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Clatskanie School District Superintendent resigns

JEREMY C. RUARK Country

The Clatskanie School District Board is looking for a new super intendent.

The board accepted the resigna tion of Superintendent Cathy Hu rowitz during its Nov. 14 regular meeting.

The Clatskanie School Board issued the following statement: Dear Clatskanie Community: The Clatskanie School Board has worked with Superintendent Hurowitz to develop a plan for the transition of the District’s leader ship that will take place prior to the end of December. Superin tendent Hurowitz has agreed to continue to work as our superinten dent until the Board can identify and hire an interim superintendent to support the District through the end of the school year.

Superintendent Hurowitz’s leadership over the course of the last five years has moved our District forward and has helped us survive the challenges of the CO VID school closures, we wish her the best in her next opportunity.

Hurowitz comments

“I did the best that I could with what I know, and I am grateful for the opportunity,” Hurowitz told The Chief. “I wish the district the very best.”

Hurowitz said she has yet to decide what’s next.

“I am looking at my options,” she said. “I am retired, and I was working back as superinrtendent.”

Hurowitz was under the first year of a three-year contract with a value of an estimated $400,000 plus benefits which would be ap proximately 30%.

She became the Clatskanie School District Superintendent in 2018.

board chair insight

School

Clatskanie School District Board Chair Megan Evenson said the change in leadership came fol lowing a district executive session.

“The district is ready to move

on with leadership and do the best for kids,” Everson said. “We have been in touch with Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA) and they are helping us with an interim search. We are hoping that process can go pretty quickly.”

Everson said a representative from the OSBA was scheduled to meet with the board during a spe cial Zoom meeting Thursday, Nov.

17 to present a proposal to find a permanent superintendent.

“We are looking for a leader that is going to put kids in our community first, that is our prior ity, and to empower the district administration and staff to do their very best for kids,” Everson said.

The school board is expected to look at like-size districts to deter mine the salary and benefits for the

new superintendent.

“We want to be competitive and attract the right quality candidate,” she said. “OSBA does a nation wide search, so the search is wide open.”

Everson said the new superin tendent will need to be ready to move the district forward.

“We are right in the middle of our bond project (school renova tions) and so getting that finished is going to be key and getting the next district budget together,” she said. “We have a lot of work to do. We need to have a board retreat to set our goals for next year and make sure the new superintendent is with us.”

Community meetings are expected to be held in the months ahead as the district board moves to select and interview superin tendent candidates. The process could be held between January and March of next year. Information on those public sessions will be posted at the district’s Facebook page and on the district’s webpage.

Everson, who has been the school board chair for the past 5 years, acknowledged that the tran sition it is “a little stressful.” “Such a leadership change and finding the right person for the position of superintendent is stressful because the position is a huge part of the district,” she said. “One concern is that the state has had a lot of school district superintendent turn over. We understand that 50% are brand new, so we just don’t know what to expect with the candidate pool.”

Everson said the school board appreciates Hurowitz time as su perintendent.

“We wish her well profession ally and personally,” Everson said.

$37.5M possible from United Airlines Ventures for NEXT

United Airlines Ventures (UAV) has announced a strategic invest ment in NEXT Renewable Fuels (NEXT), which is permitting a flagship biofuel refinery in Port Westward in Columbia County with expected production beginning in 2026.

NEXT is a Houston-based company developing the biorefin ery which, at full production, could produce up to 50,000 barrels per day of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), renewable diesel, and other renew able fuels, UAV states in a release. UAV could invest as much as $37.5 million into NEXT, as long as the company meets certain milestone targets.

“Right now, one of the biggest barriers to increasing supply and lowering costs of sustainable fuel is that we don’t have the infrastructure in place to transport it efficiently, but NEXT’s strategic location and assets solve that problem and provide a blueprint for future facilities that need to be built,” United Airline Ventures Michael Leskinen said. “We believe this investment will not only bolster NEXT’s ambitions and

create near-term solutions to expand our SAF supply, but further demon strates our commitment toward pro ducing SAF at the scale necessary to decarbonize the aviation industry.”

NEXT’s biorefinery offers sev eral unique benefits including access to a deep-water port, an existing industrial-grade dock, and multi modal logistics options, which facili tates access to feedstock options and fast-growth SAF offtake markets on the west coast.

NEXT has secured an agreement with BP for sourcing 100 percent of its feedstock, further de-risking supply issues smaller facilities have historically experienced. NEXT has also received a crucial air permit

from the State of Oregon.

Once all the necessary approv als and permits are obtained and the biorefinery is operational, it has the potential to be used as a platform to scale SAF and deploy additional future technologies, according to the UAV release.

“The clean fuels industry is tak ing off and our access to feedstocks, multimodal distribution, and major industry players positions us to be a leading SAF supplier on the West Coast,” said Christopher Efird, CEO and Chairperson of NEXT. “United’s investment in NEXT strengthens our resolve to be one of the clean fuels leaders in the transportation sector.”

The announcement, made

Tuesday, Nov. 15, marks UAV’s fifth SAF-related technology investment, and its first investment directly in a biorefinery. The relases describes United as an industry leader in advocating for alternative jet fuel for years – including investing in more SAF production than any other airline in the world and flying the world’s first passenger flight using 100% SAF in one engine.

United

Launched in 2021, UAV is a firstof-its-kind sustainability-focused

The environmental group Columbia

Search for ‘Armed and dangerous’ felon suspended

JEREMY C. RUARK Country

Kevin James Reynolds has been taken into custody without incident, according to the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office.

Reynolds, described by law enforcement as ‘armed and dan gerous,’ was apprehended around 12 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17.

Specific details of the arrest were pending at press time.

The search for Reynolds had intensified in the Rainier area this week.

