he annual Clatskanie Heritage Days are returning this weekend, and the theme for this year’s celebration is: “Great Times. Good People. Sweet Memories.” This weekend will be just the beginning, with the fun being kicked into gear with the annual Heri tage Days Car Show in Clatskanie City Park. Over the coming weeks, and heading into Independence Day, there will be lots of free, family-friendly activities and events that have been put together by the Heritage Days Committee and community volunteers.
Committee is very excited for this year’s Heritage Days celebration and the Car Show! We believe that it will be closer to what it was before the pandemic, and will have lots of family friendly activities,”
Johnson said.
One of the big additions to this year’s Heritage Days is the return of a community favorite, which is the Heritage Days Logging Exhibition, complete with three age categories of competition for cash prizes. Part of the reason why so many of the activities are presented free of charge is through partnerships and sponsorships from local organizations and donors.
Sarah Johnson is Clatskanie PUD’s chief operating officer, president of the Clatskanie Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Heritage Planning Days Committee, and she said that she and other organizers are excited to present this year’s event and that it will be similar to pre-COVID Heritage Days festivities.
“The Heritage Days Planning
These are what Johnson and the Heritage Days Committee refer to as the “Heritage Days Heroes,” and they are recognized on a flyer and with yard signs that reflect their support of the events.
“We would like to thank all of our sponsors, donors, and volunteers that contribute to the success of our Heritage Days events,” Johnson said.
The festivities will kick off this weekend with the free-to-
attend car show at 9 a.m., June 29. The show will feature “cars and trucks through the ages,” accompanied by music and vendors. There are 24 award categories for cars on display, in addition to the People’s Choice Award. Attendees can also purchase and give their own “My Choice Trophy” to their favorite car as well! If you have an appetite before the show, there is a breakfast special at Big Guy from 7–11 a.m. to get you started on the right foot. The annual Pie in the Park, which is presented by the Clatskanie T P.E.O. Chapter, will also be going on, bringing some of the tastiest treats from around town to Clatskanie City Park. Clatskanie Farmer’s Market will also be adding to the fun and will be in
New info may beget leads in Zuber case
WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
After months and years of seeking clarity regarding the tragic passing of their daughter, Sarah Zuber, in 2019, Randy and Rebecca Zuber may be on the path to getting the closure they seek, as the Columbia County Major Crimes Team has been provided new information that may generate new leads.
This development came after Zuber family spokesperson Jennifer Massey met with Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley in late March to explain her involvement in the case and the family’s goals regarding the investigation.
After the March meeting, Pixley organized a June 6 meeting between Massey, Columbia County District Attorney Joshua Pond, and members of the Columbia County Major Crimes Team. County Public Information Officer Mark Pacheco
outlined the proceedings of the meeting.
“On June 6, Sheriff Brian Pixley, District Attorney Joshua Pond, Detectives Peabody and Smith, and Chief Deputy Murphy met with Jen Massey, a community advocate, to discuss new information her group had gathered regarding the Sarah Zuber case,” Pacheco said. “Mrs. Massey presented previously unreleased information and expressed concern during a roundtable discussion. She subsequently agreed to share her files with Sheriff Pixley, who received them on June 13, 2024.”
During that meeting, Massey presented the family’s concerns and new information related to the case and expressed the Zuber family’s ultimate goals.
“One of the focuses that I had during that meeting is, if the leads that we provided, based on their professional experience, knowledge, and training, don’t pan out,
and it’s circumstantial evidence at this point, at least [the investigators] can go back and present to the family on how [they] came to the
conclusions [rendered],” Massey explained.
The concerns of the family pertain to the findings of the original investigation into Sarah’s passing on Mar. 13, 2019. After an investigation by a major crimes team, Oregon State Medical Examiner Rebecca Millius ruled that the death was accidental and caused by “combined deterious effects of acute ethanol (beverage alcohol) intoxication and hypothermia due to exposure.”
“As with similar cases, the sheriff’s office has kept the Sarah Zuber case open to investigate new, actionable leads and information as they arise,” says Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley. “Columbia County Sheriff’s Office was recently informed that there might be additional actionable leads in the Zuber case. Copies of the information have been delivered to us, and our investigators are currently evaluating the new information.”
Massey’s presentation Massey explained some of the issues the family has been questioning all these years.
“How does a case go from providing the family significant [physical] trauma [to Sarah], broken neck, the other injuries sustained to dying or passing away from hypothermia and alcohol intoxication? How do you get to that point?” Massey said. “[There] were different death certificates that showed up with no explanation why they changed them. Provide the [Zubers] with as much information as possible on how we got to this point because, at this point, all they have is all these pieces up in the air, and they make no logical sense. How does a family try to lay their child to rest when there are so many questions and uncertain terms?”
See ZUBER, Page A9
Haidon Allen ready for second bout
WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
Following a successful debut, Haidon “Ippo” Allen is getting back in the ring for his second professional fight, and this time, he’s going up a weight class to do it. Not much has changed since Allen got his first professional win. Allen took a few weeks off after his victory over Robert Jimenez on Apr. 20. After some time off to recover, Allen hopped right back into training camp with his coach, Victor Morales. Now, Allen is coming out of six weeks of intensive training as he gets ready for his second fight. Though his coach wanted to get him back in the ring as soon as
possible, finding an opponent was a challenge. It wasn’t until recently he finally was able to line up some competition.
“It’s kind of hard because I just got an opponent three days ago,” Allen told the Chronicle & Chief on June 20. “I had four people pull out because of my last fight and my accolades. This time, this guy, he just fought for a belt, and he’s going to be tough. Once I beat him, I’m hoping I’m next in line for a title at the end of this year.”
Allen’s opponent will be Elroy Fruto of Canada, who he will fight on June 29 at the Medford Armory for the Arena Wars Pro LHW Title event.
Fruto is more experienced than Allen, having five professional fights under his belt to this point.
When asked why so many of his other opponents dropped out, Allen said that in the Northwest, not many people want to risk losing if they haven’t lost yet. Allen calls this “losing your 0,” referring to the 0 losses someone would have on their record.
Experience isn’t the only area that Fruto has a leg up, though; in order to secure an opponent, Allen has decided to go up a weight class for this fight. Allen’s normal fighting weight class is 126 pounds, and for this fight, he will be fighting at a weight of 132 pounds. Though it might not sound like a lot, it’s a significant jump in boxing.
