinance would regulate donations in county elections, and would apply to any local candidate including county commissioner, city councilor, mayor, and special districts board members. The ordinance

would prohibit individual or entity donations over $500 to any County candidate for public office during an election cycle except from a Small Donor Committee and candidate loans of up to $5000. “Small Donor Committee” means a Political Committee that cannot accept contributions exceeding $100 per individual. This ordinance would also place aggregate limitations on

CC21-1493

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 21, 2021 at 6:00 pm in the community room of the District’s administration building located at 495 E Columbia River Highway, Clatskanie.

A Board Workshop will be held at 5:30 pm. An executive session may be called at the workshop and/or meeting, pursuant to: ORS 192.660 (2) (f) information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection.

AGENDA CLATSKANIE

PEOPLE’S UTILITY DISTRICT BOARD WORKSHOP on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 at 5:30 P.M. I. POLICY REVIEW: New District Operations Policy #320 Information Security Policy, #111 Review of Annexation Petitions, and #304 Vehicle Replacement Policy II. STAFF REPORTS UPDATE. CLATSKANIE PEOPLE’S UTILITY DISTRICT REGULAR BOARD MEETING on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 at 6:00 P.M. I. PUBLIC COMMENTS II. CONSENT AGENDA · Minutes of Board Workshop,

June 16, 2021 · Minutes of Regular Board Meeting, June 16, 2021 · Review payment of bills for June 2021 III. ACTION ITEMS · Policy Review: 301 Safety Policy, 315 Short Form Investment Policy, and EH 314 Educational Assistance · Board as Acting Contract Review Board: Accept Service Truck 2022 RFQ Results · Resolution 21-03 Appointment of Western Generation Agency Directors IV. DISCUSSION / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS · Board Comments & Calendar V. EXECUTIVE SESSION VI. ADJOURNMENT

candidate donations. Donations to all candidates could not exceed $5000. Qualified Small Donor Committees could make unlimited contributions. This ordinance would require entities contributing more than $750 in the aggregate to register with the State as a Political Committee. This ordinance would require campaign “communications” to include certain contributor information. The

term “communications” does not include buttons, bumper stickers, small signs, and some literature. Violations of this Ordinance would be punishable by fines between five times and 20 times the unlawful contribution or expenditure. In accordance with ORS 250.168 (2), the proposed initiative meets the requirements of Section 1 (2) (d), Article IV and section 10, Article VI of the Oregon

Constitution. Also, in accordance with ORS 250.175(5), notice is hereby given that any elector may file a petition for review of the ballot title in the Columbia County Circuit Court no later than the seventh business day after the title was filed with the county clerk, (ORS 250.195). Published pursuant to ORS 250.175(5) by the office of Columbia County Clerk

CC21-1492

IN THE CIRUCIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of JOYCE ANN RYAN, Deceased. No. 21PB03656 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed personal representative of this estate.

All persons having claims

against the estate are required to present their claims, with vouchers attached, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice to the personal representative at P.O. Box 4589, Rainier, OR 97048, or the claims may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceedings may obtain

CC21-1491

NOTICE OF AUCTION Riverside Self Storage is hereby holding an auction located at 917 W B St Rainier, OR 97048 on July

31, 2021 at 10 am. We will be auctioning units held by Lindsay Nyvall, Eric Jones and Christina Fischer.

additional information from the records of the Court, the personal representative of the attorney for the personal representative. Dated and first published July 16, 2021. JoAnna R. Thompson, Personal Representative.

STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C., Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048.

www.thechiefnews.com

A6

Friday, July 16, 2021

Library conversation successful JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

A conversation with the community has been so successful, Rainier Public Library Director Colette Nordstrom is hopeful more such meetings will take place in the future.

The Rainier City Library hosted its first conversation event on July 8 with the topic, Decreasing Isolation and Loneliness in the Elderly.

“We had a great conversation with many wonderful suggestions,” Nordstrom said.

Some of the ideas included: Offering library books to seniors and have them delivered with the Meals on Wheels lunches, pairing high school seniors with elderly

seniors, setting up daily or weekly phone connections, offering free tutorial classes on technology and other pertinent information, and matching community members for individual reassurance.

“Overall, the conversation was a wonderful experience.

“The library will host more events like this in the future,” Nordstrom said.

The Rainier City Library is one of 200 libraries selected to participate in Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries.

The effort is an American Library Association (ALA) initiative designed to help library workers better serve their small and rural communities.

The competitive award comes with a $3,000 grant that

will help the library focus on enhancing library services for patrons who rely on the library for community outreach, current publications, and needful internet connections, while also providing adequate library workspace, according to Nordstrom.

The July 8 community conversation is part of that grant requirement.

“It was such a positive experience and there is a need in our community to have a place for people to come and to talk about issues,” Nordstrom said.

Other Rainier Library events include a children’s summer reading program.

For more information, contact the Rainier Public Library at 971-328-5233.

