TCC1030

History’s future New site for local museum

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief

Rainier Mayor Jerry Cole takes a photo as Rainier Oregon Historical Museum President Kay Heflin and museum Vice President Daune Bernard hold a sign marking the site of the new museum headquarters on West A Street.

JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

Supporters of the Rainier Oregon Historical Museum are looking to the future to preserve the past.

After searching for a location to expand the museum that is currently housed in a room at the Rainier City Hall, the museum board began discussions with the Rainier School

District to site the museum in a modular facility at the school district campus on Old Rainier Road.

Hearing the need for the facility, local businessman Steve Oliva stepped in and donated a small parcel of land along West A Street across from the Rainier Senior Center for the new museum building.

Jason Schmidt, of JRS Trucking, is donating time

and equipment to clear the site. That work began on Wednesday morning, Oct. 28.

“We are very fortunate to have this property donated for the museum,” Rainier Oregon Historical Museum President Kay Heflin said.

Specific designs of the new building are pending.

“It depends on how big we go and how much money we can raise,”

man said. “I want to have this paid for through grants.

I don’t want to take on any debt. We have no debt now and I want to keep it that way.”

But if funding cannot be developed through grant options, Hinkelman said ratepayers may see service cost increases.

“Rate increases will come into play if we have to get institutional financing for the new plant,” he said.

The sewer plant master plan development was funded through a $20,000

Business Oregon grant and $5,000 from the City of Clatskanie. The plan is currently under review by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

Hinkelman said that review and approval could take four to five months to complete.

In the meantime, Hinkelman said he doesn’t expect any service disruptions at the sewer plant, built in 1976.

“The biggest reason we need to replace the plant is

Rainier Oregon Historical Museum Vice President Duane Bernard said. “Right now it looks like just under $300,000 for the size of the building we would want.

Decisions about that are still down the road.”

Bernard and Heflin said a community funding drive is already underway to collect the needed money.

Heflin said the small, one-room museum at city

Courtesy photo from CCSO

If we don’t do this now the history is going to be lost. ~ Kay Heflin, Rainier Oregon Historical Museum

Brandy Hagen

hall limits the number and size of historical items that can be displayed.

“We’ve had to turn people away because we just don’t have the room for their items they want to donate,” she said. “It is the history of Rainier that we are collecting. If we don’t do this now the history is going to be lost. There is no place for it to be saved.”

Rainier Mayor Jerry Cole said the museum is a critical connection for the community.

“Saving any history of Rainier and keeping it for generations to come is important,” Cole said.

Heflin estimates that the funding drive and designing and building the new facility will take about two years.

“We have a long way to go,” she said. “This is a work in progress.”

To donate to the Rainier Oregon Historical Museum building fund, or to become a museum member, call Bernard at 503-556-9661, or email Heflin at kaylynn2@hotmail.com.

STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

Local woman indicted on sex abuse charges A Clatskanie area foster mother faces a grand jury indictment of sex abuse, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO).

Brandy Hagen, 29, is indicted on 11 counts of sex abuse 2 and one count of initiating a false report.

The investigation has been ongoing by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office deputies for about three weeks, after a foster child disclosed the inappropriate relationship, according a CCSO Facebook post. The relationship was ongoing for an estimated two months.

Charges are pending in other jurisdictions in Oregon and Washington related to the Columbia County investigation. Hagan was taken into custody on Oct. 16, 2020 and transported to the Columbia County Jail on $31,500 bail.

According to jail records, Hagen posted bail on Oct. 16.

She is scheduled for a court arraignment at 10:45 a.m.

Nov. 16.

Clatskanie faces $10 million challenge JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

It is a $10 million challenge for Clatskanie City Manager Greg Hinkelman and the city council.

The City of Clatskanie’s wastewater plant needs to be replaced, according to the results of a formal facility master plan of the plant conducted by Lake Oswegobased engineering firm Curran-McLeod Inc. “According to the master plan, a new plant will cost approximately $10 million,” Hinkelman said. “So I am shaking the trees to find the money needed.”

Hinkelman said the city is eligible for community block grants, which could provide $2.5 million and he is also reviewing financial infrastructure lending institutions for additional funds.

“I also will have conversations with state and Congressional representatives to see what grant funds Clatskanie could qualify for,” Hinkel-

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See PLANT Page A6

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

Chief photo

A2

www.thechiefnews.com

Friday, October 30, 2020

County posts 11 new pandemic cases MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net

Eleven new cases were reported in Columbia County from Monday to Wednesday, Oct. 26-28, bringing the county total to 270 cases since the pandemic began, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported.

In his weekly report to the Columbia County Board of Commissioners, Public Health Director Michael Paul said he’s seeing a rise in hospitalizations and currently infectious cases.

“That’s a number we watch closely,” he said.

There were eight currently

infectious and 14 hospitalizations as of Thursday, Oct. 22, according to the county’s COVID-19 data dashboard.

Data is updated weekly on Thursdays at noon. People are considered currently infectious when it’s been less than 10 days since the onset of symptoms.

The majority of hospitalizations and deaths are in people over the age of 60, Paul said, but young people play an important role in protecting older people around them. Measures like wearing masks around others and keeping 6 feet of physical distance between people outside your household can help prevent people

from contracting the virus and spreading it to the older people in their lives who may not be able to recover.

“While we’re still much lower than parts of Portland, we still have some hotspots,” Paul said. He compared case data by ZIP codes in the county to see which area has seen the biggest jumps in the last week. ZIP codes 97051, the St. Helens area, and 97056, the Scappoose area, saw the largest increases.

“We have really small numbers, this could be one or two households, but going forward it’s a better way to look at ZIP code data,” Paul said about tracking week-to-week rises.

There are no published outbreaks in Columbia County, but Paul said that’s due to no case clusters in the county meeting the threshhold required in order to be published, not because there aren’t outbreaks in households and workplaces. To be published and reported as an outbreak, there must be five or more cases in a workplace that has 30 or more employees.

The lack of cases in care facilities and senior home complexes is one reason the county’s death rate has remained low, Paul said. The only pandemic-related death in the county occurred in early August.

As cases across the U.S. surged over the past week, Paul reflected on the number of deaths compared to historical events.

“Just to put those in perspective, it’s an astounding number,” he said. “World War I, we’re way past that.”