“I couldn’t find an opponent at my weight, so my coach and I
COURTESY PHOTO FROM REBECCA ZUBER Sarah Zuber in her graduation cap and gown.
See HAIDON, Page A7
COURTESY PHOTO FROM HAIDON ALLEN Haidon Allen and his team after winning his professional debut Apr. 20.
WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
In celebration of Ace Hardware’s 100th year in operation, the St. Helens Ace Hardware location will be hosting a community event with free food, vendors, and activities for folks on June 29.
Ace Hardware was founded in 1924 in Chicago, and over the course of its operation, the business has expanded internationally.
The St. Helens location was founded in 1973, according to St. Helens Ace Store Manager Melissa Peterson. From there, it moved to the old Columbia Lanes Bowling Alley building on S. 17th Street in 1982, and in 2008, it moved to its current location on Columbia Boulevard and Highway 30.
Though it is a large corporation, Peterson wants to host a family-friendly event that gives people a reason to come out and celebrate.
“Our goal here is we’re going to host a free barbecue. We should have enough food for three to four hundred people, somewhere in there,” Peterson said. “It will go from 11 a.m. until probably 3 or 4 p.m., or unless we run out of food.” Peterson said there would be plenty of food for people to try, including hotdogs, turkey, and ham. There will also be salad and other sides
to make sure no one goes away without a decent portion while supplies last, including salad and a dessert of some kind. Crooked Creek Brewery and Tap into Wine will do “samplers” to wash down the free meal.
Though this is a special occasion, Peterson said that Ace Hardware often holds barbecue events for the community during the year. Looking over her schedule, Peterson said they have around 11 or 12 events planned throughout the year, and they typically draw around 150-200 people if the weather’s nice.
year, I want more people to be out here to acknowledge what’s happening. Not everybody’s turning 100 businesswise nowadays after COVID. That was a challenge and a half,” Peterson said. To mark the occasion, the Highway 30 Cruisers will be showing off their steel, with some of their hot rods on display for attendees to check out. For those who like to toss bags, Peterson said there will be a cornhole toss game for prizes. Though that will be an activity mostly for kids, Peterson said there would be
Ace to host BBQ in honor of 100th year
barbecues, it isn’t just a matter of us standing out there, cooking food, and handing it away. I’m trying to help little businesses here. When we have our barbecues, it’s to involve them,” Peterson said.
Another way Ace gives back is by allowing people to donate when they round up their purchases in the store, which supports Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. Other initiatives Peterson discussed include donating and supporting the St. Helens Senior Center and cash donations to the local Boy Scouts to support Meals on Wheels.
activities for folks of all ages. feature vendors and demos from companies. One example Peterson gave was Mutual Materials, who will come in and do a fire pit building demo and, after that, will raffle off the newly made item. Ace itself will be raffling off a $50 Ace Gift Card, Glass Birdbath and Stand, Craftsman 104pc Mechanics Tool Set, 14” Shade Planter, and Weber 22” Kettle Grill.
Other vendors who will have items up for grabs and demoing their services include Stihl, DeWalt, Milwaukee,
Storage, SodaStream, Georgia Boots, Mutual Materials, and Sunfrog Products. Peterson said these barbecues and events where companies do giveaways are a way that Ace Hardware gives back to the community. Peterson said she tries to highlight local businesses as vendors for the events to bring more awareness to the services they provide. She sees the barbecues as a way to bring people together.
“We try to give back locally; when I’m doing my
“We try to give back locally. We’re not covering Longview, we’re not covering Portland, we’re covering our neighbors here, and our businesses that are here. We’re making sure that we’re in touch with them locally,” Peterson said. “We want to be here in our community, we want to make a difference here.”
In that spirit, Peterson said that Ace Hardware in St. Helens will be hosting a food drive for Columbia Pacific Foodbank through the event, with donation barrels in the store and at the 100th-year celebration for the company. People are encouraged to bring canned or nonperishable food items to donate to support families with food scarcity in Columbia County.
OHA issues heat wave safety advisory
Summer kicked off of-
ficially June 20, and Oregon Health Authority recommends people in Oregon take steps to keep this season from becoming a “bummer” with tips for staying healthy and safe.
The Oregon ESSENCE Summer Hazard Report dashboard allows people to monitor trends in the most common summer-related hazards. The dashboard contains interactive graphs showing total daily counts of emergency department and urgent care center visits in Oregon associated with four injury and illness categories: heat-related illness, water submersion events, wildfire-related smoke inhalation, and air quality-related respiratory illness.
Users can also select data sets by year, going to back to 2018. The dashboard page under each tab also contains a description of the injury or illness, the groups most at risk, and how it can be treated or prevented. The dashboard is updated weekly.
Summer safety covers a variety of topics. Here are
SUBMITTED BY CLATSKANIE
CHAPTER T P.E.O.
Delicious homemade pies will be sold by the slice on Saturday, June 29, from the snack shack at the southwest corner of the Clatskanie City Park in conjunction with the Heritage Days Car Show.
Members of Clatskanie
Chapter T P.E.O., who sponsor the event, invite all bakers to enter the annual “Pie in the Park” baking contest.
Entrants should bring their pies to the snack shack between 9 and 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 29. Judging will begin at 10 a.m., and winners will be announced at 12 noon.
For adult bakers (age 18 and older) pies will be judged in the categories of Fruit, Holiday Specialty, Dietary Specialty, and Savory Pies. Youth (17 and younger) are invited to enter pies in the Fruit or Holiday specialty divisions.
All pies entered in the contest must be homemade - including the crusts. Each baker may enter a maximum of two pies. Pies entered in the contest will be sold by the slice, along with pies baked by P.E.O. members.
“Bake and enter your favorite pie recipe, or simply come by for a slice” suggests Margaret Magruder, who is celebrating her 50th anniversary this month as a member of the Clatskanie chapter of the international philanthropic educational organization. “Pie in the Park is a fun and delicious way to support P.E.O.’s scholarship programs for women,” says
some quick tips:
Mosquito-borne diseases (West Nile virus, Zika)
Eliminate sources of standing water where mosquitoes breed, such as watering troughs and bird baths. Protect yourself during outdoor activities at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active by using mosquito repellants containing DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus or Picardin, and follow directions on the container. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants in mosquitoinfested areas. Visit https:// www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/ DISEASESCONDITIONS/ DISEASESAZ/WESTNILEVIRUS/Pages/wnvprevent. aspx to learn more.
