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Police investigating double homicide in Scappoose

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aw enforcement is investigating a double homicide following a reported “critical incident involving a weapon” near SW Linden Street in Scappoose that occurred on Mar. 10.

Information was released in a post on the City of Scappoose Facebook page.

“On March 10, 2024 at approximately 9:58 pm, officers responded to the area of SW Linden Street and SW Sequoia to a reported critical incident involving a weapon. Officers responded to the scene and have secured it for a double homicide investigation. The involved suspect has been placed into custody and there are no outstanding suspects at this time and no danger to the public,” the release stated.

Scappoose Police Lieutenant Chris Fluellen gave more details as to the nature of the crime.

“This incident involved was a double homicide and an assault in the first degree involving three separate victims in total. One did survive out of the three,” Fluellen said.

Based on the investigation, the weapon used to commit the crime was a knife. Law enforcement is not releasing the names of the victims at the time of press.

releasing the names of the victims at this time,” Fluellen said.

Scappoose Police Department thanked Columbia County Sheriff, the St. Helens Police Department, Columbia 9-1-1 Communications

2024 mEGGa Egg Hunt coming soon

chocolate with peanut butter filling, hard candies, and a variety of Twizzler candies.

Egg Hunt, which takes place each year at the Columbia County Fairgrounds, 58892 Saulser Road in St. Helens.

The mEGGa Egg Hunt, which will be Mar. 30, is a free family event that has become a tradition since its inception 24 years ago. Gates open at 10:30 a.m., and the hunt will start at 11 a.m. The fun at the fairgrounds will last until about 12:30 p.m.

Last year’s event drew about 2,700 people to the Columbia County Fairgrounds, and Organizer Heather Epperly is hoping for a good turnout even though the event will overlap with spring break.

The mEGGa Hunt

The main draw for the event is, of course, the hunt. More than 37,000 pieces of candy have been bought for the young hunters, according to Epperly. This year, organizers have gotten a variety of candy to spread in the field and acquired 50 cases of candy. Unlike in previous years when there was only chocolate, there will now be

Organizers spread candy throughout the fairgrounds fields, and children split by age group have the chance to run around in the grass, collect candy, and win prizes. In addition to candy, each field has 20 coins hidden within. If a child finds a coin, they can bring the coin to the sponsor for their age group and pick out a prize.

“I always make sure I’m at the main gate when we open the gates because the flood of people and kids coming through the gate is amazing,” Epperly said. “Obviously, the hunt, when it’s going on, seeing the kids get the candy and they’re happy and having a great time: that’s what makes it worth it for all of us organizers.”

There will be five age groups participating in the hunt: 0-2-yearolds, 3-4, 5-7, 8-9, and 10-12. The five groups will separated into different fields so kids are hunting with others their age.

To help folks get to the event, CC Rider, Columbia County’s bus service, will once again offer a park-and-ride option from McBride Elementary School. This

See MEGGA, Page A9

The inmate census on the Columbia County Sheriff’s website shows that Larry Dale Holland was arrested on Mar. 10,

Clatskanie Farmer Collective growing

The Clatskanie Farmer Collective, formerly the Clatskanie Farmers Market, has crunched the numbers for 2023, and this year brought growth in sales and a new brand to the organization.

Clatskanie Farmer Collective Executive Director Jasmine Lillich explained why they thought now was the perfect time to rebrand under the new name.

“The Clatskanie Farmer Collec tive is a name that puts the farmer on the pedestal. It encompasses all the work that we, as an organization, are doing to bring farmers together collectively to get their products to market and to highlight and share their knowledge and skills with the community,” Lillich said. “It’s a farmer’s first name, and I really like that. The logistical piece of it is that we’re more than a farmer’s market now.”

Lillich said that the many different market opportunities for farmers go beyond the farmer’s market. These opportunities include the farmers market, the Clatskanie Food Hub, and season extension markets like the spring and winter markets.

“We have various ways that we engage with the community as well with our classroom in the food hub. We’ll be expanding that into some on-farm classes in the coming years. [We also do] different community events where we always feature local food, like at our concerts and skill-sharing events,” Lillich said. “We offer producer support as well. So, providing support, technical assistance, and marketing for our producers.”

With all the things they were doing beyond the farmers market, Lillich and the Clatskanie Farmer Collective board felt that the new name better aligned with all the different ways the organization is involved in the local food system.

By the numbers

Produce wasn’t the only thing growing for the Farmer Collective this year; the organization also boasted an explosion in sales numbers across its venues. One of the things that stood out to Lillich

said. “A big piece of that (183 %) percentage is that we managed to do over $100,000 in sales at the food hub by Dec. 31.”

Lillich said that hitting six figures in sales at the food hub went beyond her expectations. Lillich had thought that the wintertime would be a slow point of the year but was surprised to see the store “packed” almost every single day.

Lillich said that the food hub has more than 700 “loyal customers” at the food hub. A loyal customer is something that the food hub’s payment system labels recurring transactions in the system.

“That is just from credit card customers. Over 45% of our transactions are cash, so that means potentially, we have twice that many loyal customers,” Lillich said.

secured a grant from the Oregon Food Bank to make funds available to low-income customers.

“Anybody that needs food can come in, and they get $10 of free food a week,” Lillich said. “And that’s on top of other amazing food assistance programs.”

Lillich said that in the wake of the food hub’s success, she has been contacted by other communities who would like her insight on how to start their own food hubs. Lillich said that people from Castle Rock, St. Helens, Scappoose, Rainier, and Puget Island for advice and mentorship.

“That is absolutely a joy to hear. I think every community should have a food hub, and it should be

COURTESY PHOTO FROM HEATHER EPPERLY

One of the new features this year will see an Easter bunny accompanying folks riding the CC Rider bus to the fairgrounds.

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Brandon Schilling, Candy Uskoski, and Jasmine Lillich at the opening of the

hub in June 2023.

Waterfront construction update

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The City of St. Helens detailed some of the upcoming construction projects that will be happening in the historic Riverfront District in the coming months in the March edition of the city’s waterfront newsletter.

The city said that the Cowlitz Street turnaround project near Columbia View Park is entering a “new phase” of construction that will begin Mar. 18. The construction will involve work to the southern wall of the Columbia View Park concrete viewing platform.

Due to construction, the following areas will be closed:

• The viewing platform

• The sidewalk along the south side of the park

• The adjacent street parking row immediately next to the upper viewing deck curb on Strand Street (the middle row of parking will remain open)

• Despite the project, Columbia View Park, the playground, splash pad, Riverfront Property walking path, and the center row of street parking will remain open during this phase of work.

To enter the park, visitors will need to go to the am-

phitheater stairs or from the Columbia County Courthouse lower parking lot. “A portion of fencing along the riverbank next to the splash pad will be removed so that people can access the Riverfront Property walking path from inside the park. The path can also be accessed from the south end of Strand Street,” according to the newsletter.

If people have ADA accessibility concerns about Columbia View Park or the Riverfront Property walking path, the city requests they contact the St. Helens Engineering Division at engineering@sthelensoregon.gov.

Construction at St. Helens and South 1st Street

As part of the city’s Streets and Utilities Extension Project, Landis and Landis Con-

struction, LLC was awarded a contract for underground utility work at the South 1st and St. Helens Street intersection.

The decision was made at the St. Helens City Council meeting on Mar. 6. The city does not have a construction start date yet but anticipates that work will begin “very soon.”

“Stay tuned for more information as we work with the contractor to approve traffic control plans. We anticipate being able to announce a construction start date for this intersection within the next week or two,” the city said in its newsletter.

Landis and Landis will be doing construction on the underground utility work at the South 1st and St. Helens Street intersection. This work will be the first of two major construction phases at the site.

Landis and Landis will have until June 30 of this year “to substantially complete” their underground utility work. Utility installation will be completed in sections, and different portions of the streets and sidewalks will be closed during each phase of work. The city will put in detours to ensure that vehicle traffic and pedestrians can still access the Riverfront District during construction.

Once the underground utility work at the intersection is completed, Moore

Excavation, Inc., the city’s contractor for the Streets and Utilities Extension Project, will begin the second major phase of work. The second phase will include paving the intersection, pouring curbs and sidewalks, and installing light poles, benches, and other streetscape features. This surface work will be done in multiple phases, and the city will put detours in place to allow continued access to the Riverfront District.

“The city is working closely with Landis and Lan-

dis to develop traffic control plans and get area businesses and residents information as soon as possible. We are entering a phase of work where major construction will be happening in several areas of the Riverfront District, and work will begin to move fast,” according to the newsletter.

Follow this developing story at thechroncileonline. com, thechiefnews.com and in the Wednesday print editions of the Columbia County Chronicle & Chief.

Scappoose’s Annual Town Hall Meeting

In an effort to engage with the community and provide insight into the City of Scappoose’s accomplishments and priorities, the city will host its Annual Town Meeting.

The meeting will be at 9 a.m. on Apr. 6 in the Scappoose High School Auditorium. The meeting will feature a “State of the City Address” from Mayor Joe Backus and

will give community members a chance to meet with local officials. Complimentary coffee and breakfast will be served. Backus gave insight into what he hopes the meeting will offer community members. I believe these town meetings are an important way for the city to connect with citizens by explaining what is happening in the city regarding infrastructure proj-

ects and answer questions the community may have,” Backus said. “It is also a good way for other nonprofits, community groups, and governmental agencies to participate. They will be there engaging the community as well answering questions.”

Backus said that he will use the State of the City Address to outline the city’s accomplishments from the past year and go over the infrastructure projects that the city is working on. Backus said they hope to finish some of the projects this year. Backus also noted that he will give an update on the search for a permanent city manager.

One topic that has been simmering is the city’s ongoing process of exploring a potential partnership with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO). The city has paused the process of selecting a new police chief until the city council concludes its

For nearly 96 years, the Kiwanis Club has been at the forefront of service endeavors to benefit Clatskanie.