Law enforcement agents first converged in the area of Heath Road and Old Rainier Road Tues day, Nov. 15 following reports that Reynolds was in the area. Reynolds is wanted on multiple criminal charges in Cowlitz County including robbery, as sault, vehicle theft and witness intimidation.

During the Tuesday manhunt, Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley said the Oregon State Police SWAT responded to the location and used distractionary devices, loudspeakers, drones equipped with Forward Look ing InfraRed (FLIR). The search included K9’s from St. Helens Police Department and Longview Police Department.

“The suspect did fire his gun at a passing car that was hit. The driver was not injured,” Pixley told The Chief.

He later told KATU News that the suspect had taken a woman hostage, fired a weapon and fled the scene. Deputies freed the woman and got her medical treat ment, KATU reports.

As the search intensified Tuesday, the Columbia County

Sheriff’s Office posted a Face book alert to residents in the area.

“Reynolds is considered to be armed and dangerous. Residents in the area are asked to secure their homes and stay inside. If you spot Reynolds, call 9-1-1,” the Facebook post stated.

Pixley issued a statement shortly after 11 p.m. Tuesday night, stating that law enforce ment had completed a search including buildings, homes, and property west of Rainier in an attempt to locate Reynolds, but he was not found. The search was suspected that night but was resumed Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 16.

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief

Clatskanie School District Superintendent Cathy Hurowitz makes a point during the school security town hall on Feb. 27, 2020 at Clatskanie Middle/High School.

Media, Inc.

Courtesy photo from CCSO

James

also launched the EcoSkies Alliance program, which among its 30 corporate participants, has collectively purchased more than 7 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel.

ventures fund that targets startups, upcoming technologies, and con cepts that will complement United’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050 –without relying on traditional carbon offsets such as voluntary offsets or planting trees. To date, UAV’s port folio includes SAF producers and other companies advancing technol ogies including carbon utilization, hydrogen-electric engines, electric regional aircraft and air taxis.

Riverkeeper is a leading opponent of the proposed fuels plant. Read a series of stories about the opposition’s concerns at thechief news.com.

STAFF

Courtesy from NEXT

These conceptual drawings illustrate the $2 billion renewable fuels facility proposed for Port Westward.

Oregon sees surge in respiratory viruses, hospitalizations

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has issued an executive order in response to a surge of pediatric cases and hospi talizations of respiratory vi ruses, including Respiratory Syncytial Virus - commonly known as RSV - across Oregon.

The executive order gives hospitals additional flexibility to staff beds for children, allow them to draw on a pool of medical volun teer nurses and doctors, and take other steps to provide care to pediatric patients.

RSV is a common re spiratory virus that spreads through virus-containing respiratory droplets pro duced from coughing and sneezing. For most children, RSV produces mild illness. However, young children are especially susceptible to RSV. Children under the age of two are at increased risk of severe disease.

Since the onset of Oregon’s RSV season in late October, the statewide pediatric hospitalization rate has more than tripled, and is likely to exceed its previously recorded weekly hospitalization rate immi nently.

With only two pediatric specialty hospitals in the state with a pediatric ICU — OHSU’s Doernbecher Children’s Hospital amd Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel – and a third hospital, Providence St. Vincent’s Hospital, which has a limited number of pediatric ICU beds — this executive action will help ensure hospitals have the tools they need to care for sick children, both from RSV as well as from other illnesses that may bring kids to the hospital.

“Oregon’s nurses, doc tors, and hospital staff are deeply committed to caring for our children, and I’m grateful for all the work they are doing under dif ficult circumstances to help our kids,” Brown said. “As the country faces a surge in pediatric RSV cases, we want to make sure Oregon’s hospitals have access to the tools they need to provide care for sick kids. For par ents, please know you can take steps to reduce the risk of RSV, including practicing the good health and hygiene habits we’ve learned over the past few years.”

“Like other hospitals in the region and across

the country, OHSU Doern becher Children’s Hospital is currently admitting a high number of sick patients. Ill nesses have hit our commu nities hard—and this comes on top of extreme health care staffing challenges which were exacerbated by the pandemic,” OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Physician-in-Chief Dana A. Braner, M.D said. “We expect this spike in ill ness to continue in the com ing months. The dedicated staff here at Doernbecher are incredible, and they will continue to provide quality, compassionate care for our patients.”

“It’s important for par ents to remember that while this respiratory season is severe, there are key steps families can take to pro tect their young children,” Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel Interim Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jim McCord said. “Be cau tious with your young chil dren around large groups of people, particularly indoors, make sure your child is up to date on flu and childhood immunizations, and ev eryone needs to wash their hands frequently. Parents should contact their primary care provider with questions or concerns.”

State health experts at the Oregon Health Author ity (OHA) encourage all individuals at increased risk of severe disease, and their caregivers, to take steps to prevent RSV and other respiratory infections this flu season.

• Stay up to date on flu and COVID-19 vaccina tions.

• Keep your child home when your child is sick, if possible.

• Wash hands thoroughly and frequently.

• Keep common, high touch surface areas clean and regularly disinfected.

Resources

If you have questions about your child’s care, call your health care provider or visit an urgent care cen ter. At this time, hospital emergency departments are strained. Only visit the hospital if your child shows signs of severe illness, such as if your child has trouble breathing.

The Oregon Health Au thority is urging Oregonians to take precautions against influenza and RSV.

Respiratory viruses are expected to circulate this season at higher levels than Oregon has experienced over the last two years as people gather indoors for the holidays, OHA Deputy Health Officer and Deputy Epidemiologist Tom Jeanne said. But it’s unknown whether two of those viruses – RSV and influenza – will be more severe than prepandemic seasons, “Nationally, we are see ing some alarming trends of early – and, in some cases, very high – circulation of both viruses,” Jeanne said.

“Given this concerning picture, we need to work together to protect hospital capacity so that all of us have access to critical care when we need it.

