TCC1126

Thanksgiving weekend

Thanksgiving Weekend SHOP LOCAL

Shop Local SHOP LOCAL Black Friday & Small Business Saturday COLUMBIA COUNTY

A PUBLICATION OF The Chronicle &

The Chief

$1.50

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021

VOL. 130, NO. 29 Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891

Structure fire displaces 18 families find the donation button, or click on the direct link: https://www. givelify.com/donate/hope-of-rainier-oregon-rainier-or-2j7wy5Njc5NDQ=/donation/amount.

As winter weather sets in, CRFR encourages residents and business operators to take precautions to avoid structure fires. The following are safety recommendations from the fire agency.

ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net

Eighteen families are left without a place to call home following a fire outbreak at a Rainier apartment complex.

On Saturday, Nov. 20, at 12:24 p.m. Columbia River Fire & Rescue (CRFR) firefighters rushed to an apartment complex engulfed in flames on West C Street in Rainier. Firefighters were able to contain the fire within 40 minutes.

There were minor injuries, but paramedics didn’t transport anyone to the hospital, according to CRFR. Medics evaluated one patient with smoke inhalation and another patient who suffered from minor burns, neither of which required hospital transport by paramedics.

Firefighters recovered a deceased dog in the aftermath of the fire, and one cat in the complex has yet to be unaccounted for.

Eighteen units were affected by the fire, with two of the units sustaining heavy fire damage and several others suffering heavy smoke and water damage, according to CRFR. “These incidents are extremely difficult for the families involved, and they all need extra support,” a CRFR Facebook post reads.

Investigators were still working to determine the specific cause of the fire as of late Tuesday, Nov. 23. The estimated amount of damage to the apartment complex was still pending, according to CRFR Public Information Officer Jennifer Motherway.

Clatskanie Fire, Longview, Cowlitz, Scappoose Fire, and

• Working smoke alarms give you an early warning so you can get outside quickly.

• Smoke alarms save lives and smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries. If there is a fire in your home, smoke spreads fast and you need smoke alarms to give you time to get out.

• A closed door may also slow the spread of smoke, heat and fire.

The following recommendations are from ready.gov/home-fires:

Smoke damage and debris could be seen at the apartment complex following the fire.

Rainier Police along with Clatskanie PUD responded to the fire scene.

The Columbia County Fire Investigation Team also responded to the scene, and Red Cross helped by dispensing aid to the victims.

Public response Community members have responded to the tragedy by rallying around the fire victims, with

one Facebook user suggesting the community initiate its own donation drive for those impacted by the fire.

Turning Point and Hope of Rainier are also addressing the needs of fire victims through food and clothing vouchers.

CRFR recognized multiple agencies for organizing efforts to take care of the fire victims, including Fibe Federal Credit Union, Hope of Rainier, and El Tapatio. The credit union set up

Courtesy photo from CRFR

a relief fund for the families for the public to donate, while Hope of Rainier is currently accepting clothing donations for and providing food boxes to those displaced by the fire. El Tapatio generously provided a meal to the families the day after the fire and will be offering food certificates as well, according to Motherway.

To donate to those affected by the fire, follow the link on Hope of Rainier’s website: https:// hopeofrainier.com/home.html and

• Know two ways out of every room you are in, just in case one exit is blocked or too dangerous to use.

• In case there is smoke, practice getting low to the ground and moving to your exits.

• Decide on a safe meeting place that is a safe distance from your home or the building you are in.

• Practice a home and business fire drill at least twice a year.

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

Outdoor mask mandate lifted Indoor mandate remains

Metro Creative Connection / The Chief

State health officials have lifted the Oregon outdoor mask mandate. The indoor mask mandate remains in place.

ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net

Oregonians are no longer required to mask up outdoors, effective immediately, according to Oregon Health Authority (OHA).

On Tuesday, Nov. 23, OHA Director Patrick Allen, Health Officer and State Epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger, and Oregon Department of Education Director Colt Gill briefed the media on the latest COVID-19 protocols, including a lifting of Oregon’s formerly-issued outdoor mask mandate.

Opinions ................... A4 Clatskanie Grows .... A4 Classified Ads ......... A5 Legals ....................... A5 Community Events .. A5

Contact The Chief Phone: 503-397-0116 Fax: 503-397-4093 chiefnews@countrymedia.net 1805 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR 97051

On Aug. 11, Gov. Kate Brown expanded the mask mandate to include outdoor settings, effective Aug. 13, following a dramatic rise in COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations.

“This rule was implemented back in August at the peak of the most recent surge,” Allen said. “This (new) decision, which takes effect immediately, reflects the overall progress we’ve seen on the COVID-19 threat in Oregon.”

Allen attributes the changes to what OHA sees as promising developments in terms of the number of COVID cases, hospitalizations, and vaccination rates.

“Over the past six weeks, we’ve continued to see a slow but steady decline in hospitalizations and daily cases. Our seven-day moving average of new cases as of yesterday was 822. On September 1, in the teeth of this current surge, that average was 2,285,” he said. “That’s a 64% decrease.”

Allen also said ICU bed counts and the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are trending downward, prompting OHA to ease

up on restrictions.

