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DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE

2024 Clatskanie PUD calendar inside!

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Only available in inserted mailed copies to Rainier and Clatskanie.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2023

VOL. 132, NO. 34 Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891

The Chief and The Chronicle to become one weekly newspaper FRANK PEREA II Publisher The Columbia County Chronicle & Chief

Two of Columbia County’s storied community newspapers are joining together to provide one countywide weekly publication.

Beginning next week, The St. Helens Chronicle and The Clatskanie Chief will publish as one newspaper each Wednesday.

This is a strategy that Oregon-based Country Media considers a sustainable path forward for your hometown newspaper.

The Chronicle and The Chief have a rich tradition of covering St. Helens, Clatskanie and other cities across Columbia County. For over 100 years, they have been reporting and documenting the local news. This upcoming change will help The Chronicle and The Chief

continue to inform and educate about community events, county government, economics, schools, sports and regional issues every week.

I believe the Columbia County Chronicle & Chief must be an involved and active community business. We do this by participating with local area organizations and nonprofits, serving on boards and committees, and providing sponsorships. Understanding and capturing the diverse interests within Columbia County and advocating for good government are things we do not take lightly.

My philosophy is that a hometown newspaper should promote its community while informing and educating its readers on locally relevant issues. Our county’s businesses need your support.

We’re one of those local businesses, and we hope you’ll continue to support your hometown Columbia County Chronicle & Chief.

We appreciate your readership!

Year in Review 2023 2023 has had its highs and lows; through it all, The Chief has remained steadfast in our mission to deliver meaningful stories in the community and throughout Columbia County. ecial Report Sp

2023

This Year In Review special presentation is filled with stories that featured on the front page and garnered reader interest online. After careful review, the stories selected by The Chief

staff for this edition reflect just some of the stories that shaped the year 2023 for Clatskanie and Columbia County.

While the news landscape may be shifting in the coming

year, Country Media is committed to following impactful local stories and we are dedicated to bringing you the best news coverage we can.

The Chief will continue to

diligently report the important issues of the community while shining a spotlight on the people and organizations that are devoted to making positive impacts within Columbia County.

Year in Review

T h e C hief

CMHS Grad now Multnomah County Sheriff WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc. Originally published in The Chief Vol. 132, Jan. 27, 2023

“I am excited to take on this role and honored to be the first woman elected as Sheriff in Multnomah County. Over my career, I have been a trailblazer because I’ve had to be,” Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell told The Chief.

On Wednesday, Jan. 4, Morrisey O’Donnell was sworn in as the 41st Sheriff of Multnomah County.

It is the first time in the 168-year history of the agency that a woman has been elected to the position.

Multnomah County is the most populous in Oregon and includes Portland, Vancouver, and Hillsboro.

“I hope that by seeing a woman hold the highest rank in law enforcement in the county, a position that is so often held by a man, that I can empower other girls and women to dream big,” Morrisey O’Donnell said.

Year in Review .... A1-3, A5-7 News and Views .............. A4 Obituaries ......................... A4 Community Events ......... A4 Classified Ads ................. A5 Legals ............................... A5 Don’t Drink and Drive...... A8

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

As sheriff, Morrisey O’Donnell assumes the position with goals she wants to accomplish. Some of the significant things she wants to address are:

• Reducing gun violence through proven strategies for prevention, intervention, and collaboration with system partners and community stakeholders.

• Improving safety on our streets by increasing education and enforcement of dangerous driving behavior.

• Investing in alternative service models and supports by partnering with service providers, such as mental health and addiction specialists who are focused on outreach efforts, housing, education, job skills, and treatment opportunities.

• Focusing on recruiting and retention strategies to promote longterm agency growth and the health and well-being of our employees.

Finding her path While Morrisey O’Donnell has achieved great things in law enforcement, it wasn’t always a career she envisioned for herself.

“My commitment to community safety started at a young age, when my father survived a shooting during an armed robbery at his business in Westport. I experienced firsthand the impacts gun violence can have in our lives and in our community,” Morrisey O’Donnell said. “However, when I went off to college at the University of Portland (UP), I did not think my future was in law enforcement.”

Growing up in Clatskanie, Morrisey O’Donnell attended Clatskanie Middle/High School and was passionate about music.

“I started college as a music major. I grew up playing the saxophone,” Morrisey O’Donnell said. “When I was at Clatskanie High School, I had a wonderful band teacher named Dee Wooley who encouraged me to follow this passion.”

“She was a great sax player,” Wooley recalled.

However, different interests

Sheriff Morrisey O’Donnell being sworn in Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023.

arose as she went through her education at UP. After going on a ridealong with one of her friends from Clatskanie in the Portland Police Bureau, Morrisey O’Donnell has a newfound passion.

I hope that by seeing a woman hold the highest rank in law enforcement in the county, a position that is so often held by a man, that I can empower other girls and women to dream big. ~ Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell, Multnomah County Sheriff

“At that time, a whole new possibility for my future opened up,” Morrisey O’Donnell said.

“I switched to studying criminal justice and began my journey in public safety.”

Supportive foundation Sheriff Morrisey O’Donnell has served the sheriff’s office for 26 years. In 1996, she began as a corrections deputy. After serving as deputy, lieutenant, captain, chief deputy, and undersheriff before being elected sheriff with 62% of the vote.

At Clatskanie High School, Morrisey O’Donnell remembers being empowered to dream big.

“Starting from a young age, I was told by many educators, like my PE teacher Kathi Jackson, that I could do anything I set my mind to,” Morrisey O’Donnell said.

According to Kirk Blecha, a former math and science teacher at Clatskanie High School during Morrisey O’Donnell’s time, she was always a great athlete and a good student.

“Am I surprised that she is in law enforcement? Absolutely not,” Blecha said. “She always seemed to be a caring goal orientated young lady.

And being a good athlete, she would fit into an occupation where being

Courtesy photo

athletically fit is a necessity.”

Coming from a small town, Morrisey O’Donnell had plenty of obstacles to navigate en route to her current position. Still, for those who may have dreams of serving their community, she gave an encouraging message.

“As students and other young people think about their future careers, I would tell them to be open to all possibilities. I left my small town believing I would be in the music industry, and completely changed directions,” Morrisey O’Donnell said. “Because I had a passion for serving my community, law enforcement ended up being a really good fit. I know that right now it may be a challenging time to enter this profession, but at the heart of everything we do is a willingness and dedication to serve.”

Who We Are is a frequent presentation by The Chief highlighting community members who are making a positive difference in the lives of others.

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Year in Review

2023 T h e C hief

State Supreme Court issues Measure 114 ruling JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc. Originally published in The Chief Vol. 132, Feb. 10, 2023 edition

The Oregon Supreme Court has ruled against allowing Measure 114 to take effect.

The measure would require a permit to purchase a firearm and a background check. The measure triggered a firestorm from gun shop owners and others that it was unconstitutional.

The court ruled against a petition filed by the Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum in January.