Jeanne explained that the COVID-19 pandemic has “placed incredible strain” on our health care system, with RSV further straining systems. Influenza will only add to this burden.

COVID-19 update

COVID-19 transmission is expected to increase as people gather indoors and immunity from vaccina tion and previous infec tions wanes. The seven-day moving average of new confirmed and presumptive cases has hovered between 350 and 400 cases, accord ing to Jeanne. the Oregon Health & Science Univer sity forecast predicts that COVID-19 hospitalizations – now at 229 as of Wednes day, Nov. 9 – will increase slightly and peak at about 280 by early December.

Oregon also is see ing slow increases in the

Public hearing for prescription drug prices

proportion of new Omicron subvariants with mutations of concerns, such as BQ.1 and BQ.1.1. These new subvariants account for less than 10% of variants circu lating in Oregon; BA.5 still accounts for about 80%.

“We don’t expect that this winter’s COVID-19 wave will be as severe as last year’s Omicron wave,” Jeanne said. “We anticipate far fewer peak hospitaliza tions than we saw during the Omicron and Delta surges, thanks to high levels of population immunity. But there are other respiratory viruses we’re concerned about.”

One of them, RSV – the most common cause of severe lower respiratory infection among infants and young children – will see increasing activity over the coming weeks, as has been the case in other parts of the country. The virus has caused pediatric hospital izations to more than triple between Oct. 29 and Nov. 5.

The Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems President and CEO Becky Hultberg said Oregon is seeing an increase in respiratory illnesses among children.

“These increases come at a time when the number of available hospital beds remains limited,” she said.

Hultberg said meeting the needs of all patients is the number one priority of Oregon’s community hospitals and clinics despite the current and anticipated spike in hospitalizations. ready to care for everyone in need, and we plan for an increase in respiratory

illness each year as we ap proach the fall and winter seasons,” she said. “While there is no vaccine for RSV, we recommend that parents ensure that children are current on recommended vaccines.”

RSV

Respiratory syncytial vi rus (RSV) is the most com mon cause of severe lower respiratory infection among infants and young children, according to the OHA.

• Symptoms of illness include fever, runny nose, cough and wheezing. When children are first infected with RSV, 25-40% of them will have symptoms of bronchiolitis or pneumonia and up to 2% of children will require hospitalization.

• In addition to infants who are premature, low birth weight, or with con genital or chronic cardio pulmonary disease, most susceptible are infants from 2 to 4 months when ma ternal antibodies drop off. By the second year of life, about 90% of children will have been exposed to RSV.

• No vaccine or effec tive therapy is available for RSV. Infants and children at risk for severe RSV infec tion can receive immune prophylaxis with monthly doses of a humanized mu rine anti-RSV monoclonal antibody during the RSV season.

Influenza

activity remains relatively low in Oregon, it is increas ing slowly. Statewide test positivity was 2% last week; 5% positivity is considered a threshold for significant influenza circulation.

“We expect to surpass [5% positivity] within two weeks,” Jeanne said. “Influenza will add to pres sure that will be placed on hospitals and health systems already dealing with the in creases in other respiratory viruses, including RSV.”

Protection

But according to Jeanne, Oregon has reliable tools for combating COVID-19, RSV and flu.

“First, everyone should get a flu shot and make sure they are up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations,” Jeanne said. “That means a bivalent COVID-19 booster for those who haven’t re ceived one yet, or if you are still unvaccinated, the twoshot primary COVID-19 vaccine doses – followed later by the booster.” Plus, getting the booster and flu shot as soon as pos sible means they will have protection for Thanksgiving and winter gatherings.

And even though an RSV vaccine is not yet available, people can protect them selves through respiratory hygiene, such as covering coughs and sneezes, clean ing high-touch surfaces, practicing good hand hy giene and masking indoors.

“Masking, particularly in indoor settings, is a power ful tool for reducing the spread of all respiratory vi ruses,” Jeanne said. “When respiratory virus activity is high, everyone should con sider masking indoors when they are with people from outside their household. And those at increased risk of se vere illness should consider masking indoors even when virus activity is lower.”

The OHA held the medi cal briefing with reporters Thursday, Nov. 10.

Respiratory syncytial

from 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, via Zoom.

The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services will host a public hearing about prescription drug prices from 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, via Zoom.

Be engaged

Share your stories.

The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services is asking for the public’s help before the 2022 public hearing on prescription drug prices.

The department has set up a brief survey for consumers to share their stories about rising prescription drug prices. Drug prices play a major role in health care decisions of Oregonians, and the cost of prescrip tion drugs have steadily

increased.

The department wants to hear your stories about the increase in prescrip tion drugs and how it has affected you and your family. You are encouraged to report on price increases you have experienced.

Attend the hearing. The department is hosting the public hearing via Zoom. There will be opportuni ties for public comment, and Oregon legislators will serve as moderators for panel presentations. We en courage you to testify at the hearing or provide written testimony. Those who want more information about the hearing should contact the department at rx.prices@ dcbs.oregon.gov.

Some of the topics this

year will include insulin prices, pharmaceutical sup ply chain, and PBM rebate transparency.

The Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act (ORS 646A.689) directed the Oregon Department of Consumer and Busi ness Services to establish a transparency program to accept reports and disclose certain information from prescription drug manu facturers, health insurance carriers, and consumers on drug prices.

The goal of the program is to provide accountability for prescription drug pric ing through the notice and disclosure of specific drug costs and price information from pharmaceutical manu facturers, health insurers, and consumers.

Take a hike on Green Friday

Oregon Parks and Rec reation Department invites Oregonians to head outside the day after Thanksgiving, Nov. 25.

Popularly known as “Green Friday,” the day after Thanksgiving has become a tradition in recent years. Oregon state parks will once again waive day-use parking fees in the 24 parks that are open and charge for parking on that day.

“We’re proud to pro mote this tradition and offer Oregonians an alternative to the busiest shopping day of the year,” Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Director Lisa Sumption said.