Allen said a lower daily case count, less hospitalizations, and high vaccination rates are all signs Oregon is moving in the right direction, but stipulates OHA does not have any plans to remove the indoor mask mandate, keeping in mind the rapid transmission of the Delta variant.

“Although the COVID-19 landscape has markedly improved, we are not yet at a point where we can consider relaxing the guidelines on wearing masks in indoor public settings,” he said. “The Delta variant remains a significant threat to all of us and especially to the one in five Oregonians who are vulnerable to the disease.”

Allen said lifting the indoor mask mandate and transitioning from a pandemic mode to an endemic mode depends on several factors including the trajectory of cases, the Delta variant, and less hospitalizations.

“We’re going to need to be at a place where we have much less transmission of disease, much less hospitalization. We’re still sitting at over 90% of hospital beds full, same thing with ICU beds, a large portion of those ICU beds are occupied by largely unvaccinated people. We need to get out of this phase and get to something that looks a lot more like the flu.”

Allen said a bad flu season kills 600 Oregonians in a year, while COVID-19 claimed over 5,000 as of Nov. 22.

Allen continues to recommend mask wearing for the unvaccinated, elderly and the immunecompromised, people at high risk of contracting the disease and people living with someone in one of those categories.

Allen also issued a recommendation for school districts to transition from lengthy quarantines to a test-tostay option for students exposed to COVID-19.

Courtesy photo

Equipment on large 911 Columbia County communication towers, such as this one, are slowly being replaced for more efficient operations.

9-1-1 communication tower equipment being replaced JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

A long-term process to replace the Columbia 9-1-1 Communication District’s 20-year old aging radio system is slowly proceeding.

The system utilizes 12 land towers anchored in various points across Columbia County and two towers in Washington state.

But over the years, the ability of the system to effectively support emergency communications between law enforcement, fire and ambulance first responders continues to deteriorate.

“We have the ability to dispatch, but once they get on the road they can encounter poor or no radio coverage,” Columbia 9-1-1 Communication District Executive Director Mike Fletcher said. “The equipment is failing and needs to be replaced. The parts that are failing aren’t made anymore, so we literally have to find replacement parts online to keep it going.”

The failing system impacts the

ability of first responders to reach people requesting 911 services, according to Fletcher.

“All of this communication system is what police, fire and medics rely on,” Fletcher said.

“Our goal is to replace it with new and modern equipment and improve radio coverage.”

The towers “Most people think of the system as those big towers spread across the county with transmitters beneath them and antennas on the towers, Fletcher said.

The system’s portable and mobile radios are also being replaced.

“The portables are what you see on the hips of police officers and on the outside of firefighter’s uniforms. The mobiles are radios inside the first responders vehicles,” he said.

The system’s microwave antennas, large round dishes attached ­­­­

ColumbiaCountyOR.Gov/Vaccine | 503-397-7247

See TOWERS Page A6

www.thechiefnews.com

A2

Friday, November 26, 2021

Christmas ships light up Columbia River

Photos Courtesy of Christmas Ships Parade, Oregon Heritage Commission and Stephen Cridland

The colorful ships line the docks at a previous Christmas Ships Parade event along the Columbia River.

ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net

After facing its share of pandemic difficulties, the annual Christmas Ships Parade along the Columbia and Willamette Rivers will bring a resurgence of holiday cheer to Columbia County in December.

In 2020, the parade was conducted, but all meet and greet events and open house activities were canceled due to the pandemic.

The 2021 Christmas Ships Parade will mark its 67th year with an Oregon Heritage Tradition designation by the Oregon Heritage Commission OHC).

“We are proud to continue as the longest continuously operating lighted boat parade in the U.S.,” Christmas Ships Parade Board and fleet member Kelly Marks said.

The parade kicks off on Dec. 11 in St. Helens and Dec. 12 in Scappoose. Marks told The Chief the event will proceed “business as usual,” with organizers anticipating a high turnout this year.

“We are still receiving participant registrations, so it’s too early to confirm numbers,” Marks said. “At this point, we estimate that there will be between 70 and 90 boats this year.”

The event draws in both first time and past parade

participants.

“Parade participants tend to return each year – several have been parading for over 40 years,” Marks said.

“Quite a few have made this a multigenerational tradition, with the children of previous (parade participants) returning with their own boats and families to parade with us.”

It represents family, community, celebration and hope. It is a positive and uplifting experience unlike any other. ~ Kelly Marks, Christmas Ships Parade

Route details 6 p.m. Dec. 11 St. Helens The combined fleet (Columbia River and Willamette River Fleets) assembles at St. Helens City Docks and heads downriver to Columbia City, and weather/river conditions permitting crosses to the Washington side and the RV Park, then returns to St. Helens City Docks.

The fleet is out about two hours. Ships remain overnight at St. Helens City Docks and leave Sunday

for the trip up Multnomah Channel.

