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Wednesday, January 4, 2023
Who We Are Local child collects holiday gifts for children’s hospital
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 SCAPPOOSE • ROAD RUNNER GAS & GROCERY • JACKPOT 76 • ENGSTROM CHEVRON • B&B MARKET • FRED MEYER • SMOKE SHOP • NELSON NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET • ACE • GROCERY OUTLET
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Daphne Olson shows off the donations she collected for patients at the Randall Children’s Hospital.
Originally published in The Chronicle Vol. 140 Dec. 28, 2022 JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.
“I wanted to help with the hospital,” and with that statement, 11-year-old Daphne Olson set out to achieve her goal of collecting toy donations for patients at the Portland based Randall Children’s Hospital. Daphne had set a $2,500 goal worth of toys, while she didn’t quite receive that much in donations, she came close. It was a wonderful project, and she did such a good job,” Katie Olson, Daphne’s mom, told The Chronicle following the delivery of the toys to the hospital. “I am really proud of her. She didn’t reach her goal, but I don’t think she was too dis-
appointed. She was really thrilled with the project and how it turned out.” Daphne began her quest in October. She consulted the hospital website and found a wish list of toys and other donations the hospital was looking for. “She is learning about doing something wonderful for other kids,” Olson said. “She wants to help bring other kids joy while they are in the hospital. She understands how hard it is, because her older sister, Annabelle, has spent many days and weeks at Randall over the past 14 years. Her sister has come home with a new blanket or toy or game, and Daphne has seen how it helped make Annie’s stay a little bit brighter.” After Daphne’s family set out boxes at businesses, including Van Gordon Monroe Dentistry, The Chronicle office in St. Helens and the Scappoose
Public Library to collect the donations, The Chronicle wrote a story about the child’s efforts.
Even at 11 years old, this project shows she can make a difference. ~ Katie Olson, Daphne’s mom
The donations began to fill the boxes. “Our community was fantastic,” Katie Olson said. “We really didn’t know what to expect, so we want to give a big think you to the community for supporting my kid.” Olson encourages other parents to support their children’s projects. “If their kids show an
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With the help of Randall Children’s Hospital staff, Daphne unloads the holiday gifts to be distributed to patients.
interest, go ahead and let them do it,” Olson said. My daughter really surprised me. I didn’t know how serious she was at first. She did lots of research, so to other parents I would say be open to letting them do such projects.” Daphne and her mom delivered the new toys and blankets to the hospital Dec. 17. But they could only bring the packages to the lobby of the hospital due to patient visitor restrictions. “It was sad that we could not deliver the presents directly to the children,” Olson said. “But we are happy that we were able to make the donations and we understand why we couldn’t visit directly with the patients.” Olson said Daphne’s giving project is a good life-long lesson. “I hope that when she puts her mind to some-
thing, she can do just about anything,” she said. “The follow through was really important for her. Doing something for others shows that people are happy to help. Even at 11-years-old, this project shows she can make a difference.” “Built in 2010 and designed just for children and families, Randall Children’s Hospital offers complex care in a setting that lets kids be kids,” according to the hospital’s website. “We serve babies, children and teens from throughout the Pacific Northwest with specialists in nearly every area of pediatric care.” For more information about the hospital, call 503415-5600. Who We Are is a frequent presentation by The Chronicle highlighting community members making a positive difference in the lives of others.
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Local salon operator retires after 56 years Originally published in The Chief Vol. 131 Dec. 30, 2022 LAUREY WHITE Chief Guest Article
K
arol Lee Byrnes is a homesteader, a horse tamer, a mother, a grandmother, an identical twin and the proprietor of Karol Lee’s Beauty Shop. The familiar sign, adorning Highway 30 since 1977, proclaiming “Karol Lees Beauty Shop” has come down and the furnishing have been packed up and moved. As of Dec. 13, Karol Lee has retired after 56 years, much to the disappointment of her many longtime customers. “Many of her customers have been with her for many, many years,” Karol Lee’s twin sister, Kay Heflin, President of the Rainier Oregon Historical Museum said. “They hate to see her leave.” Karol Lee agrees with her sister on what her absence will mean. “Some of my clients, I style their grandchildren’s hair,” she said. “And some of their children retired long before I’m retiring. But it is time.” When Karol Lee graduated high school, she im-
mediately entered Longview Beauty College where she earned her cosmetology license. She worked for several years at Venus de Milo, a Rainier salon, before opening Karol Lee’s. Asked if she thought she would be practicing her profession for so long, she said, “Well, I really love what I do. I have always loved it. The best part of course, is all my wonderful customers,” she said, adding the only negative aspect of her long career is the many customers that she has come to know and love who have passed. “I have gone to many funerals of my customers who had become dear friends,” she said. Karol Lee has seen the business change over the years from shampoos and sets to more casual styles. And she has always kept up with the trends by attending cosmetology shows. “I did it all - from haircuts to highlights,” she said. Karol Lee is indeed a busy woman. She lives with her husband on Silver Lake, near Toutle, Washington about an hour away from Rainier, where she tends to her many animals, including the now tamed Mustang horses. “I work with them about a year until they are calmed down,” she said, her modesty
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The shop stood proud and true since 1977 at 122 W B Street in Rainier.
at this foreboding task intact. Her latest venture is the rehabilitation of miniature donkeys. “Some of their hooves
were so bad they were said to be unsalvageable,” she said. But with her patience and skill, she has rehabbed the hooves so that the animals
Karol Lee Byrnes
can once again walk unencumbered. Karol Lee said she is confident that her customers will find new hair salons and she said appreciates all the
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support she has received for the past 56 years. The new owners of the building will operate a gift and consignment shop and plan to open in January.