Parking is free yearround at almost all state parks; the waiver applies to the parks that charge $5 daily for parking. Fee parks include popular destina tions such as Fort Stevens, Cape Lookout, Silver Falls, Champoeg, L.L. Stub Stew art, Smith Rock and Milo McIver.

A complete list of parks that require day-use parking permits is available online at stateparks.oregon.gov Fall Creek is listed, but closed

for the season.

The fee waiver applies from open to close on Nov. 25, except at Shore Acres State Park, where it expires at 4 p.m. for the Holiday Lights event that runs

Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve.

Use #OptOutside and #OregonStateParks on social media to share your adventures.

North Columbia County’s trusted local news source

Courtesy from the CDC

RSV can be dangerous for some infants and young children, according to the CDC. Each year in the United States, an estimated 58,000-80,000 children younger than 5 years old are hospitalized due to RSV infection.

Fast Fact

(sin-SISH-uhl) virus, or RSV, is a common respi ratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or

Metro Creative Connection

The state public hearing about prescription drug prices is scheduled

Courtesy from OPRD

Oregon state parks will once again waive day-use parking fees in the 24 parks that are open and charge for parking on Nov. 25.

Local student scholarship opportunity

The Deer Island Grange is now accepting applications for the Don Coin Walrod Scholar ship.

This is a scholarship cre ated for a Columbia County High School senior. Ap plicants may attend a trade school, community college, or university of their choice, but must major in agriculture, education, forestry, or animal science.

Applications are available from each of the Columbia County High School coun selor offices and must be post marked by April 1, 2023. The applications should be mailed to: Don Coin Walrod Scholar ship, 64556 Columbia River Highway, Deer Island, Oregon 97054.

Don Coin Walrod biography

This scholarship was created by the Deer Island Grange to honor the achieve ments of Don Coin Walrod. Don graduated from Colorado Agriculture and Mining Col lege in 1941 with a degree in agriculture. After being a pilot in WWII, he returned to Colorado to start his career as an extension agent. In 1953, he moved to St. Helens and became the Columbia County Extension Chairman.

He received his master’s degree from Michigan State University in 1960 and was a dedicated advocate for agricul

FELON

From Page A1

Search resumed

“Someone believed they saw a male subject matching the suspect’s description via a security camera,” Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley said. “We covered the area between Apiary Road to Elk Creek Road and from Cannon Road to Highway 30.”

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Scappoose Police, St. Helens Police Rainier Police, Kelso Police and Vernonia Police were involved in the Wednes day search from approximately 12 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Due to the manhunt, law enforcement advised the Rain ier School District to go into a lock-in. The district remained closed Thursday. Rainier

ture and forestry until he re tired in 1978. He later moved to Deer Island where he was known for growing amazing fruits and vegetables.

Don was very involved in our community and received the Chamber of Commerce citizen of the year award in 1974. He was president of the Kiwanis and founder of the Columbia County Small Woodlands Association. He was also a member of the Plymouth Presbyterian Church, St. Helens Masonic Lodge, Portland Scottish Rite, American Cancer Society, Rhododendron Society, Na tive Plant Society, Silvies Club, Warren and Deer Island Granges, and the Photographic Society of America. Members of our grange remember Don for his incite into agriculture in our county and were often treated with many delicious samples from his garden. The Deer Island Grange is honored to provide the following schol arship.

Application guidelines

This $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a Columbia County High School senior. Applicants may attend a trade school, community college, or university of their choice but must major in agriculture, education, forestry, or animal science.

Application packets must be post marked by April 1,

School District Superintendent Joseph Hattrick posted a mes sage on the district’s webpage about the incident.

“We were contacted by the Columbia County Sher iff’s Department to go into a lock-in,” the message stated. “A lock-in is where nobody is permitted to enter or leave the building due to a situation outside. Our students and staff were safe and there was no im mediate threat to the students.”

In his message Hattrick said that at 2:20 p.m. Wednes day, the district began to released students to parents/ guardians.

“The Rainier School District was in continual com munication with law enforce ment and we were informed at approximately 4 p.m. that the search perimeter had been re moved and the suspect was not located,” Hattrick said. “We understand the stress this has placed on our students, staff, and families, and community. Additionally, we do not have clear information about the

2023.The scholarship win ner will be announced at their school’s graduation award ceremony. The money will be sent to the recipient’s college upon verification of enroll ment.

A complete scholarship packet must contain the fol lowing parts:

• Scholarship application

• Essay • Two letters of recommen dation

• High school transcript

Essay question

Please describe in 1000 words or less, why you have chosen to pursue a career in agriculture, education, forestry, or animal science. Essay will be evaluated for correct spell ing, grammar, word count, and appropriate response to above question.

If any part of the scholar ship packet is incomplete, the application will not be consid ered. Mail completed packets post marked by April 1, 2023 to: Don Coin Walrod Schol arship, Deer Island Grange, 64556 Columbia River Hwy, Deer Island, Oregon 97054.

If you have questions regarding eligibility or about the application, please contact Jani Remsburg, Scholarship Committee Chairperson, at 503-396-3287, or Julie Wheeler, Deer Island Grange Master, at 503-369-0332.

whereabouts of the suspect. As a result of the unknown whereabouts of the suspect and in an effort to keep people in their homes, the Rainier School District will be closed Thursday, November 17, 2022. All activities will also be cancelled.”

The Rainier School District was expected to resume normal operations Friday, Nov. 18.

Pixley said Thursday, that there were no plans to continue the search unless new leads develop. He said Reynolds now faces additional chargers, including Attempted Murder, Kidnapping and Burglary.

“The suspect is still consid ered armed and dangerous and should not be approached,” Pixley cautioned. “Area residents should be aware and do not approach if they see the suspect and call 911.”