Comprised of devoted volunteers, the organization is dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time. The Kiwanis website at www. kiwanis.org states that the goal of the group is to have all children wake up in communities that believe in them, nurture them and provide the support they need to thrive.

Clatskanie Kiwanis’ spokesperson, Sandy Davis, echoed that sentiment.

“Our focus is always on the children. And we continually plan fun and safe activities for the kids of Clatskanie,” Davis said.

One of their most anticipated events is the annual Easter Egg Hunt. Held each year at City Park, it is an opportunity for Clatskanie youth to enjoy the thrill of hunting for hidden Easter

Local businesses that have signed on to contribute prizes for this “eggcellent” event include Big Guy, the Mobil Station, Farmhouse Coffee, Little Red Truck Designs, and Cryptid Cookies. “We are doing the egg hunt different this year,” Davis said. “We wanted to make it more fun.”

Unlike past years, this year the extravaganza will have designated, separated areas and starting times, based on age. Ages 0 – 4 will start at 10:00 am. Ages 5 – 9 will start at 10:20 am. Ages 10 and up will start at 10:40. There will be prizes galore, and the “Snack Shack” will be open, selling coffee, cocoa, soft drinks, and water. “Also very exciting, every child will be given a stuffed animal of their choosing,” Davis said.

Other endeavors

After the Easter Egg Hunt, the Kiwanis will start

tage Days, where they always incorporate the Rich Larsen Bingo Booth, named after longtime Kiwanis member and Bingo caller.

“We named it after Rich, in memoriam, because he was a wonderful Kiwanis club member for more than 63 years,” Davis said.

Every year, the annual gala is a fun time with delicious dinners and successful fundraising, according to Davis.

“We served more than a hundred dinners and raised more than 20,000 dollars,” Davis said.

These dollars go to worthwhile causes, such as scholarships for students, which help further their educations. The club is getting back to normal now after the pandemic halted meetings and events for a year.

“The dues were still paid,” Davis said. “And twenty-one people showed up at our first meeting. We could not have done this without our great community.”

process of exploring contracted police services with CCSO.

In a post on the city’s Facebook page Jan. 19, City Councilor Kim Holmes outlined that exploring a partnership with CCSO could help the city ensure service levels and support Scappoose’s goal of having 24/7 coverage.

Backus gave an update on where the process stands.

“We are planning on go-

ing over phase 2 of discovery regarding 24/7 police coverage, including partnering with CCSO or keeping our city police department at our Mar. 18 council meeting, but right now, we are still collecting some data, so we may be pushing it out to the Apr. 1 council meeting if we cannot get the needed information by early next week,” Backus said in an interview with the Chronicle & Chief Mar. 8.

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Backus did not say whether he would discuss the matter during his State of the City Address. Backus said that the meeting is a good way for members of the community to meet their elected officials and city staff.

“It allows for their voices to be heard in a larger setting where more people can participate, versus individual emails and phone calls,” Backus said.

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Submit your resume and cover letter today to Executive Editor, jwarren@countrymedia.net.

COURTESY

PHOTO FROM THE CITY OF ST. HELENS

An aerial view of the closures and mapped construction near Columbia View Park.

COURTESY PHOTO FROM THE CITY OF ST. HELENS South 1st and St. Helens Street Intersection in 2023.

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CHRONICLE & CHIEF PHOTO

The annual Easter Egg Hunt, which is held each year at City Park, will be March 30.

The police blotter relates to the public record of incidents as reported by law enforcement agencies. All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Information printed is preliminary and subject to change. For specific details about cases listed, contact the appropriate law enforcement agency.

St. Helens Police

February 27

• Police arrested a male subject on simple assault at the 2000 block of Old Portland Road.

February 28

• Police arrested a 43-year-old

male subject on a fugitive warrant at 1600 Old Portland Road.

March 1

• Police arrested a male subject on a fugitive warrant at the 200 block of 18th Street.

March 2

• Police arrested a 48-yearold male subject on a fugitive warrant at the 500 block of Columbia River Highway.

• Police arrested a 35-yearold female subject on reckless driving near Columbia River Highway.

• Police responded to a hitand-run at the 2000 block of Old Portland Road.

March 3

• Police responded to a weapons or other at the 300 block of North Vernonia Road.

• Police took a report on fraud at the 200 block of Brayden Street.

Rainier Police Department

February 28

• Officers responded to a twovehicle, non-injury accident on East 3rd Street. The drivers exchanged information, and one driver was issued a citation for driving uninsured.

• Officers checked on a complaint of an abandoned vehicle. The owner agreed to move the vehicle.

• A reportedly suspicious vehicle was checked on and found to be okay. The vehicle was parked on private property.

• Officers observed a motorist who was having difficulty maintaining their vehicle in the lane of travel. Officers stopped the vehicle, conducted an investigation, and the driver was taken into custody on suspicion of DUII.

February 29

• A bar called to report an unwanted, intoxicated woman. The woman had left prior to officer arrival. The reporting party agreed to call dispatch if the woman returned.

• A caller was worried about the welfare of a woman. Of-

ficers checked the area and were unable to locate anyone matching the description of the woman.

March 1

• An employee at a gas station reported a woman was asking for drugs at their establishment. She had left the premises.

March 2

• An officer responded to a call reporting an open door at the RV Center. The building was checked and cleared.

March 3

• A caller was worried about the welfare of a person in a running vehicle that was in a

parking lot. The occupant was fine and just resting.

March 4

• An employee at the credit union found a duffel bag in their parking lot. No one was in the area, and the bag was turned in as found property.

• An employee at a restaurant reported that an unknown man walked in with a toy AK47 and then left. The man did not say or do anything and had left the building.

March 5

• An officer responded to an alarm at a local restaurant. The building was found to be secure, and it is unknown what activated the alarm.

Oregon Legislature wraps up session in high spirits

Oregon lawmakers headed home three days earlier than required on Thursday night, March 7, ending a surprisingly bipartisan session that saw them invest hundreds of millions of dollars in housing, recriminalize possession of small amounts of hard drugs and cap campaign contributions.

“We took advantage of the short session to tackle the biggest challenges facing Oregon, including some things outside spectators didn’t think we had the guts to take on,” said Rep. Rob Nosse, DPortland, as he delivered the House’s sine die resolution shortly after 8 p.m.

The five-week session, which saw Democrats and Republicans come together to pass bipartisan bills, was a departure from the vitriol that defined the 2023 session, when Senate Republicans walked out for six weeks and ground the Legislature to a halt.

Leading up to this session, lawmakers and observers didn’t know whether Republicans would even allow it happen: Just days before lawmakers started work, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled that 10 Republican senators – a third of the Senate – were ineligible to run for reelection, and Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp, R-Bend, warned that the ruling would mean majority Democrats would have to come up with incentives for Republicans to attend sessions.

Knopp credited the 2023 walkout for the bipartisan nature of the 2024 session, saying he and other senators

paid a price and would do it again. “I think that they recognized each day we could have walked out, said ‘See you Sunday,’ and we’ll determine what’s going to pass and what’s not going to pass,” Knopp said. “We didn’t have to do that.”

The ending

In the House, incendiary comments made by two Republican lawmakers about LGBTQ+ people, atheists and Muslims, and Democrats’ decision to choose their next speaker in a closed-door meeting before the session began, cast a pallor over the early days.

Rep. Tom Andersen, DSalem, joined a small group of advocates at a press conference March 7, outside the Capitol condemning those Republicans, while a caravan of timber trucks circled the Capitol, blaring horns to protest a forest conservation plan. Inside the Capitol, lawmakers were in good spirits as they pushed through a series of final bills and tried to fill their sine die bingo cards over the unending drone of construction equipment from an ongoing nearly $600 million construction project meant to better prepare the building for earthquakes.

Senators and staff spent the last week huddled in blankets, coats and gloves after construction knocked out the heat to the chamber.

Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber, a Beaverton Democrat who chairs the Senate Rules Committee, surprised committee members with fuzzy blue blankets during their last meeting on Thursday, prompting Sen. James

Manning, D-Eugene, to joke that they could have used the gift two days earlier.

The biggest issues of the session were resolved in a bipartisan manner, though not without plenty of debate. Under the threat of ballot measures, Democrats and Republicans came together to enact campaign finance limits and recriminalize possession of small amounts of hard drugs. Their response to the state’s addiction crisis includes $211 million for treatment, as part of new programs to allow people to go through treatment and avoid jail time or a criminal record.

Lawmakers also approved $376 million for infrastructure and incentives to build houses and gave cities the option to more easily add new land to build housing. They gave Oregonians the right to repair their own electronic equipment and directed the Oregon Treasury to divest from companies that make their money from coal production.

Sen. Kate Lieber, D-Beaverton, on the last day of the Oregon session on Thursday, March 7, 2024.

Change of leadership

In a final act, the House elected Julie Fahey, D-Eugene, as its next speaker, as Dan Rayfield, D-Corvallis, stepped down to focus on his campaign for attorney general. In his final speech to the House, Rayfield recalled a road trip with his father in a borrowed car.

“After a decade of work in this building, a decade that went by in a blink, I hope that I left this Legislature, this state, better than when I found it, and with some gas

Employment declines by 4,900 jobs

Oregon’s

the Oregon Employment Department.

By the numbers

January’s losses were largest in professional and business services (-1,700 jobs); leisure and hospitality (-1,600); other services (-1,400), transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-1,200); and construction (-600). Gains in January were largest in health care and social assistance (+1,100 jobs) and manufacturing (+500).

Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment dropped by 4,900 jobs, or -0.2%, between January 2023 and January 2024. The private sector cut 15,200 jobs, or -0.9%, over the most recent 12-month period.