Parade organizers list the following outdoor viewing locations in Columbia County for the Christmas Ships parade: • Columbia Courthouse - Above the St. Helens City Docks • Columbia View Park - South of the courthouse parking lot • Sand Island - Access the river from St. Helens • Caples House Museum 1925 First St., Columbia City • Pixie Park - Columbia City History The Christmas Ships Parade began with one decorated sailboat in 1954 and has since grown to over 70 participating boats as of 2020. The entirely volunteeroperated event runs for 15 nights during December and travels the Willamette and Columbia Rivers in the Portland Metro area providing opportunities for communities to view it from the river front, restaurants, parks, neighborhoods and waysides along the rivers.

In a Dec. 2020 edition of The Chief, OHC Chair Chelsea Rose explained how the parade became part of Oregon’s cultural fabric.

“The designation recog-

nizes those traditions that have helped define the character of the state,” Rose said.

“The Christmas Ships Parade ties into the importance of the river to Oregon’s heritage and Oregon’s identity. It is an event enjoyed by many as the ships travel the Willamette and Columbia Rivers and is a long-standing tradition for those who view it each year.”

Organizers who work on the parade do so purely out of love for their communities, Marks said.

“A 100% volunteer run organization, Christmas shippers spend countless hours on the chilly river waters to bring smiles to young and old alike,” Marks said.

Volunteers dedicate over 3,000 hours in trainings, meetings, outreach, logistics, and the actual time in the parade. They host up to three meet and greet events at different locations where community members can see the boats up close, meet the boat owners, and learn about boat safety.

Parade volunteers also partner with various charities throughout the year such as Fallen Firefighters, Ronald McDonald House, William Temple House, Portland Fire & Rescue Toy and Joy Makers, and Columbia River Fire & Rescue Toy N Joy and Holiday Hope.

Marks said the City of St. Helens concentrates its

efforts on making the event a spectacle for families to remember.

“The downtown St. Helens restaurants have fantastic viewing opportunities,” she said.

“We understand the city aligns the tree lighting and other holiday festivities with our parade, and some of the businesses offer promotions.”

While Marks said the Christmas Ships Parade is a treasured tradition for many families and community members, for her, the parade is about more than Christmas.

“It represents family, community, celebration and hope,” she said. “It is a positive and uplifting experience unlike any other.”

Parade future While organizers have considered extending the parade’s reach to various other holidays, one is more than enough to manage, according to Marks.

“Don’t get me wrong we love it, but it is a major commitment at a busy time of year,” Marks said. “When we finish the season, most of us are exhausted, scrambling to spend some quality time with our families and pay (our) own parade expenses.

So, asking participants to consider other holidays is a bigger conversation than it

may seem.”

With the Christmas Ships Parade’s previous successes, organizers hope to see the tradition to spread its roots around the community.

“We are always excited to see the fantastic participation from the St. Helens and Columbia County community.

The people, the decorations in the Square, the bonfires (and sometimes fireworks!) show such a level of community engagement and we are happy to be a part of it,” Marks said. “We invite all community members to make us part of your traditions.”

As always, it is possible that individual parade night cancellations may occur due to unsafe weather conditions.

Notification of any cancellations will be posted at www. chistmasships.org and social media channels.

More information about the Christmas Ships Parade may be found at www.christmasships.org. To register for the parade, email contact@ christmasships.org.

Fast Fact Best viewing areas are along Columbia River public access points, including the open area adjacent to the St. Helens Docks.

Commercial crab season returns Dec. 1

Courtesy photo from Tony Latino Jr. - KPOC photography

A commercial crabber found time to snap this photo of the rough ocean waters during a trip to sea in 2020.

For the first time since the 2014-15 season, the ocean commercial Dungeness crab fishery opens as scheduled Dec. 1 along the Oregon Coast.

Commercial crab vessels can set gear Nov. 28 (the presoak period) in anticipation of the first pull of ocean crab pots on Dec. 1.

In partnership with the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission and the commercial Dungeness crab industry, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife tests crabs out of Oregon’s six major crabbing ports beginning in early November.

This year, crab tested from Oregon’s crab harvest areas have high meat yield and are well below domoic acid alert levels.

Commercial Dungeness crab is one of Oregon’s most iconic and valuable

fisheries, contributing millions to our coastal communities. The commercial ocean Dungeness crab fishery opening has been delayed the past six seasons due to either low meat yield or domoic acid levels above the threshold for safe consumption.

Although last year the season was delayed in stages (harvest opened Dec. 16 South of Cape Falcon and Feb. 15, 2021 north of Cape Falcon), fishermen still brought in 12.2 million pounds of Dungeness crab coastwide with an ex-vessel value of $60.6 million.

Recreational Dungeness crab harvest in the ocean off Oregon also opens Dec. 1 as scheduled in all areas.

Recreational crab harvesting in bays, estuaries, and on beaches, docks, piers, and jetties is currently open

coastwide. Recreational crabbers should always call the Shellfish Hotline (800-448-2474) or visit the ODA Recreational Shellfish Biotoxin Closures webpage before crabbing.

Building Bridges to Self Sufficiency

Community Action Team

Are you a veteran?

You may be entitled to benefits for serving your country.

Contact your Veteran Service Officer • 503-366-6580 Call CAT at (503)397-3511 to find out if you qualify. Rental and energy assistance applications are available at 125 N. 17th St., St. Helens, OR. Also available on our website at www.CAT-TEAM.org

Follow me to Berry Global in St. Helens

for Big Pay, Big Career, and Big Success Apply online at: www.berryglobal.com/careers Berry Global is an equal opportunity employer STARTING WAGES BEGIN AT $18.00/HR, $1,000-$1,500 SIGN-ON BONUS It’s not a myth…it’s the real thing.