Cyanobacterial (harmful algal) blooms
Avoid areas of water bodies where there are signs of a cyanobacterial bloom, such as water that is foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green, blue-green or brownish red in color.
Avoid swimming, water-
skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, and other high-speed water activities in areas of the lake affected by a bloom. Watch children and pets to be sure they are not swallowing water or coming in contact with cyanobacterial blooms washed up on the shore or dried on rocks. Visit http:// healthoregon.org/hab to learn more.
Beach bacteria
Visitors to Oregon beaches where a public health advisory is in place for higher-thannormal levels of fecal bacteria should avoid wading in nearby creeks, pools of water on the beach, or in discolored water, and stay clear of water runoff flowing into the ocean. Avoid swimming in the ocean within 48 hours after a rainstorm even if no advisory is in effect. Visit http://healthoregon.org/beach to learn more.
Drowning prevention
Don’t swim alone or in bad weather.
Always supervise children in and near the water.
PHOTO FROM DEBBIE HAZEN
Chapter T P.E.O.’s two 50-year members, Margaret Magruder and Pam Sellix, invite everyone to participate in the annual Pie in the Park baking contest and pie sale this
Magruder, who also serves as a Columbia County commissioner. “Chapter T members are proud of the fact that we have successfully sponsored dozens of local women over the years for thousands of dollars in scholarships.”
Learn CPR and basic water rescue skills. It is important to know how to respond in an emergency without putting yourself at risk. Visit https://www.safekids.org/ poolsafety or https://www. safekids.org/safetytips/field_ risks/boating to learn more.
Extreme heat
Visit air-conditioned places, if possible, and limit sun exposure from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when UV rays are strongest. Use cool compresses, misting, and cool showers
and baths, and never leave children in a parked car. Drink plenty of fluids, especially when working outside, and avoid alcohol or liquids with large amounts of sugar. Visit https://www. oregon.gov/oha/ERD/Pages/ Tips-Stay-Safe-Extreme-Heat. aspx.
Tick-borne diseases
Using insect repellents containing DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus or Picardin, and wearing long clothes can keep biting mosquitos and ticks at bay. More tips
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and resources are available at https://www.oregon.gov/ oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/DISEASESAZ/ WESTNILEVIRUS/Pages/ wnvprevent.aspx and www. cdc.gov/ticks/.
Prevent fireworks injuries
Watch fireworks displays from a safe distance. Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities and do not allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks. Call 911 immediately if someone is injured.
Country Media has immediate openings for Reporters to cover the news that matters to our communities. Successful applicants will have an enthusiasm to cover enterprise journalism, civic meetings, school news, community events, and more. You’ll be writing for multimedia platforms including print, social media, and websites. If writing is your passion, this is the job for you! Positions are Full-time. We will also consider applicants for freelance work.
We offer an above average wage with paid holidays, health insurance, paid vacation, sick leave, and more!
Submit your resume and cover letter today to
Annual Pie in the Park Baking Contest and Sale
COURTESY PHOTO FROM MELISSA PETERSON
Photos from previous Ace Hardware barbecues.
STAFF REPORT
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 Department
June 9
• Officers arrested a 39-yearold male subject on a fugitive warrant at the 2000 block of Sykes Road.
June 11
• Police responded to a theft II from vehicle at the 2000 block of Columbia Boulevard.
• Officers responded to a death investigation at the 30000 block of Blackstone Way.
June 12
• Law enforcement responded to elder neglect-financial and physical at the 700 block of Harper Lane.
June 14
• Police served a 27-year-old male subject on a fugitive warrant a 901 Port Avenue.
June 15
• Officers arrested a 26-yearold male subject on a fugitive warrant at the 2000 block of Sykes Road.
• Police arrested a 38-yearold male subject for resisting arrest, escape III, assault III, assault on a public safety officer, theft III, and robbery I at the 2000 block of Sykes Road.
June 16
• Law enforcement arrested a 27-year-old male subject on a fugitive warrant and disorderly conduct at the
500 block of 9th Street.
• Police took an informational report on suspicious circumstances at the 300 block of Strand Street.
June 17
• Officers arrested a 23-yearold male subject on a fugitive warrant at the 100 block of Michael Avenue.
June 18
• Police arrested a 63-yearold male subject on a fugitive warrant at the 300 block of Columbia River Highway.
June 19
• Officers responded to a theft at the 200 block of Brayden Street.
June 20
• Law enforcement responded to a probation violation by a male subject at the 2000 block of Sykes Road.
CCHUB’s entrepreneur contest now open!
SUBMITTED BY CCHUB
Our business development competition is officially live and this is just the beginning of all the fun. We are accepting applications from Columbia County residents, age 16-25, now through July 15, 2024, and official contestants will be announced by July 20. All you need to do to express interest is fill out our online interest form, which should just take a few minutes. That form is available at bit.ly/kidsbiz2024, and as a tab on our website www.columbiacountyhub. com. Once you submit your initial note of interest, you will be contacted by one of our board members with instructions on how to submit your business plan and budget documents. We are not judging entrants based on
grammar or the quality of the writing in their plan; all entries will be judged based on the merit of the idea and the potential of success in executing the plan submitted.
Once the contestants are announced, they will each be given a budget of $100 to hold a free-standing marketing event. That event can be in person or online, but must demonstrate growth of some kind (financial, social media following, community support, etc.). The contestants will then be responsible for making a presentation outlining the outcome and level of success that they had with their individual projects. Those presentations will be on display at our group marketing event, which will be held on August 22 at The Lodge. We are inviting the
public to join us at that
marketing event so that the contestants get a chance to network with the community and garner support. At the end of that event, we will hold both an online and in-person vote, which will determine which top three contestants make it to “The Shark Tank.”
The final Shark Tank event will be held this fall, and tickets will be available for the community to come and have a front row seat to cheer on their favorite competitor. The winner of that event will be given a $5,000 grant and access to $7,500 in low interest lending.
We are still looking for mentors for our program, if you are interested in joining forces with one of our young entrepreneurs, please email us at columbiacountyhub@gmail.com.
Rainier Police Department
June 8
• A business called to report a subject that was trespassing. The individual was not there upon officer arrival.
• An individual reported that their food stamp money had been fraudulently taken from their account.
• A caller reported an disturbance at a residence. Family member were in engaged in a verbal argument. Peace was restored.
