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Clatskanie Cultural Center celebrates the season

The community is invited to celebrate the season on Saturday, Dec. 3, with free events, begin ning at 3 p.m., at the Clatskanie Cultural Center, 75 S. Nehalem Street in Clatskanie.

A family-friendly animated holiday movie will be shown at 3 p.m. in the Birkenfeld Theatre inside the Cultural Center. There is no admission fee and free popcorn will be offered to all at tending.

After the movie, Santa Claus is expected to appear from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. to greet youngsters and hear their Christmas wishes. Adults accompanying the children are encouraged to take pictures.

At 5:30 p.m., a Christmas Tree Lighting, with music by the Clats

The

Season Celebration

3 p.m. Dec. 3

Family-Friendly holiday movie

4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Santa Visit 5:30 p.m. Tree Lighting

Governor pardons 45,000, forgives $14M in pot possession cases

STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.

Governor Kate Brown has an nounced a pardon for prior Oregon offenses of simple possession of marijuana.

The act that will impact an estimated 45,000 individuals across the state.

The pardon will remove 47,144 convictions for possession of a small amount of marijuana from individual records, eliminating barriers for thousands of people seeking employment, housing, and educational opportunities who have otherwise been ineligible, according to a release from Brown’s office.

Brown’s pardon order also forgives approximately $14 mil lion in unpaid court fines and fees associated only with the pardoned convictions.

As a result, the state will no longer collect those fines and fees, however, it may take a few weeks for the state to update its records and to reach out to collection agen cies to waive the fines and fees

included in the Governor’s pardon, according to a release from Brown’s office. State officials anticipate that all records should be updated to clear the remaining balance on the associated case within one month of the Governor’s action.

No one deserves to be forever saddled with the impacts of a conviction for simple possession of marijuana — a crime that is no longer on the books in Oregon.

~ Kate Brown, Oregon Governor

The pardon applies to electroni cally available Oregon convictions for possession of 1 ounce or less

of marijuana, in pre-2016 cases in which the person was 21 years of age or older, where this was the only charge, and where there were no victims. This pardon does not apply to any other offense related to marijuana or other controlled substances.

“No one deserves to be for ever saddled with the impacts of a conviction for simple possession of marijuana — a crime that is no lon ger on the books in Oregon,” Brown said. “Oregonians should never face housing insecurity, employment barriers, and educational obstacles as a result of doing something that is now completely legal, and has been for years. My pardon will remove these hardships. And while Oregonians use marijuana at similar rates, Black and Latina/o/x people have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionate rates.

“We are a state, and a nation, of second chances. Today, I am taking steps to right the wrongs of a flawed, inequitable, and outdated criminal justice system in Oregon when it comes to personal mari

The

juana possession. For the estimated 45,000 individuals who are receiv ing a pardon for prior state convic tions of marijuana possession, this action will help relieve the collater al consequences arising from these

convictions.”

Governor Brown’s marijuana pardon order applies only to statelevel convictions of possession of one ounce or less of marijuana in the State of Oregon, in singlecharge cases without a victim in which the individual was 21 years

“The statewide judicial data base that is utilized by the Oregon Judicial Department does not have access to locally-operated city and county municipal or justice court records,” the release states. “If you want to learn more about setting aside court records (i.e. expunge ment) related to a marijuana pos session conviction in a justice or municipal court, then please reach out directly to the respective court.”

Following the Governor’s pardon, the Oregon Judicial Department will ensure that all court records associated with these pardoned offenses are sealed, as required by law.

Read more with this story at thechiefnews.com.

Captured! Manhunt ends

JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.

Court records now reveal the intense moments of the hunt for Kevin James Reynolds, who law enforcement described as an ‘armed and dangerous’ wanted felon.

Following several days of an intense manhunt that began in Cowlitz County, moved into Columbia County and ended in Clatsop County, deputies captured Kevin James Reynolds without incident around noon Thursday, Nov. 17.

On November 15 Reynolds brandished a gun at several depu ties as they approach a house in the Rainier area with a search warrant. He then kidnapped a woman at gunpoint, shot the gun at a passing driver in an attempted carjacking, and fled, according to KATU’s summary of the court records.