Job losses in four major industries stood out, each down by between 3,700 and 9,500 jobs. These industries are information; professional and business services; manufacturing; and retail trade.

Five other major industries had smaller losses, between 700 and 2,200 jobs. In contrast, health care and social assistance is up 13,400 jobs, or 4.8%, while government is up 10,300 jobs, or 3.4%, in the 12 months through January.

Annual revisions indicate less robust construction employment than originally

left in the tank,” Rayfield said.

Fahey said she’s ready to start laying the groundwork for next year’s session –maybe after taking a weekend off. Lawmakers will have to pass a transportation funding package for the next decade and continue to work on the state’s housing crisis. “We are not here to make lobbyists happy, and we are definitely not here for the fame and fortune,” Fahey said. “We are here because it is our job to make people’s lives better, every single day.” Lawmakers will be back in the Capitol a few more times for interim committee meetings and for senators to confirm Gov. Tina Kotek’s appointments to boards and state agencies, but Thursday was the final time several lawmakers will vote on bills.

Rep. Paul Holvey, DEugene and the House’s speaker pro tem, is retiring after 20 years in the House. Sen. Michael Dembrow, DPortland, is ending his career after 15 years split between the House and Senate.

Dembrow said he was leaving with memories of accomplishments and difficult situations. “Fortunately, the older you get, the more you forget. I’m looking forward to forgetting them all,” Dembrow said.

Four Republican senators, including Knopp, the Senate

minority leader, are leaving the chamber against their will because they participated in the 2023 walkout. Two others were disqualified and chose to retire.

Two House Democrats, Janelle Bynum of Clackamas and Maxine Dexter of Portland, hope to trade Salem for Washington, D.C., and are running for Congress.

Rayfield, D-Corvallis, can’t return to the House, though Sen. Elizabeth Steiner, D-Portland, and Sen. James Manning, D-Eugene, could finish their four-year terms if they don’t succeed in their bids for treasurer and secretary of state.

And other representatives facing tough primary or general elections are leaving the Capitol without knowing whether they’ll be back. That includes Rep. James Hieb, a Canby Republican who learned this week that former House Republican Leader Christine Drazan plans to challenge him in the primary, and House Republican Leader Jeff Helfrich, who represents a district where Democrats outnumber Republicans.

Sen. Bill Hansell, RAthena, who is retiring after nearly 40 years in politics, carried the sine die resolution, relishing – often in jest – that the final bill of his legislative career cannot fail as he plans to retire from the Senate.

“I will not apologize for

this bill,” he said, as his fellow senators chuckled.

He joked that he didn’t make any compromises or deals to get the bill out of committee, and no lobbyists watered it down. And he said he’s confident no one can send it back to committee.

“It’s gone too far for all of that now,” he said, as his wife Margaret sat next to him.

“This will be my last carry ever, my personal sine die.”

Reporter Ben Botkin contributed to this story.

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/03/07/ in-a-departure-from-lastyear-oregon-legislaturewraps-up-session-in-highspirits/

Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com.

Fast Fact

The 35-day session prioritized the homelessness and drug addiction crises, pouring millions into housing and treatment programs

METRO

The

estimated, according to the state employment department’s report. Construction employed 116,700 in January, which was close to its headcount during each of the past 18 months. Professional and business services was also revised lower, showing that the industry contracted by 9,500 jobs, or -3.6%, in the most recent 12 months.

Over-the-year job declines occurred in each of this major industry’s three components: administrative and waste services (-5,800 jobs); professional and technical services (-3,000); and

management of companies and enterprises (-700).

While Oregon’s job growth has been close to flat in the 12 months ending in January, with a decline of 0.2%, at the national level U.S. jobs grew by 1.9% and rose in every month of that period.

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.1% in January and 4.0% in December. It has remained in a tight range between 3.4% and 4.2% for more than two years, back to October 2021. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.7% in both December and January.

Poison oak, a plant to avoid

Poison oak (we don’t have poison ivy) is more common than people realize in South Columbia County. While it is a native deciduous plant (one that loses its leaves in the fall), it is not one to encourage. It is often found in the rocky, basalt zones in St. Helens but can also grow in Warren and Scappoose. Birds consume poison oak’s berry-like fruit and move seed around.

Poison oak grows in many forms. It can be a soil-hugging or tree climbing vine, a medium sized shrub (3-7 feet tall) or rarely, a small tree. Poison oak can develop thickets through root systems that produce “suckers” that grow into new stems.

Even its coloration can be confusing. When poison oak leaves first emerge in the spring, they are a darkish brown/purple but soon become glossy green. In the fall, they turn a brilliant redorange. The leaves are borne in clusters of three “leaflets” and many of us were warned as children, “leaves in threes, leave them be.”

The sap of poison oak is strong dermal toxin with individual reactions that vary from none to extreme blistering. Sensitive people often have severe breathing issues when they inhale smoke from burning poison oak. All parts of the plant are toxic, even

the winter leafless stems. People can also develop a reaction to poison oak after many years of immunity to the plant. So it is not a good plant to have around. I do not know of a non-chemical control for poison oak except careful hand digging (and possibly goats, who seem to like it). If you cut it, it will send up new shoots. Don’t burn it as the smoke is very dangerous to sensitive people. The herbicides glyphosate (best known under the trade name Roundup) and triclopyr (sold as Crossbow and some “brush killer” formulations) work well, particularly after early June. Get good coverage on the leaves and do spot treatments for the stems that survive (also read and follow all label instructions). Be careful about using either product when it is windy and triclopyr products when it will be warmer than 77 degrees for 24 hours after it is applied to avoid non-target plant injury. Remember, the killed stems may cause skin reactions until they finally decay. If you have questions, please contact me (see above). Here are some links for more information: https:// extension.oregonstate.edu/ gardening/flowers-shrubstrees/how-remove-poisonoak-plants-treat-rash.

https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/ pnw-108-pacific-poison-oakwestern-poison-ivy-identification-management.

Hot and not so hot topics for this spring

Frustrations with a cold, wet spring: The consequences of the persistent rain and chilly weather played out in fields or gardens that haven’t been and shouldn’t have been tilled yet (as of this writing). Patience is a virtue when working our saturated clay soils, which we have lots of, since wet rototilling can lead to clods that refuse to die. That isn’t good for planting seeds.

So far, it has been too cold for the early spring foliar disease. But a week of warm weather will spur new foliage growth. This can lead to a number foliar diseases on fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs, and thousands of plants waiting at the nurseries for their new homes. Sprays might help but dry, warmer weather usually stops disease spread. It is not clear how well fruit set on apples, pears, cherries, and blueberries will fare. Blossoming is close on peaches and cherries but the rest are still about a month away. For a great new OSU

publication on Mason bees (our fruit pollinator bee heroes), go to https://extension. oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/ em-9130-nurturing-masonbees-your-backyard-westernoregon.

Weeds, crusts, and vegetable seeds:

Small vegetable seeds (lettuce, dill, carrots, beets, etc.) have problems getting through “crusty” soils. We can help that problem by planting into warmer soils and covering the seeds with potting mix instead of soil. But when the vegetable seeds emerge, the weeds are waiting. Weeds germinate faster than most vegetable seeds and steal sunlight. Without sunlight, the new seedlings are progressively stunted until the weeds win. Cornell University demonstrated that an unweeded carrot plot produced 25 pounds of carrots, the weeded one gave 500+ pounds! It is so important to weed where you planted your vegetable seeds starting as soon as you see weeds coming up and continue weeding to harvest.

Many Extension publications available online

Are you putting up salsa, saving seeds, or thinking about planting kiwis? OSU has a large number of its publications available for free download. Just go to https://catalog.extension. oregonstate.edu/. Click on publications and start exploring.

Got food safety or food preservation questions?

Food Preservation recipes and fact sheets can be accessed online at: https:// extension.oregonstate.edu/ food/preservation

Important notes

• Donate extra garden produce and/or money to the food bank, senior centers, or community meals programs. It always is greatly appreciated.

• The Extension Service offers its programs and materials equally to all people.

• The OSU Extension Office is fully open from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Resource information

Oregon State University Extension Service – Columbia County

505 N. Columbia River Highway St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-3462

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

March 14 4th Talk in “History Connections”

7 p.m. at the Scappoose Senior Center on Meadow Drive. Presented by the Scappoose Historical Society. Speaker will be Stephanie Craig who will share her ancestor’s past history and art, primarily Native American basketry. This program is free and donations are accepted.

March 16 Build a Birdhouse craft day

11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Columbia City Community Library, 2000 2nd Street in Columbia City. Kits will be available for all ages and skill levels. Pre-register for this free event with the name of the child, age and phone number at ccclibrary@live. com or stop by the library to sign up.

March 16 St. Patrick’s Day

Murder Mystery Tea Party

2 p.m. - 5 p.m. at Rainier United Methodist Church, 101 E C Street in Rainier. Three course tea and a mystery presented by Rainier City Library. Tickets are $20 and are available at rainiercitylibrary.ticketleap.com/ stpattysday. Ages 16 and up.

March 16 St. Helens Kiwanis Meet and Greet

4 p.m. - 6 p.m. at McCormick Park. Calling all Kiwanis - wear your Kiwanis logo attire if you can - an organization group photo will be taken for social media. Pizza and fun for all. The community is welcome. Stop by and meet your local Kiwanis Club members. For questions, contact Judy at 503-3976056.

March 17 Celebrate St.

Patrick’s Day at the Caples House Museum

6 p.m. dinner with a corned beef and cabbage dinner. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. Irish sing-along to follow dinner. Includes one Guinness, one Irish coffee for adults over 21 years old. Tickets are $35 per person. Reservations required. Call 503-397-5390.