June 9
• An employee called to report an unwanted person was at the location charging their phone. The individual left while the caller was on the phone with dispatch.
• Parents had a heated argument during a child custody exchange. Peace was restored.
• An officer trespassed an individual from a business per management request.
June 10
• A resident reported finding a stray horse. The reporting party was able to corral the horse for safekeeping.
• An officer received a call for an alarm that was accidentally activated.
June 11
• Property was taken from a church. The case is pending investigation.
• An officer responded to a business alarm. The building was secure.
June 12
• An employee called regarding a juvenile that was being disrespectful. He was asked to leave the store.
June 13
• A caller was concerned about
some very young children playing in the street. No one was located in the area.
• A resident reported that an unknown subject broke into their house. Nothing appeared to be missing.
• An officer responded to a false alarm at a business.
June 14
• A caller was concerned about the occupants of a vehicle that were reportedly ‘slumped over’. An officer checked on them; the people were fine, just sleeping.
• A caller reported a suspicious-looking vehicle driving around a business. No one was in the area.
• A ‘junky looking’ bus was reported to be parked at the boat ramp. The vehicle was tagged for tow. The occupants opted to leave.
• Officers responded to a false alarm at a business.
Chronicle & Chief
Office Manager
The Chronicle & Chief has an opening for an Office Manager. Come work with our professional team running the busy office of Columbia County’s local news source since 1881. We offer competitive wage and benefits for this full-time position. Must be able to deliver world-class customer service, have good computer skills and attention to detail. If you want to work in a fast paced setting then this is the job for you.
If interested email Joe Warren at jwarren@countrymedia.net
Mist-Birkenfeld Division Chief passes away
STAFF REPORT
Country Media, Inc.
The firefighter community in Columbia County are in mourning, a result of the passing of Mist-Birkenfeld Division Chief Nicholas “Nick” Berg. Berg passed away unexpectedly at home on June 6.. The investigation of his death has ruled it a Line of Duty Death.
“Nick was a volunteer for our Fire District for 47 years and has worked and volunteered throughout the greater Columbia County area his entire life,” Mist-Birkenfeld RFPD Public Information Officer Hailey Palmore said. In a Facebook post on the Mist-Birkenfeld RFPD page June 12, Berg was described as “a loyal volunteer of our Fire District for the last 47 years and his life of service certainly positively impacted thousands of people.”
“This loss for our Fire District and the greater community feels insurmountable,” the post stated.
PHOTO FROM MIST-BIRKENFELD RFPD FACEBOOK PAGE This photo was included in the June 12 Mist-Birkenfeld RFPD Facebook post is from Nick Berg’s last evening spent on Earth - on his farm, hosting the bi-weekly fire drill and training with our staff and other volunteers.
Berg’s Memorial Service was June 22 at Clatskanie High School. Palmore said they expected about several hundred people from all over the state to attend. A large procession of emergency vehicle apparatus took place beforehand. The Procession for Division Chief Berg took place in Clatskanie in the afternoon. The route started near the American Legion Hall on NE 5th Street, down NE Van Street to Highway 30, and then up Bel Air Drive to Clatskanie High School. The auditorium where the memorial was held was filled with community members, friends, and family paying their respects to Berg’s memory. The community
extended beyond that room too, with the memorial service broadcast live through social media. A version of the memorial can be viewed on the Mist-Birkenfeld RFPD Facebook page.
For any questions, please email info@mistbirkenfeldrfpd.org. Please respect the privacy of the Berg Family during this difficult time.
Oregon adds 4,000 jobs in May
STAFF REPORT
Country Media, Inc.
Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 4,000 jobs in May, following a revised gain of 2,400 jobs in April, according to the Oregon Employment Department.
Health care and social assistance gained 1,900 jobs in May, while leisure and hospitality added 1,000. Monthly declines were largest in retail trade ( -800) and construction ( -400). Private-sector job growth has been very slow over the year, gaining 3,500 jobs (+0.2%). Health care and social assistance
2,200 jobs in the past year. The public sector added 9,100 jobs over the past 12 months. Local, state, and federal government are all at least 2% above their job counts a year ago. Local education gained 3,400 jobs over the year to reach 142,600 in May. This is the first spring that local schools reached the employment level in spring 2019, prior to the pandemic. Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.2% in May for the fourth straight month. Looking back at the past few years, Oregon’s monthly unemployment rate has been 4.2% or
calls. You will be working with established advertisers. Hourly pay plus commission.
COURTESY
Community Events
June 27 13 Nights on the River
6 p.m. - 8 p.m. The Damon Castillo Band will play at McCormick Park. Parking available at the gravel lot behind the Recreation Center at 1810 Old Portland Road. This event is free.
June 27 Columbia 9-1-1
Communications District Board of Directors Regular Meeting
9 a.m. in person and via Zoom. For instructions on how to join the meeting via Zoom, please contact the administrative staff at 503366-6973.
July 4 Independence Day at McCormick Park “Tour of Duty” and 10th Annual “Let Freedom Bells Ring.”
10:30 a.m. Freedom Walk free registration. 11 a.m. Walk starts. Activities, contest, noon - 1 p.m. Patriotic kids, pets and characters of 1776. 1:15 p.m. Dedication of Stone Service Flag Pedestals. 1:30 p.m. Flag raising and National Anthem. 2 p.m. Let Freedom Bells Ring, birthday cake for America and Larry Jackson Big River Band. Contact Judy Thompson for more information, 503-397-6056. Volunteers needed.
July 13 16th Annual Car Show presented by St. Helens Elks
8 a.m. at 350 Belton Road. Breakfast and lunch available on site. Music, raffles, 50/50, t-shirts, vehicle judging and People’s Choice Award. Free event shuttle at CC Rider Transit Center, 1155 Deer Island Road.
July 13 NAMI (National alliance on Mental Illness) Support Group Meeting
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Elks Veteran Bunker (House), 125 S 13th St., 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. 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 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.
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.
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 by appointment, includes Clatskanie Historical Society museum. Call Debbie at 503338-8268.
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.
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 503-366-8070.
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.
June is National Homeownership Month, but the housing affordability crisis is putting home ownership farther and fartherout of reach for too many working families in Oregon and across America.
