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The Chief
Friday, October 14, 2016
$1 Vol. 125, No. 22 10 Pages
Serving the Lower Columbia Region Since 1891
Scary clowns frenzy hits Columbia County that has recently become local. This is another example of why we need to teach our students that much information available on the internet has no factual foundation.” The school administration letter continues: “Rainier School District takes student safety very seriously. If you see any suspicious activity in our community, please contact the local police. Emphasize with your children that these stories are rumors, and that responding to, or starting social media posts, will only perpetuate those rumors.”
BY JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Following rumors of threats to the school, administrators at Rainier Jr/Sr High School have given all students a letter, and made phone calls to all families and staff in the district concerning a heightened awareness of the scary clowns issue in Columbia County. “We were learning that some people thought this might be real and that the clowns would show up at the school,” Rainier Jr/Sr. High School Co-Principal Melissa Sandven said. “We wanted to reassure everyone that school was safe and there was no compelling evidence of any threat.” Sandven wrote the letter given to students and parents that includes a statement from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, which reads: “There have been concerned individuals in Columbia County and surrounding areas about a possible attack on our schools by scary clowns. Our office has looked into these threats and have at this time, determined that the threats are NOT credible in our County. We will continue to monitor the rumors fomented on social media to ensure that everything possible is being done to look into these threats and determine their credibility, but we have no indication at this time that such threats are real in our County.” Columbia County Sheriff Jeff Dickerson told The Chief that while the local scary clown threats appear not to be real, he is concerned. “Of course, that doesn’t mean someone won’t try to mimic what they have seen or heard elsewhere,” he said. “But for us at the Sheriff’s Office, we’ve received no calls in regard to this - just some Facebook queries that we have answered similar to the way in which we responded to the school’s request for information.” Concerned Students Rainier Student Body President Jadyn Crape said students are concerned. “It is the fear of people with bad intentions, and they think it is really scary,” she said. “They are taking extra steps to be safe, like locking their doors when they are home. They are kind of freaked out.” Crape said the school administration’s letter has helped ease the students’ fears.
Magruder, Mayo to meet in public forum
Clatskanie Incidents
COURTESY PHOTO Rainier Student Body President Jadyn Crape said students are concerned. “It is the fear of people with bad intentions, and they think it is really scary,” she said.
Clatskanie’s interim police chief Stan Grubbs said there have been two isolated incidents involving local students and the scary clowns issue. “One student sent another student inappropriate messages through social media which included a picture of bloody knife,” Grubbs said. “The recipient was very assertive to the sender saying it was not appropriate.” Grubbs said the messaging was not deemed to be criminal in nature. “These are students using very poor judgment and improper use of social media,” he said. Grubbs said the scary clowns issue illustrates how quickly rumors and misinformation can spread across social media. “Theses type of incidents take a life of their own when they are given that attention,” he said. “This is a nationwide issue. It is one that law enforcement is taking notice of.” Grubbs recommends people concerned about the scary clowns issue be aware of their surroundings and people around them. “If you feel threatened and you are in a position to take appropriate action, call 911.” Clatskanie School Superintendent Dr. Lloyd Hartley said while the district has not sent any letters to parents about the scary clowns issues, he hopes students and parents educate themselves about such social media generated rumors. “We are aware the scary clown issues are growing and we are asking parents to educate themselves and their kids, especially with the Halloween season upon us,” Hartley said.
JEREMY C. RUARK / THE CHIEF
This letter concerning the scary clowns issues has been sent to parents and given to students from the Rainier Jr/Sr High School Administration.
“The letter did help,” she said. “It makes them feel safe at school knowing that they have a set plan. I encourage them not to think about it and that they should know that we are in a safe place.” Crape said scary clown frenzy is part of the danger of social media. “Social media is very dangerous, especially for this topic because it can get out of hand,” she said. “ So you don’t know if what is being said is necessarily true, especially on topics like this, so they need to know their sources.”