Berry Global offers competitive pay starting at $18.00/hr. Monthly Bonus Programs, wage progression plan, training for career advancement, full-benefits after 30-days, a unique team environment, and a workplace culture that makes me even want to come out of hiding to join their team.

Columbia County’s trusted local news source

For more information about Oregon’s shellfish marine biotoxin monitoring, call ODA’s shellfish safety information hotline at 800448-2474 or visit the ODA shellfish closures web page.

Friday, November 26, 2021

A3

www.thechiefnews.com

Snowfall critical to forest revegetation STEVE LUNDEBERG Chief Guest Article

How much and how long a severely burned Pacific Northwest mountain landscape stays blanketed in winter snow is a key factor in the return of vegetation, research by Oregon State University and the University of Nevada, Reno shows.

Published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, the findings are important because the severity and frequency of wildfires in the Northwest are increasing, the blazes carry many short- and long-term impacts, and the length of those impacts is linked with vegetation’s re-establishment and recovery.

“As wildfire activity continues to increase and intensify in the Northwest, understanding what shapes revegetation on severely burned forested landscapes is vital for guiding management decisions,” OSU College of Forestry researcher Kevin Bladon said.

Post-fire revegetation in the forested mountain regions of the Pacific Northwest is a complicated puzzle, the scientists say, but snow cover is a crucial element especially in the Cascade Range in Oregon and Washington. More than 80% of wildfires in the western United States from 2000 to 2012 burned within a seasonal snow zone, a time period that overlaps with the years studied.

“Snow matters to regrowing vegetation following fire, and with double impacts of declining snowpacks and increasing wildfires it is critical that we understand how

Courtesy photo from Kathy Gleason

Post-fire revegetation in the forested mountain regions of the Pacific Northwest is a complicated puzzle, but snow cover is a crucial element especially in the Cascade Range in Oregon and Washington, according to scientists.

these changes are affecting Pacific Northwest forests,” said Anne Nolin, who led the study, which began while she was a researcher at Oregon State; she is now a geography professor at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Nolin and Bladon teamed with Andrew Wilson, a graduate research assistant in OSU’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, on the NASA-funded study that featured beforeand-after vegetation analyses for two dozen high-severity wildfires. The fires occurred over a 10-year period among four distinct subregions of the Columbia River Basin.

At nearly 260,000 square miles, the Columbia Basin is the Pacific Northwest’s largest watershed. It contains a variety of fire-prone landscapes that have seen

almost 900 fires since 2010, serves as critical habitat for more than 700 species and is a water source for seven U.S. states.

“There are many shortand long-term effects from the forest fires that are hitting the West more frequently and more severely than they ever have, including erosion, debris flows and water quality issues, all of which can be bad for aquatic ecosystems and downstream community water supply,” Bladon said. “The persistence of these impacts is mitigated by post-fire revegetation, which depends on a complex network of drivers whose connections haven’t been well studied. Climate change projections and changing wildfire regimes have added to concerns about post-fire regeneration.”

The study showed summer precipitation consistently was the most important variable driving post-fire revegetation across all four of the subregions examined, said Bladon, who has been studying wildfire’s effects on water quality for nearly two decades. Variables such as snow cover frequency, prefire forest composition and elevation were also shown to be significantly influential for revegetation in the Oregon and Washington Cascades and the western Montana Rockies.

Given trends of increasing wildfire activity, lower snowpacks and earlier snow disappearance dates across the Northwest, forests will likely experience drought conditions more frequently than they have historically, which will have a bearing on

The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) will be hosting a public hearing on prescription drug prices on Wednesday, Dec. 8, from 1 to 3 p.m. via Zoom.

Drug prices play a major role in health care decisions of Oregonians and the cost of many prescription drugs have steadily increased in the past 10 years. The department wants to know what questions you have about the cost of prescription drugs and how has it affected you and your family.

Oregonians are encouraged to participate in two ways.

Make your voice heard

post-fire vegetation recovery, the researchers say.

“Many of the forested, mountain landscapes in the Northwest are changing at an unprecedented rate, largely because the regional climate regime is changing,” Bladon said. “Forest responses to climate change are also being driven by shifts in the precipitation that influence soil water storage and groundwater.”

Climate change has already increased the percentage of winter precipitation that falls as rain rather than snow, reduced the spring snow-water equivalent – a metric for how much water snow contains – and caused snowmelt to begin earlier in the spring than it used to, Nolin said. Pacific Northwest snowpacks have seen the greatest declines of any

seasonal snow region in the West.

“And wildfire season length in the western U.S. overall has increased by roughly 25 days in recent decades, including a massive increase in the Northwest from the mid-1970s, when it was 23 days, to 116 days in the early 2000s,” Bladon said. “That’s attributable mainly to warmer temperatures and drier conditions in the spring and summer.”