March 19 Columbia River

PUD’s Monthly Meeting

6 p.m. in CRPUD’s Community Room, 64001 Columbia River Hwy., Deer Island, OR 97054. If you wish to submit a written public comment for the Board to review during the meeting, please submit it to comments@crpud.org prior to 5 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

March 21 Scappoose

Got Talent

6 p.m. at Scappoose Adventist School, 54285 Columbia River Hwy. in Scappoose.

March 21 Hometown Heroes of Columbia County Meeting

5:30 p.m. in the lobby at the Sheriff’s Department, 901

Port Avenue in St. Helens. For questions, contact Malinda at 503-366-4611.

March 23 Women’s History

Reading

1 p.m. - 3 p.m. at The Salty Siren Bookstore, 229 14th St. (behind Ash River Woodworks) in downtown Astoria. This event is free to the public and will feature three local authors: Marianne Monson, Kama O’Connor, and Deb Vanasse. Books available for purchase. Reception and signing to follow. Learn more at www.thewritersguild.org.

March 23 NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Support Group Meeting

11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Elks Veteran Bunker (House), 125 S 13th Street in St. Helens. The group’s focus is selfcare for those who have a loved one with mental illness. Contact Judy Thompson for more information, 503.397.6056.

March 24 Quincy Grange 48th Annual Chicken Dinner

Noon - 3 p.m. at 78314 Rutter Road in Clatskanie. Traditional Sunday fried chicken dinner including dessert and beverage. Adults, $15, 6-12 year olds, $7.50, under 6 years old are free. Proceeds benefit youth programs, scholarships, and community service. Find information on Facebook or call Ellen at 503-728-2886 or Barb at 503-728-4143.

March 28 Job Fair hosted by Goodwill Industries

2 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the Scappoose Library, 52469 SE 2nd Street in Scappoose.

March 30 2024

mEGGa Egg Hunt

10:30 a.m. gates open. Hunt starts at 11 a.m. sharp. Gates close at 12:30 p.m. This event is for kids 12 years old and younger and is held at The Columbia County Fairgrounds, 58892 Saulser Road in St. Helens. Come by for a coloring contest, plant a seed to take home, petting zoo, scavenger hunt, and a special needs hunt area. Ride CCRider with the Bunny from McBride School.

April 6 Annual Town Meeting 9 a.m. at Scappoose High School auditorium. Hear the State of the City Address by Scappoose Mayor Joe Backus and meet with City officials, community partners, and residents. Free to everyone and includes coffee and breakfast.

April 6 Sheehan Memorial Chess Tourney 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Scappoose Middle School Gym and cafeteria. This tournament is designed for children and adults of all ages and ability levels. Registration is required and registration fee

is $10. For more information go to biglarryproductions. com/msmct-april-6.

April 6 Volunteer Work Day

1 p.m. - 3 p.m. at Nob Hill Nature Park with Scappoose Bay Watershed Council (SBWC) and Friends of Nob Hill Nature Park. Meet at kiosk across from city’s water treatment plant, 451 Plymouth Street in St. Helens. Help pull ivy and put in native plants donated by SBWC. Dress for weather, including rain gear if needed. Please bring gloves, tools, water and snacks. Preregistration is requested by Friday, April 5 by calling Scappoose Bay Watershed Council at 503-397-7904 or e-mail to: info@scappoosebay-wc.org. For day of event, call 503-349-8586.

April 13 Spring Craft & Arts Fair

9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Plymouth Presbyterian Church, 2615 Sykes Road in St. Helens. This is a family friendly event. Come shop for some arts and crafts with local vendors. All proceeds support Plymouth’s mission projects. If interested in being a vendor, please call 503-397-0062 or email plymouthchurchsh@gmail. com.

April 14 Close to You: The Music of the Carpenters

3 p.m. - Close to You: The Music of the Carpenters featuring a 6-piece band. Tickets available at clatskaniearts.org. Presented by The Clatskanie Arts Commission, Birkenfeld Theatre, 75 S. Nehalem Street in Clatskanie.

April 26 Updated EventSpencer Day tribute to Frank Sinatra

7:30 p.m. - Due to visa problems, Will Martin performance has been canceled and will be replaced by Spencer Day and his tribute to Frank Sinatra. Will Martin tickets will be honored for this performance. Presented by The Clatskanie Arts Commission, Birkenfeld Theatre, 75 S. Nehalem Street in Clatskanie.

May 18 Spring Sip & Shop

10 a.m. - 6 p.m. at Columbia City Hall, 1840 2nd Street in Columbia City. Free admission and can food drive donations for Columbia Pacific Food Bank. Shop over 20+ vendors, floral arrangements by Mobile Meadows, music provided by Summer Wedding Events, LLC and food and alcoholic beverages available. For more information visit the Facebook event page @Spring Sip & Shop. Hosted by Twisted Sisters Boutique, LLC and The Watering Hole, LLC. For more information contact twistedsisters.b.llc@gmail. com.

Becky Diane Frazier, of Scappoose, Oregon, passed away on Feb. 22, 2024, at 74 years old. She was born on Nov. 30, 1949, in Lewiston, Idaho to her parents, Lyle and Susie Frazier.

Becky attended Sandy High School for her freshman year, then went on to Wheeler High School in Fossil, Oregon, where she graduated in 1968. She continued her education at what is now Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Oregon, graduating in 1972. In 1980, she went to the University of Oregon to complete her masters. During college, she worked three seasons for Oregon Forestry in a fire lookout tower. After completing her education, she went on to work as an elementary

Becky Diane Frazier

Nov. 30, 1949 ~ Feb. 22, 2024

school teacher at Ione grade school in Morrow County. She then moved to Scappoose and worked for the Scappoose School District, where she worked for 29 years before retiring in 2002. A proud member of the

Donald Edward Barnett was born June 20, 1934 in Portland, Oregon to Talbert Oran Barnett and Lily Marie Barnett.

He was raised in the Milwaukee area and attended Wichita Grade School, Milwaukee Junior High and High School, graduating in 1952.

He got his first job after graduation with the Floor Covering Distributors in Portland. He then went to Portland State University to study for a bachelor’s degree.

He also belonged to the Order of DeMolay in

Plymouth Presbyterian Church in St. Helens, Oregon, Becky was active in her church and helped with the Women’s Priscilla Circle. There, she helped raise funds to buy books for children. Becky was also a member of the Moose Lodge, Columbia Humane Society, and Columbia County Citizens for Human Dignity (CCCHD). Through CCCHD she helped with the Rural Organizing Project and was a board member. Becky often helped with office work at animal control and was on the board for the humane society for six years. She was also a volunteer and helped people with Medicare. Becky loved music and occasionally played piano for her church. She had a strong interest in genealogy and was proud of her Scottish

Donald Edward Barnett

June 20, 1934 ~ Feb. 14, 2024

Portland State. He was part of Delta Tall Row (which became Kappa Sigma House

in 1969-70). After graduation from PSU, he went to Gold Beach Oregon where he helped open Riley Creek Grade School. He came back to the Portland area in 1960, accepting a job at the St. Helens Junior High, where he taught 20 years. He moved with the 9th graders to the high school and taught an additional 10 years there. He retired from the school district in 1990. He was elected exalted ruler of Elks Lodge number 1999 in 1969.

The Elks was one of his weekly events where he

Kyle Edmund Escola

Jan. 3, 1988 ~ Feb. 19, 2024

ancestry, creating family trees and detailing the histories of both sides of her family.

Becky is survived by two brothers, Stanley of Milwaukie, Oregon and Eric of Foresthill, California; two nieces, Melissa and Lily; one nephew Jeff; one grandniece; and four grandnephews.

Becky was preceded in death by her parents, Lyle and Susie Frazier.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on March 23, 2024 at Plymouth Presbyterian Church in St. Helens, Oregon to be followed by a gathering at the Springlake Community in Scappoose, Oregon. Becky will be placed with her parents at Kamiah Cemetery in Idaho. Please sign our online guestbook at www.columbiafh.com.

enjoyed friendships and supporting others.

Don and his wife Cathy enjoyed living 10 years in their lovely home they built in Columbia City. They moved to Avamere in St. Helens where he continued to live 10 years after his wife’s passing. After a short stay in the hospital in 2022 Don needed more care and was placed at the Columbia Care facility in St. Helens, Oregon. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. on March 17, 2024 at the Elk’s Lodge 1999, 350 Belton Road in St. Helens.

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Kyle Edmund Escola, at the age of 36. Kyle was born and raised is in the community. He graduated from Clatskanie High School in 2006.

an AAS in the historic restoration program at Clatsop Community College, in 2014-2016.

Kyle was an all-star athlete, participating in; track, basketball, football, wrestling, baseball, as well as being a lifeguard at the Clatskanie Pool and a summer camp in Ocean Shores, Washington. Kyle received

He was survived by his mother Christine Escola; siblings, Shannon Emerson and Cole Escola; nephew Ayden Emerson; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father Steven Escola; paternal grandparents, Edmund and Alice (Quirk) Escola; maternal grandparents, Christopher

Marie Lois Errante

Oct. 29, 1938 ~ March 6, 2024

and Irene (Niemi) Emerson; as well as cousins Sheldon Emerson and Darrell Johnson.

The family is hosting a service open to all that want to share in reminisce and honor Kyle’s life to be held at 1 p.m. on March 23, 2024 at the Faith Lutheran Church in Clatskanie. Remembrances in Kyle’s name may be made to: Clatsop Community College-Historic Preservation Certification Program.

Marie Lois Errante, 85, of Atkins, Arkansas, formerly of St. Helens, Oregon, passed away peacefully on Wed., March 6, 2024, at the Atkins Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Atkins, Arkansas. Cremation arrangements were entrusted to the J. Herman Humphrey Dignity Cremation Center and Humphrey Funeral Service of Russellville, following a private family committal in the Chapel of Light.

