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FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2020

The Chief

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VOL. 129, NO. 14

Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891

Local teen brings ice cream truck to Clatskanie Facebook page Clatskanie Community Bulletin Board that the truck will be out that day in order to get more customers to show up.

Customers will also post in the replies where they want the ice cream truck to go.

CHRISTINE MENGES chronicle2@countrymedia.net

Clatskanie residents may have heard the ice-cream truck theme jingle while sitting inside on a hot day in recent weeks, which might have compelled them to come outside and buy an ice cream.

And if they’ve done so, they already know the news: an ice cream truck is back in Clatskanie.

But the truck is more of a car with a freezer. And the person handing out ice cream is a kid himself.

What brought this unconventional truck to town? Inspiration from a local teen.

The route

How it started A few weeks ago, Aiden Finke, 13, from Clatskanie, said he was sitting in his dad’s shop by the old car wash and was thinking that when he was younger, his favorite thing to do on summer days when he was sitting inside was listen to the ice cream truck pass by.

“And I was like, ‘Kids in Clatskanie have never experienced that,” Aiden said. “What if I gave them that experience?”

And that was how the idea came about to start up his own ice cream truck.

With the help of his mom, Clara Finke, Aiden went to city hall and got a food handler’s license as well as a business license in order to start the business, a process which only took a few days. When that was done, the Finkes went to the Walmart in Longview, Washington and bulk-bought a lot of ice cream.

Aiden Finke has launched ice cream sales in Clatskanie with the help of his mom and the family car.

The ice cream runs the gamut: drumsticks, Italian ice sherbet, fudge bars, popsicles, rock pops and ice cream sandwiches. Prices range from $1-$2. The truck also gives out water, which is free.

The entire start-up cost, from the licenses to the ice cream, was

around $120, Aiden said.

Clara and Aiden keep their ice cream in a portable freezer they already owned in the back of their car. Clara finds music with the ice cream truck theme, originally called “Turkey in the Straw,” on YouTube and plays it through

Christine Menges / The Chief

the car’s speakers as they amble around Clatskanie.

This was all done a few weeks ago, and since then, the ice cream “truck” has been on the road in Clatskanie on most days out of the week.

Clara will often post on the

The route is a meandering ride throughout most of Clatskanie.

Clara drives her son around town, starting up Nehalem street, turning onto Tichenor, and getting all the side streets in between. They then drive toward the apartment complex by Clatskanie Middle/High School and end at the neighborhood behind the school.

While number of customers can vary a lot depending on the day, Aiden said they can average between two to six, with the most number of customers they got at one stop being seven. Customers will typically be adults buying ice cream for kids, but customers have also been of all ages, Aiden said.

As far as plans for the future go, Aiden said he wants to do it again.

“I really want to do it more,” Aiden said. “This is just like a test year.”

His mom agreed, saying they have had a few things get in the way of their ice cream truck plans and that they started a little late in the year.

But the truck will be out for a few more weeks for any kid or kid-at-heart who wants to take part in a popular summer pastime.

By the Numbers: Columbia County Census Vernonia south of Mist and west of Trenholm.

At this time, census tract 9702.01 is the lowest in the county with a 46.3% self-response rate compared to 2010’s final self-response rate of 51.9%. 9702.02 and 9703 are nearly tied at just above 55%, compared to between 60-65% in 2010. 9711 is currently at 61.5% whereas in 2010 they had a final self-response rate of 68.9% The highest response rates are in tracts 9706 (Warren) at 75.6% compared to in 2010 75.3%, 9705 (west of Columbia City and St. Helens) at 71.8% vs 67.7% in 2010, and 9710 (Scappoose west of Rt. 30) at 69.3% vs 60.3% in 2010.

JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

There are areas in Columbia County and across the state where the 2020 Census responses are very low following mass mailings earlier this year of forms that were to be filled out by area residents.

A door-to-door campaign, the 2020 Census Nonresponse Followup operation, started this week throughout all counties in Oregon.

The current self-response rate for Oregon is 65.4 percent. The Census Bureau workers are visiting the remaining addresses to collect responses in person.

Households can still respond now by completing and mailing back the paper questionnaire they received, by responding online at 2020census.gov, or by phone at 844-330-2020 for English, and 844468-2020 for Spanish. Households can also respond online or by phone in one of 13 languages and find assistance in many more. Those that respond will not need to be visited to obtain their census response.

United Way of Columbia County Census Assister Cameron Burkhart provides the following insight into the need for the census responses.

The Chief: What areas of Columbia County are low in response and what areas are high, and can

Opinions...............A4 Market Place........A5 Public Notices......A5 Nonprofit..........A6-7

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief

The U.S. Census forms were mailed to residents in Columbia County and across the nation earlier this year. Those who have not filled out and returned the forms are now being contacted.

you provide numbers?

Carmeron Burkhart: As of right now, the response rates are lowest in census tracts 9702, which is divided up into tract 9702.01 (south of Clatskanie roughly to Mist), and tract 9702.02 (North of Clatskanie), 9703 which contains the larger Rainier area, and 9711 which contains the area surrounding

The Chief: What do you believe is the reason behind the low responses?

Burkhart: I think there are two main reasons for the low responses this year, and in many ways, both of them boil down to the internet.

The breakdown between the lowest and highest response rates in the county are clearly divided between eastern and western parts of the county, with the western tracts being almost entirely rural, and the eastern being containing or being much closer to larger cities.

When we look at barriers to selfresponse, past censuses were partly limited by the fact that those who

receive mail to P.O. boxes do not receive self-response forms under census guidelines. This time around the Census Bureau tried to make things easier by adding online and phone options to respond. Unfortunately, internet access is still a barrier for many folks in rural areas where people often rely on P.O. boxes. So the first reason is that “improved access” to self-response isn’t actually much help for people in those areas.

Though phone response is an option, I think people find responding by phone to feel less familiar or comfortable than the online and mail-in forms. So the option is there, but still presents a barrier by being both unfamiliar and more timeconsuming.

The second reason is the impact of coronavirus and how that’s shaped census outreach. Since the internet isn’t an effective way to reach people in remote areas, developing face-to-face, in-person methods to reach them in their own communities is ideal. The stayat-home order, physical distancing guidelines, and concern for health and safety, especially for at-risk folks, have all led to a lot of outreach being pushed into digital spaces.

Burkhart: Low responses deprive communities of federal funding, essential services, and political representation.

Each person counted in the census brings the equivalent of $3,200 each year in federal funding to the state and their community.