With current climate change projections, snowpacks’ role in aiding revegetation will become increasingly important across the West, Nolin said. And where snowpacks have declined, there likely will be ecosystem transitions that look like a shift from forest to non-forest, from evergreen to deciduous vegetation.

Bladon suggests fire can be looked at as an opportunity for forests to reassemble into ecosystems better suited to survive warmer winters, longer fire seasons and more drought stress.

“That’s at the heart of the challenge of reconciling a changing climate’s ecological forces with post-fire forest management goals – the goals are often oriented toward re-establishing forests as they existed before the fire,” he said. “But with shifting climate trends in the region, that might not be the most adaptive path forward for forested landscapes.”

Steve Lundeberg is a researcher and writer for Oregon State University Relations and Marketing.

He may be reached at steve. lundeberg@oregonstate.edu

Prescription drug price hearing The department set up a brief survey – http://dcbspage.org/RxStories – for consumers to ask questions and share their stories about rising prescription drug prices.

Tune in to the hearing The Department of Consumer and Business Services will host the public hearing via Zoom: http://dcbspage.org/ RXDRUGPRICEHEARING2021.

There will be opportunities to provide public testimony during the hearing.

There will be invited panels on these topics: • Approval of Aduhelm for Alzheimer’s • Patient assistance programs and co-pay accumulators

The Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act (ORS 646A.689) directed the Oregon DCBS to establish a transparency program to accept reports and disclose certain information from prescription drug manufacturers, health insurance carriers, and consumers on drug prices.

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

Coast port safety study launched STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

The Coast Guard is conducting a Pacific Coast Port Access Route Study (PACPARS) at Astoria and other Pacific Coast ports.

The PAC-PARS will consider whether existing or additional routing measures are necessary to improve navigation safety due to factors such as planned or potential offshore development, current port capabilities and planned improvements, increased

vessel traffic, existing and potential anchorage areas, changing vessel traffic patterns, effects of weather, or navigational difficulty.

Vessel routing measures are implemented to reduce the risk of marine casualties. Examples of potential measures include traffic separation schemes, twoway routes, recommended tracks, deep-water routes, precautionary areas, and areas to be avoided.

The recommendations of the study may subsequently be implemented through

rule makings or in accordance with international agreements. The primary areas of this study include, Astoria, Yaquina Bay, and Coos Bay in Oregon. The safety study also will be conducted at San Diego, Los Angeles/Long Beach, San Francisco, Humboldt Bay in California and Grays Harbor and Puget Sound in Washington.

Mariners are encouraged to participate in this study by submitting comments and input to the Federal Register. To submit your

comment online, go to https://www.regulations.gov, and insert Federal Register docket number “USCG2021-0345” in the “search box”. Click “Search” and then click “Comment Now.” The Coast Guard said it will consider all comments and material received on or before Jan. 25, 2022.

For questions regarding this Marine Safety Information Bulletin or the study, email the PAC-PARS team at “PACPARS@USCG. MIL”

Columbia County’s trusted local news source

A4

Friday, November 26, 2021

www.thechiefnews.com

Oregon’s Main Streets requires our support ANTHONY SMITH Chief Guest Column

The Oregon chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), the state’s leading small-business association, is encouraging all Oregonians to reserve some of their holiday shopping time and money for Small Business Saturday, November 27, the day after Black Friday and two days before Cyber Monday.

Oregon’s small businesses are under a tremendous amount of pressure right now.

A big day of sales is exactly what many of them need heading into the holidays.

Our local communities always benefit from shopping small, but the ongoing impacts of the pandemic have made this more difficult, for the second year in a row. Last year, many small businesses were forced to close their

doors. This year’s challenges include a severe labor shortage and significant disruptions in the supply chain. You can help your small business friends and neighbors by making Small Business Saturday a priority in your holiday shopping plans.

If you’re looking for a little extra holiday spending cash, be sure to check your local job listings for small businesses still hoping to staff-up before Christmas. The jobs are available, thanks in part to the passage of Oregon House Bill 3389 earlier this year which provides significant payroll tax relief for Oregon businesses most hard-hit by the pandemic.

The state just started notifying employers of their new tax rates on November 15 – very welcome news. Now we just need a great day of sales on Small Business Saturday to kick-start a (hopefully) much brighter new year.

Here are some of the struggles small-business owners are facing that they haven’t in the past: In its latest Jobs Report, released this month, NFIB recorded 49% of its membership reporting job openings they could not fill despite the record high in pay they were offering.

Also this month, NFIB released the latest findings of its special COVID-19 polls showing 62% of small-business owners saying supplychain disruptions are worse now than three months ago and 90% expecting the problem to continue for the next five months or longer.

Equally troubling, NFIB’s Small Business Economic Trends report found the percentage of small-business owners expecting better business conditions fall four points to a net negative 37%. This indicator has declined 17 points over the past three months

to its lowest level since Nov. 2012.

As U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said at a recent Fed Listens session, “I’ve never seen these kinds of supply-chain issues, never seen an economy that combines drastic labor shortages with lots of unemployed people.”

Quick facts

• Established during the recession by American Express in 2010 and officially cosponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration since 2011, fully 70% of consumers are now aware of Small Business Saturday, according to a 2019 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey by AMEX and NFIB. • Shoppers at independent retailers and restaurants that day in 2019 spent an estimated $19.6 billion—but that was pre-pandemic.

