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River’s Edge vision becomes reality New recreational vehicle park at Clatskanie

LAUREY WHITE

Chief Guest Article

When Phillip Rissel and his family set out to build the River’s Edge RV Resort and Camping at Clatskanie, they shared a vision. “We wanted to offer the best RV and camping experience pos sible,” Rissel said.

Upon visiting what could be de scribed as the majestic new setting, at 1309 Swedetown Road, just off Highway 30, it appears they have accomplished their goal.

Set on 12 prime acres of real estate bordering the Clatskanie River, at the south edge of the city, the soft grand opening was Sept. 24. As the ceremonial ribbon was cut, excitement was in the air as visitors viewed this monumental achievement.

There is plenty of exploring to do within the campgrounds, includ ing a dog run. Beyond enjoying the scenic landscape, there is also plenty to do in town that visitors can enjoy.

Rissel’s wife, Jonna Forbes, says the campground should be a large boon for Clatskanie.

“We estimate that each park goer will spend approximately $500 per stay,” she said.

When not shopping or dining at Clatskanie, the city offers two natural parks and a newly reno vated community pool and splash pad for the RV park visitors.

River’s Edge also will offer the community a location to hold vari ous functions.

“We are going to greet every

one that comes in,” Rissel said. “We are really getting to know this great community and its residents.”

There are more than 100 rec reational vehicle sites at River’s Edge, with more than 40 on the 1,200-foot riverfront property. The park also has pull-through sites that can handle big rigs, and extra-

equipped for the future, River’s Edge offers accessible wi-fi, com plete power service with each site having 50/30/20 double amp power and electric vehicle chargers are also available. The concrete pads

2.5 acres of asphalt, 27,000 feet of utility lines and a newly paved road for easy access.

What Rissel said he most want ed to do when he began the project was to keep the natural beauty of

“Fred created this park to mir ror the exact image of the land and

Oregon to see $1.1B in Medicaid funding

HERB SWETT chronicle1@countrymedia.net

Oregon will receive $1.1 bil lion in new federal funds to pilot first-in-the-nation changes to the state’s Medicaid program.

Oregon became the first state to receive federal approval for continuous health coverage for children under six years old. Also, all Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members six and older will have two years of continuous OHP enrollment, ensuring continuous coverage and access to medical, dental, and behavioral health care.

The waiver will expand healthrelated social-needs coverage for certain food assistance and hous ing support and invest in resources to help reduce risks of climate change. It will make Oregon the first state to use Medicaid funding for climate-related needs.

This package of services, called health-related social needs, includes food and housing sup

ports such as rental assistance for up to six months for marginalized groups such as youth in foster care, homeless people, and lowincome older adults. State health officials sought federal approval to cover housing and nutritional support services to reduce health inequity and stabilize the circum stances of OHP members whose health is endangered by life dis ruptions.

Also, the state will supply air conditioners, air filters, and generators to people at high risk who live in regions with extreme weather events.

“Healthcare does not occur in a vacuum,” Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said. “It’s clear we must look beyond a traditional, siloed approach to truly meet the needs of people, particularly those expe riencing complex changes.”

OHP, which is Oregon’s Med icaid program, provides compre hensive health coverage to about 1.4 million Oregonians, more

than one-third the state popula tion. States may request federal approval to test innovations in

We encourage all states to follow Oregon’s lead supporting a wholeperson approach to care.”

“Oregon is committed to eliminating health inequity and ensuring that our healthcare system provides optimal health and well-being for everyone in Oregon,” Oregon Health Author

ity Director Pat Allen said during a media briefing about the federal funding. “This agreement gives us more tools and resources to tackle the problems in people’s lives that undermine their health.”

Allen said the federal program will “eliminate a burden on Or egon communities.”

Danielle Sobel of the Oregon Primary Care Association and Mercedes Elizalde of Central City Concern, a nonprofit that provides housing for the homeless, said the federal funding “ensures that on going treatment can be more easily matched.”

“Housing is healthcare,” Elizalde said.

Brown and Brooks-LaSure an nounced the $1.1 billion Medicaid project Sept. 28. Allen and other state health officials conducted the media briefing shortly after the governor’s announcement.

Read more with this story at thechiefnews.com.

Gas prices soar over $5 a gallon, again

JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

You may have noticed prices at local gasoline stations increased significantly over the past several days. In some areas, the prices rose between 25 cents and 50 cents per gallon.

This is occurring at a time when the price of gasoline usually declines because of less summer travel.

After 14 weeks of declines, gas prices are on the rise, soaring on the West Coast and in the Midwest with more moderate increases in other parts of the country, according to the latest American Automobile Associa tion (AAA) price survey.

For the week, the average price per gallon in Oregon rockets up 50 cents to $5.14. The national average for regular adds seven cents to $3.75 a gallon. The Oregon average is the largest weekly jump in the nation.

“Multiple refineries in the Los Angeles area and a refinery in Wash ington state are experiencing either planned or unplanned refinery work which could last several more days,” Oregon/Idaho AAA Public Affairs Director Marie Dodds said. This has put a significant crimp in supplies

and sent pump prices soaring in this region. In addition, the Olympic pipeline in Washington is due for maintenance, perhaps as early as this week.”

Hurricane Ian also has the poten tial to cause problems, Dodds said, depending on the storm’s track, by disrupting oil production, refining and transportation in the Gulf of Mexico.