This money is in turn distributed to police, fire departments, roads and highways, and support services such as SNAP benefits and housing assistance, and much more. Undercounting rural communities deprives already underserved areas of funding for essential services. This impacts both rural communities and other historically undercounted, underserved communities in Columbia County. Losing $32,000 per person over the course of 10 years, no matter how many people are undercounted, is a huge dent in the potential for any community.

The census is also directly tied to redistricting. Without an accurate count, rural communities can be divided and glazed over in ways that may compromise their voice in politics. On a larger scale, Oregon as a whole is on track to earn another seat in the house of representatives. A low count could result in being denied a seat at the table that Oregon needs and deserves.

The Chief: What is the disadvantage of the low responses?

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Rag leads to sewer plant disruption JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

A loose rag led to a disruption at the Clatskanie wastewater treatment plant, which caused a temporary contamination of the Clatskanie River in the plant area, according to Clatskanie City Manager Greg Hinkelman.

At first, city officials had said the disruption, which occurred on July 31, was triggered by a failed seal used to contain effluent during the treatment process. Hinkelman said after city crews drained the plant’s clarifier onto adjacent sludge fields, they discovered a towel/rag had gotten lodged under the seal preventing the seal from “sealing” the clarifier to allow proper treatment of the water.

The disruption caused wastewater with higher than statepermitted levels of E.coli to be discharged into the river. No raw sewage was discharged from the

plant into the river, Hinkelman said. The city closed recreational use of the river in the plant area and shut down boat ramps adjacent to the area as a public safety effort.

“Once we discovered the rag/ towel, we removed it, checked/ inspected the seal and determined it was in working order,” Hinkelman said. “We filled the clarifier back up and began treatment on Friday. We had to wait 24 hours to do our first test and then another to do a second test to confirm the plant was operating back within DEQ established parameters.”

Hinkelman said once that was confirmed, crews were able to discharge treated water back into the Clatskanie River and were able to open up the boat ramps Monday morning.

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See DISRUPTION Page A4

Christine Menges / The Chief

The Clatskanie wastewater treatment plant is located at 100 NW 4th Street.

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Friday, August 14, 2020

2 search and rescues in 2 days JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

Details have emerged following two search and rescue efforts west of Clatskanie over the past weekend.

On Saturday, Aug. 8, Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies and Columbia County Search and Rescue team members were dispatched to a rural area west of Colvin Road near Clatskanie to search for three juveniles.

The three juveniles had reported they were lost and injured.

Searchers were able to locate and extricate the juveniles who were returned

home safely. No details have been released about the juveniles’ injuries or their conditions.

On Sunday, Aug. 9, deputies assisted Clatskanie Fire with another rescue. According to a Facebook post by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, a man was reportedly working on his land when the tractor he was operating rolled over the edge of a cliff.

CCSO deputies responded to the location and helped Clatskanie Fire extricate the man, who had minor injuries.

The identity of the man had not been released by deputies.

Photo courtesy of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office

The operator of this tractor survived after the vehicle went over a nearby cliff.

Courtesy photo

Three juveniles were rescued in this area over the past weekend by members of the Columbia County Search and Rescue Team and county deputies.

County passes 100 COVID-19 cases CHRISTINE MENGES chronicle2@countrymedia.net

Columbia County’s COVID-19 cases have increased from one in late March to 105, as of Aug. 12.

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) officials reported late last week that the virus cases statewide are “leveling off,” but that the public should remain vigilant with social distancing, wearing face coverings and washing hands frequently to help slow the pandemic.

Weekly briefing During his weekly health update before the Columbia County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday, Aug. 12, county public health director Michael Paul said the rising COVID-19 cases in Columbia County puts the possibility of reopening schools in peril.

To date, the county has been averaging about 10 COVID-19 cases each week, with last week being the

week of the highest number, with 17 cases, Paul said.

“We’re going in the wrong direction,” Paul said.

“Our curve is bending up a little bit.”

There have been no deaths in Columbia County associated with the pandemic.

Paul said there were 93 confirmed cases and 10 presumptive cases, as of Aug. 12. Presumptive cases are patients who have been in contact with a confirmed case but have not been tested or have not yet received test results.

“For some people, they don’t wish to get tested, or their test results aren’t back yet, and they count as a presumptive case,” Paul said.

Four individuals have been hospitalized and 17 confirmed cases are still infectious, which means they are within the 10-day period of symptom onset, Paul said.

Currently, the county public health department is providing daily monitoring of 30 people who have been in

close contact with a confirmed or presumptive case and who need support with quarantining.

Whether or not schools can reopen depends on certain metrics set by the OHA and which must be met for three weeks in a row, which Paul explained at the meeting. At the county level, case rates must be less than 20 cases per 100,000 population for three weeks, and the test positivity rate must be at less than 5% for three weeks.

Both standards must be met for schools to reopen.

The county is meeting one metric, but not the other, Paul said at the meeting. Rate of positivity is at less than 5%, but cases per 100,000 population is at around 30, according to Paul.

However, for rate of positivity, Columbia County has been faring well in comparison to most other counties in the state because the county has been below 5%, while most other counties are above 5%, according to Paul.

Watch List Commissioner Alex Tardif said he had heard that Columbia County had been placed back on the OHA’s watch list and he asked Paul why that was.

“The watch list doesn’t mean you may go back a phase,” Paul said. “It means the state checked in locally and sees what kinds of supports you need to complete the work. I think it’s tied to workload and timeliness of our response, and follow-up with cases in the required timeframe.”

The OHA told The Chief that Columbia County is currently not on the watch list but that that could change depending on the increasing COVID-19 cases.

According to state health officials, counties are placed on the watch list whenever rates of sporadic cases exceeds 50 per 100,000 over a 14-day period and the counties report more than five sporadic cases in the same time frame. Counties remain

on the list for at least three weeks, until their sporadic case rates drop.

While the county public health department is receiving questions about a potential coronavirus vaccine, Paul said commenting on the efficacy or safety of any potential vaccine is not the role of the health department.

“We’re just leading the investigations and response,” Paul said. “I would defer to the state and federal partners on the effectiveness and safety of the [potential] vaccine.”

Paul said he hopes people continue to follow mandates in order to keep businesses and schools open and numbers down, so that the county “can get back to some regular sense of normalcy.”

This state of emergency gives Columbia County Public Health and the Columbia County Office of Emergency Management all resources at the state’s disposal to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

The declaration authorizes the Columbia County Board of County Commissioners to establish procedures to prepare for and carry out any activity to prevent, minimize, respond to or recover from an emergency.