When I was growing up, my parents, like many of their generation, were able to save enough money to buy a modest home for our family in Oregon. I still live in that same blue-collar neighborhood. But it’s a different story for my children’s generation. As prices to rent and buy skyrocket, young people are worried that they will never be homeowners. Today, too many folks are struggling to find a safe and affordable place to call home, while too many others have been forced into homelessness. This is unacceptable and unsustainable.
Economists estimate that Oregon is short 140,000 homes today – and we’ll need to build at least 500,000 new homes within the next 20 years just to keep up with demand. So, it was terrific to see our state legislature recently pass $376 million to boost housing production in addition to the federal dollars I’m bringing home to Oregon to help.
Housing is vital for our
economy. Every year, I host town halls in all 36 Oregon counties. Up and down the coast and across the state, I hear about the urgent need for more workforce housing. Companies tell communities they won’t bring their businesses to town without available housing for their employees, but housing developers say they won’t build new homes without knowing that new businesses are coming with employees to buy or rent them. It’s a classic Catch-22 with our coastal and rural communities caught in the middle. That’s why, as Oregon’s representative on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, which funds the federal government, I’m pushing to invest in housing programs. Here are a few quick examples. In March, we passed funding for fiscal year 2024, which included $1.6 billion for national rental assistance funding, $48 million for Rural Housing Service Vouchers across the country, and $12 million to support home-building non-profits, like Habitat for Humanity. Additionally, Oregon has received $90 million this year from the U.S. Treasury’s Homeowner Assistance Fund.
But we can’t only treat the effects of the housing crisis – we also need to go after those profiting off sky-high housing prices.
For generations, the greatest wealth builder for the American middle class has been homeownership. Now, the powerful millionaires and billionaires who run hedge funds want to take that slice of the American pie away from working families and put it on their own over-flowing plates. In 2021, investors bought nearly 17,000 homes in Oregon – homes that should have gone to families. It’s a similar story all across the country. That same year, in just one area of Atlanta, hedge funds bought more than 40 percent of the homes for sale. Hedge funds often make all cash, no inspection offers. Working families can’t compete with that! That’s why I’ve introduced the End Hedge Fund Control of American Homes Act. It will kick hedge funds out of the housing market and require them to sell the homes they own to working folks because houses should be homes for families, not profit centers for hedge funds. Early in my career, I helped build homes with Habitat for Humanity because I saw every day how lives were changed for the better when folks could afford a decent home in a decent community. So, I’ll keep up the fight for affordable homes for working families in Oregon and across the country.
share and a penchant for writing. If you’d like to submit a guest column for publication,
name and city of residence will be published). By submitting a letter, writers also grant permission for them to be posted online. Opinions expressed on this page are the writer’s alone and do not represent the opinion of the newspaper or its parent company, Country Media, Inc.
Guest commentary
We welcome all variety of community viewpoints in the newspaper. These longer, guest opinions might be columns written by newsmakers, public officials or organization representatives. Or you might just have interesting thoughts to
JEFF MERKLEY Columbia County Chronicle & Chief Guest Column
Debra Joleen Stafford went to be with the Lord on June 11, 2024. She was born on July 15, 1953 in Fort Dodge, Iowa to Lyle and Joanne Klein.
Debra grew up in Polson, Montana on Flathead Lake. In 1975, she moved to War ren, Oregon. She went to school and got her cosmetol ogy license and did hair for many years until she retired. She met the love of her life, Brad Stafford, and they married in 1992. Debra enjoyed fishing with her husband Brad and friends, playing card games, but most of all, trying to beat Brad at
Debra Joleen Stafford
July 15, 1953 ~ June 11, 2024
Brad and Debra enjoyed many trips to Lake Billy Chinook with friends. They also enjoyed taking the grandchildren to Lake Billy Chinook, trips to visit her parents in Montana and Disneyland. Brad and Debra lived in Scappoose, Oregon for 26 years before retiring in 2018 and buying their dream home on the Columbia River in
cribbage. She also enjoyed going to the coast and get togethers with the “OLD
A mass of Christian burial will be held for Marvel Grace Brown, 11 a.m., Thurs., July 11, 2024, at St. Frederic Catholic Church. Marvel passed away June 16, 2024, she was 89 years old. Marvel was born in St. Helens, Oregon, June 10, 1935, to Alexander and Florence (Spady) Blankenship. She graduated from St. Helens High School in 1953. Marvel married Les Brown on June 15, 1962, in St. Helens at the Christian Church. She was a member of St. Frederic Catholic church since 1961. She served as a reader, was on the admin council, treasurer of the Women’s Society, and served as chairman of the Christmas Society. Marvel
In Loving Memory of Raymond Curtis Fluhrer
Debra is survived by her husband Brad; three kids, Alyssia Lokken, Joshua Orr, and Linda Beth Horn; two sons-in-law; and several granddaughters and great-
Marvel Grace Brown
June 10, 1935 ~ June 16, 2024
started bowling in 1965 and became very involved in her local bowling league as well at the State level; She served as Secretary for Rivertown League for many years, she ran the Oregon
State Women’s Tournament from 1982-1992, and was the secretary for the Oregon State United Bowling Congress from 1992-1998. In 1987 Marvel was inducted into the St. Helens Bowling Hall of Fame and in 2017 she was inducted into the USBC Oregon State Hall of Fame. Marvel worked as a bookkeeper for 15 years at Cooper Auto Parts and then for Boise Veneer from 1988 – 1992. In 2009 she started volunteering at the St. Helens Senior Center and in 2015 started working for them full time until her retirement in 2019. She was a member of the St. Helens Yacht club and Moose Lodge. Marvel was loved by so
June 7, 1946 ~ June 17, 2024
grandchildren.
Debra was a wonderful wife, mother, sister and aunt, but most of all, she was the best “NANA.” She was dearly loved by her family and friends.
She passed at St. John’s Peace Health Medical Center in Longview, Washington. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Debra’s memorial service was held at 11 a.m. on Fri., June 21, 2024 at the Warren Baptist Church. There was a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. John’s Medical Center.
many and is survived by her children, Neta Minten of Keizer, JeAnne Waite of Meeker, Colorado, Donna Brown of Hillsboro, Jeri Waite of Scappoose, Keri Merriman of St. Helens, Curtis Waite of Gilbert, Arizona and Leslie Heimuller of St. Helens; 22 grandkids; 45 great grandkids; and numerous great great grandkids.
