2 new COVID-19 cases, numbers still high Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891
Local, state and federal health officials continue to urge the public to wash hands often, avoid close contact by staying at east six feet apart in crowed areas and cover your mouth and nose with a mask as a way to show the spread of COVID-19. According to the CDC, there is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19.
MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported two new cases of COVID-19 in Columbia County on Wednesday, Sept. 30. This brings a total of 29 new cases reported since Friday. In total, the county had 188 COVID-19 cases, as of Sept. 30. The only pandemic-related death in the county occurred in early August. Despite sharp increases in cases, county Public Health Director Michael Paul said there is not one significant event accounting for the rise. “In the last two weeks we’ve seen our case count go up for not any particular event, we’ve just seen an overall increase,” Paul said at the county Board of Commissioners meeting Wednesday, Sept. 30. Paul said that within the last week the number of people considered currently infectious in the county has jumped to almost 30. That number had been at or around seven for most of August and September, he said. Common settings While there is no single event that caused the surge in case, Paul identified some common settings reported by those who have contracted the virus in the county: Weddings, birthday parties, family reunions, holiday gatherings, faith-based gatherings and services, travel and camping. He said that many of the cases are workplace or household contacts. The highest single-day new
Prevention “The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus,” according to the CDC website. “The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.” • Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about six feet). • Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. • These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. • Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms. It’s likely that flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will both spread this fall and winter, according to the CDC. “Healthcare systems could be overwhelmed treating both patients with flu and patients with COVID-19,” the CDC website states. “This means getting a flu vaccine during 2020-2021 is more important than ever.”
Courtesy photo
Health authorities continue to stress that washing hands frequently, following social distancing practices and wearing a face covering will help slow the spread of COVID-19.
case count in the county was eight, Paul said. Eight new cases were reported on Monday, Sept. 28, pushing the county further behind in meeting the metrics required to open schools back for in-person learning. In order to reopen the state must be at or below 5% COVID-19 positivity test rates (the state reported a 6.2% positivity test rate for the week of Sept. 21-27); and the county must have 10 or fewer cases per 100,000
and sustain that number for three weeks. “It looks like we won’t make that,” Paul said about meeting the metric. “In Columbia County our case load needs to be below five or fewer cases per week. Last week we had 20.” Paul also mentioned the staterun resource of the Safe + Strong Helpline to support Oregonians mental and emotional health, as well as provide callers with
resources. The number of the helpline is 1-800-923-HELP.
General, said scammers will take any opportunity to prey on people. “Generally scammers don’t care about COVID, don’t care about wildfires to the extent that their actions don’t stop because of those events,” Klem said. In fact, these are the precise situations that fuel some scams. “What we have historically seen with natural disasters is that scammers take a hold of the news and use that to their advantage,” Klem said. “They prey on an individual’s vulnerabilities or worries.” As the wildfires began to spread through Oregon, scams involving the fires spread as well. “I’m sure it was within hours,” Klem said about how quickly
fire-related scams appeared. Now, while hundreds remain displaced from losing their homes to the fires she’s heard reports of “company representatives” visiting evacuation and shelter sites trying to convince wildfire victims that their company is the only one certified by the Red Cross and pressuring them into using their services. “I’m also fairly concerned about contractors, licensed or unlicensed, saying to victims ‘Oh, you need to sign over your insurance check to me’ and they’re gone, never to reappear,” she said. On the other side of things, she’s also on the lookout for “charitable scams,” or scams that moonlight as worthy causes to be donated to, such as a wildfire relief fund. She cautions that people should research the charities before
donating. “We haven’t necessarily heard of many charitable scams, but that is something we’ve seen in the past that targets well-meaning, giving Oregonians,” Klem said. Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum issued a scam alert on Sept. 15 notifying Oregonians to be certain the wildfire relief organizations they are donating to are legitimate by doing research, donating to registered charities and being wary of donation solicitations over the phone, email or at the door. “Kind and generous Oregonians are stepping up to help out by making donations,” Rosenblum wrote in the alert. “Unfortunately, we know there are some bad actors out there who will try to prosper off any disaster. I encourage Oregonians to give, but I want to help make sure
both options, most agreed that the stakeholders and those that were part of hiring Hattrick be included in the decision on whether to continue his contract in this role or search for a new superintendent, as well as students, families and staff. Hattrick was brought in on July 1 to serve as interim superintendent following the departure of Superintendent Michael Carter, who left to take a position in the Lake County School District after 17 years in Rainier. “None of this will be done without community support and direction,” board member Kari Hollander said. The decision on whether to go out for a national search or renew Hattrick’s contract must be made by the board’s October meeting due to the time it takes to conduct a national search. “I think if we are potentially
deciding to forego a search and invite Dr. Hattrick to stay in Rainier then we need to make sure that we ask widely and comprehensively,” board member Elaine Placido said. The board agreed to distribute a survey to the Rainier School District community to help the board make a decision. The board also discussed Hattrick’s goals for the 2020-21 school year, which are to stabilize the district through community engagement, fiscal stability, strategic planning and quality education. Hattrick said he plans to provide self-evaluations during open school board meetings, in addition to the private performance reviews held by the board in executive sessions. “One thing I want to really be sure about during my time at Rainier is that nothing can be perceived that we’re holding out information from the public, so I will be
presenting a self-evaluations and goals update at open meeting and we’ll reserve executive session simply for drilling down on some things that may be more confidential in nature,” Hattrick said. In other board news, Noel Hinsey was selected as the newest board member, representing Zone 4. The board also voted to approve a partnership with the Grand Canyon University which allows staff to enroll in classes at a discount. “Theres no financial obligation,” Hollander said. “It’s just opening up a discounted education for our teachers to have continued education and our graduates. If they chose to go there they’d get a scholarship right off the top.”