The measure was narrowly approved by voters in November but has been on hold due to continuing court challenges.

Read the court decision in the information below provided by the Oregon Supreme Court.

Cases decided February 9, 2023.

Joseph Arnold, et al. v. Tina Kotek et al., (CC 22CV41008) (SC S069998) On petition for a writ of mandamus filed January 13, 2023; considered and under

advisement on January 31, 2023. The petition for a writ of mandamus is denied without prejudice. The motion for stay is dismissed as moot without prejudice. Opinion of the Court Per Curiam.

Today, the Oregon Supreme Court denied a petition for writ of mandamus filed by the state, which had asked the Court to vacate two preliminary orders entered in a pending trial court action challenging Ballot Measure 114 (2022), enacted by the voters at the November 2022 General Election.

Measure 114 made several statutory changes pertaining to firearms, including requiring a permit to purchase a firearm (“permitto-purchase requirement”); requiring completion of a criminal background check before a firearm may be purchased, acquired, delivered, or transferred (“backgroundcheck requirement”); and imposing restrictions regarding “large-capacity” magazines (“large-capacity magazine restrictions”), generally defined as fixed or detachable ammunition feeding devices with a capacity of more than 10 rounds of

ammunition. Shortly after the election, plaintiffs filed in the Harney County Circuit Court a declaratory judgment action against three state defendants (“the state”), asserting that Measure 114 was unconstitutional under Article I, section 27, of the Oregon Constitution. Plaintiffs also sought preliminary relief, which the trial court granted in two orders: (1) a temporary restraining order as to the permit-to- purchase and background-check requirements, restraining their enforcement until state notification that the permitto-purchase requirement is ready to implement and further preliminary hearing; and (2) a preliminary injunction as to the large-capacity magazine restrictions, enjoining their enforcement until a full hearing is held on plaintiffs’ complaint.

The state filed a petition in the Supreme Court, seeking a writ of mandamus directing the trial court to vacate those two temporary and preliminary orders.

In a unanimous, per curiam opinion, the Court denied the state’s petition, but without prejudice as

The couple is also concerned with supply chain issues, but no major hurdles so far in that area, they said.

Both Joyce and Jason think that word of mouth will be the biggest factor in helping the business grow.

“And we are optimistic the store will bridge that gap between retail and wholesale, which will also be available,” Joyce said.

Shipping will also be available, and Joyce intends to quickly honor all orders.

Wholesale cookies, such as those that feature a company’s logo, promise to be a hit.

Joyce’s cooking rack has five shelves which on a busy day will be full. Joyce has been baking the cookies in a regular oven at her home, but now she now has a certified bakery oven, which she said will be very advantageous.

“We will go from seven quarts to 30 quarts of batter,” she said. “I will be able to easily make eight times as many cookies at a time.”

Joyce uses a printer regularly when baking cookies.

She can do cookies with a company logo, any cryptid figure, Christmas items; just about anything that can be

printed. The printer she uses is an Eddie, or an edible ink printer. The Eddie can print one cookie in 19 seconds or 12 in two minutes, according to their website.

It prints logos, photos and images directly on the cookie. The Eddie prints full color photographs and text directly onto the surface of the cookie.

Clatskanie City Manager Greg Hinkleman said he’s always thrilled when a new business comes to Clatskanie, and Cryptid Cookies is no exception.

“I am thrilled,” said Hinkleman. “It is always great when a new business opens here. I am looking forward to sampling their cookies!”

The couple will hold a soft opening for the business in mid-March. Joyce and her family are the only employees, but they say the number will grow along with the business.

The shop’s colorful cookie bags are printed with phrases such as “Treat Yo Self,” “We’re So Extra” and “Keep Calm and Eat a Cookie,” printed on their colorful cookie grab bag, residents here are in for a lot of good cookies!

Jeremy C. Ruark / Country Media, Inc.

Gun sales across the state sharply increased following passage of Ballot Measure 114.

to any future petition for writ filed by any party. The Court explained that, at this juncture in the proceedings, and given its understanding that the trial court was proceeding as expeditiously as possible to resolve the issues, it declined at this time to exercise its discretion to grant the extraordinary remedy of mandamus.

The Court recognized that the legal status of Measure 114 is of significant concern

to many Oregonians and that the judicial branch’s role is to resolve disputes such as challenges to laws enacted by the legislative branch, including the people exercising their initiative power.

But, the Court continued, it had determined that “now [was] not an appropriate time to exercise [its] authority in mandamus in connection with the trial court’s temporary and preliminary rulings.”

The Court’s decision had no bearing on the parties’ respective positions as to the underlying proceeding, including the merits of plaintiffs’ complaint, and it did not bar any future challenge arising from the underlying action.

The Court relatedly dismissed as moot a motion to stay the trial court proceedings that the state had filed with its petition for mandamus relief.

New cookie shop open in Clatskanie LAUREY WHITE Chief Guest Article Originally published in The Chief Vol. 132, Feb. 24, 2023 edition

Clatskanie will soon be welcoming a new bakery, Cryptid Cookies.

The shop is owned and operated by Jason and Joyce Palm, high-school sweethearts who have four daughters.

The store is located in the small business plaza off Bel Air Drive at 225 East Columbia River Highway.

The name cryptid refers to those animals who may exist but are not recognized by scientists. Examples of cryptids include Bigfoot, Yeti and the Loch Ness monster.

Joyce began baking in earnest in 2019, when the word spread that she was great at baking. She has always been a baker, but now she specializes in her mouthwatering cookies.

Higher costs have caused some difficulties for the startup, according to Joyce.

“Rising inflation has made things tricky,” she said.

“For example, eggs and powdered sugar have doubled.”

These are examples of the Cryptid Cookies.

Courtesy from Cryptid Cookies Facebook

Joyce says her four daughters keep asking their mom and dad when the opening will be. She laughed and said,

“They are more excited than we are.”

Once the shop is open in March, Cryptid Cookies hours will be 5 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Monday to Friday.

by reaching out to vendors, companies, and governments to ensure a safe and fun summer kickoff,” Young said. “Donations fund the event, and planning committee members oftentimes donate their own money to cross the Heritage Days finish line.”

Young said that to incentivize students and pay artists for their hard work, they present a professional art kit and a $150 cash prize to the winner.

Because they are such a small committee that is learning on the fly, they have only been able to coordinate the contest with the public school district and spread the word through social media, according to Young. They hope to increase participation in the coming years.

The Heritage Days include a series of events, starting with a car show and other activities on June 25.

The next weekend includes more activities, starting with a dog parade on Friday, July 1. Throughout the weekend, there are more activities for the community. The Heritage Days celebration culminates with a parade, fireworks, and more than a dozen activities in the town.

They have had an average of 30 submissions

between the two years, and both years’ winners have been in middle school, according to Young. Students living in Clatskanie’s public district may submit artwork, regardless of where they

this year,” Young said. “We had a Veterans Memorial illustration and a drawing of Nehalem Street’s Highway 30 intersection. These were very thoughtful and beautifully done.”