For comparison, 116,516 Americans died in World War I and so far the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 212,328 deaths from COVID-19 in the country.

It is not certain when the pandemic will be over, Paul said.

“We have to get used to the current situation and normal-

ize masks, normalize social distancing until we get to that point where we have a highly effective vaccine,” Paul said.

Reports from around the country and world have suggested that even people who have been previously infected can be at risk to become reinfected.

“The idea of herd immunity doesn’t seem like the solution right now,” he said.

Paul said it is very important to get the flu vaccine this year so hospitals aren’t overwhelmed by both flu and COVID-19 patients. Information about where to get a flu vaccine is available at flu. oregon.gov.

ARE YOU CONFUSED WITH MEDICARE?

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NEED HELP FINDING THE RIGHT MEDICARE PLAN F County looks DOatYOUwaiving business fees MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net

The Columbia County Board of Commissioners are looking for a way to ease some of the financial burden on business owners in the county by exploring options to waive county food, pool and lodging service fees for 2021.

Many of the businesses charged these fees were unable to operate as usual when the pandemic hit, and some still aren’t operating as usual. Public Health Director Micheal Paul suggested using Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to cover the salaries of public health employees and the

salary money toward the cost of service fees at a board of commissioners work meeting on Oct. 14.

Finance Director Louise Kallstrom told the commissioners she was uncertain enough CARES Act funding remains to cover the cost of that plan at the board of commissioners meeting Wednesday, Oct. 28.

Commissioner Henry Heimuller suggested using funds from marijuana sales taxes to cover the county portion of license and service fees for businesses in 2021.

“If I were a business owner I’d be pleased by the majority of the fee being waived for 2021,” Heimuller said.

Commissioner Alex Tardif

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said he has been making calls pay 10-12% of the normal Paul suggested the county reduced fee charged by the to state officials to see if theAttend fee, I’done be very a letter from the seminars com- county with the invoice ofpleased our with include educational or give usthey a cal state would consider waiving that,” Heimuller said. missioners explaining the send to the state. the service fees as well, but to no avail. A portion of the fees charged by the county, roughly 10%, goes to the state, and without forgiveness at the state level that portion of the fees will still be due, Scappoose Senior Center - 10/05/ Tardif said.

“Where it hurts us is where we pay the state,” Tardif said.

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Friday, October 30, 2020

A3

School board, superintendent launch contract negotiations MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net

Courtesy photo

Rainier School District Interim Superintendent Joseph Hattrick and the Rainier School Board have opened contract negotiations.

Rainier School District Interim Superintendent Joseph Hattrick may soon be dropping ‘interim’ from his title.

The Rainier School Board voted unanimously to move forward with contract negotiations with Hattrick toward a permanent superintendent

position at its Monday, Oct. 26, meeting.

The details of the contract have yet to be determined, and negotiations will be fielded by board chair Kari Hollander and board members Darren Vaughn and Rod Harding.

The decision came after a lengthy discussion among the board reviewing the options for the following the school year, including conducting local and national searches using an outside agency.

Most agreed that pursuing another national search for a superintendent was both costly and time consuming, but some board members felt rushed by the decision.

“I see absolutely no reason why we would want to invest more money and time in this search when we have a solid candidate to lead us further into the future,” board member Elaine Placido said.

Board member Vaughn said that from a parent and community outlook, the timeline can be perceived as rushed considering the short amount of time Hattrick has been with the district.

Hattrick was hired as interim superintendent in July following a national search.

He replaced former Superintendent Michael Carter, who left to take a position in the Lake County School District after 17 years in Rainier.

I’m not saying no to Dr. Hattrick, I’m saying pump the brakes a little bit. ~ Elizabeth Richardson, Rainier School Board member

“I understand it’s a scary and difficult decision, especially given the fact that people in this community and governing board have only known me 110 days,” Hattrick said. “It’s equally scary and takes a lot of thought from me as well. I do thank you for understanding the fact that I uprooted and moved here from Arizona for this purpose: to serve Rainier School District.”

The timeline for coming to a decision on whether or not to negotiate Hattrick’s contract was forced by the length of time the it takes to conduct a national search, which takes multiple months,

Hollander said.

“If we are going to do a national search, we have to make a decision tonight,” Hollander said. “That is the reason this is a ‘rushed decision.’ We knew we were going to have to make a decision because that process is lengthy. Nobody is trying to push Dr. Hattrick’s permanency in a rush, it’s that we have to decide what direction we’re going.”

Hollander said a three year contract is standard, but the length can be negotiated.

“I feel like jumping into a three year contract at this point where we’ve only had a short amount of time, despite the feedback that’s been amazing, I’m not saying no to Dr. Hattrick, I’m saying pump the brakes a little bit,” board member Elizabeth Richardson said.

The board also discussed what a local search for a superintendent would entail, which could either be conducted through an outside agency or in-house. A motion to forgo a national search and conduct a local search failed by a 4-3 vote of the board.

Rainier School District does not have a human resources department, instead

the superintendent assumes that role, which would put the hiring process on Hattrick if they chose to search locally without an outside agency.

“We’re asking this guy to run a district virtually; you’re running a district during a pandemic, nothing is as it should be, and now you have to hire someone who is going to be doing your job,” Placido said. “That’s an awful lot to ask of somebody.”

The board also discussed pushing the topic of the superintendent search to a different meeting to allow for more time to consider alternate ideas.

“I think just taking some time and looking and seeing what shakes down the road is a good strategy and not feel rushed,” board member Rod Harding said.

Ultimately, a motion to enter contract negotiations with Hattrick passed unanimously.

“I’d like to express my gratitude,” Hattrick said.

“While deliberating in a lengthy manner, you remained respectful and I appreciate that. I’ve always wanted us to work together with respectful dialogs.”

Other Rainier School District news Hattrick reported that 30,197 meals and 1,520 work packets have been delivered since the first day of school, and he estimates around 1,300 hours of tutoring have been provided.

Business Manager Scotti Erickson reported that the district was in a good position financially, with no overspending projected on the budget. She said it is an improvement from this time last year when there was already overspending.

The State School Fund revenue might be affected, however. It was calculated assuming 890 students enrolled in the district, but there are only 870.

“That is a concerning point. We’re lower than what we projected, so that will affect our funding unless that enrollment is down statewide,” Erickson said. More should be known by December, she said.