State, national cases Statewide, OHA reported a total of 33,509 confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, as of Sept. 30 with the death toll at 559. Across the nation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 7,168,077 COVID-19 cases and 205,372 deaths, as of Set. 29.
Follow daily pandemic reports at thechiefnews.com with in-depth reports in the Friday print editions of The Chief.
Local scams flourish during disaster MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net
When disaster strikes, the first thought usually isn’t “How can I use this opportunity to make money?” but for scammers it is. Ellen Klem, director of consumer outreach and education for the Office of the Oregon Attorney
Within hours
your donations get to the right place and are used for their intended purpose.” A variety of scams Scams can come in all forms: over texts, emails, on the phone, or from simply clicking a bad link. There are plenty of ways for scammers to gain access to personal and financial information. Just in the past few weeks, the Rainier Police Department received a call from a citizen who had been contacted by a friend over Facebook. The friend told the victim that she won the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes and told her to text a number to receive her prize.
See SCAMS Page A3
Rainier ponders superintendent question MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net
The Rainier School District Board is discussing whether to start a national search for a new superintendent or keep Interim Superintendent Joseph Hattrick on for another year as the permanent superintendent, and the board is seeking community feedback. At the school board meeting Monday, Sept. 28, the board discussed the pros and cons of
Obituaries ..............A3 Clatskanie Grows ..A4 Letters.....................A4 Market Place...........A5 Readers Choice .....A6
Follow developments concerning the school superintendent decision at thechiefnews.com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.
Dr. Joseph Hattrick
“None of this will be done without community support and direction.” ~ Kari Hollander, Rainier School Board member
A2
Friday, October 2, 2020
www.thechiefnews.com
Columbia County’s real estate prices
Courtesy photo
The average residential property price in Columbia County is at $344,250, according to a state new report. JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
A new report from the Oregon Employment Department shows Columbia County’s home prices are catching up to other regions in Northwest Oregon. Residential property average prices increased in August by 9.9 % to $344,250 in Columbia County. Case-Shiller Index of national home prices available from the St. Louis Federal Reserve showed a 4.3 % increase in prices across the nation over the year to June 2020. That was more growth than the year before. The index increased 2.1 % since March 2020 when the pandemic began to have a significant effect in the U.S.
Most Northwest Oregon counties seem to be doing as well or better, according to a new report by Oregon Employment Department regional economist Erik Knoder. Residential property average sales prices reported by RMLS in August 2020 rose 7.6 % to $395,300 in the North Coast region, which includes Clatsop, Tillamook, and Lincoln counties combined. In Columbia County the average sales price rose by 9.9 % to $344,250 and by 8.9 % to $408,167 in Benton County, based on a 12-month moving average, according to Knoder, who said Benton County reports few home sales to RMLS, so the prices can vary quite widely from
month to month. The volume of homes sold as reported by the RMLS system has also held up pretty well in 2020. The North Coast region reported 1,161 closed sales for the year through August versus 1,139 sales for the same period in 2019. Columbia County had 557 sales through August 2020 versus 567 in 2019, and Benton County reported 116 sales through August 2020 versus 104 sales through August 2019. Not all realtors report sales to RMLS. The drawback Knoder said one drawback in using home sales to evaluate the real estate market is that the quality of houses sold each month is not
consistent; one month may see more high-quality houses sold, the next month may see more low-quality houses being sold. “One way around this problem is to use economic models to estimate values for all the residential property in an area,” he said. “Zillow does this modeling and makes the data available on the company’s website. The chart below shows the smoothed, seasonally adjusted measure of the typical home value for each county. It reflects the typical value for homes in the 35th to 65th percentile range.”
ties in Northwest Oregon show that home values have surpassed their pre-Great Recession highs in all counties and hit new highs in 2020. “Perhaps noteworthy is that the highest prices in Benton and Columbia counties occurred in May and January, respectively, and their prices have dipped a little since then,” he said. “It is also interesting to note that Columbia County’s typical home prices generally have caught up to those in Clatsop and Tillamook counties over the past five years.”
New Highs
Industry job base
industry are not covered by unemployment insurance and consequently aren’t reported to the Oregon Employment Department, according to Knoder. “The employment that is reported for real estate was about 20 jobs higher in 2020 than 2019 for the five Northwest Oregon counties as a region, but the individual counties varied,” Knoder said. “Comparing covered employment in real estate during March 2020 with March 2019, Benton County lost 15 jobs, Clatsop County’s employment was down 27 jobs, and Tillamook County shed 16 jobs. Columbia County added 3 jobs and Lincoln County gained 76 jobs.”