The Rainier school administration letter concerning the scary clown investigation reads: “Some of you may have heard the stories about the scary clowns that have been in the news and have gone viral on social media. Our administration and local law enforcement agencies are aware of the rumors and are working to de-escalate them. These reports have been investigated by law enforcement and school district officials around the state and it has been verified that theses stories are “pranks” as a response to a national viral story
COURTESY PHOTOS
Left: Margaret Magruder. Right: Wayne Mayo
Two candidates for Columbia County Commissioner will face off at a political forum on Oct. 20 in Rainier. Clatskanie resident Margaret Magruder and Scappoose resident Wayne Mayo will answer questions and give their perspectives on a range of issues at a public forum sponsored by the Rainier Chamber of Commerce. Mayo and Magruder are vying for the seat vacated by retiring commissioner Earl Fisher. After a relatively stable six-year period, voters are replacing two commissioners currently up for re-election. In May, voters ousted incumbent Commissioner Tony Hyde, replacing him with political newcomer, Alex Tardif. Hyde served as commissioner since 1997. Magruder and Mayo emerged as the two frontrunners in a field of five candidates that ran for Position One on the May primary ballot. The candidate who receives the majority on the November ballot will become commissioner in January 2017. The Oct. 20 forum will be moderated by Don Patterson, publisher of The Chief and the Chronicle newspapers. Doors open at 5:30 and the forum begins at 6 p.m in the green building behind Rainier City Hall. The address is 103 West C Street. Follow this story at thechiefnews. com.
See CLOWNS Page A6
Clatskanie drug bust Write-in campaign launched nets four arrests for Clatskanie mayor The Columbia Enforcement Narcotics Team (CENT) wrapped up a two week undercover narcotics investigation on Monday, Oct. 11, executing two search warrants in Clatskanie. Officers arrested three subjects on drug charges and a fourth subject on a warrant and recovered cash and controlled substances in the service of the
search warrants. The warrants were served consecutive search warrants at the addresses of 428 NW 5th Street #5 and 500 SW Bel Air Drive, both inside the City of Clatskanie. In the service of the search warrants, investigators found controlled substances, including methamphetamine and Oxycodone; they also found evidence of drug trafficking and recovered a small amount of cash. Officers took four people into custody during the investigation including Randy Houle, 27, Clatskanie; Crystal Hansen, 33, Clatskanie; Anthony Campbell, 45, Clatskanie; and, Tashina Herrera, 31, Clatskanie. Houle was charged with two counts each of manufacture and delivery of methamphetamine; One count of delivery of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school; One count of delivery of Oxycodone within 1,000 feet of a school; Three counts of possession of methamphetamine; and one count of possession of Oxycodone. Hansen was charged with two counts each of manufacture and delivery of methamphetamine; One Count of delivery of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school; One count of delivery of Oxycodone within 1,000 feet of a school; One count of possession of methamphet
See DRUG BUST Page A6
in the Clatskanie area. “I got my start working at the Shell Station during high school,” he said. “I graduated from Clatskanie High School in 1971.” After high school Brajcich went to work at Rietman Motors, a new car dealership on Highway 30 in Clatskanie. At Rietman, Brajcich served as a mechanic for eight years. From there he went to work as a mechanic for the Clatskanie School District at the district’s bus garage and eventually went to work at the Georgia Pacific Wauna Mill. He retired from the mill in 2014. Pohl said she looks forward to the campaign. “We live in a democracy that certainly encourages people who have an interest to run for public office,” she said. “I don’t have a problem with that at all.” Pohl said she would stand on her record as mayor. “I hope my record can stand with the good and positive things I have been blessed to take part in,” she said. “We have gone through some rocky times but they will smooth out and change is good with looking at our city makeup and that is a positive step. I am looking forward to this election season. It is a time of great expectation and great
BY JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Long-time Clatskanie resident Bob Brajcich has mounted a write-in campaign for Clatskanie Mayor. Brajcich said several people approached him in mid September asking him to run for the office currently held by Diane Pohl. “She has done a lot of hard work over the years,” he said. “But I believe it is time for a fresh face. I have lived here for over 50 years. I am not that fresh, but I am offering a positive change.” Ellen Spaulding, owner of The Junque Trunque, is spearheading the write-in effort. “There is a group of us that think it is a time for a change,” she said. “We all need to work together. We went to Bob because we trust him and we believe he will bring positive change to the city so everyone can work together.” Spaulding and her group planned to take door hangers supporting Brajcich to homes and businesses in Clatskanie over the next few weeks. Brajcich said he believes law enforcement is the main issue in Clatskanie. “I understand their situation with the contract with the Sher-
COURTESY PHOTO
Bob Brajcich has mounted a write in campaign for Clatskanie Mayor.
iff’s Office,” he said. “I would like to see it one day go back to the Clatskanie Police Department so we have the local control. I have never been a fan of contracting. You lose control when you do that.” Brajcich said he also believes the mayor’s key responsibility is to support the whole community. “I am a straight-forward, play by the rules guy,” he said. “I don’t have a personal agenda, but I do want to represent the taxpayers of Clatskanie, the local business and the city employees. That is something the mayor should do. That’s the mayor’s responsibility. Those businesses, that is their livelihood and the city needs to support that and it does.” Brajcich grew up and worked
See MAYOR Page A6