Oregon SNAP clients

and other Oregonians who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will receive emergency allotments in December.

In December, approximately 426,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $70 million in extra food benefits in addition to their regular SNAP benefits.

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

Because the federal government approved these emergency benefits for December, Oregon will also be able to issue them in January 2023. However, the emergency benefits are expected to end when the federal public health emergency ends.

In December, approximately 426,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $70 million in extra food benefits in addition to their regular SNAP benefits.

“We know that many rely on these additional emergency food benefits to get enough healthy food

for themselves and their families,” Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Self-Sufficiency Programs Interim Director Jana McLellan said. “The holiday season can also bring additional stress and worry for many Oregonians who are still struggling to meet their basic needs and we encourage them to contact our partners at 211, the Oregon Food Bank and their local Community Action Agency for sup port during this difficult time.”

Current SNAP households will receive emergency allotments on Dec. 13. Emergency allotments will be issued Dec. 30 or Jan. 4, 2023 for households who did not receive ben efits in the first monthly issuance.

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

More information about emer gency allotments is available at https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/ASSIS TANCE/FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/ Emergency-Allotments.aspx.

Questions about your SNAP benefits should be directed to the

Reynolds was lodged at the Columbia County Jail in St. Helens as of Tuesday, Nov. 22. He faces several criminal charges including:

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.

As the search intensified Tues day, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office posted a Facebook 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 Face book post stated.

The search began Tuesday, Nov. 15, in the Rainier area last week after Cowlitz County notified the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) that Reynolds was pos sibly in the area of Heath Road and Old Rainier Highway.

Reynolds was wanted on mul tiple criminal charges in Cowlitz County including robbery, assault, vehicle theft and witness intimida tion.

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

Pixley issued a statement shortly after 11 p.m. Tuesday night, stating that law enforcement had completed a search includ ing buildings, homes, and prop erty west of Rainier in an attempt to locate Reynolds, but he was not found. The search was sus pended that night but was resumed Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 16.

Search resumed

“Someone believed they saw a male subject matching the sus pect’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.”

Columbia County Sher iff’s Office, the Cowlitz County

The

Courtesy from CCSO Kevin James Reynolds

Most Columbia County clients

Metro Creative Connection SNAP

STAFF REPORT Country Media,

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A community tree lighting is set for 5:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Clatskanie Cultural Center.

Metro Creative Connection

Santa is scheduled to visit the community season celebration from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Cultural Center.

kanie Middle/High School choir and jazz band, will take place in the Cultural Center parking lot.

Dec. 3 events are spon sored by the Clatskanie Cultural Center, owned and operated by the Clatskanie Foundation.

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pardon applies to electronically available Oregon convictions for posses sion of 1 ounce or less of marijuana, in pre-2016 cases in which the person was 21 years of age or older, where this was the only charge, and where there were no victims.

Federal funding legislation proposed for public defenders

essential to the administration of justice. When there is a lack of existing public defenders to handle cases, hollowed pipelines of new attorneys to enter the field due to both expense and long term finan cial stability, victims and the accused lose access to justice. The Ensuring Quality Access to Legal (EQUAL) Defense Act seeks to remedy all of these issues, for safer more just communities.”

protections in the Constitution flow,” Constitution Project at the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) Director Sarah Turberville said. “The dramatic disparity in resources and capacity faced by de fender systems throughout the country must be addressed and this legislation takes a very important step forward to close that gap. POGO is very grateful for Congressman Bonamici’s leadership on this critical issue.”

The

Oregon U.S. Congress woman Suzanne Bonamici has introduced legislation to support public defenders and address the public defense shortage.

The Ensuring Quality Access to Legal (EQUAL) Defense Act would improve access to counsel by provid ing $250 million in funding for public defense grants. The bill will also help to address workload limits, establish pay parity between public defend ers and prosecutors within five years, and more.

