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The Chief
Friday, July 15, 2016
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$1 Vol. 125, No. 9 8 Pages
Serving the Lower Columbia Region Since 1891
A Clatskanie sendoff for Jeff Skirvin BY JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
“I thought it was a car wash,” Jeff Skirvin said as he drove passed a large group of cheering and sign holding people in front of Rockcrest Realty on Highway 30 in Clatskanie. But the crowd didn’t gather on Sunday afternoon, July 10, to wash cars. Instead, members of Skirvin’s family, friends and school associates were there to give the Clatskanie Middle/High School teacher a surprise warm sendoff as he headed to Chicago and the Shil National Timber Competition. “This is amazing,” Skirvin said as he drove his van into nearby Bundy’s Café parking lot to greet the gathering. “I am surprised. This is pretty cool.” Parent Anngie Froke and her children came up with the sendoff idea. “My kids and I were talking about Jeff leaving for the competition and we thought a sendoff for him would be a great idea,” she said. “Jeff has been a football coach and teacher at Clatskanie Middle/High School for years. He goes out of his way to do a lot for the kids in his classes, so we decided to do this sendoff to show our support for him.” Skirvin began competing when he was 8-years-old. “His dad competed nationally and Jeff just followed in his dad’s footsteps,” Judy Skirvin, Jeff’s mother said. “Jeff started competing in the Clatskanie Logging Show doing some of the fun stuff and it just kind of developed from there.” Skirvin will compete in the Stihl Timbersports Series in six lumberjack disciplines: the hot saw, single buck, springboard chop, standing block chop, stock saw and underhand chop. Skirvin said the competition will be tough and he’s been training hard five days a week. “I have a covered area at my house
JEREMY C. RUARK / THE CHIEF
Just as he was leaving town for national timber competition in Chicago, Clatskanie Middle/ High School teacher Jeff Skirvin was greeted by family, friends and others for a warm sendoff.
and I do a lot of the events there,” he said. “I’ll chop 400 blocks of wood during each training session. I also do cross-training to stay in shape.” The Stihl Timbersports Series’ U.S. Pro and Collegiate Championships will be held on July 15 and 16 at the Tinley Park Convention Center in Chicago.
Marijuana grow near Rainier schools approved by planning commission
According to the Stihl website, the series, called the original extreme sport, pits top lumberjack athletes from across the country in thrilling and grueling wood-chopping, cutting, and sawing competition. If Skirvin wins the national championship he will go on to the world competition to be held in Germany.
ijuana grow site. Commissioners Linda Hooper, Claudia Frace, Bill DeJager and Alta Lynch voted to allow the business. RAD Nursery Products LLC plans to use a 24,000 sq. ft. building to house an indoor marijuana farm. The building is located across the street from Hudson Parcher Park and close to Rainier’s school sports fields. During the public comment portion of the hearing, Rainier School District Superintendent Michael Carter spoke out against the grow site. Carter was joined by a number of church representatives and concerned citizens. Among the concerns voiced were worries about odors, security, traffic, and community (and student) impact as well as the general appearance of placing a pot farm near a school and park. “Just because you have the right to build it doesn’t make it really right,” Carter said. He is concerned that being so close to the school, the business will send the wrong message. Carter also worries about problems at the grow site affecting students at the school.
cmann@countrymedia.net
The Columbia County Planning Commission has approved a proposed indoor marijuana growing operation near Rainier School District property. At a public hearing held July 11, the commission heard comments from numerous individuals who opposed the grow site, and returned a somewhat divided vote to allow the business to move forward. Commissioners Paula Lichatowich and Rod Lloyd vote in opposition to the mar-
See MARIJUANA Page A6
air this fall on ABC television and the Professional Series will also re-air on ESPN and ESPN2. See more photos and video of the sendoff at thechiefnews.com and follow Jeff Skirvin’s competition at stihltimbersports.com and at thechiefnews. com.
Local law enforcement reacts to national police attacks BY JEREMY C. RUARK
BY CODY MANN
Skirvin said the national competition will likely come down to the last event “It all comes down to the hot saw,” he said. That is the last event. The motors can act up. It’s a simple motor made into a chain saw, so anything can happen.” The Stihl Timbersports Series will
jruark@countrymedia.net
Oregon law enforcement agencies are reacting with sadness to the recent police attacks in Dallas, Texas and across the nation. “The people that have that type of radical behavior, killing a police officer for a cause, are nothing more than cowards,” Clatskanie Police Sgt. Shaun McQuiddy said The Oregon State Sheriff’s Association released a statement this week that reads in part: “These tragic events have deeply affected the law enforcement profession. All Oregon law enforcement officers took an oath to safeguard the citizens of the communities they serve. They are true professionals who will remain vigilant in keeping our communities and their fellow officers safe! We want to thank Oregonians for taking time to express their support for our brave police officers here and around the nation.” The Oregon State Sheriff’s Association’s Executive Director John Bishop said the attacks underscore the danger of the profession.
“The attacks are another reminder that we have a dangerous job,” he said. Police awareness Bishop said he hasn’t seen any major change of policy or new equipment added to law enforcement agencies in Oregon follow-
ing the police attacks. But he said there is more awareness among police officers and sheriff’s deputies of the danger they may face on each call for service.
See POLICE Page A3
JEREMY C. RUARK / THE CHIEF
Clatskanie Police Sgt. Shaun McQuiddy says the attacks on police across the nation has increased his awareness of the possible danger when he is dispatched on police service calls.
101st Columbia County Fair & Rodeo Fair Dates July 20-24th FEATURING PARMALEE STRAIGHT FROM NASHVILLE! 1 Night July 16th, 3 Concerts Gates Open at 3:30 Music Starts at 5