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Wednesday February 17, 2021
Sweet Pea’s favorite sky high perch
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Originally published in The Chronicle Vol. 139 February 10, 2021
Phone: 503-397-0116 Email: chroniclenews@ countrymedia.net Email: chiefnews@ countrymedia.net
JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
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You might spot Sweet Pea crouching proud and true, high a top the St. Helens Library. The cat has gained a lot of attention while sitting peacefully on the roof of the building. The neighborhood St. Helens Public Library has received phone calls, emails, messages on social media, in-person queries, and Morse code asking if the cat that has recently taken up residence on the library’s roof is stuck. “We would like to reassure everyone that she
is not,” according to the library’s post in the City of St. Helens latest newsletter. “Sweet Pea lives in the neighborhood and recently discovered that she can get on the library roof and now she spends her days surveying her kingdom.” When not on the roof, the library staff reports that Sweet Pea also likes to pounce on insects in the lawn and warm herself on the hoods of staff cars. Next time you drive by the St. Helens Public Library, see if you can spot Sweet Pea and tell her hello. “But please don’t fret (or call the fire or police departments) - we promise she can get off the roof on her own,” the library’s newsletter post reads.
Courtesy photo
Sweet Pea on her perch atop the St. Helens Public Library.
Dream to reality: Rainier enhances area trails Originally published in The Chief Vol. 129 February 12, 2021
Rainier’s river trail project enhancements have JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
began along the Columbia shoreline. Work crews are clearing away unwanted brush and large boulders to make way for a paved path through the natural setting. Rainier City Administrator Scott Jorgensen said the riverfront project has been in the making for the past 19 years. “What we want to do is increase recreational opportunities for folks around town so there is connectivity and more access for the handicapped, pedestrians, those bicycling, so that folks will be able to walk from the park to the post office to our A Street area businesses in a natural setting,” he said. Rainier Major Jerry Cole said the Columbia River and the city’s riverfront walkway is an economic, environmental and health plus for the city. “These trails add enjoyment to people’s lives and
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
Work has begun to clear a section along the Rainier riverfront to enhance the city’s trail system.
helps their health,” Cole told The Chief in an earlier interview. “People love that kind of stuff. They enjoy the outdoors and the river.” Jorgensen said the trail enhancements give the city an advantage. “It’s for residents to enjoy and it helps to bring people to our community,” Jorgensen said. Crews are now working on the first phase of the trail enhancement, which is
720 feet heading from the city park south along the shoreline. Jorgensen said the second phase will be longer, an estimate is pending since that enhancement is still under design. Jorgensen says the cost of the first two phases of the river path work will be approximately $200,000 that would be paid for through grants and if necessary, the city could use a portion of timber funds that are dedicat-
ed for capital improvements. “So if we don’t get the grants, we are basically loaning money from the timber fund at zero percent interest and paying it back over time,” he said. For Jorgensen, the development of the riverfront path is all about community livability. “A goal of mind is to make Rainier attractive for young professionals with families,” he said. “One
of the ways to do that is through promotions of active lifestyles. Thats why we have a parks committee forming because we have city properties throughout town that would allow us to provide more opportunities for the youth of the community.” Jorgensen and Cole said they hope the city could develop interconnectivity of different trails in the city to take advance of the various city creeks and access to the Columbia River. “You could take a bike and ride all over, or you could hike the trails all over the city if you wanted to,” Jorgensen said “The sky is truly the limit.” According to Jorgensen, the city engaged in a collaboration with area residents, businesses, state and federal agencies in the planning and development of the riverfront trail project. “It started with a vision,” Jorgensen said. “It has been a long-time priority for Mayor Cole and it is now becoming reality. It is a plan to enhance the daily lives of our residents.” The current trail enhancement is expected to be completed by this coming summer.
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