Currently, public defend ers across the country are overwhelmed with massive caseloads. Many lack access to adequate resources, technol ogy, and training programs, and they are not paid commen surate with their abilities and responsibilities. The American Bar Association estimates that

Oregon’s public defense sys tem alone is short nearly 1,300 attorneys.

“Public defenders are an essential part of our criminal justice system, and people accused of a crime have a right to counsel,” Bonamici said. “Right now, we have a dangerous shortage of public defenders and the public defenders we do have are struggling under burdensome caseloads and conditions. My former colleague, Congress man Ted Deutch, previously led this legislation to improve access to counsel nationally and limit unnecessary incar ceration costs. I’m leading the EQUAL Defense Act to finally secure the resources that our public defenders and people in the criminal justice need and deserve.”

“Absent counsel, crimi nal prosecutions cannot move forward” Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt said. “Victim and defendant’s rights are equally

• By fax at: 503-378-5628

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

The EQUAL Defense Act is supported by the National Legal Aid & Defender Associ ation (NLADA), National As sociation of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), Gideon’s Promise, National Association for Public Defense (NAPD), and Project On Government Oversight.

“We applaud the reintro duction of the EQUAL De fense Act, which is an urgently needed and transformative law that will help states to finally meet the promise of equal justice,” National Legal Aid & Defender Association Presi dent and CEO April Frazier Camara said. “People who have been accused of crimes have the right to representa tion. We essentially undermine due process and compromise the ability of people to seek true justice when public defenders are forced to handle too many cases with too few resources. The EQUAL Defense Act will ensure that public defenders have the resources they need to ensure that people receive the best representation possible. We are grateful to Congresswoman Bonamici for her leadership in sponsoring the EQUAL Defense Act.”

“The right to counsel is the right from which all other

Agency: caporegon.org/findservices/

The Ensuring Quality Access to Legal (EQUAL) Defense Act would:

• Create a $250 million grant program to help fund public defense, which will limit workload for full-time public defenders

• Establish pay parity between public defenders and prosecutors within five years

• Collect data on public defender workloads, including the number of hours worked per month and the percentage of hours worked per month on a range of tasks

• Provide $5 million for non-profit and government organizations to provide com prehensive training for public defenders

• Require Byrne-JAG recipients to provide data on the extent to which the state is providing public defenders for indigent people in the criminal justice system

• Reauthorize the student loan program, increase the overall authorization amount from $25 million to $75 mil lion, and increase per borrower repayment limits

From Page A1

ONE Customer Service Cen ter at 1-800-699-9075.

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

You can report any changes to your income or household in many ways:

• Online at: Oregon.gov

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

Resources to help meet basic needs

• Find a food pantry: oregonfoodbank.org

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

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

org

• Find local resources and support by contacting your local Community Action

• Oregon Department of Human Services COVID-19 help center

Learn more at https:// www.oregon.gov/dhs/benefits/ Pages/index.aspx . 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 Dis ability Resource Connection (ADRC) at 1-855-OREADRC or 1-855-673-2372.

STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.

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legislation would improve access to counsel by providing $250 million in funding for public defense grants.

After months of record revenue growth, Oregon economists now expect the state to enter a “mild” recession next summer.

State economists have told a legislative panel that economic forecasters in Oregon and around the country anticipate a reces sion within the next year because inflation remains higher than the Federal Reserve wants it to be, with the Fed expected to contin ue raising interest rates. In a quarterly report released Wednesday, officials from Oregon’s Office of Eco nomic Analysis likened the interest rate hikes to slam ming on a car’s brakes.

“Slamming on the brakes of a speeding car will cause it to skid and even fishtail,” the report said. “The ques tion is whether the driver is able to pull out of it or end up in the ditch. Most econo mists today believe a reces sion is likely, even if the exact path of the economy is uncertain.”

The forecasted reces sion envisions losing about 24,000 jobs, primarily in construction, manufactur ing and related industries including finance and trans portation. It would likely be rougher in the Portland suburbs and central Oregon, where rapid population growth means a significant portion of the local econo my is tied to construction.