The winner of the contest was announced at the Clatskanie Chamber of Commerce Mixer April 6.

The event was attended by local business owners, local government officials, members of the community, and the theme design winner’s family and friends.

You can reach the couple at cryptidcookiesbyjoyce@ gmail.com.

Clatskanie Heritage Days 2023 theme

Courtesy from Nikole Young

Kaydence DeCaro receives her award from the Clatskanie Chamber of Commerce for the winning Heritage Days theme logo.

JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc. Originally published in The Chief Vol. 132, April 14, 2023 edition

The Clatskanie Chamber of Commerce has announced Kaydence DeCaro as the winner of the 2023 Heritage Days theme design contest.

The theme will be: The Best Show In Town, according to Chamber Board Director Nikole Young. This theme was picked to “celebrate Heritage Days’ popular and enduring history.”

The Heritage Days planning

committee also selected the theme to complement DeCaro’s artwork.

“We have a cultural center in Clatskanie we refer to as the Birkenfeld Theater. It has I.O.O.F Hall letters and is also the location of our City Hall. The Birkenfeld Theater is a community hub we’re lucky to have in Clatskanie,” Young said.

“Kaydence’s artwork incorporates this building along Nehalem Street with elements of our annual Heritage Days parade heading north toward Highway 30, which is the direction our parade takes every year to

kick off July 4. The celebratory nature of Kaydence’s submission, as well as her talent, are the reasons we chose her artwork.”

The Heritage Days planning committee, which the Clatskanie Chamber of Commerce oversees, began the design contest last year as part of a new tradition to engage local teen artists between the ages of 13 and 19 with the Heritage Days celebration.

“The planning committee is a small group of dedicated volunteers who do their best to give back, coordinating all the festivities

North Columbia County’s trusted local news source

History of the Heritage Days celebration

Courtesy photo from Nikole Young

The winning design depicts the Heritage Days Parade which takes place every July 4th.

attend school. There were many designs considered for the winner.

“There were several contenders. Last year’s winner set the precedent of focusing on community landmarks by submitting a lovely design of our own Clatskanie Castle, also known as the Thomas J. Flippin House. That 2022 design inspired a lot of great ideas by student artists for

The Heritage Days celebration originated in 1959 in an effort to raise funds for the Clatskanie pool, according to Young.

“There had been multiple drownings, including drownings of children, in the Columbia River, so bringing a pool into town was a top priority for all citizens. The result was barbeque and baseball fundraiser,” Young said.

Originally named the Clatskanie Scramble, the celebrations have evolved into a multi-day celebration over the years, and it now includes games, races, fireworks, logging demonstrations, and more.

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Year in Review

T h e C hief

Oregon’s proposed sport fishing regulations allowing the harvest of hatchery spring Chinook in the Hood River and Snake River below Hells Canyon Dam. Be engaged Anglers and others interested can review potential changes and send comments or feedback in one of three ways:

Metro Creative Connection

The proposed changes include new angling opportunities, housekeeping corrections, changes to simplify regulations, or changes to serve a conservation need.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) will be proposing several changes for next year’s Sport Fishing Regulations at the Aug. 4 Commission meeting in Salem.

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The majority of the

proposed changes are categorized as new angling opportunities, housekeeping corrections, changes to simplify regulations, or changes to serve a conservation need.

The planned removal of four dams on the Klamath River in 2024 will allow anadromous fish to migrate into the upper Klamath

Basin, requiring some regulation changes for the Klamath River to conserve salmon and steelhead.

Other proposals include: Increasing bag limits for kokanee in multiple Cascade lakes, making permanent thermal sanctuaries in the Umpqua River, and making permanent regulations

• Send an email to the Commission at odfw.commission@odfw.oregon.gov • Send an email to odfw. sportfishingregulations@ odfw.oregon.gov • Sign up to testify in person or remotely at the Aug. 4 Commission meeting. To testify remotely, you must sign up 48 hours in advance of the meeting via an online registration form that will be available on the meeting agenda page at least a week before the meeting.

While no new regulation proposals are being accepted for 2024, ODFW takes suggestions throughout the year.

Anglers and others should contact their local district fish biologist to discuss or propose regulation changes.

Clatskanie community is ‘McKenna Strong’ WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc. Originally published in The Chief Vol. 132, Aug. 4, 2023 edition

Small ties in a small town hold strong, and in the case of Jamie, Michelle, and their daughter McKenna Phillips, this couldn’t be more true.

In a heartbreaking turn of events starting in June, it was discovered that McKenna had a Wilms tumor on her kidney, and the doctors informed Jamie and Michelle that it was Stage 3 cancer. The tumor was bigger than McKenna’s kidney, so doctors surgically removed her kidney and two lymph nodes below it due to inflammation.

“We were in the hospital for five or six days while she recovered. They actually told us she was the fastest fiveyear-old recovery that they had from a surgery,” Michelle Phillips said. “She was up and wanting to run around and play.”

With it being a Stage 3 tumor, more care is needed to help her battle the illness.

McKenna underwent five or six days of radiation treatment and now must undergo chemotherapy each Friday for the next six months.

On Aug. 11, McKenna will undergo a CAT scan on her chest to investigate particles in her lungs that could be Wilms tumors. Michelle Phillips said that they could be innocent, but if they are Wilms tumors, treatment may need to be adjusted.

This has been a heartwrenching time for Michelle and Jamie as they navigate the unknown, but McKenna’s strength through it all has given them something to hold on to.

“It’s the worst thing that you ever want to go through as a parent; nobody ever wants to go through it as a parent,” Michelle Phillips said. “It’s the toughest thing that we’re going through. But the thing is, she’s so strong and so positive it’s keeping us so strong and so positive.”

Other than not eating as much and thinning hair due to the treatment, Michelle

Courtesy photo from Michelle Phillips

McKenna is battling Stage 3 kidney cancer, but doesn’t let it get her spirits down.

said you would never know she is sick.

Clatskanie roots Jamie and Michelle live in Newberg, but they grew up in Clatskanie, and their parents still live there. Despite not living in Clatskanie for years, the community has rallied around the Phillips family.

“The big thing about Clatskanie, too, is Jamie and I haven’t lived there for 13 years, and they’re still taking care of us,” Michelle Phillips said.

Kathi “Jacks” Jackson has been a teacher in Clatskanie for more than 40 years, and Michelle and Jamie are her former students. When they heard about McKenna’s condition, Jackson immediately got to work figuring out how to support them.

With the help of Amy Mustola and her t-shirt printing machine, Jackson and Diane Mausen created 17 shirts

with the hashtag “McKennaStrong” printed across the chest. Jackson, Mausen, and Mustola set up in front of Farmhouse Coffee, which was also doing a special fundraiser for McKenna and her family July 28.

“We didn’t sell them; we just gave them away for donations. We got over $700 in donations for 17 shirts,” Jackson said.

