Dock enforcement Page A2
column
Preparedness lesson Page A4
$1.50
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021
VOL. 130, NO. 19 Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891
Painting the town: New mural going up
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
Clatskanie artist Jeremy Furnish checks with his wife, Amanda, as they prepare to work on the new mural. JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Work is underway in earnest at the site of Clatskanie’s newest city mural that will cover the south facing wall of Clatskanie’s former hospital, located on North Nehalem St. in downtown Clatskanie, visible from Highway 30. In April, Columbia County artist Jeremy Furnish announced plans for the mural, inspired by the literary works of Raymond Carver — a great American short story writer and poet who was born in Clatskanie in 1938. Furnish issued a “Call to Artists / Request for Design Proposals,” asking student, emerging,
and professional artists living in the Lower Columbia Region for the mural. Seaside resident Dylan Eckland’s submission was selected as first place by a panel of judges. A tattoo artist who runs a private shop in Seaside, Eckland said mural art was a natural outflowing of his creative pursuits. Eckland’s mural submission features a portrait of Raymond Carver alongside Beaver Falls and a quote from Carver’s poem ‘Where Water Comes Together With Other Water.’ The quote reads, “I’ll take all the time I please this afternoon before leaving my place alongside this river.”
Amanda Furnish uses a brush as she adds layers of paint to the mural.
At the site of the new mural on Wednesday morning, Sept. 15, Furnish said painting large images on the sides of buildings can be challenging. “It takes a village,” he said. “It
takes people who know what they are doing, know how to work with each other. It absolutely is a team effort because something this size is a task.” As the coordinator of the murals, Furnish said he thinks and directs in layers. “That’s my job, is the layers and then the volunteers are about a lot of the detail,” he said. “So, we have people painting over my back layers.” Furnish said he is hopeful the new mural will be completed in a few weeks. “Before it gets cold and wet,” he said. “We are going to do a big push right now.” Furnish is also looking to the
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
future and where he might paint another mural in the city. “We have a few candidates,” he said. “There’s talk of one on the side of the cultural center.” But Furnish acknowledges that mural may be a different type of project. “The cultural center’s foundation board will most definitely be specific about what they want,” he said. Another mural site Furnish said could be at the former Radio Shack store parking lot. “Something that can be very visible from the highway and is See MURAL Page A3
‘Highly contagious’ horse diseases STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) reports two highly contagious diseases have been discovered in horses in Oregon. West Nile Virus The ODA received six confirmed reports of West Nile Virus (WNV) diagnosed in Oregon horses in the past two weeks. One additional suspected case is under investigation. The affected horses live in multiple counties throughout the state: Umatilla, Malheur, and Klamath. None of the infected horses were recently vaccinated against WNV, and most of the horses have never been vaccinated for WNV. Numerous additional WNV
cases have also been reported recently in Washington, Idaho, and California near the Oregon border. Therefore, ODA advises annual vaccination as an effective tool for preventing WNV infection in horses. EVH-1 disease On Sept. 9, Oregon State Veterinarian, Dr. Ryan Scholz, DVM, received a report that Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHV-1) was diagnosed in one horse and suspected in a second horse on a private farm in Linn County. A third horse on the same farm tested positive for EHV-1, with a fourth and fifth horse exposed. Two of the affected horses were euthanized. A preliminary investigation shows none of the five horses have been moved off the farm or in contact with other horses in the
past four weeks. As a result, Scholz placed the farm under quarantine. EHV-1 is highly contagious, according to the ODA. While there are no known exposures linked to the Linn County farm, Scholz recommends that horse owners concerned about exposure monitor their horse’s temperature and contact their veterinarian if a fever or clinical signs develop. EHV-1 testing is generally not advised in asymptomatic horses. More information is available from Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC). West Nile Virus and EHV-1 are both reportable diseases in Oregon. Veterinarians must report suspected cases to the Oregon State Veterinarian by calling 503-986-4680. For more information about reportable equine diseases and West Nile Virus visit the Equine Disease Communication Center’s website.
Metro Creative Connection / The Chief
The Oregon Department of Agriculture confirms new cases of West Nile Virus and EHV-1 in Oregon affecting horses.
Clatskanie Pool ends new season JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Those enjoying the Clatskanie Pool will have to wait until next summer for a dip in the water. The popular pool ends its summer season Friday, Sept. 17. A $600,000 renovation project at the pool, located at 346 NE 5th
Viewpoints ................. A4 Letters ........................ A4 Classified Ads .......... A5 Public Notices ......... A5 Sports ........................ A6 Obituaries ................. A6
Contact The Chief
Street that began in February was completed by the middle of the summer, allowing the pool to reopen in mid July for the season. Built in 1958, the Clatskanie Pool is 90-feet long, 60-feet wide, and holds approximately 135,000 gallons of water, but over the years it has aged and significant repairs were needed. The renovations include resurfacing the deck, resurfacing and repainting the pool, replacing of the old tile gutter system with a stainless steel gutter system. The wading pool has been replaced with a splash pad and multiple pool piping issues including failures, potential failures and existing leaks were addressed. The cost of renovations are funded
See POOL Page A6
Swimmers enjoy the pool this week during an exercise class.