State economist Mark McMullen told lawmakers the signs of an upcoming recession are different this year than they have been in the past. It will be driven by a decline in housing and business investment due to high interest rates, he said. The current forecast calls for employment rates, which have risen quickly and steadily since plum meting in the early days of the pandemic, to dip in late 2023 and begin rising again the following year.

“It’s rather mild, at least from a historical perspec tive,” McMullen said.

There are three reasons to expect a mild reces

sion, he said. First, busi nesses, financial markets and people expect inflation to slow. Second, the labor market has been so tight that employers aren’t likely to let go of workers even if their sales slow. And finally, many people still have higher savings from wage growth, stimulus payments and limited spending dur ing the pandemic – though those savings are concen trated in higher-income households.

Some of the state’s urban areas are most at risk, forecasters said. Clackamas, Columbia, Deschutes, Jack son and Washington coun ties, along with rural Crook and Gilliam counties, are at highest risk because much of their economies depend on construction, manufac turing or transportation and warehousing. The Portland suburbs, Bend and Prin eville are growing quickly with many jobs in housing construction, while 10% of Gilliam County jobs are in transportation or warehous ing. That county’s largest employers are landfills.

Other rural counties used to have more volatile economies when they relied on the timber industry and mills would regularly shut down and reopen, McMul len said. Now, those rural counties don’t experience the same economic booms as the rest of the state, but they also don’t see the same downswings in bad eco nomic times.

Meanwhile, Oregon lawmakers will begin draft ing the state’s next twoyear budget in a couple of months, and they’ll have about $3 billion less to work with than they did during the current twoyear budget cycle. That’s because many wealthy Or egonians cashed out capital gains in 2021 and federal stimulus checks increased the amount of money col lected in state income taxes.

Record ‘kicker’ credit

The state will also pay out in 2024 a record “kicker” tax credit, which is triggered when the state collects more in personal income taxes than it bud

geted. Oregonians who paid taxes in 2022 and 2023 will receive credits totaling $3.7 billion when they file their tax returns in 2024, with larger credits for those who paid more in taxes.

“We’ve never seen kick ers like this,” McMullen said.

Lawmakers can reduce or eliminate the tax credit with a two-thirds vote – 20 senators and 40 represen tatives. They did so in the early 1990s, when the nation faced a recession tied to the Gulf War, and progressive groups have long pushed for legisla tors to reduce or reform the kicker.

But such a vote seems unlikely next year. Demo crats will still have a major ity in the Oregon House and Senate, though they lost their supermajorities in both chambers. Getting enough votes to suspend the kicker would require not just every Democrat but multiple Republicans in the House and Senate to vote for it, and GOP legislative leaders have consistently pledged to protect the kicker as is.

“Before we all run away thinking we can quickly spend that kicker on some thing else or hold it, that’s a high bar and a pretty big lift

and there’s probably better things to spend your time on,” Sen. Lynn Findley, RVale, warned his colleagues.

Rep. Nancy Nathanson, D-Eugene, asked whether pandemic-induced changes to consumer spending will affect how Oregonians spend their extra money from the kicker. More people purchased goods on line than from local brickand-mortar stores, and it’s unclear how much of the money returned to taxpay ers will make it to Oregon businesses.

McMullen said much of the tax rebate already goes to people who may not spend it. People who pay more in taxes receive higher kickers, and while people living paycheck to pay check spend nearly every dollar they have, people with more money might save their rebates.

Oregon’s lack of a retail sales tax has also made it hard to track spending trends, McMullen said, but the state will have more data because of the corpo rate activity tax passed in 2019. The tax applies to businesses’ gross receipts and effectively functions as a hidden sales tax because businesses pass the costs on to consumers.

“One place that’s pretty darn clear is that when we give out a big kicker, video lottery sales go through the roof,” McMullen said.

Legislative leaders respond

Legislative Democrats and Gov. Kate Brown responded to the fore cast by saying Oregon is well-positioned to weather economic challenges. In a statement from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where she is traveling on a trade mission, Brown praised the state’s “continued fiscally responsible decisions.”

