Bringing the past to the present
Courtesy photo
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
A local history buff has created an online space to share photos and stories from Clatskanie’s past and see how the area has evolved over the years. The photo on the left is a postcard showing downtown Clatskanie in 1910, the photo on the right is what the same area looks like today. MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net
Not every 20-year-old spends their free time searching for their hometown but Mason Kent does. Kent is a recent history aficionado who’s taken an interest in the last 100 years of Clatskanie. Kent finds old photos and shares them on the Facebook group he created called “The old Clatskanie.” His interest in memories of the past was sparked when his mother sent him a picture of a main street in Clatskanie from the ‘50s and he saw the old businesses that lined the road in the black-and-white picture. He then started to research
and found a few more old pictures of local landmarks and bygone gas stations and decided to form an online space to collect and share the pictures. “I looked on Facebook groups and there’s a lot of ‘Old Oregon’ or ‘Old Logging,’ but none of ‘Old Clatskanie,’” he said. So, on Dec. 1, he decided to change that. Kent created the group in the afternoon and then headed off to work, not checking his phone until well into shift at 1 a.m. “It kind of blew up,” he said. In the first several hours there were already 50 or 60 people who had joined, he said. As of Wednesday, Dec. 16, the group had 240 members.
“There’s a lot of cool posts and a lot of cool people,” Kent said. For Kent, who has spent most of his life in Clatskanie, it’s interesting to see the evolution of the main roads in town and see how life has changed. “It’s crazy to think there was a Ford dealership,” he said. “It was like a full town, you didn’t have to go anywhere to get something.” That said, he likes Clatskanie the way it is now, too. Looking at old pictures he said he gets the sense it was a small, busy town where everyone got along and worked hard. “Being a small town, I’d hope and I’d think the mood hasn’t changed much from how it was
then to how it is now,” he said. “Personally I really like my small town. I recognize faces and know people from Clatskanie since I was 5-years-old. There’s been a few fires, a few big floods; when stuff like that happens people come together as a community.” Kent and the members of the Old Clatskanie Facebook group aren’t alone in their interest of the early days of Clatskanie. Deborah Hazen, president of the Clatskanie Historical Society and museum coordinator, also took an interest in the stories and pictures that define the past of Clatskanie. Hazen said she was unaware of the new online group, but is in
City seeks funds to smooth out SW Bel Air Drive JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Clatskanie City Manager Greg Hinkelman has gained a reputation of finding funding resources for city
projects without having to ask for increasing taxes. Hinkelman’s latest effort is to find $175,000 to repave SW Bel Air Drive, one of the city’s most used travel routes. “Bel Air Drive is a heavily traveled street that intersects Highway 30,” he said. “It is the main route to the post office and the street leading to Clatskanie Middle/High School.”
That consistent traffic along Bel Air is adding to the deterioration of the pavement, and while Hinkelman said the deterioration may not be highly visible yet, the city wants to take a proactive approach to the public works project. “Each year that we wait, the street deteriorates,” he said. “It’s not in bad shape now but we don’t want to wait for it to become a major issue.” Hinkelman said the city had
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Health Authority (OHA) Director Pat Allen said. “The challenge is we’ve been given no distribution schedule or any idea of how many doses to expect on any regular basis, so it’s really impossible for us to put a specific timeline on that,” said Allen. About 70% of the state needs to be vaccinated to achieve community immunity, Brown said. To accomplish that, she said more than 10,000 residents will need to be vaccinated per day. “It’s a tall order, and we can’t do it without federal resources to deliver the doses and support our distribution and outreach efforts,” she said.
Fast fact COVID-19 vaccinations may be available at no cost to the general public by late spring 2021.
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
First vaccinations occur in state MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net
The City of Clatskanie hopes to qualify for a state grant to repave SW Bel Air Drive.
support of more people from the community taking an interest in the past. “I think it’s a great idea and I’m happy Mason has decided to do this and get others interested,” Hazen said. The museum has been closed due to pandemic restrictions and ongoing renovations to the Castle (which houses both the museum and the senior center), but has a wealth of old pictures and oral history of the area. The historical society was started back in the late ‘90s when
Frontline health care workers at Legacy Hospital were the first people in the state to be vaccinated against COVID-19 on Wednesday. “We kick off this historic vaccine campaign in Oregon with our health care workers, who have been our first line of defense against COVID-19. Today they will receive the first vaccinations,” Gov. Kate Brown said Wednesday. “These heroes have poured everything they have into this fight.” The first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Oregon on Monday. The shipment was from Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE and was given emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday, Dec. 9. “The first shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine have arrived in Oregon, the first of many that will be distributed across the state,” Brown said in a release Monday. “Starting with the frontline health care workers who have been our first line of defense against COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, and the long-term care facility residents who are among the most vulnerable, each day, more and more Oregonians will be vaccinated against this disease.” Legacy Health’s Portland and Tualatin hospitals were the first to receive the vaccines, each receiving a package containing 975 doses. The remainder of this week’s allocation of 35,100 doses are expected at hospitals around the state throughout the week. Skilled nursing facilities will receive 10,725 doses for vaccinations that start next week. Despite the deliveries, public health officials and government leaders still advise residents to continue to practice prevention measures, as vaccinations for the general public are still months away.
Vaccine details
Metro Creative Connection / The Chief
The shipments follow a U.S. Food and Drug Administration decision on Friday to issue an emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which was found in Phase 3 clinical trials to be 95% effective and, in most people, cause only mild to moderate, short-lived side effects.
“As we wait for wide distribution of the vaccine, one of our most important challenges is to remind Oregonians to keep your guard up,” Brown said in a press conference Dec. 11. “We all need to keep wearing masks, limiting get togethers and maintaining social distance until we achieve community immunity.” The question of when community immunity will be possible is still uncertain, and depends largely on how many additional doses of vaccines the state will receive after this month. What is known is that by the end of December, the state is slated to receive 147,000 doses of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. The first round of vaccine recipients will be certain hospital staff and longterm care facility staff and residents. There are around 360,000 healthcare workers who will need the vaccine and no information yet from the federal government on future vaccine dose allocation. The uncertainty makes it difficult to predict when all residents will have the opportunity to be vaccinated, Oregon
Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses to be effective. The Pfizer vaccine doses need to be administered 21 days apart and the Moderna vaccines need to be administered 28 days apart. Public health officials anticipate there will be enough of the two vaccines to provide first doses to about 100,000 people this month, with second doses to follow in January. The Pfizer vaccine requires ultra cold storage (-94 degrees) and is good for five days after thaw. Most of the facilities with capability to store vaccines at that temperature are located along the Interstate-5 corridor, but cold storage hubs will be set up across the state. The Moderna vaccine will likely be used in more rural areas because it only requires standard freezing temperatures and is good for 30 days after thaw. The initial number of doses each county will receive will depend on the number of hospital employees and long term care facility residents and staff are in the area, and more specific details will be released as the vaccines arrive to the state. According to health officials, some of the side effects of the Pfizer vaccine include fatigue, headache, chills and muscle aches to varying extents for those in the 16-55 age group.
