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Clatskanie community is ‘McKenna Strong’

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

Small

ties in a small town hold strong, and in the case of Jamie, Michelle, and their daughter McKenna Phillips, this couldn’t be more true.

In a heartbreaking turn of events starting in June, it was discovered that McKenna had a Wilms tumor on her kidney, and the doctors informed Jamie and Michelle that it was Stage 3 cancer. The tumor was bigger than McKenna’s kidney, so doctors surgically removed her kidney and two lymph nodes below it due to inflammation.

“We were in the hospital for five or six days while she recovered. They actually told us she was the fastest five-year-old recovery that they had from a surgery,” Michelle Phillips said. “She was up and wanting to run around and play.”

With it being a Stage 3 tumor, more care is needed to help her battle the illness. McKenna underwent five or six days of radiation treatment and now must undergo chemotherapy each Friday for the next six months.

On Aug. 11, McKenna will undergo a CAT scan on her chest to investigate particles in her lungs that could be Wilms tumors. Michelle Phillips said that they could be innocent, but if they are Wilms tumors, treatment may need to be adjusted.

This has been a heart-wrenching time for Michelle and Jamie as they navigate the unknown, but McKenna’s strength through it all has given them something to hold on to.

“It’s the worst thing that you

ever want to go through as a parent; nobody ever wants to go through it as a parent,” Michelle Phillips said. “It’s the toughest thing that we’re going through. But the thing is, she’s so strong and so positive it’s keeping us so strong and so positive.”

Other than not eating as much and thinning hair due to the treatment, Michelle said you would never know she is sick.

Clatskanie roots

Jamie and Michelle live in Newberg, but they grew up in Clatskanie, and their parents still live there. Despite not living in Clatskanie for years, the community has rallied around the Phillips family.

“The big thing about Clatskanie, too, is Jamie and I haven’t lived there for 13 years, and they’re still taking care of us,” Michelle Phillips said.

Kathi “Jacks” Jackson has been a teacher in Clatskanie for more than 40 years, and Michelle and Jamie are her former students.

When they heard about McKenna’s condition, Jackson immediately got to work figuring out how to support them.

With the help of Amy Mustola and her t-shirt printing machine, Jackson and Diane Mausen created 17 shirts with the hashtag “McKennaStrong” printed across the chest. Jackson, Mausen, and Mustola set up in front of Farmhouse Coffee, which was also doing a special fundraiser for McKenna and her family July 28.

“We didn’t sell them; we just

gave them away for donations. We got over $700 in donations for 17 shirts,” Jackson said.

Jackson said that they are going to print about 15 more shirts because there is more demand for them from the community, and she expects to raise around $1,000.

“In this world today, any little positive bit like that is a great story to tell, and this community is really good about helping their own,” Jackson said. Jackson said that the funds will

give aid to Jamie and Michelle as they navigate prioritizing McKenna’s care in their everyday lives. The funds will help with medical bills and lighten the burden of taking work off and traveling for McKenna’s treatment.

The owner of Farmhouse Coffee is a neighbor of Michelle’s parents, and their fundraiser on July 28 saw $2 for every purchase made go to the Phillips. Between the two Farmhouse Coffee locations in Clatskanie and Rainier, they raised more than

$890. Farmhouse has also put donation collection boxes around town, but the proceeds have not been counted yet.

In addition to those fundraisers, other friends in Clatskanie have also started a t-shirt fundraiser, and some of Michelle Phillips’ kickboxing friends started a GoFundMe, Warrior Girl McKenna, that has already raised more than $20,000.

“Every dollar is going to count because the bills are definitely adding up, and we’re thankful for every single bit that we’re getting,” Michelle Phillips said. “I just want everyone to know, from the bottom of our hearts, that we’re so grateful, so thankful for the support. ‘Thank you’ aren’t strong enough words; I don’t know how to make sure everyone knows how grateful we are.” Going forward, Michelle Phillips said there isn’t really a timeline by which they expect McKenna to be fully healthy. The appointment on Aug. 11 will dictate many of the next steps.

While the future is uncertain, Michelle, Jamie, and McKenna Phillips are rolling with the punches, and with McKenna’s strong spirit leading the way, hopefully, a full recovery awaits. While these are difficult times, the support of the community has meant a lot, and Michelle Phillips said there are too many people to thank.

“We’re overwhelmed with joy; we can’t believe that everybody is just so amazing, especially because we haven’t been there for so long,” Michelle Phillips said. “It just really tells you how awesome a small town and community is.”

County Fair plant sale raises record funds

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

T he 2023 Columbia County Fair and Rodeo has come and gone, but the proceeds from its annual plant sale will help support the fair and fairgrounds for months to come.

The annual plant sale features a beautiful variety of flowers and plants grown by Means Nursery in Scappoose, and the proceeds go directly back into supporting the fair and its programs.

Plant sale at the fair

Debbie Ritthaler helps facilitate the plant sale, and this year, the plant sale raised $60,805. The plant sale was originally started in 2008, and Ritthaler said that this year was the most money the sale

has ever raised. Ritthaler explained how and why Means Nursery began the sale.

“To help the youth and different programs in the fairgrounds,” Ritthaler said. “Gina and Jim Means had kids in the 4-H program, and so they wanted to find a way to help the fair and different programs at the fair, and so they came up with this idea, they’re the ones who own Means Nursery.”

Means Nursery supplies all of the flowers and plants for sale and specially grows and prices each of the items. Putting on the sale takes a lot of time and effort, and the sale has only expanded over the years.

“It is priced, sometimes half or even less what they charge in retail, and they bring it out, help us set it up, and sometimes even restock stuff for us,” Ritthaler said.

“We have to get so many volun-

teers; now it’s turned into a twoweek sale; it used to be a five-day sale. But when COVID hit, there was no fair in 2020, so we just did the plant sale, and it started this whole thing where we have the plant sale the week before, and then we continue it the week of fair.”

Ritthaler said that putting on the sale takes a lot of teamwork. Ritthaler works part-time at Means Nursery, but she said that when the plants arrive for sale, she doesn’t know what inventory she’ll have until the plants are rolling up on the truck.

This year there were four semitrucks and two box trucks full of plants on donation day. Over the full two weeks, Ritthaler said there

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Broken Gate Fire contained, caution, preparedness urged

JEREMY C. RUARK

Country Media, Inc.

Mop up operations continued through last weekend at the 42-acre Broken Gate Wildfire near Wauna, according to Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Commander Neal Bond.

