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$1 Vol. 125, No. 18 8 Pages
Serving the Lower Columbia Region Since 1891
River erosion renovation project set for this fall BY JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Damage from last December’s flooding in Clatskanie continues to challenge the city. The latest issue involves erosion along the Clatskanie River banks. “There is severe erosion where Fourth Street meets the Clatskanie River and the road is very near to falling into the river,” Columbia Soil and Water Conservation District Manager Kari OlsenHollander said. “There is a lot of infrastructure in the road that we want to protect and get everything stabilized.” Clatskanie City Manager Greg Hinkelman said the December flood has compromised three areas along the Clatskanie River. Of most concern is Fourth Street near Clatskanie Builders Supply Store. “That point is a major choke point and one of the narrowest points in the river,” he said. “The accelerated water emphasizes the erosion. If we don’t do anything and have another flood event, the possibility exits that we could lose a portion of Fourth Street.” Hinkelman said the two other areas of erosion concern are just below the bridge that leads into Clatskanie City Park and a portion of the river near the Clatskanie Inn. During the Clatskanie City Council’s regular monthly public meeting on Sept. 7, Olsen-Hollander outlined the river erosion issues and the potential fix.
JEREMY C. RUARK / THE CHIEF
According to officials, this portion of the banks along the Clatskanie River has seen severe erosion since the December 2015 flooding and threatens the stability of Fourth Street.
“The design that we are moving forward with is a form of rip wrap that could be rocks at the toe that are built up along the bank with soil mix at the top of the bank,” she said. “The blocks along the bank, kind of the seawall, will be replaced following the rip warp development to help stabilize the road and prevent it from falling in.” Olsen-Hollander said the bulk of the funding needed for the project, an estimated $400,000, would come from the federal Department of Agriculture’s Soil Conservation Service emergency water protect
that means there is a danger if we have a wind storm,” he said. Hinkelman said the city is evaluating the number of trees that are old and have possible root rot issues at the water plant site. “At least one of the trees needs to be taken down right away,” Hinkelman said. “The last thing we need to have is a tree fall on the water plant and suddenly the city doesn’t have water. The second element is the trees around private property that need attention. So, we are being proactive.” Hinkelman said he is hopeful
fund. The City of Clatskanie will pay approximately $25,000 of that cost, according to Hinkelman. “We are at the tail end of getting our permits in place, so once we establish a contractor and the permits are in our hands, we will begin right away,” Olsen-Hollander said. “We hope to get started by October 1.” Hinkelman is also concerned about trees that might threaten the city’s water plant at 520 Bryant Street and nearby private property. “The trees are old and we are looking at the possibly of rot and
the tree evaluation will be completed this month. A plan to deal with the dangerous trees would be developed shortly after the evaluation. Hinkelman said the cost of the project is currently unknown, but the city could market the timber and that might pay for the tree removal. Follow the latest developments with the erosion and tree removal projects online at thechiefnews.com and in print in the Friday editions of The Chief.
Dog park would honor man’s best friend who was disciplined, playful, emotive and highly social. Her social nature is one motive for the leash-less dog park in her name. Olsen said Amy had many friends in the canine kingdom, and was always friendly, and held her own even when running with the tougher dogs she met. Amy had plenty of human friends too, greeting visitors to Olsen’s shop, Tio Calvino in Quincy, and always making new friends on the walk. “A lady used to come and pick her up… and she would take my dog over to Bundy’s, buy an ice cream cone and hold it for her and feed her an ice cream cone,” Olsen said. You might have seen Olsen in character with Amy. The pair would become Calvis and Duck Dog, dressed as sort of a mix of Elvis Presley and the world’s biggest Oregon Ducks fans. With big hair and capes and glitter, Olsen would bring Amy out for parades and events to the enjoyment of children and adults alike. Olsen’s relationship with Amy was therapeutic. “She calmed me down, she listened, she never
BY CODY MANN
cmann@countrymedia.net
Soccer fun in Clatskanie
CODY MANN / THE CHIEF
Alex Mann, 5, breaks out from the pack during the soccer jamboree held in Clatskanie on Saturday, Sept. 10. Teams composed of players in a wide range of ages participated in the event.
If you live in Clatskanie, you have probably crossed paths with Calvin Olsen and his beloved mixed Labrador, America the Beautiful. After 14 years together, Olsen said goodbye to his boon companion, but he wants to honor her memory by bringing a leash-less dog park to Clatskanie. Olsen said America the Beautiful, known by such nicknames as Amy, Erica and more, was born on the Fourth of July in Taylorville. He adopted Amy from friends one cold and rainy night after seeing her out on a chain in their yard. He said the owners were caring for the animal for their granddaughter, but were not up to meeting the demands of a puppy. Amy had an instant impact on Olsen’s life. “I was heavier, and she was my excuse to get out there and start walking,” he said. “We did our loops around Clatskanie and pretty soon we just became part of the town.” Olsen said the people they met on their regular trips around town came to know and love a dog
See DOG PARK Page A6
CODY MANN / THE CHIEF
Calvin Olsen and America the Beautiful.
Columbia County sees job growth BY JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Employers added 4,600 jobs in August, boosting Oregon’s payroll employment for the 50th consecutive month. The August job growth follows a revised gain of 5,000 in July, according to the Oregon Employment Department. “In Columbia County, we are seeing job growth in the retail sector, the government sector, local education, leisure and hospitality and health care,” Oregon Employment Department Economist Nick Beleiciks said. Since June 2012, Oregon’s economy expanded rapidly, adding 208,200 jobs - an average gain of 4,200 jobs per month. Oregon hasn’t seen such a long string of
monthly job gains since comparable records began in 1990. Nationally, August was the 71st straight month of job growth. According to Beleiciks, the job growth accelerated when it became much more broad based. He said all sectors in Oregon are now adding
faster than the U.S. as a whole,” he said. Beleiciks said there is a high demand for Oregon goods such as agriculture and manufactured goods and that has added jobs to wood product manufacturing, fabricated metal production, machinery manu-
“People are moving to Columbia County and the rest of the state for the jobs and Oregon’s livability,” Nick Beleiciks, Oregon Employment Department economist
Oregon Employment Department Research Division Workforce Analyst/Economist Shawna Sykes said Columbia County grew from an estimated 50,075 in 2014 to 50,390 in 2015, a growth rate of .6 percent. “The number of employed people who live in Columbia County has grown from 21,246 last July to 22,315 this July, up 1,069 jobs, a growth rate of 5 percent in the time period,” she said. The latest population figures from 2015 show 315 more people in Columbia County. St. Helens gained 105 residents to 13,095. Scappoose gained 45 residents boosting its population to 6,745, Columbia City 10, making its population at 1,955 and 155 new
jobs at a fairly rapid pace. “Now that they have come back, they are at full speed,” he said. Beleiciks said Oregon’s construction industry has seen the fastest job growth, adding 7,500 jobs at a 9.1 percent growth rate. “We have been adding jobs
facturing and food manufacturing. “People are moving to Columbia County and the rest of the state for the jobs and Oregon’s livability,” he said. “The job growth attracts people to Oregon and people moving to Oregon itself creates job growth.”
See JOB GROWTH Page A7