Knoder said the Zillow estimates for the five coun-
Many jobs, especially brokers, in the real estate
to be cherished, revered and defended by elected leaders at all levels. “Any efforts to throw out ballots or refuse a peaceful transfer of power are nothing less than an assault on American democracy. There is absolutely no excuse for promoting the intimidation or harassment of voters. These are all blatant attempts to deny our constituents the right to have their voices heard, as guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution, and to know the will of the people will be carried out. “As governors, it is our solemn duty to protect the people of our states. Today, we affirm that all votes cast in the upcoming election will be counted and that democracy will be delivered in this election. That means all valid ballots cast
in accordance with state and local laws must be counted, and that all states must properly appoint electors in accordance with the vote. We will not allow anyone to willfully corrupt the democratic process by delegitimizing the outcome or appointing fraudulent electors against the will of the voters. “Our nation has held presidential elections and upheld the results throughout our history, even in times of great peril. We did it during the Civil War and both World Wars, and we can do it during a pandemic. “And if the outcome of this election means the end of a presidency, he must leave office — period. “We recognize that democratically held elec-
tions are not an exercise in controlling power. By its very nature, democracy is an exercise in determining and honoring out the collective will of the American people, regardless of the outcome. Disenfranchising voters in order to retain power strikes at the very heart of this promise. We call on elected leaders at all levels, from both parties, to speak out loudly against such efforts in the weeks ahead.” The statement has been issued by Govs. Brown, Jay Inslee (WA), Gavin Newsom (CA), Phil Murphy (NJ), Gretchen Whitmer (MI), Tony Evers (WI), Tim Walz (MN), Ralph Northam (VA), John Carney (DE), Steve Sisolak (NV) and Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM).
4-Hers. I had some of those kids out there all night and all day. I think they barely went home. They didn’t balk or complain. If I said I needed a stall cleaned or some feed unloaded, it was “Okay!” And off they went. There are still some of them down there taking care of animals that haven’t quite made it
home. If there’s one thing I know for sure now, it’s that when we get hit with a problem, this community will rally to get it taken care of. They’ll need some more support as we wind down from things, so keep an eye on social media for any needs that might come up.
Govenors pledge 2020 election security STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
Courtesy photo
Gov. Kate Brown and 10 other governors are pledging election security, saying “there is absolutely no excuse for promoting the intimidation or harassment of voters.”
Oregon Governor Kate Brown has joined a coalition of 10 other governors in a joint statement concerning election security following threats to the democratic process and reports of efforts to circumvent the election results. The following is the governors’ statement. “We do not take for granted the sacred right of every American to cast a vote, and to have that vote counted, in the presidential election held every four years. It is a right that is foundational to our democracy and essential to the continuation of our constitutional system of government — something
Wildfires and Wild Times at the Columbia County Fairgrounds LAKEN GORTLER Sponsored content
Photo courtesy of Metro Creative Connections
$300 a week extra for jobless
Claimants will receive individual $300 payments for each week they are eligible.
STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
People in Clatskanie, Rainier and across Columbia County still facing unemployment due to the pandemic may now qualify for an addition $300 a week in jobless benefits. On Wednesday, Sept. 30, the Oregon Employment Department began issuing Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) funds to qualifying Oregonians who were receiving PUA benefits or who selfcertified that they received unemployment benefits for COVID-19-related reasons. LWA is a temporary emergency measure funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that gives an additional $300 per week to people out of work due to COVID-19 and who receive unemployment benefits. So far, $225 million in LWA payments has been issued to 147,900 people. “I am pleased to announce that Oregonians will soon receive their LWA payments. We appreciate their patience, especially as these past few weeks have been incredibly stressful,” Oregon Employment Department acting director David
Gerstenfeld said. LWA payments for all currently eligible Oregonians will be issued immediately. Claimants will receive individual $300 payments for each week they are eligible, via their current method of payment. Claimants with electronic deposit (direct deposit or ReliaCard) should see funds in their account within three business days. Following this initial release of payments, benefits will be issued to newly-eligible claimants on a daily basis until LWA funds run out. Eligible claimants who have not yet certified can still do so. There is no cut-off date for self-certification; however, since funds are limited, the Employment Department encourages claimants who have not certified to do so immediately. Oregonians automatically qualified for LWA if they: • Received unemployment benefits from July 26, 2020, through September 5, 2020; and • Were either receiving PUA benefits during that time or they self-certified they were unemployed or partially unemployed due to disruptions caused by COVID-19. Claimants receiving regular unemployment insur-
Columbia County’s trusted local news source
ance (UI) benefits, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), and Extended Benefits (EB) can self-certify for LWA using the Online Claim System. Individuals receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) do not need to certify because they certified when first applying for PUA benefits. LWA was retroactive to eligible claimants for weeks ending: • August 1, 2020 • August 8, 2020 • August 15, 2020 • August 22, 2020 • August 29, 2020 • September 5, 2020
“Our employees know how critical these benefits are to Oregonians, and the impact these funds will have on local communities,” Gerstenfeld said. “I commend our staff for their dedication to making this happen on-time while keeping other priority projects on track.” LWA payments are taxable under federal law, just like regular unemployment insurance (UI) or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits. If taxes are withheld from other benefits, they will also be withheld from the LWA benefits.
