Former teacher pleads guilty to sexual abuse of minor
Rainier Days in the Park Page A7
Page A2
Church News-A3 • Obituaries-A3 • Opinions-A4 • Market Place-A6 • Public Notices-A6 • Police Blotters-A6 • Fourth of July-A8
The Chief
Friday, July 12, 2019
$1 Vol. 128, No. 9 8 Pages
Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891
Racism and bullying in local schools: Working through a complex problem JULIE THOMPSON chronicle1@countrymedia.net
Kelli Nicholson/The Chief
Naomi Burton, Grandmother Leigh Kenoyer, and Jasius Gray.
The spring semester of 2019 was a rough year for area schools concerning the question of racism and bullying among their students. At the beginning of the year, the community came alive on social media, discussing their concerns on community Facebook pages in the wake of allegations from Parkrose High School that racial slurs had been hurled by St. Helens students at a local basketball game. Comment sections were littered with personal stories from schools in every area. Frustrated parents shared accounts of their children’s experiences, and former students long-since graduated shared memories of their own struggles in school. The subject is not strictly a local problem. According to stopbullying. gov, 28 percent of American students in grades 6-12 experience bullying and 30 percent of our American youth admit to bullying others. 70 percent of young people say they have witnessed bullying in their school, and 70 percent of school staff admit the same. The most common types of bullying are verbal and social, and thankfully, statistics show physical bullying happens less frequently. But only 20 to 30 percent of students who are bullied will actually say something
about it. However, The Chief spoke to two families struggling with these issues in Rainier’s Hudson Park Elementary who wanted to say something. We listened to their stories and touched base with the elementary school to see where they stand in the ongoing battle against such incidents. Students speak out Siblings Jasius Gray, a 4th grade student, and Naomi Burton, a 3rd grade student, spent the previous school year in Hudson Park after their mother raised to the rank of Chief in the United States Navy and was assigned to a new crew and ship in California. “When you get picked for Chief, you have a minimum six-week boot camp and your life is literally only two to four hours a day on your own,” the children’s grandmother, Leigh Kenoyer said. “So, it made more sense to have the kids come here for school rather than me go out there for six to eight months. I didn’t want to be down there that long.” Jasius and Naomi are of mixed race and say they have struggled with race-related bullying at the elementary school. Both claimed they had been called “the N-word” numerous
See BULLYING Page A5
Clatskanie Pool re-opens St. Helens shooter still at large, charged with
encouraging child abuse in Clackamas County
Photo: Cyndi Warren
The Clatskanie Rural Fire Protection District assisted in the re-filling of the pool. CHRISTINE MENGES chronicle2@countrymedia.net
The Clatskanie Pool, which is open during the summer season, has been closed all this year in order to repair a leak, as The Chief previously reported. Scheduled to re-open on July 4 in order to offer the pool’s annual free swim, the pool had to remain closed until July 9, when it officially re-opened for the summer 2019 season, according to pool officials. Below is a conversation with the Clatskanie Park and Recreation District’s Park Operations Manager, Cyndi Warren about the pool and possible future repairs. The Chief: Were you able to open the pool in time for your free swim on July 4? Warren: No, it did not reopen. There was no free swim. We were disappointed that we weren’t able to do that this year, but we got it up and running. The Chief: Why the delay? Warren: The contractors were trying to do a 10-day job in five days for us. Then we had to get the tiles in and the pool filled. Once you get it filled with water, it takes about four days to get the temperature where you need it and get the chemicals balanced. It’s also
See POOL Page A2
Photo: SHPD
Adam Corey Fleming, 31, was seen fleeing the scene in a white 1993 Toyota Camry with Oregon license plate 427EQV. JULIE THOMPSON chronicle1@countrymedia.net
After two men were shot in St. Helens on the evening of July 2, the shooter is still at large and the St. Helens Police Department (SHPD) has reached out to the public for help locating him. According to the SHPD, officers responded to the call at approximately 10:15 p.m. to a report of gunshots fired on Cowlitz Street near Old Portland Road. A nearby 6th Street neighbor, Renee Laurin, said she made the call to 911 after her children alerted her to two men knocking at her door. “I heard, ‘Mom, the guy said call the police. He said he’s been shot.’ I threw some clothes on and came to my front door and at first, I personally thought they were trying to rob
me. I’m just being precautious, you know. I’m a single mom.” When the man told her to dial 911, Laurin said she didn’t hesitate. She said the two men were crouching low, sweating, and she could tell they were scared. Laurin handed one of the men the phone to speak to the police and got a towel to cover the wound of the gunshot victim. “I did invite them into my home. All it was was trying to be a good Samaritan. I already know 911 is on their way so I felt safe enough,” Laurin said. “I don’t smoke, but I lit up a cigarette for the poor guy and got him some water.” According to the SHPD, the officers ended up locating two gunshot victims on scene. One victim sustained a wound to his upper arm and the other sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his lower extremities.
Both were transported to a Portland area hospital and are expected to survive. A 7-year-old girl was also located inside the residence where the shooting took place, but she was found unharmed. The shooter reportedly fled the residence prior to the officer’s arrival and the SHPD had the surrounding roads shut down for most of Wednesday afternoon while the investigation continued. The suspect was identified later Wednesday evening as 31-year-old Adam Corey Fleming. He is 5’11” tall, weighs approximately 280 pounds, with hazel eyes and a balding head. Fleming was seen fleeing the scene in a white 1993 Toyota Camry station wagon with Oregon See SHOOTER Page A4
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www.thechiefnews.com
Friday, July 12, 2019
Former SHHS teacher pleads New port commissioners sworn in guilty to sexual abuse of minor
Photo: Port of Columbia County
On Wednesday, July 10, elected Port of Columbia County commissioners were officially sworn in. The commissioners include newcomers Nancy Ward and Chip Bubl, as well as long-time port commissioner Larry Ericksen. Also decided during Wednesday’s meeting were new officer positions, with Larry Ericksen elected as President, Chip Bubl as Vice President, Chris Iverson as 2nd Vice President, Robert Keyser as Treasurer, and Nancy Ward as Secretary.
POOL From Page A1
really important to our pool manager that she do an onsite, facility-specific training for our lifeguards, especially with our new lifeguards. So in order to get the pool heated, the chemicals balanced, and life guards trained to our specifications, we had to wait until [July 9]. Julie Thompson/The Chief
Kyle Jarred Wroblewski leaves court after his plea.
ment stipulates that counts 1 through 5 can be run consecutively at the Court’s discretion. As part of his plea agreement, his charges in earlier cases were dismissed without prejudice. Wroblewski was ordered back to the Columbia County Jail without bail to await his sentencing, scheduled for August 19.