Phone: 503-397-0116 Fax: 503-397-4093 chiefnews@countrymedia.net 1805 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR 97051
ColumbiaCountyOR.Gov/Vaccine | 503-397-7247
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
www.thechiefnews.com
A2
Friday, September 17, 2021
Council looks at dock enforcement, timber sale
The City of Rainier is stepping up its enforcement along the city’s docks. JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
The City of Rainier is moving ahead with efforts to step up enforcement of issues along the city’s docks. During the Monday night, Sept. 13 Rainier City Council meeting, Rainier Police Chief Gregg Griffith said there have been problems at the marina with abandoned and derelict vessels. Rainier
City Administrator Scott Jorgensen said there have been a variety of issues at the docks. “People living in the boats, sleeping in the boats and not paying the required city fees,” Jorgensen said “We even had a boat that sank in the area and damaged the dock. That cost the city about $15,000 to remove.” Jorgensen said most of the problems at the marina
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
have been solved by enhanced enforcement by the police department. “The recent boat sinking was the catalyst for staff and council wanting a change in policy, as that boat had been a problem for months,” Jorgensen said. The council will continue the discussion with a review of dock fees and continued enforcement during its October public meeting.
The City of Rainier is moving ahead with a new 35-acre timber sale.
Timber sale The council also moved ahead with a proposed 35acre timber sale in the city’s watershed area. “The sale will bring a net profit of just under half a million dollars,” Jorgensen said. “We have a timber fund that was set aside years ago for projects that have long term benefits.”
Metro Creative Connection / The Chief
The fund currently has $1.2 million banked. City Forester Patrick McCoy told the council that lumber prices are currently high and the area being targeted for timber harvest includes some of the best timber in the city’s watershed. When the market is high, the best practice is to target the best wood to maximize profits, according to McCoy, who said he has
received a competitive bid from competent local contractors for good prices. The city has historically harvested around 25-acres per year, which is sustainable, McCoy said, telling the council that he wants to harvest a bigger unit every other year because it’s more efficient and cuts the city’s costs, which would result in bigger units being cut less often.
People Not Politicians seeking independent commission JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
The Oregon Legislature is to convene Monday, Sept. 20, in a special legislative session to adopt new congressional and legislative district maps, as the next step in the census and redistricting process, but one group is opposing the state legislature’s redistricting efforts. “We believe Oregon voters should choose their politicians. Politicians should not choose their voters,” People Not Politicians (PNP) Chairman Norman Turrill said, adding that PNP seeks an independent redistricting commission. Turrill said PNP is a diverse coalition of organizations, and he referred The Chief to the group’s website that lists such organizations as Common Cause of Oregon, League of Woman Voters, the Oregon Farm
Courtesy photo
The special state legislative session is set to begin at 8 a.m. Monday at the Oregon Capitol Building in Salem.
Bureau, and the Independent Party of Oregon as sponsors. The current process The special session will
•
begin at 8 a.m. Monday, Sept. 20. The Oregon Constitution directs the state legislature to reapportion legislative districts every 10 years, following the U.S. Census.
“In Oregon, we believe your vote is your voice, and every voice matters,” Gov. Kate Brown said. “This special session is an opportunity for legislators to set aside their differences
and ensure Oregon voters have their voices heard at the ballot box. Based on my conversations with legislative leaders, and the ongoing public testimony we are hearing from Oregonians across the state this week, I believe the Legislature is ready to begin the next step of the redistricting process.” According to the Oregon Supreme Court, the deadline for the Oregon Legislature to complete redistricting plans for state legislative districts and federal congressional districts is Sept. 27, 2021. Portland State Sen. Kathleen Taylor is the Oregon Legislature’s Redistricting Committee Chair. Taylor’s Legislative Director Katherine Morrison told The Chief in a published interview last April, that the benefits for Oregon with an additional congressional district include greater representation in the U.S.
House of Representatives. “So Oregonians’ voices are heard proportionately in the federal legislature,” she said. “It also gives Oregon an additional vote in the electoral college, which will increase Oregon’s influence in presidential elections. As our population has grown, Oregon can expect to see a greater portion of federal dollars to support our students, our infrastructure and human services.” Oregon’s currently Congressional delegation includes, Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Cliff Bentz, Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio, and Kurt Schrader. View the PNP website at www.peoplenotpoliticiansoregon.com/ and follow the redistricting efforts at thechiefnews.com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.