What a month it’s been! And what a time to be a newly appointed Columbia County Fairboard member. We’ve had a busy few weeks with the fires, evacuations, and getting the Fairgrounds up and running. We took in so many animals, a couple hundred at least, and it was definitely crazy out there. We filled the horse barns, pretty much filled the swine barn, filled the goat barn and sheep barn, and a ton of pens out in the arena. We also had about 40 people who evacuated there that we needed to take care of. I am so proud of Columbia County and how they stepped up. I think we became known as one of the largest donation hubs out of all of them. We stepped up and started shipping some of that stuff out to the communities that didn’t get as much and thank God we didn’t get any fires here. As for Dahlgren’s, we contributed some grain, hay, and let them borrow some of our livestock water tanks. We also sent some staff out there to help with traffic and loading for a couple of days, and we were happy to do it. I’d really like to thank the Fairboard, all the volunteers, and especially the
Sponsored by
DAHLGREN’S 58351S.ColumbiaRiverHighway•Phone:503-397-0086•Fax:503-397-0998 DahlgrensDoitBest.com | Shop our warehouse Free shipping to store
Friday, October 2, 2020
•
A3
www.thechiefnews.com
•O bituaries • • Carol Robinson
Feb. 11, 1942 ~ Sept. 16, 2020
Carol Lee Robinson, 78, died peacefully surrounded by family at 3:40 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020 in Longview, Washington. She was born Feb. 11, 1942 in Beaverton, Oregon to Dewey and Gladys McNamee. She married James Edward Robinson, who survives her, on June 11, 1960. Surviving family are her daughters, Sally Hewey and Abby Ramirez; two sons, Daniel Robinson and Cory Robinson; granddaughters, Jaimie, Megan, Breanna, Hannah, Catarina, and Jenna; and grandsons, Mike, Jacob, Liam, and Connor. Carol was a long time
resident of Portland, Oregon where she lived with her parents until marrying James in 1960. She and James embarked on a
journey as a military family, living abroad until settling in the Oregon/Washington area to finish raising their family. She loved her family above all and did everything to support them. When she wasn’t doing that, she loved her pets, gardening, serving at the United Methodist Church, Wabanang Chapter #127 Order of the Eastern Star, and cooking meals for the Masons. She will never be forgotten, and the world was better off because she was in it. Godspeed and may she walk with the Lord in her new body.
Richard Davey IV
April 28, 1952 ~ Sept. 29, 2020
Richard Davey IV, 68, passed away early Tuesday morning, Sept. 29, 2020. Richard was born on April 28, 1952, in Astoria, Oregon to Richard Davey III and Helen (Roberson) Davey. He lived most of his life in his hometown of Clatskanie, Oregon. He was the fourth born of five children. Being one of the youngest, there are many stories of him being tormented by his three older sisters, that he always talked about fondly. He is survived by his three older sisters, Ann Schlaeg, Maggi Wright, and Minno Goodyear; three stepsisters; two half-sisters; children, Richard (Jody) Davey Jr., Amber (Ben) Bruce, and Angela (Rob) Sample; grandchildren, Morgan (Nick) Johnson, JR (Jessica) Davey, Whitney Bruce, Brink (Alex) Davey, Jacob Bruce, Kaylee Nieminen, Sterling Bruce,
Cody Davey, Braden Nieminen, and Maycee Sample; and five great grandchildren, Cobi Powell, Weston Davey, Weslyn Ormsby, Garrett Johnson, and Hayden Davey. He was preceded in death by his parents; and younger brother, Joseph Davey. Richard, known by Rich by most of his friends, was a local mechanic and car enthusiast. There are many
stories out there of him rescuing a friend or family member that was broken down somewhere. He was a graduate of Clatsop Community College, where he obtained a degree in Fire Science. He spent many years as a volunteer for the Clatskanie Fire Department, and as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff of Columbia County. He loved his three children dearly, each one in his own special way. He taught us all life lessons through his example and encouragement. Words that come to mind are stubborn, ornery, but also, compassionate, loving and caring. Anyone that knew him will strongly agree that he had the gift of gab! But more than anything he loved just making his rounds while visiting his friends and family. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.
Arthur Morris
Nov. 7, 1944 ~ Sept. 24, 2020
Arthur Morris 75, of Clatskanie, Oregon passed away September 24, 2020 in Clatskanie, Oregon.
SCAMS From Page A1
Spoiler alert: the “friend” was a scammer, and the victim was asked to pay state tax on her make-believe prize money in the form of Nike gift cards, according to information from the Rainier Police Department. This isn’t the first time the area has been targeted for scams of this kind. In 2019, The Chief took an in-depth look at financial fraud and the ways scammers gain access to victims computers, even remotely connecting to their computer to control it and access banking information. Phishing can be as innocuous as an email from a coworker that might seem perfectly valid, until a closer look reveals an email address off by one letter. Inside of these emails the content can vary. Sometimes it may contain link to take the user to a login page, but when the user logs in the scammer receives their password and credentials. Other times the emails might request gift cards or forms of payment, pretending to be gifts for office staff. The safest thing to do when encountering an email or online message that seems off is not to click any links, Klem said.
if they are dealing with a scammer. 1. Scammers contact people out of the blue. 2. Scammers claim there is an emergency. 3. Scammers ask for personal information. 4. Scammers ask for money to be wired. 5. Scammers tell people to keep the interaction a secret. 6. Scammers make it sound too good to be true. These are some of the tell-tale signs that something fishy is going on. Statewide scamming Columbia County is not the only area targeted by scammers, Curry County Sheriff John Ward recently shared a guide to help keep people protected. In his example, a scammer will call someone to alert them of a payment made from their account and ask that they visit a website to proceed or cancel. Once on the website, the scammer has access to the user’s computer and can access all of the information on the user’s computer. His tips are to hang up on the caller as soon as they make contact. Second tip is
to check bank accounts to verify all charges are valid. Third tip is to notify law enforcement. “The people perpetrating these scams are from overseas more often than not and out of reach for local law enforcement,” he wrote. “However, should you suffer a financial loss; your banking institution/credit card company is going to want to know it was reported.” The best to avoid falling for these scams is to stay alert and think critically when contacted by scammers. “If it seems too good to be true, it is,” Curry County Sheriff’s Detective J Freeman said. “You should never have to pay money to get money. And no one is going to pay you $8,000 a month to drive around with a Dr Pepper sticker on your car.” Another way to stay well-informed and safe from scams is to join the Scam Alert Network through the Oregon Department of Justice. By signing up with only an email address, people are provided with real-time information on scams and frauds as they are reported.