Jackson said that they are going to print about 15 more shirts because there is more demand for them from the community, and she expects to raise around $1,000.

“In this world today, any little positive bit like that is a great story to tell, and this community is really good about helping their own,” Jackson said.

Jackson said that the funds will give aid to Jamie and Michelle as they navigate prioritizing McKenna’s care in their everyday lives.

The funds will help with

medical bills and lighten the burden of taking work off and traveling for McKenna’s treatment.

The owner of Farmhouse Coffee is a neighbor of Michelle’s parents, and their fundraiser on July 28 saw $2 for every purchase made go to the Phillips. Between the two Farmhouse Coffee locations in Clatskanie and Rainier, they raised more than $890. Farmhouse has also put donation collection boxes around town, but the proceeds have not been counted yet.

In addition to those fundraisers, other friends in Clatskanie have also started a t-shirt fundraiser, and some of Michelle Phillips’ kickboxing friends started a GoFundMe, Warrior Girl McKenna, that has already raised more than $20,000.

“Every dollar is going to count because the bills are definitely adding up, and we’re thankful for every single bit that we’re getting,” Michelle Phillips said. “I just want everyone to know, from the bottom of our hearts, that we’re so grateful, so thankful for the support. ‘Thank you’ aren’t strong enough words; I don’t know how to make sure everyone knows how grateful we are.”

Going forward, Michelle Phillips said there isn’t really a timeline by which they expect McKenna to be fully healthy. The appointment on Aug. 11 will dictate many of the next steps.

While the future is uncertain, Michelle, Jamie, and McKenna Phillips are rolling with the punches, and with McKenna’s strong spirit leading the way, hopefully, a full recovery awaits. While these are difficult times, the support of the community has meant a lot, and Michelle Phillips said there are too many people to thank.

“We’re overwhelmed with joy; we can’t believe that everybody is just so amazing, especially because we haven’t been there for so long,” Michelle Phillips said.

“It just really tells you how awesome a small town and community is.”

Former mayor Diane Pohl passes away

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Clatskanie City Manager Greg Hinkelman said Pohl died Tuesday, Sept. 12, from failing health.

“It is with deep sadness that I am announcing that former Mayor Pohl passed away,” Hinkelman said in an interview with The Chief Wednesday, Sept. 13. “She was a dynamic woman who always put Clatskanie first and

she was passionate about the issues facing the city. She was very involved in the community. She will be missed.”

Hinkelman said Pohl hired him as Clatskanie City Manager in 2008.

Pohl was first elected city mayor in 2004. She survived a recall in 2015. Following the unsuccessful recall effort, Pohl thanked the community for its support.

“I want to thank the people who supported me through this difficult time,” Pohl said. “I am thankful to be afforded the opportunity to continue to lead

Clatskanie forward to accomplish projects and ideas that will benefit our citizens and especially our children.”

Pohl held office until 2017, following her loss to now Mayor Bob Brajcich.

“Diane was a great friend, and a fine mayor,” Deborah Hazen said. “She loved the Clatskanie community, and was a very strong advocate for what she believed would be good for our community.”

According to Hinkelman, Pohl requested that she have her ashes scattered at Depoe Bay, where she once lived.

Diane Pohl.

Courtesy photo

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Maximizing financial opportunities in 2024

Courtesy photo

JULIA CARLSON Financial Freedom Chief Guest Article

As we embark on a new year, there are a few notable changes that you may find beneficial.

The U.S. government has announced new retirement account contribution limits, a new 529 rollover into an IRA option, and Social Security cost-of-living increases.

Below is a brief overview of those changes.

401(k) plans and other defined contribution plans The employee contribution limit for 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, most 457 plans, and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is increasing to $23,000 in 2024, up from $22,500 in 2023. The catch-up contribution limit for participants aged 50 and older remains unchanged at an additional $7,500 for the year.

Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) The contribution limit for IRAs is increasing to $7,000 in 2024, up from $6,500 in 2023. The catch-up contribution limit for IRA participants aged 50 and older remains unchanged at $1,000 for a total of $8,000 for 2024.

Other retirement account contribution limits The following retirement account contribution limits are also increasing for 2024:

•

• SIMPLE IRA employee contribution limit: $16,000 (up from $15,500 in 2023).

The catch-up contribution allows employees aged 50 and older an additional $3,500 for the year, or $19,500 for 2024.

• SEP IRA employer contribution limit: Up to 25% of compensation with a maximum of $69,000 for 2024.

If you are saving for retirement, these changes provide an opportunity to increase your contributions to reach your savings goals.

To adjust your contributions, you will need to contact your plan administrator or your employer.

529 rollover to roth IRA This is a new provision that allows you to rollover up to $35,000 of unused funds from a 529 plan to a Roth IRA for the beneficiary of the 529 plan.

To be eligible, the 529 plan must have been open for at least 15 years and the funds being rolled over must have been in the 529 plan for at least five years. The annual rollover limit is the lesser of the annual Roth IRA contribution limit ($6,000 for 2023) and the amount of unused funds in the 529 plan. There is a lifetime rollover limit of $35,000 per beneficiary.

Social Security increases The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security benefits will be 3.2 percent starting January 2024. This means that Social Security recipients will see a

3.2 percent increase in their monthly benefits next year.

Recipients will not need to apply for the increase as it will be automatically adjusted.

Final thoughts As you navigate the financial landscape in the new year, consult with your financial and tax professionals to assess your circumstances and develop a personalized financial plan that aligns with your goals and risk tolerance.

By staying informed and making proactive decisions, you can more effectively manage your finances while working toward a brighter financial future.

Information in this column is for general purposes only and not intended as investment, tax, or legal advice.

Please consult the appropriate professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation prior to making any financial decision.

Email me your questions at info@financialfreedomwmg.com or call/text 458-7774458. You can also post your question on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook. com/FinancialFreedomWealthManagementGroup or find us on Instagram @ financialfreedomwmg.

Julia Carlson is a registered representative with, and securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, member FINRA/ SIPC.

•O bituaries • •

•

•C ommunity E vents • •

Dec. 29 Blood Drive at the Rainier Senior Center 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. at 48 W 7th St., Rainier. For questions call 503-5563889.

Ongoing Clatskanie Senior Center lunches Clatskanie Senior Center Lunches now served Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at noon at the Castle Cafe, 620 SW Tichenor. Call 503-7283608 for res-ervations.

Use ground floor entrance to the left of front stairs.

Good parking in back off of SW Bryant Street.

Castle Tours available by appointment, includes Clatskanie Historical Society mu-seum. Call Debbie at 503-338-8268.

Caples Evening Programs The cost for this evening

Frank Perea Publisher

Will Lohre Editor

Jeremy C. Ruark Executive Regional Editor

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

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

Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?

Would you like to see a white Christmas this year?