for “no bail.” Columbia County District Attorney Jeff Auxier told The Chief at the time that A former St. Helens High the erstwhile teacher had School teacher charged with violated his release agreean alleged inappropriate ment by trying to contact the relationship with a 17-year17-year-old victim. old-girl pleaded guilty to five In the wake of Wrocounts of Sexual Abuse II. blewski’s second arrest, the Kyle Jarred Wroblewski, St. Helens School District 45, appeared before Judge released a statement on Aug. Ted Grove in chains and 10 confirming that he was no black and gray stripes longer a district employee. Background alongside his attorney, David “He will not be returning in T. McDonald, at 10 a.m. on the fall,” officials said. “We Wroblewski was first arWednesday, July 10, to enter understand that there are rested on May 1, 2018, and his guilty plea. questions surrounding this charged with official mis“On the dates and times case, but because this is a conduct in the first degree, alleged in each and every of personnel matter, we are precontributing to the sexual the 5 counts of the Informavented from disclosing any delinquency of a minor, and tion, I, Kyle Wroblewski additional details. As always, sexual abuse in the third (being a person over 21 years degree. the safety and well-being of age) did unlawfully and of our students remains our On July 9, he was arknowingly engaged in sexual raigned on an indictment in chief priority.” intercourse with a female,” Wroblewski was arrested Columbia County Circuit Wroblewski’s plea statement Court that charged 32 counts for a third and final time reads, “a person incapable of sexual abuse in the second on August 21, 2018, which of consent by reason of her sent the St. Helens Police degree and two counts of being over the age of 16, but Department to his door in official misconduct in the under the age of 18, at the the 400 block of 2nd Street second degree. He remained time of each and every of the out of custody subject to a with a warrant for contempt incidents set forth in the 5 of court – once again, for release agreement, pending Good times countsMeet of Information.” your friends and relax a violation of his release the scheduling of a release Counts 1 through 5 areneighborhood ROLL atagreement. the at this classic The state filed hearing. felonywatering charges, which carry hole! new information alleging a His second arrest came twoMeet years of post-prison times your friends and single count of contempt of on relax Aug. 8 for violatingGood his supervision a maximum ROLL at the at this and classic neighborhood court. release agreement. Wrosentence of five hole! years for After Wroblewski was blewski was charged with watering each charge. Count 1 comes escorted to the Columbia two counts of contempt of with a presumptive sentence County Jail, officers recourt. At that time, the state of 19-24 months while mained on scene and were filed a motion and order to counts 2-5 carry presumptive revoke Wroblewski’s release, observed carrying bags of sentences of 25-30 months. potential evidence from his 11 Beers on Tap • Cocktails & Winesigned by Judge Cathleen Wroblewski’s plea agreeGood times residence. Callahan. The order provided OREGON LOTTERY •friends Shuffleboard • Poolrelax Meet your and ROLL at the at this classic neighborhood LIVE ENTERTAINMENT watering hole! Music & Magic • Fridays & Saturdays JULIE THOMPSON chronicle1@countrymedia.net
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The Chief: Did the repairs reveal any additional problems? Warren: I think you find with any 60-year-old facility, more issues pop up. Or you were expecting more issues to pop up, but you didn’t know what to expect. We’re going to have to look at resurfacing the pool at the end of this season. The lighting system in the pool is going to have to be replaced as well. We’re going to have to work on how we’re going to fund all that. We’ll get that done before next season starts. The Chief: You mentioned before about upgrad-
ing how the wading pool’s water is filtered. Is that being done now? Warren: Yes, the wading pool is closed. It had to be because we were grandfathered in, we were all on one water filtration system. The contractors were coming in to update the plumbing underneath the pool. In order to get our pool up and running this summer, they had to cap off the wading pool, the baby pool. We’ll be looking at upgrading before the summer of next year. The Chief: How much did this project that you just completed cost? Warren: We have not been billed yet. The proposal we were getting was $83,000 but we haven’t received a final bill yet. The Chief: Do you have an estimate for the project cost for future repairs? Warren: No idea at this point, but once we have our board meeting, we’ll start going out for the bid process. When we had the pool resurfaced ten years ago, it
was $65,000 just for the pool resurfacing. The Chief: When will be the final day that the pool is open this season? Warren: We usually don’t determine that until farther into September. We’ll try to stretch it out this year, we’ll try to stretch it out as long as we can, but we won’t make the final decision on the closing date until we’re into September. It depends on a lot of factors, like the availability of life guards as they head back to school. Usually we close after Labor Day. The Chief: Is there anything else you would like to say about the pool repairs? Warren: Having the fire department come in and fill the pool was amazing, different entities showing support for their community is huge. We had 21 lifeguards who stuck with us. They basically lost a month of wages. There were a lot of tough days. Kids couldn’t come in and do their lessons. I’m super proud of all of them, the guards and our managers.
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www.thechiefnews.com
Friday, July 12, 2019
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•O
NEXT signs Peace Agreement
•
bituaries •
Clifford “Bud” Clarence Van Dolah April 30, 1934 ~ July 2, 2019 Bud was born on April 30, 1934 and passed away on July 2, 2019 at the age of 85. Bud is survived by his wife Cindy Van Dolah; children Jerry, Larry, Joseph, Angela, Ashley, Butch, Colleen and Kathy; 21 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and 14 great-great-grandchildren. He was a kind and loving man whose door was open to
anyone and everyone. He is greatly loved and missed. We will be having a potluck style celebration of life for him at 1 p.m. on July 14, 2019 at Trojan Park. All friends and family are welcome. If you wish to donate to help people suffering from dementia, please consider making a donation to a charity of your choice in his honor.
Jane Alice Robinson
April 11, 1930 ~ July 2, 2019 Jane Alice Robinson, 89, of Clatskanie, Oregon passed away on July 2, 2019 at the Community Home Health and Hospice Care Center in Longview, Washington. A service was held at 11 a.m. on July 9, 2019 at the Rainier Church of God, 321 W C. Street, Rainier, Oregon.
Gary Ellery Sylvester
June 21, 1938 ~ July 8, 2019 Gary Ellery Sylvester 81, of Rainier, Oregon passed away on July 8, 2019 at the St. Johns Medical Center in Longview, Washington.
Mary B. Harler
June 5, 1926 ~ July 9, 2019 Mary B. Harler 93, of Rainier, Oregon passed away on July 9, 2019 at the Columbia Care Center in Scappoose, Oregon.
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•C ommunity E vents • •
Mondays: • Oregon Hunters Association Columbia County Chapter membership meetings are held the second Monday of each month at the Kozy Korner Restaurant in St. Helens. Meetings start at 7 p.m. or come early at 6:30 p.m. for some good food and visiting. • Community Action Team Board of Directors meetings take place on the fourth Monday of every month unless the meeting would fall on a holiday, from 2 – 4 p.m. in the CAT boardroom, 125 N. 17th St., St. Helens. • The American Legion Post 68 meets the second Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Legion Hall, 930 SE 5th St., Clatskanie.
