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The Chief
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020
School district challenges Page A2
The Chief
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VOL. 129, NO. 19
Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891
Oregon wildfires: ‘Worst air quality in the world’ cardiovascular or respiratory diseases). A study published this year found that increased air pollution exposure during wildfires in British Columbia, Canada was associated with increased ambulance dispatches related to respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. Importantly, this increase was observed within only one hour of wildfire smoke exposure. https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/ full/10.1289/EHP5792.
JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Oregon’s wildfires caused the state to have the worst air quality in the world over the past several days, according to Oregon health officials. Air quality advisories were posted throughout the state and in our area as a rare east wind event sent the heavy wildfire smoke into Columbia County the week of Sept. 7. The smoke lingered for several days. Health officials encouraged people to take extra precautions to avoid the poor air quality. Forecasters said rain showers by this weekend were expected to help clear the pollution. Some county businesses closed due to the poor air quality and to ensure the safety of their employees and customers. The Clatskanie Schools also ceased operations on Tuesday, Sept. 15, due to the air quality, but reopened on Wednesday, Sept. 16. For insight into the wildfire smoke health issues, The Chief contacted Associate Professor Perry Hystad, PhD, at Oregon State University School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, College of Public Health and Human Sciences. The Chief: What is it specifically about the wildfire smoke that is hazardous to our health and what does it do?
The Chief: How serious to our health is such prolonged exposure to this smoke?
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
The thick wildfire smoke drifted along along the Columbia River and inland to Clatskanie, Rainier and much of Columbia County over the past several days.
Perry Haystad: Wildfire smoke is a complete mix of particles and gases, but fine particulate matter, those particles under 2.5 microns is what we are most worried about. PM2.5 is fine particulate matter under 2.5 microns
(these are very very small particles that are easy to breathe deep into the lungs.) While larger particles are easy to notice (think eye and throat irritation), it is the fine particulates that are most dangerous as they can reach deep into the lungs to
cause systematic inflammation and even cross into the bloodstream. Exposure to wildfire smoke can cause serious health impacts, especially for those most susceptible (elderly, pregnant women, individuals with pre-existing
Haystad: There is strong evidence linking both short-term air pollution exposures (daily exposure) to triggering of health effects, as well as long-term air pollution exposures (years to decades) and the development of disease. What is unknown is what weekly periods of exposure to these very high air pollution levels will mean for the development and progression of diseases in the future. We recently published a global study examining long-term PM2.5 air pollution exposure and cardiovascular disease risk. This analysis included participants residing in very high air pollution
See AIR QUALITY Page A4
Fairgrounds shelters evacuees CHRISTINE MENGES chronicle2@countrymedia.net
Wildfires around Oregon have prompted hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate from their homes and travel to safer locations. The Columbia County Fairgrounds, located at 58892 Saulser Rd. in St. Helens, which had been serving as a shelter for farm animals, now shelters people as well. Glenda Irwin and her family, including husband, son, two dogs, and farm animals, were some of those people. However, Irwin said, the Columbia County Fairgrounds is the second location they had to evacuate to. At first, the family headed to Canby, before it, too, was evacuated. It was around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8 that Irwin, from Molalla, Oregon knew she and her family, along with their farm animals, had to evacuate their home. Irwin got the evacuation signal on her phone, similar to how Amber Alerts are sent. “We looked at it and it said Level 3, go now,” Irwin said. There are three different levels for those facing evacuation in Oregon. Level 1 means residents should “be ready” for a potential evacuation, monitor local media for further information and start to gather personal items. Level 2 means residents should “be set” to
Police Blotters.....A3 Clatskanie Grows A3 Opinions...............A4 Market Place........A5 Public Notices......A5
Christine Menges / The Chief
These tents were set up at the Columbia County Fairgrounds in St. Helens for people forced to evacuate their homes from regional wildfires.
evacuate and can choose to voluntarily evacuate at this point. Level 3 means residents must leave immediately and must not delay evacuating in order to gather personal items or protect their home. Irwin said it was no time at all before they went from Level 1 to Level 3. Irwin said her husband had messaged her at work to say that they were at Level 1 and thought they were still at Level 1 when she got home. “I have pictures on my phone of what it looked like going towards my house and the sky was just so red. It was bad,” Irwin said.
The family had very little time to gather personal belongings. Irwin said they were throwing things haphazardly into the car, like the family’s file cabinet and clothes in a laundry basket. This all happened in 10 minutes, Irwin said. With some help from Cowgirl 911, an Oregon animal evacuation and assistance group, Irwin was able to get her horses and sheep out of danger and bring them with her to Canby. Unfortunately, she had to leave some chickens and turkeys behind. Irwin still has no idea what has happened to them, or her house. “We’re still looking at our
phones, trying to see what’s up there. We have friends that go up there every now and then,” Irwin said, but they haven’t heard from those friends in a while. When the city of Canby went up to Level 2, Irwin was able to call someone to help her transport her farm animals to the Columbia County Fairgrounds the night of Thursday, Sept. 10. She and her family, three pet dogs and farm animals have been at the fairgrounds for a full day. Irwin said the whole incident has been hard on her. “I’m emotional,” she said. “I
broke down a few times.” However, she said the assistance she has gotten from the community so far has been a big help. “Everybody around here has been helping. This community is great,” Irwin said. That help has come in the form of many donations, both cash and material, which had filled the Columbia County Fairgrounds Pavilion the day of Friday, Sept. 11. From non-perishable food, to water bottles, to blankets, to pillows, to sleeping bags, to diapers, to clothing, to kids’ toys, nearly everything was available to help those in need. Taylor Fitzgerald, Special Event Coordinator for the Columbia County Fairgrounds, is one of the people coordinating the donations. Fitzgerald said donations started coming in Tuesday night, Sept. 8. “We got the okay to go ahead and open up our fairgrounds. And within 24 hours we were getting lots of animals, and people donating, and we’ve got thousands of dollars from people willing to donate, to help out the situation and lots and lots of clothes and food,” Fitzgerald said. In order to get the word out about needing donations, Fitzgerald said the fairgrounds posted on social media, such as on the Facebook page, Concerned Citizens of Colum-
See FAIRGROUNDS Page A5
State begins recovery in wildfire aftermath MAX KIRKENDALL newsguardeditor@countrymedia.net
After several days of firefighting efforts across the state of Oregon, Governor Kate Brown said Oregonians have been pushed to their limits. “It’s really hard for all of us to wrap our heads around the devastation that these fires have caused and the pain and the suffering that so many Oregonians endured over the past few days,” Brown said during a Monday, Sept. 14 press conference. So far, the Oregon State Medical Examiner has reported eight fire related fatalities and 12 missing persons. Those statistics will continue to be updated daily. But on a positive note, Brown said fire crews are feeling optimistic with the current forecasted weather, which should provide help to their efforts as temperatures drop and winds subside. Additionally, calls for assistance are being answered and resource crews from all over the country
and Canada have been coming to help. “We expect structural firefighting teams from North Dakota and Michigan to join our response this week,” Brown noted. “Michigan, California and Washington are providing resources to our emergency coordination center. Vermont and Nevada have reached out asking how they can help.” Also, FEMA, is also on the grounds of Oregon assisting with response. Gov. Brown said she recently sent a letter to President Donald Trump asking to declare a State of Disaster in Oregon, which will free up even more resources for state officials. Oregon is also working with the National Guard to distribute 250,000 N95 masks to agricultural workers and impacted tribes statewide as soon as possible. The masks will provide a certain level of protection to outdoor workers across the state. “The smoke blanketing the state is a reminder that this tragedy has not yet come to an end,”
Courtesy photo
A helicopter maneuvers in to drop water in the area of one of Oregon’s wildfires.