Until this week, the national and Oregon averages had been declining for 14 consecutive weeks, backing away from record highs set in midJune. The national average reached its record high of $5.016 on June 14 while the Oregon average reached its record high of $5.548 on June 15.

“Lackluster demand for gas and lower crude oil prices should take some pressure off of rising pump prices,” Dodds said. “But drivers can expect a very volatile couple of weeks due to the refinery issues as well as Hurricane Ian slamming the Gulf Coast.”

Crude oil prices have tumbled from recent highs due to fears of eco nomic slowdowns elsewhere around the globe. Crude reached a recent high of $122.11 per barrel on June 8 and ranged from about $94 to $110 per barrel in July. In August, crude

prices ranged between about $86 and $97. In September, crude prices have been between about $76 and $89 per barrel. Last week, West Texas Inter mediate fell below $80 per barrel for the first time since January, according to the AAA report.

Crude prices rose dramatically leading up to and in the first few months of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia is one of the world’s top oil producers, and its involvement in a war causes market volatility, and sanctions imposed on Russia by

the U.S. and other western nations resulted in tighter global oil sup plies. Oil supplies were already tight around the world as demand for oil increased as pandemic restrictions eased. A year ago, crude was around $75 per barrel compared to $77 today, the AAA report states.

Fast Fact

The Oregon average is the largest weekly jump in the nation.

Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891

Photo courtesy from Jonna Forbes

This photo shows the recreational vehicle campsite pads.

Metro Creative Connection

Gasoline prices in Oregon have rocketed up 50 cents a gallon, pushing the average to over $5.

their Medicaid programs. Wednes

Metro Creative Connection The waiver will expand health-related social needs coverage for certain food assistance, housing support, and invest in resources that will help mitigate the health risks of climate change.

DEQ denies NEXT water permit

JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has denied NEXT Renewables LLC’s applica tion for a Clean Water Act permit.

“We are disappointed in Oregon DEQ’s inability to process our Section 401 water certification within their statutory timeline of a year, but we will keep working with them as we refile and start the permit ting clock once again,”

NEXT Director of Commu nication Michael Hinrichs told The Chief. “This is not at all a roadblock but rather an unnecessary distraction to the permitting process as we advance toward full project approval. Our project timeline remains unchanged.”

Hinrichs said NEXT Renewables is committed to constructing and operating a cornerstone clean fuels production facility at Port Westward that will produce Renewable Diesel and Sus tainable Aviation Fuel.

“Studies show that using NEXT clean fuels instead of petroleum fuels will eliminate more than 7 mil

lion tons of greenhouse gas es every year of operation, while creating thousands of union construction jobs and hundreds of permanent positions,” he said.

A key opponent of the proposed NEXT Renewable Fuels facility is the envi ronmental watchdog group, Columbia Riverkeeper, which issued the following statement about the DEQ decision.

“On September 6, 2022, DEQ denied NEXT Renew ables LLC’s application for a Clean Water Act section 401 water quality permit. NEXT sought the permit

as part of a plan to build a so-called renewable diesel refinery near Clatskanie.

“DEQ denied the permit because NEXT was unable to answer basic questions about the proposed diesel refinery and its effects on water quality. Columbia Riverkeeper’s public re cords request revealed that DEQ sent NEXT a letter containing over six pages of questions and clarifications in August of 2022.”

“NEXT’s application materials were riddled with inconsistencies, and NEXT was apparently unable to answer even DEQ’s basic

questions,” said Audrey Leonard, staff attorney at Columbia Riverkeeper. “Between this permit denial and fierce opposition from neighboring farmers, the future of NEXT’s contro versial proposal is far from certain.”

This is actually the second time DEQ has de nied NEXT’s water quality permit application. DEQ denied NEXT’s first appli cation in September 2021, also citing NEXT’s failure to provide important details about the proposed refin ery and its potential water pollution, the Columbia

Riverkeeper release states.

“NEXT hasn’t been able to tell a straight story to the community or to DEQ. DEQ was right to deny this permit,” said Jasmine Lillich, a local farmer and fifth-generation resident of the Clatskanie area.

“Our community would face the risk of significant water pollution that could harm our health, our homes and our farms, and we stand firm with many of our neighbors against this project.”

DEQ denied the NEXT application “without prejudice,” meaning NEXT

could apply a third time. That process could take another year to complete.

According to Colum bia Riverkeeper, Oregon’s Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) is expected to determine whether NEXT can build a 400-car railyard in a sensitive wetland and agricultural area. A decision is expected on or before October 7, 2022.

Read a series of stories about the NEXT facility proposal and follow this de veloping story at thechief news.com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.

SNAP adds $69M in new benefits

Columbia County resi dents and most Oregonians who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will receive emergency allotments in October.

In October, approximately 432,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $69 million in extra food benefits in addition to their regular SNAP benefits this month.

The federal government has approved emergency allotments every month since March 2020. This gives SNAP recipients additional support during the COVID-19 pandemic. These emergency benefits are a temporary support that Oregon can provide because of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency.

$9M for affordable housing assistance

The Oregon Legisla tive Emergency Board has approved $9 million to help low-income families with affordable housing and child care.

The funds will go towards the Early Learning Afford able Housing Co-Location pilot program to support gap financing for affordable rental housing projects that are co-located with child care or early learning centers, ac cording to a release from the Oregon House Democrats.