Tuesdays: • The VFW meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at 960 SW 5th St., Clatskanie. Wednesdays: • Rotary Club of Columbia County – St. Helens meeting is held at the Warren Country Inn at 12 p.m. For more information, call 503-397-2341. Thursdays: • The Veterans breakfast is held the first Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. at the Legion Hall, 930 SE 5th St., Clatskanie. • The regular monthly Rainier Chamber of Commerce meeting is held on the second Thursday of every month at 12
NEXT Renewable Fuels has signed a peace agreement with UFCW 555, agreeing to remain neutral in any future union organizing efforts for operating staff at their planned biofuels manufacturing plant at Port Westward in Columbia County. “Our biofuels plant cannot be built or operated properly without skilled workers. That’s why we previously agreed to work with regional trade unions for the hiring of union and non-union labor to construct our facility. Our agreement with UFCW 555 extends our commitment to let local unions meet with our future employees to discuss their mutual desire to work together. We know that Oregon’s skilled labor can help us attract the best workers, get the work done properly, and bring benefits to Oregon’s economy and environment,” said Lou Soumas, president, NEXT Renewable Fuels. “Bringing union jobs to Columbia County is good for the workers, good for the community and good for the tax base. We’re looking forward to a positive partnership with NEXT,” said Jeff Anderson, secretary-treasurer for UFCW 555. The agreement allows future NEXT plant workers and UFCW representatives to work together during any future organizing and collective bargaining process. Some details from the agreement include:
p.m. at the United Methodist Church. Lunch is provided for a suggested $6 donation. Saturdays: • NAMI Columbia County Support Group, National Alliance on Mental Illness, meets on the second Saturday of every month from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. at the Elks Veterans Bunker, 125 S. 13th St., St Helens, Oregon. For more information, contact Judy Thompson 503-397-6056 or contact NAMI Oregon at 503230-8009. • The Rainier Historical Museum is open every Saturday from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. It is located inside Rainier City Hall. Please enter the side entrance and take the elevator to the 3rd floor.
New date set for pass closure JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
The target date for closing NW Cornelius Pass Road to through traffic for construction is now expected to be late Sunday night, July 20, according to Multnomah County Communications Officer Mike Pullen. “The date can not be confirmed until the contractor receives several parts for the temporary traffic signal that will be installed at Highway 30 and NW Newberry Road,” Pullen said. “After the parts are received they will be installed and the signal will be tested and approved by ODOT.” Pulled said media would be notified by email when the closure date is confirmed. In the meantime, this week the contractor is scheduled to complete the installation of detour signs. The signs will be covered until the road is actually closed. Multnomah County road maintenance crews have trimmed vegetation along the west hills at NW Brooks Road, NW Kaiser Road and NW Newberry Road. NW McNamee Road was scheduled to be trimmed this week.
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NW Rocky Point Road and NW Skyline Blouvard will be trimmed. “The goal is to improve sight-lines for drivers on these roads before the closure, since they will carry more traffic when Cornelius Pass is closed,” Pullen said. Additionally, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has postposed the closure of the ramp from Highway 30 to I-405 that had been planned for July 19-29.
ALL BURIAL INSURANCE POLICIES ACCEPTED
“Repair of the ramp will likely be rescheduled after our project,” Pullen said. “This is good news for freight users who have faced a longer detour if the ramp was closed.” Read a series of special reports about the Cornelius Pass Improvement Project and its impact in Columbia County and the region at the chiefnews.com. For more information, visit multco.us/ compass.
CLATSKANIE
Clatskanie Baptist Church 415 South Nehalem St., 503-728-2304 Senior Pastor Kirk Bennett Clatskanie Presbyterian Church 215 South Nehalem Street Clatskanie, OR 97016 Phone: 503-728-2300 Clatskanie Presbyterian Church is a community of Christian faith that expresses a relationship with God, and the Holy Spirit for everyone individually and collectively. Sunday, July 14th Pastor Erik Huget, Old Testimate reading Psalm 82, New Testament reading Colossians 1-14 Reading, for Today Hidden in Christ By James B Smith, SeromTitle Filled with God’s Will. Adult Bible Study Sunday 9:15 am in the Fireside Room. Mayger-Downing Community Church 80071 Life Lane, 503-728-2305 Pastor John Thomas St. John the Baptist Catholic Church 100 SW High Street 503-556-5641 Great Vow Zen Monastery 79640 Quincy-Mayger Road, Clatskanie, Oregon 97016 Sunday Morning Program 10am 503-728-0654 Faith Lutheran Church 1010 5th Street, Clatskanie, Oregon 97016. 503-728-4604 Pastor - Mary Anthony Alston’s Corner Assembly of God 25272 Alston Rd. 503-556-1961 Pastor Steve Berry Nativity Of The Blessed Virgin 204 C St., E Rainier 503-556-5641 Rainier Assembly of God 74950 Rock Crest St., 503-556-8211 Pastor Jeff McCraken Rainier Community Church of God 321 W C St., Rainier, 503-556-5661 Rainier United Methodist Church Corner of 1st & ‘C’ St., 503-556-3440 Pastor Michele Holloway Riverside Community Church 305 West C Street, Rainier 503-556-1216; Pastor Paul Rice
Columbia Bible Church 10:30 a.m. Sunday 407 East Second St. Rainier, OR 97016 Robert Klukas 360-501-4060 Heritage Bible Church, Rainier Senior Center, 48 W 7th St., Rainier, Oregon 97048
ST. HELENS
Ascension Evangelical Lutheran Church 1911 Columbia Blvd., 503-312-1072 Pastor Burkhardt Calvary Lutheran Church 58251 Division Rd., St. Helens 503-397-1739 Pastor: Mark Dennis Columbia River Foursquare Church 555 Commons Drive, St. Helens 503-397-0069 Senior Pastor Mike Cooke Christ Episcopal Church 35350 E. Division Rd., St. Helens 503-397-1033 Rev. Jaime Sanders Columbia Christian Center 235 S 15th St., 503-366-8028 Pastor Terry Luttrell St. Helens Community Bible Church 35031 Millard Rd., St. Helens Pastor Max Snook www.sthelensbiblechurch.org Christian Church 185 S. 12th St., St. Helens 503-397-2151 Pastor Justin Bruner First Lutheran Church 360 Wyeth St. 503-397-0090 Interim Pastor Randy Sinn First United Methodist Church 560 Columbia Blvd., 503-397-0061 Pastor Michele Holloway Plymouth Presbyterian Church 2615 Sykes Rd., 503-397-0062 Pastor David Hutchinson St. Frederic Catholic Church 175 S. 13th St., 503-397-0148 Father Nicolaus Marandu The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 2755 Sykes Road, St. Helens St. Helens 1st Ward Bishop Kent Dery 971-225-8727 St. Helens 2nd Ward Bishop Paul Erickson 971-8134000 Scappoose Ward
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from the road. These biofuels will help Oregon and the nation meet clean and renewable fuels standards. Once open, the facility will employ more than 200 local skilled workers.