•C rossword P uzzle • • STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: THE 1990s ACROSS
1. Ridden or pushed around yard 6. Chlorofluorocarbon 9. Spiral-horned antelope 13. Make a canyon, e.g. 14. Much of this about nothing? 15. Forest destroyers 16. Basic belief 17. Popular pickup 18. Lake scum 19. *Popular email service eventually bought by Microsoft 21. *CD “maker” 23. FEMA’s assistance 24. Musician’s time to shine 25. Stephen King’s Christine, e.g. 28. Plural of locus 30. Mongolian monetary unit 35. Wraths 37. Jar covers 39. Like yellow polka dot bikini? 40. Desert in China and Mongolia 41. Knight’s mount 43. Cogito ____ sum 44. Change the Constitution, e.g. 46. Ready and eager 47. Table mineral 48. *Jennifer Aniston-inspired haircut, with “the” 50. Bank on 52. Modern prefix
53. Beacon light 55. Oolong, e.g. 57. *____ Sese Seko, overthrown Zairian dictator 60. *African National Congress leader released from prison 64. Like a candle? 65. *1997’s “Fly” by Sugar ____ 67. Lowest point 68. Smart ____ 69. Marching insect 70. Opposite of digest 71. *Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan’s domain 72. Employer Assisted Housing, acr. 73. Fender bender consequences
DOWN
1. Crystalline hydrochloride, colloquially 2. Nabisco top best-seller 3. Refuses to 4. Bodily swelling 5. Not wholesale 6. Lewis of sprinting and long jumping fame 7. Vaccine-approving agency, acr. 8. Burger, fries and soda 9. Brick-drying oven 10. It’s hard to resist 11. Precedes Abby 12. Consume, as in drugs 15. Slang for radical or cool, 2 words
20. America’s singer choices 22. Last, abbr. 24. Weapon in a holster 25. Fidel Castro’s smoke 26. Pleasant odor 27. Renaissance instrument resembling a violin 29. *TV hit “Sex and the ____” 31. “Bee ____” 32. What many TV hits have done 33. Fireplace 34. *_____ Protocol, climate change-related international treaty 36. Hyperbolic sine 38. Withered 42. COVID-19 variant 45. Expose the falseness 49. “____ the Games Begin!” 51. Pined 54. Sign of a saint, pl. 56. “Bad news travels fast,” e.g. 57. Algeria’s neighbor 58. Plow-pulling duo 59. *”Where It’s At” singer 60. Urban story 61. Adam and Eve’s garden 62. *Oscar winner “Schindler’s ____” 63. A in BA 64. *Gulf ____ or Bosnian ____ 66. American Nurses Association
Solution to crossword in next week’s issue of The Chief. Columbia County’s trusted local news source
www.thechiefnews.com
Friday, September 17, 2021
A3
COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations declining in outdoor gatherings. Officials are also carefully monitoring COVID-19 cases among children in Oregon. The virus is not likely to be as severe among children. Vaccinations for children under 12-years-old could be available by the end of this year, according to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.
JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
The Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) COVID-19 Weekly Report shows decreases in daily cases, hospitalizations and deaths. By the numbers On Wednesday, Sept. 15, the OHA reported 12,997 new cases of COVID-19 during the week of Monday, Sept. 6 through Sunday, Sept. 12. That represents an 11% decrease from the previous week. Since the summer surge began in early July, 79% of cases have been sporadic, without known sources. There were 592 new COVID-19 hospitalizations, down from 1,028 last week. That marks the first drop in nine consecutive weeks of increases. While the number of new hospitalizations has decreased, this hospitalization number does not account for people who remain hospitalized from previous weeks. Over the past week, there was a slight decrease in the number of hospitalized COVID-19 positive
Vaccinations
Metro Creative Connection / The Chief
State and local health officials are reviewing encouraging details about COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths decreasing, but they caution that the pandemic is not over.
patients as reported through Oregon’s Hospital Capacity Web System (HOSCAP), but the number of hospitalized patients is still high. There were 120 reported COVID-19 related deaths, down from 171 reported the previous week. It was the first decrease in the weekly death toll after six weeks of
increases. There were 149,123 tests for COVID-19 for the week of Sept. 5 through Sept. 11. The percentage of positive tests increased to 12%. Caution advised Even though cases, hospitalizations and deaths are slowing, the OHA and
Columbia County Health officials say the virus and the Delta variant are still very dangerous. The majority of current cases are among the unvaccinated, according to the health officials who continue to urge people to get vaccinated, wear a mask when in an indoor public setting and while among crowds
MURAL From Page A1
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
Volunteer Jason Luker administers a COVID-19 vaccination during a drive-through clinic at Clatskanie City Park in June.
Testing, vaccination volunteers needed COLUMBIA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH Chief Guest Article
Have you been wondering how you can lend a helping hand at testing or vaccination events in Columbia County? Now is the time. The Columbia County Public Health Department is now accepting volunteer applications for COVID-19 testing and vaccination assistance. We are looking for reliable and enthusiastic individuals who would like to volunteer for clinical and non-clinical positions. We are building volunteer teams to support immunization and testing events throughout the upcoming months. Our teams need greeters, vaccinators, registration and check-in assistants, clinical and non-clinical monitors, and supply runners. How to volunteer Your first step towards volunteering for this team is
to go online (https://tinyurl. com/ftrpmbxy) and fill out the Columbia County Public Health Volunteer Interest Form. Once your completed form is received, the department’s volunteer coordinator will review your application and send a follow-up email with instructions for completing the county volunteer form, volunteer agreement, and the disclosure and authorization for a background check. After the Columbia County Public Health Department approves your
very colorful that will continue the draw to Nehalem Street,” he said. Furnish said it’s necessary to paint the town. “There are a lot of old buildings that need a coat of paint,” he said. “The curb appeal someone sees driving through town is really important. The goal is to bring some outside money into the city and murals also improve the overall community’s livability.” This is the second city mural that Furnish and a team of artists and other volunteers have put up in downtown Clatskanie. In 2020, Furnish issued a submission contest for local artists when he painted his first mural in Clatskanie, “Homeward Bound” on the
Right now, COVID-19 vaccinations are free and available for anyone 12-years and older at most pharmacies and health centers. Columbia Health Services is also offering walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinics. The vaccinations are available from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. You can also call 800-2444870 to schedule an appointment for other times. Columbia Health Services Walk-in Clinics Mondays Vernonia School-Based Clatskanie Hazen Hardware Building, featuring a group of Chinook salmon swimming upstream to spawn. Joining Furnish at the mural site Wednesday was his wife, Amanda, who said she learns something new each time she works with the murals. “Each time we paint I learn from other people about details, about working such a large scale, about light, shadow and human interaction, and how the painting effects people coming by,” Amanda said. The Furnishs thanked Integrity Electric for loaning the couple a pickup truck equipped with a lift, giving the artists opportunities to paint the higher exterior of the murals. The costs of the murals can be from three thousand to five thousand dollars, depending on the size and content, according to Furnish.