Follow this developing story online at thechiefnews. com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.

County forming emergency response MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net

As a forecasted icy winter heads towards Clatskanie and Rainier, Columbia County officials are taking new steps to keep residents and visitors safe.

The county is forming an incident management team that would coordinate effective responses to not only weather-related issues, but any emergency or disaster.

Emergency Management Deputy Director Shaun Brown presented his plan to the board of commissioners at its Wednesday, Oct. 28,

meeting.

“Emergency management is not a fix all button,” Brown said. “What we do is help manage emergencies.”

As the only full-time staff member in the department, Brown is seeking the county’s assistance in the formation of an incident management team comprising experts from various fields to work together in times of crisis.

“A competent emergency management team cannot be created after an emergency occurs,” he said. “That’s why the NFL Pro Bowl is so hard to watch.”

Teams need to train and

practice together to respond congruently to emergencies that may arise, Brown said.

By bringing in experts in various subjects to form a team, emergency responses will be strengthened, he said.

Commissioner Henry Heimuller said he was under the impression a team like this had already been formed.

“I think it’s a great idea, I’m happy to help you facilitate,” Heimuller said. “My own ignorance, I have to say, but based on conversations in the past I thought that model was in place.”

Brown said there had been no formal formation since he’d been with the depart-

ment, and suggested the team might include someone from legal, finance, public works and other departments to help take advantage of valuable county resources during emergencies.

“The more support I have the better I can make it happen,” Brown said.

The county commissioners said they would help Brown identify county

experts from different fields to join the incident management team.

Public Health Director Michael Paul said he was in support of Brown’s proposal.

“I think that this year has really highlighted the need for that,” Paul said. “Part of it is just that when something like this happens— COVID happens— you need to have a team that works together,

trusts each other. Having a team ready to go knowing what the other people know and that you’ve trained together is invaluable.”

The Emergency Management Department has about five employees, but at various levels, Brown said. He is the only full time employee following the resignation of the former director, Steve Pegram, earlier in October.

Fairgrounds financial hurdle MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net

It’s been a long year of canceled events and reimagined celebrations, and the Columbia County Fair Board has felt the impact.

“We are financially struggling,” said Julie Pelletier, Vice President of the Columbia County Fairgrounds Fair Board and vendor coordinator.

She said the fairgrounds projected a $40,000 loss in revenue over the weeks that the fairgrounds sheltered wildfire evacuees in September.

The grounds are on Saulser Road in St. Helens.

“The loss was due to the fairgrounds not being available to incur any revenue during the emergency shelter situation,” she said.

The most significant financial disruption, however, came from the cancelation of the annual fair and rodeo, which brought in over $90,000 in revenue in 2019. It’s the largest event hosted on the grounds, and brings thousands of visitors each year.

Other events were reimagined, like the annual plant sale hosted by the fair. The sale was held over the weekend in July that the fair and rodeo were originally scheduled on.

The proceeds went toward the upkeep of the fairgrounds and brought in $24,000. Usually the sale brings in around $34,000, Fair Board President Jamie Carr previously told The Chief.

In addition to the plant sale, the fairgrounds hosted a drivein concert in August. The fair board had scheduled another drive-in concert for September, but the spread of wildfires across the state changed those plans as they opened the grounds to shelter evacuees.

Now, the fair board is trying to keep financially afloat and bring money in while observing COVID-19 safety guidelines.

“It’s very difficult to host any type of fundraising, due to COVID,” Pelletier said. “With limited amount of people that can attend, we worry about breaking even financially; we can’t afford to lose any money.”

The best way to support the fairgrounds is to use them, she said. The fairgrounds are available for rentals, though

COVID-19 guidelines still must be observed.

“It is very hard to keep the grounds operating financially under our current situation with relying on events and rentals to keep the budget in the green,” Pelletier said. “We suffered a huge loss not being able to have the fair.”

Instead of focusing on a large, weeklong event to bring in funding for the year, the fair board must shift toward a yearlong, revolving-door rental model to keep the grounds in the green, and Pelletier is open to other ideas.

“If the public has any ideas for events or anything, really, please let us know,” she said.

“What do you want, as a community, that we can provide?”

Donation complication One source of recent funding to the fair board came in the form of a $15,000 donation from the Friends of the Fair nonprofit, but the fair board is uncertain about whether they can accept it or not.

The nonprofit was awarded a grant from Business Oregon’s emergency small business grants and the county matched the grant, which was administered by the ColumbiaPacific Economic Development District.

At the Columbia County Board of Commissioners meeting Wednesday, Oct. 21, that particular allocation of money was under discussion.

Funding for the grant matches comes from the county’s share of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding and in order to be reimbursed for spending used under the CARES Act, governments must follow certain rules on how funding can be used.

“If they’re simply giving the fair board the $15,000 without any strings attached, it could be considered a replacement for lost revenues, which isn’t a legible expenditure, so there’s a possibility we couldn’t see reimbursement for that 15,000,” said Tiffany Johnson, assistant county counsel.

The business grants were awarded based on the number of employees at each business. The nonprofit was listed as having between 11-15 employees, which accounted for the money it received and

also made it the highest award given in that particular program. However, the nonprofit is run by volunteers and not employees.

Now, the county is unsure whether that money will be reimbursed because CARES Act funding is not intended to cover lost revenue, which the award could be viewed as since it does not have any employees— and therefore no wages to supplement.

Johnson said that had the Friends of the Fair used the money to help with next year’s rodeo, or buying equipment, it could be viewed as operating costs, but an outright donation isn’t allowable.

“It is a concern to us, we gave this money with the intent to help our business community,” Commissioner Alex Tardif said. “The largest grant was given to a nonprofit with 11 employees who don’t exist.”

The county can choose to either rescind the award and put the money towards something else that would be covered under the CARES Act, or it can give the nonprofit $15,000 from another fund.

The fair board will be discussing the donation at its next meeting in November.

“The reimbursement of it is of interest to us,” Commissioner Margaret Magruder said. “If those funds are not reimbursed, it leaves us with a hole— or an opportunity, depending on how you look at it.”

Follow this developing story online at thechiefnews. com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.

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Friday, October 30, 2020

Clatskanie Grows: Gardening year in Review CHIP BUBL Chief Guest Column

This was an interesting year to tend a garden. Many people had more time to garden with COVID limitations on work and/or restrictions on normal social activities.