•
RAINIER
Jeremy C. Ruark/The Chief
• NEXT will maintain strict neutrality in connection with union organizing and collective bargaining. • NEXT will support UFCW’s efforts to hold meetings on site during nonworking hours. • UFCW 555 will neither coerce nor threaten employees to join the union. • UFCW 555 will not make comments to disparage NEXT and will not picket on site. NEXT Renewable Fuels, Oregon is planning an advanced biofuels facility at Port Westward in Columbia County to produce biofuels made from renewable plant feedstock. Initially when the facility opens in 2021, NEXT will produce more than 37,500 barrels/day of advanced biofuels, growing to more than 50,000 barrels/ day at full capacity. The facility will produce mostly Advanced Green Diesel, plus a small amount of Renewable Propane and Renewable Naphtha. The facility will only process renewable feedstock and will only produce biofuels; it will not be permitted, designed or built to process or produce any fossil fuels. The facility will not use virgin palm oil for feedstock. NEXT biofuels will be sold throughout the West Coast. A full life-cycle analysis shows that NEXT biofuels will create emissions savings equal to removing more than 1 million vehicles
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Bishop Lorin Fielding 503-987-2179 Sunset Park Community Church 174 Sunset Blvd, St Helens Pastor Aaron Hiller St. Helens Church of Christ 295 S. 18th St., St. Helens Pastor Ivan Bissell 503-366-0967
SCAPPOOSE
Grace Lutheran Church 51737 Columbia River Hwy., Scappoose 503-543-6555 Joshua Wiley Scappoose Foursquare Church 33404 SW JP West, Scappoose 503-543-5069 Pastor Daniel Schmoll St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church 51555 SW Old Port Rd., Scappoose 503-543-2110 Chuck Wood
WARREN
Bethany Lutheran Church 34721 Church Rd., Warren 503-397-2050, Pastor Scott Grace Baptist Church 58690 Ross Rd., Warren 503-397-0405 Pastor Dean Christensen Warren Baptist Church 56799 Columbia River Highway, 503-397-1005 Pastor Randy Thomas Warren Community Fellowship 56523 Columbia River Highway, 503-397-4387 Pastor Cary Wacker
VERNONIA
Nehalem Valley Bible Church 500 North St., 503-429-5378 Pastor Gary Taylor Vernonia Christian Church 410 North St. 503-429-6522 Pastor Sam Hough St. Mary’s Catholic Church 960 Missouri Ave., 503-429-8841 Father Dale Waddil, Father Luan Tran
GOBLE
Cornerstone Baptist Church 70024 Goble Rd. 360-562-6201 Pastor Fred Mathews
Contact The Chief at 503-728-3350 or chiefnews@ countrymedia.net to place your obituary in the paper.
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•
•V iewpoints • •
State budget approved, session ends BRAD WITT Chief guest column
The 2019 Legislative Session finished up Sunday night, June 30, with lawmakers approving the next biennial budget. Oregon’s Constitution requires that the Legislature approve a balanced budget, so it was critical that Senate Republicans returned to Salem to vote on budget bills to avoid an expensive special session. The eleven Republican Senators were protesting HB 2020, the Cap and Trade Carbon bill, also know as the Clean Energy Jobs bill. Some of the bills that were approved in the final days included: SB 688 which will benefit military families, by allowing temporary professional
certification or licensing for spouses or domestic partners of members of the U.S. Armed Forces stationed in Oregon. In order to be approved, the applicant would need to have out-of-state professional certification, be in good standing with that out-of-state licensing board and demonstrate competency. This would apply in areas of cosmetology, dental hygiene, massage therapy, mental health counseling, occupational therapy and real estate sales. I voted in favor of this bill to help the family members of active military transition into their new communities when their government assignment brings them to Oregon. HCR 38 limits the number of bills introduced by legislators during the 2020 regular session of the
• Oregon is not as ‘Blue’ as they think Each month Oregon’s Secretary of State publishes a report on voter registration and much to the dismay of Democratic politicians in Salem and the national media, Oregon is not as ‘Blue’ as they think. Oregon does not have two groups of voters; ‘Us’ the progressive liberal socialists and ‘Them’ the far right conservatives; but are listed into ten different groups. The June report shows ‘Us’ with 34.95% and ‘Them’ with 25.30% leaving
SHOOTER From Page A1
license plate 427EQV. Fleming was last seen in Clackamas, Oregon at around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, July 3 near a Denny’s restaurant on SE 82nd Drive. Anyone with any information on Fleming’s whereabouts or that of his vehicle is asked to call 9-1-1
80th Legislative Assembly. Plan” to provide publicly This House Concurrent funded, equitable, affordResolution will allow each able, comprehensive and Representative to introduce high-quality health care two bills, and each Senator for all Oregon residents. to introduce one bill. Interim Health insurance coverage Committees will be able to represents a mix of public introduce 3 bills. While the programs, like Medicare, 2020 regular session is a Medicaid and TRICARE, short six weeks, and that is employer-sponsored and not a lot of individual time to work insurance op“The 2019 Legislative through the tions. Nearly Session was unlike any legislative 94 percent of process, I other I have experienced.” Oregonians still voted do have against this health insurmeasure, because I believe ance, those in the coverage it puts limits on democracy gap disproportionately affect and the ability of the Legisminorities, low-income resilature to meet the needs of dents and young adults. SB our constituents. 770 is an opportunity for a SB 770 establishes the Heath Care Commission to Universal Health Care Com- evaluate the best methods to mission which will make provide insurance for all. recommendations for the Voters will get to decide design of the “All Oregon if Oregon’s tobacco tax will
•V oice
be raised by $2 per pack to match Washington and California’s rates, generating money for health programs while discouraging young people from starting the habit. They’ll also weigh in on whether to allow campaign finance limits that courts have said violate free speech rights. And it’s likely that voters will also weigh in on the corporate tax imposed under HB 3427 the Student Success Act. The 2019 Legislative Session was unlike any other I have experienced. The extended Senate Republican walk-out, and the largest grassroots rally that Salem has ever seen. I spent many hours during that rally meeting with loggers and other constituents to discuss their issues, and our shared concerns.
Minimum Wage increase Oregon’s minimum wage increased 50 cents per hour on July 1. For those working in the Portland’s tri-county urban growth boundary area the rate is $12.50 per hour, all other areas in House District 31 earn $11.25 per hour. These pay adjustments are due to SB 1532 which was approved in 2016, increasing minimum wage on July 1 annually through 2020. I’m looking forward to spending time with family, friends and constituents back in the district during the summer. I’ll soon report on some of the successful legislation I introduced this session. State Rep. Brad Witt may be reached at 503-986-1431, or at Rep.BradWitt@oregonlegislature.gov.
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‘We’ the people with a 39.75% majority. The ‘We’ majority do not ride public transportation like CCRider or TriMet. The ‘We’ majority do not want to live in high density housing communities. The ‘We’ majority do not like the ‘Us’ groups dictating “their” urban agendas into our rural communities. The ‘We’ majority want good paying jobs in our communities so ‘We’ won’t have to drive into “their” communities to work. Hard working State Senators like Betsy Johnson (D - Columbia), Bill Hansell (R - Umatilla) and Dennis Linthicum (R - Klamath) understand their constituents have
different political values but are trying their best to fulfill their obligations to serve their communities, sure ‘We’ may not all agree to the outcomes but that is how a democracy works. Oregon has 36 different counties with vastly different needs that just the 3 counties, Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas who have the highest population density. The ‘Us’ majority in Salem and the Portland Metro area need to take a step back and listen rather than dictate their “their” agenda.
and should not attempt to approach him. According to court documents, Fleming is also charged with 15 counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree in Clackamas County, alleged to have occurred on or between February 21,2017 and March 24, 2017. Clackamas County’s Chief Deputy District Attorney, Chris Owen, said the charges
relate to the downloading of child pornography. In court documents, a video involving explicit acts with an 8-yearold child is cited specifically. In a May 20 affidavit in support of a motion to continue, Fleming’s courtappointed attorney, Leonard J. Kovac, stated, “we lost contact with the defendant after he was released from custody on 4/3/19 when he posted bail and went di-
Joe Turner Columbia City
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America has always been great Trump deliberately caused the problems we are having with Iran. First thing he did entering the White House: “tore up Iran deal.” I ask you, who would benefit and profit from it? Iran is Putin’s rival on the outside, Trump and Putin’s rival inside the White House. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to imagine why Trump did it. Is this an excuse for him to use our troops to merge military
with Putin against Iran? Or weaken Iran with sanctions for Putin’s sake? Treasonous? Racist? Trump has blamed Obama for everything, going as far as to get rid of “Affordable Care Act,” a republican idea, but because its affectionately called “Obama Care.” Obama implemented it, he is African American, and a humanitarian. Trump has, at every turn, tried to erase every and anything Obama did as President, especially that would go down in history putting him in favorable light. Trump is a Nationalist, white supremist, neo-Nazi,
authoritarian dictator. Dictators love walls, separating families, and like slogans “Make???? Great Again.” It is their M.O. Trump is not a joke, but a real danger to our democracy and our way of life every day he and those that follow him are in office. He is a known liar, braggard, crook, racist, and womanizer. He is an authoritarian dictator that cannot be trusted with anything, especially our lives. America has always been great! God bless America.
rectly to the VA for treatment regarding his mental health concerns. He contacted us Friday 5/17/19 for the first time since his release and verified that we will be receiving more records which are relevant to the resolution of this case.” Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey S. Jones granted the continuance on May 28, 2019, and a trial hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 3, 2019.