Born on Oct. 29, 1938, in Brooklyn, New York, Marie was the cherished daughter of Louis Joseph and Lilyn Josephine (Dorimus) Catalano. Marie devoted herself

to supporting her husband during his 25-year Air Force career, finding fulfillment as a dedicated homemaker and nurturing mother to their children. Her unwavering

faith in the Catholic tradition provided her with solace and resilience throughout her life. Marie and Joseph shared a passion for ballroom dancing, often attending gatherings at the Elk Lodge. She found joy in activities such as bowling, crocheting, and passing down the art of authentic Italian cooking to her children and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Joseph Anthony Errante; sons, Raymond Errante and Joseph F. Errante; and siblings Larry, Mary Louis, William, Richard, and Florence, and her parents. Marie is survived by her loving son, Louis Er-

Ronald Lee Ball Feb. 1, 1943 ~ March 5, 2024

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Ronald Lee Ball of Rainier, Oregon on March 5, 2024. He was born in Muskegon, Michigan to Fred and Josephine Ball on Feb. 1, 1943. He graduated from Rainier Union High School and went on to work in the logging industry for 45 years. Ron was happily married to Terry for 60 years. They had two sons, Lance and

Shane; four grandchildren; and numerous family and friends that he loved dearly. He was a true outdoorsman in every way; enjoyed long walks in the woods, elk hunting in Idaho, family camping trips, horseback riding, gardening with his wife, and photographing it all. He was a lover of animals, especially his horse Rocky, and beloved dog Callie. Ron enjoyed creating and

Sylvia Lou Thomas Dec. 14, 1940 ~ Feb. 28, 2024

rante (Kate), daughter-in-law Brenda Errante, siblings Danny, Joyce, Louis, and Jimmy, grandchildren Joseph Errante (Britney), Gabriella Mendez (Anthony), Tiffany (Balow) Dawson, and Juliana Errante; and eight great-grandchildren.

In accordance with her wishes, Marie’s cremated remains will be laid to rest alongside her late husband at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. Memories and condolences may be shared online at www.humphreyfuneral. com.

Inurnment of cremains at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Oregon.

maintaining trails at Camp Wilkerson, being a part of the Oregon Equestrian Trail Club, trap shooting with his buddies at the Rainier Rod & Gun Club, and attending church at the Rainier Community Church of God. Ron was a loving, family man that will be dearly missed by all. A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on March 23, 2024 at the Rainier Community Church of God.

Sylvia Lou Thomas, 83, of St. Helens, Oregon, passed away on Feb. 28, 2024. Sylvia was born to Lawrence and Ethel Long on Dec. 14, 1940, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and moved to St. Helens, Oregon, when she was 11. Sylvia attended St. Helens High School and graduated in June of 1959.

On Aug. 22, 1959, Sylvia married her high school sweetheart, Robert (Bob) Thomas. Sylvia was a stay-at-home mom for her three children until she went to work for the St. Helens School District in 1981, where she became

head cook at the St. Helens High School. Sylvia loved spending time with family, camping, playing cards, and bingo. Sylvia is survived by her three children. Tammy Scamfer and husband Dave (Scappoose), Patty Brissett and husband Bob (St Helens), and Don Thomas and wife Kelly (Svenson); seven grandchildren, Doug, Jodi, Jami, Lacy, Kayla, Kody, and Kory; and nine great-grandchildren, Dallyn, Jordan, Owen, Gage, Eli, Karter, Emery, Rylie, and

Jammison. Sylvia is preceded in death by her husband Bob; parents, Lawrence and Ethel Long; sister Sherden Rigdon; grandson Brandon Brissett; and a baby boy in 1969.

Sylvia’s graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. on Fri., March 15, 2024, at Columbia Memorial Gardens located at 54490 Columbia River Highway, Scappoose, Oregon 97056. To know Sylvia, was to love Sylvia. May she rest in peace and live forever in our hearts.

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C

what it’s been like watching the food hub grow in its first year.

“It feels like the perfect time to be doing this work, building a local agricultural system, getting back to what food was over 100 years ago,” Lillich said. “People want that. The markets are there now and the organizations and nonprofits are there to help subsidize this movement to help make it affordable for people again.”

Lillich said that there is a hunger and desire in the community for fresh food that

comes from local sources.

Lillich said the Farmers Collective is in the business of “nutrition access.” The food hub and market are an avenue for consumers to connect to the people who grow the food they buy. One way the collective has fostered this relationship with the community is through the Teen Ambassador Program, which started last year. The organization offered opportunities to three teens in the community to get handson experience at the farmers

“It’s an internship. They learn the ins and outs of running a farmers market or food hub. They connect with the vendors; they help put the canopies up, they help engage with customers and do surveys for us,” Lillich said. “It was so successful that one of our ambassadors had to quit the program because she got a job working for one of the local bakers at our farmers market.”

The Clatskanie Farmers Collective is accepting applications for this year’s Teen Ambassador Program, which can be found on its website.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Monday April 1, 2024

NOTICE IS

A copy of the application, all documents and evidence

CC24-1060

relied upon by the applicants, and the staff reports are available for inspection at no cost and will be provided at reasonable cost, at the Land Development Services office, at least 7 days prior to the Planning Commission hearing. Written comments on the issue can be submitted via email to Planning@ columbiacountyor.gov or you can send comments via U.S. Mail to Columbia County, Department of Land Development Services, 230 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051. If additional documents or evidence are provided in support of the applications, prior to or during the hearing, any party shall be entitled to a continuance of the hearing to allow review of the new evidence. If a participant requests a continuance before the conclusion of the evidentiary hearing, the record shall remain open for at least seven days after the hearing. The hearing will be held in accordance with the provision of the Zoning Ordinance. At each hearing, the applicant has the burden of presenting substantial evidence showing that the application meets all of the applicable criteria. Following presentation of the staff report, the applicant and other persons in favor of the application will be allowed to address the commission, explaining how the evidence

submitted meets the applicable criteria. Following the applicant’s presentation, any person in opposition to the application may present evidence and argument against the application. The applicant will then have the opportunity to rebut any evidence or arguments presented in opposition. After the presentation of evidence and arguments, the public hearing record will be either left open or closed by the Planning Commission. The Commission will then make a tentative decision to be followed by approval of a written order and a statement of findings and conclusions supporting the decision, which will be mailed to all parties at a later date. The Commission may, at its discretion, continue the hearing from time to time at the request of the parties or on its own motion as necessary to afford substantial justice and comply with the law. Additional information about this application may be obtained from the Planning Division of the Land Development Services Department, at (503) 397-1501. If you have any questions or concerns regarding access to the meeting or need accommodation, please call the Land Development Services office at (503) 397-1501. THE PLANNING COMMISSION

Dan Magnia,

Chairman

NOTICE OF STORAGE AUCTION

Scheduled Storage Auction Please take notice ORS 87.685 et. seq. K & B Storage, 970 Oregon Street, St. Helens, Or. 97051. Intends to

by the occupant at the facility as listed below. This auction sale by unit will occur at the facility listed above on the 16th day of March 2024 at 10:00 am.

hold a sale of the property

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

Notice

is hereby given that the annual meeting for the landowners and Board of Directors of the Clatskanie Drainage Improvement Company, Columbia County, Oregon, will be held Tuesday, March 19th, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the Port of Columbia County’s Office located at 555 SW Bryant Street in Clatskanie, OR. Notice is further given that all proxies must be in writing and signed by the owner. The meeting is to elect a director, adopt a budget and any other business

CC24-1065

comes before the landowners. Zoom meeting information can be requested at Columbiadistricts5@yahoo. com. Dated this 1st day of March, 2024. Elliot Levin, Secretary Clatskanie Drainage Improvement Company Board of Directors

Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting for the landowners and Board Members of the Clatsop #15 Drainage Improvement Company, Columbia and Clatsop County, Oregon, will be held Tuesday, March 19th, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at the Poplar Tree Nursery Office located at 91151 Old Mill Town Rd in Westport, OR. Notice is further given that all proxies must be in writing and signed by the owner. The meeting is to elect a director, adopt a budget and any other business that comes before the landowners. Zoom meeting information can be requested at columbiadistricts5@yahoo.com. Dated this 1st day of March, 2024. Kathy Haiby, Secretary/Treasurer Clatsop #15 Drainage Improvement Company, Inc. Board of Directors. NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

TO INTERESTED PERSONS

CC24-1067

additional information from the records of the Court, the personal In the Matter of the Estate of: VELVA JUNE MARSH, Deceased. CASE NO. 24PB00415 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS

NOTICE IS HEREBY

poose, OR 97056, personal representative of the estate of Velva June Marsh, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice, or the claims may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceedings may obtain representative, or the lawyer for the personal representative, Aaron Martin, 272 South 1st Street, Saint Helens, Oregon 97051. Dated and first published on March 6, 2024.

CC24-1072

NOTICE OF TRAFFIC CONTROL PLAN

Pedestrian traffic control plan will be in place 3/18/24 for the sidewalk/ parking area while working on Strand retaining wall. The North stairwell will re-

CC24-1073

main open to the public, the Southern stairwell will be closed. The Western parking stalls will be available to the public, the Eastern parking stalls will be closed. A

pedestrian detour will be in place to route pedestrians to a temporary walking path located at the end of Strand street, connecting to the riverwalk path.