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Friday, December 18, 2020
Brown seeking $800 million in pandemic, wildfire relief JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Gov. Kate Brown called for a special session of the Oregon Legislature to be held Monday, Dec. 21, seeking $800 million in pandemic and wildfire relief. Clatskanie City Manager Greg Hinkelman said he is hopeful legislators agree on help for business owners, like restaurants and other entertainment venues, such as movie theaters and bowling alleys. “Any help for the victims of the wildfires is also good,” Hinkelman said. “The moratorium on evictions with the new caveat of proving hardship appears to be a good idea. I’d like to see some assistance for utility payments. We have had a few water customers that are struggling.” In Rainier, City Administrator Scott Jorgensen said many of the area restaurants are small, family-owned operations and the continued restrictions on their business activities have caused much hardship. “It is my hope that they will get some much-needed relief out of this special legislative session,” he said. “The creation of a landlord assistance fund could potentially ensure that some of the property taxes that fund the city’s operations will still be paid.” Jorgensen said his ongoing concern is the formats used for the special sessions, while being necessary precautions for the sake of public health, also serve to limit public participation in the legislative process. “Having worked in the
legislature for years, I’m adamant that citizens’ voices be adequately heard while legislation is passed that affects them,” Jorgensen said. The focus Oregon State Rep. Brad Witt said the special session will concentrate on a proposal to extended the state’s pandemic-related residential eviction moratorium through June 2021 with additional protections and considerations for both landlords and tenants. “With the new legislation, tenants would have to show they suffered financial hardship due to the pandemic to be able to qualify for the moratorium protections,” Witt stated in his latest newsletter. “Qualifying tenants must pay all rent back by July 1, 2021, to avoid eviction. Protections for non-qualifying tenants end as of Dec. 31, 2020, and all back rent must be paid by March 31, 2021.” Witt said with passage of the extension, no-cause evictions may resume in 2021 if the landlord intends to sell the property to someone who will occupy it, demolish or convert it, undertake major repairs or renovations during which time it would be unsafe to occupy, or move themselves or a family member into the housing. “This bill would also create and fund a new $150 million landlord compensation fund,” Witt said. “Landlords that apply for assistance through the fund would be given money to cover some missed rental payments and would be required to forgive 20% of their tenants’ past-due rent.”
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Gov. Kate Brown has called the Oregon Legislature into a special session to meet at the state capitol building in Salem on Monday, Dec. 21, to address the impacts of the pandemic and recent wildfires.
Governor’s statement Brown said the special session will address Oregonians’ most pressing needs given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which she said have been compounded by Oregon’s horrific wildfires. Brown is asking the legislature to consider both critical policies and $800 million in relief to support Oregonians during a one-day special session on COVID-19 and wildfires. Brown said that Oregonians are making tremendous sacrifices to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “While the risk reduction measures we have put in place are working to slow the spread, many Oregon families are struggling with unemployment, housing, food insecurity, and paying their bills — and those most impacted are the same people who are often left behind, including rural, Black, Indigenous, Latino/Latina/Latinx, Asian,
Pacific Islander, and Tribal communities,” Brown said. The governor said she is continuing to call on Congress to pass another robust coronavirus relief bill to bring support to the American people, but that her calls have not yet been heeded. “It is clear that states must act on their own to provide a bridge until federal help arrives,” Brown said. “This is why I am calling on legislators from both sides of the aisle to come together in the best interests of the state.” Included in Brown’s budget priorities is aid for tenants and landlords, funding for vaccine distribution and contact tracing, wildfire prevention and community preparedness, and support for reopening schools. Be engaged The public will have the opportunity to speak before final decisions are
made on Brown’s proposed $800 million pandemic and wildfire relief. Prior to the Oregon Legislature’s special session Dec. 21, to address urgent issues critical to the COVID-19 pandemic and wildfire relief, the Joint Interim Committee on the Third Special Session of 2020 was scheduled to hear public testimony on the legislative concepts to be considered during the session. The committee was scheduled to meet virtually Thursday evening and again from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The Saturday public hearing is scheduled in order to hear any remaining testimony from the Thursday meeting. The committee will receive public testimony on the following legislative concepts that will be considered during the special session. • LC 10 – Restaurant Relief Package • LC 18 – Eviction Moratorium Extension and
Landlord Compensation Fund • LC 21 – School Liability Protections • LC 28 – Emergency Fund Allocation Registration to speak by phone or video closed closed Dec. 17. Written testimony, which is encouraged, should be submitted by email to J3SS. exhibits@oregonlegislature.gov. Testimony is posted online to the Oregon Legislative Information System (OLIS) as part of the legislative record and made publicly available at this link. The public record will be extended 24 hours after the committee meeting is set to begin. The following members will serve on the committee: • Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem), CoChair • House Speaker Tina Kotek (D-Portland), CoChair • Senate Republican Leader Fred Girod (R-Stayton), Co-Vice Chair • House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby), Co-Vice Chair • Senator Ginny Burdick (D-Portland) • Senator James Manning (D-Eugene) • Senator Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer) • Representative Teresa Alonso Leon (D-Woodburn) • Representative Julie Fahey (D-Eugene) • Representative Duane Stark (R-Grants Pass) The Capitol Building is currently closed to the public and meetings are taking place remotely. Follow this developing story at thechiefnews.com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.
Memorial walk-thru
Photo courtesy of Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office
The four people aboard this burning boat, two children and two adults, swam to safety and were later rescued on the Sauvie Island shoreline.
Boat fire illustrates waterway danger JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
After two children and two adults jump from a burning boat and swim to safety at Sauvie Island, first responders are urging caution on the Columbia River and other regional waterways. Following the boat fire late Tuesday afternoon, Washington County deputies and Portland Fire crews reached the family along the shoreline and administered medical attention. The four were transported to a Portland area hospital to be evaluated for hypothermia. Marine deputies rescued two dogs while Portland Fire worked to extinguish the boat fire. The boat later sank. The cause of the fire and the names of the four had not been released by investigators as of Tuesday The Oregon Marine Boat reports 22 waterway fatalities statewide this year. Columbia River Fire & Rescue Chief Ian O’Conner said most boating incidents
occur during the summer months when people are more active on the water due to better weather, including warmer temperatures. O’Conner, citing the Marine Board figures, said of the 22 statewide fatalities, two occurred in the Columbia River. “Twenty of those were required to have a life jacket readily accessible,” he said. “Of the 20, 15 were not wearing them and two were not properly fitted or buckled,” he said.” Three of the cases are unknown. Eleven of these 22 fatalities were non-motorized boats, such as kayaks. O’Conner said anyone boating along the Columbia River and in area lakes should wear a correctly fitted and properly worn life vest. “Life vests don’t prevent accidents but can make the difference between something catastrophic to something minor,” he said. “Being prepared to go out on the water includes a plan of where you plan to go, for how long and when you’re
expected back.” O’Conner said the Columbia River has objects just under the surface of the water that can’t be seen, such as rocks, logs, and root wads all can be just under the surface or minimally visible creating an unsuspecting hazard for boaters. “Hitting one of these objects can cause significant damage to the boat, throw the occupants of the vessel into the water or throughout the boat causing injury similar to not wearing a seatbelt in a vehicle,” he said. “The Columbia is particularly cold nearly all year. If you unexpectedly end up in the water your body will go into shock from the rapid temperature change making it difficult to move and get yourself out.” O’Conner said it is important for boaters to anticipate the unexpected. “Know the body of water, tides, currents, water depth, channel locations and local weather patterns,” he said. “All of these will have an impact on your day on the water.” Building Bridges to Self Sufficiency
Community Action Team
Property & Casualty Services Your Local Independent Insurance Agency
503-397-0714 Call us for ALL of your insurance needs! Auto • SR-22’s • Home Renters • Business Trucking • Bonds Worker’s Comp
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
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Amber King.