73.3% Yes 26.7% No

Gary was the best dad ever. He loved his dog Oscar, who he is now with. He also loved gold and Steelers football. His favorite thing to do was to walk Lake Sacajawea and to hike Saddle Mountain. He also loved classic cars and ice cream.

The Chief

The Rainier Oregon Historical Museum (ROHM) is open from noon - 4 p.m. Saturday (except major holidays weekends). ROHM is located inside Rainier City Hall at

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

Last Week’s Results

Feb. 5, 1944 ~ Dec. 3, 2023 of Las Vegas, Nevada and Marcia Krenz of St. Helens, Oregon; son Mark Weir of Tillamook, Oregon; daughter Teri Weir of Longview, Washington; as well as grandchildren, Cody Poor and Kaya Ramsbottom; and great grandchild Tenley Poor.

Lower Columbia River Watershed Council Lower Columbia Watershed Council meets the second Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Clatskanie PUD building.

Zoom links are also available. Visit the council’s website for agenda postings and Zoom at www. lowercolumbiariver.org/ events-page.

106 W B Street. For more information, call 360-7517039.

Weekly Online Poll

Gary Lee Weir

Gary Lee Weir was born Feb. 5, 1944 in Anacortes, Washington. He grew up in St. Helens, Oregon and graduated from St. Helens High School in 1962. Gary worked for G.P Wauna for 42 years.

Gary is survived by his sisters, Verna Grimes

and all our Fireside Chats will be only $5. Caples will be offering a different program the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at 1925 First Street in Columbia City.

For more information, call 503-397-5390.

Yes

No

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city of residence will be published). By submitting a letter, writers also grant permission for them to be posted online. Opinions expressed on this page are the writer’s alone and do not represent the opinion of the newspaper or its parent company, Country Media, Inc. Guest commentary We welcome all variety of community viewpoints in the newspaper. These longer, guest opinions might be columns written by newsmakers, public officials or organization representatives. Or you might just have interesting thoughts to share and a penchant for writing. If you’d like to submit a guest column for publication, contact us at (503) 397-0116 or chiefnews@

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NOTICE OF CLATSKANIE CITY COUNCIL MEETING The Clatskanie City Council will meet on Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the

Council Chambers of City Hall in the Clatskanie Cultural Center, 75 South Nehalem St. (2nd floor). Agen-

da items include but are not limited to: approval of the minutes of the December 6th, 2023 regular meeting

and a presentation about an application for a grant for the City Park. An updated agenda will be available at

City Hall by December 29th, 2023. Access to the meeting on ZOOM will be posted on the city website, www.

cityofclatskanie.com. Please call City Hall at least 48 hours in advance if you need assistance.

N ew! Public Notice deadline is Friday by 5 p.m.

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$2.1M in illegally grown marijuana seized

Courtesy from the CCSO

The CCSO released this photo of one of the grow rooms found during the search operation.

JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc. Originally published in The Chief Vol. 132, March 10, 2023 edition

Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies have confiscated 6,611 marijuana plants and 133.5 pounds of processed marijuana with a street value of approximately $2,181,011, in the agency’s latest enforcement.

Search and seizure In a release, the CCSO said the operation was conducted on March 1, with deputies serving search warrants for illegal mari-

juana grows in Clatskanie, Deer Island and Scappoose.

During the service of these search warrants, CCSO deputies also recovered over $69,000 in cash.

Specific details about the addresses of the searches and of the suspects have yet to be released following the enforcement operation.

Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley told The Chief that all suspects were referred to the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office for charges.

Specific details were also not immediately available about what led to the search and seizure operations.

“These are the first of

A total of over $69,000 was confiscated during the enforcement operation.

many search warrants that our Street Crimes team will serve over the next few years,” Pixley said. “We appreciate the participation of our partner agencies, including the Scappoose Police Department, Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office, the Oregon State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”

The Illegal Marijuana Market Grant, awarded to CCSO in 2022, funded this latest investigation.

juana enforcement team.

In that published story, Pixley told The Chief his agency was seeking three enforcement deputies and three corrections deputies.

“We recently received a $940,000 grant from the Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) to put together an illegal marijuana enforcement team,” Pixley said. “So, we are hiring to back fill spaces for this team and also for an open position.”

Background

Public safety concerns

In July 2022, The Chief reported that the CCSO was seeking new manpower to establish an illegal mari-

Pixley said this specialized enforcement team has been needed for quite some time and the concern is

twofold.

“The first is the human trafficking component,” he said. “Often times these illegal grows are tied to organized crime from either a Mexican or Chinese cartel.

As such, they often will use “indentured servants” to work these grows to pay off some form of debt owed to the cartel. In my opinion, this is the biggest reason for our team.”

Pixley said the location of the illegal marijuana grows is his second concern.

“The fact they grow in rural areas across Oregon, then ship the marijuana to the East Coast where they can sell the marijuana on

Courtesy from the CCSO

the streets,” he said.

In 2021, the CCSO worked with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Oregon State Police (OSP) wrapping up a year-long investigation culminated in 26 search warrants served across the state of Oregon and one in Texas over a two-day period.

As a result of the search warrants, Pixley said the following was recovered statewide: • 32,999 total marijuana plants • 1504 lbs. of bulk marijuana • 23 firearms • $353,000 in cash

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2023

Residential fire claims local’s life T h e C hief

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc. Originally published in The Chief Vol. 132, Oct. 6, 2023 edition

A house fire at 520 NE Spring Street in Clatskanie has claimed the life of local woman Rena Norman and resulted in a total loss of the structure.

The fire was reported at 11:54 a.m. on Oct. 3, according to Clatskanie Rural Fire District Fire Chief Steve Sharek. Before Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Deputies arrived, neighbors attempted to alert the homeowner by opening doors and yelling to attract their attention.

Unfortunately, flames im-

mediately erupted from the doors, causing the neighbors to leave the property, according to a release from the CCSO. The Clatskanie Rural Fire District quickly contained the fire but notified CCSO that a deceased woman had been located in the home. Norman was identified following an autopsy by the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal and Oregon State Police Arson Investigators completed their investigation, and they determined the fire was not suspicious and appeared to have started accidentally in the house’s living room. The exact cause of the fire has not been

released at this time.

Responding agencies included Clatskanie Fire District, Columbia River Fire & Rescue, Mist Birkenfeld Fire District, Knappa Fire District, CCSO, Oregon State Police, and the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office, according to Sharek.

Sharek said that incidents like these put a spotlight on fire safety and preparedness in case of emergency.

“These fire incidents are a reminder that every home needs a working smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, and fire extinguisher,” Sharek said. “For multiple level homes, a fire escape ladder is necessary to provide two ways of escape from upper levels.”

The scene of the fatal house fire at 520 NE Spring Street.

Courtesy photo from Greg Hinkelman

Incident at Knappa-Clatskanie football game

tor made excessive contact with the Clatskanie player, rather than stepping aside or bracing against the impact of the play.”