Brown said. Brown is encouraging everyone to donate to Red Cross and the Oregon Food Bank for victims of these wildfires. To assist recovery efforts, the state is asking three foundations: Ford Family, Meyer Memorial Trust, and the Oregon
Community Foundation, to help in the recovery efforts by kickstarting the 2020 Community Rebuilding Fund. Other organizations will also be encouraged to donate.
See WILDFIRE Page A2
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Friday, September 18, 2020
School districts remain challenged JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Already struggling with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, local school districts have been challenged over the past two weeks with air quality issues triggered by regional wildfires. The Clatskanie Schools were closed Tuesday, Sept. 15, due to the deteriorating air quality. The district resumed operations on Wednesday, but Superintendent Cathy Hurowitz said officials were continuing to monitor the air quality to ensure safety for staff and teachers. Students are still under the Distance Learning procedures, taking classes remotely. The Rainier School District (RSD) delayed its Sept. 14 opening date last week due to internal changes related to the pandemic and on the onset of the poor air quality. The RSD will remain closed until Monday, Sept. 21, according to Superintendent Dr. Joesph Hattrick. “We delayed the start of school to September 21 to ensure every staff member would be fully prepared to provide a quality education to our students,” Hattrick told The Chief. In a letter sent to district parents, Hattrick wrote, “The beginning of the school year is always a challenging time
Courtesy photo
Clatskanie Elementary School and others in the Clatskanie School District closed on Tuesday, Sept. 15 due to the poor air quality. The schools reopened Wednesday, Sept. 16, but officials continued to monitor the air quality to ensure safety. The schools are operating on a remote learning system with no in-person classes.
but with the addition of a pandemic, wildfires, and a new superintendent, the challenges are magnified. Drawing from my past experience in virtual education, I will continue to work with our staff to ensure every child has: • Access to their classroom. • A challenging and engaging curriculum. • Paper-based instruction for those without technology or access.
In light of my requirements, late arrival to Rainier School District, and the ability to ensure everyone’s success, we are delaying the start of school.” Hattrick told the parents that because RSD has more instructional time than required by the state, we will not be required to extend the school year. Additionally, student credit-earning ability will not be impacted.
Hattrick urged parents to monitor the RSD Facebook pages and website for updates. “I am planning to announce updated athletic plans and hybrid plans, including preK-3 in-person instruction,” he said. “As metrics continue to decrease in Columbia County, I am hopeful that we can return to an in-person learning model soon.” Hurowitz also sent a letter
to her district parents to alert them that the original fall school opening plans were being altered to follow state health guidelines. “Because we value our community’s safety we are going to begin our school year via Comprehensive Distance Learning beginning September 8,” Hurowitz wrote. “Per the guidance from the Governor and the OHA, we will monitor our
metrics every three weeks in the hopes of bringing our students back to the buildings on or before November 16. The health and safety of our students and staff is our priority and we will carefully adhere to State guidance every step of the way.” Hurowitz said Chromebooks are being provided for every student in the district as well as support for families who need internet service to their home and the district is working on providing hot spots if internet access is unavailable due to location. The district is also continuing a summer program providing meals for students. The Clatskanie School District also provided a community survey for families to write down their students’ specific needs, which Hurowitz said will give teachers and staff a better understanding to best serve each family. “I’m asking for your patience and a bit of grace as we move forward together,” Hurowitz wrote. “None of us asked for this and we are all in uncharted territory. This pandemic is an ongoing and fluid situation and things seem to change weekly/daily/ hourly.” Follow this developing story at thechiefnews.com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.
Portland shooting has Columbia connection ARE YOUCounty CONFUSED WITH MEDICARE? JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
The suspect in a shooting investigation in Portland is a former Columbia County man who had been tried for murder in 2009. Portland Police Central Precinct officers were dispatched shortly after midnight Monday, Sept. 14, to a report of a person shot in the 3000 block of Southeast 9th Avenue. Officers
learned that the suspect was believed to be still in the area so they formulated a victim rescue plan. Officers located a 40-year-old victim with gunshot wounds to the head and torso. At the same time, officers encountered the suspect, a 55-year old male, and he was arrested. The victim was transported to a hospital by ambulance where he was treated. His wounds are serious but are not believed
to be life threatening, acPossessing a firearm and cording to a release from lodged into the Multnomah Portland Police. County Detention Center. Assault detectives reMarchant is a former St. sponded and are investigatHelens resident who had ing. A gun was recovered as been tried for murder in evidence. Columbia County in 2009. Portland Police said the He had been accused of suspect contacted in the shooting and killing his shooting, 55-year-old Todd neighbor, however, a jury in Edward Marchant, formally that case handed down a not of St. Helens, was arrested guilty verdict on almost all and booked. Marchant was charges. charged with Attempted Attend Marchant wasour found one of Murder I, Assault I, Unlaw- guilty only of unlawful use ful Use of a Weapon, Felon of a weapon. He was found
not guilty on charges of murder, manslaughter and criminal negligence homicide. Marchant was sentenced to five years in the Columbia County jail and released in 2012. Marchant was arrested again, this time in 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona for allegedly killing a man during an argument, according to Photo courtesy of television news reports.seminars The educational or give us aJail cal Multnomah County case was eventually disTodd Marchant missed.