Friends, family and community members who knew Amber King will gather Friday, Dec. 18, for a memorial walk-thru at the Rainier School District track. The 19-year-old died
Dec. 1 from complications from undiagnosed diabetes. In the wake of this loss, there will be a socially distanced, masked event outdoors at the track from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18. There will be a canopy
in front of the stadium to leave photos, flowers or other tokens. Due to restrictions, participation is limited to 150 people at a time. Guests are asked to wait in their cars if there are more than 150 on the track.
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Friday, December 18, 2020
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Columbia River Estuary report STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
Every five years, The Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership examines five broad indicators of health for the lower Columbia River and estuary: water quality, land use, habitat, endangered species, and community connections, such as education and stewardship. This State of the Estuary Report is a look at what has changed from 2015 to today. While some areas like habitat restoration have seen impressive gains, there are many issues facing the river and much work to do to save imperiled species and ensure clean water for future generations, according to the partnership. The Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership is a non-profit, a national estuary program, and a collection of dedicated scientists, educators, and community members who are passionate about the Columbia River. The partnership focuses
on the lower 146 miles of the Columbia River, from Bonneville Dam to the Pacific Ocean, including the tidally influenced portions of tributaries in that area. The watershed includes 28 cities, including St.Helens, nine counties, including Columbia, and 45 school districts within the states of Oregon and Washington. The following information is from the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership Summary The ‘State of the Columbia River Estuary in 2020’ sounds like something fixed. But this report is more about change. The Columbia—like all rivers is constantly in a state of change. Just as many tributaries flow into the Columbia, many changes have converged to create the current state of the estuary since the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership’s last report in 2015. In its report, the part-
nership said the river has seen dramatic changes in the last five years, like the 2017 Eagle Creek fire and an extensive 7,623 acres of floodplains, wetlands, and other habitat restored. “And important but lessvisible changes, like the down-listing of the Columbian white-tailed deer and education programs that teach thousands of local kids about their watershed and how to take care of it,” the report reads. “Or right-now changes, such as the Steigerwald Reconnection Project near Washougal, Wash., which will reconnect the river to 965 acres of historic floodplain habitat for the first time in generations. And the COVID-19 pandemic, profoundly impacting how we respond to the changes around us.” To tell the story of where the Columbia River is at 2020, the partnership’s report invites readers to step in and out of its virtual river’s facts and stories, anchored by five important, easily-accessible sections: land use, education
and volunteers, endangered species, water quality, and habitat. “Some stories are told through maps, graphs, and statistical analyses while others use images and videos to share their narratives,” the report states. “Altogether, they create a picture of the fluid state of the lower Columbia River in 2020.” Water quality The waters of the Columbia River are getting warmer, on average, and that is bad news for salmon, according to the report, which authors said closely explores temperature and dissolved oxygen, both critical for cold water species. The report also explores microplastics, cyanotoxins, and fish advisories, and how these issues affect area communities. Habitat Regional restoration partners accomplished many projects to restore habitat
within the lower Columbia’s tributaries and wetlands. The total of 7,623 acres of habitat restored is an increase over previous periods. The report explores what types of habitat are important to restore, where, and how to ensure those areas are resilient to climate change. Connecting people to the Columbia River The report authors said the partnership is encouraging children and adults to develop a connection to the Columbia vital to ensure they care for the river and make decisions to protect it as an informed generation of watershed and water trail stewards. Land use The report’s analysis of land uses found little significant change from 2010-2015, the most recent period data are available for, with a very small increase in developed land and a modest decrease in wooded habitats like scrub-
shrub. Though this is a slower rate of development over the previous period, land uses have changed profoundly over the past century and the report said there is much the region needs to do to curb the negative impacts of land development. Endangered species Fifty-five species of birds, fish and wildlife that rely on the lower Columbia River are either listed or candidate species under the Endangered Species Act. Many more species are locally threatened but not listed, and there is much not known about endangered plants, invertebrates, and fungi, according to the report, which also explores recent research of the declines of entire families of species, such as bats and pollinators. To read the full report, visit www.estuarypartnership.org/ state-of-estuary-2020?mc_ cid=1a54d8f1a4&mc_ eid=3135739538.
Outgoing councilors honored needed to reflect changes in state law around areas like sick leave and pay equity, according to Rainier City Administrator Scott Jorgensen. Other council action:
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Members of the Old Clatskanie group on Facebook have been trying to figure out where the old train depot, seen above, used to be located. The historical society has the “Clatskanie” sign featured in the photo.
STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
The Rainier City Council has recognized outgoing longtime councilors James Bradfield, Sloan Nelson and Steve Massey for their many years of service to the city and its residents. Ceremonial plaques were made for all three and presented to them during the
Dec. 7 council’s public meeting. The three are leaving the city council because they have moved outside of the city limits. The Rainier Council also voted unanimously to renew its contract with CBR Forestry, LLC for another year and unanimously passed Resolution 20-12-01, which adopts an updated employee handbook. The former handbook was ten years old and
• Voted unanimously to pass Ordinance 1077, which updates the regulations for marijuana facilities in city limits by bringing them more in line with state regulations. • Voted unanimously to accept bids for the replacement of the entrance and interior doors at city hall. The new doors will allow for a touchless system that will enhance safety and security while preserving the building’s historic heritage. That project should be eligible for reimbursement through COVID relief grant funds, as it will help the city comply with public health guidelines, according Jorgensen. For more information, contact the City of Rainier at 503-556-7301.
Oregon sees 4,200 job gains Photo courtesy of Jimmy Person
Group member Jimmy Person shared this photo of his grandfather’s old service station in Clatskanie, taken around 1924.
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Hazen and other community members felt the urgency to record memories and pictures from longtime resident Melvina Barr, whose parents had come to town as Swed-
ish immigrants in the 1890s, Hazen said. Barr was a teacher and made it a hobby of hers to collect historical photos and stories of the Clatskanie area for almost 50 years, Hazen said. Barr was born in 1910 and was a great resource to preserve memories of Clatskanie, so the histori-
cal society formed around recording her stories and photos and compiling them into an hour-long DVD. The DVD includes over 100 historical photos of Clatskanie through the 1880s to 1920 and has Barr narrating them. As a fundraiser, the society sells both the DVD and individual photos . For Hazen, much like Kent, the interest in history is rooted in the awe of how things change over the years. “I’m fascinated by history, by the fact that we walk or live on the same ground that first the Native Americans did, then people who survived the Oregon Trail to come here and work really hard to fight harder than most people in our generation,” Hazen said. The middle/high school has also taken an interest in old stories. The next drama production by the theater department is bringing stories of Clatskanie back to life, and Hazen was asked to help the students find interesting stories from the areas history to be transformed into short, digital plays. For local history buffs, both the historical society and Facebook group are accepting new members.