Household hazardous waste collection Oct. 3 STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
Household Hazardous Waste Collection 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Oct. 3 Clatskanie City Park Columbia County Public Works officials said they are hopeful they will be able to offer the next Columbia County free Household Hazardous Waste Collection from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Oct. 3, at the Clatskanie City Park in Clatskanie. Due to COVID-19, three Household Hazardous Waste Collections were canceled. Public works asks that residents check the Columbia County website for further updates at, /www. co.columbia.or.us/HazardousWaste. In a release, public works states the collection gives residents a chance to clean out their homes of toxic items before winter sets. Items must be in containers of less than five gallons and should be secured safely
during transport. Trained household hazardous waste technicians will unload materials from vehicles. The following items will be accepted:
• ammunition • fireworks and flares • gas / diesel / fuels • lawn and garden chemicals • herbicides and pesticides • pool and spa chemicals • light ballasts—please remove from light fixture • fluorescent tubes • art and hobby chemicals • solvents and thinners • items containing mercury • propane cylinders • compressed gas cylinders • batteries - car, rechargeable, button —no alkaline batteries • cleaners and detergents • paint and paint products (latex and acrylic paint, oilbased paint, enamel, stains, lacquers, shellacs, varnishes, primers) • poisons • used motor oil and antifreeze • medical sharps in OSHAapproved, puncture-proof
containers. No garbage, trash or any item containing asbestos will be taken. Extra safety measures will be in place for the Oct. 3 collection. Public works asks that those bringing materials to the collection site be patient, unloading may take a few extra minutes. “We ask that you have all your household hazardous waste in the truck bed or trunk or hatchback of your car, not a passenger compartment,” the public works release states. “Also, please remain in your vehicle at all times while at the collection site unless otherwise directed.” Columbia County sponsors free household hazardous waste events, for county residents only, in various locations throughout the area. The next event takes place Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Columbia County Transfer Station, at 1601 Railroad Avenue in St Helens. For more information, email Kathy Boutin-Pasterz at kathleen.boutin-pasterz@ columbiacountyor.gov, or call her at 503-397-7259.
Migration warning for drivers
Courtesy photo
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) reports that October and November are the busiest months for vehicle-wildlife collisions.
JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Each year from 20142018 in Oregon there were an estimated 7,000 crashes involving deer and elk causing an average of 2.2 human fatalities with over 453 people injured. The crashes resulted in $44 million in vehicle damages, according to a report by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). The report finds that October and November are the busiest months for vehiclewildlife collisions. With deer and elk on the move due to breeding season and migration to winter ranges, more wildlife are crossing roads all over the state. ODOT Is cautioning drivers to be alert and ready to slow down and has issued the following advisory about the collision dangers. Signs placed in particularly popular areas for wildlife crossing are one tool to help drivers avoid collisions. Being especially watchful around sunrise and sunset is another tip that can help reduce vehiclewildlife incidents. ODOT is urging drivers to be aware of the possible dangers associated with animals on or near roadways. When you see a wildlife, reduce your speed, and try to stay in your lane. And always wear your safety belt.
Steps to avoid a deer crossing • Watch for the rest of the gang. If you’ve seen one, you haven’t seen them all. • Wear a seat belt. It’s won’t prevent a collision, but wearing one can reduce injuries. • Take a moment to reflect. Look for road signs. And always stay away, aware and sober. • Illuminate. Use high beam headlights if there’s no oncoming traffic. The light will reflect in a deer’s eyes. • Honk. One long blast can scare deer to of the road. • Timing is everything. Be extra cautious during the
spring and fall and at dusk and dawn when deer are most active. If a collision is unavoidable • Stay on course. Don’t swerve, brake firmly and stay inn your lane. • Alert other drivers. Pull off the rad and put on flashers. • Contact authorities. If you collide with a large animal, you are legally required to report it to law enforcement. • Report animals you move. Refer to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage for animal salvage guidelines.
Sign up at www.doj.state. or.us/consumer-protection/ scam-alert-network/
Stay protected Guides from the Oregon Office of the Attorney General identified six common signs to help people identify
Showcase your business
In our calendar • Full-page sponsorship banner: $500, 2” height x 10.5” wide • Date listing: $50 each. Date listing: $40 each for 5+ listings • Only one listing per date so act fast! • Space deadline: Nov. 4, publishing: Nov. 25
Advertise your business by being a part of our 14-month Calendar. Contact Amy at atrull@countrymedia.net for info.