At our office, the demand for gardening information increased significantly. Vegetable seed sold out at most of the local stores and even ordering online was more challenging. Transplants also were in short supply. But a lot of gardens were prepped and planted early.

Cool season crops started early like lettuce, cabbages, onions, beets, carrots and the like did well even when it turned quite cool and damp in May through early June.

However, our heat-loving vegetables like corn, green beans, tomatoes, peppers, and squash were slowed. It made no sense to plant tomatoes or peppers in those temperatures unless you had a way of keeping them warmer.

Gardeners discovered that modern corn varieties do not emerge well in cool soil conditions, especially left over seed from last year. Some corn had to be replanted when the weather warmed.

People also discovered

•

•V oices

Dudzic shares my values With a local elections coming up, I think it’s important to do your research on each candidate to find who shares your values best, and when it comes to Columbia County Commissioner, Position 1, mine was Brandee Dudzic.

She understands very real issues going on in the county and in the country and she will work tirelessly to fix them. Her pro-worker and pro-environment policies have earned her numerous endorsements from local farms and shops, local unions and even nationwide climate and veteran organizations such as the Sunrise Movement, Sierra Club, and Vets for the People.

Brandee is also a veteran, and as a vet she has founded Repatriate Our Patriots, a group that helps deported veterans come back to their homes in the U.S. I believe no other candidate for County Commissioner, Position 1, cares as much about their county and the people in it as Brandee Dudzic.

Ross Cahill St. Helens

Garrett has my vote I’m voting for Casey Garrett. If you have ever had the privilege to meet Casey you would do the same.

Casey grew up in this area and understands the working families who live here.

He has extensive public and private sector experience and understands the importance of small businesses and our

that transplants of squash (summer and winter varieties), beans, and even corn did fairly well in that cool cycle.

The virtue of transplants ready to put into the garden in late April and early May is that you can take advantage of the long days of spring.

The more sun vegetables get, the faster they grow. It is a virtuous circle since, as plants grow bigger, they have more leaves to capture more sunlight to make even more leaves (and deeper roots).

The advantage of having your own greenhouse or even a modest 4 x 8 foot cold frame is that you can grow your own transplants and take advantage of even a cool, wet spring.

Once we really hit summer, we had excellent growing weather for all our crops.

Tomatoes were a little more prone to blossom end rot (that disorder on the bottom of the tomato) but crops were heavy. Peppers absolutely thrived.

I felt that, in general, there were fewer cabbage butterflies this summer (the white one that produces the green caterpillars in your kale and broccoli) and maybe a few more aphids. Slugs, once it got hot, disappeared except in dense foliage plants like lettuce and the cabbage fam-

of

ily that are generally heavily watered. It is worth noting that slugs are active and breeding now so some baiting is in order.

For berries and tree fruits, it was a good year.

Some raspberries got sun-

burned if they matured during the hot periods. Blueberries did very well.

We had bumper apple and pear crops. Good pollination weather in April helped.

Since many apple varieties are “alternate” bearing, the crop will somewhat lower next year. Insect damage to apples was far less than normal. But that too will probably flip next year when they have fewer fruit to lay their eggs on.

Smoke from wildfires to the east of us did slow

growth and maturity of some tomatoes, squash and tree fruit. That was most likely due to the reduced sunlight.

Finally, the tomato season ended with rains which enabled late blight to flourish and slightly earlier

Clatskanie Grows

than normal hard frost.

Now it is time to lime the garden if you till it in the fall and put the garden to bed with a nice leaf cover whether you till or not if you have the leaves. If you haven’t planted garlic, there is still time.

Winter weed control The next several months offer some good opportunities for controlling some pesky weeds. The Little Bitter Cress (small green plant

with white flowers and seeds that “pop”) that everyone will be cursing next spring has started to germinate. So have several other winter annuals. If you don’t use sprays, cover the beds with mulch to smother the germinating seedlings and stop others from starting.

Quackgrass is a difficult to control perennial grass.

But it is green all winter and has to have sun to survive.

In vegetable beds that won’t have a crop until spring, cover those beds with a tarp, landscape fabric, or black plastic to keep the grass in the dark. It will be dead by spring (except where it escapes along the tarp edges).

Have questions?

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 503397-3462 or at chip.bubl@ oregonstate.edu.

Free newsletter The Oregon State University Extension office in Columbia County publishes a monthly newsletter on

gardening and farming topics (called County Living) written/edited by yours truly.

All you need to do is ask for it and it will be mailed or emailed to you. Call 503397-3462 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

T he C ommunity • •

larger industries. The countless hours he gives back to this community is just a small part of what makes him more than qualified for this position.

I fear that some of the current leadership may have ambitions that parallel those of the politicians in larger cities. We need to distance ourselves from them, and vote out those who do not put our community values first. Casey will work hard for us, with us, and keep our county the best place to live.

Ben Eidem St. Helens

Witt invests in our community I am voting to reelect Brad Witt for State Representative. There is no comparison between the candidates; Brad has the experience, the education and the empathy to do the job. He teaches civic involvement to children and teens in Columbia County by being both a role model and a human being truly interested in keeping youth programs like 4-H alive. He values the country lifestyle. Year after year I have seen Brad at the Columbia County Fair walking the barns, talking to the 4-H kids, and spending money at the auction.

I personally remember Brad Witt taking the time to ask me about my 4-H dairy goat project and I have seen him support 4-Her’s by purchasing their animals at the Columbia County Fair auction. Brad is a staunch supporter of 4-H. He understands how life-changing this program can be for our youth because he was a 4-H member himself. Brad understands that

being a representative is like having a 4-H project. It’s more than flag-waving — it’s hard work and requires dedication. I hope you’ll join me in supporting our most dedicated representative: Brad Witt.

Chava Wollin St. Helens

Dudzic cares for community I am writing to encourage everybody to vote for Brandee Dudzic for Columbia County Commissioner, Position 1.

With all the news about the poor leadership, toxic work environment and culture of secrecy in our county, I think we are all ready for a change.

It’s pretty telling that the union for the employees of the Columbia County Courthouse chose to endorse Brandee, even though her opponent’s office is in the courthouse.