NOTICE OF ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

The Clatskanie School District 6J Board of Directors is accepting applications from patrons interested in serving on the budget committee. Two - three-year positions (expiring 6/30/27) are available. You can pick up an application at the Clatskanie School District Office, 660 SW Bryant St. or on-line at csd.k12.or.us

Please return applications to

CC24-1074

the District Office by 4:00 pm April 1, 2024. The budget committee meeting dates are May 14 and May 28 at 5:30 PM with a possible 3rd date, if necessary. In addition approved committee members will need to attend the April 9 work session at 5:.30 PM. Selected candidates must be qualified voters of the district. Officers, agents, or employees of the district are

not eligible. Applications may be submitted to Shannon Emerson, Clatskanie School District 6J, PO Box 678, Clatskanie OR 97016 or email semerson@csd.k12. or.us. Questions regarding services required in terms of time and responsibility may be directed to Shannon Emerson at 503-728-0587, ext. 2003, or to any board member.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA

Court, the personal representative, or the attorney for the personal representative. Dated and published on:

March 13, 2024. Nancy J. Melton, Personal Representative, 51936 SW Em Watts Road, Scappoose, OR 97056, Phone: (503) 8754699. Attorney for Personal Representative: Aaron J. Trukositz, OSB No. 204618, LOWER COLUMBIA LAW GROUP LLC, 52490 Southeast Second Street, Suite 100, Scappoose, Oregon 97056, Phone: (503) 5434800, Fax: (888) 543-4806, Email: aaron@lowercolumbialaw.com.

CC24-1075

DISTRICT MEETING NOTICE

The Clatskanie People’s Utility District Board of Directors has scheduled the next regular Board meeting for Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 6:00 pm in the community room of the District’s administration building located at 495 E Columbia River Highway, Clatskanie. A Board Workshop will be held at 5:30 pm. An executive session may be called at the workshop and/ or meeting, pursuant to: ORS 192.660 (2) (i) to review and evaluate the performance of an officer, employee, or staff member if the person does not request an open meeting. AGENDA CLATSKANIE PEOPLE’S UTILITY DISTRICT BOARD

CC24-1076

WORKSHOP Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 5:30

P.M. I. COST OF SERVICE ANALYSIS UPDATE: Chris Roden, Director of Energy Resources II. POLICY REVIEW: 205 Conduct of Business, 206 Board Code of Conduct, 207 Removal of Officers, 208 Officer of Director Vacancy, and 209 Orienting New Directors III. STAFF REPORTS UPDATE CLATSKANIE PEOPLE’S

NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING

The Clatskanie Planning Commission will meet for a regular meeting on Wednesday, March 27th, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, upstairs in the Clatskanie Cultural Center. Agenda

items include but are not limited to the following: Approval of the minutes of the January 24th, 2023, regular meeting; a Public Hearing will be held for the Final Subdivision Plat Review for Conyers Townhomes, 20

Conyers Street. An updated agenda will be available at City Hall by March 22nd, 2024. Please go to the city website, www.cityofclatskanie.com to access the link to attend the meeting on Zoom.

The Public Notice deadline is Fridays by Noon.

Late submissions are not guaranteed to make it into the paper.

Former St. Helens resident publishes 5th book

SUBMITTED

During World War II fighter pilots who shot down five enemy planes earned the title of ace. Rusty Bradshaw is now an ace in book publishing. A fifth book written by Bradshaw, a former St. Helens resident, is now available for purchase on multiple platforms.

“Death in Hazard” was produced by Amazon Book Publications. The book is available in paperback and ebook versions on Barnes & Noble and Amazon. The book is also available on Bradshaw’s own website at www.rustythewriter.org and nearly 40 other outlets.

“This story, inspired by the Richard Marx song ‘Hazard,’ had been buzzing

around in my head for a few years,” Bradshaw said. “I believed there was more of a

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

story there.”

“Death in Hazard” is a thriller with plenty of twists and turns throughout. Curtis Herden has seen plenty of traumatic events in his first seven years of life. His father died in a drill rig accident, his mother, Bonnie, was briefly jailed for the murder of his stepfather and he watched a man who was harassing his mother get shot to death in a parking lot.

After all that, Bonnie decided, with the urging of the sheriff and her attorney, they needed to leave their southeast Wyoming home and to start a new life in a small town in central Nebraska.

Though he struggled to make friends, and was tormented by one particular bully. Curtis thrived in school and set his sights on

being a farmer. One summer he met a girl his own age and they became best friends. With her encouragement, he came further out of the protective shell he had constructed around himself. However, when Mary disappears late one night, the community’s suspicion falls on Curtis.

About Rusty Bradshaw

Bradshaw’s other four books are “The Rehabilitation of Miss Little,” “Moist on the Mountain,” “Gorge Justice” and “Battle for Stephanie.” Visit www.rustythewriter.org.

Bradshaw is a journalist of 40 years, now retired and focusing on his novels and other pursuits. In the final years of his journal-

ism career he edited weekly newspapers in the retirement communities of Sun City and Sun City West. He remains active in Sun City, currently serving on the Sun City Community Assistance Network’s board of director. In Arizona he also worked for newspapers in Surprise, Peoria, Scottsdale and Cave Creek. At Eastern Oregon University he worked on the student newspaper, the Beacon, and served two stints as sports information director, then a part-time student position. He also coached T-ball and volunteered for the Big Brother Big Sister program. He also worked for newspapers in Seaside, where he also helped provide publicity for the Special Olympics

program and did some on-air work for the community’s radio station KSWB. He also was on staff at a newspaper in St. Helens and later two newspapers in MiltonFreewater, where he also served on the Breadbasket and United Way boards of directors, coached youth football and was a member of the Exchange and Kiwanis clubs. He was named Milton-Freewater Junior Citizen of the Year in 1996. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Oregon University, attended Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming and grew up in the small town of Dubois, Wyoming.

Bradshaw and his wife, Jeanne, live in Glendale, Arizona.

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD

THEME: SPRING’S IN THE AIR

22. Acronym in a bottle

23. Ceremonial staff bearer

24. Skylit lobbies

25. “Designing Women” star Jean ____

26. *Become soft, as in ground

27. Radices, sing.

28. “Way 2 Sexy” rapper

29. “Battle of the ____” movie

32. Swimming competition, e.g.

33. Not amateur

36. *The ____: “Little darlin’, it’s been a long, cold, lonely winter”

38. Highly skilled

40. *Official start of spring

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

currency

& Garfunkel:

come she will”

quality sound reproduction, for short 9.

flower that starts blooming in spring 10. Fairytale insomnia

12. Like repeating tunnel sound

13. Off kilter

14. *”Spring ____, fall back”

19. Spring mattress filler

41. Make bigger

44. Vanish without this?

46. Elevates

48. Dry plateau in South Africa

49. Oak nut

50. Same as tsar

51. “The Dock of the Bay” singer

52. Joe Biden, once

53. Solemn promise

54. Pinta and Santa Maria companion

55. Vegas bandit’s body part

58. *It gets longer

COURTESY PHOTO FROM RUSTY BRADSHAW The cover for “Death in Hazard.”

Kotek signing expansive drug addiction bill while reviewing other proposals

BEN BOTKIN, JULIA SHUMWAY AND LYNNE TERRY Oregon Capital Chronicle Chronicle & Chief Guest Article

Gov. Tina Kotek said she plans to sign the centerpiece bill that lawmakers passed in response to the state’s soaring drug addiction and fentanyl overdoses.

House Bill 4002, a compromise proposal that won bipartisan support, will recriminalize possession of small amounts of hard drugs, reversing part of Measure 110, which voters approved in 2020. The bill has provisions to offer drug users multiple opportunities to enter treatment after an encounter with a police officer.

“Finally, reforms to Measure 110 will start to take shape, as I intend to sign House Bill 4002 and the related prevention and treatment investments within the next 30 days,” Kotek said in a statement released late Thursday. “As governor, my focus is on implementation.”

She has 30 business days to sign or veto the 115 bills that were passed, and once that happens, the $211 million lawmakers approved can be distributed. It would provide money for outpatient clinics, residential facilities, sobering centers, opioid treatment in jail, public defenders and court diversion programs. They also allocated $18 million for recovery houses.

A new misdemeanor would take effect in September, with up to 180 days in jail if probation is revoked.

Kotek said she’ll closely monitor the rollout, specifically its impact on communities of color.

“House Bill 4002 will require persistent action and commitment from state and

local government to uphold the intent that the Legislature put forward: to balance treatment for individuals struggling with addiction and accountability,” Kotek said.

Housing package

Kotek is also expected to sign the legislative housing package, split into Senate Bill 1537, Senate Bill 1530 and House Bill 4134. SB 1537, the only bill she asked lawmakers to introduce on her behalf, would give cities more leeway to bring land for housing into their boundaries and create a $75 million revolving loan fund for middle-income housing. The other two bills include more than $100 million for infrastructure funding necessary to build thousands of new homes in cities across the state.

“Senate Bill 1537 will help stabilize housing costs by increasing housing production through cutting red tape in permitting processes, establishing some of the strongest affordability standards for new construction in the country, and other critical reforms,” Kotek said. “Combined with investments in Senate Bill 1530, I look forward to ensuring that every dollar advances housing production.”

Rep. Julie Fahey, a Eugene Democrat and housing policy wonk who was elected House speaker late Thursday, said lawmakers expect to spend more money on housing in coming years.

“The projections all say we need to build half a million new homes over the next 20 years, and that’s not a problem that’s going to be solved in the next year or two,” Fahey said. “So I expect we’ll need continued investments, continued focus – this session we focused on

COMMUNITY EVENTS

On Going Events

Mondays

Storytime on Mondays

11 a.m. at the Columbia City Library, 2000 Second St. in Columbia City. For questions call, 503-366-8020.

Celebrate Recovery

For anyone struggling with addiction, hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for coffee, snacks, and fellowship. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. The first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. the doors open for a free dinner. Yankton Community Fellowship, 33579 Pittsburg Road in St. Helens. 503-396-7091. Childcare is available. www. yanktoncommunityfellowship.com.

Tuesdays

Community Meals serves free community dinner

5:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. at First Lutheran Church, 360 Wyeth

mEGGa

Egg Hunt coming soon

From Page A1

year, there is a fun twist to incentivize the park-and-ride system. Epperly called it the “Bunny on the rider bus.”