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
The Oregon Employment Department reports statewide 115,365 people unemployed and 1,996,499 employed in November. STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
Oregon’s unemployment rate dropped to 6% in November from 6.8%, as revised, in October. This put Oregon’s rate below the U.S. unemployment rate which dropped to 6.7% in November from 6.9% in October. “On Nov. 18, Oregon implemented a ‘freeze’ to combat the rise of COVID-19 in the state,” Oregon Employment Department Economist Gail Krumenauer said. “This employment press release covers Oregon’s employment situation just prior to the ongoing freeze, which has affected employers and tens of thousands of workers in recent weeks.” Oregon’s total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 4,200 jobs in November,
following a revised gain of 9,800jobs in October. Oregon employers added jobs in each of the past seven months, and the state has recovered 46% of the jobs cut in March and April. Over the past five months, the rate of job growth slowed. Monthly growth averaged 9,600 jobs in September and October, while more rapid gains averaging 17,000 per month occurred in July and August. Over-the-month job gains in November were largest in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+3,100 jobs); professional and business services (+2,600); manufacturing (+1,700); and health care and social assistance (+1,500). Monthly losses were concentrated in construction (-2,300 jobs); government (-1,800); and retail trade (-1,100). Transportation, warehousing,and utili-
ties added the most jobs in November and was the only major industry to add jobs since November 2019. Online shopping is booming and the industry has hired thousands of workers to keep up with demand in warehouses and for delivery drivers. The industry is up 7,500 jobs, or 10.3%, since November 2019. Leisure and hospitality added 300 jobs in November, following a revised gain of 3,300 in October. However, these gains recovered only a fraction of the 110,500 jobs cut in March and April. The industry—which is includes restaurants, bars, motels, and arts, entertainment, and recreation employers—has been the hardest hit industry due to the pandemic. In November, it employed 161,300 in Oregon, nearly 25% fewer than in November 2019 when it employed 214,900.
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Oregon’s next special session BRAD WITT Chief Guest Column
The Legislature has been called back by Governor Brown for a one-day Special Session Monday December 21. We will work on four bills during the day, designed to set up a landlord assistance program while extending the eviction moratorium, offer coronavirus liability protections for schools, provide support for the restaurant industry and consider the allocation of additional funds to the E-Board for other COVID-19 and wildfire relief and recovery efforts. Eviction moratorium As proposed, the residential eviction moratorium would continue through June 2021 with additional protections and considerations for both landlords and tenants. With the new legislation, tenants would have to show they suffered financial hardship due to the pandemic to be able to qualify for the moratorium protections. Qualifying tenants must pay all rent back by July 1, 2021 to avoid eviction. Protections for non-qualifying tenants end as of December 31, 2020 and all back rent must be paid by March 31, 2021. With passage of this extension, no-cause evictions may resume in 2021 if the landlord intends to sell the property to someone who will occupy it, demolish or convert it, undertake major repairs or renovations during which time it would be unsafe to occupy, or move themselves or a family member into the housing. This bill would also create and fund a new $150 million landlord compensation fund. Landlords that apply for assistance through the fund would be given money to cover some missed rental payments and would be required to forgive 20% of their tenants’ past-due rent. Reopening schools I’ve heard from many constituents about the importance of reopening schools, but that the schools must have some limited liability protections. During the one-day session we will consider legislation to protect school districts, charter schools and community colleges that are following the COVID-19 public health guidelines, from civil damages that might arise due to virus infection of students, staff or visitors. These protections would not apply to reckless, wanton or
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intentional misconduct and are in effect only as long as the State of Emergency is in place. The economy has suffered due to the pandemic-related restrictions, and one of the hardest hit has been the restaurant industry. Lawmakers will be considering legislation that would allow restaurants to sell sealed mixed drinks to-go, along with a take-out food order. If approved, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission will have 30 days to establish rules relating to cocktails to-go. Finally, the Governor is requesting $600 million for the E-Board, $400 million would be earmarked for COVID-19 relief, including vaccine distribution and contact tracing, $100 million for wildfire prevention, and $100 million for the general emergency fund. Preparing For the past two weeks, legislators have been participating in Legislative Days to prepare for the 2021 Legislative Session. Legislative days are a time for holding informational committee meetings, hearing updates on legislation implementation and receiving reports from state agencies and Task Forces. On Tuesday, as Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, I oversaw an informative session focused on wildfires. The 2020 wildfire season was one of the most destructive natural disasters in Oregon state history. Starting on Labor Day we saw dozens of fire starts with dry east winds driving flames quickly across the landscape consuming thousands of homes and structures and burning nearly a million acres in western Oregon. Nine of the state’s 18 massive fires began during that 24-hour period. There are 304 fire departments in the state, and 180 of those responded to the wildfire fighting effort. Forty percent of those on the lines were volunteers, which is a testament to the nature of Oregonians who help each other. There are many strategies that can be employed to help reduce the impacts of wildfire devastation, including public and private partnerships to develop building codes pertaining to construction and design of materials in high hazard areas, comprehensive mapping to determine wildfire risk areas, focus on home construction techniques, passage and enforcement of regulations and development
of a multi-pronged approach to mitigate future devastation. I want to give a shout-out to the Oregon State University School of Forestry and Dean Tom DeLuca, who provided such valuable information on fire resilience, adaptation and recovery, and their on-going research into building a cohesive strategy as we move forward. I want to thank OSU for everything they are doing for the state and the highest quality education they are providing for our future leaders. The Governor’s staff also outlined her priorities at our committee meeting, and those include: funding; identifying response strategies to fires on protected, under-protected and unprotected lands; dealing with smoke from wildfires; assisting communities affected by wildfires, and constructing resilient landscapes for the future. The House Natural Resources Committee will also take up the topics of the Oregon Conservation and Recreation Board and their advisory committees, Oregon’s Anti-Poaching Campaign and discuss Timber Taxation in the coming meeting. Holidays during a pandemic This is a busy time for everyone as we approach Christmas and New Year’s. This year’s celebrations will be different as much of the state and all of HD 31 moves into the Extreme COVID-19 restrictions, and gatherings should be kept to a safe minimum. Please be safe this holiday season, as you enjoy and cherish each other. Even when I am not in Salem, I’m still working with constituents, community leaders and other elected officials on matters that impact our lives. We check our messages daily, so if you have a concern, comment or need help regarding a state issue or agency, please contact my office. I am honored to represent you in the Oregon House of Representatives, and look forward to hearing from you. Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a joyous New Year. Rep. Brad Witt serves House District 31. He may be reached at: • Email: Rep.BradWitt@ oregonlegislature.gov • Telephone: 503-9861431 • 900 Court St NE, H-382, Salem, OR, 97301 • Website: www.oregonlegislature.gov/witt
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Due to the Christmas holiday, The Chief will be printed and distributed on Wednesday, Dec. 23. The deadline for obituaries, classifieds and legals is noon. Monday, Dec. 21.
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•B lotters • •
The police blotter relates to the public record of incidents as reported by law enforcement agencies. All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Information printed is preliminary and subject to change. Rainier Police Dec. 4 • An officer checked on an occupied suspicious vehicle. The
people were waiting for a friend. • An officer was dispatched to a business alarm. The building was found secure. Dec. 7 • Officers responded to a residential burglar alarm. The house was checked and cleared. • A devious doggie took off on an unapproved adventure. He later returned home to his relieved owner. Dec. 8 • A zippered pouch with some money in it was turned in as
found property. The owner was located and the property was returned. • A homeowner accidentally activated their house alarm. • Officers responded to a twovehicle, non-injury accident on Fern Hill Road. One driver was cited for careless driving. Dec. 9 • Several callers reported dogs roaming around the area of Washington Way and the Shell gas station. The cagey canines were able to elude the on-duty officer.