This is also the union that represents the employees of the road department, another department that has been affected by mismanagement within the county. AFSME Local 697 has endorsed Brandee Dudzic for County Commissioner because they trust that she will have the safety and wellbeing of county employees in mind when making policy.

Brandee is the fresh face we need here in Columbia County. She is not beholden to anyone but her constituents— she doesn’t take gas, coal, oil or timber money. If you want an elected official that actually cares about you and your family, elect Brandee Dudzic for County Commissioner.

Rebekah Mathers BSN RN St. Helens

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Clarification: The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) has clarified its release about on-time graduation rates published in the Oct. 23 edition of The Chief. The graduation rates for 2019-20 have not been released yet. The rate in the profiles is for the 2018-19 year. It doesn’t state that in the column heading of the media file we sent, but it is stated on the profiles themselves which are now available on the ODE website. The ODE apologizes for the confusion. The graduation rate for the Class of 2020 will be released in January. The Chief is happy to set the record straight.

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Write to us We want to hear from you and encourage you to write letters to the editor.

Because of space limitations, shorter letters have a better chance of being printed. We may edit your letter for style, grammar and clarity, although we do as little editing as possible. If you don’t want your letter printed under those conditions, just let us know. Thank-you letters are limited to a general thanks and summary of an issue or action. We reserve the right to exclude lists of people, organizations and businesses. Letters received after noon on Friday may not be in time for the following Wednesday’s paper. To verify authenticity, all letters must be signed and include your address and daytime phone number. We won’t print your street address or phone number (just your city of residence). Submissions may be emailed to chiefnews@countrymedia.net, sent via mail, or dropped off at the office.

Guest commentary We welcome all variety of community viewpoints in the newspaper. These longer, guest opinions might be columns written

by newsmakers, public officials or organization representatives. Or you might just have interesting thoughts to share and a penchant for writing. If you’d like to submit a guest column for publication, contact us at (503) 397-0116 or chiefnews@ countrymedia.net. All columns are subject to editing for style, grammar and clarity. However, views expressed in guest columns are independent and do not represent those of The Chief, its staff or Country Media, Inc. Obituaries Obituaries received after noon on Wednesday may not be in time for that Friday’s paper. Obituaries may be emailed to chiefnews@ countrymedia.net, sent via mail, or dropped off at the office. We also accept obituaries written by funeral homes. Include the address and daytime phone number of the person who submitted the obituary, so we can verify information as necessary.

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Friday, October 30, 2020

•

•V oices

Clarke earned the vote Watching the stream of people returning their ballots to the courthouse is an uplifting sight. Voting is the opportunity to make necessary change.

It is time for a change.

Voters in Columbia County possess common sense and can determine fact from spin.

Michael T. Clarke possesses the qualities of integrity, compassion, accountability, respect and excellence in his service to others.

Michael is an involved member of the community and will continue to build relationships in a positive manner. Communication with the County Commissioners, colleagues, employees and community partners needs to come from a place of integrity and respect with a commitment to understanding that the community expects us to be professional.

It is often difficult to change the status quo but Columbia County deserves the best. Michael has acted with respect and integrity professionally and personally

of

at all times. He is intelligent, energetic, a successful business owner, a proud member of the community, and most importantly, will be a role model for professionalism.

Cathleen B. Callahan Hillsboro

Clarke is ready to be judge I knew Mike Clarke before he started his law firm.

I would sit with Mike and discuss his goals and legal career, and I would make suggestions about which areas of law he should specialize in, knowing these were the easier types of cases to open and close. Instead of taking my suggestions, Mike chose to practice in the areas of law that would allow him to have a clear conscious and make a positive difference while helping people navigate their own lives.

Mike and I would speak on occasion about legal matters and things that angered me about these situations.

I would express my desire to punish the wrong doers, but Mike always kept calm

A5

T he C ommunity C ontinued • • and would steer me from my vindictive thoughts and direct me to finding solutions, trying to help me see what is right/fair.

I know Mike did a great deal of soul searching before deciding to run for this position. Would he tank his career by running against an incumbent in such a small community? Does it make sense to leave behind a business that took so much time, effort and heart to build? I know he started his campaign so he could make a bigger difference for his community, a community he grew up in, that he is now raising his own children in. When he explained his decision, he was quite clear: Law is about safeguarding the people and community he loves the most. Vote for Clarke.

Bradley Melville Scappoose

I stand with county employees I worked for Columbia County for 16 years. I left

the county a couple of years before Casey Garrett was hired so I didn’t have interactions with him through my county employment. I have had interactions with him through parks meetings.

I want to defend those county employees that have been made out to be disgruntled, not putting much effort in their work, or “entitled.” I worked with those employees of facility maintenance and they were always responsive to the needs of the county, they did excellent work, and they got along well with all other employees and the public. If you needed something fixed or changed, the job got done.

In the Parks Department, Lori Baker was an excellent employee and she was on top of getting and keeping the parks in great shape. If there was a maintenance issue with any of the parks, she would make sure that work order was taken care of and the issue was repaired. I enjoyed working with all of the county employees, they were all dedicated to doing a good job.

Since Casey Garrett has taken over parks, I’ve noticed in the last couple of

years that deterioration at the parks, maintenance isn’t being done and the public is being put in harm’s way. Restrooms aren’t being cleaned daily, work orders have sat for a year.

It saddened me to hear that the county employees were being discredited by Garrett. I wanted to stand with the county employees.

Gloria Rice St. Helens

Support for Dudzic In 2016 Columbia County decided to vote conservative.

At a time that was relatively calm by today’s standards, up and down the ballot in Columbia County, Republicans won the support of voters not looking to upset the status quo. However, 2020 is not like 2016. Oregon is now facing multiple crises all at once: a health emergency, an economic fallout, environmental destruction and racial unrest. Although national politics receive the majority of news coverage, local politics are just as important,

if not more. And on Nov. 3 I hope you exercise your franchise, and I hope that you vote for Brandee Dudzic for Columbia County Commissioner.

When I first met Brandee over the summer, I knew immediately that she was the fighter and leader we need in our community. Brandee calls herself a neighbor, veteran and mother, but she is so much more. After we began talking, her passion, empathy, intelligence and honesty immediately shone through. Walking away from that conversation, I was confident that with her unique experiences, genuine leadership, and relentless determination, she will represent our community honorably as we face such difficult times.