“Parents of young children – especially single moms and women of color – can struggle to maintain steady work without afford able housing or child care,”

Representative Ricki Ruiz (D-Gresham) said. “This is an opportunity for us to drive down the cost of living and provide economic stabil ity for Oregon families so children can learn in safe environments without inter ruption.”

The co-location pilot program is designed to make it easier for low-income families and communities in poverty to access critical resources by eliminating bar riers and creating supportive networks.

A report this year from the Low Income Investment Fund and ECONorthwest on behalf of Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) and the Early Learn ing Division (ELD), showed co-locating child care and early education with af fordable housing can make neighborhoods more familyfriendly, improve a family’s economic growth, and pro mote healthy child develop ment, all while responding to the severe housing and child care shortages.

“Too often low-income and BIPOC communities face compounding inequities that make it nearly impos sible to live healthy and fulfilling lives – from lack of housing and child care to inadequate transportation or healthy food,” pepresenta tive Andrea Valderrama

(D-Outer East Portland) said. “I’m excited to see how this pilot program helps to break cycles of poverty and ensures people in need have com munity and are connected to much-needed resources.”

Currently, Oregon needs 30,000 more child care slots to meet base demand, as well as 600,000 new hous ing units over the next two decades. Co-located develop ments will look to address these needs, according to the release.

The approved funding will go to OHCS, which has partnered with ELD to imple ment the pilot program.

The E-Board made the approval Friday, Sept. 23, during its regular meeting in Salem.

Because the federal government approved these emergency benefits for Octo ber, Oregon will also be able to issue them in November. However, the emergency benefits are expected to end when the federal public health emergency ends.

“We know that many rely on these additional emergen cy food benefits to get enough healthy food for themselves and their families,” Oregon Department of Human Ser vices (ODHS) Self-Sufficien cy Programs Interim Director Jana McLellan said. “We also know that many Oregonians are still struggling to meet their basic needs, and we encourage them to contact our partners at 211, the Oregon Food Bank and their local Community Action Agency for support during this dif ficult time.”

Current SNAP households will receive emergency allot ments on Oct. 11. Emergency allotments will be issued Oct. 29 or Nov. 2 for households that did not receive benefits in the first monthly issuance.

SNAP recipients do not have to take any action to receive these supplemental benefits, as they will be is sued directly on their EBT cards.

More information about emergency allotments is available at https://www.or egon.gov/dhs/ASSISTANCE/ FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/ Emergency-Allotments.aspx.

Questions about your SNAP benefits should be di rected to the ONE Customer Service Center at 1-800-6999075.

If your household receives SNAP and your income or the number of people in your household has changed, it could impact your benefits. It is important to make sure ODHS has the most up-todate information.

You can report any changes to your income or

household in many ways:

• Online at: Oregon.gov.

• By mail at: ONE Customer Service Center, PO Box 14015, Salem, OR 97309.

• By fax at: 503-378-5628.

• By phone at: 1-800-6999075 or TTY 711.

Resources to help meet basic needs

• Find a food pantry: oregonfoodbank.org.

• Learn about government programs and community resources for older adults and people with disabilities: Ag ing and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon at 1-855-673-2372 or adrcofore gon.org.

• Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, 211info. org.

• Find local resources and support by contacting your local Community Action Agency: caporegon.org/findservices.

• Oregon Department of Human Services COVID-19 help center.

ODOT is hiring! Join our team in Warrenton as a field technician.

In this role, you will work independently to perform repairs on heavy equipment specialized for highway maintenance and construction.

To apply, please visit www.odotjobs.com and search for REQ-108131.

North Columbia County’s trusted local news source

Tickets: Adult $15, Senior $13, Child $10 Birkenfeld Theater Clatskanie Cultural Center

S. Nehalem St Clatskanie, OR

Metro Creative Connection

The $9 million is designed to ease the affordable housing and child care crises for Oregon families in need.

STAFF REPORT

Metro Creative Connection

SNAP is an assistance program designed to help approximately 1 mil lion eligible, low-income families and individuals in Oregon, including many older adults and people with disabilities, with emergency food allotments and other benefits.

STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

Courtesy photo from NEXT

More review is necessary before the proposed $2 billion NEXT facility can be built.

Oregon to receive nearly $23M to combat opioid crisis

Oregon will receive $22,972,499 in federal finan cial help in combating the opioid crisis.

The grant funding is from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to combat the opioid crisis, according to Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden.

In 2021, Oregon over dose deaths increased 41%, compared to a 16% increase nationwide. In 2020 nonHispanic American Indian and Alaska Native, nonHispanic Black, male and people experiencing house lessness were among the highest risk for unintentional drug overdose death, accord ing to the National Center for Health Statistics,

“I’ve heard heartwrenching stories from Ore

gonians who have lost loved ones after a prescription for an injury or treatment turned into an addiction,” Merkley said. “The impact of this crisis across communities is immeasurable, but these funds will have a real impact on our continued fight to beat this epidemic. I won’t stop working to deliver resources, solutions, and support to address the needs of those suffering and their communities.”

“Every corner of Oregon has been slammed by the opioid crisis that’s ripping apart lives, with the human devastation rippling out as well to victims’ loved ones, employers and communi ties,” Wyden said. “This scourge demands a com prehensive response and this federal investment in prevention, treatment and more will help. But there’s obviously much more to be done, and I’ll keep

battling to provide all the resources needed to attack this crisis with the urgency it requires.”