• In 2020, when some thought the 2019 numbers couldn’t be matched, spending actually increased to $19.8 billion. Many small businesses pivoted to selling online or through social media platforms to stay connected with customers throughout the pandemic, and these efforts appear to have paid off, with 56% of Small Business Saturday shoppers reporting they shopped online with a small business on the day, an increase from 43% in 2019, according to a report by AMEX. In addition, small business owners rolled out a variety of giveaways and special offerings to consumers, a smart strategy as 43% of consumers reported that they took advantage of special offers or promotions from small businesses on the day, the report states.

• Last week, the research firm Morning Consult found almost 4 in 10 U.S. consumers say they will do the majority of

their holiday shopping online: Another 36% plan to evenly split their holiday shopping between stores and online.

Only 1 in 4 consumers will do the majority of their holiday shopping in stores.

• About 50% of those who have started shopping have faced supply chain issues.

These include items being out of stock online (48%), in store (48%) or back-ordered or delayed (46%), according to Morning Consult.

Keep up with the latest Oregon small-business news at www.nfib.com/oregon and follow us on Twitter at @ NFIB_OR. Anthony Smith is the Oregon state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, America’s largest small-business association. He may be reached at 503-364-4450, anthony. smith@nfib.org.

Clatskanie Grows: Winter fruit sprays needed CHIP BUBL Chief Guest Column

Fungi and bacteria love moist weather. They work their way into trees and berry plants through injuries, buds, leaf scars or other locations. The peach leaf curl symptoms that we see in April are caused by the curl fungus infecting peach buds over the next few months.

Many diseases can be lessened by winter dormant fungicide applications over the next three months. The forecast as I write this is for fairly nice weather in the next week or so. Useful products for the home gardener are sulfur powder that can be mixed into a liquid spray and copper. Both are considered organic and both are reasonably effective.

There are a number of trade names available. Ask your garden store or feed and seed dealer. Lime sulfur (Polysul) has become harder to get since there were issues with eye damage and it got taken off the retail market.

Peaches, especially, should be sprayed at least four times over the next few months.

The more you spray the better

results you will have. Pick a dry day when temperatures are above freezing. Many products have a spreader-sticker to adhere them to the branches and twigs. I find that using warm water to make up these spray mixtures help the fungicides go into solution.

These spray treatments can be used on any fruit or berries with this exception: Do not use sulfur on apricots as they are very sensitive to sulfur.

How to speed winter compost

Plant decomposition slows in cold, wet weather.

Moisture fills pore spaces within the compost pile, reducing the oxygen available to the rotting fungi, bacteria and small invertebrates. Rain also reduces the pile temperature. This isn’t the end of the world. The pile of vegetation will continue to decompose, but at a much slower rate.

You can speed up composting by covering the compost pile. Some gardeners use clear plastic to get some heat gain from the sun.

Chipped and/or shredded materials you add to the pile will decompose faster than

Columbia County’s trusted local news source

larger pieces. So will the addition of nitrogen sources such as vegetable trimmings (usually high in nitrogen), ma-

ton, WA). The last two have extensive online catalogs.

Get deer fencing up before you plant.

They will show up!

You can lose all your investnure, ment Clatskanie synin Grows thetic trees in fertilone year. izer that Recontains move existing nitrogen, or sod or cover bloodmeal. The nithe areas you want to trogen “feeds” the microbes plant trees into with compost and their population booms, and black plastic or landalso speeding the composting scape fabric to kill the grass process. before you work the ground.

Planning for new fruit trees The best selection of new fruit trees and berry bushes is available in February. There are several things you can do right now to help ensure a successful start for them.

Read catalogs to understand which varieties seem most suitable for our area.

Order early as selection decreases quickly. Good sources are Motz Nursery near Skyline and Cornelius Pass Road intersection, One Green World (east Portland) and Raintree Nursery (Mor-

Some things to do • Check stored potatoes, onions, garlic, winter squash and apples for rot or sprouting. Pull off potato sprouts and discard anything diseased.

• Water outside plants under eaves.

• Cover vegetable garden with several inches of manure and shavings from a local stable.

• Lime your vegetable garden (before you put down manure mentioned above) with 100 pounds of lime per 1,000 square feet. This lime

Editorial policy Opinions expressed on this page areindependentofTheChiefviews and are solely those of the writers expressing them.

Letters policy This newspaper’s letters to the editor are limited to a maximum of 250 words and will be edited for grammar, spelling and blatant inaccuracies.Unsubstantiatedorirresponsibleallegations,orpersonal attacksonanyindividual,willnotbe published.Letterscontainingdetails presented as facts rather than opinionsmustincludetheirsources.

Writersarelimitedtoonepublished letter per month. All submissions mustincludetheauthor’sfullname, localstreetaddressandtelephone number (only the name and city

is enough for the next four years. Use the same rate to top-dress lawns.

Important notes

• The OSU Extension Office is fully reopened. Masks are still required inside.

Planning for an OSU Master Gardener class next spring • We are actively planning for an in-person OSU Master Gardener class starting next February. The class would most likely be held in St. Helens on Monday, during the day, for about ten weeks.