The blaze, on the south side of

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Contact The Chief

Phone: 503-397-0116

Fax: 503-397-4093

chiefnews@countrymedia.net

1805 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR 97051

Highway 30 at milepost 73, broke out July 23 in rugged, rocky terrain. Bond said approximately 98 firefighters worked to dig a containment line around the fire and hosed hot spots. The cause of the fire was still under investigation as this week. One firefighter suffered heat and smoke inhalation.

The Chief reached out to U.S. Forest Service Public Information Specialist Virginia Gibbons for insight into Oregon’s 2023 summer and fall wildfire season.

The Chief: Through the rest of the summer and into fall, what are wildfire concerns your agency has and why those concerns?

Virginia Gibbons: It is important for the public to understand that they need to be part of the solution regarding wildfire concern by keeping human starts down and being better prepared to “live with fire” this fire year and beyond. This is an area of great concern for the Forest Service as we continue to address the wildfire crisis.

Given the significant fire potential outlook for the Pacific Northwest Region from now through October (available at MonthlySeasonal. pdf (nifc.gov), one of the ways that local residents and visitors can help firefighters most is by preventing human-caused fires. This includes following all fire restrictions that local wildland fire agencies have put in place. Current fire restrictions are available on agency websites and social media accounts.

Nationally, human-caused

wildfires account for about 97% of wildfires that threaten homes. Forest Service firefighters suppress wildfires that threaten lives, property and natural resources. Our goal is to minimize the number of devastating, destructive large wildland fires. Local resources, federal and non-federal, work together to contain fires safely and effectively. Because of these efforts, nationally 98% of wildland fires are contained within 24-hours of initial response. Safe response for firefighters on the remaining 2% that become larger fires is often problematic because of steep terrain that is difficult to access by ground resources, areas with heavy hazardous fuel buildup and hazard trees, and other risks. Air resources are utilized to slow fires and protect homes from quickly advancing fires, but they do not put fires out. It’s the firefighters on the

ground who do that and if there are no roads to access the fire and/or it’s in steep terrain, this makes fighting the fire particularly difficult. This is the type of landscape that we’re fighting wildland fire in southwest Oregon.

Firefighter and public safety are always our top priority. Longer and more extreme fire seasons like we’ve experienced in recent years take a toll on the mental health and well-being of our firefighters. Expanding services and programs across the federal firefighting workforce to sustain the overall health and well-being of this critical workforce is paramount as we head into the rest of the 2023 Fire Year. Learn more at Guest column: New Joint Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Program | US Forest Service (usda. gov).

The Chief: From your vantage point, what is the forecast for the rest of the summer and into fall that is of most concern?

Gibbons: Official outlooks from NOAA continue to suggest that the Pacific Northwest is most likely to experience warmer and drier than typical conditions during the period August through October of 2023. This means late summer and early autumn fire danger is likely to be greater than usual. Our forests and rangelands are likely to be more receptive than usual to fire ignitions and potential growth into large, costly wildfires.

For wildfire information in Oregon, see the NW Interagency Coordination Center site at https:// gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc.

The Chief: What is your recommendation for tourists and residents in rural areas, especially along the Oregon Coast, about being prepared for these fast moving and dangerous wildfires?

Gibbons: One of the best ways to be prepared it to take all possible steps to reduce your home and community’s wildfire risk. This includes using wildfire utilizing resistant building and landscape materials, having a family evacuation plan, including a go-kit that includes important personal items such as medications, pet supplies, water and high energy snacks, important papers, and any small irreplaceable

Courtesy photo

Smoke drifted across the fire scene at 42 acres of rugged, rocky, hillsides south of Highway 30.

Courtesy photo from Debbie Ritthaler

The plant sale at the Columbia County Fair raised more than $60,000 this year.

Courtesy photo from Michelle Phillips McKenna is battling Stage 3 kidney cancer, but doesn’t let it get her spirits down.

The indictment against former President Donald Trump

JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.

Former President Donald Trump is now facing a federal indictment over his alleged efforts to subvert the 2020 election after Election Day.

Trump’s alleged efforts lead up to events on Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of his supporters marched from a rally he held near the White House to attack the U.S. Capitol building.

The former president is charged with the following crimes:

• One count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.

• Conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding.

• One count each of obstruction of, and attempt to, obstruct an official proceeding.

• One count of conspiracy against rights.

According to media reports, the Trump campaign responded to the indictment calling it “the continued pathetic attempt by the Biden Crime Family and their

weaponized Department of Justice to interfere with the 2024 Presidential Election.”

The Chief reached out to Jim Moore an Associate Professor and Director of Political Outreach at the Tom McCall Center for Civic Engagement and a Pacific University professor for insight about what the indictment means and what’s next in the process.

The Chief: From your vantage point, what is the significance of this indictment against a former President of the United States, and what should we understand about this indictment?

Jim Moore: This is the first time that a president of the United States has been charged with seeking to prevent constitutional actions. That will be what the history books will focus on. These charges are nearing the treason charges against former president of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis. Interestingly, those charges were dropped amid the political pressures of the post-Civil War years. The indictment makes clear that nobody, even

the President of the United States, is above the law. These particular laws have been used against KKK members and others who interfered with constitutional rights. Note that voting is not part of the indictment—it is about encouraging people to stop Congress and the Vice President from carrying out the certification process of the 2020 presidential election. The key part is that the indictment asserts that Trump knew his claims to be false but continued to push them. By pushing these falsehoods

to the crowd, Trump crossed a line between freedom of speech and turned to something akin to incitement.

The Chief: Do you believe that this indictment will actually boost former President Trump’s overall public ratings and give him an edge in his effort to be reelected President? If so, how will that play out?

Moore: I don’t think it will make much difference to public ratings of Trump. We have seen some small move-

ment among Republican voters that indicates that the indictments as a whole are reducing support for Trump. But since there are no other real alternatives to Trump out there right now (in terms of strong public support), I fully expect those Republicans who are more wary of Trump to stick with him when they cast their ballots. The odds are very much against any of them voting for Joe Biden. At most, there will be an enthusiasm gap that hits Republican voters and fewer of them will turn out than would be expected. Fourteen months before the November 2024 elections, it is impossible to predict what that impact might be.

Remember, attacks on Trump are seen by his supporters as more reason to rally behind him. They are simply evidence that the government of the United States is out of control and needs to be reined in by a strong president. This is the same overall argument that many of our presidents in the past fifty years have made—the outsider is needed to bring the government back to what it ought to be doing: Carter,

Reagan, Clinton, GW Bush, Obama, Trump.

The Chief: What should we expect as this indictment plays out? Is it possible that former President Trump will be sent to prison?