The county commissioners determined that a state of emergency exists in Columbia County due to the following conditions; COVID-19 is a highly contagious and novel coronavirus for which there is no vaccine, and the public is at risk for contracting the disease. “We want to ensure the safety and protection of our most vulnerable population,” the declaration reads.

State of Emergency During the Aug.12 meeting, the commissioners also extended the Columbia County State of Emergency to Dec. 31, which had first been implemented on March 13.

Follow the daily COVID-19 case counts at thechiefnews.com with in-depth reports in the Friday print editions of The Chief.

3rd Special Session pending

Courtesy photo

Legislators could gather in Salem for a third special session depending on how Congress addresses pandemic-related state funding assistance.

MAX KIRKENDALL

newsguardeditor@countrymedia.net

The Oregon Legislature met for a Special Session that lasted late into the night Monday, Aug. 10, as lawmakers from the Oregon House and Senate passed a dozen bills to address a $1 billion shortfall in the state budget.

Throughout the session, the House and Senate passed

bills that will provide funding to Oregon public schools, tighten restrictions on police and corrections officers’ use of force and help unemployed Oregonians.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown addressed the media Tuesday, Aug. 11 to discuss the outcome of the Special Session.

Brown spoke on the lawmakers’ approval of using $400 million in emergency dollars from the Education Stability Fund to keep K-12 funding stable.

“First, I appreciate that lawmakers decided to continue our investments in K-12 public schools and early childhood education,” Brown said. “For a generation, we underfunded our schools, that changed last year with the passage of the Student Success Act.” Brown stressed the importance of funding for public schools during this time, especially, as Oregon tackles the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis. However, she stated that she does have concerns about the use of one-time funds approved in the budget.

“We have spent a number of years building up a rainy day fund and state reserves in order to weather this kind of

economic downturn,” Brown stated. “But that savings account is only so big. If we use a substantial portion of it now, the budget decisions next year become even harder. We already know there are more challenges ahead of us.”

Brown also expressed her disappointment in lawmakers for not following through on a plan to close two rural Oregon prisons, that she describe as being in “more challenging conditions.”

“For the first time in many years, Oregon prison projections are down,” Brown said. “We can safely close prisons, keep our communities safe and reduce taxpayer expenses.”

Brown also noted that a single prison bed costs the state between $39,000 and $50,000 per year and stated that she’d like to use those funds elsewhere, such as early childhood education.

Brown said her administration would like to see an increased focus on crime prevention, drug and alcohol treatment and other strategies involved in the criminal justice system.

Addressing issues of police brutality, Brown ap-

plauded the work done on House Bill 4301, which limits the use of force by police officers.

“It’s a much needed step toward police reform,” Brown said. “This comes on the heels of five police reform bills passed in the first Special Session and I hope additional action will come in the weeks and months ahead.”

Lawmakers also addressed issues with the Oregon Employment Department, which has been swamped with unemployment claims since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two bills were passed Monday including Senate Bill 1703, which will allow the State revenue department and employment department to share data, so that benefit claims can be processed faster.

The second was Senate Bill 701, which will ensure

Oregonians are not phased out of unemployment benefits even if they have a small amount of income from a part-time job.

There was a third bill on the table Monday (Senate Bill 1702), that did not pass.

According to Brown, this bill would have made it quicker to process unemployment benefit applications from employees for public and private education institutions during the pandemic.

“This would have gotten more money into people’s hands more quickly and freed up agency employees to move on to processing other claims,” Brown said. “To see this bill, which had broad bipartisan support, voted down by three legislators was very frustrating.”

Brown also said that the Employment Department is working day and night processing thousands of claims

For a complete list of the bills that passed and the bills that did not pass during the special session, see this story at thechiefnews.com.

COLUMBIA PACIFIC

Get Ready Guide

2020/2021

Advertising Advertising Deadline: Sept.

10 Deadline: Sept. 16 Inserted into 10 papers beginning the week of September 28, 2020 This guide to preparing for a health crisis,winter, storms and natural disasters is a special size: 6.75” w x 10.75 h” For more information, contact: Amy Trull, 503-397-0116, atrull@countrymedia.net Columbia County’s trusted local news source

and said it was “absolutely outrageous” that those legislators are trying to slow the process down.

Brown said there may be a third Oregon Legislative Special Session scheduled to address Oregon’s continuing budget dilemma.

“It is dependent whether congress gets their act together and comes up with a funding package for states,” Brown said. “If they do not, that will require us to take other drastic budget actions.”

Other issues Brown said that could become priorities in a third legislative include workers’ compensation and liability concerns for Oregon school districts and businesses.

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Friday, August 14, 2020

New Business Opening

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

August 17th through 21st

Note: This is the last week the pool will be open Morning

6:00 - 7:00 AM: Deep End (6) & Shallow End (4) Water Exercise 7:15 - 8:15 AM: Deep End (6) & Shallow End (4) Water Exercise 9:15 - 9:45 AM: Levels 1 through 6 10:00 - 10:30 AM: Levels 1 through 6 10:45-11:15 AM: Tots through level 4 • Register only by phone or email 11:30-12:00 PM: Family Lesson

Things to remember:

Afternoon/Evening

3:30 - 4:00 PM: Tots through level 4 4:15 - 4:45 PM: Levels 1 through 6 5:00 - 5:30 PM: Levels 1 through 6 5:45-6:15 PM: Family Lesson 6:30-7:00 PM: Family Lesson

Prices

Local entrepreneurs

Courtesy photo

Laken Gortler, left, and Carla Hess announce they will soon open a brand new laundry mat, Clatskanie Quick Clean, in the Clatskanie Town Center on the Columbia River Highway across from the Clatskanie River Inn. The operation will include full-service washers and dryers and wash-and-fold, which allows customers to bring in their clothes for washing, ironing, and folding. The business lounge will feature a big screen TV and vending machines. An opening date of the new business has not yet been announced.

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

• Enter through lobby only • 1 person (family) in lobby at any time • Lockers are not in use • Take a cleansing shower • Take your belongings on pool deck • After program, exit through side gate, no showers.

Lessons*: $20.00 per child *A family member is required to be in the pool with each child for Levels Tots through 2.

CHANGE: Registration for the above programs will run from Monday, August 10th, through Thursday, August 13th. Call or email to register for your program!

Pandemic relief funding sought STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

The League of Oregon Cities (LOC) and the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) are calling on the Oregon State Legislature for direct allocation of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities (CARES) Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) dollars to local government.