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief

This is the children’s section of the Rainier Public Library located at Rainier City Hall.

Courtesy photo from Scappoose Fire

The Columbia County task force is made of firefighters from the Scappoose Rural Fire Protection District, Columbia River Fire & Rescue, Mist Fire, and Vernonia Fire.

FIRE

From Page A1 aircraft involved in the effort.

“There are an incredible number of moving parts to these large incidents and those experiences, translate back to our county when we have our own large fires, critical incidents, or weather emergencies,” Pricher said.

“Obtaining these experiences, provides us with the requisite knowledge skills and abilities to effectively work with mutual aid partners, county, state, and other federal responders.”

Dangerous assignments Pricher said the local firefighters know there are dan-

gers going into such wildfire suppression assignments.

“It comes down to four really important elements,” he said. “Lookouts, escape routes, safety zones and communications. The most important of those is communications. If we don’t have good communications firefighters can get into a bad way.”

Pricher said communications, human nature and the fire, which includes weather, topography and fuel, are the three factors that increase the firefighting challenges.

According to Pricher, the key is effective planning and knowing what’s coming, so decisions are made in split seconds.

Pricher says there is a key difference in fighting wildland fires as opposed to responding to structure fires.

“At a structure fire, you go

really hard, with a wildland fire it takes a while for you to organize and bring the team together. Its more of an endurance effort that involves local, state and federal helpers, so it is a huge collaboration.”

Local concerns Pricher describes Oregon’s wildfire season as significant and said wildfire conditions in Columbia County are also at dangerous levels. Dry fuels, continued hot weather and no rain in sight has heightened the local wildfire danger.

Pricher and fire officials across the county continue to urge public safety and awareness.

“We’re seeing fires earlier than we have ever seen before,” he said. “We’re having larger fires in the county than we have ever had before.”

Jurassic Empire Schedule Weekdays, July 29-30 | 3 pm-4 pm | 4 pm-6 pm | 6 pm-8 pm | The exhibit starts at 3 pm on Thursday and Friday *2 hour time slot increments*

Weekend, July 3,1 Aug 1 10 am-12 pm | 12 pm-2 pm | 2 pm-4 pm | 4 pm-6 pm | 6 pm-8 pm | *2 hour time slot increments* Attend anytime within the time slot selection. If you choose the 6 pm- 8 pm time slot, please make sure you come in before 7:30pm. The whole drive-thru takes anywhere from 20 minutes to more than 1 hour depending on how many cars show up at any given hour. If you order the optional Dino Pack online you will receive it after we check you in at the gate.

Order tickets here: jurassicempire.ticketspice.com/columbia-county-fairgrounds WEEKDAY Per Vehicle With 1-7 Passengers General Admission. Drive-Thru Tour of the Dino Exhibit.

Price is per vehicle, not per person: $49.00 WEEKDAY Per Vehicle With 8-14 Passengers General Admission. Drive-Thru Tour of the Dino Exhibit.

Price is per vehicle, not per person: $80.00

58892 Saulser Rd, St. Helens, OR 97051

SLICKER WILL BE PLAYING AUGUST 21ST STARTING AT 8 PM-11PM! BEER GARDENS AND FOOD VENDOR ON SITE!!

Purchase tickets here: www.columbiacountyfairgrounds.com/p/purchase-tickets Price: 17 & Under $20, 18 and Up $25

58892 Saulser Rd, St. Helens, OR 97051

Columbia County Fairgrounds presents

LOVE LODE Cale REUNION Moon will be playing August 20th starting at 8 PM-11PM! BEER GARDENS AND FOOD VENDOR ON SITE! Purchase tickets here: www.columbiacountyfairgrounds.com/ events/2020/love-lode-reunion-band 17 & Under $20, 18 and Up $25 58892 Saulser Rd, St. Helens, OR 97051 Columbia County’s trusted local news source

Price: 17 & Under $20, 18 and Up $25

Cale Moon with a opener of Catherine Loyer.

August 7th starting at 8PM!!

BEER GARDENS AND FOOD VENDOR ON SITE! Purchase tickets here:

www.columbiacountyfairgrounds.com/p/purchase-tickets 58892 Saulser Rd, St Helens, OR 97051

www.thechiefnews.com

Friday, July 16, 2021

A7

Local kids fly high in regional motocross competition MIKE WEBER Chief Guest Article

In the highly popular and grueling sport of motocross, nearly 200 riders enter races every week in the Thursday Night Motocross (TNM) series at Portland International Raceway (PIR).

That includes a mix of local riders who are contenders for a division title, including Colton Frates of St. Helens, Blake Robbins of Deer Island, Arthur Wisehart of Rainier, Jeff VanNatta of Warren and the Cordell brothers of Scappoose.

The races continue every week until the Sept. 30 season finale.

Last Thursday, Sawyer Cordell, 11, recorded topthree finishes while competing in two race classifications on PIR’s 1.5 mile course that consists of numerous jumps, sharp hairpin turns and straightaway sections.