She was preceded in death by her husband Lester Brown; daughter Connie Oswalt; son Lester “Arthur” Brown; siblings, Jean Aust, Kathrine Brown, Marge Rieman and Bill Blankenship. Donations in her name can be made to the St. Helens Senior Center. Please sign our online guestbook at www.columbiafh.com.
We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Raymond Curtis Fluhrer. Born on June 7, 1946, in Astoria, Oregon, Curt passed away on June 17, 2024, at OHSU Hospital in Portland. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Etta Fluhrer. Curt is survived by his wife Jeanne; his sons, Derrick (wife Dena) of Sammamish, Washington, and Scott of Miami, Florida; his granddaughters, Rachael Sibug (husband Adrian), Ashley Bandeira (husband Renato), and Sofia Fluhrer; and his great-grandchildren, Amelia and Harrison Sibug, Vince and Paula Bandeira; sister Rae Dean McCaw (husband Gary); brother-
in-law Glen Bay (Marie); nephews, David Slotte (wife Randi), Stephen Slotte (husband Kris), Craig Slotte, and Matthew Scott (husband James), as well as foreign exchange students whom he considered family: Augusta Parra from Ecuador, Abe-
Lori Lee Warnke was born March12, 1960 and passed away May 26, 2024, peacefully in her sleep. She is survived by her
Heritage Days, great times, good people, and sweet memories
From Page A1
lardo, Camila, and Roberto Targino from Brazil, and Alejandro Bustos from England. After graduating from Astoria High School in 1964, Curt went on to study at Clatsop Community College.
Curt dedicated his life to the family cedar shingle business, a legacy dating back to the late 1800s. He had a passion for tools and woodworking and a love for his Golden Retrievers. Curt was an active community member, having served as a past member of the Clatskanie Kiwanis, a past member of the Clatskanie Cruisers, a member of Faith Lutheran Church, and a previous board member of the Oregon Community Foundation. Curt and Jeanne lived in Clatskanie for 42 years before splitting their time
Lori Lee Warnke
March 12, 1960 ~ May 26, 2024
family, husband Philip Warnke; father Leonard Scott; mother Ladonna Lathum; sisters, Malissa Bell and Jennifer Scott;
children, Paul Wiedmaier and Amy Wiedmaier; and grandchildren, JJ Gibbs, Isabelle Wiedmaier, and Charlotte Wiedmaier.
between homes in Mesa, Arizona, and Ridgefield, Washington. They traveled extensively throughout the world, enriching their lives with diverse experiences and friendships.
Curt was a lifelong devoted Christian. He was known by many for his kindness and honesty. His legacy of love, generosity, and dedication will continue to live on in the hearts of his family and friends.
A Celebration of Life Service to honor Curts’ life will be held at 1 p.m. on July 13, 2024 at the Clatskanie Cultural Center | Birkenfeld Theatre. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Clatskanie Faith Lutheran Church or the American Cancer Society.
A celebration of life will be held at noon on Sat., June 29, 2024 at Groulx Family Mortuary, 25381 Wonderly Road, Rainier.
Bodenhamer, 76, of Rainier, Oregon, passed away on June 7, 2024 at home.
July Parade will begin at 11 a.m.
The Grand Marshals this year are two Clatskanie little league teams that won the Columbia County Tournament OfChampions: the Majors Wauna Credit Union Team and Minors Clatskanie PUD Team.
folks to walk away with some sweet prizes.
Pleases
cap off a great weekend, the annual “Strut Your Mutt” dog show will feature the dapper dogs of Clatskanie from 4 to 6 p.m.
Fun on the Fourth Heritage Days this year will continue into the week of July 1, with the Reunion in the Restaurants on July, 3, before the big culmination of the celebration on Independence Day. The annual long-standing tradition community parade kicks off the 4th of July celebrations. At 10 a.m. the parade staging will occur with the marching band and horses lining up at Clatskanie Elementary School, 815 S Nehalem Street, whilemotorized floats will line up at the front entrance of Clatskanie Middle/High School, off Bel Air Street. The 4th of
The parade participants include the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Clatskanie Post, marching bands, horses, farm vehicles, fire trucks, law enforcement patrol vehicles, and dozens of colorful floats. Spectators line Nehalem Street from the elementary school to the city park to watch the event. The Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies and local volunteers help guide the parade through the city to the Clatskanie City Park.
The fun on the 4th will last all day, with all sorts of activities for families to enjoy. There will be live music, food, vendors, and various attractions. There will be free cartoon caricature artist drawings, the logging exhibition, a magician, a bouncy house, a free swim at the pool, a rubber ducky race, and a host of other fun events. There will be raffles and other opportunities for
“We’re really proud that we’ve kept Heritage Days as a family-friendly event with free things for kids to do,” Johnson said. “That’s the heart of our celebration. We want families to feel comfortable in the park and be able to spend the day with things for their kids to be entertained. Whatever we can provide for free is one of the most important things we try to do.” Heritage Days will end with the fireworks “spec
tacular” in the sky over City Park, sure to dazzle the community and celebrate the 4th of July with a flourish.
The event is the byproduct of a lot of hard work for organizers, and the celebration wouldn’t be possible without the help; Johnson said there are still opportunities for people to get involved and help out if they are interested.
“A lot of months of preparation, fundraising, and planning has gone into organizing the Heritage Days activities. There are eight volunteers on the committee that have been working since January on
the planning and execution of the events,” Johnson said. “We could always use more volunteers to help with set up, garbage can duty, various events, and park clean up.”
To get involved or find more information, visit: http://www.clatskaniechamber.com/heritage-days.html.
History of the Heritage Days celebration
The Heritage Days celebration originated in 1959 in an effort to raise funds for the Clatskanie Pool, Chamber Board Director Nikole Young told the Chronicle & Chief in a previous interview from 2023.
“There had been multiple drownings, including drownings of children, in the Columbia River, so bringing a pool into town was a top priority for all citizens. The result was barbeque and baseball fundraiser,” Young said. Originally named the Clatskanie Scramble, the celebrations have evolved into a multi-day celebration over the years, and it now includes games, races, fireworks, logging demonstrations, and more.
Raymond Curtis Fluhrer
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Fire Chief Needed, Westport-Wauna RFPD Part-time position
QUALIFICATIONS:
• We are looking for someone with an Associate’s degree in Fire science, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field. Other suitable combinations of education and experience which would provide the necessary knowledge and abilities for the position would be considered.