Oregon and Tribes in the state will receive:

• $498,228 to the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon.

• $15,474,271 to Oregon Health Authority Directors Office of Financial Services.

• $6,750,000 to North west Portland Area Indian Health Board.

• $250,000 to the Con federated Tribes of Siletz Indians.

What the money will be used for

The awards are in tended to address the opioid overdose crisis by provid ing resources to states, territories, and Tribes for

increasing access to FDAapproved medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD), and for supporting the continuum of prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery sup port services for OUD and other concurrent substance use disorders.

“Every day opioid addic tion takes lives and destroys families,” the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde,” Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy said. “With this funding from Health and Human Services, we will be able to provide critical services through our clinic, Great Circle Recovery, and support patients on their path through recovery.”

“Our tribe is so thank ful for the funds we will receive,” the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians Chair Delores Piglsey said. “The opioid crisis has affected our community.

The funds will be used for wellness programs, mental health treatment, and every preventative measure that we have been unable to

ing. Recovery efforts are severely needed in rural communities. We thank our senator for his active par ticipation in recognizing our

Vaccines available at county fairgrounds

HERB SWETT chronicle1@countrymedia.net

Vaccines are available from noon to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30 at the Columbia County Fairgrounds 4-H Building, 58892 Saulser Road, St. Helens.

Columbia County Public Health is providing primary and booster COVID-19 vac cinations from Moderna, Pfizer, and Novavax, as well as monkeypox.

Vaccines also will be available at times to be de

From Page A1

to protect all of the natural area, including the adjacent ponds and wetlands,” Rissel said.

Jonna Forbes said the River’s Edge grand opening will be conducted Memo rial Day weekend, although camping is currently avail able.

For campsite reserva tion, visit riversedgerv camping.com. The cost is $65 per night or $750 per month.

“Many questions have come up about our ability to accommodate monthly guests,” Forbes said. “A number of people think that there is a limit of 14 days,

termined Oct. 13, 18. 19, 20, and 27; Nov. 10; and Dec. 1 and 15.

People needing transpor tation may call 503-366-0159 or email CCRiderinfo@ columbiacountyor.gov.

Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) ser vices are a covered Medicaid benefit for Columbia Pacific members. For anyone un able to get a covered health appointment, a rideshare program called NW Rides is available. Depending on needs, it provides rides, bus

passes, and help paying for gas. NW Rides can be called toll-free at 503-861-0657 or 888-793-0439. Normal business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Anyone still needing help may text ORCO VID to 898211 (English and Spanish only); email ORCOVID@211info.org for registration information; or call 211 or 866-698-6155 between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. daily. Anyone still having questions may email health@ columbiacountyor.gov.

2023.

During the park ribbon cutting ceremony Sept. 24, Rissel told of the ups and downs experienced in build ing the park.

“First came the rain,” he said. “It was a very wet winter.”

He told of how working in the mud felt like bricks were duct-taped to the bot tom of the crew members feet. And then of course, there was the heat.

“It was a lot of blood, sweat and tears and 14-hour days,” he said.

Rissel said he is grate ful for the hard work of his family and co-workers.

“Everyone has made a huge sacrifice to get this done.,” he said. “I want to thank everyone for all the support I received.”

Metro Creative Connection

The awards are intended to address the opioid overdose crisis by pro viding resources to states, territories, and Tribes for increasing access to FDA-approved medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) as well as other efforts.

Metro Creative Connection

Here is the vaccine that will be administered at the fairgrounds.

This rule is true for some state campgrounds but does not apply to us as we are privately owned. We wel

come the monthly guests.”

River’s Edge is also offering free power to new customers through January

Courtesy photo

The construction of the site included 1.2 acres of concrete, 2.5 acres of asphalt, 27,000-feet of utility lines and a newly paved road for easy access.

Solution for the Sept. 23, 2022 crossword puzzle

State bias incident hotline sees 55% increase

In the first eight months of 2022, there has been a 55% increase in the number of reports to the state’s Bias Hotline, according to Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum.

Each year the Oregon Department of Justice (ODJ) Criminal Justice Commis sion (CJC) releases an annual report on the Bias Incident Hotline. The most recent report, released in July 2022, showed reports to the hotline were up 53% in 2021. Even more recent data tracked by the Oregon DOJ and ana lyzed by the CJC shows that reports are up 55% for the first part of 2022.

“Our Bias Response and Sanctuary Promise Hotlines are community resources that can help anybody who has experienced a bias crime or incident or need to report a possible violation of Oregon’s sanctuary laws,” Rosenblum said. “Or egonians value fairness and dignity, and all people should feel safe in their communi ties. No one should feel like they don’t belong in Oregon. Our hotline advocates are standing by in seven lan guages, and we are here to support you.”

In January 2020, the ODJ launched the Bias Response Hotline, which has fielded over 4,700 reports of hate and bias throughout Oregon. The Sanctuary Promise Ho tline was launched in April

2022. Oregon’s longstanding sanctuary laws restrict state and local law enforce ment from collect ing, storing, or sharing in formation about a per son’s na tional ori gin, immi gration or citi zenship status for the purposes of enforcing federal immigration law.