The following is a release from the LOC and AOC In April, the State of Oregon received $1.389 billion in federal CRF resources.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury, the allocating body of the federal government, asserts that states should distribute 45 percent of the state’s share, or $624.8 million, directly to local government.

Local governments, the local public health authorities and critical service providers, view these resources as critical in their mitigation and recovery efforts. Two months into the pandemic, and nearly a month following the state’s receipt of funds, the Legislature’s joint emergency board committed to giving local governments $400 million, less than two thirds of what was intended by the CARES Act, with the caveat that $200 million would be spent on behalf of local government by the state.

From the onset of the pandemic, counties and cities quickly stood up programs to support the health, safety, and well-being of their residents.

To date, roughly $46 million in CRF resources have been released to cities, counties, and special districts. Of

those allocations, the state restricted how that money could be spent to narrowly assist in health specific related response, while many local governments supported local small business and other vulnerable Oregonians feeling the crippling economic impacts of the pandemic.

U.S. Treasury guidance indicates that restrictions on how locals spend their 45 percent share beyond what is laid out in the CARES Act and associated Treasury guidance “are not permissible.”

An additional $154 million is in the process of distribution, and may now be used for the full range of allowed uses under U.S. Treasury guidance as requested by local government.

During the Aug. 5 Emergency Board meeting, leadership unveiled plans to spend the remainder of the State’s share of CRF funds, including the $200 million for the State to spend on behalf of cities and counties. A few legislators took a stand for local government and prevented that from happening.

“Counties are acting and reacting expeditiously to the ever-changing impacts of the pandemic and to meet the needs of communities,” AOC Executive Director Gina Firman Nikkel said. “We are hiring contact tracers, purchasing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), facilitating testing, providing information and resources to the community, helping vulnerable Oregonians, and supporting our businesses that are hanging on by a thread.”

“It takes resources to do all this work. Without certainty on funding and direct alloca-

tions it becomes difficult to set up structures and provide the critical services needed during this challenging time.

COVID-19 is a pandemic.”

“Throughout the response and recovery process success means that all levels of government are working together as a united front to balance mitigation strategies for public health, safety and economic considerations, and strategically leveraging funding to ensure response efforts can be fully implemented,” Firman Nikkel said.

Cities and counties are asking the state to directly allocate the final $200 million from the original allocation to local government. This will allow cities and counties to fulfill needs in their individual communities for the full range of uses allowed under the U.S. Department of the Treasury parameters.

“City leaders are on the front lines of the response to this pandemic, know the issues in our communities, and desperately want to partner with the state to help Oregonians cope with both the health and economic effects of this catastrophe,” LOC Executive Director Mike Cully said. “Without allowing cities to spend our share of federal funds based on the specific needs in our individual communities, this partnership is not possible.”

See the AOC and LOC letter sent to state legislative leaders attached to this story at thechiefnews.com. For more information, the LOC may be reached at 503-588-6550.

The Association of Oregon Counties may be reached at 503-585-8351.

$25.9 million for cultural organizations STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

Applications are now live and open for Oregon’s Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) Cultural Support program.

Funds allocated to the Oregon Cultural Trust will be available to Oregon cultural organizations facing losses due to the COVID-19 health crisis. The $25.9 million in funding is made available through a $50 million relief package for Oregon culture recently approved by the Oregon Legislature’s Emergency Board.

“We are grateful to the members of our Board for authorizing us to move forward with the distribution plan as soon as possible,” Cultural Trust Executive Director Brian Rigers said.

“We have worked hard to develop a statewide, equitable distribution plan and look forward to supporting our cultural community in surviving this unprecedented crisis.”

All Oregon cultural nonprofits and community venues are welcome to apply. Eligible grant recipients include, but are not limited to, cultural institutions, county fairgrounds, cultural entities within federally recognized Indian Tribes based in Oregon, and festivals and community event organizations.

Funds will be distrib-

uted through the Cultural Trust statewide network of County and Tribal Cultural Coalitions. Funding will be determined based on eligible request amounts, an award allocation formula that establishes a base amount of funds per county or tribe and the organization’s fiscal size.

COVID-19 expenses previously reimbursed by other federal CARES Act programs are not eligible.

Complete guidelines are posted on the Cultural Trust website.

The intended use of the CRF Cultural Support funds is to provide financial assistance to cultural nonprofit organizations and community venues that have canceled or postponed public programming because of public health executive orders associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Guidelines for the funding are in accordance with the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The federal CARES Act requires that CRF funding only be used to cover expenses that: are necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency; were not accounted for in the budget most recently approved as of March 27, 2020 (the date of enactment of the CARES Act); and were incurred during the period that begins on March 1, 2020, and ends on Dec. 30, 2020.

The Cultural Trust is committed to serving Or-

egon’s culturally diverse and traditionally underserved communities.

The Cultural Trust Board of Directors approved the distribution plan for the CRF Cultural Support program on Aug. 6. Applications are due by 12 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24, and approved funds must be distributed by Sept. 15.

Columbia County’s trusted local news source

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Friday, August 14, 2020

•V iewpoints • •

Fall school opening: Forget it!

MICHAEL LENHART Chief Guest Column

With an uptick of cases less than six weeks from the first bell, there is no way to safely open up Oregon schools in the fall.

Even a well-designed plan that includes an arms-length of protocols that would have to be in place and strictly enforced cannot, with certainty, protect students, teachers, and support staff. Those guidelines would also have to factor in the potential impact on family members in the home who may be inadvertent recipients of a potentially deadly disease – or who send their child to school with a backpack, lunch and a fresh case of the COVID-19, courtesy of an irresponsible or unwitting adult. A simple temperature check at the door simply won’t cut when dealing with children who are often times asymptomatic.

It’s a logistical nightmare for districts to consider all of the safeguards that have to be in place to make a return to school a sensible choice.

A single reported new case within the walls of a classroom puts everyone at risk. Let’s assume a seasoned, veteran teacher in his/her 50’s or even 60’s is diagnosed positive. How is that going to be handled administratively? Who gets tested? Are students and other teachers quarantined for two weeks? What about family members and their possible exposure as a result of their child being in contact with the teacher? While contact tracing might actually be relatively easy in a self-contained classroom, you can see the dilemma in attempting to protect everyone within close and long distant range of that infected teacher.