Clinic 1000 Missouri Ave. Vernonia Tuesdays Clatskanie School-Based Clinic 471 Bel Air Dr. Behind the high school next to the football field Clatskanie Wednesdays St. Helens Sacagawea 1060 Eisenschmidt Lane by Eisenschmidt Pool St. Helens Thursdays Rainier Health Center 28168 Old Rainier Road Next to the school district officer Rainier For more information, call Columbia Health Services at 503-3974651 or the Columbia County Health Department at 503-3977247. Follow new COVID-19 pandemic developments at thechiefnews.com. “It’s about $300 a day or so for the materials and that comes out of grant money or private fundraising,” he said. “By having the support of local businesses, like Integrity and the people of the community, that is where the value is.” Furnish and his wife said the “fun part” of painting the city murals is to be able to work with other creative people in the community. The “hard part” is organizing the effort, “and painting around the wires attached to the buildings,” both Jeremy and Amanda said. The Furnishs also expressed their gratitude to the Clatskanie Arts Commission for its support of the city murals. Read more about the Clatskanie murals in a series of articles at thechiefnews.com.
application, you will receive onboarding information from the Volunteer Coordinator, including instructions for the required HIPAA and Information Security trainings. Upon completion of these steps, the volunteer coordinator will work with you to schedule shifts, assign positions, provide position descriptions, and answer questions as they come up. If you have any questions regarding volunteering to help at these events, please call the Public Health Volunteer Coordinator at 503-397-7247.
CLATSKANIE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1981 40 YEAR REUNION For those who are interested, there is a home football game Friday Sept. 24th at 7:00 pm. Clatskanie VS Knappa. The Reunion will be held at the Clatskanie City Park on Saturday Sept. 25th from 5:00-8:00 pm. Please refer to Facebook page “Clatskanie High School Class of 1981.” For more information, text Deni (Stram) Youngblood @ 503.308.3680 with questions.
Columbia County’s trusted local news source
www.thechiefnews.com
A4
Friday, September 17, 2021
•V iewpoints • • What the pandemic taught us about crisis preparedness •
MARTIN GOLDEN Chief Guest Column
Martin Golden
The pandemic has shown Oregonians the critical importance that small business plays in both our local and national economies. It was critical for entrepreneurs to immediately change their business models and pivot to a new way of selling their products and
•
•V oices
Letter to Sheriff Pixley Another “disappointed” letter to Sheriff Pixley. Please know, Sheriff, that many residents of Columbia County do not support the sentiments in your letter to Gov. Brown. None of us enjoy wearing masks. Most of us were hoping this awful virus was behind us. But now COVID-19 cases are once again raging throughout our country, our state, and our county, principally due to unvaccinated, unmasked individuals. By encouraging Columbia County residents not to follow medically recommended restrictions (especially masks), you are imposing on the health and welfare of ALL of us. You stated, “I…have the right to do what is in the best interest of our community”. Isn’t maintaining the health of our community in everyones “best interest?” Columbia County is not an isolated entity. Our actions effect other regions. Many of us depend on the Portland area for our livelihoods and, more importantly, our health care. Since we DO NOT have a hospital, all our very sick patients will need to go somewhere else for care – likely Portland. This places an additional burden on their resources and an already stressed health system. Sheriff, one of your Value Statements is, “The rights of all are upheld and protected.” If true, then our right to feel safe and remain healthy should be considered. Unfortunately, you appear to be more interested in gaining political points than abiding by the law and protecting the health of your community. How very sad for our county. Christine Ebrahimi Columbia City
services overnight. The U.S. Small Business Administration is highlighting the resilience of America’s entrepreneurs and the renewal of the small business economy as they build back better from the economic crisis brought on by the pandemic. Though beating the pandemic is still front and center in moving our economy forward, our nation is still vulnerable to a variety of natural disasters including wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, and drought. History has shown that up to 25 percent of businesses that close because of disaster never reopen. All Oregon businesses should develop a workable crisis preparedness plan that takes into consideration what we learned over the last 18 months from the pandemic. The following are six simple business strategies a business can use for future crises.