To further support victims of hate and bias, Oregon this

year became the first state in the country to provide counseling benefits through the Crime Victims’ Com pensation Program to anyone who has ex peri enced a bias crime or incident, including a sanctuary bias incident.

Victims can additionally apply for up to $1,000 in Emergency Monies for Bias Victims to help with

safety, security, relocation, property repair, or other as sistance in the aftermath of bias.

“We also want to thank the Oregon Legislature for investing in—and support ing—these two extremely im portant statewide resources,” Rosenblum said. “Because of the legislature’s support, we have been able to hire bi-and multi-lingual advocates in the Central Willamette Valley, Southern Oregon and North/ Central Oregon Coast. We are expanding our team and look forward to continuing to serve even more community members.”

Oregon Sanctuary Promise Hotline: In English: SanctuaryPro

mise.Oregon.gov 1-844924-STAY (1-844-9247829).

En Español: Prome saSantuario.Oregon.gov 1-844-6-AMPARO (1-844626-7276).

Bias Response Hotline:

Contact the Bias Re sponse Hotline at Stand AgainstHate.Oregon.gov or 1-844-924-BIAS (2427) for questions or to apply.

Community members can report in any language, and the hotline accepts all relay calls.

Rosenblum outlined the Oregon Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Unit report to the Oregon Leg islature’s House Judiciary Committee Friday, Sept. 23.

October 1 HOPE Open House

HOPE of Rainier Food Pantry will hold an open house from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 404 East ‘A’ Street in Rainier. Join the event to see the changes that have been made. Come by and take a tour and enjoy a little nibble. Meet some of the people who have helped make it hap pen. For more informa tion, contact Kelly Miller at 503-556-0701 or at hope97048@gmail.com.

October 8 All Native

Plant Sale

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sale will be behind Scappoose High School off Highway 101. The sale is a presen tation of the Scappoose Watershed Council. Great plants, grown by great volunteers at great prices. Proceeds help support local restoration projects. For more information, visit scappoosebay-wc. org.

October 13 State of the Port

Port of Columbia County Executive Director Sean Clark delivers the State of the Port, looking at the challenges and accom plishments over the past year, and the projects and opportunities ahead.

NEXT Renewables CEO and Chairperson Chris Efird will provide an

update on the $2 billion renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel facility being developed at Port Westward. Presenta tions from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.at Meriwether Place 1070 Columbia Blvd. St. Helens Zoom link available at www.por tofcolumbiacounty.org/ calendar

Ongoing Events

Vaccine Clinics Columbia County Pub lic Health is providing primary and booster COVID-19 vaccinations from Moderna, Pfizer, and Novavax, as well as monkeypox. Vaccines also will be available at times to be determined Oct. 13, 18. 19, 20, and 27; Nov. 10; and Dec. 1 and 15. Vaccines are available from noon to 7 p.m. today through Friday at the Columbia County Fairgrounds 4-H Building, 58892 Saulser Road, St. Helens. People needing transportation may call 503-366-0159 or email CCRiderinfo@columbia countyor.gov.

Lower Columbia River Watershed Council Meets at 7 p.m. every other second Tuesday. Meetings are currently held electronically by Zoom. For more informa tion, contact Council Co

ordinator Allan Whiting at E-mail: allan@whitingenv. com, or call 503-7899240. Visit the council’s website for agenda post ings and Zoom at www. lowercolumbiariver.org/ events-page.

The Rainier Oregon His torical Museum (ROHM) is open from noon - 4 p.m. Saturday (except major holidays week ends). ROHM is located inside Rainier City Hall at 106 W B Street. For more information, call 360-7517039.

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

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

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

Vote for Logan

Logan Laity is running for House Representative of Dis trict 32, and I will be voting for him in November.

Logan is a small business owner who provides services for seniors and non-profit agencies, by recruiting and training volunteers and providing technical support services. He also works with the Emergency Corps of Nehalem Bay. Logan has worked as a patient coordinator/advocate in a local dental office. Part of his job was to help patients navigate their dental insur ance.

Logan volunteered to sup port the Oregon Health Plan as a community supporter.

Logan lobbied for Measure 101 to help protect the Or egon Health Plan.

While president of Til lamook Bay Community College Student Associa tion, Logan also lobbied the Oregon Legislature for the Student Success Act during the 2019 legislative session. He also worked with a group to help start and support the food and hygiene pantry, led the Student Association lobbying efforts with both the college’s Board of Education and the state Legislature and represented student issues to TBCC administration.

Currently Logan is a director on the Tillamook Urban Renewal Agency (TURA) and president of TURA’s Budget Committee. TURA board of directors, oversees planning and the execution of urban renewal projects and activities. Their goal is to enhance economic development and improve the quality of life for Tillamook’s citizens.

Logan has shown he has the experience and dedication to represent House District 32, and I hope he has your vote also.

Debbie Boothe-Schmidt Warrenton

397-4093

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Public Notices

CC22-1688

NOTICE OF WORK SESSION

The Board of Directors for Clatskanie School Dis trict 6J will hold a Special Board Working Session, Monday, October 3, 2022, 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Please

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see our website at www. csd.k12.or.us for Zoom meeting link and agenda which is limited to discus sion of the Bond project.