“If you park at McBride School and get on the rider bus, there will be a bunny on the bus, and they will be handing out little prizes to the children,” Epperly said. “We’re trying to get people to ride the bus a little bit more so we don’t have people parking out in the mucky grass, because obviously getting a lot of rain this year.”

Shuttles will begin running from McBride to the fairgrounds at 10:15 a.m., ahead of the gate opening at 10:30. The final shuttle will return to McBride at 12:45, 15 minutes after the gates close.

“I just want to make a shout-out to our sponsors, the people who financially support us and make this happen,” Epperly said. “All of them give us the funds we need to buy all the candy and do all the prizes.”

Some of the event

regulatory barriers, investing in infrastructure, increasing the land supply, and investments as well – and I think those are probably still the same categories that we’ll need.”

Kotek praised lawmakers for enacting campaign contribution limits and other campaign finance reform provisions, something she was disappointed that they didn’t accomplish last year and didn’t have high hopes for passing this year. Fahey said conversations began in earnest in December and accelerated in January as lawmakers and advocates tried to avoid the prospect of dueling ballot initiatives.

House Bill 4024 will cap campaign contributions from all groups, most notably limiting individuals to giving candidates $3,300 per election. It also includes several requirements around disclosing the source of funds, though lawmakers will continue working on changes to the law before new limits would take effect in 2027.

“I applaud all those who came to the table to find compromise and deliver a policy that will strengthen transparency and confidence in Oregon’s elections,” Kotek said. “I want to thank legislative leadership for their commitment and urgency in getting it done this session.”

Other bills

Lawmakers also passed a slew of other bills. A proposal that would give consumers more options to fix their smartphones, computers and other electronic gear awaits Kotek’s signature. The passage of Senate Bill 1596 marked a major success for Sen. Janeen Sollman, who’s been trying since 2021 to get a “right to repair” bill passed.

St., St. Helens. Doors open at 5 p.m.

Thursdays

Columbian Toastmasters Noon – 1 p.m. Promoting positive learning and leadership through public speaking. Anyone is welcome to visit! Lunch meetings at Warren Country Inn, 56575 Columbia River Hwy, Warren, OR 97053 from 12 p.m.-1 p.m. every Thursday. Call 503-369-0329 for more information.

Fridays

Caples House Tea and Sweets

2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Caples House offers Tea and Sweets: a bottomless cup of tea with a homemade dessert. Cost is $5. In The Cottage, 1925 First Street in Columbia City. Call 503-397-5390 for more details.

Fridays – Sundays Caples House Museum Tours

1 p.m. - 5 p.m. - Caples

House Museum Tours, 1925 1st Street in Columbia City. Cost is $5. Stop by and see what has changed. Caples House Museum Tours are closed except by reservation until Friday March 1. If you’d like a tour, please call 503397-3590.

Saturdays

Overcomers Outreach Meetings are held every Saturday at 9 a.m. at Creekside Baptist Church, 51681 SW Old Portland Road in Scappoose. Call Fred 971-7576389.

22nd Annual Scappoose

Farmers’ Market

9 a.m. - 2 p.m. next to Heritage Park in Scappoose, Oregon. Come by for nursery plants, herbs, flowers, food, handmade products by local craftsmen and more. For more information call 503-730-7429 or www.scappoosefarmermarket.com.

It would require manufacturers to make any necessary documentation, parts, tools or any device needed to repair electronic equipment available to consumers or repair shops at a “fair cost” and on “reasonable” terms. The bill would take effect Jan. 1 and apply to cell phones made starting in 2021 and other products dating to 2015. The attorney general would be in charge of enforcement starting July 1, 2027, with violators potentially fined $1,000 a day for refusing to comply.

House Bill 4083, also known as the COAL Act, passed. It would direct the Oregon Treasury to “try to ensure” the state’s $94 billion Public Employee Retirement System, or PERS, does not hold stock in companies that derive 20% or more of their revenue from coal production and would limit new investments in such companies.

The session ended with an allocation of $30 million for summer programs with the passage of House Bill 4082. That marks a significant increase from the previous year, when the Legislature allocated no additional money, but far less than the $150 million the Legislature approved in each of the two years immediately following pandemic school closures.

Lawmakers also approved House Bill 4149, which seeks to rein in prescription drug costs for pharmacies and patients by regulating pharmacy benefit managers. Pharmacy benefit managers are a middleman in the pharmaceutical industry and have the ability to set different reimbursement rates, often hurting small independent pharmacies in rural areas.

The bill would require pharmacy benefit managers to be licensed by the state.

Lawmakers passed Sen-

Weekly Events

Resonate Recovery Meets at 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Wednesday - Sundays. This is a Bible based, Christcentered spiritual recovery meeting for those struggling with addictions and compulsive behavior at 220 S. 1st Street in St. Helens. Everyone is loved and welcomed. For more information call Debbie at 503-560-0521, Daniel Grant at 714-7689327 or check the Resonate Facebook page.

Clatskanie Senior Center Lunches

Clatskanie Senior Center lunches Clatskanie Senior Center Lunches now served Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at noon at the Castle Cafe, 620 SW Tichenor. Call 503-728-3608 for reservations. Use ground floor entrance to the left of front stairs. Good parking in back off of SW Bryant Street. Castle Tours available

scavenger hunt sponsored by Paulson’s Printing, and even a chance for a photo with Peter Cottontail himself. There will also be a pavilion with food, coloring pages, and a plant-a-seed feature. A special needs area will also be provided, sponsored by Kiwanis.

According to Epperly, one exciting development is a tweak made to the scavenger hunt.

ate Bill 1508, which caps the out-of-pocket costs for a one-month supply of insulin at $35 for patients with insurance. Medicare, which insures people 65 and older, started a similar cap in 2023, and 25 states have out-ofpocket limits on insulin costs in place. Oregon capped the out-of-pocket costs of insulin at $75 in 2021.

Lawmakers passed Senate Bill 1553, which makes drug use on public transit buses a misdemeanor crime of interfering with public transportation. The measure passed after transit companies told lawmakers they are concerned about the safety and health of staff and passengers amid a surge in public drug use. The misdemeanor would be punishable by up to a year in jail, a fine of up to $6,250, or both. Defendants also would be eligible for treatment programs. Despite Republican opposition, Democratic lawmakers pushed through Senate Bill 1503 on firearm fatalities. The proposal would create a task force made up of lawmakers, various experts and officials from around the state to study ways to reduce deaths from firearms, especially suicides. The group is mandated to send reports to the Legislature’s health care committees this September and next.

Passage of Senate Bill 1571 marks the Legislature’s first attempt to address the use of artificial intelligence in election campaigns, something that’s becoming more commonplace. The bill would require campaigns to disclose whether their campaign materials use artificial intelligence or other digital technology to manipulate an image, audio or video in an attempt to influence voters. Five other states, including

by appointment, includes Clatskanie Historical Society museum. Call Debbie at 503-338-8268.

The Rainier Public Library is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays and 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays. It will be closed Sundays and Mondays.

Monthly Events

Laundry Day provided by St. Wenceslaus’ Laundromat Ministry 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Scappoose Laundromat, 52494 SW 1st Street #3531 in Scappoose. This event is held on the 3rd Saturday of every month. Winter weather conditions may cause cancellation. Bring your laundry and the rest is supplied (laundry detergent, dryer sheets and quarters). For questions call 503-5432110.

“We always need more help,” Epperly said. “The easiest thing is to go to our Facebook page; we have a volunteer link that takes you to our volunteer page and tells you what positions are open and what we still need and you can sign up right there.” Volunteers are still needed to help monitor the

Washington, have laws addressing AI in campaigns.

Lawmakers passed House Bill 4045, which would lower the retirement age for firefighters and police officers with five years on the job from 60 years to 55. The bill would reclassify district attorneys, forensic scientists and evidence technicians as police and increase retirement benefits for employees involved with patients at the Oregon State Hospital or 911 operators. Most of the provisions would take effect Jan. 1.

Lawmakers, once again, considered expanding the allowed acreage for farmers in the Willamette Valley to grow canola, a profitable crop that seed growers use as a rotation plant. But opponents say expanding canola could harm the genetic purity of other plants in the same Brassica family through cross pollination. With House Bill 4059, lawmakers retained the status quo of 500 acres.

And finally, Senate Bill 1576, which would expand the definition of recreation under the state’s “recreational immunity” law to include walking, running and bicycling, would protect local governments from lawsuits. It passed along partisan lines.

Reporter Alex Baumhardt contributed to this story.

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/03/08/ gov-kotek-signing-expansivedrug-addiction-bill-whilereviewing-other-proposals/

Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@ oregoncapitalchronicle.com.

Lower Columbia River Watershed Council

Lower Columbia Watershed Council meets the second Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Clatskanie PUD building. Zoom links are also available. Visit the council’s website for agenda postings and Zoom at www. lowercolumbiariver.org/ events-page.

Avamere at St. Helens 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Avamere at St. Helens hosts a Virtual Dementia Support Group – 3rd Wednesday of each month. For more details, contact Jenny Hicks/Avamere at St. Helens at 503366-8070.

To list an event in the Community Calendar, email details with a phone number that may be published for anyone that might have questions, to chronicleclassifieds@countrymedia.net, or call 503-397-0116.

hunt fields, greeters for the gates, and counters who tally those in attendance. Organizers also need help from volunteers to help set up and break down the event.

Find more information at the mEGGa Egg Hunt Facebook page at https:// www.facebook.com/meggaegghuntsthelens.

sponsors are the Samuel S. Johnson Foundation, the Columbia County Fair and Rodeo, Hudson Garbage, and Heather Epperly Agency Inc.