Moore: Yes, it is entirely possible that Trump could go to prison. Others who have been convicted of similar crimes have served time. More likely, however, is a long drawn out process that results in fines and maybe some home confinement. History will probably not play that big a role in determining what happens if Trump is convicted, but Jefferson Davis was imprisoned in 1865 and became a symbol of opposition to much of Reconstruction. It could be argued that the political cost of holding Davis outweighed the legal benefit of trying him for treason. That was certainly the case by 1869 when treason charges were dropped.

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

County investigating power substation break in

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

Columbia River People’s Utility District (PUD) and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) are seeking information surrounding a break-in at a power substation near Nicolai Road and Bishop Road in Goble that occurred July 23.

One or more individuals broke into the PUD’s Goble Substation and stole copper from the substation. The incident caused severe damage to electrical equipment in the substation and knocked out power to 934 PUD customers around 4 p.m., according to a PUD press release.

The CCSO is investigating the break-in, and PUD is offering a reward of $1,000 for information that leads to the conviction of the person(s) responsible for damaging the Goble Substation. The PUD is working

STAFF REPORT

Country Media, Inc.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Portland Field Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying potential victims of a violent sex assault offender who has lived in at least 10 states.

29-year-old, Negasi Zuberi (aka Sakima, Justin Hyche and Justin Kouassi), is in federal custody for interstate kidnapping after a Washington woman escaped his home in Klamath Falls, OR, claiming she was kidnapped, sexually assaulted and locked in a cinderblock cell.

What happened

According to court records, on Saturday, July 15, 2023, Zuberi traveled from his home in Klamath Falls, OR, to Seattle, WA, where he solicited the services of a prostitute, he then posed as an undercover police officer. The victim told investigators that he pointed a taser at her and placed her in handcuffs, leg irons and put her in the back seat of his car. He then traveled roughly 450 miles with the woman, sexually assaulting her during the trip. According to the victim, once he arrived at his home in Klamath Falls, OR, Zuberi moved her into a makeshift

to add security measures at other stations in their district.

“Copper wire can be sold for scrap metal, so we assume that would be their motivation,” PUD Community & Public Relations Specialist Kyle Boggs said. “We are working on adding additional measures at all of our substations.”

The PUD estimates that roughly $30 worth of copper was stolen. The release stated that replacing the damaged equipment would cost at least $100,000. If the substation transformer was damaged, the cost could be substantially higher.

Once the PUD can replace the destroyed equipment, it will run tests to determine whether the transformer needs to be replaced as well.

Because it is an ongoing investigation, the CCSO did not offer details on its progress. Currently, there is legislation in progress that

would see substation attacks classified as domestic terrorism.

“Oregon House Bill 2772, which is currently awaiting the Governor’s signature, deems intentional destruction of critical infrastructure such as an electric substation to be domestic terrorism. This is either a Class B or Class C felony,” the release stated. While the damage knocked out power to 934 customers, PUD workers were able to work quickly to restore power after two hours. The PUD rerouted power from a nearby substation.

“In this instance, our linemen closed a switch at a different location to allow customers normally served by the Goble Substation to be served by the Don Nys Substation,” Boggs said.

In the press release, the PUD said that the perpetrators of the break-in would likely have suffered electrical

burns based on the condition of the substation. Boggs noted that breaking into and tampering with this equipment can be highly dangerous. “Our substations are energized with high voltage electricity. Entering a substation is extremely dangerous,” Boggs said. This incident comes at a time when attacks on power substations are becoming more frequent. In a report in January, The Chief spoke with Doug Johnson, a media spokesperson for Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). Between November 2022 and January 2023, Johnson said there had been 20 such events. The Chief spoke with PUD and the CCSO at that time, and they said they had increased security to avoid such events in Columbia County. This most recent break-in

has spurred PUD to take additional measures to secure its substations.

“For security purposes, we can’t release many details about additional security measures we are taking at the substation,” Boggs said. “We

plan on having additional security measures at each of our substations, and we continue to ask the public to let us know about anything they see that appears out of the ordinary.”

Womanescapes from makeshift cinderblock cell

cell that he had constructed in his garage. The cell was made of cinder blocks and a metal door installed in reverse so it could not be opened from the inside. Once Zuberi left, the victim says she repeatedly banged on the door and was able to break the door open and escape the room. She was able to flag down a passing motorist who called 9-1-1.

Klamath Falls Police Department obtained a search warrant for Zuberi’s residence and found the makeshift cell described by the victim. Zuberi fled and was located in Reno, NV where he was taken into custody after a brief standoff with local police.

“According to the complaint, this woman was kidnapped, chained, sexually assaulted, and locked in a cinderblock cell,” FBI Portland Field Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge Stephanie Stark said. “Police say, she beat the door with her hands until they were bloody in order to break free. Her quick thinking and will to survive may have saved other women from a similar nightmare. We are fortunate that this brave woman escaped and alerted authorities. Through quick law enforcement action we were able to get Zuberi in custody the next day. While she may have helped protect future victims, sadly we have

now linked Zuberi to additional violent sexual assaults in at least four states and there could be more.”

Case background

Zuberi has lived in ten states over the last ten years and FBI investigators have reason to believe there could be additional sexual assault victims. The FBI’s investigation has extended to multiple states where Zuberi previously resided between August of 2016 and today. Those states could include: California, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Alabama, and Nevada.

Victims may know Zuberi by the name “Sakima” and it is believed he may have used several different methods to gain control of his victims; including by drugging their drinks and impersonating a police officer.

The victims are often threatened with retaliation if they notify the police.

Resources

If you believe you have been a victim or have any information concerning Zuberi (aka Sakima) visit the website: fbi.gov/SakimaVictims or call 1-800-CALL-FBI. You can also contact the FBI

Portland Field Office at (503) 224-4181, your local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or you can submit a tip online at tips. fbi.gov.

The FBI would like to acknowledge the agency’s

partners assisting in this investigation including the United States Attorney’s Office – District of Oregon, Klamath Falls Police Department, Oregon Department of Justice, Oregon State Police, Reno Police Department, Ne-

vada State Police and the FBI Las Vegas Field Office, Reno Resident Agency. A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Metro Creative Connection

The federal indictment outlines criminal charges against former President Trump.

Courtesy

Self-serve gas coming to Oregon

Country Media, Inc.

Gov. Tina Kotek declined to veto a bill allowing selfserve gasoline in Oregon. The new law was to take effect

Aug. 4.

The legislation ends a 72-year restriction on drivers at the pump. House Bill 2426 gives drivers statewide the choice to pump their own gas, but at least 50% of the

pumps must still offer attended service for elderly, disabled, or preference-driven customers.