“Because we have made prudent financial decisions, the state has the ability, if needed, to invest in resourc es to help Oregonians who may feel its impacts,” she said. “With this forecast, the Legislature should also be prepared, as they enter the upcoming session, to respond to economic chal lenges and take meaningful action to benefit Oregon’s working families.”

House Speaker Dan Ray field, D-Corvallis, agreed that Oregon’s almost $1.8 billion in cash reserves leaves the state in a good position. It still would take a three-fifths majority – 18 senators and 36 represen tatives – to tap into the reserves.

“The state has historic cash reserves and is set up better than ever to handle any potential economic downturn thanks to years of responsible budget man agement by Democratic leadership,” Rayfield said. “We are poised to take advantage of the upcoming 2023 legislative session, soften the impacts of any potential downturn, make our communities safer and focus investments on work ing families and communi ties of color.”

And Senate Majority Leader Rob Wagner, DLake Oswego, pledged that Democrats will continue recent spending on health care, housing and other sectors.

“We will continue to build on our recent historic investments in health care, housing, jobs and educa

tion,” Wagner said. “Due to the fiscally responsible leadership of Oregon Dem ocrats, our state’s budget reserves are currently the strongest they’ve ever been in Oregon’s history.”

His counterpart in the House, Rep. Julie Fahey of West Eugene, said spending by the Oregon Legislature and recent federal money from the Biden-Harris administration made the state’s economy strong. She called for continued spend ing to address the state’s ongoing affordable hous ing crisis, provide support for mental and behavioral health and drive down the cost of living.

“We also know that should a global recession hit, Oregon is prepared to mitigate its impact because of the work Democrats have done to set aside historic levels of reserves,” Fahey said. “This work will allow us to continue supporting our most vulnerable com munities.”

Legislative Republican leaders, meanwhile, issued a joint statement saying it was a time to be cautious and prepared.

“Hard-working Or egonians continue to pay the price of high inflation and take the brunt of the current recession,” said Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp, R-Bend. “The upcoming legislative budget and policy decisions made around the economy must be focused on relieving their burden, not adding to it.”

Rep. Vikki BreeseIverson, R-Prineville and the House minority leader, added that legislative Re publicans will oppose any new taxes.

“Oregonians spoke in the recent election by breaking the supermajor ity in the Legislature,” she said. “Republicans will respond in the upcoming legislative session by hold ing strong against growing government or taxes.”

Read the full Oregon Revenue Forecast with a previous story posted ear lier this month at thechief news.com.

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Inflation and a worker shortage add up to a mild recession, accord ing to the report. However, taxpayers should still expect a $3.7 billion kicker. The projected corporate kicker is $1.1 billion which will be retained for educational spending.

Think, be, act local – to the power of six

PAUL VOGEL Chief Guest Article

What do you think of Keep it Local Columbia County? Do you even think of Keep it Local, or are you just so used to seeing the posts, small business and non-profit promotions, and more, that you just expect it without having to think? We’d like you to think about Keep it Local for just a min ute, to remind yourself why it even exists for us all here.

Keep it Local is a Columbia County-centric small business and commu nity promotion and market ing program hosted by the Columbia Economic Team (CET) – now for seven years. It fits naturally into CET’s economic development role –because of the effect it has on our economy. That “effect” is the local multiplier effect -which is the additional eco nomic benefit accrued to an area from money being spent in the local economy. That

effect plays an important role in our larger regional economy.

Many studies have been conducted and continuously updated on the perspective of the local multiplier effect on the greater local eco nomic return generated by money spent at locally owned independent businesses, compared to corporate chains or other absentee-owned businesses. Localization underscores the multiplier effect as one reason of many for consumers to do more of their business locally. We would add, Keep it Local is localization that also makes it easier for small, independent businesses to encourage con sumers to do more of their business locally.

The reason for localiza tion – and for Keep it Local – is how that effect benefits our communities, neighbors, and ourselves by keeping dollars here, where they fuel our economy with a ripple, or multiplier, effect. $100 spent on local products and

services is an economic contribution that circulates six times – and thereby mul tiplies that $100 in the local economy to $600. The more times this process repeats, the more the local economy thrives and grows.