An organization also sponsors each age group’s hunting field. Richardson’s Furniture sponsors the 0-2 group, the 3-4 is sponsored by Lea Chitwood Re/Max Power Pros, the 5-7 by Matt McHugh - Cascadia Home Loans Company, the 8-9 by Premier Restoration Partners, and the 10-12 is

sponsored by Dr. Auto. Pamona Grange sponsors the plant-a-seed, and Warren Grange sponsors the food booth. Dyno Nobel is sponsoring the coloring contest, which will present three cash prizes for each age group.

Activities beyond the hunt

While the hunt for candy is the main attraction for kids of Columbia County, the event will also feature a petting zoo with animals provided by 4H kids, a

“Our scavenger hunt was new two years ago, so we’re going to change it up a little bit this year. The last two years, we had an area where [kids] did the scavenger hunt in. This year, the scavenger hunt will be all around the fairgrounds,” Epperly said. “So, they’ll have to go to different locations to find different things.”

A call for more volunteers

The event is a labor of love for the volunteers and mEGGa Hunt organizers. Epperly said that between the planners, volunteers, and people assisting with parking and crowd control, there are about 150 people who help make the hunt a success.

Epperly said there is still a need for more volunteers.

COURTESY PHOTO FROM HEATHER EPPERLY mEGGa Egg Hunt organizers are hoping for another big turnout this year.

Girls basketball season ends for CMHS, SHHS

Winter sports season is wrapping up across Oregon, and spring sports are around the corner. St. Helens High School and Clatskanie Middle/High School have both wrapped up their girls basketball seasons, so let’s take a look at how their seasons shook out.

St. Helens High School

For the Lions, the 20232024 season marked the first time in more than 20 years that the girls team has made the playoffs. Head Coach Jillian Ross said she feels “really good” about how her team’s season went.

“Despite placing fourth in the league, we finished with a near .500 record, which is a huge growth from last year. We all grew as individuals, players, and as a team,” Ross said. “This team is the first team to make the State Playoffs in more than 20 years. I think it sets the standard of what we are trying to build here in St. Helens.”

The Lions finished with a record of 12-14 overall, and 5-7 in the Cowapa League. Ross said the Cowapa League is “very tough” and that each game was a “battle” and very competitive. One of the biggest challeng-

es for the program this year was having enough players to put on the floor for the JV and Varsity teams. “We have a small group to play both JV and varsity, so when girls dealt with injury or sickness, we had to play a numbers game in order to play both games,” Ross said. Though getting numbers for the games was a challenge sometimes, Ross said that the team’s sophomores provided the scoring punch to keep the Lions competitive. Sophomores Devan Lee and D’aye Davidson lead the team in scoring, averaging 12.3 points per game (ppg) and 11.2 ppg, respectively. Sophomore Madelyn

Hancock also had big games for St. Helens throughout the year.

It’s just as well that there is a strong crop of underclassmen stepping up because the program will be losing its five seniors, Maisy McDole, Caitlin Keefe, Makenna Hardin, Katie Duke, and Chloee Claughton. Ross talked about what their contribution has meant to the program.

Our program is losing five seniors after this year, who we will miss tremendously. They have all contributed a ton of time and effort to this program. All of them have contributed to the tremendous growth that we have had in the past two

the season was when the Lions punched their ticket to state. After finishing fourth in the Cowapa League, the Lions had a showdown with North Bend in a play-in game Feb. 24. The Lions emerged victorious, and Ross said that it was a great feeling to finally break the playoff drought.

“We were filled with a ton of excitement following that game,” Ross said. “We had a ton of fan support come out for us on that Saturday, which really contributed to an amazing environment that helped lead us to the win.” The Lions went on to lose

against Henley High School, but this season marks major growth and a step forward for a team that will hope to make it back to the playoffs in the coming seasons.

Clatskanie Middle/High School

The Clatskanie Tigers fell just short of the State Playoffs this season, but by the narrowest of margins, losing to Vernonia 34-37 on Feb. 17. The Tigers had a young squad that couldn’t quite edge out a veteran-laden Vernonia team.

“The game against Vernonia came down to just little things, mainly good

shots that just were not falling into the hoop. It was a tough and good game,” Head Coach Mary Sizemore said. “Vernonia has an older, more experienced group of girls, and that also worked in their favor.”

Sizemore said the team’s biggest obstacles this year were the program’s lack of varsity experience and having a small squad. While Sizemore said she was sad to see the season end before the playoffs, she was proud of how her team competed despite its challenges.

While the youthfulness of the team led to a lack of experience in big moments, the future of the program is promising as they will be losing no seniors this year. The co-captains and leaders of the program, Joey Sizemore and Karielle Carlson, will be returning next season. Joey Sizemore was named an Honorable Mention on the 2A All-State team.

With a full season of adjusting to new roles and responsibilities, the Tigers will hope to make a roaring comeback next year.

“My takeaways from this season are that this is an awesome group of girlsbrave, tenacious, hardworking, and dedicated,” Sizemore said. “I look forward to seeing them continue these traits and grow.”

OMIC R&D and the groundbreaking LASERTEC 4300 DED Hybrid

SUBMITTED BY OMIC R&D

A Bold Leap Forward Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center, Research and Development (OMIC R&D) recently started the process of moving a LASERTEC 4300 provided by DMG MORI USA into its Additive Innovation Center on January 22.

The machine is unique to the world of Advanced Manufacturing as it is a Direct Energy Deposition (DED) hybrid, incorporating aspects of both traditional machining and additive manufacturing. The LASERTEC 4300 directly approaches solutions in removing common barriers in additive printing such as weak binding, poor accuracy, or rough surfaces on finished products. This acquisition marks a transformative moment for OMIC R&D, significantly enhancing its capabilities in advanced manufacturing.

The LASERTEC 4300

DED hybrid: A Fusion of Innovation and Efficiency

“The LASERTEC 4300

DED hybrid system from DMG MORI represents the pinnacle of turn-mill additive technology,” explains Nils Niemeyer, General Manager at DMG MORI Additive Solutions. “This machine allows for building up parts, adding material to existing complex geometries, and machining in the same set up, opening up new avenues in manufacturing design and efficiency.”

Niemeyer highlighted the LASERTEC 4300 DED hybrid’s groundbreaking capabilities: “One of the most exciting aspects of these DED hybrid systems is the ability to blend or grade materials, pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve in material science and manufactur-

ing.” Craig Campbell, Executive Director of OMIC R&D, expressed his enthusiasm: “The arrival of the LASERTEC 4300 DED hybrid marks a watershed moment for us. It’s not just a machine; it’s a catalyst for our work to innovate in the critical space where additive and subtractive technologies meet. We are thrilled about the possibilities this DED hybrid machine opens up and look forward to collaborating with DMG MORI and our other members in exploring this space.”

The LASERTEC 4300 DED hybrid is known to excel in deploying wear-resistant materials, marking a shift in how industry can approach manufacturing challenges in material science and emphasizing strategic application for optimal performance. Industry currently faces trials such as the need to replace or repair high-value parts normally cost inhibiting, or parts that are no longer available. This is often due to factors like environmental restrictions or changes in the labor market.

Current industry also suffers from gaps between traditional subtractive machining and the advent of additive manufacturing processes. The need to ship parts back and forth to facilities that specialize in either additive or subtractive machining can be inhibiting for the supply chain. The use of additive manufacturing continues to advance throughout various key branches of industry, though its adoption into the supply chain could prove to be a high-cost investment for less established decision makers. Consolidation of multiple parts and manufacturing processes, as this DED Hybrid represents, provides a potential solution to these challenges that can be immediately implemented in the

supply chain. The machine’s capacity for handling graded alloys represents a significant breakthrough, allowing for innovative solutions tailored to specific industrial needs. Bridging the gap between additive and subtractive manufacturing will only strengthen the competencies of industry.

Josh Koch, Business Development Manager for OMIC R&D, is optimistic of how the LASERTEC 4300 DED Hybrid can be utilized in the immediate region. “Major users of the technology today are space and aerospace companies. Many of those companies exist in the PNW, and we hope to work closely with the supply chain to evaluate and de-risk this new hybrid additive equipment.

“Because of the powder flexibility this machine can be used to eliminate applications where companies are doing canned HIP of powders or repairing parts through welding build up processes,” he continued.

The partnership between OMIC R&D and DMG MORI became official in late 2023 when DMG MORI became a Tier 1 member of OMIC’s research consortium. The collaboration will focus on leading the future of manufacturing using its innovative machining technology, with benefits permeating various industries. Their membership enhances the capabilities of OMIC R&D significantly.

OMIC R&D invites members of the supply chain to learn how the LASERTEC 4300 and the expertise of its researchers can benefit their organization. For more information and collaboration opportunities, please contact Jon Elias, Director of Marketing and Communications at OMIC R&D, at jon.elias@ oit.edu or 503-821-1155. Visit their website at omic.us to discover more about their innovative journey.

About OMIC R&D

OMIC R&D was founded in 2017 and combines the efforts of industry and academic partners to develop advanced metals manufacturing technologies and processes. Their facility features a world-class collaborative environment, allowing the team to develop new tools, techniques, and technologies to address near-term manufacturing challenges through applied

research and advanced technical training.

About DMG MORI

As an innovation leader in machine tool manufacturing, DMG MORI has been complementing its broad portfolio of conventional manufacturing methods with additive technologies since 2013.

The LASERTEC DED hybrid and LASERTEC SLM models thus enable holistic

JOIN OUR TEAM

process chains from metal powder to high-precision finish machining. The broad spectrum of applications ranges from the production of complex prototypes and small series parts to tool making and the repair of wear parts.

In the ADDITIVE INTELLIGENCE consulting unit, DMG MORI also supports beginners as well as experienced users in fully exploiting the potential of metallic 3D printing.

Advertising Representatives

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COURTESY PHOTO

The St. Helens girls varsity basketball team.

COURTESY PHOTO

CMHS girls basketball at the Moda Center.