NOTICE OF MEETING

The CCMH Board of Directors meeting will be held 10/4/2022 at 4pm. The Directors would love to hear feedback from clients and community members! This will be a hybrid meeting and if you would like to join

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physically, please meet in the Community Room at our Creekside location on McNulty. To attend the meet ing via phone, please call in using the following number: +1 323-486-1906 Conference ID: 847 420 41#

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE BEAVER DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT COMPANY, INC.

Notice is hereby given that there will be a special meeting of the Board of Direc-tors of the Beaver Drainage Improvement Company (BDIC), Columbia County, Oregon. This meet ing will be held Wednesday, October 12th, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. at the Quincy Grange #321 located at 78314 Rut ters Road in Clatskanie, OR. This meeting is being held to review and discuss po tential settlement of BDIC’s

pend-ing appeal of the Department of State Lands removal fill permit approval for NEXT Renewable Fuels Oregon, LLC under Applica tion No. 63077-RF. A draft proposed Release and Settle ment Agreement will be available for review during the special meeting. Prior to adjournment of the special meeting, the BDIC Board may, in its discretion, con vene an executive session pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)

connection with the pro posed Release and Settle ment Agreement. Special Meeting Agenda I. BDIC Board/Counsel Presentation (approximately one-half hour) · NEXT’s proposed wetlands mitigation area and BDIC’s appeal. · Proposed Release and Settlement Agreement II. Public Com

Board Executive Session (as necessary) IV. Adjourn ment · To include announced date for final Board vote on proposed Release and Settle ment Agreement. Dated this 27th day of September 2022. Beaver Drainage Improve ment Company, Truett Stolzenburg, Director

NOTICE OF CLATSKANIE CITY COUNCIL MEETING

The Clatskanie City Council will meet on Wednesday, October 5th, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall in the Clatskanie Cultural Center, 75 South

Nehalem St. (2nd floor). Agenda items include but are not limited to: approval of the minutes of the Sept. 7th, 2022 regular meet ing, the first reading of an ordinance regulating RVs

in city limits, approval of a Tetra Tech contract ad dendum, and a presentation from the Small Business Development Center. An updated agenda will be available at City Hall by

Sept. 30th, 2022. Access to the meeting on ZOOM will be posted on the city web site, www.cityofclatskanie. com. Please call City Hall at least 48 hours in advance if you need assistance. The

council will also conduct an Executive Session and return to regular session following. Executive Ses sion per ORS 192.660(i); To review and evaluate the employment-related perfor

mance of the chief execu tive officer of any public body, a public officer, employee or staff member who does not request an open hearing.

Virtual fencing for cattle may aid in wildfire fighting

SEAN NEALON Chief Guest Article

The use of virtual fencing to manage cattle grazing on sagebrush rangelands has the potential to create fuel breaks needed to help fight wildfires.

That is the conclusion of an Oregon State Univer sity and U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service study.

Virtual fencing involves placing collars on livestock. The collars communicate with GPS and reception tow ers to form a virtual fence set by the rancher. Auditory stimuli emit from the collar when the livestock reach the limit of the virtual fence and they receive a benign shock if they pass the fence limit.

“We’re seeing the chal lenge related to wildfires that land managers, particularly on public lands, are facing in the western U.S.,” said David Bohnert, director of Oregon State’s Eastern Oregon Ag ricultural Research Center in Burns. “They just don’t have the tools to manage those public lands in a way that is timely, particularly related to wildfire. This new study should help begin to change that.”

Wildfires on sagebrush landscapes, which cover much of the interior land scape of the western U.S., have increased dramatically in recent years, with more acres burning, the size of fires increasing and more federal dollars being spent to

fight fires, USDA statistics show.

These changes are in part due to the expansion of nonnative annual grasses on the sagebrush landscape, the researchers note. The increased prevalence of these nonnative grasses, which dry out earlier in the growing season and grow faster than native perennial bunchgrass, leads to an increase in fuel for wildfires.

Most methods to re duce fuel for wildfires have focused on cutting or burning shrubs or trees. Recently there have been efforts to strategically place a network of fuel breaks across sage brush landscapes to provide space where firefighters can safely seek to contain the spread of fires.

The new study from Or egon State and Agricultural Research Service scientists, published in Rangeland Ecol ogy & Management, looked at whether cattle grazing and virtual fencing could be an effective tool to create those fuel breaks by eating the grass that fuels fires.

Virtual fencing has been around for decades, but in recent years, with advances in satellite, battery and GPS technology, it has gained more attention in the agri cultural community, Bohnert said. It allows ranchers to control livestock distribu tion in rangeland landscapes without physical fences, which are costly to construct and maintain and also may be harmful to wildlife.

In this study, the research ers set up a 200-meter-wide by 3-kilometer-long fuel break in a roughly 1,000-acre pasture at OSU’s Northern Great Basin Experimental Range, about 35 miles west of Burns in southeastern Oregon. The fuel break area was bounded by a series of four virtual fences, each 35 meters apart.

In June 2021, 16 cows and 23 cow/calf pairs were placed in the fuel break area with several water sources inside it. All the cows, but not the calves, were fitted with virtual fence collars that use GPS positioning to con tain them in the fuel break boundaries and record their locations every five minutes. After 30 days, the cows were removed.

After that, the researchers analyzed the data. Findings included:

The daily percentage of the cows without calves in the fuel break area was 98.5%.