• Minimum of 5 years of fire service management
• Administrative experience in a public safety agency
• Strong background in fire suppression, emergency management, hazmat response, emergency medical service principles, procedures, techniques and equipment
• Must have a current EMT or Paramedic certification
• Public administration, accounting principles, budget planning and control, principles of management and labor relations, performance evaluation and public relations
• Substantial understanding and ability to work with the International Fire Code, International Building Codes and National Fire Protection Agency Standards
• Support, promote, and model the departments Vision and Values in all aspects of job performance
• Conduct self at all times in an ethical, professional, and respectful manner
• Identify the Departments future direction in response to changing community needs, and develop, implement, and monitor appropriate plans
• Must reside within a twenty-mile radius or be within a 10-minute response time.
• Firefighter II certified
• Must possess current emergency vehicle, NFPA driver operator certification, or be able to obtain within 6 months of hire
• Must have a valid driver’s license and appropriate insurance at the time of hire
• Must pass background checks
• This position is considered safety-sensitive and is subject to pre-employment drug testing (including marijuana)
This job qualifications should not be constructed to imply that these requirements are exclusive standards for the assignment. The Fire Chief will comply with any other instructions, directions, and perform any other related duties as may be required by the governing Board of Directors. Performance of the other essential functions may depend upon work location, or assignment.
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City of St. Helens is hiring a Public Works Utility Worker I Regular Full-Time. Apply online at www.sthelensoregon.gov. Deadline to Apply: 7/8/24. Equal Opportunity Employer.
City of St. Helens is hiring a Water Quality Operator I or II Regular Full-Time. Apply online at www.sthelensoregon.gov. Deadline to Apply: July 8, 2024. Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District (C911CD) is conducting a hiring process for full-time Dispatchers (Communications Specialists). Additional information and job description can be found on our website at www. columbia911.com/ careers or by calling 503-366-6978. Online applications will be accepted until 5:00 pm on July 26, 2024.
Columbia River PUD is hiring Position Name: System Engineer Salary: System Engineer $44.45 - $63.37/hr DOQ, System Engineer w/P.E.: $56.13$80.02/hr DOQ. Deadline: Open Until Filled. If you are interested in becoming a part of the Columbia River PUD team, please visit our website at www.crpud.net to view and apply for open positions or call us at 503-3971844 to have an application packet mailed to you.
702
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Garage Sale Fri 6/28 & Sat 6/29 from 9-3 at 64701 Columbia River Hwy. Electronics, antiques, household items, new clothes/shoes, freezer, vintage record player.
Garage Sale Sat & Sun 6/226/23. 33313 Bonneville Dr, Scappoose, OR.
CC24-1198 INVITATION TO BID
Sealed bids for Scappoose Airport, West Side Pavement Maintenance Project, A.I.P. Project No. 3-41-0056030-2023 will be received by Lacey Tolles, Airport Coordinator of the Port of Columbia County Main Office located at 100 E Street, Columbia City, Oregon, 97018, until the bid closing time of 3:00PM, local time, on the 3rd day of July, 2024, at which time the bids will be publicly opened and read. Bidders shall submit the
CC24-1193
required first-tier subcontractor disclosure form within two working hours of the bid closing time. Bidders whose bids and/or disclosure statements are received after the stated times will be considered non-responsive and their bids will not be considered. The scope of work being considered, but is not limited to, the following: 1. Minor and Major Crack Repair - on Taxiway B6 and Taxiway B south of B5, and southwest and northwest taxilanes near hangars 2. Asphalt Patch-
CITY OF CLATSKANIE CITY COUNCIL MEETING NOTICE
The Clatskanie City Council will meet on Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall in the Clatskanie Cultural Center, 75 South Nehalem St. (2nd floor). Agenda items include but are not limited to: approval of the minutes of the June 12th, 2024 regular meeting, a presentation by Lieutenant Shawn McQuiddy of the Sheriff’s Office, award of the bid contract to pave NE
CC24-1187
Park Street, a Resolution to opt into ORS 105.668, limiting liability for the City, and a Resolution to raise certain city fees. An updated agenda will be available at City Hall by June 28th, 2024. Access to the meeting on ZOOM will be posted on the city website, www.cityofclatskanie. com. Please call City Hall (503-728-2622) at least 48 hours in advance if you need assistance.
NOTICE OF MONTHLY BOARD MEETING
Clatskanie School District
6J PO Box 678 Clatskanie OR 97016 PUBLIC NOTICE
The Board of Directors for Clatskanie School District 6J will hold their monthly Board meeting, Monday, July 1, 2024 @ 6:30 p.m. at the Clatskanie Elementary Library, 815
Haidon
Allen ready for second bout
From Page A1
decided we would look into opponents that would accept. I had to go up a couple of pounds,” Allen said. “I’m actually going up a weight and taking a risk because that’s what life’s about. I believe in my abilities, and I
Nehalem or via Zoom. Please see our website at www.csd. k12.or.us for a zoom link. The agenda includes but is not limited to: Superintendent and Principal’s reports, financial report, policy updates and the consent agenda. The public is encouraged to attend. 06/26.
ing - Taxiways at southwest and northwest hangar areas 3. Slurry Seal - Taxilanes at southwest and northwest hangar areas 4. Pavement Marking - all areas receiving Surface Seal; Contract bid documents will be available on June 13th, 2024. Copies of the contract bid documents along with the plan holders list may be obtained through/downloaded via www.questcdn.com using QuestCDN Number 9178144 for a non-refundable charge of $22.00. Contact
CC24-1195
NOTICE OF PUBLIC LIEN SALE
Public Lien Sale Rainier Mini Storage LLC, 323 W. B St. Rainier, Oregon unit #49 Steven Lovegren, #73 Christina Carlson at 1 PM on 7/27/24 Rainier Mini Storage LLC on-site public auction, cash in hand bid. 07/03.
CC24-1196
NOTICE OF PUBLIC LIEN SALE
Public Lien Sale Ron’s Self Mini Storage LLC, 410 W. B St. Rainier, Oregon. Unit #106 Joddie Brummell, #118 Kari Hollander at 1 PM on 7/27/24 Ron’s Self Mini Storage LLC on-site public auction, cash in hand bid.
QuestCDN.com at 952-2331623 or info@questcdn.com for assistance in free regular membership registration and downloading this digital project information. The Contract Documents for the above project may be examined at the Port of Columbia County, 100 E Street, Columbia City, OR 97018 on working days, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. All Bidder questions shall be directed to Lacey Tolles, Airport Coordinator, Port of Columbia County, 503-267-
CC24-1189
want to make it, and I have to take chances. I can’t let time slip.”