Bulletin boards normally dressed with displays of fall leaves, welcome signs, classroom rules and name tags will be replaced with caution signs, symbols and a list of mostly “DONT’S” strategically placed in the front of the room and in plain view by the drinking fountain –

DISRUPTION From Page A1 “Cost of the work was regular crew time and a few hundred dollars for the seal and parts kit which we

hardly aesthetically pleasing in the eyes of what would typically be an exciting and anticipated return to school for our kids.

Imagine being a kindergarten teacher in a room filled with mostly nonreaders who’ve been moved from one lockdown environment to a new one that’s more restrictive and doesn’t allow them to freely move, explore and engage in typical socialization activities among peers.

Is that how we start the educational career of a five year old, most of which walk in an elementary school for the first time with uncertainty and social/separation anxiety already built in?

Good luck getting fiveyear-olds to understand, let alone follow, overbearingly stringent classroom rules.

That teacher will be spending too much time wiping tears away from scared students screaming for one or both parents or family member they rely on for support.

Even in a remote learning environment in the home, children are free to roam the house unmasked without ball ’n chains. Yes, many parents are not prepared for another few months of noncompliance, bribing, and screaming just to get a child to sit down for a 20 minute lesson on ordering fractions, smallest to largest. However, imagine the stress of parents and children leaving the safety of home into spaces that aren’t ready to deal with health consequences in the midst of a pandemic.

Consider the safety of the building in which your child attends. Newer schools tend to have better HVAC systems with an option of recycling fresh air into classrooms.

Older schools might recycle the same air or have inadequate air flow. And then you have rooms with no AC. Put even a minimal amount of students in an overheated classroom and watch the masks come off just for a breath of fresh air. Petri dish anyone?

By now, I’m sure you’ve labeled me an alarmist?

Perhaps. However, the understood oath and commitment among educators intuitively puts us in the role of guardian angel and protector of children and each other. It’s a calling of which we’ve been given the utmost responsibility. 40+ years as an educator working with students in grades K-6, as a teacher, librarian, and counselor give me reasonable credibility to bring these concerns to the forefront.

I’m retired now, but I’ve occasionally done some substitute teaching in the past. I completed a long term substitute job a year ago in a dual immersion program for a teacher on stay home orders because of a complicated pregnancy. There is no situation that would entice me to teach, full time or as a substitute teacher at this moment.

It’s an untenable situation in which the ‘primary educator’ of children, the parents or adult in charge of raising the child, needs to continue to take on the responsibility and role of classroom teacher for a bit longer. Getting back to school is solely conditional upon us fully containing this pandemic. Period.

Alexander Navarro authored a study on the societal impact of the Spanish flu back in 1918. He suggests that the epidemic showed up in the middle of the Great War, a time when Americans as he put it, “felt a sense of hyper-patriotism”, and that people were willing to do their part for the war effort.

Consider this a war on a pandemic that is destroying lives and changing how we live.

We are all in it together as we battle it otherwise, it lingers for years.

Let’s hope that Governor Brown continues to make the tough, common sense decisions that get us on that path to full recovery. Let’s hope that collectively, we can set aside selfish, ideological and an ‘all about me’ mentality for the sake of the war effort.

ended up not using,” Hinkelman said.

The city is attempting to determine how the towel/ rag was “missed” by the wastewater headworks, a screening system that removes debris from the raw sewage coming into the

Weekly Online Poll

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How do you cool down during heat waves?

Fans, air conditioning Iced beverages Swimming Run through sprinkler

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Vote online at thechiefnews.com

Performing Arts Schedule

Michael Lenhart is a Canby resident.

The Clatskanie Arts Commission has announced the following changes to its 2020-21 Performing Arts Series due to COVID19 Phase II restrictions and concern for the safety and well being of its audience members and its performers: • Big Band in the Park scheduled for Labor Day has been cancelled.

• Fernhill Bluegrass Band

and the Bloomer Family concert scheduled for September 20 will be rescheduled for a later date.

• Oregon Symphonic Band concert scheduled for late October will be rescheduled for 2021.

CAC is hopeful that its new season will be able to begin with the following lineup: • December 6, 2020: Sun-

dae & Mr. Goessl Holiday Show • February 26 and 27, 2021: MCT’s Little Mermaid • April 18, 2021: Karen Carpenter Tribute Band • May 7, 2021: Pianist Sarah Hagan Your patience and understanding are much appreciated, and we hope to see you at the Birkenfeld Theatre again soon.

plant to prevent such debris from doing any damage to the treatment machinery.

“The one positive on this is we now have a seal and parts kit that we are going to put on a shelf to be ready if the seal were to actually fail in the future,” Hinkel-

man said. “We did not have a spare on hand, because these seals do not fail and are replaced about every 10 years or so during routine maintenance. The seal in place now was replaced less than a year ago, so we did not have the need to have a

spare on hand. We do now.”

The city carefully tracks the functions and malfunctions at the wastewater plant through a close seven-day a week monitoring system, according to Hinkelman.

“My wastewater treatment plant operator along

with the public works director and public works foreman all manage the monitoring of the plant,” Hinkelman said. “We also have automated alarms and other systems at the plant that can notify us if something is wrong.”

The Chief

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Send Letters To: The Chief Attn: News Editor PO Box 1153, St. Helens, OR 97051 Email Letters To: chiefnews@countrymedia.net

Letters Policy The Chief welcomes letters of 250 words or fewer. Letters are subject to editing for length, clarity or grammar. They should be concise, to the point and original. Letters dealing with disputes or containing criticism of private individuals or businesses will not be published. All letters must be signed (unless emailed) and include the author’s full name, address and daytime telephone number (for verification purposes only).

Letters will be published at the editor’s discretion. Letters also may be published on our website.

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

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

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SUBSCRIBE TODAY. 503.397-0116 www.thechiefnews.com NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENT LIFELINE: 1-800-273-8255 • suicidepreventationlifeline.org Columbia County’s trusted local news source

OREGON YOUTH LINE: 877-968-8491 • Text “teen2teen” to 839863

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Friday, August 14, 2020

A5

Marketplace

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Just call 503.397.0116

Listings are updated daily at www.thechiefnews.com 150

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Time to prune- pruning Lace Leafed Maples & ornamental shrubberies, chipping, senior or veterans discount, free estimates.

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Large Estate sale Cathlamet/Pudget Island. Thur., Fri., Sat., 9 am- 4 pm.

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Massive amount of tools, old gun parts, swords, knives, watches, advertised mint items, CB’s and old radios.

A large amount of books/ vintage car books/ manuals, large amount of fishing gear, toys, massive amount of auto parts/ license plates, antlers, 4 wheeler, old cars/ boats, rare wag-

ons, jewelry and old coins, ship clocks/ old clocks, glassware, china, too much to list.