According to SHPD public information officer Crystal Farnsworth, police are aware of allegations against Fleming concerning the 7-year-old girl found in the residence following the shooting and confirmed the victims knew the shooter. “We’re currently still investigating the case and are not at a point where we can confirm anything related to those allegations,” Farn-
sworth said. The girl was released to relatives following the incident. The investigation remains ongoing and The Chief will update this story as additional information becomes available.
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Offbeat Oregon History: How a humble banana peel changed the course of Oregon history FINN J.D. JOHN Chief guest column
On your next visit to the beach, you might want to bring along a banana. One of these humble fruits played a small but important part in the historical chain of events that led to the state’s beaches becoming a birthright for all Oregonians. More specifically, it was the banana peel — an item that has played an important role in hundreds of slapstick routines over the years. But rather than setting up a pratfall for a cheap laugh, this particular peel set up one of the most important governorships in state history — and set one of the most important of Oregon’s U.S. Senators on the path to power. It was the year 1910, and a young lawyer named Oswald West was checking into a hotel in Portland. He was there on a mission: to convince Dr. Harry Lane to sign on as the Democratic Party’s candidate for governor. West was an up-and-comer in the party, but he was not yet a particularly big deal. He’d gotten his start in 1903 when his boss, Asahel Bush, recommended him for the job of state land agent in the wake of the discovery of the schoollands swindle. Gov. George Chamberlain gave him the job, and over the next several years he clawed back what land parcels he could and helped prosecute such of the thieves and grafters as had left themselves legally exposed in their feeding frenzy — “to save for our school children at least a small portion of their birthright,” as he put it. West dove into the project, and his 1904 report set up the landfraud trials the following year. Then, in 1907, Chamberlain named him to the newly formed railroad commission. The railroads had been taking full advantage of their effective monopoly, and popular resentment had reached the boiling point. This job had given West a statewide reputation. But he
Photo: Oregon Historical Society
Signing Something: Gov. Oswald West and Dr. Viola M. Coe look on as Abigail Scott Duniway, center, signs the Equal Suffrage Proclamation in November 1912. In that year, women in Oregon won their right to vote, with West’s help.
was still a junior politico — not yet out of his thirties. The idea of running for governor himself had not occurred to him — or, if it had, he was enough of a team player to have dismissed it as something to work toward in the next go. For now, he was concentrating on filling the top of the party’s ticket with the most viable candidate, and that — hands down — was Harry Lane. Harry Lane was something like an older version of Os West. He was the grandson of Joseph Lane, the U.S. Senator who destroyed his career by running for Vice-President with John Breckenridge on the pro-slavery Southern Democrats’ Presidential ticket in 1860. But that apple had fallen a long way from its tree. The younger Lane became a medical doctor, and soon developed a reputation for treating poor Oregonians and then rebuffing their attempts to pay him. By 1910, he had a reputation for seriousness and for scrupulous incorruptibility. He’d been run out of his job as director of the insane asylum after publicly exposing a number of corrupt (but politically well-connected) contractors, who had been
happily delivering barelyusable supplies and charging for first-rate goods; since then, he’d served on the state board of health and been elected Mayor of Portland. He was the state’s most well known and respected progressive reformer. In 1910, Lane had just finished up his second term as Mayor, during which he’d cleaned up the town’s notorious waterfront and red-light districts, put on a swell spread for visitors in the Lewis and Clark Exposition, and generally made of himself a thorn in the side of the beneficiaries of graft and corruption. Os West knew he could and would win. The Republicans had nobody with his levels of visibility and reputation for honesty. So, he had traveled to P-town from his home in Salem, to remonstrate with him personally. West arrived in Portland at the end of an inspection he’d been required to do for his job on the state railroad commission. The train didn’t reach Portland until very late, and he found the hotel full; the state Republican Party was holding its nominating convention nearby. With the help of the desk clerk, West managed to find a room in a small hotel nearby; but by the
BULLYING From Page A1 times. “There’s other people who’ve been called that, but there’s not that many black people in our school like in our last school,” Jasius said, adding when others bully him about his looks, “It makes me feel sad and it makes me feel different from the others.” Naomi’s hardest day came on school picture day, to which she’d worn lip gloss for the occasion. “Someone said that I was so black that even if I put a whole ton of lip gloss on, they could still see my lips,” Naomi said. “I told the teacher and then the teacher told his mom.” The children detailed several incidents. Jasius in particular has had problems with another boy getting physical with him. There were situations on the bus that Kenoyer said were handled right away after reviewing recorded tape. However, Kenoyer and her grandchildren have grown frustrated with the ongoing problems at school that they feel haven’t seen much change. “It seems to be a continuous thing. I’ve been told that it’s been handled and, of course, I’m not at liberty to know what consequences there were or who was talked with or what the circumstances were,” Kenoyer said. “I do know that over the multiple times that I keep bringing this to their attention, I don’t see any consequences. I’ve spoken with the guidance counselors, spoken with the principal, vice principal, the superintendent, and it’s, ‘rest assured, this is
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Shia Altman-Pollack and his mother Jessica Altman-Pollack.