To all the other young adults out there, the ones that historically do not vote, it is time to make our voices heard. Senator Mark Hatfield, who long represented our state before I was even born, once said, “Our problem is not the lack of knowing; it is the lack of doing.”

Robert Backus Warren

••C ommunity C alendar •• Oct. 31 • 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Halloween Drive-Through Boo Trick-orTreat from your vehicle at the St. Helens Recreation Center, 1810 Old Portland Rd. in St. Helens.

Pre-registration is required. This family-friendly experience is designed to allow you to celebrate al the booths, tricks and treats of Halloween from the comfort and safety of your car. The event is free. Visit this link to register: https://sthelens.maxgalaxy.net/ Home.aspx. For more information, call 503-366-8208.

• 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Ghoulish Grab

•

‘n Go at the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office located at 901 Port Ave in St. Helens on Halloween.

Celebrate a safe Halloween this year and come by to grab some candy. For more information, call 503-366-4611.

• 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Scappoose Police Department DriveThru Trick-or-Treating at the Scappoose Police Department, 33568 E Columbia Ave, Scappoose. Police said they will take precautions to keep everyone safe. For more details, call 503543-3114.

• The Spirit of Halloweentown

in the Old Town District of St. Helens. See the event schedule and locations at www. discovercolumbiacounty.com, www.spiritofhalloweentown. com and www.instagram.com/ spiritofhalloweentown/

Hall, 75 S Nehalem St. For details, call 503-728-2622.

Nov. 2 • 6 p.m. Rainier City Council meeting at Rainier City Hall, 106 W B St. For details, call 503-5567301.

Ongoing events • Lotus Collection: Operators of the Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland invite the public to see the largest lotus collection in the Pacific Northwest.

Known as “he hua” in Mandarin, the lotus is a symbol of purity in Chinese culture

Nov. 4 • 7 p.m. Clatskanie City Council meeting at Clatskanie City

•B lotters • •

The police blotter relates to the public record of incidents as reported by law enforcement agencies. All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Information printed is preliminary and subject to change.

Rainier Police October 12 • An officer went to check on a reportedly suspicious person on East 2nd Street. No persons were observed in the area.

• A concerned citizen reported that a man was asking to show Disney movies to kids at a ministry. He was told to leave and departed prior to being reported to the authorities.

• A caller reported ongoing

disagreements with the neighbors. Peace was restored.

October 14 • A catalytic converter was removed from a parked vehicle on East A Street.

• An employee accidentally set off an audible alarm at a local business.

October 17 • A report was made of a possible restraining order violation via third party texting. The report was sent to the DA’s Office for review.

• A concerned citizen called about several people at a vacant house. It was determined that the people had permission to be there and no crimes had been committed.

• Dispatch was called regarding an abandoned kitten that was estimated to be about two weeks old. A good Samaritan volunteered to foster the orphan.

Nov. 9 • 12 p.m. HOPE Chest Thrift Store Grand Opening located at 107 E 1st Street in Rainier.

•

October 18 • A patron at a local business accidentally drove away from the location leaving her purse on her vehicle. Both she and an officer checked the area, but the purse was not located.

• A wallet that had been turned in as found property was returned to the owner.

• A stolen iPhone was tracked and returned to it’s owner. The person in possession of the phone said they had purchased it from another individual.

October 20 • A motorist was pulled over for a lighting violation. The driver, Miguel Vargas-Vasquez, 38, of Forest Grove, was cited for driving with a suspended license and subsequently taken into custody and lodged at the jail for violation of a no contact order. A previous release agreement prohibited him from having contact with his passenger.

and the most popular summer bloom in southern China. Lan Su Chinses Garden is open from 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. daily and is located at 239 NW Everett St. in Portland. For more details, visit www.lansugarden. org.

Wednesdays and Sundays • 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Resonate Recovery: Bible based, Christcentered spiritual recovery meeting for those struggling with addictions and compulsive behavior at 220 S. 1st St., St.

Helens. Everyone is loved and welcomed. For more information, contact Bert at 503-475-3586, Debbie at 503-560-0521, Bill Bradley at 503-410-6273 or check the “Resonate” Facebook page.

To list an event in the Community Calendar, email details with a phone number that may be published for anyone that might have questions, to chronicleclassifieds@ countrymedia.net, or call 503-397-0116.

•O bituaries • • Evelyn Marie Mesneak Oct. 25, 1948 ~ Oct. 19, 2020

Evelyn Marie Davis, 71, of Lilliwaup, Washington passed away surrounded by her family Monday, Oct. 19, 2020.

She was born on Oct. 25, 1948 in Longview, Washington to parents Lewis and Marjorie Davis. Evelyn (Ev) grew up with siblings, James Davis, deceased, Robert (Sandy) Davis of Clatskanie, Oregon, Ruth Davis Donaldson of Clatskanie, Oregon and Douglas Davis of Longview, Washington from Clatskanie, Oregon. She graduated in 1966 from CUHS where she was a member of the honor society. She loved animals and spending summers at Lake Retreat with our church.

She was a member of the Clatskanie Baptist Church.

She worked as a Lab Technician for many years in

Longview, Washington.

She married Robert (Bob) Mesneak on Feb. 14, 1976.

The two eventually retired to Lilliwaup, Washington and there they spent the rest of their days. She enjoyed quitting, gardening, antiquing and was a member of several

sewing groups. Bob preceded her in death by three months and six days.

She is survived by her son Kevin Mesneak of Chehalis, Teresa Fox of Edgewood, Pam Carriker of Granbury, Texas, Mike Mesneak of Snohomish; grandchildren, Christopher Spreadborough, Samantha Eaton, Justin Spreadborough, Spencer Mesneak, Reagan Carriker, Alek Mesneak, and Romie Mesneak; and great grandchildren Ryan Spreadborough, Michael Spreadborough, and Gabe Spreadborough.

She battled cancer with strength and grace and lived life to the fullest, loving most of all to be surrounded by her family.

A private family memorial will be held.

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CITY OF CLATSKANIE CITY COUNCIL MEETING NOTICE CC20-1327

Public Hearing The Clatskanie City Council will meet on Wednesday, November 4th, 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 October 7th, 2020 regular meeting; a discussion on the possible sale of city property

adjacent to Fall Creek LLC. and a discussion on the possible change of speed limits on 8th St. and Poplar St. An updated agenda will be available at City Hall by October 30th, 2020.