CLATSKANIE Mini Storage

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Public Notices CC20-1292

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, August 19, 2020 at 5:30 pm in the community room of the District’s administration building located at 495 E Columbia River Highway, Clatskanie.

A Board Workshop will not be held this month. An executive session may be called at the workshop and/ or meeting, pursuant to: ORS 192.660 (2) (f) information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection.

AGENDA CLATSKANIE PEOPLE’S UTILITY DISTRICT REGULAR BOARD MEETING on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 at 5:30 P.M. I. PUBLIC COMMENTS II. CONSENT AGENDA · Minutes of Regular Board Meeting, July 15, 2020 · Review payment of bills for July 2020 III. PRESENTATION – Policy 309: Comprehensive Load and Resource Planning Report, Ian Bledsoe IV. BONNEVILLE ENVIRONMENTAL FOUNDATION GRANT DISCUSSION – Brian

Fawcett V. STAFF REPORTS UPDATE · Staff Reports VI. POLICY REVIEW · #101 Credit and Collection Policy, #104 Line Extension Policy, and EH 703 Prevention of Workplace Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation VII. ACTION ITEMS · Policy Review: #313 Financial Policy and New Policy #113 Service Location Technical Standards Policy · NWPPA Voting Delegate VIII. DISCUSSION / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS · Board Comments & Calendar IX. EXECUTIVE SESSION X. ADJOURNMENT

CC20-1289

Clatskanie Park & Recreation District NOTICE OF REGULAR BOARD MEETING The regular meeting of the Clatskanie Park & Recreation District will be held on Thursday, August 20, 2020 at 6:00 at 555 SW Bryant St, Clatskanie, OR, Port of

Columbia County Offices (the Old Middle School).

Items on the agenda include, but are not limited to: General park maintenance and pool operations. ALL

SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES IN PLACE AT THE TIME OF THE MEETING WILL BE STRICTLY FOLLOWED. Board Chair, Andrew Mustola.

CC20-1283

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA No. 20CV02279 SUMMONS Constance D. Budge, Plaintiff, v. Jackie L. Gump, Trustee, or his successor(s) in trust, under the Evelyn B. Boursaw Revocable Living Trust dated August 8, 2012, an individual, Defendants.

To; Jackie L. Gump, 28997 Hirtzel Rd., Rainier, OR., 97048. You are hereby required to appear and defend the complaint filed against you in the above entitled action within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this summons upon you and in case of your failure to do so, for want thereof, CC20-1293

The Public Notice deadline is Wednesdays by noon.

The Rainier School Board will hold a work session on August 18, 2020 at 6:30 p.m.

A livestream will be available on the school’s YouTube page.

Late submissions are not guaranteed to make it into the paper.

From Page A1

The Chief: Explain what’s happening, the process, in Columbia County this week and next to reach those who are not responding.

Courtesy photo from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office

Sheriff announces CERT Jail team STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office announces the creation of the Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT).

According to the Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley, the team of deputies

has received specialized training to effectively and efficiently deal with emergencies in the jail, including cell extractions, high-risk inmate transports, high profile court security and more.

Pixley said the development of a CERT team has been a priority.

“A Corrections Emer-

gency Response Team is long overdue for Columbia County,” Pixley said in a Facebook post. “I am pleased to put this team of hard working, dedicated staff members together to handle rapidly evolving and high-stress situations. CERT will be a huge asset to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.”

Credit union honors 10-year employee STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

Wauna Credit Union (WCU) is applauding the 10-year anniversary of data analyst, Mike Chapman.

Recognizing Chapman’s knowledge and expertise, in a release, WCU official note his valuable contributions to the credit union’s growth over the past decade.

“Mike has served and volunteered in the marketing space for over 34 years,” WCU Chief Marketing Officer Debi Smiley said. “His expertise and knowledge is a valuable asset; he always looks for the best in people; and we congratulate him in cel-

Mike Chapman

ebrating 10 years of serving our members.”

In bringing a diverse ar-

ray of skill sets and experience, Chapman has helped steer WCU’s Marketing Department in a strong and positive direction. Mike started his service to WCU members in April of 2010 as a Marketing Consultant.

“We are very proud of Mike’s tenure and service to the credit union and look forward to many more years with Mike on our team,” WCU Chief Executive Officer Robert Blumberg said.

Beyond his responsibilities at WCU, Mike has a fondness for animals and music. He’s also a US Civil War history buff and enjoys spending time with family.

Chapman currently lives in Longview, Washington with his wife and 10 cats.

an attorney, proof of service upon the plaintiff. If you have any questions, you should see an attorney immediately. If you need help in finding an attorney, you may contact the Oregon State Bar’s Lawyer Referral Service online at www.oregonstatebar.org or by calling (503) 684-3763 (in the Portland metropolitan area) or toll-free elsewhere in Oregon at 9800) 4527636. STATE OF OREGON: County of Columbia, Steven D. Petersen, OSB# 73235, PO Box 459, 612 West B Street, Rainier, OR 97048.

503-556-4120.

NOTICE OF SCHOOL BOARD WORK SESSION

CENSUS

The team of deputies is trained to deal with emergencies in the jail, including cell extractions, high-risk inmate transports, high profile court security and more.

plaintiff(s) will apply to the court for relief demanded in the complaint. NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT: READ THIS CAREFULLY! You must “appear” in this case or the other side will win automatically. To “appear” you must file with the court a legal paper called a “motion” or “answer.” The “motion” or “answer” must be given to the court clerk or administrator within 30 days along with the required filing fee. It must be in proper form and have proof of service on the plaintiff’s attorney or, if the plaintiff does not have

Burkhart: The Census Bureau has begun nonresponse followup throughout the county, and census takers are already knocking on doors.

This process is the bulk of what is meant to fill the gaps in self-response numbers but still doesn’t guarantee an accurate count.

People can still self-respond online and by phone, so we will be out encouraging people to do so. We’re doing what we can to get more information and encouragement into the hands of folks living in tracts with lower response rates.

Working in partnership with local service providers, businesses, nonprofits, and publications will continue to be vital in reaching folks that aren’t tapped into the increasingly virtual stream of information.

The Chief: Your reaction to the federal decision to end the Census a month early, and how that might disadvantage Columbia County.