of the
C
1. Evaluate your exposure. Know your community and the types of disasters most likely to impact your business. Consider your facility’s proximity to flood plains, wildfire areas, rivers and streams, and other hazards. Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic should be the first exposure issue on the list. 2. Review your insurance coverage. Consult your insurance agent to determine whether your coverage is sufficient and what it covers. You may need separate flood insurance and determine what is or is not covered during a pandemic. Check into business interruption insurance, which helps you cover operating expenses if you’re forced to temporarily close. 3. Review and prepare your supply chain. Establish business relationships with alternate vendors in case your primary supplier isn’t
•
ommunity •
Connection between masks and vaccinations Three weeks have now passed since Sheriff Pixley posted his anti-science manifesto on Facebook. Since then, we have seen new COVID cases in our County increase from a sevenday average of 22 per day (already scary enough) to 26 per day, for a total number of recorded cases here now over 3,000. COVID has taken 37 lives in this County already. So the question is, does Sheriff Pixley have the sense to understand the connection between masks and vaccinations, and public safety? If so, why doesn’t he urge everyone to wear masks and get vaccinated, rather than rail against the Governor’s earnest attempts to keep Oregonians safe? Maybe he does understand the threat but can’t find the moral courage to say so, instead siding with what may be the more popular anti-mask, anti-vax views here. Sheriff Pixley was elected to lead this County by protecting and serving us, but his conduct shows that he lacks either the judgment to understand what is in our best interests, or the ethics to tell the people the truth. Either way, he is not fit to hold office. Jeff Campbell Scappoose
Join the war effort My country is now at war. At war with the virus. In our long history, Americans have always come together in common purpose to defeat our enemies and save
our country. And we have sacrificed for common good. My parents sacrificed during the last world war. Now we are all asked to sacrifice to win the war against the virus. We have few weapons but the ones we have have proven effective. We can get vaccinated and we can wear masks when we are around others. Is wearing a mask too much of a burden for my fellow Americans? It is a small sacrifice. Rather than cry or whine about masking and personal liberty, let’s join the war effort. It is the most patriotic thing we can do right now.
available. Place occasional orders with them so they’ll regard you as an active customer. Create a contact list for important business contractors and vendors you plan to use in an emergency. Keep this list at an offsite location. At the start of the pandemic many food suppliers temporarily ceased operations and were not able fulfill their customer’s orders.
Developing an effective and workable crisis recovery plan is critical for all small business owners.
4. Create a crisis communications plan. At the beginning of the pandemic many business owners did not have current contact
information for their employees and vendors. Establish an email/Twitter/Facebook alert system, keeping primary and secondary email addresses for your employees, vendors, and customers. Provide real-time updates to your customers/clients and the community so they know you’re still in business and in the process of rebuilding following a crisis. 5. Establish a written chain of command. Let your employees know the emergency chain of command should your business close. Maintain a clear leave- and sick-day policy during disasters. Have a backup payroll service should your office be destroyed. 6. Create/implement a Business Continuity Plan. This plan should state when it will be activated; identify essential business functions, and staff to carry out these functions; determine which
employees will be considered non-essential vs. essential; and identify records and documents that must be secured and readily accessible to perform key functions. All of this may need to be done remotely from home. Developing an effective and workable crisis recovery plan is critical for all small business owners. For more information about crisis planning, and SBA’s ongoing COVID 19 relief programs, please visit www.sba.gov/disaster. Martin Golden is the Small Business Administration’s Portland District Director and Acting Pacific Northwest Regional Administrator based in Portland. He oversees all of the agency’s programs and services across the Oregon and Southwest Washington. The SBA Portland office may be reached at 503-326-7251.
‘One of the greatest generations’ RYAN TOMPKINS Chief Guest Column
Back-to-School, Homecoming, “Friday Night Lights”... this time of year conjures up all kinds of nostalgic things at Clatskanie Middle/High School (CMHS). COVID-19 has had an undeniable impact on our students. Yet, the kids in our community have continued to persevere through these unprecedented times. There is no easier way for this community to celebrate and recognize these students, than through co-curricular activities and events. This fall, CMHS will be
offering middle school and high school cross country, football and volleyball. All of the student-athletes that you see on the court/field/course are on-track to graduate, attend all of their classes, and abide by a higher standard of code of conduct for the honor and privilege of representing this school and community. I often think of Tom Brokaw’s quote when he refers to those kids who grew up during the Great Depression and went on to fight in World War II as “the greatest generation any society has ever produced.” That group was raised through an unprecedented
time and went on to accomplish great things for this country, and the world. Is it possible that these students in our town at this time can go on to be counted as “one of the greatest generations?” While the goal is lofty, the sentiment remains. I invite everyone to attend a youth/ school sporting event this fall and find ways to positively influence/encourage the children of our community towards greatness. Ryan Tompkins is the Clatskanie Middle/High School Athletic Director and Dean of Students. He may be reached at 503-728-2146.
Ray Horn Scappoose
Questions for “Voices of the Community” Please explain how Sheriff Pixley can enforce the state’s mask mandate? Scenario, your in a store and an unmasked person enter. Do twenty people call 911? Probably not. The store has to call 911. Do twenty jump the offender and hold him/her for the police to arrive? Probably not. How long before our thin blue line can respond? How long will it take for the offender to leave and/ or obtain an mask and put it on? No longer in violation of the mandate and the police have wasted their time and resources. Another question, for all those who do not get vaccinated because they object to the government telling them to do something for their safety. Do you wear a seat belt? Oh, that can save your life, too. David Topham Warren
The Chief
Weekly Online Poll
Last Week’s Results
Are you going to attend a local high school sporting event this fall?
Are you ready for fall with cooler temperatures and rain?