The Oregon Senate has passed House Bill 2426 with overwhelming bipartisan support. The development comes after years of declining restrictions of drivers pumping their own gas.

In 2015, legislators allowed self-serve gas during nighttime hours in rural and coastal counties to help fuel retailers and drivers. In 2017, they

extended this allowance to all hours in rural counties. Additionally, in 2020, 2021, and 2022, Oregon’s fire marshal temporarily lifted the selfservice ban statewide during emergencies like wildfires and heatwaves.

HB 2426 aims to simplify the existing patchwork rules regarding self-service gas for all Oregonians, while protecting jobs and maintaining attendant services for Oregonians who want them.

Oregonians urged to activate credit monitoring following data breach

STAFF REPORT

Country Media, Inc.

Following Performance Health technology’s (PH TECH) announcement Aug.

2, that Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members are among those affected by a coordinated data hack, the state is urging OHP members to take steps to protect their personal information. The data breach PH TECH announced Aug. 2 did not involve or compromise state systems.

PH TECH is a private vendor that provides services to many Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs) to help manage OHP member data. The company said a security vulnerability from Progress MOVEit software resulted in a data breach because attackers were able to access the personal information of an estimated 1.7 million members.

PH TECH told state officials they conducted extensive forensic analysis through July 25. This analysis identified in-

FIRE

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items such as family photos, N95 masks if smoke is an issue, and being prepared for health impacts from wildfire smoke and much more.

Helpful tools for understanding and reducing wildfire risk are available at Homepage - Wildfire Risk to Communities. The family evac plan should not only include how your family will evac from your residence and meet up if separated, but also to identify ahead of time the best routes to take. If possible, have several options in mind based on the different directions a wildfire might approach your home.

To keep updated on current wildland fire information, we recommend people look to the following online resources:

dividuals who were affected so OHP members could be notified. PH TECH began mailing notification letters on July 31 to impacted individuals. The letters will include an offer of free credit monitoring.

“We’re urging OHP members to activate credit monitoring as a precaution,” Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Interim Director Dave Baden. “It’s disheartening that bad actors are looking to exploit people in our state and that their actions create a burden for others, who have more than enough to manage already. However, there are important steps that OHP members can take to further protect their data.”

Baden called on PH TECH to ensure all affected OHP members would be made aware of the incident, communication would occur in multiple languages, talking points would be created, and state officials would be briefed on the progress of these actions.

OHP members are encouraged to:

Inciweb (Inciweb is an official national clearinghouse of information for all large fires across the country); Facebook (type in the fire name and look for the official fire information logo) and Twitter.

The Chief: Highway 101 along much of the Oregon Coast is lined with forests, since that is one of the main north south routes, if a wildfire breaks out, what about community evacuations? What’s your advice?

Gibbons: Community evacuations are coordinated by the local sheriff’s office in cooperation with Incident Management Teams (those who come into help with large wildfires). In Oregon, we utilize a Ready, Set, Go! Or a 1-2-3 system. Deputies will come to knock on your door to recommend you leave if an

Watch for additional information from PH in the mail and follow instructions to activate 12 months of free identity theft protection. OHP members will be contacted by regular first-class mail, not by phone or email.

Request a free credit report. OHP members have the right to request one free copy of their credit report from each of the three major consumer reporting companies (Equifax, TransUnion and Experian) every year. OHP members may be able to request reports from one company every few months throughout the year. Credit reports and monitoring can help people identify signs of identity theft and stop thieves from using information for fraudulent purposes. Contact PH TECH for assistance at 888-498-1602 or by going to https://response. idx.us/PHTECH for more information.

OHP members will also be able to receive ID theft recovery services via PH TECH at no cost, if needed.

area is in a Level 3 evacuation status. To monitor evacuation status for your area, check with the local sheriff’s office and/or office of emergency management-checking websites/agency social media sites is generally best to minimize calls, or the fire’s Facebook page, Inciweb or Twitter accounts often have current information for evacuation status. See answer to question above for additional information on evacuating.

Additional resources

• Check public and industry fire restrictions at www. oregon.gov/odf/fire/pages/ restrictions.aspx.

• For wildfire prevention tips, visit www.keeporegongreen.org.

• To sign up for local emergency notifications, visit oralert.gov.

Pam Parmley

Feb. 27, 1951 ~ July 15, 2023

Pamela Kay Parmley, known to her loved ones as Pam, passed away peacefully on July 15, 2023, at the age of 72, in Longview, Washington.

Pam was born on Feb. 27, 1951, in Longview and lived most of her life in Clatskanie, Oregon.

She was preceded in death by her father Wally Jurvakainen and mother Phyllis Jurvakainen.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Gerry Parmley; loving children, Kim Scott, Melissa Judson and Brian Parmley; five grandsons; two granddaughters; sisters, Fran Williams and Donna Thompson; brother Denny Jurvakainen; aunt Rosalie Maitland; and numerous

nieces, nephews and cousins. All will miss her dearly.

Pam drove a school bus for Clatskanie School District for 38 years. She had many fond memories and numerous funny

Gary Eugene Geer

stories of driving bus and became attached to countless children throughout the years.

She will be fondly remembered by her loving, generous, and loyal nature. She had a contagious smile and a wonderful sense of humor and warm personality which endeared her to many.

Pam was an avid Bible reader and found comfort from the Bible based hope of being resurrected on a paradise earth where no one will face death or sorrow again. Being one of Jehovah Witnesses, she loved sharing the truth with others. A memorial service is planned for 3 p.m. on Sat., Aug. 12, 2023 at 306 Peardale Lane, Mt. Solo Kingdom Hall in Longview.

Jan. 15, 1948 ~ July 30, 2023

Gary Eugene Geer, 75, passed away on July 30, 2023, in the comfort of his home in Clatskanie, Oregon. Gary was born Jan. 15, 1948 in Richmond, California to Donald Francis Geer and Myrtle Lorraine (Moen) Geer. He was the second of five children.

Gary knew no stranger. He was known for his boisterous “hello’s” and other warm greetings and salutations. Ever the perfect gentleman, he was constantly opening doors, giving up his seat if others were standing, and assisting in any way he could.