Columbia County’s trusted local news source
A4
Friday, October 2, 2020
www.thechiefnews.com
Clatskanie Grows: Skunks, pigweed CHIP BUBL Chief Guest Column
I visited with someone from Scappoose and she asked me to write something about skunks. There aren’t many people that like skunks but I happen, generally, to be one of them. In Columbia County, we have both striped (the most common) and spotted skunks. I have found them to be relatively calm unless provoked by a dog, coyote, raccoon, or human. That said, it is not good if they have a den under your house. Two skunks can get into a tussle as can skunks and their other enemies. The results are all too predictable. Skunk spray is powerful and impossible to remove from underfloor insulation. The insulation has to go. Sometimes, harder surfaces can be sprayed with a skunk smell neutralizing mixture I will give below with decent results. But spraying under the house is a bit risky to you so be careful. People have also had some success with ammonia-soaked rags as a deterrent under a low deck or under structures. The best approach is to block skunks from denning under your house or low deck. Check your foundation for openings and tighten them up. If skunks start to dig under your foundation (hard to do) or under a manufactured home’s skirting (much easier), you can try to watch when they go out to forage in the middle of the night and put down some tight-mesh metal fencing to force them to leave. Sometimes this works and sometimes it does not. Don’t do this when the babies are still underneath. At some point in the late summer, skunks usually leave the dens. That is the time to batten down everything. Skunks are omnivorous (they like fruit, insects, meat, etc.) and do most of their foraging at night. Skunks do some good. They will dig up little patches of lawn looking for crane fly grubs (so will raccoons). They will also dig out ground-nesting yellow jackets and eat the immature larva. They give birth to 3-6 little ones in the spring or early summer. If your dog or cat gets tagged with skunk spray, here is a formula that will help reduce the smell: • 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide • ¼ cup baking soda • 1-2 teaspoons liquid dishwashing soap Mix together and work into the fur being careful to avoid the eyes. Wash off. You will need double or triple this recipe for a big furry dog. From personal experience, I know this works from our dear beagle’s two-hour encounter with a skunk (both survived just fine) inside our deer fence. It is a long story but, by actual count, the skunk managed to “stand and deliver” at least 40 times in
that period. By approximate tally, Clyde the Beagle barked about 6,000 times. He took the next several days off from barking but, beyond that, was totally fine.
The late summer classics: Pigweed and lambsquarters Redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus), in the upper picture, and lambsquarters, in the lower one, are the
Clatskanie Grows
Fairgrounds. She grew it for a salad green mix for high-end restaurants in Portland. It did well in the garden and I found it quite tasty when small. So a little breeding goes a long way. Garden management of both species includes suppressing seed germination with mulches and drip irrigation, using transplants to get a head start on weeds, and removing emerged weeds so they don’t out-compete your crops and/or deliver a new bunch of seeds to your soil. Commercial organic farms use the above techniques and sophisticated weeding equipment to protect their crops. If you have questions on any of these topics or other home garden and/ or farm questions, please contact Chip Bubl, Oregon State University Extension office in St. Helens at 503 397-3462 or at chip. bubl@oregonstate.edu. Pressure Gauge Testing
quintessential summer weeds in vegetable gardens. Both weeds need bare ground to germinate. Typically, they emerge before the planted crop emerges. Once the weeds are in place, they grow rapidly and shade crop seedlings. Without full sun, the crops are suppressed, often to the point of complete failure. Over the course of a summer, seedlings of both weeds continue to emerge. If a pigweed top is snapped off during tillage or hoeing, the plant can produce a few short shoots with new leaves and go to seed quickly. I have seen pigweeds less than two inches tall produce viable seed. These weeds have a relatively short life cycle. Fortyfive days from seed to seed is not uncommon in the summer. While the two weeds are in distinctly different families, both have tiny flowers and seeds borne in clusters where the leaves join the stem, with the largest clusters at the top of the plant. A mature pigweed can be over four feet tall and wide. There is some evidence that such a plant can produce over 175,000 seeds. There is also good evidence that some seeds from both pigweed and lambsquarters can live for 30-40 years, though most deteriorate or are consumed by birds, insects, and slugs well before that. Botanically, lambsquarters are in the beet family while pigweed is in the amaranth family. Lambsquarters are from Eurasia and came to North America with European settlement. Pigweeds are native to the tropical Americas and are now distributed to the rest of the world. Both are considered edible by various cultures (leaf and seeds of both). I have tried leaves of both and prefer, by far, lambsquarters. That said, I got some Garnet Amaranth (in the pigweed group) seedlings from a commercial grower and put it into the demonstration garden out at the
Free at the Extension office in St. Helens on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Oct. 14. 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) writ-ten/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 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 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
Weekly Online Poll
Last Week’s Results
Are you worried about the spike in COVID-19 cases in Columbia County?
Because of the pandemic, will you sill allow your children to trick-or-treat this Halloween?
Yes
No
41% Yes
59% No
Vote online at thechiefnews.com
TheChief
•
•V oices
Death Rates Here’s the death data published as of Sept. 1, 2020 by The Oregon Health Authority: In 2018 there were 3016 deaths/month in Oregon. In 2019; 3115.5 deaths/month - but get this: In 2020 through Sept. 1 the rate dropped to 2800/ month. During my egg breakfast, news show available here in Scappoose breathlessly lead with the “new cases” of virus and the new death total. I’m trying to sort this out. It was recently reported that “clean” virus deaths, that would be those without additional causes, such as diabetes, heart-lung disease, obesity, or the like, amounted to only 6% of the listed deaths by virus. Add to it these facts. Hospitals gain an additional $36K from the Feds if the virus is listed as a co-contributing factor in a death. The swabs being tested for the virus are being amplified over 30 times, even up to 36. Among Virologists Comments on one newscast; “You could find the virus anywhere with that much amplification.” If the virus is such a killer, why have deaths in Oregon where people are moving in, not out, fallen by 300/month? Wayne Mayo Scappoose
of
T he C ommunit y • •
public agencies, and grantwriting are needed. The county must also support the most vulnerable in the population, and provide recreational opportunities with public safety as an important factor. A strategic plan addresses these essential elements. This is vision. Tardif’s interest in health and welfare is evident as he chairs the Columbia Community Mental Health Board. Oregon recently mandated the county set up its own public health department that he promoted. Following state guidelines, the new department works tirelessly to ensure the health and safety of county residents. They report thrice weekly to commissioners and the public, keeping information current under his guidance. This is empathy. Tardif brings youthful vitality and progressive perspectives to entrenched business as usual. His ability to expand the envelope for new ideas and resources for a sustainable county future is well known. His research of tourism/recreation and agri-business development will lead to county job growth with increased taxes plus a more equitable distribution of the tax base currently out of balance. On September 20, 2020 he posted his participation in the Out of Darkness walk to help people with depression and suicidal tendencies. That is action.