The daily percentage of cow/calf pairs in the fuel break was 80.6%. The researchers believe the dif ference is due to the calves not wearing collars and being more likely to walk outside the fuel break to forage. Their mothers were then apt to follow.

The cows consumed 48.5% of the grass fuels inside the fuel break and only 5.5% of the grass fuels outside the fuel break.

The findings complement a growing body of evidence

that indicate virtual fencing can successfully be used for a variety of livestock manage ment applications, said Chad Boyd, a research leader for the Agricultural Research Service in Burns who has a courtesy appointment at Oregon State.

Additional research underway by the authors is evaluating the ability of vir tual fencing to keep cattle out of riparian areas to protect critical salmon and steelhead spawning habitat. They also are studying the potential to mitigate wildfire risk by identifying high fuel load areas on rangelands through

remote sensing and then stra tegically employing virtual fencing and grazing to meet fuel management objectives.

“Grazing shouldn’t be seen in absolutes,” Boyd said. “It’s one tool that can be used along with everything else. It requires knowledge of the land management objec tives, and the grazing needs to be managed appropriately.

Virtual fencing helps do that in a sustainable, strategic and defensible manner that helps not only the producer and land management agency but also has beneficial impacts on society.”

In addition to Bohnert and

Boyd, co-authors of the paper were Juliana Ranches and Dustin Johnson of Oregon State’s Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences; Rory O’Connor, Jon Bates and Kirk Davies of USDA; Todd Parker of Vence Corp., a San Diego-based virtual fence company; and Kevin Doherty, U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service.

Sean Nealon is a news editor at Oregon State Uni versity’s University Relations and Marketing Department. He may be reached at sean. nealon@oregonstate.edu.

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Courtesy from OSU

Virtual fencing involves placing collars on livestock. The collars communicate with GPS and reception tow ers to form a virtual fence set by the rancher.

PROTECTING

KNOW

www.thechiefnews.comFriday, September 30, 2022 A5 Marketplace Just call 503-397-0116It’s easy to place a classified ad in The Chief Listings are updated daily at www.thechiefnews.com 150 Misc Services 312 Events 502 Help Wanted 860 Storage We buy CEDAR and NOBLE boughs. What we pay depends on the quality of your trees. We do all the work and won’t damage your trees. ATTENTION LAND OWNERS For more information contact Jorge Martinez (360) 751-7723 312 Events PippinDoc Monthly Vaccine Clinic October 6, 2022 at the Johnson Feed Store, 905 NE Van St. in Clatskanie, from 9:00-11:00 AM and 1:30-3:30 PM. Please visit www.pippindoc. com for more infor mation. 502 Help Wanted CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District (C911CD) EXPERIENCED CDL DUMP TRUCK DRIVER Top Pay, Mon-Fri 7:00 - 3:30p.m. No Weekends. Paid Holiday & Vacation Rainier, OR. Respond to BCX1996@gmail. com or Craig 360-431-5599 790 Misc Wanted 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. ATTENTION LAND OWNERS! CLATSKANIE Mini Storage Hoarder’s Paradise! 20 sizes, Inexpensive RV Storage, Carports, Hand trucks, Locks, Fully-lined, Insulated, Condensation free, all units lit. On-site Manager 503 728-2051 503 369-6503 Visa/MC/Amex SPECIAL SPECIAL 503-397-0116 www.thechiefnews.com/subscribe Get 20% off new subscriptions, just mention this ad! For New and Returning Subscribers only. buy and sell in the classifieds Call The chief at 503-397-0116 to place your ad today. view classified ads in the Chief and online at thechiefnews.com Place a classified ad in The Chief. Email Jon at chronicleads@countrymedia.net.

Kenneth Dale Vance was born on Jan. 23, 1935, in Medford, Oregon, to Ce cil Leroy Vance and Merle Louise Hunt, the second of their two children. He passed away Aug. 17, 2022 at age 87.

He met Karen Steiner in her senior year in Rainier, often driving up to the high school during his lunch hour at just the right time to pick up Karen and her girlfriends as they climbed up the hill returning from their lunch walk to town. Her friends understood they should let Karen have the front seat. They mar ried in October after she graduated. They made their home in Rainier during the 65 years of their marriage.

Ken graduated from Medford High School in 1953 and moved to Rainier, Oregon, where he had been visiting his father and stepmother during summers and working at Goodat Crushed Rock and continued there full time, driving truck and operat ing many types of heavy equipment including road graders, front-end loaders and caterpillars. He became proficient on any new piece of equipment on which he climbed quickly mastering the subtle skills needed to get maximum performance from the machine. He drove heavy equipment on the maintenance crew for the Port of Longview for over 20 years until retiring in 1997. He was a hardworking perfectionist, and any job he did was done right.

Ken and Karen enjoyed raising their two boys out

side of Rainier in a country atmosphere with a yard large enough for football or baseball games and a good place for family gatherings around the campfire.

When he bought a frontend loader and dump truck and went into business for himself for a while, he started his boys operat ing the equipment when they were quite young and was always ready to give the grandkids, nieces and nephews a ride when he had equipment available.

He played sports very little in school, but he en joyed playing Rainier town basketball and on some Longview softball teams. He enjoyed handball, water skiing and downhill skiing for many years and loved cheering for our boys, grandkids and great-grand kids at their games and any other events in which they were involved.