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ARE YOU CONFUSED WITH MEDICARE? Attend of our FREE educational seminars or gi ARE YOU LOOSING YOUR CURRENT MEDICARE COVERAGE? • one (503) 203-6724 orus (800) 424-119 AREone YOU LOOSING YOUR CURRENT MEDICARE COVERAGE DO YOU NEED HELP FINDING THE RIGHT MEDICARE PLAN FOR YO ARE YOU CONFUSED WITH MEDICARE? Attend of our FREE educational seminars or give a call: • ARE YOU LOOSING YOUR CURRENT MEDICARE COVERAGE? DO YOU NEED HELP THEorRIGHT PLAN YO Schedule for FOR Educat (503)FINDING 203-6724 (800)MEDICARE 424-1199 Call for Your Free Consultation DO YOU NEED HELP FINDING THE RIGHT MEDICARE PLAN FOR YOU? • DO YOU NEED HELP FINDING THE for RIGHT MEDICARE Seminars: PLAN FOR Schedule Educational DO YOU NEED HELP FINDING THE RIGHT MEDICARE PLAN FOR YOU • Scappoose Senior Cen Attend one (503)987-1113 of ourCall FREE educational seminars or give us a call: orFree (800)424-1199 for Your Consultation • Centeror- 10/05/14 Scappoose Senior 9am 203-6724 or (800) 424-1199 Attend(503) one of our• FREE educational seminars give us aat call: Schedule Hou (503)987-1113 or (800)424-1199 Attend (503) one of our FREE educational seminars orfor give usOpen a call: 987-1113 or (800) 424-1199 • 424-1199 Seminars • 203-6724 (503) orfor (800) Schedule Educational (503) 203-6724 or (800) 424-1199 • Medicare Advantage •Senior Courtesy photo • Scappoose Center - Semin 10/05/ • for Educational Schedule for Educational Seminars: The quick moving Oregon wildfires left a path of devastation over nearly 1 million acres. The latest revised • Schedule Senior Center - 10/05/14 at 9am • Scappoose Medicare Advantage • figures show eight fire-related fatalities, 12 missing persons, 1,616 homes and 1,461 other structures •• • Advantage •Medicare Scappoose Senior - 10/05/14 destroyed. • ••Medicare Scappoose Senior Center Center - 10/05/14 at 9am at Supplement • • • Medicare Supplement this gives us a lot of National Guard and Schedule for Op • • WILDFIRE winds, opportunity to make good Emergency Management • Medicare Supplement • • •Part D (prescription coverage) progress,” Grafe said. • Part D (prescription coverage) Schedule for House • Grafe said winds in Major General Mike StenScappoose Senior Cen • Open From Page A1 THERE IS EXCITING NEWS… REGARDING MEDICARE • • south central Oregon could cel saidAttend Monday that byone the of our FREE educational seminars or giv Part D (prescription coverage) provide some challenges • • ••Scappoose end of Sept. 14 the National • “We will have a long Senior Center 10/05/14 at 9am • Low Income Subsidy (lower • • Low Income Subsidy (lower PLANS IN COLUMBIA COUNTY FOR 2021 this week as well, but they Guard should have over 700 road ahead, but I’m so Schedule House • for Open are predicted to be relayourprescription prescription drug cost) your drug cost) members mobilized for re• stop heartened by these foundaWhat is an “Open House”? It is where you can in and talk to an independent tively consistent. • Low Income Subsidy (lower your i Schedule for Open House TO BE ANNOUNCED IN OCTOBER! sponse efforts. Additionally, tions and all Oregonians • Schedule for Open House Across the Oregon landby the end of the Stenthat are coming together specializes inweek, Medicare. Ask any questions you• might have on Medicare. For an up to dat Scappoose Senior Center - 10/05/14 at 9am • prescription drug cost) scape, Grafe said they have cel expects to have well over right now,” Brown said. Scappoose Senior Center 10/05/14 at 9am • • made tremendous progress open • • • 1,000 guardsmen duty.our website at www.UnderstandingMyMedicare.com “The only way out of this houses on visit Scappoose Senior Center - 10/05/14 at on establishing control • 143 guardsmen have been crisis is through it and • We work with mostHouse”? all •Medicare available Columbia What is an “Open is plans whereIndependent you canin stop inInsurance and County. talk to an ind lines on most fires through- at Traffic Control Points • •It Local Agen • we’ll only get through it • out the state. On the coast, specializes in Medicare. Ask any questions you might have on Medicare. For • We are a local agency that specializes in Medicare Coverage. throughout together.” are aOregon, localisincludindependent insurance agency. We are familiar with all of the plans thata •stop fire crews have held lines We What “Open House”? 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tion Director, Doug Grafe, also provided an update on progress at the Monday press conference. Grafe said the state has passed the east wind event that rapidly moved fires across Oregon and they have had four days of good firefighting conditions and continue making progress. Although ODF was looking forward to forecasted rains early this week, Grafe said they’re now slated to fall sometime on Wednesday into Thursday. Unfortunately, these rains could bring thunder storms on east side of state, which could cause new fires. “It’s kind of a mixed bag relative to the weather, but overall, compared to what we dealt with, with the east
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specializes in Ask any questions you might haveon onand Medicare. For to date of sem on containment there.” At forMedicare. We offer Medicare Supplements Medicare Advantage plans. We wo specializes inthemselves. Medicare. Ask any questions you might have Medicare. For anan upup tothat date list list ofavailab semina “As you can our independent Weimagine, are acoverage local insurance Weyou arecan familiar with all talk ofplans. the are Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage What is an “Open House”? Itagency. is where stop in and to plans an independent insura the Echo Mountain Commost all major open houses visit our website pilots are pretty open houses visit our website areafrustrated and we have over 25 years ofatat helping individuals findcompanies. the right Medicare For coverage them. plex, they are holding lines specializes in Medicare. Ask any questions you might have on Medicare. an up tofor date list waiting for this weather to thanks to excellent work Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage plans. open houses visit our website at agency. lift,” Stencel said. “But we’re We We are a local independent insurance are familiar familiarwith withallallofofthe the plans that availa are a local independent insurance agency. We We are plans that areare available from crews. Positive work anxious and hopeful that we has also been happening at areaarea andand wewe have over 2525years find