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Wednesday, May 5, 2021
City contest winners announced
Anna Richardson
Originally published in The Chronicle Vol. 139 April 28, 2021 STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net
The St. Helens City Council has announced six winners in the 2021 If I Were Mayor student contest. Fifth grader Anna Richardson won first place in the
Courtesy photos from the City of St. Helens
Sebastian Bean
Addison Wells
Olivia Fantus
Hayden Stram
4th to 5th grade category. Fourth grader Sebastian Bean took second place. In the 6th to 8th grade category, seventh grader Addison Wells won first place and sixth grader Olivia Fantus took second place. In the 9th to 12th grade category, ninth grader Hayden Stram won first place and ninth grader Katelyn Wells won second place. The If I Were Mayor
student contest is an annual contest held in partnership with the Oregon Mayors Association (OMA). Students submit entries in one of three categories: • A poster competition for grades 4-5 • An essay competition for grades 6-8 • A digital media presentation for high school students This was the first year
that the City of St. Helens offered both first and second place prizes for winning entries. First place winners received $150 cash and second place winners received $50 cash. All winners will also be invited to lunch with St. Helens Mayor Rick Scholl to talk about their ideas and to learn more about how local government works. First place winning entries from the St. Hel-
ens contest will be sent to the state competition for a chance to win a prize worth $500. “We always look forward to seeing what ideas are important to St. Helens students,” Mayor Rick Scholl said. “This contest is a learning opportunity for both us as a City Council and for the students who participate.” The student proposals
Katelyn Wells
included repairing potholes and crosswalk signals, improving local parks, hosting a convention for kids featuring books, science, art, and cooking, building sidewalks along all major roads to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety, creating more affordable housing and solutions for those experiencing houselessness, and promoting early literacy to improve childhood success.
July 4th fireworks future uncertain Originally published in The Chronicle Vol. 139 April 28, 2021 JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
It is an American tradition that draws hundreds to the St. Helens riverfront each summer but the future is uncertain for the Independence Day fireworks. The St. Helens City Council has agreed to conduct the fireworks from Sand Island this summer but it will be for the last time. The council agreed during its regular public session April 21 to seek a nonprofit or other group to continue the popular waterfront event. “We are doing the fireworks show this year and we are seeking anyone who wants to take it over,” St. Helens Mayor Rick Scholl said. “We are backing out and looking for anyone who wants it.” Cost factors The council agreed that it was too costly and time consuming to continue the city’s role as sponsor of the fireworks. “The city can’t do it with taxpayer money,” Scholl said. “We can’t drag our feet on this. We need to make a decision.” Scholl suggested that the city put up a $2,000 donation to any nonprofit that wanted to take over the event.
The fireworks demonstrations have attracted large crowds to the riverfront in St. Helens.
“If someone were to take it over today, they could start raising the money needed for next year ahead of schedule, that why it’s important to not set them up for failure and get them started right now because the funding needs to be there,” he said. But city council president Doug Morten cautioned that the council should not attach a specific donation. “We’ll continue to support the effort the best way we can,” Morten said.
The Fourth of July fireworks show was postponed last year due to the restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainty of timelines. The city council considered moving the display to December during the Christmas Ships event, but did not move forward with that plan. Last year wasn’t the only year fireworks have been absent from St. Helens during Independence Day celebrations. In 2012, a city fireworks committee was unable
Courtesy photo from the City of St. Helens
to raise the $20,000 needed to host the display— which has typically been funded entirely through donations and sponsorships. Scholl earlier this year had suggested hosting a tailgate party at the city’s waterfront, estimating that 500 cars, each paying a $20 admission fee, could raise enough money for a reasonable firework show. To cut costs, Scholl suggested the show be held on the city-side of the water instead of on a barge or on
Sand Island. On Friday, March 5, city spokesperson Crystal King told The Chronicle that the fireworks demonstration would depend on current Oregon Health Authority pandemic safety requirements in place at the time of the event. Council support “We are not abandoning the fireworks but we will not be the sponsor,” Councilor Patrick Birkle said. “If we
don’t have someone raising the funds by next April, the city is not going to step in and rescue the event. We truly want the community to take ownership of this event through a smooth transfer. We are done at the level we have been with this event the last few years.” The council rejected a suggestion from Councilor Stephen Topaz that the city issue an RFP (Request for Proposal) to attract a group to take over the fireworks operations. Instead, the council has directed city staff to put out information that the city is looking for a nonprofit or other group to take charge of the event. “We could help in some way,” Morten said. “We could be a partner in some way with three or four other organizations but as it is now, we have the entire burden of doing this. I don’t want to put out an RFP to facilitate our involvement with it.” Morten agreed that the city should issue a communication to the community. “Keep in mind it isn’t a door closed and we can always advocate and help out in any way we can,” Morten said. “That is what our council is here for to be flexible.” Any group that wishes to consider taking over the Independence Day fireworks in St. Helens is encouraged to call the City of St. Helens at 503-397-6272.
10th Annual 2021 Columbia County
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