Yes
No
26% Yes
74% No
Vote online at thechiefnews.com
The Chief (USPS 116-360) is published weekly by Country Media, Inc. 1805 Columbia Blvd, St. Helens, OR 97051
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Chief PO Box 1153, St. Helens, OR 97051
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 1 month in county: $8 1 month out of county: $10 One year in county: $60 One year out of county: $80
Contact Us • Phone: (503) 397-0116 • Fax: (503) 397-4093 • Website: www.thechiefnews.com Editorial Email: chiefnews@countrymedia.net • Advertising Email: chronicleads@countrymedia.net
Editorial policy Opinions expressed on this page are independent of The Chief views and are solely those of the writers expressing them. Letters policy This newspaper’s letters to the editor are limited to a maximum of 250 words and will be edited for grammar, spelling and blatant inaccuracies. Unsubstantiated or irresponsible allegations, or personal attacks on any individual, will not be published. Letters containing details presented as facts rather than opinions must include their sources. Writers are limited to one published letter per month. All submissions must include the author’s full name, local street address and telephone number (only the name and city of residence will be published). By submitting a letter, writers also grant permission for them to be posted online. Opinions expressed on this page are the writer’s alone and do not represent the opinion of the newspaper or its parent company, Country Media, Inc.
Columbia County’s trusted local news source
Write to us We want to hear from you and encourage you to write letters to the editor. Because of space limitations, shorter letters have a better chance of being printed. We may edit your letter for style, grammar and clarity, although we do as little editing as possible. If you don’t want your letter printed under those conditions, just let us know. Thank-you letters are limited to a general thanks and summary of an issue or action. We reserve the right to exclude lists of people, organizations and businesses. Letters received after noon on Friday may not be in time for the following Wednesday’s paper. To verify authenticity, all letters must be signed and include your address and daytime phone number. We won’t print your street address or phone number (just your city of residence). Submissions may be emailed to chiefnews@countrymedia.net, sent via mail, or dropped off at the office. 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.
Friday, September 17, 2021
A5
www.thechiefnews.com
’
CC21-1511
CC21-1512
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) The City of Clatskanie a $720,000 Community sions are due at City Hall by OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA is seeking a Request for Block Development Grant to close of business, September Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of MARY LUCY SANDAHL, Deceased. No. 21PB06699 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed personal representative of this estate. All persons having claims against the
estate are required to present their claims, with vouchers attached, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice to the personal representative at P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048, or the claims may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceedings may obtain
additional information from the records of the Court, the personal representative or the attorney for the personal representative. Dated and first published September 3, 2021. Stephanie Cox, Personal Representative. STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C. Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048.
CC21-1513
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of CARL LEE PELLHAM, Deceased. No. 21PB06909 NOTICE TO INTERESETED PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed personal representative of this estate. All persons having claims against
the estate are required to present their claims, with vouchers attached, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice to the personal representative at P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048, or the claims may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceedings may obtain
additional information from the records of the Court, the personal representative or the attorney for the personal representative. Dated and first published Sept. 10, 2021. William C. Pellham, Personal Representative. STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C., Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048.
Qualifications (RFQ) for a Grant Administrator to manage the financials and reporting requirements of
conduct the Engineering and Environmental assessment phase for a new Waste-water Treatment Plant. Submis-
30th 2021. Please go to the City’s website at www. cityofclatskanie. com for a copy of the RFQ.
CC21-1502
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA CLAY W. BROWN, Petitioner, and YVONNE D. DEITERING, Respondent. No. 12-3343 SUMMONS To: CLAY W. BROWN You are hereby required to appear and defend the order to show cause filed against you in the above-entitled action within THIRTY (30) DAYS of the date of service of this summons upon you, and, in case of your failure to do so, for want thereof, respondent will apply to the court for the relief demanded in the order to show cause. NOTICE TO THE PETITIONER: READ THESE PAPERS 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 THIRTY (30) DAYS of the date of first publication specified herein, along with the required filing fee. It must be in proper form and have proof of service on the respondent’s attorney or, if the respondent does not have an attorney, proof of
service upon the respondent. The date of first publication of this summons is August 13, 2021. If you have any questions, you should see an attorney immediately. If you need help in finding an attorney, you may call the Oregon State Bar’s Lawyer Referral Service at (503) 684-3763 or toll-free in Oregon at 1-800452-7636. Stephen D. Petersen, OSB #73235, Attorney for Respondent. STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C., P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048, (503) 556-4120.
Sept. 17-19 Marvelous Mosaic Fine Art Owners Kory and Rachel Dollar are offering an inside look at their stained glass mosaic, fusion, and vitrigraph art studio that primarily focuses on artists connections and empowerment through art, with a one year anniversary celebration in Deer Island from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Look for guest artists, hot glass demonstrations, free kids projects, and art sales. The event will follow all state and city guidelines for COVID-19 mask regulations. Location: Marvelous Mosaic Fine Art, 64535 Columbia River Highway in Deer Island. For more information, visit https:// www.pnwglassguild. org/event/open-studiosportland.