the theright rightMedicare Medicare coverage them have over yearsofofhelping helping individuals individuals find coverage for for them. W www.UnderstandingMyMedicare.com are going to be able to fly.” the Pike Fire in Tillamook We are aSupplements local independent insurance agency. We are familiar with all of the plans that are a Medicare andMedicare Medicare Advantage plans. Medicare Supplements and Advantage plans. Oregon Office of Emeror (800)424-1199 County. area and we have over 25 years of(503)987-1113 helping individuals find the right Medicare coverage for gency Management Director “We’re holding lines www.UnderstandingMyMedicare.com Find Us On: Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage plans. Andrew Phelps spoke briefly on all those fires on the (503) 203-6724 or (800) 424-1199 coast, I’m very proud of the about the fatality statistics, www.UnderstandingMyMedicare.com and addressing rumors and work,” Grafe said. “Abso(503) 203-6724 or 424-1199 rumor control surrounding lutely immense amount of Find Us(800) On: ~ Your local Medicare experts ~ www.UnderstandingMyMedicare.com the fires. work, in four days, accomwww.UnderstandingMyMedicare.com (503) 203-6724 or (800) 424-1199 “Rumors can cost lives,” plished. That sets the stage (503) 203-6724 or (800) 424-1199 We are not connected with or endorsed by the United States Government or the Federal Medicare program Phelps said. “We’re relying relative to what we can www.UnderstandingMyMedicare.com Find Us On. accomplish in another five on government entities, offi203-6724 or (800) 424-1199 Find Us On. we are not connected with or endorsed by the united states days.” ~ Your(503) local Medicare experts ~ government or cial government sources and Grafe credits their our media partners to make we are not connected with or endorsed by the united states government or the federa progress on the coordinated sure accuratewe Find On. or the federal medicare p information are not is connected with or endorsed by the united statesUs government We are not connected with or endorsed by the United States Government or the Federal Medicare program effort across all districts being conveyed responsibly.” we are not connected with or endorsed by the united states government or the federal medicare pro and communities. Grafe we are not connected with or endorsed by the united states government or the federal medicare said that as they begin to Follow developments fly aviation crews for exdaily at thechiefnews.com Scappoose, Or. amination, the public must with in-depth reports in we the are not connected with or endorsed by the united states government or the federal med refrain from flying their Friday print version of The ~ We are your local Medicare experts ~ own personal drones. Chief.
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Clatskanie Grows: Plants, winds, ash CHIP BUBL Chief Guest Column
I have had a number of calls about the impact of ash moved from the regions’ wildfires onto both native and cultivated plants. In general, the ash itself won’t hurt the plants. But ash deposited on ripe strawberries is hard to remove. We learned that when one Mt. St. Helens ash plume blew into Columbia County about two weeks after the big eruption. At the time, we had over 800 acres of strawberries here and it was clear, this ash was very difficult to remove from a strawberry or late season raspberry or blackberry. For a home gardener, brushing the berries lightly with a soft toothbrush worked (and still works) but that didn’t make it for a commercial grower. There were significant losses. A few other plants like spinach which has an odd type of leaf surface that captures stuff and some lettuces may be harder to clean than normal. But otherwise, there aren’t any precautions about eating them. The only exception would be if your garden was near a house or commercial facility that burned. There could be toxic components to that ash-laden smoke. But, as of this writing, we haven’t experienced the close-up fires. The wind event just before the fires started in other parts of the state also did less damage here than I feared. With
soils very dry, tree toppling was scattered and modest. Highly exposed deciduous trees may have lost leaves but that isn’t of much consequence either. I am watching to see if there will be any impact from the dark days from the smoke swirling around us. It didn’t help our moods. But I am wondering whether it might trigger earlier dormancy in our deciduous trees and shrubs. Their leaves respond to the normal increasing length of the night to initiate shutting down for winter. Will they be tricked by this event with day mimicking twilight? It may not be easy to tell unless you had kept good records of time of leaf drop in certain trees. But I couldn’t find much in the literature about the impact of this kind of dramatic lowering of the light intensity on their growth and function. Tomato late blight As this is being written, it appears we will be going into a cooler and rainier cycle. Up to this point, it has been a very good tomato year. But one disease that makes our tomatoes miserable is tomato late blight, a fungus that thrives in cool, moist conditions. If there are good sun breaks between rain showers, the disease can’t really get going. But if we have several days of back to back to back mistiness, watch out. You might consider getting some copper based fungicide (many forms consid-
ered “organic”) and apply it before a rainy weather pattern develops. It won’t save all your tomatoes but enough so that if it warms back up, your harvest will continue. This is the same disease that
caused the Irish potato famine in the mid-1840s. There is little or no resistance to this disease in most tomato and potato varieties.
Spices and herbs are good for you Cornell University scientists have found that onion, garlic, allspice, and oregano all contain powerful bacteriafighting compounds. These
were the strongest of all the seasonings tried, killing all 30 micro-organisms that they were tested against. Included in the test were Salmonella and E. coli. Chili and hot peppers were moderately effec-
Clatskanie Grows
tive. There are indications that spices used in combination might be even more effective than their use individually. Bring on the curries, harissa, and the wonderful Mexican molés.
Bats about to take off
After putting on layer of fat for the winter, our little brown bats are about to make their trek to their hibernation grounds. It is not really clear where all our bats go.