Imagine that you spent $100 at local shops and restaurants. The same $100 is then recirculated back into other local goods and ser vices to the six times before it leaves the local market through external purchases.

That’s exactly what Keep it Local is all about. En couraging, promoting, and facilitating a more robust economy by making it easier for businesses to sell locally, and easier for you to buy locally, and to magnify your economic power to the power of six.

But there are other Keep it Local multipliers, too. Just this fall, Keep it Local presented the Marketing for Success series of classes on everything small businesses need – from marketing plans

• •C ommunity e V ents

Now until December 14

City of Rainier Holiday Home Decorating Contest

The winner in each cat egory will receive a gift. Deadline to enter is De cember 14, 2022. Entrants must reside in the Rainier City limits. Judging will take place the evenings of December 16 and 17 with prizes and notification to be announced Christmas week. To enter: Fill out form and drop it off at City Hall or email it to info@ cityofrainier.

December 3 Sunset Park

Community Church Annual Bazaar Bazaar will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 174 Sun set Boulevard in St. Helens.

December 3 and 4 Colum bia 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 4 Christmas Tree Lighting

Christmas tree lighting and Santa’s arrival at 5 p.m. in Rainier. Santa will arrive at Rainier City Hall at 106 W B Street to light the Christ mas tree. Free pictures and refreshments will follow at the Rainier Eagles Lodge. The public is welcome.

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. Proceeds

from this event will go to Michael’s Snowman Foun dation. 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 Holiday Bazaar

The bazaar will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the St. Helens High School Commons.

December 10 Story Time at Santa and Mrs. Claus 4:30 p.m. Story Time at the Rainier City Library. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be reading The Night Before Christmas.

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 Scappoose annex gym. Santa and the Grinch will attend through out the day.

December 17 and 18 Holiday Bazaar for Colum bia River Fire and Rescue Scholarship Fund

The Columbia River Fire & Rescue Volunteer Asso ciation 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 Colum bia City. For more informa tion, call 503-397-5390.

Lower Columbia River Watershed Council Meets at 7 p.m. every other second Tuesday. Meet ings are currently held electronically by Zoom. For more information, contact Council Coordina tor Allan Whiting at E-mail: allan@whitingenv.com, or call 503-789-9240. Visit the council’s website for agenda postings and Zoom at www.lowercolumbiariv er.org/events-page.

The Rainier Oregon His torical Museum (ROHM) is open from noon - 4 p.m. Saturday (except major holidays weekends). ROHM is located inside Rainier City Hall at 106 W B Street. For more infor mation, call 360-751-7039.

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

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

To list an event in the Community Calendar, email details with a phone num ber that may be published, to chronicleclassifieds@ countrymedia.net, or call 503-397-0116.

to branding to tutorials on social media. Thirteen local experts and from afield led sessions that helped local business owners refresh or learn new marketing and pro motion techniques to locals, and to attract visitor spend ing locally. More than 79 individual business owners participated in 169 sessions –and many of them have now registered for certified small business assistance through the new Columbia County Small Business Development Center, or SBDC, which CET also hosts. Stronger business es make for stronger commu nities, and economy.

Keep it Local’s contribu tion to the multiplier effect doesn’t stop at dollars or helping businesses improve, it extends to helping them get found in the first place.

In Q1 of 2023, Keep it Local will launch a new website that will be a search engine and directory that includes every business in Columbia County. Mobile activated, even anyone traveling in or

through Columbia County will be able to find what they want and need to buy, locally. And as we know, for every dollar spent, the effect multi plies – to the power of six. But before the new web directory launches, Keep it Local is rolling out its signature Keep it Local for the Holidays campaign. The remodeled 2021 Holiday campaign generated nearly $400,000 (multiply that by six!) in local purchasing last year and there are new twists for 2022. More than 88 businesses are participating in the “31 Days of Deals” scratch card promotion that provides more than $900 in savings for each $10 card –in addition to the traditional Wonderland cards, by which each $10 spent moves the buyer one step closer to winning $1,500 or one of 25 other prizes.