going to be taken care of’ but I keep having this conversation.” Kenoyer was quick to have her grandchildren confess that they have had their own behavioral problems, particularly Jasius, but is adamant they are each handed consequences for their actions at home and she stays in constant contact with their teachers to assure they behave. Shia Altman-Pollack, a 2nd grader, is on the autism spectrum and said he has also often struggled with bullies. “He’s just given us tremendous amounts of reports of teasing, calling him names, hitting him,” Shia’s mother, Jessica Altman-Pollack said. “He’s been approved for special-ed 50 percent of the time, and he’s wanted to spend all his time in there because that’s where he feels safe and nobody bullies him.” Shia also acknowledged that he was afraid to tell the other children that he has two moms. He has dealt with students calling him “gay” and questioning his sexuality. Atlman-Pollack said she understood it can be difficult for young children to navigate around a child with personality issues as Shia has. She said
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he tends to be a tattle-tale, and can be seen as the boy who cries wolf, but there have been legitimate concerns of his that she feels has been overlooked because of that. She said she’s heard there’s something like a collective groan when the boy returns to class. “It’s, ‘Aww, Shia’s here,’” Shia said, admitting he doesn’t feel comfortable anymore. “Everybody’s constantly looking at me when I walk through. That’s why I don’t want to go to school anymore.” Shia has utilized the “calming corner” safe spaces that have been established for children having a hard time controlling their emotions, but he is teased for using them. The family said they are now looking into homeschooling Shia next year but are in the process of fighting a three percent cap that may make it difficult to achieve. Both families say they have overheard bullying towards Hispanic children – told they needed to “go back home,” that they “didn’t belong here” and that their people are criminals and killers and that was why America was building the wall. And Altman-Pollack backed up the racist comments made against Jasius and Naomi. She’d attended a track meet where the students had won some medals. “I heard someone say, ‘oh, they got the black awards,’ or something like that,”
time he did, and settled into it, it was 10 p.m. Nonetheless, he had to have a candidate by the following morning. So West picked up the telephone and rousted Harry Lane out of bed — “informing him that, regardless of the lateness of the hour, I was coming out to his home for the purpose of discussing an important political matter,” as West put it. Lane lived in Sellwood, which, in 1910, was more or less an adjacent town. The city streetcars would take West to the outskirts of Portland, but he was on his own for the last mile or so through the woods. It was 11 p.m. before he got there. Lane, who received West in his night-shirt, was dubious. “He feared,” West recalled, “that he couldn’t make it; that he couldn’t stand the expense of such a campaign; and would have to have time to carefully consider the matter.” Reading between the lines, it’s clear Lane was feeling discouraged. The forces of graft and vice were already celebrating his departure as mayor, and rolling back some of his reforms; and his scrupulous honesty had lost him a lot of friends among the powerful. Surrounded all the time by the state’s V.I.P.s, with whom Atlman-Pollack said. “They’re definitely not making anything up.” Kenoyer said she reached out to The Chief in spite of the fact that her grandchildren will return to California next year. Her concerns are for the other students of mixed-race or who are of African American or Hispanic heritage. She has friends that have been approved for foster care and may be bringing non-white children into their home who will attend Hudson Park. “If this doesn’t get handled, it’s just going to continue on and on and on,” Kenoyer said. The school responds Hudson Park Elementary School Principal, Heidi Blakely, was quick to admit she understands where Kenoyer’s concerns and said she has been involved in multiple meetings to support Shia. “He’s the sweetest little boy,” she said. “I just love him to death.” At the crux of the matter is a change in emotional landscape that schools are now re-learning to deal with, according to Blakely, who said kids are coming in with more needs now, especially in Title 1 schools with more poverty, which Hudson Park experiences. The school has added a full-time counselor at the expense of funding other educational areas. There are various behavioral plans that send students to special teachers to have different skills taught to them and they have established program curriculum to help students learn how to regulate their emotions. There is a Wellness Center that must be staffed and trained. And again, Blakely said, that costs money. Furthermore, she said they always exceed the allocation the government provides to address special needs children, with the remainder being pulled from the general fund. “A full-time counselor, that takes away from an-
he was unpopular, he hadn’t quite realized how popular he was among the voters at large. West gave his best shot at convincing Lane to go for it. He told Lane to take an hour to think about it for an hour and call him at his hotel room; the party would have to have a candidate the next day. So West traipsed through the woods and fields back to the outskirts of Portland, along the way picking up three bananas (probably from a saloon; although West didn’t drink, that was likely the only kind of business that would be open at 11:30 p.m.) to serve as a midnight snack. “As I walked up Washington Street to my hotel, I met the adjourned Republican convention,” West wrote. “My old friend Jay Bowerman had been nominated for governor. I leaned up against a telephone pole to watch the happy, singing delegates march by.” Finally, around midnight, West arrived at his hotel. He wolfed down one of his bananas, crawled into bed, and lay awake there, staring at the ceiling and waiting and hoping for the phone to ring, with Dr. Harry Lane on the other end of the line. But the telephone sat there like a sphinx on the table, all night long. Around 1:45 a.m. West decided to take the hint. He lay there in bed and pondered deeply. There was, he knew, another candidate who might have a shot as a gubernatorial candidate. He was awfully young for the job — just 38 years old. But he had a strong reputation as an up-andcoming progressive, able to get things done, fearless and with a track record of successfully locking horns with some of the wealthiest and most powerful crooks and swindlers in the country, not once but several times. The public knew his name, and plenty of voters, both Democrats and Republicans, admired and would vote for him. Best of all, he wouldn’t have to be pleaded with. All
West had to do was make up his mind — and throw in his hat. At around 2 a.m., West came to a decision. He jumped out of bed and looked around for writing supplies with which to draft a platform — he’d need a platform to present himself to the party with. But there was nothing in the room, and for some reason he wasn’t packing anything with him. “So, I arose, dumped the remaining bananas out of the bag,” West recalled; “split it down the sides; flattened it out and wrote a gubernatorial platform; crawled back into bed; cried and fell asleep.” The platform scratched on that banana peel would carry West to a narrow victory over Bowerman a few months later. Like Harry Lane, Oswald West was widely hated by the wealthy swells of the state, and for the same reasons an honest cop is hated by the owners of illegal casinos; but his reputation as a fearless square shooter made him very popular with the voters. Lane, belatedly realizing his own popularity, was so inspired by West’s success that he stood for U.S. Senator two years later, and won the seat handily. So in 1912, when the moment was ripe to save the beaches of the state from private development, a man was in the governor’s office who would take the necessary action — famously, declaring the beaches to be state highways and putting them under the jurisdiction of the highway department. And in 1917, when President Woodrow Wilson went before Congress to demand that it agree to make what would arguably be the worst and most destructive mistake in the history of American government — entry into the First World War — a man was in the Senate who would, on Oregon’s behalf, vote “no.” And it all had its roots in a flattened banana peel plastered on the table of a small Portland hotel.
other teacher and increases my classroom sizes, but that’s why we’re putting this Wellness Center in to help those kids. That takes staffing, that takes time away from learning in the classroom, but it demonstrates as a school district and as a school how seriously we really want to support these kids and teach them how to work in a school environment,” Blakely said. Superintendent Michael Carter said the Rainier District has taken great strides in educating their staff on trauma informed care and Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACE scores. They are now teaching behavior as much as they teach math and reading. While it can be easy to lose patience with student bullies, Carter said it can also be easy to forget that many of these bullies are dealing with extreme circumstances outside of school and are likely acting out as a result. How much punishment is fair, or even appropriate for such a child? “In the past, it’s been, ‘you’re disrupting the learning environment, get out of here.’ We don’t do that now,” Carter said. “We find out what’s wrong and some of the kids can’t communicate those needs. Maybe they didn’t get breakfast that day, so we feed them, make sure their basic needs are taken care of and that they feel safe. Some kids acting up don’t have those assets – we’ve got some kids with ACE scores at nine and ten, and we have to teach empathy.” Blakely admits that the piece she struggles with is that when she shares with frustrated parents that the school is following up with disciplinary actions to redirect students in the right way, she cannot share the steps that are being taken to redirect a student that is not that parent’s child. “I can’t share those steps because it’s confidential to that specific family, but we follow through with a definite process,” Blakely said. “Gen-
erally, you try to reteach the appropriate behavior before you move to more disciplinary stuff. If a student doesn’t know how to read, we’re not going to kick them out of school. So, we also believe we have to teach that appropriate behavior.” Blakely added there is a new law that students in 5th grade or below cannot be suspended from school unless they’re a proper security threat or safety issue. Many of these problem children come to the school with high ACE scores, Blakely said. They come from a divorced family, or from a family that’s involved in drugs, and if they’re bullied at home … they’re more likely to be bullies at school. Carter pointed out that we’re dealing with one of the highest unemployment and foreclosure rates - that many Columbia County families are fighting for money and their students are growing up in that. “All my teaching staff has been through extensive training around that to help these students that have higher behavioral needs. We need to teach our kids with what they come to us with,” Blakely said. “We need to meet them where they’re at.” Blakely added any bullying incidents or reports of racial misconduct are addressed immediately and are not taken lightly. “It’s very difficult to explain that that young person didn’t have what you have and there’s a certain place where you have to draw the line, and that is what we’re still working on,” Carter said. “We’re adding more and more supports and we’re still augmenting it, but Hudson Park has more mental health services than any other school in the district.” Join the conversation, post your comments on this story and follow developments at thechiefnews.com.