In the Coast Range (Mist and Vernonia), they simply disappear. In the southern end of Columbia County, there is good evidence that they migrate to caves in the Cascades. There they huddle together in one large semisquirmy mass. If the wind and cold start to penetrate the cave, they can increase their metabolism to generate more heat. I am told that they get up every two weeks to see if winter is over. Those of you who found that bats had made your house their home will soon have the chance to patch the cracks and crevices that gave them access. Bats can get into holes about one quarter of an inch in height. If you have an older house, I think you and the bats will stay very close friends. Those houses are almost impossible to tighten. Newer houses can be caulked and screened to reduce entry points. The bats will be gone by mid-November and generally don’t return until March. Pressure Gauge Testing: Free at the Extension office in St. Helens. Contact for questions and requests for accessibility-related accommodations: by phone (leave a message for Jenny Rudolph) 503-397-3462 or by email at Jenny.Rudolph@oregonstate. edu. COVID restrictions are still in place at our office which is located at 505 N. Columbia River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051.
Free newsletter
The Oregon State University Extension office in Columbia County publishes a monthly newsletter on gardening and farming topics (called County Living) written/edited by yours truly. All you need to do is ask for it and it will be mailed or emailed to you. Call (503) 397-3462 to be put on the list. Alternatively, you can find it on the web at http:// extension.oregonstate.edu/ columbia and click on newsletters. Many Extension publications available online Are you putting up salsa, saving seeds, or thinking about planting grapes? OSU has a large number of its publications available for free download. Just go to https:// catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu. Click on publications and start exploring. The Extension Service offers its programs and materials equally to all people. Contact information for the Extension office Oregon State University Extension Service – Columbia County • 505 N. Columbia River Highway St. Helens, OR 97051 • (503) 397-3462 • Email: chip.bubl@ oregonstate.edu
Federal disaster funding available JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Columbia County will receive a portion of federal disaster funding for emergency protective measures from the federal government, according to the major disaster declaration signed by President Donald Trump. The declaration also allows local businesses and individuals who suffered losses impacted by the September wildfires to apply for the federal assistance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced that federal emergency aid has been made available to the state of Oregon to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires and straight-line winds beginning on Sept. 7, 2020 and continuing. The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn and Marion
•
counties. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. Federal funding is also available to state, tribal, eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a costsharing basis for emergency protective measures including congregate and noncongregate sheltering and direct federal assistance. Emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance through FEMA’s Public Assistance program, will be provided at 75% federal funding. This assistance is for Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Coos, Deschutes, Douglas, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Tillamook, Wasco, Washington and Yamhill counties. Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
The St. Helens Dutch Bros. Coffee kiosk was one Columbia County business forced to temporarily close over the past weekend due to the unhealthy air quality. It has since reopened.
measures statewide. Dolph A. Diemont has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal response and recovery operations in the
affected area. Designations may be made at a later date if warranted by the results of damage assessments. Individuals and business owners who sustained
losses in the designated area can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling 1-800-621-3362, or 1-800462-7585 TTY. The Oregon wildfires burned over 1 million acres, destroyed 1,616 homes and killed eight people, according to state officials, who said 12 people were still missing as of Sept. 17. Columbia County has not seen major wildfires so far this summer, however, the smoke from the Oregon wildfires caused unhealthy air quality and temporarily closed some local businesses. The smoke has lingered in Columbia County since Monday, Sept. 7. Forecasters expect rain over much of the state by Thursday, which should help clear the smoke. Gov. Brown’s reaction Following an expedited request to President Trump by Oregon Governor Kate Brown on Monday, Oregon
was notified within 24 hours that federal emergency aid has been made available to the state to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires and straight-line winds beginning on Sept. 7, 2020 and continuing. “Oregon is resilient, but to fight fires on this scale, we need all the help we can get,” Brown said. “I am grateful for the White House’s swift response in quickly granting a Presidential Disaster Declaration and the immediate implementation of FEMA’s individual assistance program, which will help bring additional relief to Oregonians impacted by the devastation of these fires.” “Our office will be working hand-in-hand with FEMA over the coming weeks to ensure that Oregonians know how to apply for assistance,” Oregon Emergency Management Director Andrew Phelps said. “This is an important step toward rebuilding the strength of our communities.”
•B lotters • •
The police blotter relates to the public record of incidents as reported by law enforcement agencies. All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Information printed is preliminary and subject to change.
ently lost power and rolled town the hill and high centered on the railroad tracks. No injuries were reported.
Rainier Police
August 30 • An officer stopped to check on a disabled vehicle. While on scene, the officer observed several syringes lying about the vehicle. A couple returned to the car carrying gas cans. The male, identified as Joshua Breitenbach, 37, of Castle Rock, was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant. He was also cited for unlawful possession of methamphetamine and operating a vehicle without driving privileges.
August 24 • A resident reported items missing from their residence. August 25 • An officer responded to a single vehicle accident on the Lewis & Clark Bridge. It appeared that a medical condition may have been a contributing factor to the crash. • A woman reported that she had prescription drugs stolen from her parked vehicle. • An officer responded to a single vehicle accident on East 2nd Street. The vehicle appar-
August 27 • An officer recovered a vehicle that had been reported to Longview Police as stolen. • A bicycle was turned in as found property.
August 31 • A large window was broken with a rock at a local business.
• A bicycle was reported as stolen. September 4 • A pair of valve covers was taken in as found property. September 6 • A female juvenile was reported as a runaway. September 9 • Audrey Roberts, 33, of Longview, was taken into custody and lodged at the jail on an outstanding warrant. She was additionally cited for DWS and driving uninsured. • Don Byman, 47, of Longview, was cited for theft after shoplifting from a local business. September 10 • An officer responded to a residential disturbance. None of the parties wished to press charges and peace was restored. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office reports were unavailable.