Gary spent his childhood hunting and fishing with his dad and younger brother Don and fell in love with the game of baseball. His dream was to play pro ball, but God had a different plan for him. Shortly after high school, he started working at the University of California at Berkeley in the public health department, which is where he met the love of his life, Sandy (Multanen) Geer. The two shared flirtatious smiles (Gary more so than shy Sandy) for over a year before Gary was drafted into the military. On a weekend home between basic training and his deployment, he finally worked up the courage to ask her on a date. The two corresponded through letters while Gary served as a Marine in the Vietnam War. Upon his return, they married on Oct. 4, 1970 in Clatskanie, Oregon. Together, they had three children, Shawna, Kimberly, and Erica. Over the next 48 years,

Gary’s adventurous spirit took them to many places as he switched careers from police officer to logger to mortician/ funeral director. On Nov. 17, 2002, he was ordained as a minister for the Apostolic Lutheran Church of America. He continued to share the gospel and the way to salvation in Christ until his passing.

Gary and Sandy’s most cherished years were spent in Alaska. Gary fulfilled a lifelong dream when they moved to Anchorage. They loved the climate, the geography and most of all, the people. They returned to Clatskanie in 2012 after the births of their two youngest grandchildren, where they officially retired.

Gary had a presence that was felt by everyone he came in contact with. He was humorous, adventurous and demonstrative with his hugs, signs of affection, and words of encouragement. He took great delight in serving others. Gary was blessed with a listening ear and was often sought

out for advice and spiritual guidance. He was a giver. Gary was always more concerned with making sure those around him had what they needed and were taken care of. Gary’s smile, laughter and loud voice could fill up a room. At church gatherings and functions (really anywhere), you could find him trying to illicit laughter from the children with his silly antics. He loved his bride of 48 years and his daughters and grandchildren with his whole heart. He found great joy in simply being with them and sharing a meal. When Sandy got sick, he took care of her until her passing. Gary was preceded in death by his parents; brother Bruce; and his wife Sandy. He is survived by his three daughters, Shawna, Kimberly and Erica; four grandchildren, Emily, Zachary, Elena and Finn; siblings, Donna, Don and Debra; and numerous other relatives.

Gary leaves a legacy of generosity, strength, kindness, service, wisdom and steadfast faith that will forever leave a mark on those whose lives he touched. He was ready and waiting for the Lord to bring him home.

A viewing will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sat., Aug. 5, 2023 at the Clatskanie Apostolic Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests charitable contributions made on his behalf to the Apostolic Lutheran Western Mission, P.O. Box 1304, Kalama, Washington 98625.

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD

THEME: FRUITS & VEGETABLES

ACROSS

1. Itsy Bitsy Spider’s tunnel

6. Operations, as in military

9. Carpenter’s joint

13. Book, in Paris

14. Coach’s talk

15. Long-necked wader

16. Did not go out to eat (2 words)

17. Chi preceder

18. Top scout

19. *’90s children’s series

“____ in Pyjamas”

21. *Alternative to stick

23. T-cell killer, acr.

24. Show worry

25. Knee-related acronym

28. Sushi restaurant’s boozy offering

30. *Grilled cheese and

____ soup

35. Mouse to a snake

37. In ____, or together

39. Convicted one

40. *Pear or quince, botanically speaking

41. California and Nevada lake

43. Raja’s daughter 44. Uncouth ones 46. Of two minds 47. RenÈ Descartes’ “therefore”

48. Make wealthy

50. Use a surgical beam

52. Gingerbread creation

53. *When fruit is ready

55. Red-white-and-blue inits.

57. *”Hot” vegetableshaped toy

60. *L in BLT

64. 3-D picture in a book

65. U.N. workers’ grp.

67. Owned house or car, e.g.

68. Item on a cell phone

bill

69. What’s old is new again, prefix

70. Popular electric car

71. Hair styling products

72. Scottish cap

73. British peers

DOWN

1. Block of concrete, e.g.

2. Pocket bread

3. Baker’s baker

4. Dickens’s Heep

5. Serena’s sport

6. Prefers

7. *Fairytale princess test

8. Virgo’s brightest star

9. Letter opener

10. Ship to Colchis

11. Airhead

12. The loneliest number?

15. Concerning this

20. Nautical “Stop!”

22. College assessment test, acr.

24. Camera’s tiny aperture

25. *Gwyneth Paltrow’s daughter

26. Sing like Tony Bennett

27. Madagascar primate

29. Myanmar currency

31. BÈbÈ’s mother

32. Rooster, in the olden days

33. Polynesian kingdom

34. *Layered bulb

36. Giant Himalayan?

38. Lady Grantham of “Downton Abbey”

42. Follow as a consequence

45. Claw mark

49. “Battleship” exclamation

51. Heir’s concern

54. *At the end of a hot pepper or many a sweet potato

56. Cruising

57. Prepare to be shot

58. October birthstone

59. What Little Toot does

60. *Fruit of the ____

61. Brezhnev’s domain

62. Jailbird’s home

63. Airline postings

64. Dog breed from China

66. Grazing ground

A stab at forgiveness

MICHELLE PIERSON YOUNG

Chief Guest Column

If you’ve gone to any sort of church at any time in your life, it’s likely you’ve heard a sermon or maybe even two, on forgiveness.

Yes, that old chestnut. It’s no doubt you’ve danced with that devil in the pale moonlight, and to what end, I would ask you. The path of forgiveness is bumpy and dusty and gets entirely sticky when we’re applying it in the mirror.

I’ve had clients tell me they don’t believe in it. I’ve had people say to me there are some things that are unforgivable. If we know the world of Harry Potter, there are even unforgivable curses. So what’s the real lowdown? Is forgiveness about you or the other

person or about what God wants you to do? Truthfully, it’s anyone’s guess. Ask ten priests and ten rabbis and I bet you get twenty different answers. So here’s my toss into that ring. In my not so humble opinion, true forgiveness happens when I no longer wish the past was any different than it was. My energy and my plans and my thoughts, they all get to be in the here and now cuz the then and there isn’t happening any more. In this version of forgiveness, I’ve picked up my toys and I’ve moved on from that unfulfilling party. Whether I was the one that didn’t show up as my best self, or it was my husband or the grocery store clerk, I’ve said, “Well, that’s what that was, as far as I can tell So now what?”

I’m not afraid to admit

I’ve spent a lot of time fist fighting shadow enemies in the dark neighborhoods of my mind. I’ve held court with ghost judges deciding my “rightness.” I’m also here to admit to you this is a fruitless effort and I recommend you skip it for something juicier like things that are real and make you feel happy. When I’m not fussing with things I can’t change, because they are literally in the past, I am free to make something more with the world that is happening right now. While I’m no theologian, that seems a worthy way to spend my time and thoughts. Can I get an amen?