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•Area Churches••
• CLATSKANIE
Clatskanie Baptist Church 415 South Nehalem St. 503-728-2304 Clatskanie Presbyterian Church 215 South Nehalem St. 503-728-2300 Mayger-Downing Community Church 80071 Life Lane 503-728-2305 St. John the Baptist Catholic Church 100 SW High Street 503-556-5641 Great Vow Zen Monastery 79640 Quincy-Mayger Road 503-728-0654 Faith Lutheran Church 1010 5th St. 503-728-4604
RAINIER
Alston’s Corner Assembly of God 25272 Alston Rd. 503-556-1961 Nativity Of The Blessed Virgin Mary 204 C St. 503-556-5641 Rainier Assembly of God 74950 Rock Crest St. 503-556-8211 Rainier Community Church of God 321 W C St. 503-556-5661 Rainier United Methodist Church Corner of 1st & ‘C’ St. 503-556-3440 Riverside Community Church 305 West C St. 503-556-1216 Columbia Bible Church 407 East Second St. 360-501-4060 Heritage Bible Church, Rainier Senior Center, 48 W 7th St.
ST. HELENS
Ascension Evangelical Lutheran Church 1911 Columbia Blvd. 503-312-1072 Calvary Lutheran Church 58251 Division Rd. 503-397-1739 Columbia River Foursquare Church 555 Commons Drive 503-397-0069 Christ Episcopal Church 35350 E. Division Rd., St. Helens 503-397-1033 Columbia Christian Center 235 S 15th St., 503-366-8028 St. Helens Community Bible Church 35031 Millard Rd. www.sthelensbiblechurch.org Christian Church 185 S. 12th St. 503-397-2151 First Lutheran Church 360 Wyeth St. 503-397-0090 First United Methodist Church 560 Columbia Blvd. 503-397-0061 Plymouth Presbyterian Church 2615 Sykes Rd. 503-397-0062 St. Frederic Catholic Church 175 S. 13th St. 503-397-0148 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 2755 Sykes Road St. Helens 1st Ward 971-225-8727 St. Helens 2nd Ward 971-813-4000 Scappoose Ward 503-987-2179
Sunset Park Community Church 174 Sunset Blvd. St. Helens Church of Christ 295 S. 18th St. 503-366-0967
SCAPPOOSE
Grace Lutheran Church 51737 Columbia River Hwy. 503-543-6555 Scappoose Foursquare Church 33404 SW JP West, 503-543-5069 St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church 51555 SW Old Port Rd. 503-543-2110
WARREN
Bethany Lutheran Church 34721 Church Rd. 503-397-2050 Grace Baptist Church 58690 Ross Rd. 503-397-0405 Warren Baptist Church 56799 Columbia River Highway, 503-397-1005 Warren Community Fellowship 56523 Columbia River Highway, 503-397-4387
VERNONIA
Nehalem Valley Bible Church 500 North St., 503-429-5378 Vernonia Christian Church 410 North St. 503-429-6522 St. Mary’s Catholic Church 960 Missouri Ave., 503-429-8841
GOBLE
Cornerstone Baptist Church 70024 Goble Rd. 360-562-6201
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Friday, December 18, 2020
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AAA forecast light Christmas holiday travel STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
Most Americans — about 75% — will stay home for the holidays this year. The American Automobile Association (AAA) projects a drop of at least 29% in holiday travel due to public health concerns and recommendations not to travel because of the coronavirus pandemic. AAA says as many as 84.5 million Americans including nearly 1.1 million Oregonians may still travel from Dec. 23 through Jan. 3. Nationwide, 34 million fewer Americans will travel this holiday season compared to last year. This is the lowest travel volume for the holidays since 2002 and the end of 11 years of growth in holiday travel. “The year-end holidays are normally a time when people take vacations, venturing out on longer trips and traveling greater distances compared to Thanksgiving. That won’t be the case this year,” AAA Oregon/Idaho Public affairs Director Marie Dodds said. “Most are taking a wait-and-see approach to holiday travel. With COVID‑19 cases steadily increasing this month, many will make last minute decisions not to follow through with holiday travel plans, which was the trend during the lead up to Thanksgiving.” The Centers for Disease Control urges Americans not to travel for the holiday because travel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19. Staying home and avoiding social gatherings are the best ways to protect yourselves and others. For those who make the personal decision to travel, it is important to understand the risks involved and take steps to keep yourself and others safe. AAA advises travelers to exercise caution. Find tips and advice below. Travelers can find the latest COVID-19 travel information and tips at AAA.com/ covid and the latest travel restrictions at AAA.com/ covidmap. Just click on the destination you’d like to visit for the latest information. For Thanksgiving, AAA projected a drop of 10% compared to 2019 with 50 million Americans including 742,000 Oregonians heading over the river and through the woods, based on mid-October travel forecast models. While final Thanksgiving travel numbers are not yet available, AAA expects the decline to be closer to 15 to 20%, as the CDC and state and local authorities advised against holiday travel.