Traffic alert for Seattle to Portland bike ride Seattle to Portland will pass through St. Helens this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, July 13-14. Approximately 8,000 cyclists are expected to move through our city during this time. St. Helens High School is one of five main official rest stops
on the route. It is also the last full rest stop before participants arrive at their final destination in Portland. Due to the Gable Road detour and construction project, we ask the community to use extra caution when driving in the area of Highway 30
near the High School this weekend. The construction project has greatly increased through-traffic on several surface streets in the surrounding area. With approximately 8,000 cyclists also using some of these same side streets this weekend, be
extra vigilant while driving. We ask both drivers and cyclists to obey all traffic laws, use extra caution on side streets, and to watch out for each other. Let’s all arrive at our intended destinations safe this weekend.
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BUY IT Notice of Availability of Draft Watershed Plan-Environmental Assessment Lower Columbia Watershed RestorationOR Project SELL IT The United States may be partially funded activities would reduce the Council on Environmental Time: 6 – 7 p.m. Location: complete Draft Watershed Department of Agriculture through the USDA Regional flow of excessive sediments Quality’s regulations at 40 Columbia Soil and Water Plan-EA and other project IN THE Natural Resources Conservation Partnership and pesticides into surface CFR Parts 1500-1508 require Conservation District 35285 information online at bit.ly/ Conservation Service Program, utilizing the waters to improve water an evaluation of potential Millard Road St. Helens, columbiawatershedproject. CLASSIFIEDS! (USDA-NRCS), in Watershed Protection and quality; stabilize the soils to environmental impacts OR 97501. The meeting Printed copies of the Draft CC19-1062
partnership with the Columbia Soil and Water Conservation District as the project sponsor, and with cooperation from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, announces the availability of a Draft Watershed PlanEnvironmental Assessment (Draft Plan - EA) to improve water quality and enhance fish and wildlife habitat within a portion of the Columbia-Clatskanie River sub-basin in Northwest Oregon. These improvements
Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (PL 83-566) authority. The proposed project will improve and restore the physical, chemical, and biological processes of aquatic, riparian, and wetland habitats through voluntary, localized enhancement and restoration activities. Proposed activities include addressing barriers to fish passage; improving aquatic and riparian habitats; and performing streambank stabilization using large wood and native vegetation. These
provide riparian areas; and help create habitat pools by including large wood in the stream bank design to benefit fish habitat. The work being considered is located in the northcentral portion of Columbia County within the Beaver Creek-Columbia River Watershed, the Clatskanie River Watershed, and the Green Creek-Columbia side channel watershed. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the
CC19-1069
associated with federal projects and actions with input from the public. NRCS has reviewed the potential impacts of the project and released a Draft Plan-EA. You are invited to attend a public meeting where your input is requested. The range of resource issues and alternatives addressing habitat and water quality improvements will be presented and discussed. Public Meeting on Draft Plan-EA Date: July 16, 2019
location is accessible to persons with disabilities. A request for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or for other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting to the Columbia Soil and Water Conservation District at 503433-3205 x104. Comments on the Draft Plan-EA may be submitted during a public comment period starting June 26, 2019 and ending on Aug. 2, 2019. View the
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Plan-EA are also available at the Columbia SWCD office. Comments may be emailed to information@columbiaswcd. The Chronicle com or mailed directly to: Attn: Selene Keeney at Columbia Soil and Water Conservation District 35285 503-397-0116 Millard Road St. Helens, toAdditional place Oregon 97051. information is available at your ad www.columbiaswcd.com or the NRCS link for Public Today! Notices: https://www.nrcs. usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/ main/or/newsroorm/pnotice/
CC19-1070
CLATSKANIE PEOPLE’S UTILITY DISTRICT BOARD MEETING NOTICE The McNulty Water People’s (2) (e) to discuss real the employment of a public DISTRICT MEETING NOTICE Utility District is scheduled property matters B. ORS officer, employee, staff to hold a “District Board 192.660 (2) (f) to consider member or individual agent. The Clatskanie People’s Utility District Board of Directors has scheduled the next regular Board meeting for Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at 7 pm in the community room of the District’s administration building located at 495 E Columbia River Highway, Clatskanie. A Board Workshop will be held at 5:30 pm. An executive session may be called at the workshop and/or meeting, pursuant to: ORS 192.660 (2) (f) information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection. AGENDA
CLATSKANIE PEOPLE’S UTILITY DISTRICT BOARD WORKSHOP on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at 5:30 P.M. I. OPUDA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: Mike Freese, The Romain Group II. STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE III. MSRB & BOND DISCLOSURES PRESENTATION: Barb Haas IV. RESOLUTION 19-03 RENEWAL OF CFC EMERGENCY LINE OF CREDIT V. STAFF REPORTS CLATSKANIE PEOPLE’S UTILITY DISTRICT REGULAR
BOARD MEETING on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at 7 P.M. I. PUBLIC COMMENTS II. CONSENT AGENDA · Minutes of Board Workshop, June 19, 2019 · Minutes of Regular Board Meeting, June 19, 2019 · Review payment of bills for June 2019 III. ACTION ITEMS · Policy Review: 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 301, and 315 IV. DISCUSSION / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS · Board Comments & Calendar V. EXECUTIVE SESSION VI. ADJOURNMENT
• 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 Department July 3 • An officer responded to the Chevron for a reported disturbance. An officer arrived and learned that the disturbance occurred in another jurisdiction and
had already been reported. The caller just wanted to be escorted to a vehicle that was parked 3 miles down the highway. • An officer was dispatched to a suspicious vehicle that was parked in the trees on private property. The officer found 2 people sleeping in the vehicle. After speaking with the officer, they left the area. • An officer was dispatched to an alarm. The building checked ok and was secured. • A caller reported fireworks being set off in a grassy area. The individual setting the fireworks off was given a warning. • A caller reported someone in the neighborhood was shooting
meeting” on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at 7:00 pm Meeting location: 34240 Millard Road in Warren, Oregon. The Public is invited to attend. See more details at http://www.McNultyWater. com. An Executive Board meeting may follow regarding: A. ORS 192.660
information or records exempt by law from public inspection C. ORS 192.660 (2) (h) to consult with counsel regarding the legal rights and duties of a public body with regard to current litigation or litigation likely to be filled D. ORS 192.660 (2) (a) to consider
Pursuant to ORS 192.660 (4), representatives of the news media are specifically directed not to report on any of the deliberations during the executive session, except to state the general subject of the session as previously announced and described above.