Following the incident, the game was stopped, and coaches, officials, and administration met on the field to “sort out the incident,” according to Tompkins. It was determined that the spectator should be removed from the field.

After being interviewed by Clatskanie administration,

the individual was ushered away from the field.

Both Tompkins and Hudson emphasized that CSD and Knappa School District are working together to maintain a positive, safe, and respectful environment at all sporting events.

To address future issues, Hudson discussed taking steps to ensure that there is adequate distance between fans and the action to show CSD’s commitment “to creating an environment

where everyone can enjoy the game without fear of inappropriate conduct.”

Hudson and Tompkins also said they have been working with the Oregon Activities Association (OSAA) and local authorities with regard to the incident.

“Action has been taken by the schools towards the individual responsible, and there has been ongoing communication with the OSAA and local authorities

about the incident,” Tompkins said.

While the event did spark controversy during the game, Clatskanie Head Coach Sean Gorley said in a statement on Oct. 7 on the Clatskanie football Facebook page that the individual’s actions were not indicative of Knappa or its other fans.

“This kind of action has no place in any high school event. We love our kids and will protect them at all cost.

The fan was completely wrong in his actions, and he is going to have to deal with the consequences of those actions,” Gorley said. “But these were the actions of one out-of-control fan. This is not a reflection of the Knappa coaches, players, or true fans. Please don’t let the actions of one taint the image of the rest. The Knappa coaching staff are first-class individuals. They are completely embarrassed by what happened outside of their control.”

Gorley asked that “we let it go, and move on.”

Gorley’s focus was more on the victory the team came away with and said that the schools are “dealing with it.”

Both Hudson and Tompkins echoed that actions are being taken to ensure that future incidents do not arise.

grade, and he committed to Oregon State on Christmas Eve of that year.

“There’s been no regrets, and ever since then, I knew that Oregon State was the right place for me,” Swanson said. “It’s a special place; you have to be there to really feel the environment, but I’m super excited to be down there, be a Beaver, and wear orange and black.”

As far as the pros go, Swanson is listed as a top 50 MLB prospect on prospectslive.com and futurestarsseries.com. Given his ranking as a prospect, Colvin is already planning on hosting an event for the MLB Draft next July. When draft day comes around, it will bring about a whole different decision.

“I think the right approach is regardless of if I get drafted in a spot that I’m going to take the money, I’m going to one of the best programs in the nation for baseball,” Swanson said.

“This is not a losing situation either way; it’s going to be a tough decision.”

“I think every kid’s goal, especially in college baseball, they want to get drafted professionally and be able to make a career out of it, and that’s a big goal for me,” Swanson continued. “I gotta lot to learn, especially as a young pitcher, but if the money’s right, that will definitely be something I consider. I guess you could say the worst-case scenario is going to Oregon State, but by no means is that a bad scenario at all.”

A two-sport athlete in basketball and baseball, Swanson said that one of his biggest strengths as an athlete is his competitiveness.

“I don’t think you’ll find a guy on any team, whether that be basketball, baseball, or whatever it is,” Swanson said. “It doesn’t matter the scenario. I’m always willing to play up to the moment or do anything for a win. I hate losing. It’s the one thing I hate.”

The next steps for Swanson will be strength and conditioning as he prepares for his final high school season and going into the draft and next college season.

Washington, his aunt Jenny Swanson is married to Kim Rogers, who owns Colvin’s.

Rogers and his wife made the space available for both the signing party and when draft day rolls around this coming summer.

The signing event featured a brief address to the gathered friends and family, followed by a dinner of ribs, mac n’ cheese, and salad. Plenty of proud family and friends cheered as Zach signed his NIL commitment papers.

Eric Swanson, Zach’s father and brother to Jenny, cut the picture of a proud

father during the evening and spoke about what the support meant to him and his son.

“Well, obviously, with my sister living here, and Kim being here with the restaurant, that’s pretty special that they could put this together for us,” Eric Swanson said. “This room has, he’s got former players, current players that he played with growing up.

He’s got coaches, youth coaches that he started with growing up. Family, friends, they’ve always been there for us and supported us.”

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc. Originally published in The Chief Vol. 132, Oct. 13, 2023 edition

An incident between a spectator and a Clatskanie football player at the Clatskanie versus Knappa High School football game has sparked a response from the Clatskanie School District (CSD).

CSD Superintendent Danielle Hudson released a statement on the matter via Facebook on Oct. 10.

“It is with great concern that we address the altercation between a Knappa High School fan and a Clatskanie High School football player.

Upon the occurrence of the incident, both school districts were swift in their response to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals involved.

The local sheriff’s office was promptly informed of the incident, and they have diligently followed up on the matter. We are appreciative of their assistance in investigating the incident and taking appropriate actions,” Hudson said in the statement.

At the home game for the Tigers on Oct. 6, a Knappa fan was asked to leave the premises follow-

An image from the Oct. 6 Knappa-Clatskanie football game where the incident took place.

ing an altercation with a player following a play. The Chief spoke with Clatskanie Middle/High School Athletic Director Ryan Tompkins for details on the incident.

“In the 4th quarter, an incident occurred where the momentum of a play caused a Clatskanie and Knappa player to enter into the spectator area, past the sideline,” Tompkins said.

“As the Clatskanie player entered the crowd, a specta-

Courtesy photo from Karielle Carlson

Colvin’s hosts D1 baseball prospect signing

Will Lohre / Country Media, Inc.

Zach Swanson, along side his father, Eric, addresses the gathered friends and family after signing the official commitment to OSU. WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc. Originally published in The Chief Vol. 132, Nov. 10, 2023 edition

One of the Pacific Northwest’s top baseball prospects is headed to Oregon State and officially signed among friends and family at Colvin’s Pub and Grill in Clatskanie.

Zach Swanson is a senior at Toutle Lake High School in Washington and is set to pitch for the Beavers in 2024. Boasting a fastball that can hit 95 miles per hour and a mean slider, Swanson is also drawing the attention of professional scouts.

In an interview with the Chief, Swanson described what the momentous occasion of officially signing on

Nov. 8 meant to him and what he hopes to accomplish in the coming years.

“It’s a big day. My morning started off with all the coaches texting me, saying, ‘Today’s the big day,’” Swanson said. “Being a Beaver is something special; it’s been in my family for a long time. My dad being best friends with Pat Casey, head coach when they won three National Championships, I would get down there from ages 6 to 12, and we’d go every weekend and watch the Beavs play.”

Swanson said there were a lot of Pac-12 schools who were interested in signing him, but the decision ultimately came down to Stanford and Oregon State.

The schools made him offers when he was in just 8th

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Port Westward narrowly avoids oil spill T h e C hief

acted quickly to take steps to mitigate the risk of a spill.

While they acted rapidly in the aftermath of the event, there was no ability to prevent the tugboat from actually hitting the dock.

If the pipe had broken, it would have resulted in “thousands of gallons of oil in the river.”