Vast majority to travel by car AAA projects 96% of travelers will drive to their holiday destination. This is the highest share ever seen for the holidays and beats the previous high of nearly 93% in 2009. Up to 81 million Americans including nearly one million Oregonians will travel by car, a drop of at least 25% from 2019. Driving is replacing travel that would have been taken by airplane, train or bus because of the flexibility, security and comfort traveling by car provides. “With many travelers waiting until the last minute to decide whether to travel, going by car provides flexibility leading up to the day of departure,” Dodds said. Gas prices significantly lower than last year Lower gas prices are a nice holiday bonus. The national average for regular is about 40 cents a gallon less than last year, and the Oregon average is about 50 cents less. The national average is the cheapest for the holidays since 2015. The Oregon average is at its lowest level for the holidays since 2016. “Normally, cheaper gas prices would spur travel, especially over the holidays. But this year, people are considering COVID-19 as they make their travel decisions,” Dodds said. Peak traffic expected during holiday afternoons Traffic volume is expected to be less than in years past, but travelers in urban areas could still experience increased delays in the few days before and after Christmas. Congestion at bottlenecks could result in delays
up to triple the normal drive times, especially during the afternoon and early evening hours. INRIX expects other areas could see delays about 20% above normal pandemic congestion levels. Large declines expected in air and other modes of travel AAA expects holiday air travel volume will be down 60% compared to 2019 with 2.9 million travelers including 59,000 Oregonians flying to their holiday destinations. This is the first decline in air travel since 2011 and the lowest air travel volume since 2009 during the Great Recession. Share of air travel drops to 3.4% in 2020, compared to 6% last year. Air travelers can expect to pay lower airfares this holiday season, as AAA has seen double-digit reductions in average flight costs. Wear your mask at the airport and on the plane. Maintain social distancing in security lines and when boarding the plane. As a precaution, wipe down your seat, armrest, belt buckle and tray table using disinfecting wipes. The TSA is allowing one liquid hand sanitizer container up to 12 ounces per passenger in carry-on bags until further notice. AAA reminds air travelers that in-flight amenities, including food and beverage services, may not be available. And not all food and beverage services are operating at airports. Consider bringing a refillable water bottle and snacks. This time of year travelers also need to be aware of potential weather delays. Make sure to check flight status regularly before traveling to the airport. Most major airlines have waived change fees during the pandemic. However, this
doesn’t mean you can get a refund if you decide not to fly, or that you won’t have to pay the difference in fare if you change to a more expensive flight. Each airline has its own policies so read the fine print. Travel by other modes, including buses, trains and cruises, is expected to decline 88% to 480,000 travelers including about 4,200 Oregonians. Cruise ships remain docked and more travelers opt for car trips instead of taking buses or trains. What to know before you go For those who make the personal decision to travel for the holiday, it is important to know the risks involved and ways to keep yourself and others safe. In addition to CDC guidance, travelers should also be aware of local and state travel restrictions, including testing requirements and quarantine orders. Travelers can find the latest COVID-19 travel information and tips at AAA.com/ covid and the latest travel restrictions at AAA.com/ covidmap. Just click on the destination you’d like to visit for the latest information. “Traveling during the pandemic requires you to plan ahead before leaving home,” Dodds said. “Make sure to check with state and local authorities along your route to learn about any guidance and restrictions. This is critical to being a responsible traveler and staying as safe as possible. Book any lodging and activities in advance, since many are limiting capacity, and plan where you’ll stop for food, gasoline and EV charging along the way.” AAA has tips for holiday travelers: Heed all official warnings and remain vigilant while traveling. Refer to the latest updates from The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Department of State to help decrease the spread of COVID-19. Check the CDC’s Covid-19 data tracker, municipal and state health departments and local news for updates on coronavirus cases and continue to do so while on the road. Check in advance on travel restrictions and guidance for each destination you plan to visit. Many states, counties, cities and countries still have travel restrictions in place. AAA has developed an interactive TripTik map with COVID-19 travel restrictions. Just click on the destination you’d like to visit for the latest information. AAA.com/Covidmap. Book your lodging, camping and rental car in advance. Many providers are limiting the number of guests and/or allowing more time between guests, so availabilities will likely be reduced. Prior to any stay, ask what precautions hotels, campgrounds and other lodging are taking to protect guests. Ask about social distancing protocols such as capacity reductions in common spaces and hotel staff requirements to wear masks at all times. Ask about any restrictions or changes to the check-in process. Many properties have reduced face-to-face interactions with guests. Check on the cleaning standards. Many hotels, campgrounds, parks and rental car companies offer enhanced cleaning policies. For extra confidence, look for Diamond hotels that display a AAA Inspector’s Best Of Housekeeping badge. Oregon has 181 properties from Albany to Yachats that are honored. Here’s the complete list of Oregon properties. When you check into your room, wipe down commonly touched surfaces with disinfectant. Pay special attention to light switches, door knobs, faucets, refrigerator handles, and remote controls.
Check with any museums, parks, attractions, etc. you want to visit and consider purchasing tickets in advance. Many will have reduced operating hours and limit the number of visitors at a time. Many also require face masks. Bring snacks, beverages and non-perishable foods with you to minimize stops along the way. Grocery stores and restaurants may have limited hours. Check to see if restaurants are open, and if they offer dine-in service, take-out and/or delivery. Pack picnic supplies and look for scenic stops where you can enjoy the outdoors while social distancing. Pack hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting products such as face masks, hand sanitizer, soap, wipes, sprays, paper towels, tissues, toilet paper, thermometer, gloves, etc. as these items may be difficult to purchase while you’re on the road. Pay with a credit card instead of cash and use a wipe or sanitizing spray to disinfect your credit card before putting it away. Take all necessary travel documentation, including health insurance cards. Consider working with a travel professional to help plan your trip. They can help you sort through all of the pandemic-related restrictions, help you get the biggest bang for your vacation dollars, and act as an advocate if plans change unexpectedly. Visit AAA. com/Travel to get started. Get your car road-trip ready. Breakdowns are always a hassle, and you don’t want to be stranded during the coronavirus pandemic. Find a trusted mechanic nearby at AAA.com/repair. If renting a car, ask about cleaning policies. Hertz, for example, has introduced Hertz Gold Standard Clean, an enhanced vehicle disinfectant and sanitization process. For extra peace mind, use disinfecting wipes to wipe down door handles, steering wheels, shifters and control panels. Hertz is also offering deals for road trippers this fall. Book four or more days at any Hertz neighborhood location and get one day free. Visit AAA. com/Hertz for more details. Get to the airport at least two hours before your flight. Getting through security may take longer now that some locations are checking passengers’ temperatures. Always maintain social distancing in security check lines and when boarding the plane. Consider bringing a refillable water bottle and snacks since airports and flights may have reduced meal and beverage service.
Partnership to address youth homelessness STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
Metro Creative Connection / The Chief
The state is offering to eliminate penalties and interests on 2019 income tax due from Oregon businesses struggling through the pandemic.
State offers business tax relief STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
Gov. Kate Brown has announced new measures the Oregon Department of Revenue will take to provide tax relief to Oregon small businesses suffering from the economic impacts of COVID-19. The measures will eliminate penalties and interests on 2019 income tax due from Oregon businesses that are struggling to pay tax bills amid COVID-19 restrictions, according to Brown. “I have heard from business owners across the state about the struggle to keep their doors open during these difficult times,” Brown said. “Small business owners who play by the rules shouldn’t face penalties and fees because COVID-19 has robbed them of their livelihood. In March, the Department of Revenue implemented measures to help all taxpayers navigate COVID-19. Today we are announcing an expansion of that relief to
help business owners who are struggling.” The additional tax relief provisions apply to Personal Income, Corporate Excise, and Corporate Income taxes: • 100% penalty waivers on 2019 income tax due from businesses that are impacted by COVID-19. • 100% interest waivers on 2019 income tax due from small businesses that are impacted by COVID-19 and that have less than $5 million in gross receipts. • Continuing to provide extended payment plans of up to 36 months for any taxpayer impacted by COVID-19 when entering into an approved payment plan. In addition to these measures, Brown has directed the Oregon Department of Revenue to extend the due date of the amusement device tax (lottery machines) for the second quarter of tax year 2020 from Jan. 14, 2021, to April 14, 2021. Brown said the effort will provide additional relief for Oregon restaurants and bars experiencing economic hardship.
Oregon will benefit from the growing statewide momentum to address youth homelessness in a new partnership with the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH). This effort will result in a statewide approach to addressing and ending homelessness for youth. As part of this agreement, CSH will conduct a regional needs assessment of the housing continuum and service needs for youth experiencing homelessness. The assessment will include: • Determining existing interventions, • Understanding how well these current interventions work, and • Identifying gaps through a regional modeling system. Assessment results will be used to create a roadmap for building the optimal support system for young adults experiencing homelessness in Oregon. Recommendations will include financial modeling for additional housing and services interventions across the housing continuum. “Oregon ranks fourth highest in the nation in our count of homeless youth,” Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Runaway and Homeless Youth Program Coordinator Matt Rasmussen said. “Thousands of youth and young adults are living without a home
or the support of a parent or guardian.” On the new partnership with CSH, Rasmussen said, “It is one thing to have some basic statistics about youth experiencing homelessness, but entirely another to understand the pathways that lead young people out of homelessness and what housing and services are needed in order for Oregon’s youth and young adults to thrive.” Kickoff for the statewide assessment and Oregon state youth system modeling began Oct. 8. Local planning sessions will begin in January and will be scheduled around the state in the months to come. “CSH is thrilled to partner with ODHS and all Oregon communities to seize the momentum that was evident by the bi-partisan support of HB4039 during the last legislative session,” CSH Associate Director Annie Bacci said. CSH and ODHS are eager to hear from all interested parties in these planning sessions. There is a strong desire to actively engage youth, tribal representatives, and members of often underrepresented populations such as LGBTQ and BIPOC residents. To learn more about this assessment, or get involved, visit ODHS’ homeless youth webpage. To learn more about housing and services, or youth experiencing homelessness, visit www.csh.org.
