TNA

City names Employee of the Year

goes above and beyond for the public and fellow coworkers. Nominations are submitted by City employees and then reviewed by a panel of community members to make a final selection.

The City of St. Helens has selected St. Helens Public Works Field Supervisor/Safety Coordinator Ethan Stirling as its Employee of the year for 2022.

Stirling was hired at the City of St. Helens in February 2016 as a Public Works Utility Worker I. He was promoted to the Water Systems Operator in May 2019 and to Field Supervisor/Safety Coordinator in April 2022.

Stirling was nominated by five City employees from multiple departments. All the nominations noted Stirling’s thoughtful and responsive approach to employee safety concerns and his initiative in increasing safety training and protocols since his promotion to Field Supervisor/Safety Coordinator in 2022.

He is described by multiple co-workers as someone who always has a positive attitude and was recognized for his professionalism and proactive approach to his job.

How the process works

Each year, the City of St. Helens names an employee of the year who consistently

For the 2022 Employee of the Year selection process, the City assembled a panel of seven community members who are not related to the City of St. Helens to judge nominations.

The panel was asked to set aside all bias and judge the nominees solely based on the nominations received, emphasizing the quality of the nomination and employee rather than the quantity of nominations.

History

The St. Helens Employee of the Year program was implemented in 2013. The City identifies the Employee of the Year as the following.

• An employee of the year is someone who consistently exemplifies behaviors that reflect favorably on the City.

• The employee is one who goes above and beyond on a regular basis.

• Someone who goes the extra mile to help customers, both internally and externally.

• Responds to inquiries

in an efficient and timely manner.

• Regularly participates in employee-related events.

• Puts the City’s interests and the interests of their coworkers above their own.

• Has an exemplary attendance record.

• Behaves off duty in a manner that reflects positively on the City since City employees are public officials even outside work.

• Has a positive attitude no matter the circumstances.

• Is noticed by people in and out of the organization.

Past Employees of the Year

St. Helens Police Corporal Dustin King was selected as the St. Helens 2021 Employee of the Year. King was hired by the City of St. Helens in November 2015 as a patrol officer for the St. Helens Police Department. He was promoted to detective in April 2018 and then to corporal in July 2020.

The City of St. Helens announced that the 2020 City of St. Helens Employees of the Year were Engineering Project Manager Sharon Darroux, Recreation Manager Shanna Duggan, and Youth Librarian Gretchen Kolderup.

For more information, contact the City of St. Helens at 503-397-6272.

Turning Point Community Center receives bank grant

The Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation has awarded 56 grants to local nonprofits across its footprint totaling $331,500.

The grants include funds for Turning Point Community Center, Inc in Clatskanie. Turning Point is a social service agency located at 2020 E Columbia River Highway in Clatskanie.

Umpqua’s latest round of grants support nonprofit organizations across Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, and Nevada, and are part of the bank’s overall foundation and corporate giving program that has invested more than $17 million since the foundation was formed in 2014.

“We’re deeply commit-

ted to helping nonprofits provide critical community services that improve the economic prosperity for under-resourced individuals, families and small businesses,” said Randy Choy, Umpqua Bank vice president of community giving and managing director of the Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation. “We look forward to continue aiding organizations through volunteerism and grants throughout 2023 and are grateful for all the hard work by these nonprofits in our regions that help better the lives of others in need.”

These nonprofits, selected from among hundreds of applicants in the final of three grant cycles in 2022, demonstrated a steadfast commitment to serving low-to-moderate-income populations in at least one

of eight categories: family engagement and resiliency; financial competency; housing stability and home ownership; college, career or technical readiness; entrepreneurship and business expansion; vibrant and equitable neighborhoods; technical and digital connectivity; and small business support and financial guidance.

The next deadline for community grant applications is 5 p.m. PT on Fri., March 3, 2023. Learn more at www.UmpquaBank.com/ Community.

The recipients received grants of $5,000 to $15,000.

The Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization of Umpqua Bank. Turning Point may be reached by calling 503-728-3126.

Courtesy from the City of St. Helens Public Works Field Supervisor/Safety Coordinator Ethan Stirling is the City of St. Helens’ Employee of the Year for 2022.

Jeremy C. Ruark / Country Media, Inc.

agency in Clatskanie.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event at Columbia County Transfer Station in St. Helens,

on February 25, from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Your household hazardous waste must be in your vehicle’s bed, trunk, or hatchback - not the passenger compartment. Unloading may take a few extra minutes as extra safety measures will be in place. Please be patient, and please remain in your car.

Columbia County, OR (February 17, 2023) – The first Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event of the New Year will be held at the Columbia County Transfer Station on Saturday, February 25, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. The Transfer Station is located at 1601 Railroad Avenue in St. Helens. If you are a Columbia County resident, you can drop off various toxic and unsafe materials at no cost.

Items must be in containers not larger than five (5) gallons and should be secured safely during transport.

Trained household hazardous waste technicians will unload materials from your vehicle. Examples of acceptable items:

• fireworks and flares

• gas / diesel / fuels / motor oil / antifreeze

• lawn and garden chemicals

• herbicides and pesticides

• pool and spa chemicals

• light ballasts—must be removed from light fixtures

• fluorescent tubes

• art and hobby chemicals

• solvents and thinners

• items containing mercury

• propane and compressed gas cylinders

• batteries – all types and applications

• cleaners and detergents

• poisons

• paint and paint products (latex and acrylic paint, oil-based paint, enamel, stains, lacquers, shellacs, varnishes, primers, etc.)

• cooking oil

• medical sharps in OSHA-approved, puncture-proof containers

• ammunition

The Transfer Station’s normal disposal fees for automotive batteries, antifreeze, and fluorescent tubes are waived during HHW Collection events. Unwanted paint, used motor oil, and used cooking oil are always free to dispose of at the Transfer Station during regular business hours.

Medical sharps in a sealed, self-closing, puncture-proof, OSHA-approved container are received, at no cost, at the Transfer Station Scale House during business hours. Columbia County residents can enroll in the FREE Sharps Containers Exchange Program at the Transfer Station Scale House.

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office accepts expired or unwanted medication at 901 Port Ave., St. Helens. They are open 7 days per week, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Place items in the MedReturn collection box.

The county will host six more household hazardous waste events in 2023, the next three events are April 22nd in Vernonia, May 20th in Rainier, and June 10th at the Transfer Station in St. Helens. Please check the Columbia County website for further updates https://www. columbiacountyor.gov/departments/SolidWaste/hhw-schedule

For more information, contact Jacob Anderson by phone at 503-397-7259 or by email at jacob.anderson@columbiacountyor.gov.

ABOUT COLUMBIA COUNTY’S SOLID WASTE PROGRAM

Columbia County plans, organizes, and directs recycling, reuse, waste reduction, and household hazardous waste management programs throughout its 657-square-mile area. The county also operates a transfer station in St. Helens and administers the solid waste collection events within the county’s unincorporated areas.