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc. Originally published in The Chief Vol. 132, Nov. 17, 2023 edition

A vessel that strayed from its course while traveling upriver and collided with the Beaver Dock, causing damage to the downriver approach and infrastructure, which nearly resulted in the spill of thousands of gallons of oil into the Columbia River.

The Port of Columbia County released the following information in response to the event on Nov. 13: “The morning of Nov. 12, a vessel (unaffiliated with Port Westward users) was underway, traveling upriver.

The vessel navigated off course and collided with the Beaver Dock causing damage to the downriver approach and infrastructure. At this time there are no known injuries or spills. The site has been secured with booming out of precaution.”

“The Port worked in close collaboration with Port Westward dock users, who responded immediately, to make all notifications per the facility Incident Response Plan. U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies have been onsite. We are currently working with an engineer to assess the extent of the damage and necessary repairs and hope to have the dock back in operation as soon as possible.”

Input from the DEQ The incident, which took place on the morning of Nov. 12, saw a tugboat collide with the dock. The Chief spoke with the Communications Manager for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Lauren Wirtis, for an update on the situation.

Preparing for emergencies

Courtesy photo from Lauren Wirtis

The damaged pipe.

“There is a pipe that goes from Columbia Pacific Bio Refinery (CPBR) out along that dock. It got pretty significantly damaged but fortunately did not break, and in DEQ’s and U.S. Coast Guard’s time monitoring the incident, we haven’t seen any oil on the water, which is really great news,”

Wirtis said.

The pipe is connected to a tank that holds 25,000 gallons of renewable diesel, according to Wirtis. The pipe transfers oil from the refinery to ships on the dock.

Because the valve that connects the tank to the pipe was already closed, Wirtis said that the maximum

amount of oil that could have spilled was 9,450 gallons.

“Some of the valves were already closed, so it wouldn’t have been possible for more than 9,450 to spill,” Wirtis said. “And then CPBR kept closing the valves to reduce the potential to spill.”

proximately 5 a.m. (local time), the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office received notification that Penny Lyles and Jonathan Stockle turned themselves in to the Warwick (NY) Police Department, according to a Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office Facebook post.

The New York agency reports both Penny and Jonathan are safe and cooperating with investigators

in that state. Their turning themselves in comes three weeks after they initially left the Knappa area.

The Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation into the allegations being made by the individuals in this case.

This is an ongoing investigation with multiple agencies, including the Oregon Department of Human Services, according to the post.

Penny Lyles and Jonathan Stockle.

The 9,450 gallons refers to the amount that was in the pipe at the time of the collision. In order to minimize the threat of oil leaking from the pipe, CPBR sent out consultants with a “spud barge” to “pull the remaining oil out of the pipe,” according to Wirtis.

Wirtis said that CPBR

Wirtis said that CPBR participates in “spill drills” in collaboration with the DEQ to best implement “spill response” plans. The drills are “essentially a tabletop exercise” where participants can practice what to do in the event of an emergency.

“What I can tell you about that is there are a lot of really sensitive environmental areas on the Columbia River, and the water moves really fast. So, that means oil travels really quickly, and can impact all of these sensitive environmental and cultural resources,” Wirtis said. “So, it can, very quickly, have a really large impact.”

Wirtis said that events like this are why they do the spill response drills. She said that she thought that everyone “played their role really well” in response to the incident.

“When things happen, or get really close to happening, we’re able to respond in a timely manner to minimize the impact on the environment. That worked really well. We’re also really fortunate with what happened with the pipe,” Wirtis said.

The Chief reached out to the Port of Columbia County and CPBR owners Global Partners LP for comment on the incident. Both referred to the statement on the Port of Columbia County website.

Knappa juveniles found in Warwick, NY STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc. Originally published in The Chief Vol. 132, Dec. 8, 2023 edition

The Knappa juveniles Penny Lyles and Jonathan Stockle have been located after the pair left the Knappa area after a confrontation with family on November 14.

On December 4, at ap-

Courtesy photo

CMHS baseball and softball qualify for State

Courtesy photo from Ryan Tompkins.

CMHS All League winners from left to right: Ayden Boursaw, Finn McDonnell, Brendan Schroll, Chris Knaus, Topher McDonnell, Ben Blackwood, Ernesto Rojas-Bautista.

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc. Originally published in The Chief Vol. 132, May 19, 2023 edition

The Clatskanie Middle High School baseball team has finished their regular season with a record of 11-4 and beat Vernonia in the NWL District Playoff to qualify for the first round of the 2023 OSAA / OnPoint Community Credit Union 2A/1A Baseball State Championship.

The softball team has also qualified for the 2023 OSAA / OnPoint Community Credit Union 2A/1A Softball State Championship after going 13-3 in league play and ending their season on a 9-1 run.

Basbeball The accomplishment of qualifying for state marks the fulfillment of one of the team’s

goals, and Head Coach Ryan Tompkins is excited about the team’s progress from past seasons.

There’s been a great sense of accomplishment, seeing the improvement in these kids and their ability to ‘turn the corner.’ ~ Ryan Tompkins, Head Coach

“In March, the students set individual and team goals for the season.

Every student put ‘make it to state’ as one of their goals,” Tompkins said. “So the team was excited to accomplish one of our goals. We feel that we are playing our best baseball of

the year right now and are excited to test that against some of the best teams in the state.”

The regular season ended on a high note, with Clatskanie winning three games in a row against Vernonia before their playoff victory. Clatskanie ended the season as the second-place team in 2A/1ASD1 Special District 1, behind only Knappa, who has a 14-1 record. In their three games against Knappa this season, the Tigers went 1-2.

Going forward, Tompkins and the Tigers are looking forward to the challenges of the state tournament. To play their best, the team is focusing on execution over results.

“In playoff time, we know the stakes of each game.

We are less focused on the outcome of the game, and more concerned with playing to the standard we expect from ourselves,” Tompkins said. “If we can do this, we think the

Courtesy photo from Amy Mustola

“We have had very strong pitching this year, as well as, an aggressive defense, and a tremendous amount of strong hitters,” said Head Coach Teauna Hughes.

results will be in our favor.”

According to Tompkins, the strength of the team this year has been their pitching and their ability to make routine plays on defense. During the regular season, the team’s seven wins came in games where they held teams to seven runs or less. Conversely, the only games they have lost have seen their opponents score more than 10.

On offense, the Tigers haven’t been the most consistent hitting team, but Tompkins credited some of his players for getting on base and working the base paths. Tomkins said that the team’s headsup baserunning has allowed them to score consistently, even without many base hits.

For the Tigers, this season’s success is a breath of fresh air after a few down years for the program. Tompkins credited the mentality of the players

this season and their ability to battle through adversity to achieve their end goal.

“The last few years, we have been a below .500 team.

There’s been a great sense of accomplishment, seeing the improvement in these kids and their ability to ‘turn the corner.’” Tompkins said. “We’re optimistic that we can take another step and try to make a run in the state playoffs.”