Let us know what YOU think
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Friday, September 18, 2020
Thank you and farewell
Christine Menges CHRISTINE MENGES chronicle2@countrymedia.net
Dear Columbia County, It has been an honor and a privilege serving all of you over the past one year and eight and a half months. When I came to this town, I had no idea the community I would be reporting for would be full of so many stories to tell and so many good-hearted people to tell them for. I will forever be thankful to Country Media for taking on a cub reporter and for teaching me so much in the short time I was here. My news stories have been numerous: from the Columbia County fairgrounds hosting evacuees from Oregon’s wildfires, to the Black Lives Matter protest, to NEXT Renewable Fuels finally signing a ground lease with the Port
•
•V oices
Spear the Messenger
of Columbia County, to the air quality permits controversy with Global, to COVID-19 coverage, to the PCC Campus opening in Scappoose, to the myriad construction projects coming to St. Helens and the farmers market in Clatskanie, I have covered so much of what’s been going on in the county. I have enjoyed (almost) every minute of it. My position as “watchdog” for the county has enabled me to become familiar with the various government organizations in the county and the politicians who run them. It’s clear to me that most elected officials here are hard-working and honest people who genuinely care about their constituents. St. Helens, Scappoose, Rainier and Clatskanie residents are lucky to have them. But what I perhaps have enjoyed most of all has been interacting with all of the county residents and the care each one of you shows for your community. The care can be seen in collective actions, like the thousands of donations that arrived at the fairgrounds during the Oregon wildfires and the residents who turned out for The Columbia Theatre night after night in support when it was forced to shut down for COVID-19. It can also be seen in individual actions, like the woman who delivered lunches to families when the pandemic began, or the couple who started their own pirate-themed ice cream truck without gaining a profit, or the local seamstresses who
of
Ted Grove Clatskanie
I am amazed I visited The Chief/ The Chronicle office a couple of months ago to have a conversation with your staff about my complete frustration with the Oregon Employment Department and its lack of interest and dedication as to my attempts to file for unemployment. I had been going through a challenging process, four and five phone calls a day to the state with nothing but busy or disconnected signals. I also sent emails to the state. I tried to use the online website three times but it kept kicking me out and freezing my computer. I even went so far as to mail registered letters. Absolutely no response from
the state of Oregon in four and a half months. Your staff suggested I call Brad Witt’s office and see if they could help in some way to expedite the matter. After I called Brad Witt’s office, a representative from the State Unemployment Division called me. About a week later I went to my post office box and it was crammed with letters from the Oregon Employment Division and in those letters were 26 checks. Brad Witt cares about the people of Columbia County. If you are having a hard time with your unemployment or any issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as food or other assistance programs, do yourself a favor and get a hold of Brad Witt’s office, his office number in Salem is 503-986-1431. I’m amazed. A politician that actually works for the people. Charles Schreiner St. Helens
COVID-19 case count STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
The number of COVID-19 cases in Columbia County and across the state are issued daily by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). Columbia County Public Health posts the updates on
its website at https://www.columbiacountyor.gov/CoronavirusDisease2019COVID19. The latest numbers at press time showed the county had a total of 148 COVID-19 cases with one death. Statewide, the OHA reported COVID-19 has claimed two more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to
521 and there was195 new confirmed and presumptive cases of the virus, bringing the state total to 29,850, as of Sept. 16. Follow daily pandemic updates at thechiefnews.com with in-depth reports in the Friday print editions of The Chief.
The Chief
Weekly Online Poll
Last Week’s Results
Autumn starts Sept. 22. Are you ready for the change of seasons?
Are you prepared to quickly evacuate if a wildfire threatens your hoe or property?
Yes
T he C ommunity • •
the messenger.” Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
There is a continuing attempt to challenge the honesty and integrity of Jenefer Grant, based upon a year-old news article citing a report prepared for the Columbia County Board of Commissioners. I know this report was an attempt to disparage Judge Grant for raising concerns regarding the director of our local probation office. Rather than investigate the problems within this department, it was decided to label Judge Grant as dishonest. Since the recent resignation of the director, the concerns raised by Judge Grant have been voiced by those Probation Officers remaining with the County, as well as by numerous former Probation officers who worked for this County. Classic case of “spear
volunteered to make masks for businesses. Excuse the cliché, but for a small community, you all have big hearts. I hope you have enjoyed my reporting as well. It can be hard work putting together complex stories in a short timeframe, and I have tried my best to be as accurate as possible. I took my job as reporter very seriously, and always double-checked every fact. The articles you’ve read have been trustworthy, accurate, and as objective as possible. As far as my future plans go, I plan to stay in journalism and take my reporting to even higher levels. Reporting in this community has given me leads, sources and most importantly, ideas for future stories. You may see my byline elsewhere in the near future if you follow other Portland-based media. No matter where else my career takes me, though, I will always be grateful for my roots. There’s something about reporting for a local newspaper that gives you a firm foundation in journalism in the broadest sense, whether you’re talking about AP style, or how to contact a source. And maybe someday my path will take me back to where I started: Columbia County and all the stories, large and small, you have to offer. Sincerely, Christine Menges General Assignment Reporter
No
42% Yes
57% No
Vote online at thechiefnews.com AIR QUALITY From Page A1 areas (India, China), where annual average concentrations can exceed 100 ug/ m3. Ug/m3 is micrograms per meter cubed (measure of the amount of PM2.5). This analysis showed that ~14% of cardiovascular disease events were attributed to long-term PM2.5 air pollution. https://www. thelancet.com/journals/ lanplh/article/PIIS25425196(20)30103-0/fulltext. In Oregon, annual average PM2.5 is typically under 10 ug/m3. However, wildfires are now contributing substantially to these annual averages. One day of wildfire PM2.5 levels of 600 ug/m3 is approximately 60 days of normal PM2.5 exposure in Oregon. The increases in wildfire PM2.5 are now offsetting all other PM2.5 emission reductions (e.g. from vehicles, industry, home heating, etc.). https://www.thelancet. com/journals/lanplh/article/ PIIS2542-5196(20)301030/fulltext. The Chief: How can we tell if our health is deteriorating after exposure to this smoke? Haystad: You should watch for new signs of respiratory effects such as chronic cough and mu-
The Chief (USPS 116-360) is published weekly by Country Media, Inc. 1805 Columbia Blvd, St. Helens, OR 97051
cus production, shortness of breath, wheezing, and chronic chest pain. If you have existing heart disease you may experience chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, or fatigue. If you have existing heart or lung disease, monitor your symptoms and contact your doctor if they get worse or if you have concerns. The Chief: What is your recommendation to lessen the exposure to the wildfire smoke? Haystad: The best way to reduce exposure is to stay indoors with the windows and doors closed. If available, you can run your AC with the fan set to recirculate so you don’t draw in polluted air. You can also run a portable HEPA filter to clean the air. I implemented these recommendations in my home in Corvallis and was able to reduce indoor PM2.5 concentrations to 32-50% of outdoor concentrations. When outdoor concentrations are as high as we have experienced over the last week this still meant indoor PM2.5 concentrations were at unhealthy levels. Individuals who are susceptible to health effects could further reduce exposure by wearing an N95 respirator, or create a clean room, where a portable hepa filter is placed in
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Chief PO Box 1153, St. Helens, OR 97053
a small room with limited outdoor air exchange (portable hepa filters work much better at cleaning the air in smaller rooms). N95 are masks that are certified to filter at least 95% of airborne particles. We also need to remember that not everyone has the choice to stay indoors to reduce exposure or has the financial resources to buy portable hepa filters. Outdoor agricultural workers are a good example. For these individuals, reducing outdoor physical activity levels at work and wearing an N95 respirator is the best way to reduce exposure. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and OSU extension is currently delivering pallets of N95 respirators to counties for distribution to these high exposure groups. The Chief: Will wearing face coverings make a positive difference? Haystad: Masks that filter at least 95% of airborne particles (N95/KN95/P100 respiratory masks) will reduce PM2.5 air pollution exposure. The tighter the fit the more reductions in exposure. Cloth masks will not reduce PM2.5 air pollution exposures. Follow developments at thechiefnews.com with indepth reports in the Friday print editions of The Chief.