The punch cards and scratch-offs are available at businesses and holiday events throughout the county. The purpose: make it easy

as well as beneficial to taste, shop & play locally during this holiday season. Local businesses are sponsoring these programs and chambers of commerce are collaborat ing…. because they under stand the multiplier effect, too. Go to keepitlocalcc.com/ holidays/ or Keep it Local on Facebook to find out more.

Whether or not you con sciously think about Keep it Local – the program – every day matters less than thinking about keeping it local every day and at every opportu nity. It may be easier to shop online, we get it. But there’s no place online where you can multiply your dollars six times in your own commu nity, supporting jobs, schools, parks, services, and the businesses that sell what you want and need. That’s why to keep it local. And that’s why there’s Keep it Local.

Paul Vogel is the ex ecutive director of Columbia Economic Team. He may be reached at 503-805-5139.

MANHUNT

From Page A1

Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Or egon State Police Scappoose Police, St. Helens Police, Rainier Police, Kelso Police and Vernonia Police were involved in the Wednesday search from approximately 12 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Due to the manhunt, law enforcement advised the Rainier School District to go into a lock-in. The district remained closed Thursday. Rainier School District Su perintendent Joseph Hattrick posted a message 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 situa tion outside. Our students and staff were safe and there was no immediate threat to the students.”

In his message Hat trick said that at 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, the district began to release students to parents/guardians.

“The Rainier School District was in continual communication with law enforcement and we were informed at approximately 4 p.m. that the search perim eter had been removed and the suspect was not located,” Hattrick said. “We under stand the stress this has placed on our students, staff, families, and community.

Additionally, we do not have clear information about the 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, Novem ber 17, 2022. All activities will also be cancelled.”

The Rainier School District was expected to resume normal operations Friday, Nov. 18, but due to a staffing shortage, the schools remained closed.

Crime insight

Following the capture of Reynolds, The Chief reached out to Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley for insight into this case and what appears to be a rise in violent offenders in the area.

The Chief: It seems Columbia County is seeing more and more dangerous felons fleeing to our area from Cowlitz County and other surrounding areas. Specifically, this case with Reynolds, the case with the suspect that hit the OSP patrol car injuring the trooper, and the suspect that was fatally shot at Grumpy’s Towing. Why do you believe that is?

Brian Pixley: There appears to be an increase in crimes statewide. There are many reasons for this increase, including the decriminalization of major drug classifications, a lack of mental health care, bail reform that requires early

release for some crimes and lack of proper resources for law enforcement.

The Chief: How are these incidents helping to strengthen the partnerships between the CCSO and other law enforcement agencies?

Pixley: CCSO has a strong partnership with many local law enforcement agencies. We are all limited on funding and already rely heavily on one another, but working major incidents together develops stronger personal and professional relationships

The Chief: Overall, what would be your suggestions to residents and business opera tors about this sort of danger that can happen anywhere, anytime. And your specific recommendations to anyone who might find themselves in such an incident?

Pixley: My suggestion to businesses and residents is to get involved. Make sure your voices are heard at the local level. Speak with your city council members and your board of county commissioners to ensure law enforcement and mental health are properly funded. Also, speak to your state and federal legislators to ensure they understand what is important to the people they represent. Together, we can accomplish great things.

Join the conversation. Post your comments with this story at thechiefnews. com.

North Columbia County’s trusted local news source

Clarification

In the Nov. 18 Chief, Megan Evenson’s name was misspelled. The Chief is happy top set the record straight.

Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District (C911CD) is conducting a hir ing process for a Chief Financial Of ficer.

online at www.columbia9 11.com/careers. Additional

CC22-1696

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

Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of LINDA JEAN ROBERTS, Deceased. No. 22PB09310

NOTICE TO INTEREST

ED PERSONS NOTICE

IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed personal rep resentative of this estate. All persons having claims against the estate are

CC22-1002

NOTICE IS HEARBY

required to present their claims, with vouchers at tached, 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 affect ed by the proceedings may obtain additional informa

tion from the records of the Court, the personal repre sentative or the attorney for the personal representative. Dated and first published November 11, 2022. Wil liam J. Roberts, Personal Representative. STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C. Attorney at Law, P.O. Box, Rainier, OR 97048.