Follow this developing story at thecheifnews.com and in the Friday print versions of The Chief.

Jan. 13, 1959 ~ Nov. 7, 2022

November 19 St. Helens Senior Center

Christmas Bazaar

The St. Helens Christ mas Bazaar will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 375 S. 15th Street in St. Helens.

December 3 Sunset Park Community Church An nual Bazaar Bazaar will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 174 Sunset Boulevard in St. Helens.

December

3 and 4 Co lumbia City Elementary PTO Holiday Bazaar

The Holiday Bazaar will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Columbia City Elemen tary School, 2000 Second Street in Columbia City. Stop by for holiday décor and gifts.

December 5 Holiday Concert

6 p.m. Michael Allen Har rison Holiday Concert at Columbia City Community Hall, 1850 Second Street in Columbia City. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Pro ceeds from this event will go to Michael’s Snowman Foundation. Tickets are $20 and will be sold at Columbia City Hall, 1840 Second Street. Food and beverages will be sold at this event.

December 10 St. Helens Band Patrons Lions Holi day Bazaar The bazaar will be held

from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the St. Helens High School Commons.

In

He was raised by Nelson and Mona Jenson in Claskanie, Oregon. He worked for Goble school for 20 years. He will be

missed by family and loved ones.

He leaves behind his mother; three brothers; three kids; and many more.

Eric Sven Joseph Dahlgren 1953 ~ 2022

Eric Sven Joseph Dahl

gren died peacefully at his home in Columbia City on Nov. 8, 2022.

He was born in Richland, Washington, in 1953, the son of Mary Ann Kehiler Dahlgren and Sven Olaf Dahlgren. In 1955 his fam ily moved to St. Helens, Or egon. He was the grandson of Swedish immigrants who settled in the Scappoose area in 1914 and of Irish/ English immigrants from Los Angeles.

He attended St. Fred eric’s Catholic School, St. Helens Junior and Senior High, where he graduated in 1972. As a senior, he ran for Port Commissioner and won, making him at the time the youngest elected official in the State of Oregon. He remained Port Commission er for 28 years. Eric gradu

On Oct. 22,2022, Patti Buff passed peacefully. Patti loved to cultivate beautiful things in her life from her family to her friendships to her beautiful gardens.

took over the operation of Dahlgren’s Builders Supply, which he actively ran until

his death. He was heavily involved with many other projects throughout Co lumbia County during his

He married Christine Ke nyon in 1982 and they had just celebrated their 40th anniversary.

He is survived by his wife; two sisters, Ann Lou ise Dahlgren of Portland, and Rosemary Dalhgren Brockman of Eugene; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thurs day, Dec. 1, 2022 at the St. Helens Elks Lodge, to which the community is invited.

In lieu of flowers, please make any donations to the Amani Center or to the Columbia Pacific Food Bank. Please sign our online guestbook at www.columbi afh.com.

Buff Oct. 6, 1944 ~ Oct. 22, 2022

Scott, Krysti and Ryan, greatgranddaughter Emily; and many others that she loved like family.

She was preceded in death by her son, Duane, and leaves behind her husband Gary; daughter Tamara; grandchildren, Desiree,

Her celebration of life will be at noon on Sat., Nov. 19, 2022 at Alston Corner Assembly of God Church, 25272 Alston Road, Rainier, OR. Groulx Family Mortuary is handling the arrangements.

December 17

Spirit of Christmas in Scappoose

The Christmas Market will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Scap poose annex gym. Santa and the Grinch will attend throughout the day.

December 17 and 18 Hol iday Bazaar

for Columbia River Fire and Rescue Scholarship Fund

The Columbia River Fire & Rescue Volunteer Associa tion Holiday Bazaar will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Columbia County Fairgrounds Pavilion, 58892 Saulser Road. in St. Helens. Door prizes on Saturday and a visit from the Grinch from Noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Ongoing Events

Caples Evening Programs

The cost for this evening and all our Fireside Chats will be only $5. Caples will be offering a different program the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at 1925 First Street in Columbia City. For more information, call 503-3975390.

Lower Columbia River Watershed Council Meets at 7 p.m. every other second Tuesday. Meetings are currently held electronically by

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

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

The Rainier Public Li brary is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thurs days, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays and 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sat urdays. It will be closed Sundays and Mondays.

Avamere at St. Helens hosts a Virtual Demen tia Support Group – 3rd Wednesday of each month from 2 to 3 p.m. For more details, contact Jenny Hicks/Avamere at St. Helens at 503-3668070.

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

North Columbia County’s trusted local news source

loving memory of Dwayne Hans Jenson. He was born Jan. 13, 1959 and passed away on Nov. 7, 2022.

Dwayne Jenson

Patricia

Action by Congress needed to support Oregon children

ALEJANDRO QUERAL Chief Guest Column

192,000 Oregon children risk falling into poverty or greater hardship if Congress fails to expand the Child Tax Credit.

Congress has a real chance in the Lame Duck session to prevent greater hardship for the 192,000 Oregon children who lost out after a recent expansion of the Child Tax Credit lapsed, according to a new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP).

Last year’s American Rescue Plan Act temporar

ily expanded the Child Tax Credit, giving millions of low-income families with kids a boost and driving child poverty down to a record low. But Congress allowed the Child Tax Credit expansion to lapse this year, and if it fails to act now,19 million children across the country risk being pushed into poverty or facing greater hardship. Children from Black, Latino, and American Indian families are dispro portionately likely to risk falling behind.

Yet, as Congress consid ers its priorities for the endof-year spending package,

special interests are pushing for more tax breaks for prof itable corporations — even as Oregon families face ris ing costs. The Oregon Center for Public Policy is urging Oregon’s congressional delegation to put kids and families first, not corporate tax breaks.

Rising costs have coin cided with rising profits for corporations, while families with low incomes struggle to keep up. said. Congress must put families first by expand ing the Child Tax Credit.