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Contact Us • Phone: (503) 397-0116 • Fax: (503) 397-4093 • Website: www.thechiefnews.com Editorial Email: chiefnews@countrymedia.net • Advertising Email: atrull@countrymedia.net
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. Send Letters To: The Chief Attn: News Editor PO Box 1153, St. Helens, OR 97051 Email Letters To: chiefnews@countrymedia.net
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NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENT LIFELINE: 1-800-273-8255 • suicidepreventationlifeline.org Columbia County’s trusted local news source
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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Just call 503.397.0116
Listings are updated daily at www.thechiefnews.com 109
502
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790
Construction Services
Help Wanted
Estate Sales
NORTHWEST CUSTOM TILE Showers, floors, walls, fireplace, exterior. Up to 20% off if you preorder by Nov. 1st, 2020. CCB# 228991 503-396-6714
COUNTER PERSON WANTED LG ISAACSON CO/LONGVIEW F/T, M-FRI 8-5 PM FULL BENEFITS 401K DUTIES INCLUDE: PHONE/ COUNTER SALES, WAREHOUSE, DELIVERIES, COMPUTER. DRUG FREE & SELF MOTIVATED. SEND RESUME TO OFFICE@ LGISAACSON. COM OR BRING IN: 1331 INDUSTRIAL WAY LV. LGICO EST 1911
HUGE ESTATE SALE Rainier, Or 3 level horder house. 322 W. C St. ThursFri- Sat 9-4 Great sale coins, Singer Featherwieght sewing machines, 100’s of dicast cars, high end dolls, antique oak china cabinets, thousand of books, huge clock collection/coo-coo clocks/Howard Mllier Grandfather clocks, tons of never used clothing, antique glass, primiatives, hundreds of animal figures, antique bottles/canning jars, appliances, antique lamps, slag lamps, art deco/ artwork, pocket knifes, still unpacking ay to much to list. Woth the drive off hwy 30 signs out.
150
Misc Services
Paul’s Tree Service Inc. No bush too small, no tree to tall- Call Paul! Specialized in danger trees, take downs, storm clean-up. Time to prune- pruning Lace Leafed Maples & ornamental shrubberies, chipping, senior or veterans discount, free estimates. CCB# 217173 Lic., Bonded & Insured. 503-440-0723 or 503-543-8274
Eagle Star Rock Products is seeking, full time dump truck delivery driver. Current Class A CDL needed. Overtime Pay and benefit package. Contact us at 503-397-7861.
Misc Wanted
ATTENTION LAND OWNERS! Wanted cedar boughs and noble fir. Willing to pay for branches only. Do not damage trees. Call Cesar 360-241-6889 or 360-425-0738 Kelso.
808
Houses Unfurnished
Unfurnished Home 2 bedroom, 1 bath remodeled manufactured home in Quincy area. Good setting w/ large lawn. Rent $855/ mo. Water/garbage are additional tenant cost. No smoking. Pet negotiable. Must have verifiable income. 503772-9660 or 503732-9828
Place your ad in The Chief. Email Amy at atrull@countrymedia.net.
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ASPHALT PAVING Offering Quality Asphalt Paving Services to Columbia County and surrounding areas.
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Public Notices CC20-1305
CC20-1306
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS CITY OF CLATSKANIE PLANNING Sealed bids for the City of Clatskanie, Water Treatment Plant PLC Upgrade, will be received by the City of Clatskanie until 3:00 PM, Monday, September 28, 2020. Bids shall be addressed to Mr. Greg Hinkelman, City Manager, 75 South Nehalem Street, P.O. Box 9, Clatskanie, OR 97016. At 3:00 PM. Bids will be opened and read aloud in the City Hall Council Chambers, Clatskanie, OR. The purpose of this upgrade is to replace the existing GE PLC and computer control with a new Rockwell Automation control system. Details and specifications are available for review at the City of Clatskanie’s administrative
offices, located at 75 South Nehalem Street, Clatskanie, Oregon 97016, telephone number: (503) 728-2622. No bid shall be received or considered unless the bid contains a statement by the Bidder that the provisions of ORS 279.350 and Oregon Prevailing Wage Rates will be complied with if the amount of the bid equals or exceeds $50,000. Oregon prevailing wage rates, published by the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, are available on-line at www. oregon.gov/BOLI. Within two (2) working hours after the date and time of the bid opening, the bidder shall submit to the City of Clatskanie a disclosure of
the first tier subcontractors, pursuant to ORS 279C.370. Failure to submit the first-tier subcontractor list will constitute a nonresponsive bid. If there is no first-tier subcontractors mark “NONE” on the submittal. The City of Clatskanie reserves the right to reject any or all bids not in compliance with all prescribed bidding procedures and requirements, may reject for good cause any and all bids upon a finding of the agency it is in the public interest to do so, and may waive all informalities. No bidder may withdraw or modify his bid prior to the lapse of thirty (30) days after the bid opening.