Hal Ritz Tardif for CoScappoose lumbia County Supervisor Grant, Tardif, Alex Tardif’s vision is to and Witt diversify the county’s tax base between the large timber interests, agriculture, tourism, and soft industry to maximize county revenues. This would go hand in glove with adequate and affordable housing, living wage jobs, improved transportation and infrastructure including county-wide broadband. Creative solutions, partnering with private and
The Chief (USPS 116-360) is published weekly by Country Media, Inc. 1805 Columbia Blvd, St. Helens, OR 97051
A few years back I was in need of knee replacements and went through a thorough process of getting the best odds for a good result. I found there exists considerable differences among surgeons and hospitals for infection rates and surgical outcomes that essentially come down to five factors:
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Chief PO Box 1153, St. Helens, OR 97053
1) Team skills, 2) Dedication to the job, 3) The level of practice, 4) Egos of practitioners, and 5) Track record. It seems to me these same factors apply to selecting our elected leaders, if we desire the best outcomes. I know and can attest that Judge Grant, Commissioner Tardif, and Representative Witt all embody these five factors and characteristics; hence, have earned my confidence and my vote. Joel Haugen Scappoose
Retain Magruder I am writing to encourage the citizens of Columbia County to retain Margaret Magruder as one of your commissioners. It has been my pleasure to know the Magruder Family for well over 50 years dating back to my friendship with Margaret’s brother, Dick, as well as her parents. For several years, I had the privilege of showing their sheep. The Magruder family has a long and distinguished record of public service. I have remained friends with Margaret ever since we first met and I have marveled at her extensive contributions to her community, her county, and the State of Oregon. She is astute, articulate, intelligent and keenly aware of the needs of her constituents. She is also a tireless worker who makes a profound difference wherever she directs her attention. We now have the opportunity to work together through the Association of Oregon Counties where she is well-respected and a strong advocate for her county. I am hopeful she will be able to continue her exceptional work as a county commissioner but that is up to the voters of Columbia County. George Murdock Pendleton
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 1 month in/out county: $8 One year in county: $60 One year out of county: $80 $3 senior discount for yearly sub
ContactUs•Phone:(503)397-0116•Fax:(503)397-4093•Website:www.thechiefnews.com EditorialEmail:chiefnews@countrymedia.net•AdvertisingEmail:atrull@countrymedia.net
Letters Policy Thisnewspaper’sletterstotheeditorarelimitedtoamaximumof250words andwillbeeditedforgrammar,spellingandblatantinaccuracies.Unsubstantiatedorirresponsibleallegations,orpersonalattacksonanyindividual, willnotbepublished.Letterscontainingdetailspresentedasfactsrather thanopinionsmustincludetheirsources.Writersarelimitedto1published letterpermonth.Allsubmissionsmustincludetheauthor’sfullname,local streetaddressandtelephonenumber(onlythenameandcityofresidence
Columbia County’s trusted local news source
willbepublished).Bysubmittingaletter,writersalsograntpermissionfor themtobepostedonline.Opinionsexpressedonthispagearethewriter’s alone and do not represent the opinion of the newspaper or its parent company, 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.
Send Letters To: The Chief Attn: News Editor, PO Box 1153, St. Helens, OR 97051 Email Letters To: chiefnews@countrymedia.net Obituaries ObituariesreceivedafternoononWednesdaymaynotbeintime forthatFriday’spaper.Obituariesmaybeemailedtochiefnews@ countrymedia.net, sent via mail, or dropped off at the office.
Friday, October 2, 2020
A5
www.thechiefnews.com
Public Notices Columbia River PUD PUBLIC CITY OF CLATSKANIE CITY COUNCIL MEETING NOTICE NOTICE Board Vacancy CC20-1308
CC20-1311
At the September 15, 2020 Board meeting, the Board of Directors of Columbia River People’s Utility District (CRPUD) declared a vacancy for the position of Director of Subdivision Five beginning immediately. The Board of Directors is inviting eligible candidates to submit letters of interest and/ or resumes to fill the vacancy on CRPUD’s board. This is normally an elected office; the term of this appointment will run through December 31, 2022. The position will be up for election at the November 2022 general election to serve a four-year term beginning January 2023. ORS 261.405(3) provides
that candidates must be an elector; must reside within the subdivision which they are running for; and must have resided in the district continuously for two years immediately preceding the date of election/appointment. Those meeting the above requirements, and who desire to serve the public as a CRPUD Director for Subdivision Five, representing Rainier, Prescott, portions of Deer Island, and Columbia City, are invited to submit letters of interest and/or resumes to fill the vacancy. The letters of interest and/ or resumes should include current contact information and physical address of
Oregon’s total employment will grow by 181,800 jobs between 2019 and 2029, according to new projections from the Oregon Employment Department. The projections point to modest job growth between 2019 and 2029, although many job openings are expected due to the need to replace workers who leave their occupations.
openings due to economic growth and replacements will total an annual average of 273,500.