Sept. 19 Clatskanie Arts Commission Performing Arts Series The Fern Hill Bluegrass Band with the Bloomer Family is scheduled at 3 p.m. at the Birkenfeld Theatre in the Clatskanie Cultural Center, 75 S. Nehalem in Clatskanie. Tickets: Adults - $10; Seniors/Students - $8; Children 12 and under - $6. Tickets available online at clatskaniearts. org or by leaving a message at 503.728.3403. For more details, contact Elsa Wooley at 503-338-9770. Sept. 25 Class Reunion Clatskanie High School Class of 1981 will celebrate its 40 year reunion from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Clatskanie City Park. Fore more information, visit the Facebook page Clatskanie High School Class of 1981 or text Deni (Stram) Youngblood at 503-3083680.
Columbia County’s trusted local news source
www.thechiefnews.com
A6
Friday, September 17, 2021
Unemployment rate falls below 5%
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
The Oregon Employment Department reports 2,078,379 employed last month and 98,497 unemployed. STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
Oregon’s unemployment rate has dropped below 5% for the first time since March 2020, when the rate was 3.6%, according to the Oregon Employment Department Oregon’s unemployment rate was below 5% in only two other periods since 1976 when comparable records began. During 14 consecutive months in the mid-1990s when the rate dropped to as low as 4.5%; and during the 51 consecutive months during 2016 through March 2020 when the
•
rate dropped to a record low of 3.3% in late 2019. The U.S. unemployment rate dropped to 5.2% in August from 5.4% in July. In Oregon, nonfarm payroll employment grew by 7,900 in August, following monthly gains averaging 10,300 in the prior seven months. Gains in August were largest in government (+3,500 jobs); wholesale trade (+1,400); leisure and hospitality (+1,200); and professional and business services (+1,000). Only one major industry cut jobs: retail trade (-1,900 jobs). Since the low point of April 2020, at the economic
depths of the COVID-induced recession, Oregon has recovered 204,700 jobs, or 72% of the jobs lost during the recession. Leisure and hospitality added 1,200 jobs in August, following a gain of 6,100, as revised, in July. Despite these gains, it still accounts for the bulk of Oregon’s jobs not recovered since early 2020, with 44,300 jobs left to recover to reach the prior peak month of February 2020. The industry has regained 60% of jobs lost early in the pandemic. Employment in health care and social assistance has been relatively flat all year. This major industry recovered substantial jobs in mid- through late-2020, but is still down 10,400 jobs, or 4%, since its pre-recession peak of February 2020. Over the past year, nursing and residential care facilities has been especially weak, having lost 1,300 jobs since August 2020. Meanwhile, two component industries have expanded in the past 12 months: ambulatory health care services (+3,100 jobs) and social assistance (+1,100 jobs).
•S ports • •
Clatskanie Middle/High School sports schedule Saturday, Sept. 18 • Volleyball at OES Tournament 10 a.m. Monday Sept. 20 • Middle School Volleyball at Vernonia at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21 • Volleyball vs. Willamina JV at 4 p.m. Varsity at 5:30 p.m. • Girls Soccer at Castle Rock 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17 • Football 7 p.m. at Willamina
POOL
From Page A1 through the city’s Scout Lake Funds, a special timber revenue collection set aside by the City of Clatskanie. Clatskanie Parks and Recreation District Administrator Cyndi Warren said overall she has received positive comments about the pool improvements and the district was able to overcome the challenge of finding adequate lifeguards for the safe operations of the pool. “We were able to get a few additional guards trained and hired and the swim lesson sessions we were able to offer this summer were very well attended,” Warren said. “The challenges we had were related to the COVID-19 pandemic and new construction issues.”
•
Wednesday Sept. 22 • Football vs. Warrenton 4 p.m. Warren said as the pool closes for the season it will be prepped for winter and any updates or projects in the building will be worked on during the winter and spring months. “June 2022 will be our planned opening and the exact date usually coincides with the end of the school year,” Warren said. “As for adequate lifeguards, we will start the hiring process in February, as we have always done. The district also hopes to be able to have our own lifeguard instructor to be able to train incoming lifeguards and not have to contract the training out of district.” The Clatskanie Pool draws thousands each summer for community and family swims, swimming lessons, aerobics, senior exercising, synchronized swim team performances and other programs. The pool also offers full and part time
•C rossword S olutions • •
Solution for the Sept. 10, 2021 crossword puzzle
• Middle School Volleyball vs. Jewell at 4 p.m. • Volleyball vs. Willamina JV at 5:15 p.m. Varsity at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23 • Volleyball @Rainier JV at 4 p.m. Varsity at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24 • Football vs. Knappa at 7 p.m. Saturday Sept. 25 • JV Volleyball at Warrenton cancelled • Girls Soccer vs. Tillamook at Clatskanie City Park at 4 p.m. employment opportunities and training for student lifeguards. Following a limited summer season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the pool closed in September 2020. It underwent the renovations this year, reopening in July. “Moving forward, the district is just hopeful to be able to operate a full summer of lessons, four to five sessions, as we have done in the past,” Warren said. “It is not currently in the budget, but replacing the slide would be one element that the district will work towards.” Warren acknowledged that the pool staff has stepped up to meet the challenges. “The last few years have been challenging with COVID, the pool renovation and staffing difficulties, but our pool managers Charity and Becki, as well as our loyal and dedicated lifeguard staff, have done an amazing job of ‘rolling with the punches’ and keeping the pool operating as best as the circumstances at the time allowed for our community,” Warren said. Clatskanie Pool Fast Facts 135 Average number of daily patrons (this does not include swim lessons) 2 Week Swim Lessons • Session 1 - 141 kids • Session 2 - 177 kids
Building Bridges to Self Sufficiency
Community Action Team
Are you a veteran? You may be entitled to benefits for serving your country.