The Child Tax Credit helps families with children by putting more money in

their pocket when they file their taxes. Census Bureau data showed that families with low incomes used the expanded Child Tax Credit to pay for basics, such as housing, food, clothes, and school supplies.

But a flaw in the credit’s design leaves kids in the lowest-income families behind by giving them only a partial credit or no credit at all, even as children in wealthier families receive the full benefit. By correct ing this flaw, the American Rescue Plan lifted millions of the poorest children out of poverty.

Poverty and the hardships that come with it, such as unstable housing and hunger, can take a heavy toll on chil dren, such as lower levels of educational attainment and poorer health and reduced incomes in adulthood.

“The success of the 2021 Child Tax Credit expansion showed us that high child poverty rates are a policy choice, not an inevitability, according to Chuck Marr, CBPP’s Vice President for Federal Tax Policy and author the report. “All kids deserve a fair shot at suc cess, no matter their race or parents’ income. The choice

before Congress this year is simple: They can act, or they can see millions of children fall back into poverty.”

The Oregon Center for Public Policy (www.ocpp. org) is a non-partisan, nonprofit institute that does indepth research and analysis on budget, tax, and economic issues. The Center’s mis sion is to achieve economic justice for all Oregonians through research, analysis, and advocacy.

Container plants, mushrooms and disappearing bats

CHIP BUBL Clatskanie Grows Chief Guest Column

Don’t eat anything that you are not totally sure of.

Fertilize your lawn if you haven’t already. This will help maintain a high-quality lawn and will reduce the number and vigor of lawn weeds. Also, keep weeds raked. Lawns need sun and leaves on the lawn for extended periods will weaken turf grasses. The leaves can be used for mulches in landscape beds or cover for vegetable gardens.

Outdoor container plants should now be put in a protected location. Plants which survive quite cold weather when planted in the ground will often be injured when exposed to the same temperatures in containers or pots. Roots in pots often die when temperatures drop be low 18-20°F. You can protect the container roots by piling sand or sawdust around them or putting them in protected location next to the house. Row covers can also be used to protect potted plants. Re member to water those plants that are under house eaves periodically.

Mushrooms are finally growing. Chanterelle reports are slowly coming in. Forest ground is still on the dry side at this point, so harvest may be less than normal. The mushroom guide I find to be very useful is All the Rain Promises and More: A Field Guide to Western Mushrooms by David Arora. If you can, learn from someone who really knows mushrooms.

Garden products (fertil izers and pesticides), be they organic or conventional, need to be stored in a place that is above freezing and dry. Some products lose effectiveness if al-lowed to freeze. Fertil izers will “cake” in moist storage. Pesticides more than five years old should prob ably discarded at a hazardous waste collection day when we start having them again next spring. See the Colum bia County Solid Waste web site for 2023 schedules.

With the dry set of days, we are having right now, some gardeners are tilling their gardens to incorporate this year’s crop residues, weeds, and landscape leaves. If you are doing this, it is a great time to add lime if you haven’t for a while. Normal rate for Columbia County soils is 100 pounds of lime per 1,000 square feet. This one lime application will keep your soil “sweet” for the next four years. Some gardeners are following the practices of some of our

local farmers who cover the tilled ground with tarps for winter until they want to use the space in the spring. This keeps the weed germination down and reduces the soil moisture so the ground can be used earlier next spring. You may discover that field mice like the space, but they will race for cover when you pull the tarp off.

Speaking of field mice (voles), they do like cover from grass and other weeds. Keep areas around young trees and some shrubs cut tight 2 feet out from the trunk over the winter. This keeps the mice nervous and they are less likely to chew the bark off your young woody trees. Most of this damage occurs from now until late spring.

Slugs are very active now. They are mating and produc ing eggs that will be prob lems for next year’s tender spring transplants. Bait or chop them (put boards out that they think they can hide under) if you aren’t tilling the garden now as mentioned above.

The bats are gone

Many Columbia County families have wonderful older homes which delight the eye. But common to many of these houses are colonies of little brown bats. They find easy access to the nooks and crannies that allow them into attics and sometimes wall voids. Often the chimney/roof connection provides them with the ½ inch gap they need to get in and out.

The secret to bat removal is to wait until they leave on their own. It is almost impos sible to scare bats out. The little brown bats (our most common house using spe cies) have left or will shortly. They hibernate somewhere

else though exactly where is a bit of a mystery. Best infor mation is in higher eleva tion caves in the Cascades or coast range. They huddle together in a great mass and wake periodically to see what the situation outdoors is. They won’t return until mid-March.

So, this is the time to inspect your attic spaces from the inside to look for light that indicate cracks that they might use. Also inspect air vents for damaged screening. Careful atten tion paid to chimneys and where wall and roofs join is often helpful. If there are attic windows as well, they can provide “edge” access. Caulk and/or add screening as necessary.

Food Preservation: You can get up-to-date and accurate answers to your food preservation questions by calling our office at 503 397-3462 and ask to speak to Jenny Rudolph.

Important notes

The OSU Extension Of fice is fully open from 8 a.m to 5 p.m.

• Columbia County Bee keepers. 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1 the CCOB will have the annual honey tasting and seed exchange at the OSU Extension Office in St. Hel ens. It will only be in person (no Zoom). For infor-mation email ColumbiaCountyOre gonBeekeepers@gmail.com.

• Donate extra garden

produce and/or money to the food bank, senior centers, or community meals programs. It is greatly appreciated.

• The Extension Service offers its programs and mate rials equally to all people.

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. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Free newsletter

The Oregon State Uni versity Extension office in Columbia County publishes a monthly newsletter on gardening and farming top ics (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 http:// extension.oregonstate.edu/ columbia/ and click on news letters.

