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Wednesday, June 8, 2022
At the end of their ropes! Originally published in The Chronicle Vol. 140 June 1, 2022 JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Firefighters in Columbia County must be prepared for any situation as they respond to emergencies. Often the firefighters must repel up and down steep cliffs, tall buildings and in waterways to conduct lifesaving operations. In late May, seven members from Scappoose Rural Fire Protection District (SRFPD), joined by members of Columbia River Fire & Rescue (CRFR), Banks Fire
District, and Clackamas Fire conducted dedicated practicing and perfected rope rescue techniques. “Learning and maintaining these skills is not only critical for vertical hillside rescues, but also in swift water/river rescue, and the rapid extrication module that Scappoose has for technical rescues in the wildland fire environment,” a SRFPD Facebook post states. “Rope rescue has also been utilized with large animal and cattle rescue and recovery efforts.” Crux Rescue conducted the course instruction and provided realistic scenarios to test the firefighter’s skills at the Broadbent Training Center in St. Helens.
Courtesy photo from Scappoose Fire
The teams of firefighters used the Columbia River Fire & Rescue training center in St. Helens for the rope exercise.
Local firefighters make a steady climb to the top during the rope training.
Courtesy photo from Scappoose Fire
An ‘incredible donation’: Fifth grader brings LEGOs to kids Originally published in The Chief Vol. 131 June 3, 2022 ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net
News of a local boy’s generosity is resonating with the community and across Oregon. “I think people are hungry for good news and positivity, and Edan’s donation delivered that in a big way,” said Maryanne Hirning, director of the Clatskanie Library District. Earlier in May, Clatskanie Library District authored a social media post recognizing fifth-grader Edan Bocanegra for his $150 donation to the library to support a LEGO club. “This young man, Edan Bocanegra, surprised the library with a $150.00 donation of funds he raised through collecting & returning cans!” the post reads. “Per his request, the library will be purchasing LEGOs to start a weekly LEGO club!! We can’t thank Edan enough for his incredible donation!!” News of Bocanegra’s good deed quickly spread beyond Clatskanie. The State Library of Oregon and the Oregon Library Association shared the Clatskanie Library District’s post on their own Facebook pages, recognizing him for making the public library a better place.
Taking initiative When Bocanegra learned of the library’s intention to start a LEGO club, he sprang into action. “The librarian had told him that they were maybe going to start one in the fall, and he came home and was excited about it,” mom Angela Bocanegra said. “(He) wanted to do it sooner. So magically, it’s all come together where it (is) now.” Bocanegra went door to door, asking neighbors and community members whether they had any cans they could give. Angela told The Chief she was doubtful at first. “As a parent, I wanted to say, oh, don’t go bother people, but I didn’t say anything negative,” she said. “I was like, Well, you do whatever you want to do, you know, and I couldn’t believe it. He came back with a whole clipboard of addresses that he had them fill out before.” Bocanegra collected around 1,000 cans in all and delivered the proceeds to the Clatskanie Library District. ‘Big dreams’ Bocanegra’s donation was impactful for several reasons, according to Hirning. “LEGO Clubs are a pretty standard STEM programming option at libraries today; many Columbia County
libraries have well-established and incredibly popular clubs,” Hirning said. “With the monetary donation from Edan, the library was able to purchase several foundational LEGO sets that will start the club off on the right foot.” “Additionally, the social media posts and newspaper publicity gets the word out to a much larger audience than usual, so the library has so much potential to offer a variety of programming that supports lifelong learning,” she added. The Clatskanie Library District LEGO Club will be a once-a-week offering for kids ages 6 and over, Hirning said. The LEGO Club, which debuts at the library on June 24 and is free to attend, will be held every Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. “We are so thankful to Edan for getting this program off the ground!” Hirning said. Angela expressed pride in her son moving forward with this initiative despite her initial reservations. If there is anything to take away from this story and the community response, “it’s the power of positivity,” Angela said. “It was all him. He spearheaded the whole thing,” Angela said. “So I think that’s what it is - the big dreams that a kid can have, that adults should never shut those down.”
Courtesy photo
Edan Bocanegra holds up an envelope containing his $150 donation to Clatskanie Library District.
Below is a list of WHERE to pick up a FREE copy of the print edition of the News-Advertiser. Also available every week at: thechronicleonline.com and at thechiefnews.com CLATSKANIE • CLATSKANIE SAFEWAY • HI SCHOOL PHARMACY IN CLATSKANIE • CLATSKANIE MARKET
• SMOKE SHOP • NELSON NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET • ACE • GROCERY OUTLET
SCAPPOOSE • ROAD RUNNER GAS & GROCERY • JACKPOT 76 • ENGSTROM CHEVRON • B&B MARKET • FRED MEYER
ST. HELENS • CHUBB’S CHEVRON • SHERLOCK’S • YANKTON STORE • ZATTERBURG’S
• MARKET FRESH • WALGREENS • BEST WESTERN • MOLLY’S MARKET • WALMART • ACE • DON’S RENTAL DEER ISLAND • DEER ISLAND STORE
COLUMBIA CITY • COLUMBIA CITY GROCERY & GAS RAINIER • ALSTON STORE • DOLLAR GENERAL • GROCERY OUTLET WESTPORT • THE BERRY BATCH RESTAURANT • WEST MART STORE