residence. It is anticipated the candidate selected could be appointed by CRPUD’s Board of Directors at Special Board Meeting on October 13, 2020. Letters of interest and/or resumes should be addressed to the Board, and must be submitted electronically at www.crpud.net/boardvacancy no later than 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, October 7, 2020. Columbia River PUD currently provides electric service to 19,590 customers in Columbia and Multnomah Counties. The PUD currently employs 44 people and had 2019 total operating and nonoperating income of $35.2 million. By: Michael J. Sykes, General Manager
Public Hearing The Clatskanie City Council will meet on Wednesday, October 7th, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the ballroom of the Clatskanie Cultural Center, 75 South Nehalem St. (2nd floor). Agenda items include, but are not limited to: approval of the minutes of the September 2nd, 2020 regular meeting; a Public Hearing on a resolution authorizing a Supplemental
Budget for logging proceeds and expenditures, a Resolution authorizing a supplemental budget to receive and expend Coronavirus Relief Fund money, a discussion on the Sewer Plant master plan, and a discussion on speed humps. An updated agenda will be available at City Hall by October 2nd, 2020. The council will also conduct an Executive Session and
return to regular session following. Following the regular meeting, the Clatskanie City Council will meet for: Executive Session per ORS 192.660(i); To review and evaluate the employmentrelated performance of the chief executive officer of any public body, a public officer, employee or staff member who does not request an open hearing.
The Public Notice deadline for The Chief is Wednesdays by noon. Late submissions are not guaranteed to make it into the paper.
Oregon job growth projected to increase by 9 percent by 2029
By the numbers In 2019, there were 2,120,000 jobs in Oregon. The 9 % increase in employment between 2019 and 2029 includes private-sector gains of 156,400 jobs, growth of 16,500 jobs in government, and an additional 8,900 self-employed Oregonians. Beyond gains from economic growth, another 255,300 job openings will be created on average each year through 2029 to replace workers who retire, leave the labor force for other reasons, or make a major occupational change. Together, the number of job
By sectors All private sectors in Oregon are expected to add jobs by 2029. Private health care and social assistance will lead all industries in new job growth. The gain of 46,300 new jobs (15% growth) in health care can be attributed to continued growth and aging of the state’s population. Health care will account for one out of every five new jobs created in Oregon by 2029. Health care also tops the list of Oregon’s fastestgrowing occupations over the 10-year period. Healthcare occupations and those associated with healthcare, including mental health, account for 13 of the 20 fastest-growing occupations from 2019 to 2029 among occupations with at least 1,000 jobs in Oregon. They include physician and medical assistants, nurse practitioners, substance abuse and mental health counselors,
research analysts, market research analysts and marketing specialists, and financial managers are also among the fastest-growing occupations statewide. Career opportunities
Courtesy photo
Private health care and social assistance will lead all industries in new job growth, according to the Oregon Employment Department.
massage and respiratory therapists, and home health aides. Oregon’s second fastestgrowing industry will be professional and business services. Professional and business services is expected to add 33,000 new
jobs (13% growth). Professional and business services includes legal and architectural services, computer systems design, temporary employment agencies, corporate offices, and a variety of other businesses. Software developers, operations
A broad variety of career opportunities will be available across all sectors as well as all job types. Onethird of all job openings will require education or training beyond high school at the typical entry-level education. To meet more competitive education requirements, nearly half of all job openings require at least some training beyond high school. Occupations with the most job openings, typically requiring a high school diploma or less, include retail salespersons, food preparation and serving workers, and cashiers. Those requiring a postsecondary certification or associate’s degree include truck drivers, bookkeepers, and nursing and medical assistants. Occupations with the most total openings requiring at least a
bachelor’s degree vary from general and operations managers to registered nurses, software developers, and accountants. All areas of Oregon expect to see job opportunities due to both economic growth and to replace workers leaving the labor force in the coming years. The two regions projected to grow at the fastest rates are Central Oregon (12%) and the Portland area (11%). Additional Information The Oregon Employment Department’s 2019-2029 employment projections are long-term projections intended to capture structural change in the economy, not cyclical fluctuations. As such, they are not intended to project the full impacts of the COVID-19 recession and its recovery. More information about 2019-2029 industry and occupational projections for Oregon and sub-state areas can be found at www.qualityinfo.org/projections.
RSVP selects volunteer of the month STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
The Columbia County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Volunteer of the Month is Beverly Eagle. According to Columbia Pacific Food Band Program Manager Rennee Shelby, Eagle is one of the people she can call when other volunteers are on vacation or sick. “She’s a great worker and always has a smile and a great attitude,” Shelby said. “She’s always willing to dig in and do whatever needs to be done. She’s on my extra board, and always fills in
when someone is gone. She gets to work with everyone, and is really reliable.” “If you’re busy, she just jumps in,” said Patty St. John, another food bank volunteer “She’s a really nice person.” Eagle has been volunteering for the Columbia Pacific Food Bank since 2016. “I was a volunteer on a regular basis for a long time and then took some time off, and now I’m an on-call person and that suits me just fine,” Eagle said. “I really like working with everyone here. It’s always fun to come here, and we laugh a lot. It leaves me time for my grandkids and to garden.”
About Columbia County RSVP
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) provides opportunities for people 55 and over to make a difference in their community through volunteer service. RSVP volunteers contribute anywhere from a few to over forty hours a week, serving through schools, day care centers, police departments, and other nonprofit and public organizations to help meet critical community needs. For more information about RSVP, call 503-3975655.
Courtesy photo
Pictured from left to right are 2019 My Fair lady Princess Kathy Bauska (St. Helens), Beverly Eagle, 2018 Princess Patty St. John (St. Helens), 2019 Princess Donna Baker (Scappoose), 2019 Princess Judy Brown (Rainier).
Columbia County’s trusted local news source
A6
Columbia County’s trusted local news source
www.thechiefnews.com
Friday, October 2, 2020