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$1 Vol. 125, No. 25 8 Pages
Serving the Lower Columbia Region Since 1891
New law enforcement services launched in Clatskanie
Students make special connections with veterans
BY JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Columbia County Sheriff Jeff Dickerson said he knows there are mixed emotions about his office taking over law enforcement services in Clatskanie on Tuesday, Nov. 1. “We are not approaching this like this is our deal,” he said. “We have plenty to worry about throughout the entire county. We want to be there for the city if that’s what they want. The plus is you are going to get our best efforts and we always do that for every city.” “We hope to provide the best police service that we can with the staff that the city of Clatskanie has budgeted,” Columbia County Under sheriff Andy Moyer said. “And to supplement that with our normal patrols.” Moyer will be the manager of the Sheriff’s Office Clatskanie substation, the former Clatskanie Police Department on Nehalem Street. Moyer said former Clatskanie Police Department officers Shaun McQuiddy and Josh Lineberry have joined the sheriff’s office. Lineberry was assigned patrol duties outside of Clatskanie while deputy Collin Brehm will be assigned with McQuiddy as the two full-time Clatskanie law enforcement team working four day, 12 hours shifts. “It will be a 12-noon to 12 a.m shift with deputy Brehm working four days in a row and then deputy McQuiddy working the next four days,” Moyer said. Dickerson said the contract for
JEREMY C. RUARK / THE CHIEF
Rainier Jr./Sr. High School students Cheyenne Packard and Tyler Brackin compose letters to veterans as part of their history class project.
BY JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
See LAW ENFORCEMENT Page A8
JEREMY C. RUARK / THE CHIEF
Columbia County Under sheriff Andy Moyer stands in front of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Clatskanie station. Moyer will be the station manager.
Cheyenne Packard and her fellow classmates at Rainier Jr/ Sr High School want to make sure the nation’s veterans and those serving in the military are recognized. With the direction of instructor Andrew Demko, the history class students have been composing letters to veterans. “Both of my grandparents were veterans and they had spent a lot of time in the military and unfortunately I never got to meet them,” she said. “But I wanted to thank all the veterans who have served our country because it is important. Without them, our country wouldn’t be what it is today.” Freshman Jack Bauguess said the letters acknowledge the veterans and what they have done for the county. “I think that a lot of the veterans don’t get that,” he said. “Many of the Vietnam veterans didn’t get a lot of recognition and praise that other veterans got,” history class student Tyler Brackin said. “Even veterans that did get that praise when they came home still deserve thanks for keeping us free and the sacrifices they made.” Clatskanie American Legion Commander Gerry Simmons said the letters from the students are an important community connection. “It shows appreciation and it means a lot for them to get these letters,” Simmons said. “It opens the eyes of a lot of the kids in the school that may have a family member in the military. The letters bring it a bit closer to home. It is good for the kids. Our veterans that have served, and those are serving, have done a hell of a lot for our county.” Simons said veterans are often forgotten. “Without a doubt, we are
forgotten,” he said. “There are many out there that do not forget, but there are also an awful lot of people out there that do forget us. When we are needed, then everybody is praising us and as soon as any conflict is over, unfortunately, we are forgotten.” Demko said the letters to the veterans project is an important learning tool for the students. “I hope the students get a sense of respect for our veterans, a sense of knowing that there are folks out there that paid a sacrifice for our freedom,” he said. “That’s where it’s at, that
“I wanted to thank all the veterans who have served our country because it is important. Without them, our country wouldn’t be what it is today.” Cheyenne Packard, Rainier Jr./Sr. High School History
Class president
the kids know there are people out there who have served their county and it is important for us to remember those people.” Demko said the letters project was launched last year at Rainier Jr/Sr High School as a way to honor the veterans and to encourage the students to use their writing skills in the classroom. “So it is a win-win for both,” he said. “We are improving the students writing skills, but we are also letting vets know that they are important.” Clatskanie Middle/ High School students are also recognizing veterans. The school’s Honor Society will hold a breakfast for veterans at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10. “It’s important to thank and honor our veterans,” Clatskanie Middle/High School Honor Society Co-President Rachel
Haas said. “As a leadership organization at CHS, it’s also important for us to remind the student body to thank and appreciate those who have served.” Haas said students should know that there are more veterans in the community than they might think. “Something students could do is to get to know our veterans better,” she said. “To say hello, ask about their story and say thank you for their service.” Clatskanie Middle/High School Principal Amy McNeil said the school’s connection to veterans is a learning moment for her students. “Last year, I asked the student body to stand if they know, or knew, someone who served their country,” McNeil said. “I was in awe at how many stood. I would guesstimate about 85 plus percent of the students stood.” Following the breakfast, Clatskanie will also hold a Veteran’s Assembly at 10:15 a.m. in the school auditorium with special guest speaker Brian Guinther. “Our students have always been very respectful of the guest speaker and have listened to their stories and words of wisdom,” McNeil said. “I think every year is a learning moment for them as well as an appreciation for what our veterans have sacrificed for our freedom.” At 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11, a dinner will be held for veterans and their families at the Clatskanie American Legion Post at 930 NE 5th Street. For more information, contact Clatskanie American Legion Post Commander Gerry Simmons at 503-728-2421 and read more about Columbia County veterans in a special section in the Nov. 11 edition of The Chief.
October beats rainfall record BY JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
We were likely reaching for the umbrella more often in October compared to previous months. In fact, the National Weather Service in Portland reports the most number of days with rainfall in the month of October since weather data was kept over the past 100 years. “Portland recorded 8.31 inches of rain, the second wettest October there,” National Weather Service meteorologist Colby Neuman said. “The old rainfall record for October was 8.41 inches set in 1994. Astoria’s rainfall record for October is 17.79 inches set n 1950. This past October Astoria recorded 16.32 inches of rain, the second wettest October in recorded history. Neuman said Salem set a new rainfall record for October with 11.25 inches. Salem’s old record of 11.17 inches was set in 1945. Rainfall totals for Clatskanie and other parts of Columbia County were not available at press time. Neuman said October was also warmer than normal. “We had an average temperature of about 55 or 56 degrees which is about two degrees warmer than normal,” he said. According to Neuman, active storm patterns from the Pacific Ocean caused the record rain and warmer temperatures in October. The wetter weather and above average temperature pattern will likely continue through November. “We could see a parade of active storms and not a lot of breaks between the storms,” he said. “And we could still end up with three to five days of a cold stretch.”