If you think you might be interested, let us know. Call Sonia Reagan or myself (Chip Bubl) at 503-397-3462. Your statement of interest doesn’t commit you to anything but will give us some idea if people are ready to return to in-person classes. If COVID mutates again, it might have to be a digital only class.

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

• The Extension Service offers its programs and materials 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

of residence will be published). By submittingaletter,writersalsogrant permission for them to be posted online.Opinionsexpressedonthis page are the writer’s alone and do not represent the opinion of the newspaperoritsparentcompany, Country Media, Inc. Guest commentary We welcome all variety of community viewpoints in the newspaper.These longer, guest opinionsmightbecolumnswritten by newsmakers, public officials ororganizationrepresentatives.

Oryoumightjusthaveinteresting thoughtstoshareandapenchant for writing. If you’d like to submit a guest column for publication, contact us at (503) 397-0116 or

C

Bubl, Oregon State University Extension office in St. Helens at 503-397-3462 or at chip. bubl@oregonstate.edu. The office is open from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Free newsletter The Oregon State University Extension office in Columbia County publishes a monthly newsletter on gardening and farming topics (called County Living) written/edited by yours truly.

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

Alternatively, you can find it on the web at http://extension. oregonstate.edu/columbia/ and click on newsletters.

Many Extension publications available online Are you putting up salsa, saving seeds, or thinking about planting grapes? OSU has a large number of its publications available for free download. Just go to https:// catalog.extension.oregonstate. edu. Click on publications and start exploring.

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

chiefnews@countrymedia.net.All columnsaresubjecttoeditingfor style,grammarandclarity.However, views expressed in guest columnsareindependentanddo not represent those ofThe Chief, its staff or Country Media, Inc.

Obituaries Obituariesreceivedafternoonon Wednesday may not be in time forthatFriday’spaper.Obituaries may be emailed to chiefnews@ countrymedia.net,sentviamail, or dropped off at the office. We alsoacceptobituarieswrittenby funeral homes. Include the addressanddaytimephonenumber of the person who submitted the obituary, so we can verify information as necessary.

Friday, November 26, 2021

A5

www.thechiefnews.com

CC21-1545

CC21-1546

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF NOTICE OF MEETING The Clatskanie City include but are not limited will meet on to: approval of the minutes OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA Council Wednesday, December 1st, of the Nov. 3rd, 2021 regular Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of MICHAEL HILLARD BALLARD, Deceased. No. 21PB08931 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed

personal representative of this estate. All persons having claims against the estate are required to present their claims, with vouchers attached, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice to the personal

representative at P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048, or the claims may be barred.

All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceedings may obtain additional information from the records of the Court, the personal representative

or the attorney for the personal representative. Dated and first published November 19, 2021. Margaret Louise Martin, Personal Representative. STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C. Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048.

2021, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall in the Clatskanie Cultural Center, 75 South Nehalem St. (2nd floor). Agenda items

meeting and a presentation of the 2020-2021 fiscal year audit. An updated agenda will be available at City Hall

by Nov. 24th, 2021.

Nov. 26 Team Celebration 6 p.m. Community celebration at Clatskanie Middle/ High School Commons for the CMHS Girls Basketball and Girls Softball Championship teams.

Dec. 4 and 5 Christmas Open House Christmas Open House at The Berry Patch Restaurant, 49289 Highway 30, Westport from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Door prizes, gift baskets,samplesandmore.Take aphotowithSantafrom10a.m.–1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

yourcameraforfreepictureswith Santa.

For more details, call 503-3974010.

Dec. 6 Holiday Concert A holiday concert featuring Michael Allen Harrison at 6 p.m. attheColumbiaCityCommunity Hall,1850SecondSt.inColumbia City. Tickets are $20 per person andmaybepurchasedatColumbia City Hall, 1840 Second St. in ColumbiaCity.Seatingislimited.

Masksmustwillberequiredatall times.Allproceedswillbenefitthe ColumbiaCityCommunityLibrary.

Dec. 10 and 11 Christmas Market Christmas Market Place at 290 S NehalemStreetinClatskaniefrom 4p.m–8p.m.Dec.10andfrom10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 11.

10 a.m.–11 a.m. Ugly sweater contestat2p.m.Characterphotos from 2 p.m.-4 p.m.

The scholarship is created for a Columbia County high school senior. Applicants may attend a tradeschool,communitycollege, or university of their choice, but mustmajorinagriculture,education, forestry, or animal science.

Applications are available from each of the Columbia County highschoolcounselorofficesand must be post marked by April 1, 2022. Mail applications to: Don CoinWalrodScholarship,64556 Columbia River Highway, Deer Island, Oregon 97054.

Dec. 4 Holiday Bazaar Holiday Bazaar from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. at Legion Hall, 930 NE 5th St., Clatskanie. Shop 25 vendors. Take a sleigh ride and see Santa.