Burkhart: Pushing an early end to the census will only drive the wedge further between underserved communities and essential federal support. The gap between at-risk communities and better-supported communities will grow exponentially as more and more people continue to receive less and less support as a result. Shortening the timeline puts unnecessary pressure on census workers and deprives citizens of the chance to make sure they are counted.

While the gap mostly looks

like a rural-versus-urban split, the reality is that undercounting will also greatly impact the county’s ability to help everyone who needs it most.

People struggling with food insecurity, those in need of employment assistance, people who are currently experiencing homelessness, and those who are struggling with substance abuse disorders are just a small portion of the folks who could further be put at risk by a low census count.

The Chief: Feel free to add any other comments you might have.

Burkhart: People should know that it’s not too late to respond online or by phone.

You can find information at 2020census.gov or by calling the census response hotline at 1-800-923-8282.

Self-responding is the easiest way to report your census information. It also has the benefit of lowering the likelihood that someone will knock on your door. The bureau keeps its information as up-to-date as possible, meaning you can still be removed from the nonresponse follow-up list.

United Way of Columbia County is still answering questions about the census and offering both individual and community census support.

Folks can reach out to us at columbiacountycensusassist@ gmail.com.

The following information is from the U.S. Census Bureau.

What households can expect Census takers will follow local public health guidelines when they visit. Census takers will be wearing masks. Census takers must complete a virtual COVID-19 training on social distancing protocols and other health and safety guidance before beginning their work in

neighborhoods.

Census takers are hired from local communities. All census takers speak English, and many are bilingual. If a census taker does not speak the householder’s language, the household may request a return visit from a census taker who does. Census takers will also have materials on hand to help identify the household’s language.

If no one is home when the census taker visits, the census taker will leave a notice of their visit with information about how to respond online, by phone or by mail. People are encouraged to cooperate with census takers and ensure that everyone who was living in their household as of April 1, 2020, is counted.

How to identify census takers Census takers can be easily identified by a valid government ID badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date on the badge.

To confirm a census taker’s identity, the public may contact the Los Angeles Regional Census Center at 213-314-6500 to speak with a Census Bureau representative.

About the 2020 Census The U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years. The goal of the 2020 Census is to count everyone who lives in the United States on April 1, 2020 (Census Day). Census statistics are used to determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives and informs how billions of dollars in federal funds will be allocated by state, local and federal lawmakers annually for the next 10 years.

For more information, visit 2020census.gov.

Columbia County’s trusted local news source

A6

www.thechiefnews.com

Friday, August 14, 2020

Support our community nonprofits

Tribute to nonprofits

The Chief and The Chronicle are highlighting our community nonprofit organizes with this special presentation.

Now, more then ever, it is an important time to volunteer and make donations to our local nonprofits who are working to help those struggling the most.

The following is from the National Council of Nonprofits.

Charitable nonprofits embody the best of America.

They provide a way for people to work together for the common good, transforming shared beliefs and hopes into action. They give shape to our boldest dreams, highest ideals, and noblest causes.

America’s 1.3 million charitable nonprofits feed, heal, shelter, educate, inspire, enlighten, and nurture people of every age, gender, race, and socioeconomic status, from coast to coast, border to border, and beyond. They foster civic engagement and leadership, drive economic growth, and strengthen the

fabric of our communities.

Every single day.

Every person in the United States benefits from the work of nonprofits in one way or another, whether they realize it or not.

It’s easy to see a nonprofit’s mission in action when our families or neighbors are direct beneficiaries—such as when nonprofits provide food for the hungry, life-saving trauma care to someone in a car wreck, or rescue relief to hurricane survivors.

It’s harder to recognize the full impact of the indirect benefits nonprofits provide us.

For example, the mission of the “friends of the local public library” might be to promote reading, but taxpayers also benefit when the nonprofit raises funds to buy books and equipment.

Nonprofits play a fundamental role in creating more equitable and thriving communities. And nonprofits can do even more by coming together to protect both their legacy and their indispensable role in America’s future.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is a national grassroots organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for those living with mental illness as well as individuals and families who’s love ones face the challenges of mental illness.

NAMI Columbia County support group focuses on self care of individuals and families who’s lives are affected by mental illness of a loved one.

Even though we are not having our support group in person, that does not stop us from reaching out to each other, phone, e-mail, drop off a surprise bouquet, a card in the mail, many forms of tech/social media and zoom chats are all ways we can keep connected and support one another. NAMI Oregon has over 20 online weekly support groups in 16 counties around our state. This makes a resource available and an *Messaging and data rates may apply

Columbia County’s trusted local news source

opportunity to meet others and be in the safety of your own environment. If there is a topic one would like to have support with for self and others, contact NAMI Oregon. Be kind to others and yourself. Remember self care!

NAMI Columbia County is active in supporting local organization that promote mental health.

Contact NAMI Oregon for resources, programs for Support, Education, Advocacy. www.namior.org, 503.230.8009. www.facebook.com/ColumbiaCountyNAMI.

Donations direct to NAMI Oregon to support NAMI Columbia County 4701 SE 24th Ave. Suite E Portland, OR 97202

www.thechiefnews.com

Friday, August 14, 2020

The ‘helper’s high’:

Giving back is easier than you think Volunteering at an event or getting involved in a charity are great ways to give something back to your community. There are also many other ways that we don’t always think about — small gestures that sometimes we’re not even aware of but that make a real difference to those on the receiving end.

Volunteering can come in many forms and does not necessarily entail making a commitment to an organization. It could simply be helping a friend who is moving, mowing the lawn for a neighbor who has broken a leg, looking after your niece’s children free of charge on her birthday, or spending a day at a seniors’ centre talking or playing games with those who don’t have many visitors. All are ways to help others.

Some forms of volunteering require very little time.

Participating in a blood

A7

why volunteering makes you happy Common wisdom tells us that by giving, or giving our time, we receive something in return — tangible or otherwise. True to this principle, very often volunteers affirm that volunteering makes them feel happy.

This positive effect of volunteering has been called the “helper’s high.”

But what causes this feeling? The field of positive psychology provides a compelling explanation with their research on happiness. Martin Seligman, the field’s leading figure and past president of the American Psychological Association, maintains that there are three types of happiness, or rather three kinds of happy lives: • Pleasant life or life of enjoyment • Good life or life of engagement • Meaningful life or life of affiliation Seligman outlines these modes of happy living in his books Authentic Happiness (2002) and Flourish (2011). The first mode of living involves the pursuit of pleasure and affords us only transient happiness.

The second involves engagement in tasks in which we feel adept and is a source of durable happiness. The last involves participation in something larger or more permanent than ourselves and is also a source of durable happiness.