SNAP offers new options STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

Columbia County residents depending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) now have a new hot or prepared foods option.

A waiver approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) allows SNAP and Disaster SNAP (DSNAP) recipients in the following 23 counties to purchase hot or prepared foods from authorized SNAP retailers until Nov. 20.

Approved counties: Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Wasco, Washington, and Yamhill.

Normally, SNAP benefits cannot be used to purchase “hot food products prepared for immediate consumption.” This restriction is being waived following the severe winds and wildfires that led to the displacement of many residents and left them without access to a kitchen to prepare meals.

Examples of allowable prepared foods include hot deli foods, fountain drinks, including but not limited to coffee and tea, a slice of hot/ prepared pizza, hot soup, salad bars and sandwiches.

This waiver will last through Nov. 20 and allows SNAP and DSNAP recipients to use their benefits to buy prepared food at any participating retailer that accepts SNAP EBT cards. Restaurant purchases are still prohibited.

For more information about the hot food waiver, visit www.oregon.gov/dhs/ ASSISTANCE/FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/DSNAP-HotFoods-Waiver.aspx.

Emergency Allotment Update Oregon also received approval from FNS to provide maximum emergency allotment benefits for SNAP recipients in November. The emergency allotments, see schedule below, will bring families not receiving the maximum SNAP allotment for their household size to the maximum for the seventh consecutive month.

Issuance date (SNAP recipients will see the benefit the following day) • Nov. 10: Current SNAP households not receiving the SNAP maximum allotment • Nov. 27: New SNAP recipients between Nov. 10 and Nov. 27

For more information about Emergency Allotments, and to view the maximum allotment amounts, visit www.oregon. gov/dhs/ASSISTANCE/ FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/ About-SNAP.aspx.

Oregonians who receive SNAP can contact their local SSP, APD or AAA office for more information. Find a local office at oregon.gov/ DHS/Offices/Pages/index. aspx To determine the maximum allotment for your household and view the FAQ, visit www.oregon. gov/dhs/assistance/foodbenefits/pages/about-snap. aspx.

Administered by ODHS, SNAP is a federal program that provides food assistance to approximately 1 million eligible, low-income families and individuals in Oregon, including many older adults and people with disabilities. Oregonians in need can apply for benefits, including SNAP, child care, cash assistance and Medicaid. Learn more at https:// govstatus.egov.com/or-dhsbenefits.

For local resources in your area, such as food or shelter, please call 2-1-1 or reach out to the state’s Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) at 1-855-ORE-ADRC or 1-855-673-2372.

Key indicators show local progress, challenges Columbia County’s job base has improved significantly over the past several months, according to the latest report from the Oregon Employment Department.

The economic Indicators Report shows the number of unemployed in Northwest

Oregon has fallen by 59% since April peak, but is still more than double from last September’s count. Columbia County’s unemployment rate is at 7.5% this month compared to 3.9% in September 2019.

Mining, logging and construction have added

Columbia County’s trusted local news source

the most jobs. Leisure, hospitality, local government and local education have lost the most jobs. The overall economy continues to be challenged due to the long-range impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the employment department.

Friday, October 30, 2020

CC20-1320

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA

Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of JOANN DEE MARDIS, Deceased. No. 20PB06776 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed personal representative of this estate.

All persons having claims

against the estate are required to present their claims, with vouchers attached, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice to the personal representative at P. O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048, or the claims may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceedings may obtain

additional information from the records of the Court, the personal representative or the attorney for the personal representative. Dated and first published October 16, 2020. Lawrence Mardis, Personal Representative.

STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C. Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048.

Election 2020 Drop off locations

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief

Election officials recommend to take ballots to the nearest drop box to ensure it is processed and counted for the Nov. 3 General Election. Columbia County voters can drop off ballots up to 8 p.m. Nov. 3 at these drop sites: Clatskanie Library, 11 Lillich St., Clatskanie; Rainier City Hall, 106 B St. West, Rainier; the Vernonia Public Library, 701 Weed Ave., Vernonia: Columbia County Courthouse, 230 Strand St., St. Helens; and at the Scappoose City Hall, 33568 E. Columbia Ave., Scappoose. Follow resultsatwww.columbiacountyor.gov/departments/Elections/county-election-night-resultsandreaction at thechiefnews.com. See extended coverage in the Nov. 6 print edition of The Chief.

PLANT From Page A1

age,” he said. “It is operating beyond design specifications and we have limited redundancy at that plant. If there is a failure we have to go into a major scramble to get it fix.”

Hinkelman said recent mechanical failures prompted the master plan study.

Those failures included discharges on July 31 into the Clatskanie River after a rag slipped past the filtering system and lodged under a seal preventing the plant’s clarifier to allow proper treatment of the water.

“No raw sewage was discharged, only treated water that had E. coli readings that were out of DEQ permit requirements,” Hinkelman said following the event.

In September 2019 a sweep arm failed at the

wastewater treatment plant and partially treated sewage was being intermittently discharged into the adjacent Clatskanie River.

In both cases, the city posted health alert signs along the adjacent riverfront to warn the public of the contamination.

Follow this developing story online at thechiefnews. com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.

www.thechiefnews.com

Friday, October 30, 2020

A7

Controlled burning season underway Oregonians in forested areas may see smoke from a number of controlled burns – known as prescribed burns – this fall and winter.

Forest landowners use the burns to eliminate woody fuels that build up on their land from forest thinning and after timber harvests.

This year’s fall burning season coincides with a rise in COVID-19 cases in Oregon.

Smoke may worsen symptoms for people coping with compromised health or lung function due to COVID-19.

The Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) current smoke rules minimize smoke from entering certain populated cities and areas known as Smoke Sensitive Receptor Areas (SSRAs).

“To protect people with impaired lung function due to COVID-19, we’ve coordinated with the Oregon Health Authority to ensure that

current air quality conditions categorized as good, moderate, unhealthy for sensitive groups, unhealthy, very unhealthy and hazardous.

The Oregon Department of Forestry has developed a Statewide Communication Framework for helping Oregonians:

Courtesy photo from the Oregon Department of Forestry

• Understand why we burn • Health risks of smoke • Ways to avoid smoke • Where burning is taking place each day • Where smoke is impacting communities

Forest landowners use the burns to eliminate woody fuels that build up on their land from forest thinning and after timber harvests.