Contact information

Oregon State University Extension Service – Colum bia County 505 N. Columbia River Highway St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-3462

Alejandro Queral is the Executive Director of the Oregon Center for Public Policy.

Metro Creative Connection

Columbia 9-1-1 Communication- s District (C911CD) is conducting a hir ing process for a Chief Financial Of ficer. Apply online at www.columbia9 11.com/careers.

Additional informa tion can be found on our website or by calling 503- 3666978.

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

Deceased. No. 22PB09310

NOTICE TO INTERESTED

PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been ap pointed personal representa tive of this estate. All persons having claims against the

CC22-1002

estate are required to present their claims, with vouchers attached, within four months after the date of first publi cation 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 November 11, 2022. William J. Roberts, Personal Representative. STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C. Attorney at Law, P.O. Box, Rainier, OR 97048.

CC22-1001

Before the Clatskanie City Council DATE OF NOTICE: November 18, 2022 TYPE: Lease Entry

OF

LOCATION OF HEARING: Clatskanie City Council Chambers, 75 S. Nehalem St. HEARING TIME & DATE: Wednesday Decem ber 7th, 2022 NOTICE: Citizens of the City of Clats kanie, Oregon are hereby notified that a public hearing will be held regarding leas

ing a portion of Tax Lot 7405-00-02600 in Columbia County, Oregon, consisting of approximately 1.9 acres of land owned by the City of Clatskanie, to Spectrum Pacific West, LLC for the purpose of storing equip ment and bulk materials for broadband infrastructure installation. COMMENTS: Interested parties are invited to attend and offer either oral or written testimony.

Failure to raise an issue either written or oral may affect your ability to appeal. All written comments should be submitted to the City by Friday December 2nd, 2022; 5PM. PUBLIC INFORMA TION: The City Council meeting packet will be avail able on the City’s website (www.cityofclatskanie.com) or at City Hall the afternoon of Friday December 2nd, 2022.

Opportunities ahead for Oregon’s youth employment

20 to 24 has declined from a high of nearly 26% in April 2020 to 7.0% in September 2022. Prior to the reces sion in February 2020, the unemployment rate for this age group was 6.5%. Even though the unemployment rate isn’t quite back down to its pre-recession level, it is coming down much faster than in past recoveries. Dur ing the Great Recession, the national unemployment rate for those ages 20 to 24 re mained above 10% for nearly seven years (80 months).

A tale of two recessions

The deep recession and long, slow recovery adversely impacted youth participat ing in the labor force. The youth labor force participa tion rate (LFPR) was already declining prior to the Great Recession, but it reached an all-time low in the wake of the Great Recession.

not leave the labor force. We are not witnessing a decline in the participation rate like what occurred during the Great Recession.

PAT O’CONNOR Chief Guest Article

Since the spring of 2020, Oregon’s labor force has been on quite a rollercoaster as Oregon and the nation continue to battle CO VID-19.

It is true for the labor force as a whole, but it is particularly true for Oregon’s youth in the labor force. During the pandemic reces sion, unemployment rates skyrocketed in the spring of 2020 as many service sec tor businesses temporarily closed to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

By the numbers

From March to April, Oregon’s unemployment rate jumped nearly 10 percentage points, reaching 13.3%. A large share of younger work ers were employed in leisure and hospitality, which lost the most jobs in spring 2020. Nationally, the unemploy ment rate for teens (ages 16-19) jumped to an all-time high of 32% in April 2020. The unemployment rate was nearly 26% for ages 20 to 24, also an all-time high. In past recessions, it

high unemployment rates to decline. That has not been the case after the pandemic recession. Oregon’s unem ployment rate started declin ing during the summer and fall of 2020 as businesses reopened and began hiring.

By spring 2021, Oregon’s unemployment rate had already dropped below 6%. The unemployment rate has continued to decline and by May 2022 it dropped to 3.5%; essentially the same as the 3.4% unemployment rate in February 2020, prior to the pandemic.

The sharp decline in the unemployment rate oc curred for youth in the labor force as well. The national unemployment rate for teens (ages 16-19) declined from 32% in April 2020 to 9.6% in May 2021. The last time the unemployment rate for teens in the U.S. was below 10% was 1953. Since May 2021, the unemployment rate for those ages 16 to 19 has edged up between 10% and 11%. In September 2022, the unemployment rate was 11.4%, nearly matching its pre-pandemic rate of 11.3% in February 2020.

The national unemploy ment rate for workers ages

The pandemic recession has been a very different recession compared with the Great Recession that began in 2008. The contrast is sharp when looking at labor force statistics of Oregon’s youth. Although both recessions had steep job losses, the speed of the job loss and the recovery have been very different.

The Great Recession was long and drawn out. It took over two years of job loss before employment bot tomed out. From that low point, Oregon employment took more than four years to reach its pre-recession level.

Prior to our recent pan demic recession, youth labor force participation was trend ing up in recent years, in par ticular among Oregon’s teens (ages 16-19), reversing what had been a downward slide for over 15 years. Back in 2000, the LFPR of Oregon’s teens was 57%. Since 2000, teens’ LFPR declined until it reached an all-time low of 34% in 2015 and 2016. Since 2016, a tight labor market has helped participation rates trend upward, which has increased teens’ LFPR to a recent high of 43% in 2020. In 2021, Oregon’s LFPR for teens took a step backwards and decreased to 38%. Na tionally the LFPR for teens was 36% in 2021.

Nationally, the LFPR for teens and young adults has remained fairly steady during and following the pandemic recession. A large number of youth were at least temporar ily unemployed, but they did

As severe as the unprec edented job loss from the pandemic recession was, strong job growth and high demand for workers has occurred much sooner than after other recent recessions.