“It’s really cool being on the new team this year and I was really glad to win my first race (June 24) two weeks ago,” Sawyer said.

Courtesy from Jordan Vielle

Sawyer Cordell, of Scappoose, maneuvers his bike though a jump at a recent competition.

Sawyer has won two races this season and he’s had five second place finishes and two third place finishes.

“I’ve had lots of top three finishes and I hope to win another race soon,” he said.

“We race at other tracks too, including Washougal Motocross Park, but PIR is my favorite track. My goal is to just have fun and do my best and hopefully finish in first or second place in the point

standings.”

Sawyer’s parents Ron and Kristen bought motorcycles for their boys four years ago and then they started competing in motocross races at PIR in 2017. Sawyer and Ryder attend Otto Petersen Elementary School in Scappoose.

Sawyer is an incoming sixth grader and Ryder is an incoming fifth grader.

On July 8, Sawyer won the 85cc Intermediate Divi-

sion race and he took third in the Super Mini Division while riding his Wylder Promotions Thursday Night Motocross sponsored KTM motorcycle.

Ryder - an appropriate name for cyclist - won the 65cc Intermediate Division race on his TNM sponsored KTM motorcyle, which marked his seventh win this season.

“I’m having lots of fun and I’ve won every race except for two, so I’ve got

Courtesy from Jordan Vielle

Ryder Cordell, of Scappoose, holds tight as he drives the course.

lots of trophies,” said Ryder, 9, who will celebrate his 10th birthday July 20. “My goal is to win the division championship this year and win some more races too.”

Brothers Rick and Ron Wylder of Portland operate the PIR facility, which is in its 55th season of motorsports. Each year, the Wylder’s choose five kids to sponsor and then they give them helmets, goggles, uniforms, fuel, tires and weekly entry fees.

In return, the kids represent Wylder Promotions in the motocross community while they’re also ambassadors of the sport throughout the year.

The Cordell’s were two of the kids who were awarded sponsorship from the Wylder brothers. The others are Preston Wittkopp, 17, of Vancouver, Makayla Emerson, 19, of Vancouver and Jaylie Gallacher, 15, of Redmond.

All five are top contenders for a Thursday Night Motocross division title.

Robbins, 17, took first place in the 250cc Junior Division 2 moto one and then he took third in the moto two on his Rockin R LLC/ Power Motorsports sponsored Kawasaki motorcycle. Riders compete in two five-lap races and the overall winner is determined by the average finish of the two events. Robbins took third place overall July 8 and he’s ranked in the top-10 of the 250cc Junior point standings.

“I had a good start in the first moto and I led the entire race and I felt really good about that,” said Blake Robbins, who is an incoming senior at Rainier High School and he’s a receiver/defensive back on the Columbians football team. “It was a clean, smooth race and I was really glad to win the first moto. I had a good start again in the second moto and I was out front for most of the race, but then there were a couple of incidents that slowed me down a little and I got third overall, but I’ll do better next week.”

Blake’s dad Russ, 44, is a former pro rider who has competed for many years at

•

PIR and he’s the owner of a dump trucking and excavating business that helps provide sponsorship for his son in his motocross racing career.

Blake started racing motocross at age six and he’s been racing for 11 years.

“I raced motocross for 20 years, but I’ve had 28 surgeries and I think that my time on the track is pretty limited now, so my career is kind of winding down now,” Russ Robbins said.

Wisehart competes in the OTH 30 Junior Division (age 30 and over) and he’s ranked in the top-five of the standings. Wisehart has had many top-five finishes, including a first place finish June 17. VanNatta competes in the OT 40 Amateur Division (age 40 and over) and he’s recorded numerous top-five’s, including a win on May 27. VanNatta is ranked in the top-five of the point standings. Frates has recorded four runner up finishes and three other top-five’s and he’s ranked in the top-five of the Open Beginner Division 2 point standings.

Other local cyclist’s who race at the track and are contenders for a division title too include DJ McBryde of St. Helens and Cali McBryde of St. Helens. DJ is ranked in top-10 of the BTH Master Division and Cali is ranked in the top-10 of the 50cc Beginnner Division.

Area riders who also compete at PIR include Camden Brown of Rainier (50cc Beginner) and Oakley Morley of St. Helens (50cc Beginner).

James Sessions of Warren, Jaedynn Giles of Scappoose and Adam Stockwell of St. Helens compete in the Open Beginner Division 1.

A quartet of St. Helens riders compete in the Open Beginner Division 2, including Devon Boggs, Braden Diess, Travis Heflin and Skyler Bjornstrom. Heflin rode his Honda to a season best second place June 3.

The Portland International Raceway is located 1940 N. Victory Blvd. in Portland. PIR can be reached at 502-8237223.

•C rossword S olutions • •

Solution for the July 9, 2021 crossword puzzle

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Friday, July 16, 2021