Michelle Pierson Young is a Lincoln City life coach. She may be reached at Michelleatplay.com or at 503-957-0821.

ommunity e vents

August 4 2023 Clatskanie Festival

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Library

Book Sale at 11 Lillich St. Free movie (TBA) starts at dusk at Clatskanie City Park on 5th Street. All events are free. For more information visit the Clatskanie Festival Facebook page or call 360431-7910.

August 4, 5, & 6 Vernonia

Friendship Jamboree & Logging Show Logging show, car and motorcycle show, parade, book sale, Heritage Engines, Ridge Riders playday, food, vendors and much more. For more information go to www.visitvernonia.com.

August 5 2023 Clatskanie Festival

9 a.m. to 9:15 p.m. Lots of events, vendors, library book sale, Clatskanie Farmers Market, face painting, rock painting, music in the park, pet parade/petting zoo, open swim, cake walk and an evening Light Parade down Nehalem Street. All events are free. For more information visit the Clatskanie Festival Facebook page or call 360-431-7910.

August 6 2023 Clatskanie Festival

4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Froggy races, Community Candlelight Remembrance Ceremony and Community Baptism. All events are free. For more information visit the Clatskanie Festival Facebook page or call 360-431-7910.

August 12 2023 Goble

Warming 50/50 Raffle Fundraiser Event

This fundraiser benefits

the Clatskanie Feral Cat Project. Come by for BBQ ribs, smoked fatties and live bands all day. $5 raffle tickets. Goble Tavern, 70255 US-30, Rainier.

August 15 Caples House Fireside Chat 7 p.m. The good, the bad, and the ugly – Learning how to do your family tree. Genealogy for beginners and advanced by Caples’ own Gene Foley. $5, 1925 First St., Columbia City. For more information call 503-3975390.

Sept. 22-24 Wings Over Willapa Festival

The Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 5th annual Wings Over Willapa. This multiday bird and art festival will be held at 7112 67th Place in Long Beach. For more details, call 360-642-3860.

Ongoing

Clatskanie Senior Center lunches  Clatskanie Senior Center Lunches now served Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at noon at the Castle Cafe, 620 SW Tichenor. Call 503728-3608 for reservations. Use ground floor entrance to the left of front stairs. Good parking in back off of SW Bryant Street. Castle Tours available by appointment, includes Clatskanie Historical Society museum. Call Debbie at 503-338-8268.

Caples Evening Programs

The cost for this evening and all our Fireside Chats will be only $5. Caples

FUNDRAISER

were about 40 volunteers between the fair and plant sale staff. To help unload the plants, Ritthaler said there were about 20 people there to help unload and set up.

When the sale starts, people flock to the sale to get their favorite items. The most popular item is usually the hanging baskets, which come at a major discount from the retail price.

will be offering a different program the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at 1925 First Street in Columbia City. For more information, call 503-397-5390.

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

The Rainier Oregon Historical Museum (ROHM) is open from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday (except major holidays weekends). ROHM is located inside Rainier City Hall at 106 W B Street. For more information, call 360751-7039.

The Rainier Public Library  is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays and 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays. It will be closed Sundays and Mondays.

Avamere at St. Helens hosts

a Virtual Dementia Support Group – 3rd Wednesday of each month from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. For more details, contact Jenny Hicks/Avamere at St. Helens at 503-366-8070.

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

The Chief

Editorial policy

Opinions expressed on this page are independent of The Chief views and are solely those of the writers expressing them.

Letters policy

This newspaper’s letters to the editor are limited to a maximum of 250 words and will be edited for grammar, spelling and blatant inaccuracies. Unsubstantiated or irresponsible allegations, or personal attacks on any individual, will not be published. Letters containing details presented as facts rather than opinions must include their sources. Writers are limited to one published letter per month. All submissions must include the author’s full name, local street address and telephone number (only the name and

“The first day of the sale, everyone and their mother comes out, and their grandmother and their grandfather; it’s crazy,” Ritthaler said. “Up until this year, the hanging baskets have always been $10, and that’s always been the big draw. This is the first year that they’ve had to raise the prices on the hanging baskets, but you know what? It didn’t slow them down one bit. We still sold every hanging basket we had out there, and we had hundreds!”

Ritthaler said that during the pandemic, the plant sale “exploded” in popularity. Ritthaler said that a lot of people found a passion for gardening as they were stuck at home, and the reasonable prices and supporting the fair are just more of a reason to support the fair.

Growth and generosity

The plant sale’s popularity has grown exponentially over the past couple of years, but so has the amount of money raised. Ritthaler said in the first year of the sale, they raised somewhere between $15-18,000. The

more than $60,000 they raised this year is just another indicator of the sale’s popularity. While the sale is a fixture of the fair each year now, Ritthaler feels that Gina and Jim Means deserve recognition for their generous contribution.

“I just think the whole thing is amazing that they do this, and they’ve done it for so many years, and they never get the recognition,” Ritthaler said. “And I know they don’t do it for the recognition; that’s not at all why they wanted to do it, but I just think it’s amazing.”

When it started, the sale was intended to supplement premiums for 4-H members and open class participants. Shortly after the plan was set into motion, Means Nursery was informed the fair itself lacked the necessary funds to continue operations.

Wanting to support the fair, Means Nursery agreed to allow the Fair Board to use part of the funds for continued operations with the understanding that a portion would be utilized for premiums, fairground improvements, and open class supervisors.

The money raised will help update the pressing needs of the aging fairgrounds. Fair Board President Peggy Howell said there are key projects that need funding.

“At this time, there are 7 barns in need of new roofs, the bid a couple of years ago was $56K a roof, and we know the price has gone up since then,” Howell said. “There are many more repairs and improvements needed at our aging fairgrounds.”

Howell said the plant sale is the fair’s biggest fundraiser, and every penny is critical to improving the aging infrastructure at the fairground. Like Ritthaler, Howell sees Jim and Gina Means as unsung heroes for the fair.

“Means have just been so generous with their product and their people and their knowledge,” Howell said. “I don’t know that people know, or that they get enough praise, because they are pretty special.”

In addition to expressing appreciation for Jim and Gina and Means Nursery, Howell also said that the work Debbie Ritthaler and her husband Don do to make the plant sale a reality is also commendable.

“Debbie and her husband Don, the hours they put in, they’re just tireless; I can’t even believe it, how much they are able to do and keep on doing,” Howell said. “They’re the real heroes out there.”

While getting the sale prepped and ready to go is a massive undertaking, Ritthaler and Means Nursery do the work because they recognize the value the fair offers the community.

“I totally think it brings people together. It gives families something to do. I know it’s just during the summertime, but they get out, they see each other,” Ritthaler said. “It’s cool just to get to visit; it’s neat. It just brings them together.”