As of August 2022, Oregon regained all of the jobs lost in the spring of 2020, recov ering to its pre-pandemic employment level in just a little over two years. Job vacancies in Oregon remain at a high level as employers struggle to fill job openings due to the low number of unemployed Oregonians to fill those vacancies. Oregon’s Office of Economic Analysis is forecasting slow but con tinued employment growth over the next several years, which will mean continuing strong demand for workers in Oregon.

Opportunities on the horizon

The strong demand for workers and the current tight labor market isn’t likely to disappear in the near future, similar to the tight labor

market last experienced in the 1990s. Maybe not coinci dentally, the 1990s is the last time a majority of Oregon’s teens participated in the labor force. We will have to see if in the coming years a tight labor market, employers struggling to find workers, and a historically low unem ployment rate among teens will keep the teen LFPR trending upwards.

Efforts to provide young workers who lack work experience with job opportu nities could have a beneficial impact on labor market out comes and lifetime earnings. Youth need opportunities to gain initial on-the-job experi ence and be successful in the workplace so they can illus trate those essential skills to later employers.

With Oregon’s unem ployment rate back near historic lows and a growing economy with high demand for workers, that opportunity for young Oregonians would appear to be right now.

Pat O’Connor is a regional economist with the Oregon Employment Depart ment. He may be reached at patrick.s.oconnor@employ. oregon.gov, or at 503-4004374.

Job gains in construction sector, overall unemployment rises

STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.

Oregon’s unemployment rate rose to 4.1% in October from 3.8% in September and was above the recent low of 3.5% reached in May, June and July.

The Oregon Employment Department reports shows October as the first month Oregon’s unemployment rate was above 4% since

January, when the rate was 4.2%. The U.S. unemploy ment rate rose from 3.5% in September to 3.7% in October.

The state employ ment department reports 2,114,666 employed and 89,019 unemployed in October.

In Oregon, nonfarm payroll employment rose by 5,200 jobs in October, following a loss of 500 jobs in September. The gains

in October were largest in financial activities (+2,500 jobs), manufacturing (+1,100), health care and social assistance (+1,100), leisure and hospitality (+800), and construction (+700). These gains were partially offset by losses in retail trade (-700 jobs) and government (-600).

Oregon’s private sector added 5,800 jobs in October, reaching another all-time high of 1,682,300. This was

10,600 jobs, or 0.6%, above this sector’s pre-recession peak in February 2020.

Financial activities added 2,500 jobs in Octo ber, bouncing back from job declines totaling 1,600 be tween June and September. Job gains in October were strongest in real estate and rental and leasing, which added 1,900, as firms in the following industries added workers: rental centers and lessors of buildings and

dwellings.

Construction contin ued its rapid expansion of the past 12 months, when it added 8,800 jobs, or 7.9% growth. It employed 120,900 in October, another record high, which was well above construction’s prere cession total of 112,300 in February 2020.

In contrast to the rapid growth of many of Oregon’s industries, retail trade trended downward this year.

It employed 208,500 in October, which was a loss of 2,900 jobs during the first 10 months of the year. Since October 2021, gen eral merchandise stores cut 2,300 jobs, which was the most of the retail component industries. Two other retail industries shedding jobs over the year included mo tor vehicle and parts dealers (-900 jobs) and building material and garden supply stores (-800).

Paid Leave Oregon launches new campaign for employers

Paid Leave Oregon has launched a statewide cam paign aimed at notifying Oregon employers about their role and responsibilities in the new program, which begins in just six weeks, on Jan. 1.

To make sure employers are ready to participate in the program, the statewide campaign includes social and digital advertising featuring Oregon employers. Highresolution photos for media from the campaign are avail able at this link.

Paid Leave Oregon also has a new online employer toolkit, a one-stop place for employers to find all

the resources they need to prepare. The toolkit includes the required notice poster, an employer guidebook, a new video, and sample social posts that employ ers and partners can use to share information with their employees and networks, and much more.

Resources for employ ers are available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Rus sian, simplified Chinese, and traditional Chinese.

“Paid Leave Oregon is here to support employers so they can help their employees prepare for this new pro gram,” Paid Leave Oregon Director Karen Madden Humelbaugh said. “We are excited to share all of these new resources with employ

ers, who we know are still learning about the program and how it will help Orego nians.”

Paid Leave Oregon allows employees to take paid time off for some of life’s most important moments. It covers leave for the birth or adoption of a child, for serious illness or injury, for taking care of a seriously ill family member, and for survivors of domes tic violence, sexual assault, stalking or harassment.

The new campaign targets employers, because all employers, regardless of size, will collect contribu

tions from employees starting Jan. 1.

Both employers and employees fund Paid Leave Oregon with a total contribu tion rate of 1 percent of gross payroll. Employees will pay 60 percent, and large employ ers will pay 40 percent, of the 1 percent contribution rate. For example, if an employee makes $5,000, the employee will pay $30, and the em ployer will pay $20.

However, only employers with 25 or more employees also will contribute to the program. Small employers with fewer than 25 em

ployees are not required to make contributions, but they can choose to participate in coverage as a benefit to their employees.

“Paid Leave Oregon will make it easy for business owners like us to support em ployees, and that helps keep trained folks on our team,” said Kathryn Weeks of Peoria Gardens in Linn County.

Peoria Gardens is one of the local Oregon employers featured in the Paid Leave campaign.

“Without this program we could not afford such comprehensive coverage, and

we know that our workers are also contributing,” Weeks said. “The state will confirm a worker qualifies, and of course pay for the leave itself out of the fund. This is a real service, both for us and for our employees.”

Paid Leave Oregon will administer the program, including paying employees while they are on leave and determining their eligibility for benefits. Benefits will be available to employees in September 2023. Another statewide campaign focusing on employee outreach begins in 2023.

Metro Creative Connection

Efforts to provide young workers who lack work experience with job opportunities could have a beneficial impact on labor market out comes and lifetime earnings.

Courtesy from the Oregon Employment Department

Courtesy from the Oregon Employment Department