Camping was always the main family vacation. After much nagging, in 1976 he gave in and he and Karen traveled to Europe, the first of many enjoyable trips overseas. In retire ment they enjoyed travel

ing by motor home.

His family and friends were so important. Ken was a friend to all and never passed up an op portunity to speak to those he knew any time he saw them. He always enjoyed when he could “coffee down” or have lunch with his buddies, and thoroughly enjoyed all the visits from friends and family when he was unable to get out any longer.

Ken is survived by his wife Karen; son Ronald (Susan), and grandsons, Wyles (Claire) and Con nor (Arianne); son Rick (Saundra); granddaughter Desiree Gamble; greatgrandsons, Tyeson and Beau Gamble; granddaugh ter Monica (Matthew) St. Onge; great-granddaughter MacKenzie St. Onge, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil and Merle; stepmother Jean; brother Elbert; and sisters, Jerrilee Vale and Marilyn Fisher.

Our special thanks to both Community Home Health & Hospice and Ull mann Family Homes and staff for their loving care.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Sat., Oct. 8, 2022 at the Rainier Assembly of God Church. Guests are encouraged to bring their stories to share. Memorial contributions may be made to Communi ty Home Health & Hospice, Longview, Washington, Rainier Oregon Historical Museum Building Fund, or a charity of your choice.

Daniel Bruce Ness was born on March 30, 1941, in Whitefish, Montana, to Clarence and Effie Ness. His cherished memories were ones of helping on the farm, logging, herding cattle, and learning how to care for horses at a young age.

During the Vietnam War, Daniel joined the Navy and served honorably aboard the USS Frank E. Evans. He was trained as a teletype repairman and performed duties as part of the Radioman Crew. Service to his country was always important to Daniel.

Daniel was united in mar riage to Patsy L. Thackery on July 8, 1967, in St. Helens, Or egon. The newlyweds moved to Montana to begin their life together. Eventually, they settled in Clatskanie, Oregon.

In 1974, Daniel attended the OSU Farrier School and began his horseshoeing career. He practiced his trade for over 30 years. His dedication to the horse community forged

cherished.

Dan and Patsy were dedicated members of the Clatskanie Baptist Church for over 40 years where Daniel valued his role as a deacon.

His relationship with God and family was an example and inspiration to many.

Daniel went to be with the Lord and his loving wife on Aug. 19, 2022, at the age of 81.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Kay;

and his beloved wife, Patsy (Thackery) Ness.

His loving spirit and dedi cation to the Lord will always be remembered in the lives of his children: Travis (Sophia) Ness of, Renton, Washington, and Nicole (Joshua) Chronis ter of Hillsboro, Oreogn; five grandchildren, Emma and Caleb Ness, Alyssa, Kaliyah, and Isabella Chronister; sister Sharon (Wayne) Roberts; brothers, Rod (Kathy) Ness and Tim (Colleen) Ness, all of Fortine, Montana; and a host of devoted nieces, nephews, in-laws, cousins, and friends.

All family and friends are invited to celebrate his life at 2 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 22, 2022 at Clatskanie Baptist Church, 415 N Nehalem St., Clatskanie, Oregon. The family is also invited to attend a remem brance and spreading of ashes ceremony during the 2023 Montana summer reunion.

Daniel’s final wish was to return to Montana, where his heart always remained.

Phyllis Evelyn (Sailer) Enright May 29, 1924 ~ Sept. 10, 2022

Phyllis Evelyn (Sailer) Enright was born May 29, 1924 in Simi Valley, California. She passed away peacefully on Sept. 10, 2022 at the age of 98, in Petaluma, California.

She graduated from Simi Valley High School in 1943 and worked at Lockheed Aircraft, Burbank, Califor nia, during WWII. She loved gardening and animals and created many beautiful gar

dens wherever she lived. She is survived by her nieces and nephew living in California and Oregon. She lived in Clatskanie and Warrenton, Oregon, for many years and loved spotting Elk on the frequent drives taken with her late husband, Dennis Enright.

Aunt Ditty was larger than life with a knack for cooking and keeping things orderly. Rest in Peace.

Dorothy Margaret Hoff man was born on Oct. 24, 1929, in Dafter, Michigan, to Basil and Mary (McLean) Cryderman.

She had three brothers, William, Newton and Joe Cryderman; and one sister (Sadie Sibbald) who have preceded her in death.

Dorothy married Adrian Fosmore on Nov. 20,1948, moving to Rainier in fall of 1958. They had three daugh ters together, Verna Cram (deceased), Dawn Fosmore and Paula Brenner both of Longview, Washington. She married Alton Hoffman and they had a son, Basil Hoff man. Alton preceded her in death in 2020.

Dorothy worked at

Busy Bee Café, The Chuck Wagon in Rainier as well as Irbys in Longview. She completed her work

ing years working for the Rainier School District working in the cafeteria and laundry. Dorothy belonged to the Rainier Square Dance club for years, the bowling League and the Ladies Aux iliary of VFW #1909. Her remaining siblings include sister Betty Tomi nac, brother Paul (Shirley), brother Jim (Carol), and sister-in-law Irene Cryder man, all who live in Michi gan. Dorothy is survived by seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 3 greatgreat-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. There will be a graveside service at 1 p.m. on Oct. 23, 2022 at Hudson Cemetery.

Daniel Bruce Ness

Kenneth D. Vance

Dorothy Margaret Hoffman