For information on donating to the Columbia County Fair and Rodeo, visit https://www.columbiacountyfairgrounds.com/p/ get-involved/donations.

city of residence will be published). By submitting a letter, writers also grant permission for them to be posted online. Opinions expressed on this page are the writer’s alone and do not represent the opinion of the newspaper or its parent company, Country Media, Inc.

Guest commentary

We welcome all variety of community viewpoints in the newspaper. These longer, guest opinions might be columns written by newsmakers, public officials or organization representatives. Or you might just have interesting thoughts to share and a penchant for writing. If you’d like to submit a guest column for publication, contact us at (503) 397-0116 or chiefnews@

countrymedia.net. All columns are subject to editing for style, grammar and clarity. However, views expressed in guest columns are independent and do not represent those of The Chief, its staff or Country Media, Inc.

Obituaries

Obituaries received after noon on Wednesday may not be in time for that Friday’s paper. Obituaries may be emailed to chiefnews@countrymedia.net, sent via mail, or dropped off at the office. We also accept obituaries written by funeral homes. Include the address and daytime phone number of the person who submitted the obituary, so we can verify information as necessary.

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CC23-1819

Reference is made to that certain Trust Deed made by, JACOB T. ABBOTT as Grantor to COLUMBIA COUNTY TITLE AND ESCROW as Trustee, in favor of MORTGAGE

ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC.

(“MERS”), as designated nominee for NATIONS

DIRECT MORTGAGE, LLC., Beneficiary of the security instrument, its successors and assigns, dated as of August 13, 2021 and recorded on August 16, 2021 as Instrument No. 202109605 of official records in the Office of the Recorder of Columbia County, Oregon to-wit: APN: 18172 LOTS 7 AND 8, BLOCK 37, MOECK`S ADDITION, IN THE CITY OF RAINIER, COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON. EXCEPTING

THEREFROM THAT PORTION CONVEYED TO RICHARD R. ROTH AND PATRICIA H. ROTH IN BOOK 253, PAGE 810, DEED RECORDS OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, OR-

EGON Commonly known as: 313 W 4TH STREET, RAINIER, OR 97048 Both the Beneficiary, Nations Direct Mortgage, LLC, and the Trustee, Nathan F. Smith, Esq., OSB #120112, have elected to sell the said real property to satisfy the obligations secured by said Trust Deed and notice has been recorded pursuant to Section 86.752(3) of Oregon Revised Statutes. The default for which the foreclosure is made is the Grantor’s failure to pay: Failed to pay payments which became due Monthly Payment(s): 1 Monthly Payment(s) from 09/01/2022 to 07/01/2023 at $17,427.30 Monthly Late Charge(s): 1 Monthly Late Charge(s) By this reason of said default the Beneficiary has declared all obligations secured by said Trust Deed immediately due and payable, said sums being the following, to-wit: The sum of $296,991.91 together with interest thereon at the rate of 2.75000% per annum from August 1, 2022 until

paid; plus all accrued late charges thereon; and all Trustee’s fees, foreclosure costs and any sums advanced by the Beneficiary pursuant to the terms of said Trust Deed. Wherefore, notice is hereby given that, the undersigned Trustee will on November 15, 2023 at the hour of 12:00 PM, Standard of Time, as established by Section 187.110, Oregon Revised Statues, at the west entrance to the Columbia County Courthouse, 230 Strand St., Saint Helens, OR 97051 County of Columbia, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash the interest in the said described real property which the Grantor had or had power to convey at the time of the execution by him of the said Trust Deed, together with any interest which the Grantor or his successors in interest acquired after the execution of said Trust Deed, to satisfy the foregoing obligations thereby secured and the costs and expenses of sale, including

a reasonable charge by the Trustee. Notice is further given that any person named in Section 86.778 of Oregon Revised Statutes has the right to have the foreclosure proceeding dismissed and the Trust Deed reinstated by payment to the Beneficiary of the entire amount then due (other than such portion of said principal as would not then be due had no default occurred), together with the costs, Trustee’s or attorney’s fees and curing any other default complained of in the Notice of Default by tendering the performance required under the obligation or Trust Deed, at any time prior to five days before the date last set for sale. Without limiting the Trustee’s disclaimer of representations or warranties, Oregon law requires the Trustee to state in this notice that some residential property sold at a Trustee’s sale may have been used in manufacturing methamphetamines, the chemical components of which are

known to be toxic. Prospective purchasers of residential property should be aware of this potential danger before deciding to place a bid for this property at the Trustee’s sale. In construing this notice, the masculine gender includes the feminine and the neuter, the singular includes plural, the word “Grantor” includes any successor in interest to the Grantor as well as any other persons owing an obligation, the performance of which is secured by said Trust Deed, the words “Trustee” and “Beneficiary” includes their respective successors in interest, if any.

Dated:

7/12/2023 By: Nathan F. Smith, Esq., OSB #120112

Successor Trustee Malcolm & Cisneros, A Law Corporation Attention: Nathan F. Smith, Esq., OSB #120112 c/o TRUSTEE CORPS 17100 Gillette Ave, Irvine, CA 92614 949-252-8300

Order Number 93405, Pub

Dates: 7/28/2023, 8/4/2023, 8/11/2023, 8/18/2023, THE CLATSKANIE CHIEF

Clatskanie Middle/High School Fall Sports

by using their “SignUpGenius” page.

and weekly schedule updates will be sent via the school’s “Athletically Speaking” email list.

*Booster Club information: Be sure to follow the “Clatskanie Boosters” Facebook page and help volunteer in the snack shack

*Homeschool information: Any homeschool student who wishes to participate in CMHS Athletics must be registered with the ESD as a homeschool student. Students in grades 10-12, must show proof of completing an approved achievement test (by August 15th). Here is a link to additional information on the topic.

another

Wave energy construction from ocean to shore

The next step in Oregon State University’s construction of a wave energy testing facility off the Oregon Coast is likely to be visible to residents and visitors to the area in August.

Crews will work on shore and from a vessel anchored about a mile offshore from Driftwood Beach State Recreation Site south of Newport. The work is part of the construction of PacWave South, which will be the first pre-permitted, utility-scale, grid-connected wave energy test site in the United States.

Workers aboard a 265foot vessel anchored just off the coast and additional crews at the recreation site will inspect and prepare cable conduits for next summer’s planned installation of power and data cables.

“A mile sounds far, but the offshore support vessel Seacor Lee is a large ship, and it will appear very close,” said Burke Hales, PacWave’s chief scientist and a professor in the OSU College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences.