The Public Notice deadline is Wednesdays by noon. Late submissions are not guaranteed to make it into the paper.
•B lotters • •
a gun and setting off fireworks. The problem stopped before officers arrived, and they were unable to locate a suspect. July 4 • An officer was dispatched to an unwanted person at a local business. The subjects left before the officer arrived. • Officers responded to a disturbance at a residence. Peace was restored. • Police responded to a theft at a local business. When they arrived, the person had already left. July 5 • Officer responded to distur-
bance at a residence. Upon arrival officers spoke with both parties and peace was restored. • A caller reported telephonic harassment after they received unwanted text messages from someone they knew • Police were dispatched to a local business where a woman was kicked out of the store twice after screaming and yelling. The woman then went across the street and continued screaming and yelling foul language. Officers arrived, and peace was restored. July 7 • Police were called to a residence where eggs had been
thrown at it. The homeowner knew who the suspect was and declined to press charges. • Police responded to a baring dog in a vehicle near First Street and A Street. After speaking with an officer, the owner left the area with his dog. • An officer responded to a disruptive subject at a local business. The man reportedly was drunk, threatening people and refused to leave. When an employee called the police, the man threw a beer bottle at the bar and then left. An officer located the man who was then arrested and charged with Criminal Mischief, Criminal Trespass and Resisting Arrest.
July 8 • Police towed an abandoned vehicle from the 400 block of East A Street. • Police were dispatched to a barking dog complaint. • Police were dispatched to a minor non-injury motor vehicle crash in a parking lot. July 9 • Police were called to check on the welfare of a person who was not answering their phone. The person checked ok and was asked to contact the concerned relative. • An officer responded to the Lewis & Clark Bridge for a noninjury motor vehicle accident.
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Friday, July 12, 2019
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2nd Annual Beard and Mustache Contest
Photo: Dani Roberts
Barb Ripplinger put on the 2nd Annual Beard & Mustache Contest. It was a great success. There were two wonderful judges: Margaret Macgruder & Amanda Roberts. Dani Roberts, who was the announcer, also stepped up to be a judge. Thank you for everyone that donated a gift certificate for our contest.
ds
er at nd ! Daniel Hanson Most natural mustache
Devon Spencer Beard under six inches
Jason Bennett Full beard over 6 inches and grand prize winner
Rainier Days in the Park
Samuel Kent Natural mustache
Unknown name Curliest beard
Clatskanie Heritage Days 2019 Strut Your Mutt Results
Ball Fiend Adult: Shelli Emminger and Emmi Best Costume Youth: Scarlett Harris and Feather Best Costume Adult: Karen Marx and Rudy Best Kisser Youth: Maya Helmen and Lilac Best Kisser Adult: Jonathan Hermo and Brutus Best Smile Youth: Jazzline Clark and Roxy Best Smile Adult: Jonathan Hermo and Brutus Best Trick Youth: Claire Hansen and Turtle Best Trick Adult: Jack Minzey and Millie Curliest Hair Youth: Scarlett Harris and Julian Curliest Hair Adult: Shelli Emminger and Lizzie Grayest Muzzle Youth: Tabitha Thomas and Baltimore
d t ly/ ct. ft e at ce. ed to wcd.
Grayest Muzzle Adult: Donna Garlock and Gabby
DS!
Longest Ears Youth: Christopher Helvie and Daisy Rose
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cle
Ball Fiend Puppy: Jasper Koenig and Kameya
The Ferris Wheel from the carnival at last year’s Rainier Days.
Longest Ears Adult: Tressa Harris and Juliana Blue
Photo: Rainier Days in the Park staff
Longest Tail Youth: William Puls and Luna
285 16
Longest Tail Adult: Michelle & Josh Osborn and George
l t
Owner Look-Alike Youth: Hattie Blackwood and Kathrine
lic s. / ce/
Owner Look-Alike Adult: Judy Minzey and Carter Shortest Ears Youth: Tabitha Thomas and Baltimore Shortest Ears Adult: Daniel Hermo and Amber Shortest Legs Youth: Ava Shelton and Binksy the Meatball Bambino
blic
ent. 0 e ally any ng cept ect sly d
Shortest Legs Adult: Donna Garlock and Gabby Shortest Tail Youth: Oliver Rude and Chaco Shortest Tail Adult: Susan Somes and Otis Traveled Farthest Youth: Tabitha Thomas and Baltimore from Nevada
Fireworks from last year’s Rainier Days hover over the Ferris Wheel. CHRISTINE MENGES chronicle2@countrymedia.net
The City of Rainier will host the annual Rainier Days in the Park festival this weekend, July 12-14. According to Rainier Mayor Jerry Cole, the festival has been going on “in one form or another” for the past 50 years. Usually the week after the Fourth of July, “It’s a way for the community to come together and have a good time. Our goal has always been about family fun,” Cole said. While Cole will be participating in the parade, and designed the Rainier Days logo this year, he is not participating in the festival on the city’s behalf. “I just happen to be involved in a lot of the stuff in the city, and this is just one of them. It’s a separate agency,” Cole said. Information about the festival is available on the Rainier Days in the Park information page on Facebook. The festival will start at 3 p.m. on Friday with a music performance by Ray Prestegard, and will continue with a Pro Wrestling match, followed by a music performance from the Poison tribute band, Poison’us. On Saturday, there
will be a parade at 10 a.m. Because of the construction on A Street, the starting point for the parade will be on East 3rd Street. There will also be many other live music performances and fireworks at the end of the evening. Sunday is a little bit different from the previous two days, according to Cole. “Sunday, we switch gears and we have praise in the park. The local churches that want to partake come together and do some events and have some Christian music, and they have a worship service in the morning,” Cole said. The event will culminate with a concert with Jake Hamilton on Sunday at 5 p.m. Throughout the weekend, there will be food and craft vendors as well as a carnival with up to 16 rides, Cole said. While festival-goers will have to purchase food if they want to buy from vendors, and tickets for any of the carnival rides, the rest of the event is not ticketed, according to Cole. “You could truly come down, pack your own lunch, and not have to pay anything. We’ve always been proud of that,” Cole said.
Traveled Farthest Adult: Jacqueline Clark from Vancouver, WA
Photo: Sophia Phipps
Rainier Days in the Park is an independent organization that is not funded by the city. Instead, the festival is funded through sponsors, vendor income, and carnival income, according to Cole. The city also benefits financially in other ways. “It’s truly a signature event for a lot of non-profit and fundraising groups to come in. It kind of puts a shot in the arm for restaurants and brings some people into town,” Cole said. The people who run the event are all volunteers. Cole said there are eight key executive volunteers, as well as 40 other volunteers who all assist at different time slots. “This event wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated sponsors and our dedicated volunteers. It’s a truly volunteer-run event and it wouldn’t be possible without them,” Cole said. “We hope people come and have a good time.” For more information about Rainier Days in the Park, check out their website, https://www.rainierdaysinthepark.com/, or their Facebook page: https://www. facebook.com/RainierDaysinThepark/.
Photos: Kelli Puzey
Mayor’s Favorites: Kendra Poor and Luna; Izzy Mustola and Lou ; Maya Helmen and Lilac
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