Contact your Veteran Service Officer • 503-366-6580 Call CAT at (503)397-3511 to find out if you qualify. Rental and energy assistance applications are available at 125 N. 17th St., St. Helens, OR. Also available on our website at www.CAT-TEAM.org
Columbia County’s trusted local news source
Metro Creative Connection / The Chief
The OSPIRG report shows that high health care costs are a widespread problem statewide.
Report shares medical debt insights, options HILARY DORESY
headlightreporter@countrymedia.net
The Oregon State Public Interest Research Group (OSPIRG) has released a report detailing medical debt in Oregon and how it can lead Oregonians to bankruptcy. The report, “Unhealthy Debt: Medical costs and bankruptcies in Oregon,” states at least 60 percent of Oregon’s consumer bankruptcies included medical debt in 2019. In a press conference Sept. 9, health care advocates discussed the medical debt situation and offered ways to address the problem. OS{IRG health care advocate Maribeth Guarino said the nonprofit advocacy group looked at 8,000 bankruptcy filings in 2019. The report gives insight into the burden of medical debt. “This report shows that high health care costs are not a problem limited to a single geographic area or economic demographic,” Guarino said. “It’s everywhere and we have to do something about it.” The report examined nearly $30 million in medical debt, Guarino added. “Our report shows that
•
the average medical debt was $2,362,” Guarino said. “Over 600 people had $10,000 or more in medical debt.” Medical costs are increasing. In a poll released last May by OSPIRG, 30 percent of Oregon voters reported seeing an increase in their medical costs in the last 12 months. “We desperately need to enact policies to address healthcare skyrocketing costs,” Guarino said. “For example, we could provide a public health insurance option that provides consumers a low cost health insurance choice. We can also lower prescription drug costs so that care or treatment is not cost-prohibitive.” Caitlin Costello, a student at Portland State University, got health insurance seven years ago and broke her elbow shortly after. “I had gone without insurance for almost eight years,” Costello said of growing up. “It really formed the way my family worked for a long time. We avoided anything that increased risk for medical bills.” While in college, Costello could not afford insurance
at first. She was able to get insurance seven years ago before her injury. “I was still in the same mentality as before,” Costello said. “I refused an ambulance, I waited almost three hours for family to come get me.” Costello said she knew it would be worse to pay for ‘extras’ or ‘luxuries.’ She refused pain medication upon arrival. During the entire process, she asked about cost and whether it was covered by insurance. Costello said her medical bills accumulated to $20,000 with $4,000 she had to pay out of pocket. “At the time, I was living paycheck to paycheck and desperately trying to get out of my situation,” Costello said. Costello is in school full time now and has health insurance. She said she appreciates the school has options but even those are not readily available. Guarino said the next step for OSPIRG members is sharing the report with every lawmaker they can. View the report online at https://bit.ly/3C3UfaO
•O bituaries • • Paul Clinton Skarra
Sept. 19, 1944 ~ Aug. 17, 2021 Paul Clinton Skarra passed away peacefully in his bed, as he would have wanted, and where his Brother David found him on Aug. 17, 2021. Paul was born the third child and son to Perry E and Rozelle “Dolly” Skarra in Browning, Montana on Sept. 19, 1944. Paul lived the majority of his life in Oregon - Portland, Lake Oswego, Clatskanie, and for the past many years, Seaside. Paul attended and graduated from Grant High School in Portland where he was a standout athlete in three sports. Paul loved the beach, the sounds of the waves and the wind when walking on the beach or sitting enjoying a sunset with a cold beer or glass of red wine. Paul opened his homes to family and friends to enjoy this peaceful place with him. Paul had multiple chances to show his heroic triumph over adversity in
his lifetime – including his multiple wounds, seen and unseen, from his work in the army in Vietnam in the late 1960s. Paul loved a good time and traveled with family and friends to ‘hot spots’ for fun and togetherness and enjoyed taking his chances at slot machines along with a glass of wine and sharing his bounty with friends and family. Paul remained kind, generous, sweet, a good friend to many, and an attentive brother to his family for his whole life. He found a home amongst good, long-time friends in Clatskanie and found that he was well-suited for his work at PGE, helping users maximize their energy use. It was here Paul added many to his list of lifelong friends. Paul is survived by his brothers, David (Diane) of Hammond, Oregon, Mike of Vista, California, and Stuart of Escondido,
California; sisters, Suzanne of Santa Cruz, California, and Terese of Oceanside, California; numerous nieces and nephews; and great nieces and nephews. When Paul met you, you became a friend which results in so many friends who loved and respected him that they number too many to count. Besides his parents, Paul was predeceased by his brother John of Portland; sister Mary of New Mexico; and niece Bridget Skarra of Oregon. The family expresses gratitude to brother David, nephew Kyle Skarra for helping in so many ways and making final arrangements, the Kulunkis - longtime friends from Clatskanie for their help, generosity, love and calm consideration and thanks to April – caregiver and friend. Memorial plans are forthcoming.