Metro Creative Connection / The Chief
A new stated partnership to address youth homelessness has been launched in Oregon.
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Friday, December 18, 2020
www.thechiefnews.com
Local school’s Student Honor Rolls The following list of Rainier Middle and High School Honor Roll students has been submitted by Rainier Jr./ Sr. High School Principal Graden Blue. The Clatskanie Middle/High School Honor Rolls will be released in January. Rainier Middle School honorable mention Seventh grade Elliott-Bach, Joseph S. Geringer, Alison N. Hill, Rylee B. Hunt, Parker J. Lankard-Poorman, Juliana M. LaRue, Savanah Luttrell, Shelby L. Martinez-Turner, Lucia Philpott, Cerena J. Sommers, Jawnee R. Eighth grade Becerra-Rivera, Angel Boyd, Brandon W. Cole, Breanna L. Godsey, Bryce M. Kauffman, Robert Morton, Violet M.
FUNDS From Page A1
previously applied for an Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) grant to fund the Bel Air paving, but didn’t get the funding. “Each year ODOT awards cities allotment
Rainier Middle School honor roll Seventh grade Abel, Teela K. Altenhein, Kylie R. Bighaus, Isaac A. Cox, Ethan A. Crocker, Cayla M. Fortelney, Griffin M. Hudson, Nicole A. Jackson, Quentin J. Johns, Taylor E. Key, Lily E. Langley, Merritt Y. Loosli, Greenlee P. McCann, Makayla M. Monk, Samuel A. Mortlock, David A. Pina, Trayten Pruyne, Heather R. Scott, Presley K. Wallace, Caden M. Watkins, James H. Weisenfluh, Mariah N. Zasta, Zeda B. Eighth grade Biddix, Cordelia J. Cadwell, Alana R. Collum, Brooke L. Cook, Miley D. Dobbels, Madisyn E. Elliott, Tyler A. Heath, Shylee G. Heil, Lillyan L.
grants for a variety of public works projects,” he said. “The maximum we could get would be $100,000. So, we are reapplying for the ODOT grant.” Hinkelman said the remaining $75,000 would be funded through the city’s street and timber funds. If the city qualifies for the ODOT grant, Hinkelman said the paving project could be done in a few
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Hird, Anabel L. Jefferson, Elowyn E. Langhorne, LillyAnna M. Mattinen, Keaton C. Nagunst, Saige W. Richey, Riley N. Tygret, Carmalene R. Whynot, Jonathan R. Jr Rainier High School honorable mentions Ninth grade Rankin, Kamille I. Wilson, Jacethen P. Fortner, Kurston A. Gonzalez, Marla R. Nash, Andrew R. Sarr, Sarah W. Sylvester, Cameron P. Tenth grade Buck, Michaela R. Nez Begay, Nizhoni K. Farner, Chevy L. Finnell, Evan J. Hackenberg, Henry R. Hisey, EmmaJane L. Lewis-Boyd, Logan W. Richardson, Grace I. Eleventh grade Elbert, Evin S. Fortelney, Gavin R. Monk, Anna F.
years, but no specific timeline has been set. City Audit The Clatskanie City Council is expected to receive its annual audit during the council’s first regularly scheduled public meeting on Jan. 6. “It is a clean audit,” Hinkelman said. “The city is in good financial shape despite
Painter, Heritage R. Beardsley, Adam K.
Stout, Kadence N. Widme, Wade L.
Twelfth grade
Tenth grade
Lentini, Dominic W. Marcum, Brayden J. Garretson, Leo S. Rankin, Cierra N. Parmley, Elijah R. Rankin, Aurora E. Souther, Kyle
Becerril, Julia E. Cornelius, Elektra S. Crape, Kendall E. Curtis, Kelani Ellis, Joshua N. Figueredo, Charles T. III Gray, Ryli M. Hendricks, Hunter S. Hetrick, Heleana A. Jacob, Jordan R. King, Kyel J. Lindahl, Stella M. Loosli, Cachet M. Lowery, Chloe M. Placido, Kathryn E. Resler, Wade D. Stout, Austin J. Tygret, Samuel A. Von Ins, Seanna J.
Rainier High School honor roll Ninth grade Barnes, Julia B. Biddix, Colby H. Cassidy, Dylan Castrejon-Sommers, Tomee Leann Crawford, Garrett R. Dobbels, Aidia E. Fortelney, Delaney K. Gutenberger, Hunter B. Heath, Ava S. Hunt, Griffin J. Isbell, Norman Katon, Derek L. Keplinger, Bergen D. Lagers, Peyton J. Makinson, Lacey Mooty, Ella M. Parsons, Alivia J. Poorman, Samuel A. Schaffner, Hailie M.
Abundiz, Jessica Eugenia R. Boursaw, Micah J. Breitenbach, Trinten J. Budge, Kalli A. Crawford, Angelina M. Crawford, Chloe M. Curtis, Maleah J. DuPlessis, Jeremiah A. Etten, isabelle R. Fox, Otto G.
COVID-19.” Each year, cities in Oregon are required to have the financial audit conducted with results set to the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office. Clatskanie contracted with the Salem-based Grove Mueller Swank authoring firm, paying $16,000 for the financial review. The Clatskanie audit was conducted in the fall. The auditing firm had questions
for Hinkelman, the city council and for the city’s financial director and the auditors looked at all the city’s financial records. “They found no significant issues,” he said. “It shows that we have good fiscal management of the city, that we have proper financial controls in place so we know what we are spending our money on and it is all accounted for.”
Eleventh grade
Guerr, Ashton M. Kamppi, Jenna K. Kneeland, Peyton K. Kneeland, Savanah R. Knox, Jamie K. Melvin, Emmalee R. Murphy, Hayden E. Ojeda Ronan, Arianna A. Soresen, Aubrey A. Tipton, Gabriel A. Tripp, Kenney D. Tygret, Lillian F. Vaughn, Cameron L. Victory, Michael A. Weisenfluh, Sidney J. Twelfth grade
Becerril, Christian D. Boursaw, Lucas J. Buck, Chloe M. Campbell, Becca M. Carter, Cade M. Cook, Aaron T. Cook, Kyla M. Crape, Alexis B. Fosse, Zachary R. Hackenberg, Katelyn L. Johannsen, Akiah E. Lankard-Pelley, Lillian M. O’Brien, Brianna F. Ontiveros, Lucille M. Schimmel, Reese R. Sorensen, Jacob B. Thompson, Juan M. Tompkins, Brennan F. Swearing in During the Jan. 6 city meeting, councilors Bruce Holsey, Gary Jones and Bruce Jolm will take the Oath of Office during a swearing in ceremony. The three ran unopposed in the November general election for four-year terms. Clatskanie Mayor Bob Brajcich will also be sworn in for his second two-year term.