CC22-1001

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

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

Never Come Home in concert in Clatskanie

Never Come Home, a Portland-based music group, will perform in concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4 that the Birkenfeld Theatre, 75 S. Nehalem in Clatskanie.

After an amazing national tour and a showcase at the recent IBMA Awards, the Clatskanie Arts Commis sion is excited to present this amazing group as part of its 33rd annual Performing Arts Series.

Weaving together modern and traditional styles of blue grass and americana, Never Come Down is a based fivepiece composed of Joe Sus kind (guitar), Crystal Lariza (vocals), Brian Alley (banjo),

Tickets

Grab a pole, free fishing weekend in Oregon

Make fishing part of your plans with friends and family for a free fishing adventure this weekend.

The Oregon Depart ment of Fish and Wild life (ODFW) reports that everyone can fish, clam and crab for free in Oregon on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25 and 26.

No fishing/shellfish licenses or tags (including a Combined Angling Tag or Columbia River Basin En

dorsement or Two-Rod Vali dation) are required those two days. Both Oregon resi dents and nonresidents can fish for free, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). All other fishing regulations apply including closures, bag limits and size restrictions. See the Oregon Sport Fishing Regula tions for rules and remem ber to check for any in season regulation changes

at the Recreation Report especially for salmon and steelhead fishing. Click on the zone where you want to fish and then click the “Regulation Updates” tab to see the in-season changes.

The Recreation Report is updated weekly and fea tures the best bests for fish ing for the upcoming week. Depending on water levels and conditions, fishing could be good for Chinook or coho salmon.

For beginners, Easy Angling Oregon is a great guide to getting started fishing in Oregon, https:// myodfw.com/EAO And if you live near Port land, Bend, Medford, Rose burg or in Lane County, there are lots of nearby options.

Prefer to crab or clam instead? MyODFW has all the information you need to get started clamming or crabbing. Remember to

check ocean conditions and take safety precautions: always clam with a friend and never turn your back on the ocean.

Currently, crabbing is open in bays, beaches, estuaries, tide pools, piers and jetties along the entire Oregon coast. Crabbing is closed in the ocean due to the annual closure from Oct. 16 to Nov. 30 each year.

Remember to call the

ODA Shellfish safety hot line at 1-800-448-2474 or check their Shellfish page before you go clamming or crabbing. The Oregon Department of Agriculture regularly tests shellfish and closes areas when naturally occurring biotoxins get to levels that make crabs and clams unsafe to eat. Cur rently, razor clamming is closed along the entire coast but this closure may change by Thanksgiving weekend.

Oregon’s leisure-hospitality, construction sectors gain jobs

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 Janu ary, when the rate was 4.2%.

The U.S. unemployment rate rose from 3.5% in Septem ber 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, fol lowing a loss of 500 jobs in September. The gains in Oc tober were largest in finan cial activities (+2,500 jobs), manufacturing (+1,100), health care and social as sistance (+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 October, 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 continued 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 prerecession 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 motor vehicle and parts dealers (-900 jobs) and building material and garden supply stores (-800).

North Columbia County’s trusted local news source

Kaden Hurst (mandolin), and Ben Ticknor (bass). Their dedication to thoughtful songwriting and dynamic arrangements high lights polished technical skills

and a commitment to listening to each other.

Formed in 2018, the band’s self-titled debut arrived shortly thereafter, and their second album “Better Late

Than Never” was released in 2021. They’ve toured inter nationally and have found ac claim from festivals and ven ues such as Iceland Airwaves, John Hartford Memorial Fest,

Americanafest, FreshGrass and RockyGrass where they were Band Competition win ners in 2021.

are $20 for adults;

$18 for seniors (60+) and students and $15 for children. Tickets may be purchased online at clatskaniearts.org or by calling Elsa at 503-7283403.

Courtesy photo

Never Come Home will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4 at the Birkenfeld Theatre in Clatskanie.

Metro Creative Connection Oregon’s leisure and hospitality sector gain 800 jobs in October.