“We just want to make sure people are aware of what’s happening.”

To accommodate the work, portions of Driftwood Beach State Recreation Site parking lot will be closed beginning Aug. 4. Conditions permitting, the Seacor Lee is expected to arrive in

Newport Aug. 7 and anchor off the coast shortly after that, Hales said. Beach access and park restrooms will remain open at Driftwood, but parking may be limited and some larger recreational vehicles may not be able to turn around. Parking and beach access is available that Governor Patterson Memorial State Recreation Site 3 miles south of Driftwood Beach, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department officials said.

When completed, PacWave will offer wave energy developers the opportunity to try different technologies for harnessing the power of ocean waves and transmitting that energy to the local electrical grid.

The ocean test site will be on a sandy-bottomed stretch of the Pacific Ocean away from popular commercial and recreational fishing reefs about 7 miles off the coast of Newport. The site will have four test berths, which combined can accommodate up to 20 wave energy devices at any one time.

Power and data cables buried below the seafloor will connect the ocean test site to a shoreside facility in Seal Rock, south of Newport. Louisiana-based industrial electrical services contractor R.T. Casey is overseeing the procurement, construction and installation of the cables for PacWave,

including the August work.

The cables, which are each about 12 miles long, are being manufactured in Norway by the Paris-based firm Nexans and are anticipated to be installed next summer. In preparation for the cable installation, crews this summer will be working in a vault under the parking lot of Driftwood Beach State Recreation Site, where the cable conduits begin, and about a mile offshore, where the conduits end.

When the cables are installed, they will run through the conduits from the shore, under the beach and out to sea, where they come up out of the seafloor about 1 mile out. From there, the cable will be buried just under the seafloor all the way out to the test site.

The Seacor Lee will be anchored near where the cable conduits come up from the seafloor, but the testing site, when completed, will be much farther out, noted PacWave Deputy Director Dan Hellin.

When conduits were installed in 2022, they were sealed. As part of the upcoming work, divers will open the ends of the conduits so they can be flushed and messenger lines – a type of wire used to help with the cable installation – can be installed. Doing this work now will make the cable installation go more quickly next year, Hellin said.

“We have nice weather

and good conditions right now, so we want to take advantage and get the diving work done,” he said.

The work at Driftwood is expected to be completed by early September. Construction updates will be posted online at https://pacwaveenergy.org/constructionupdates/.

Once the work is complete, the vault at Driftwood will be resealed and the park fully reopened. The Seacor Lee is expected to remain in the region but further offshore for a couple additional weeks while crews conduct geotechnical testing and analysis in preparation for

the cable laying and installation of the device anchors at the test site, Hales said.

Work is also underway on the shoreside utility connection and monitoring facility, which is expected to be substantially completed by the time the cable installation begins next year.

“They are making a lot of progress on that site,” Hellin said.

Oregon State has pursued development of a wave energy test facility for more than a decade to accelerate the development of this industry. There currently is no U.S. facility for developers to measure the electrical and

environmental performance of their devices at this scale.

PacWave South is supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, the state of Oregon and other public and private entities. Oregon State’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences is managing the construction and operation of the more than $80 million facility.

Michelle Klampe is a writer-news researcher at Oregon State University Relations and Marketing. She may be reached at michelle. klampe@oregonstate.edu or at 541-737-0784.

Electricity demand to rise nearly 25% in next decade

She said the utilities will need to identify and invest in more energy sources to meet demand. Currently, Oregon gets most of its electricity from hydropower, followed closely by natural gas and then other renewables such as solar and wind.

“There are resources in our region that have been retired, that will be retired, fossil fuels will need to be replaced with cleaner resources, with more wind and solar. We’re going to have this steep step up in demand, and it’s not enough to just replace what’s retired, we need new resources to meet projected demand,” she said.

ALEX BAUMHADT

Oregon Capital Chronicle

Chief Guest Article

Demand for electricity in the Northwest is expected to grow at its fastest pace in decades due to increasing industrial use, followed by the electrification of transportation, homes and businesses.

Demand for electricity in the region is projected to rise about 2.5% annually, and by nearly 25% within the next decade, according to an annual report on expected electricity demand. The report, Northwest Regional Forecast of Power Loads and Resources, is released each year by an industry trade group called the Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee. For more than 70 years, the group has aggregated and analyzed annual demand projections from utilities in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana to paint a larger picture of future demand for electricity throughout the region.

The largest driver of demand during the next five to 10 years will be industry, the report finds, including data centers and semiconductor manufacturing.

The latest projections the trade group collected from the region’s utilities surprised Crystal Ball, the group’s executive director.

Last year’s forecast showed demand for electricity in the region would grow a little less than 1% per year during the next decade.

Now, just a year later, it appears the region’s utilities are preparing for growth that is more than twice that.

“This rate of projected growth we haven’t seen in decades. It’s quite remarkable,” Ball said.

While many utilities are planning to expand the amount of energy they source from sun and wind to meet electricity demand, energy storage and transmission remain central challenges, according to the report. Impact of electric cars.

Aaron Orlowski, a spokesperson for the Eugene Water and Electric Board, which participates in the annual forecast, said the utility is looking at both diversifying its energy sources and trying to reduce demand during peak periods. The board – which is the largest consumer-owned utility in Oregon – predicts about 2%

growth in electricity demand annually starting in 2030, largely due to an increase in electric cars.

About 75% of the utility’s customers currently heat their homes with electricity from renewable energy, primarily hydropower, Orlowski said.

“If half of the people currently using natural gas in our area switch to electric, then that demand rises a lot quicker and we need more sources,” he said.

Diversification of energy sources for the utility includes investing in more solar and wind as well as power generated from the burning of biomass, such as wood and animal products,

and small modular nuclear reactors. The latter is likely a bit further off. Only one design, by the nuclear power company NuScale based in Tigard, has been approved by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Beyond diversification, Orlowski said part of the utility’s future planning involves trying to change consumer habits and reward reduced consumption.

The utility’s customers could reduce demand and stress on the grid caused by electric vehicle charging by 40% if they charged their vehicles overnight after 10 p.m. when electricity used for other activities – such as air conditioning and lights –

is much lower. He said the utility is also looking at the impact of improving energy efficiency in buildings as a way to curb demand that exceeds energy available.

“Making homes and businesses more efficient is the best first choice. If we don’t need to use the energy, that’s all the better,” he said.

Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@ oregoncapitalchronicle.com.

Metro Creative Connection

The largest driver of demand during the next five to 10 years will be industry, the report finds, including data centers and semiconductor manufacturing.