www.thechiefnews.com
Friday, December 18, 2020
CMHS responds to COVID case on campus
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
A student at Clatskanie Middle/High School has tested positive for COVID-19. STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
School leadership at Clatskanie Middle/High School acted swiftly this week when they were notified by local public health authorities that a student who had been in the building last week had tested positive for COVID-19. According to Clatskanie School District Superintendent Cathy Hurowitz, the student had no symptoms and had been in the building interacting with a couple staff members on Tuesday, Dec. 8. The infected student did not have contact with any other students while they were in the building, Hurowitz said. Principal Kim Oblack and the school nurse were notified about the positive test result on Sunday and contacted staff who had been in close contact with the student. The impacted staff were instructed to work from home and quarantine for 14
days, following Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. None of the staff that were exposed have tested positive for COVID-19 at this time, Oblack said. As a precaution, limited in-person instruction student cohorts that bring students into the buildings were suspended. Students and staff in the building wear masks at all times and plexiglass desk shields are installed as well for additional protection, Hurowitz said. The school provided the local public health department with its building logs to aid with contact tracing and deep cleaned and sanitized the rooms the student was in, Hurowitz said. “Our up-to-date, daily contact logs made contact tracing efficient,” Oblack said in an email. Follow daily pandemic updates at the thechiefnews. com with in-depth reports in the Friday print edition of The Chief.
VACCINES From Page A1
Who gets the vaccine The state’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan is organized into different phases based on need. The first to receive vaccines are people in Phase 1-A: health care workers and residents and staff of longterm care facilities. Hospital staff are included in Phase 1-A and include all employees, both clinical and nonclinical. It is recommended that hospitals prioritize staff who are critical to maintaining capacity to serve the highest number of patients and those with the most potential for direct exposure to COVID-19. It is also recommended that hospitals stagger access among staff to avoid staffing shortages in face of potential postvaccination side effects. Phase 1-B includes other essential workers and people at a higher risk of COVID-19 illness, including people 65 and older. Phase 2 and 3 will focus on the remaining portions from Phase 1, critical populations and then open to the general population, possibly by late spring. Officials from the OHA expect that supply may be constrained during the initial distribution of Phase 1-A before additional doses arrive. The state vaccination plan is in tandem with the federal effort that partnered with pharmacy companies CVS, Walgreens and Consonus Healthcare to offer onsite, no-cost COVID-19 vaccines to long-term care facilities in Oregon. That program begins Dec. 21 with 22,425 doses going to skilled nursing facilities and 80,000 doses to assisted living facilities. COVID-19 and ‘extreme risk’ status Columbia County remains at an “extreme risk” of spreading COVID-19,
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along with 28 other counties in Oregon. The state reevaluated each county’s risk status Tuesday and classified six counties as lower risk, one county as moderate risk and no counties as high risk. The risk categories are part of the state’s framework to control the spread of COVID-19 and each category has associated restrictions. A county’s risk level is assessed based on its case rate and test positivity rate over a two-week period. Counties at an extreme risk are restricted from indoor dining, indoor recreation and entertainment, and must cap social gatherings at six people from two households total. When the state unveiled the new framework two weeks ago, 25 counties were classified at an extreme risk. Now, that number has risen to include the entire coast of Oregon. “We continue to see community spread across Oregon to the point that the majority of the state needs to continue with strict health and safety measures,” Brown said in a release Tuesday. “Until we reduce the spread and have high participation in vaccination, all Oregonians need to follow the guidelines in place in their counties.” To be classified down to high risk, a county must report between 100-200 new cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 people in a two-week period and have a test positivity rate between 8-10%. For reference, in the two-week period from Nov. 29 to Dec. 12, there were 159 new cases in Columbia County (which works out to 301.4 cases per 100,000 people) and a test positivity rate of 6%. The next assignment of risk levels will be on Jan. 1. The county’s total number of COVID-19 cases was at 696 as of Wednesday and the death toll was up to eight, with one new death reported Wednesday.
The county’s eighth death was a 52-year-old man who tested positive on Dec. 11 and died on Dec. 12 at St. John Medical Center in Longview, Wash. The presence of underlying conditions is still being confirmed by medical professionals. The county is averaging between 10-15 new cases a day, county Public Health Director Michael Paul said in a commissioner meeting Wednesday. “That’s where we’re at, which is much, much higher than we had most of the year,” he said. There have been 176 new cases in Columbia County in December. November ended with 520 cases and as of Wednesday there were 696. “We still have workplace outbreaks and longterm care facility outbreaks, but gatherings and holidays have certainly driven numbers,” Paul said. “The increases we see after holidays are concerning for what could happen with the coming holidays.” There have been three COVID-19 outbreaks at longterm care facilities in Columbia County, according to a report from the OHA. There have been 13 cases at Columbia Care Center in Scappoose, and the outbreak was reported Nov. 10. The number of cases includes any cases from staff as well as residents, Paul said. On Nov. 18, another outbreak was reported at Brookdale Rose Valley Scappoose with 29 total cases and two deaths. The most recent outbreak was at Meadow Park Health and Specialty Care in St. Helens. It was reported on Dec. 1 with five cases. Long lasting effects In her plea to residents, particularly those under 40, to continue to follow safety measures, Brown said there is no way to know what effect COVID-19 may
have on someone until it is contracted, and that youth doesn’t guarantee health. Darrah Isaacson, a 40-year-old Portland resident, contracted the virus on her birthday in early March. In the nine and a half months that have followed, she said her symptoms have only worsened. “I’m a COVID long hauler,” Isaacson said. “There’s thousands of us across the country. Many of those long haulers, like myself, were very active and healthy with no underlying health conditions.” Instead of hiking, biking, canoeing or participating in the active outdoor events like she usually likes to do, Isaacson said she can barely walk around the block now. “Some people think that this is just like the flu. I can tell you from personal and horrible experience that that way of thinking is extremely dangerous,” Isaacson said. “This is an unpredictable and terrifying disease. It’s been almost 10 months since I contracted it. I’m still alive, but my life has been turned upside down.” On her worst days, Isaacson said her muscle tremors and weakness prevent her from holding a computer mouse and she cannot stand up long enough to shower. She said the hardest part has been the effect it has had on her family and her 5-yearold daughter, who doesn’t understand why her mother can no longer play with her. “I know it’s exhausting to be vigilant about mask wearing and keeping your distance, but I can tell you the alternative is way more exhausting,” she said. “This is not the time for blame or arguments, this is the time for sacrifice so we can come together and keep this virus from harming any more families like mine.” Follow daily pandemic reports at thechiefnews.com with in-depth coverage in the Friday print editions of The Chief.
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Friday, December 18, 2020
NEW APPLY TODAY COVID EMERGENCY
SMALL BUSINESS
GRANTS New money from Columbia County
Brought to you by: Columbia County & CCET
Apply here today: smallbizhub.columbiacountyoregon.com “Emergency small business grants”
Act Now! Deadline December 19 • CARES Act (PPP & EIDL) recipients ARE ELIGIBLE • Previous grant recipients ARE ELIGIBLE • Apply at: smallbizhub.columbiacountyoregon.com Columbia County’s trusted local news source