Playoff games begin May 22, and Clatskanie’s opponent in the first round has not been announced at the time of writing. The Tigers will look to keep their season alive, as each game is now a “win or go home” match.

Softball Head Coach Teauna Hughes credits the Tiger’s team mentality as the catalyst for their big season, and the

growth after they finished 3-9 in the league last year has been substantial.

“We went from having a 3-9 league record last season to a 13-3 record this season,” Hughes said. “I think the biggest factor in this year’s success up to this point has been the girls coming together as a team. ‘Playing for the girl next to you rather than for yourself.’”

The defense has been the backbone of the team. During their league games, Clatskanie only allowed 4.2 runs per game, and they shut out teams in three games. They only allowed opponents to score in double figures twice. They currently rank as the 7th best team in the 2A/1A classification.

“We have had very strong pitching this year, as well as, an aggressive defense, and a tremendous amount of strong hitters,” Hughes said. “There were multiple position changes throughout the year, and the girls’ ability to adapt has been remarkable.”

As the team moves on to state, Hughes wants the team to take the postseason an inning at a time. After such a successful season, Hughes wants to rely on their experience and discipline to drive them to a deep playoff run.

“As we move forward into playoffs, we want to be in the moment. We want to focus on one pitch at a time - one play at a time,” Hughes said. “We have a lot of experience on this team, and I believe if we all play together and for each other, we can go far into the bracket.”

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Friday, December 29, 2023

Rethinking Drinking STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.

At a time when many people in Oregon are celebrating the holiday season with friends, coworkers, and loved ones, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is launching Rethink the Drink’s new winter advertising campaign to change the conversation about alcohol.

Campaign focus The campaign emphasizes the need for people to come together and support one another to be healthy and care for communities. That includes creating healthy environments that support people in their efforts to drink less alcohol.

The campaign reveals how common alcohol has become in community settings and asks people to consider ways they can best support their friends and loved ones – and their entire community – to be healthy.

Rethink the Drink, in-

formed by significant community and partner engagement, aims to decrease alcohol consumption and related harms in Oregon.

Elements of this winter campaign include a website; statewide TV, radio, digital and print advertisements; and Facebook and Instagram pages. Oregon is the only state in the country to initiate a public health campaign of this scale to reach adults 21 and older.

By the numbers While younger people in Oregon are drinking less, binge drinking and heavy drinking among adults are on the rise, and are responsible for an estimated 1 in 5 deaths among those ages 20-49.

Overall, excessive alcohol use is the third leading cause of preventable death and disease in Oregon.

“During December and the holiday season, many people and communities come together at celebrations or events where alcohol

may be present,” OHA Deputy State Health Officer and Epidemiologist Tom Jeanne said. “We’re trying to start a new conversation to help dial down the pressure around alcohol and help create more supportive community spaces for everyone.”

According to Jeanne, the new OHA campaign and messaging explore how alcohol has crept into so many settings of our daily lives, whether that’s at the hair salon, a child’s birthday party, or a baby shower.

“Even in moments when people are trying to improve their health, such as a 5k run or during a hike in the woods, many of us find ourselves drinking more,” Jeanne said. “This campaign is about caring for one another and for our communities so that we can all be healthy and feel supported.”

What the OHA data shows Based on evaluation data from RMC Research for its first campaign in summer 2022, Rethink the Drink achieved its goals and exceeded expectations for the campaign. People in Oregon who saw the campaign: • Had more conversations about their own drinking, friends’ and families’ drinking, and what excessive drinking is.

• Thought more about their drinking habits.

• Were more likely to plan on cutting back their drinking than those who did not see the campaign.

People living in Oregon may be drinking excessively without realizing it The share of Oregon adults who drink excessively is larger than most people realize – more than 1 in 5, according to the OHA. Most people in this group are not affected by alcoholism or an alcohol use disorder. However, by drinking excessively, people increase their odds of developing an alcohol use disorder later in life.

OHA uses the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definition of excessive alcohol use, which includes both heavy drinking and binge drinking: • Heavy drinking, which can lead to chronic diseases and other problems over time, is eight or more drinks per week for women or 15 or more drinks per week for men.

• Binge drinking is consuming four or more drinks on one occasion for women or five or more drinks on one occasion for men.

For more information about differences among genders for what’s considered excessive drinking, visit https://www.rethinkthedrink. com/what-is-excessivedrinking.

The unjust harms of excessive drinking Certain populations experience more unjust stressors and disadvantages due to racism, discrimination, and historical disinvestment in these communities, which has led to higher rates of alcohol-related harms, the OHA states. These include Black and Indigenous communities, as well as people with lower incomes and less education.

The OHA also finds

excessive drinking causes health harms that include increased risks for cancer, liver failure, heart disease and depression. Beyond the health harms to the individual, excessive drinking affects the entire community, costing Oregon $4.8 billion per year from lost earnings for workers and revenue for businesses, health care expenses, criminal justice costs and car crashes.

“We all have a role to play in building healthy communities and addressing alcohol and substance use in our state,” Oregon’s Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission (OADP) Director Annaliese Dolph said.

The OADP Strategic Plan calls for raising awareness of harm associated with alcohol misuse, especially using prevention techniques.

“This is exactly what the Rethink the Drink campaign helps accomplish,” Dolph said. “This is an example of state agencies working together with the Commission to carry out the Commission’s task of increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of substance use services.”

According to Dolph, preventing misuse across the lifespan includes having honest conversations to help people to think about the alcohol they are consuming, and decrease family and community norms permissive of misuse.

“This can increase the perception of harm from misuse and address the health harms faced by historically marginalized communities,” Dolph said.

Rethink the Drink is not telling people to stop drinking, Jeanne said.

“The campaign is asking people to pause for a moment, learn about the harms caused by excessive drinking, and think about the way alcohol is prevalent

in their lives and communities” Jeanne said. “While the alcohol industry provides thousands of jobs for people in Oregon, and producers in our state make some of the world’s finest beers, wines and spirits, excessive drinking carries heavy costs for all Oregonians, whether they drink or not.”

If you or someone you care about is suffering from alcohol dependence or an alcohol use disorder, free confidential resources and support are available online or by calling or 1-800-9234357.

About Rethink the Drink Rethink the Drink is an initiative of OHA’s Public Health Division with a goal to build healthier communities by decreasing excessive drinking and the harm it causes to individuals, families and communities.

Recognizing the value of Oregon’s beer, wine and alcohol producers and businesses to the state’s economy, culture and identity, Rethink the Drink is not asking people not to drink.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of the effects of excessive alcohol use. While people of all education and income levels drink excessively, certain populations experience higher rates of alcohol-related diseases. These include Black and Indigenous communities, as well as people with lower incomes and less education.

Certain populations experience higher rates of alcohol-related disease due to discrimination and historical disinvestment in these communities that has contributed to fewer resources and support. Rethink the Drink is committed to OHA’s larger goal to end health inequities in our state by 2030.

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