Dec. 5 Rainier Tree Lighting RainierMasonspresentRainier’s AnnualChristmasTreeLighting

by Santa at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 106 W B Street, Rainier. Bring

Dec. 11 Christmas in Vernonia Spirit of Christmas in Vernonia from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. at Vernonia Grange. Vendors from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Chili cook off from

Dec. 19 Pictures with Santa Pizza and Pictures with Santa at HometownPizza,109AStreetin Rainierfrom3p.m.–6p.m.Bring yourcameraforfreepicturewith Santa.

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

Columbia County’s trusted local news source

A6

Friday, November 26, 2021

www.thechiefnews.com

Committee talks vandalism, parks projects ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net

Vandalism continues to be an ongoing issue at Rainier Riverfront Park, Rainier Public Works Director Sue Lawrence said.

The vandalism includes busted doors, tampered locks, and a general variety of other destruction, according to Lawrence.

Rainier City Adminis-

trator Scott Jorgensen said Rainier City Police have not identified any suspects or made arrests, but the city is working on upgrading the marina’s camera system to deter criminal behavior in the area.

Lawrence told the members of the city’s newly formed parks and recreation committee during its Oct. 25 meeting that the city staff began locking the restrooms

at night after city officials discovered the site had been vandalized.

“It is an ongoing issue and frequently results in the temporary closure of those facilities,” Jorgensen said.

During the meeting, the committee also appointed active member Gary Rice to Vice Chair and shared a status update on park developments.

City officials said the

city is working on two installments for the final phase of the Riverfront Trail project, which will include working on an American Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible ramp connected to Rainier Senior Center and stairs to enhance beach access, according to Jorgersen.

The committee also reviewed results from a recent Rainier city survey, which show respondents would

like to see other changes come to fruition, such as more police presence and better lighting in the area, along with the addition of a splash park, dog park, and hiking trails.

Fox Creek, the area under C Street bridge, and the water treatment plant location were also discussed by the committee as possible sites for new development.

The committee agreed

that creating amenities for children is the primary focus when it comes to expanding or developing news parks.

In the committee’s November 30 public meeting, the members are scheduled to review a feasibility of Fox Creek Park location, a feasibility of a dog park at C Street location and a feasibility of mini golf putting green at various locations.

a phishing scam trying to get payment information from unsuspecting Oregonians.

DMV urges customer not to click on any links and delete the message.

“DMV does not text customers to let them know about a payment issue, or issue re-

funds via text message,” DMV Customer Services Manager Katie Hafner said.

DMV staff members are aware of the issue and are unable to provide any technical assistance with a customer’s phone, according to Hafner.

If customers have questions

about how to block a number, they should contact their cell phone provider.

If you are issued a refund

by DMV, you will receive it through the mail or directly back on your payment card.

The agency will not text or call to inform you that you will be

receiving a refund, according to the alert from DMV. This holiday season customers are encouraged to skip the trip and visit the DMV online at DMV2U.oregon. gov. Customers can go online to renew vehicle registration, notify DMV of a vehicle sale,

renew or replace a license/ID card and more.

tion vendors. Three vendors responded with options to replace the existing towers and radio systems. In 2019, the District conducted public meetings in St. Helens and one-on-one needs assessments with all stakeholders of the system.

The District then contracted last spring with Federal Engineering, an independent firm, to conduct an assessment of the communication system.

“They looked at what we have today, where our equipment is, the history of the existing radio system,

and the proposals from vendors who offered replacement options,” Fletcher said.

Federal Engineering presented their report and recommendations to the District board in September.

The 9-1-1 District Board, and the Columbia County 9-1-1 Advisory Committee, comprised of all the police, fire and EMS providers, reviewed the report and recommendations.

Fletcher estimates replacing the communication system could cost anywhere from $9 million to $25 million.

“We know the entire replacement of the radio system is going to be in the millions of dollars, so we began a replacement project a couple of years ago for the microwave portion of the system,” Fletcher said. “So, incrementally we have been upgrading the microwave network.”

Fletcher said the incremental upgrade will be cost effective.

“Every dollar that we spend today on those microwave systems is a dollar that we don’t have to ask the voters for when we go

out for a bond (to cover the cost of the entire system replacement),” Fletcher said. “The upgrade replacements will work with any new radio system that the board approves.”

The District is working with Federal Engineering as its consultant for the replacement process. The District has scheduled its next regular monthly board meeting for 9 a.m., Dec. 9, to review a $15,000 contract extension with Federal Engineering, funding a workshop in early 2022 to review questions

from stakeholders about the system replacement needs.

“Hopefully, the board will make a decision on which solution to pursue,” Fletcher said. “Federal Engineering will likely be asked by the board to conduct the design of the new system and negotiate contractors with the needed vendors.”

Fletcher said much work must be done before the District goes to voters with a general obligation bond to fund the system replacement.

Oregon DMV issues warning of new text scam STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net

Scammers posing as the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) are texting cell phones claiming that a refund is available.

It is a fake message and

TOWERS From Page A1

to the towers, are currently being replaced in a phased in process.

“The microwave antennas support the push-to-talk radios, the portables and mobiles. They tie all of the towers together by simulcasting the voice and video,” Fletcher said.

The District published a Request for Information (RFI) in 2018 seeking responses from communica-

Columbia County’s trusted local news source

The Federal Communications Commission has issued a series of recommendations to avoid phone scams. See those recommendations with this story at thechiefnews.com