Courtesy photo

Giving back to society also includes helping your loved ones.

drive saves lives; giving away clothes that no longer fit will keep people warm this winter; and donating toys your children no longer use will bring smiles to many young faces.

Donating money to an organization is also a great way to help, and it doesn’t need to be a large sum.

Thousands of people who donate a dollar or two will

ultimately make a huge difference.

Helping people in everyday life is easy as well.

You only have to think of all those simple gestures you can do every day, such as holding the door open for a young mom and her stroller, or giving up your seat on the subway or bus to an elderly person.

Make a lasting difference in the life of a foster child in Columbia County.

Volunteer.

Celebrating 150 Years!

1870-2020

Opening for tours Labor Day Weekend Restoration of Dr. Caples House will be completed! Bring the family and plan your visit to this beautiful historic site!

casahelpskids.org (503) 410-5043

St. Helens Day Breakers Kiwanis “Serving the Children of the World” The Day Breakers continue to work with local schools and agencies to benefit children and teens. The annual October Children’s Fair and the spring Safety Fair and Bike Rodeo will return in 2021 – we hope!

Currently our meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday mornings at 7:15 on Zoom.

Please contact Marilyn Allen at 503-396-0939 and leave a message if you would like an invitation to attend.

It’s the third type of happiness in Seligman’s model, that which derives from a “meaningful” mode of living, that is relevant to volunteering. For Seligman, this happiness stems from a sense of belonging, meaning and purpose. According to both a large body of research and volunteers themselves, volunteering frequently generates these very effects.

Volunteers obtain a sense of belonging from engaging with their community and expanding their social network, and a sense of meaning and purpose from their perception that they’re making a positive difference. Hence the sense of happiness, or this “helper’s high,” that so many volunteers report feeling.

11:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Saturdays • Group size limited to 10 including docent • Masks required for all visitors and staff • CDC and State mandates in place

Caples House Museum Complex

1925 First Street Columbia City, OR 97018 www.capleshouse.com (503) 397-5390 caplesehouse@comcast.net

Caples House Museum Complex is a nationally registered historic landmark owned and operated by the Oregon State Society Daughters of the American Revolution

Columbia Community Mental Health

is a non-profit agency dedicated to excellence in behavioral healthcare.

We are open and provide tele-health apointments.

If you are in crisis, call: (503) 782-4499 Let the team know we are doing: contactccmh@ccmh1.com Walk-In Clinic Schedule Monday and Tuesday 1pm 3pm Thursday and Friday 9am-11am

*call if these days/times don’t work for you

Main Campus: 58646 McNulty Way St. Helens, OR 97051

The River City Singers A non-audition community chorus You are invited to join the choir!

Alice Boyer Artistic Director, Robert Fishel, Accompanist River City Singers

“Empowering people to live safe, healthy, non-violent lives.”

Sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking assistance for ALL of Columbia County.

• 24-Hour Helpline 503-397-6161 • Sexual Assault Accompaniment • Mobile,Court and DHS Advocacy • Shelter • Emergency Assistance

• Support and Educational Groups • Prevention in all County School Districts • Trauma-Informed Yoga • Volunteer Opportunities!

www.safeofcolumbiacounty.org

Lynnda Fuller. Director, Robin Nunn, Accompanist River City Singers Children’s Choir

We’ll be rehearsing and performing again as soon as we can. Plans are ongoing for upcoming concerts and special projects.

Contact Marilyn by phone or by text at (503) 396-0939 Columbia County’s trusted local news source

A8

www.thechiefnews.com

Cast your line: Free fishing

For more information, contact the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Department at, 503947-6000.

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Everyone can fish for free in Oregon on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 15-16.

“Getting outdoors to fish can be a safe and healthy activity right now, and a good respite during this difficult time,” Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Director Curt Melcher said.

“We do ask all who participate to please follow all virus precautions so everyone has a safe time this Free Fishing Weekend.”

No fishing licenses or tags (including a Combined Angling Tag or Columbia River Basin Endorsement or Two-Rod Validation) are required to fish, crab or clam in Oregon that weekend.

Although no licenses or tags are required, all other fishing regulations apply including closures, bag limits and size restrictions. See the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations to find out more and remember to check for any in season regulation changes at https:// myodfw.com/recreationreport/fishing-report/ While nonresidents can also fish for free Aug. 15-16, there are still special restrictions in place on the coast due to COVID-19. Currently, clamming and mussel harvesting is closed to nonresidents coastwide.

Crabbing is open to nonresidents along most of the coast but is closed to nonresidents in the Columbia River and in ocean areas north of Cape Falcon (nonresidents may crab in bays and estuaries north of Cape Falcon e.g.

Necanium River estuary).

A few other clamming and crabbing closures are in effect (including razor clamming on Clatsop beaches due to an annual conservation closure), see the Recreation Report page for details.

Also remember to always call the ODA Shellfish safety hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or check ODA’s Recreational Shellfish page before you head out. The Oregon Department of Agriculture regularly tests shellfish and closes areas when naturally occurring biotoxins get to levels that make crabs and clams unsafe to eat.

New to fishing and wondering where to go? Check the Recreation Report, which is updated on Thursday each week, for the best opportunities for the weekend. This time of year, the best bets are typically warmwater fishing and high lakes trout fishing.

On the coast, try surfperch fishing from beaches or jetties. Crabbing or clamming can be a great activity for families; find detailed maps on where to go on MyODFW. com Crabbing and Clamming pages.

Officials ask that you remember to follow ongoing precautions in place due to the COVID-19 virus: • Practice social distancing. Keep six feet between you and anyone who doesn’t live in your immediate household, including while on a boat or at a fish cleaning station.

• Wear a mask. Recreation areas can get more crowded on the weekends and during Free Fishing Weekend. Wear a mask outdoors when you can’t maintain six feet of distance from someone who doesn’t live in your household.

• Wash your hands often.

Keep up on personal hygiene and bring your own water, soap, and hand sanitizer with you.

• Stay home if you are sick.

• Be prepared. Restrooms and other facilities may be more limited. Bring your own soap, water, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, food, etc.

• Avoid crowds. Go someplace else if your destination looks crowded.

• Pack out what you pack in. Take any garbage with you.

• Check for access before you go. Many spots have reopened to public access but some may still be closed, now due to wildfire season as well as COVID-19. ODFW does not control access to land or facilities (such as boat ramps) that it doesn’t manage, so check with the land manager or facility owner where you want to go about what’s open before you leave home.

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