COMMISSION MEETING NOTICE The Clatskanie Planning Commission will meet for a regular meeting on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2020 @ 7:00 p.m. in the Clatskanie Cultural Center Ballroom, 75 South Nehalem St. (Clatskanie
Cultural Center, 2nd floor) with social distancing practices being observed. Agenda items include, but are not limited to the following: Approval of the minutes of the August 26th, 2020 regular meeting; a
public hearing will be held to review a request for a Home Occupation Permit for a personal training business at 580 NE Poplar Street. An updated agenda will be available at City Hall by September 18th, 2020.
CC20-1307
Clatskanie School District 6J PO Box 678 Clatskanie OR 97016 PUBLIC NOTICE Clatskanie School District would like to invite community members to apply for an open position on the Clatskanie School District’s Board of Directors. The term of office is through
June 30, 2021. The selected candidate must be a qualified voter of the district. Officers, agents, or employees of the district are not eligible. Applications are available on the main page of the district
website (www.csd.k12.or.us) and may be submitted to Tami Burgher, Clatskanie School District 6J, PO Box 678, Clatskanie OR 97016 or emailed to tburgher@csd. k12.or.us AA/EOE
Slow job growth throughout Oregon
following a revised gain of 17,700 jobs in July. Over the past four months, employers added back 41 percent of the jobs that were cut in March and April. Over-the-month job gains in August were largest in lei-
sure and hospitality (+4,200 jobs); retail trade (+3,300); construction (+3,200); and government (+3,000). Two industries cut a substantial number of jobs in August: wholesale trade (-1,400 jobs) and health care and social
assistance (-1,400). Leisure and hospitality— which includes restaurants, drinking establishments, hotels, and recreational industries—has added back the most jobs of any of the major industries over the past four months. Despite adding 63,200 jobs during the past four months, leisure and hospitality is only a little over halfway back to its February 2020 peak employment level, prior to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Retail trade has bounced back closer to its recent peak employment level. It added 16,100 jobs over the past four months, which was nearly three-quarters of the jobs lost earlier in the year. The third industry to add back more than half of its jobs lost, while also rebounding by
Member Laken Gortler said. “Maybe they didn’t have lead ropes and they just had to throw their horses in and go. Whatever you have that you think we could use, please bring it.” The community is asked to pay attention to the Columbia County Fairgrounds Facebook page for additional needs as they arise.
Columbia County, Columbia County Emergency Management and the Columbia County Fair Board. The Wildfire Relief Fund is live and open for donations at InRoads Credit Union, and 100 percent of the donations received will go directly to wildfire relief in Columbia County. “This money will go towards supporting individuals effected by the wildfires, front-line agency needs, and reimbursements for needs that have already been met,” United Way Executive Director Claire Catt said. Donations will still be accepted at the Columbia County Fairgrounds Office, located at 58892 Saulser Road in St. Helens, and/
or through United Way of Columbia County at www. unitedwayofcolumbiacounty. com. Donations can also be made through InRoads Credit Union by phone or in person: • Account name: Wildfire Relief Fund • Account Number: 747285-26 The Columbia County Fairgrounds is still open and accepting displaced families, as well as acting as a distribution point for supply needs in other areas. The Fairgrounds only has outdoor sheltering space available. For those in need of indoor sheltering, visit: https:// multco.us/air-quality-publichealth-problem/september-
STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
Oregon’s unemployment rate dropped to 7.7 percent in August from 10.4 percent in July, according to the Oregon Employment Department. The unemployment rate was more than double last year’s rate of 3.6 percent in August 2019. Employment department officials said that the August report covers the Oregon employment situation last month and does not capture the personal and economic disruption caused by the devastating wildfires that occurred over the past few weeks. That impact will likely be seen in the September Oregon counties’ unemployment report, which will be
FAIRGROUNDS From Page A1 bia County (4C’s), as well as the “buy, sell, trade” pages and the county website. There was a lot of word-of-mouth as well, Fitzgerald said. Needed donations were “anything and everything,” according to Fitzgerald. She said she asked for anything that someone might need if they had had to evacuate and didn’t have anything. Donors have mostly been private citizens, according to Fitzgerald. Their donations have been able to help out the approximately 10 families that are now stationed at the fairgrounds, Fitzgerald said. If there is a family needing
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
The Oregon Employment Department reports 1,911,101 people working and 161,839 unemployed in August across the state.
complied and released in the next few weeks. The numbers Oregon’s total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 11,300 jobs in August, to evacuate, Fitzgerald said they don’t need to do anything more than head straight to the Columbia County Fairgrounds. “Just show up,” she said. “We’ll take you.” Animal shelter By Thursday afternoon, Sept. 10, the Columbia County Fairgrounds had sheltered sheep, cows, chickens, goats, hogs, around 30 horses, and several displaced families that are sleeping on the grounds in tents and trailers. The Fair Board reached out to the community for help with supplies for the evacuees. “A lot of these people had to get out in a hurry,” Columbia County Fair Board
Relief fund established A Wildfire Relief Fund has been established in Columbia County to more efficiently funnel donations to those affected by the September 2020 wildfires. The fund has been established through a partnership with United Way of
more than 10,000 jobs, was health care and social assistance. This industry, despite a 1,400-job loss in August, added 18,000 jobs over the past four months, regaining nearly two-thirds of its March and April job losses. Not all industries have rebounded with substantial job growth over the past four months. In August, the following industries remained near their low point for the year: manufacturing; government; information; and professional and business services. Columbia County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 10.2 percent in July, down from 11.4 percent in June. Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment rate dropped to 8.4 percent in August from 10.2 percent in July. 2020-wildfire-threat-multnomah-county. Families in need of supplies may pick up donated items at the fairgrounds, and do not need to be a Columbia County resident to do so. Families in need do not need to call first. Simply enter through Gate 4 and look for a volunteer. Livestock accommodations are still available for horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, chickens/birds and rabbits. For more information, call the Columbia County Fairgrounds at 503-3974231. Follow developments at thechiefnews.com with indepth reports in the Friday print editions of The Chief.
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