Burning for healthier forests

during the pandemic we will govern prescribed burns in counties experiencing higher levels of COVID-19 under older, tighter smoke regulations,” ODF Smoke Management Program Manager Nick

Overcrowded forests are more prone to tree deaths from drought and insects, and typically experience greater fire intensity than woodlands where trees are more widely spaced. Prescribed burns help

Yonker said. “Those define any amount of smoke from a prescribed burn into an SSRA as an intrusion. We will forecast to avoid any smoke from prescribed burning from entering an SSRA in those

•

•W ho

counties.”

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and partner agencies monitor smoke levels and air quality across the state. DEQ’s Air Quality Index provides

maintain forest health and reduce the risk of high-intensity, catastrophic wildfires and the large volume of smoke associated with such wildfires.

Yonker says fire suppression actions are more effective and lower in cost in areas with a recent history of controlled burning.

While all fires produce some smoke, the amount from burning covered slash piles is far less than from a wildfire burning an entire stand of trees. Air quality in Oregon during the September mega fires, for example, was the worst the state ever recorded.

“Wildfires often occur when the atmosphere is stable, trapping smoke close to the ground where it’s more likely to impact people,” Yonker said. “So anything we can do to reduce the amount of wildfire smoke, including doing more prescribed burning, is better for people.”

we are • •

Deputy ends career and looks for salmon JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

Courtesy photo

Greg Brody retired from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 23 after 15 years of service.

In all, Brody served 28 years in law enforcement in Oregon.

After launching a career in law enforcement 28 years ago, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) reserve deputy Greg Brody has retired.

Brody spent 15 years with CCSO. Prior to that, he was a North Plains reserve police officer for over 11 years, and before that, worked two years with Oregon City Police.

On his last day with CCSO Friday, Oct. 23, Brody shared thoughts with The Chief about his experience and said two memorable moments of his law enforcement service stand out.

“In 2010, I was involved in an incident where we had to shoot and kill a bull who was in the process of attacking a guy who was working in a field in Warren,” he noted.

“The man was badly injured and spent over a month in the

hospital, but I hear he fully recovered.”

Brody said he, another deputy and an Oregon State Police (OSP) trooper, were honored by OSP with the agency’s Distinguished Action Award for their life saving efforts.

“In 2011, we lost Chief Ralph Painter in the line of duty,” Brody said. “It was a hard few months after that, but the whole county pulled together and made it through.”

Brody also recalls the most challenging and the most rewarding elements of being a reserve deputy.

“As with any law enforcement officer, keeping updated on latest case law, policies and procedures can be demanding, but it is necessary.” he said.

“It may sound strange, but finding solutions to a problem

in which people have nowhere else to turn just kept me going all the years. Sometimes they were temporary solutions, and many times I had to “think outside the box,” but I know I always tried as hard as I could.”

According to Brody, law enforcement has had to adjust to societal changes over the years.

“We have had to become problem solvers — in addition to being crimefighters,” he said. “A positive outcome is that our training now reflects that. We now have to train on things like mental health issues, abuse issues and recognition. Unfortunately, with that also come many more rules and regulations which makes it challenging to do the work.”

When it comes to Brody’s advice to anyone that is seek-

ing a career in law enforcement, he responded with the following reply.

“Probably the wrong guy to ask,” he said. “I was always in the minority with my fellow reserves, as I really had no interest in doing it full-time. I love my career as a firefighter, and so I am probably biased towards the fire service. For those who wish to become a cop, I can only advise them to stay honest and true to the job. It is one of honor and integrity.”

Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley praised Brody for his community service.

“Greg Brody was a true asset not only to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office but also to the citizens of Columbia County,” Pixley said.

Brody said he is also planning to soon retire as a

full-time career lieutenant/ paramedic with Columbia River Fire & Rescue (CRFR).

He has been with CRFR since 1996.

But Brody isn’t finished yet as a first responder, or as an avid salmon fisherman.

“I was honored to have been hired as the part time Assistant Chief of Westport Fire last January,” he said. “I am their first and only paid employee. I hope to spend more time there helping out that community. Also, there are salmon that need to be caught.”

If you know of someone, an agency or business, or a group that is making a positive difference in our community and would like to see them featured in Who We Are, email details to jruark@countrymedia.net.

COLUMBIA COUNTY NEEDS CHAMPIONS WHO WILL STAND UP FOR

WORKING FAMILIES That’s why Timber Unity PAC is proud to endorse candidates for statewide office and the Oregon Legislature who are committed to working to get Oregon back on track.

KIM

JEFF

THATCHER

GUDMAN

SECRETARY OF STATE www.facebook.com/ kimthatcheroregon

STATE TREASURER www.facebook.com/ jeffgudmanforstatetreasurer

BRIAN STOUT

STATE REP DISTRICT 31 www.facebook.com/ stoutforstaterep

BY 8:00PM ON NOV. 3RD, YOUR BALLOT MUST BE RECEIVED IN ORDER TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

VOTE LIKE YOUR JOB DEPENDS ON IT! JOIN TIMBER UNITY IN STANDING UP FOR WORKING FAMILIES IN COLUMBIA COUNTY Paid for by Timber Unity PAC • www.timberunity.com Columbia County’s trusted local news source

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www.thechiefnews.com

Friday, October 30, 2020

Showcase your business

In our calendar Showcase your business for an entire month in households throughout the county by being a part of this 14-month Calendar.

The Calendar will include local photos of our surrounding areas and its activities submitted by locals and will be inserted into The Chronicle, The Chief, and sold separately. Pick a month, and showcase your business! Only 14 spots available, call your sales representative today!

COSTS OF ADS:

YOUR PHOTO HERE

• 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!

DATES:

Space deadline: November 25 Publishing: The Chronicle on December 16 and The Chief on December 18 Contact Amy to advertise: atrull@countrymedia.net or at 503-397-0116

YOUR AD HERE

Attention Columbia County Photographers We are publishing a full-color glossy calendar displaying the beauty of our county, and we want to showcase YOUR photography! Only 14 photos will be chosen. Submit your photo to chronicleclassifieds@countrymedia.net for consideration. If selected, you will receive five free calendars along with recognition on the calendar page.

Deadline to submit your photography is Nov. 27, 2020 Columbia County’s trusted local news source