Fruto is also a few years older than Allen. One of the biggest shifts for Allen since finding out his opponent has been changing his preparation. Allen has been eating more protein to get his weight up for the fight, but he’s also preparing for Fruto’s fighting style. Allen described Fruto as a “warrior” who won’t stop and will fight aggressively. Being pushed to the limit is
something Allen is expecting in this fight. Defense will be imperative during the fight because, in a heavier weight class, the hits are only going to be harder.
“With Coach V (Victor Morales), he’s had a strategy with me, teaching me what I need to do in the ring when I go against him,” Allen said. “He’s taller than me, and he has a big body, but he’s a little slower so I’ve just got to be smart, which I’m excited for.”
Going into the fight,
3892 and must be received by June 28th, 2024 by 5:00PM. The Port of Columbia County reserves the right to reject any and all bids, to waive any irregularities, and to accept the bid deemed in the best interest of the Port of Columbia County. The Port of Columbia County may reject any bid not in compliance with all prescribed public bidding procedures and requirements and may reject for good cause any or all bids upon a finding by the Port of Columbia County that
it is in the public interest to do so. Each prospective bidder is requested to attend a non-mandatory pre-bid meeting to be held at 11:00 AM, local time on the 27th day of June 2024, at the Scappoose Airport, 53894 Airport Rd, Scappoose, OR 97056. At this meeting, questions concerning the Contract Documents and the proposed work will be discussed. Answers and clarifications will be in the form of written addenda to the contract and will be uploaded to QuestCDN.
NOTICE OF SCHOOL BOARD VACANCY
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to the electors of the Clatskanie School District that there is a current vacancy on the School Board, position #2, which was formerly held by Kathy Engel. The Board intends to attempt to appoint a qualified elector of the District to fill the vacancy under a term of office that shall expire on 6/30/2025. In order to
CC24-1183
be eligible to serve as an appointee in the vacant seat, the individual must also be a resident of the Clatskanie School District. Any eligible person who desires to be considered for appointment to this public office must completed the Application for Board Vacancy form, which can be found on the Clatskanie School District website, csd.k12.or.us or you can pick up from the district office, 660 SW Bryant, Mon-Thur. 8AM - 4PM. To ensure consideration applications must be completed by June 28, 2024 prior to 4:00 p.m. Inquiries regarding this notice may be directed to Shannon Emerson, board secretary at 503-728-0587 X 2003, or by email semerson@csd.k12.or.us. 06/19, 06/26.
Matter of the Estate of: Benjamin Wayne Anthony Wells, Deceased.
NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Tina Wells has been appointed personal representative. All persons having claims against the estate are required to present them, with vouchers attached, to Tina Wells, 104
West Alder, Sprague, WA 99031, 509-280- 4943, personal representative of the estate of Benjamin Wayne Anthony Wells, 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 additional information from the records of the Court, the personal representative, or the lawyer for the personal representative, Aaron Martin, 272 South 1st Street, Saint Helens, Oregon 97051. Dated and first published on June 19th, 2024. In the
CC24-1190
NOTICE OF BOARD MEETING
McNulty Water PUD July 2024 Board meeting has been moved from July 2, 2024, to July 9, 2024, due to the 4th of July
Allen doesn’t have the same nerves he did for his pro debut, but having that first fight in hand, he’s ready to apply the lessons he learned from his first go-round in the ring. This time, Allen is focusing on being more aggressive. Though he landed many of the first punches in his first fight, Allen wants to press the advantage and put more combos on his opponent to use the speed advantage he’ll have against a heavier opponent.
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38. Turkey’s southern neighbor
39. Same as ayah
40. Engage in a pursuit (2 words)
42. Bed-and-breakfast, e.g.
Holiday. The meeting will be located at 34240 Millard Road, Warren Oregon 97053. If you would like to attend the meeting, please contact the McNulty office at 503-397-1301. The meeting is also available via Zoom. 06/19, 06/26.
fight. I was calm, I was collected and stayed patient, but there was times where I could have let my hands go. I’m good at landing the first punch, but now I need to follow up,” Allen said. “This guy’s going to push me to another level, because he’s not going to stop. He’s going to come forward and put his foot on the gas.”
Being more active and aware in the ring has been a focus of Allen’s training, and he hopes to use that when he takes Fruto on June 29.
Though the upcoming fight is Allen’s primary focus at the moment, he expressed how much the community’s support meant after his professional win. Allen said that people around St. Helens have really embraced him since moving back.
“It’s just cool that I can connect with people and get to know them again,” Allen said. “I’m loving it, and I’m glad that I moved back home and made this move. I feel like it’s a great way to start my career.”
43. Tibetan Buddhism
45. Pinched
47. Sing like Public Enemy
48. Mother-of-pearl
50. Cripple
52. *Wheel in Vegas
55. Chocolate substitute
56. Egg on
57. Capri or Catalina
59. Olden days violin maker
60. Croaks
61. “Run Away to Mars” singer
62. Jump key
63. Corncob
64. Gaelic
DOWN
1. *London ____, tourist attraction
2. Hankerings
3. At the summit of
4. Glass ingredient
5. TV and radio
6. Not odds
7. Chinatown gang
Pig’s digs
*”Wheel in the Sky” band
Star bursts
“____ Elise”
Suez or Panama
Carl Jung’s inner self
*Type of locomotive
St. Helens’ seventh annual Citizens Day in the Park
WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
McCormick Park was teeming with activity on June 22, as folks from around St. Helens enjoyed the sunshine, free food, music, and fun for the seventh annual Citizens Day in the Park.
St. Helens Communications Officer Crystal King said that the city estimated that more than 1,000 people were in attendance based on the number of meals served during the free barbecue lunch. In addition to the large crowd turnout, this year’s event doubled the number of vendors the city hosted, with about 100 vendors there.
The event is a great opportunity for members of the community to come together. King detailed what makes the event such an important priority for the city.
“The event is focused
on providing an opportunity for face-to-face community connection. It gives people the chance to have meaningful interactions with their fellow community members,” King said. “We also actively recruit and prioritize local organizations, service groups, and businesses for our vendor spaces to showcase local resources and provide a venue where local businesses can connect with the St. Helens community.”
One of the highlights of the day was that each vendor was asked to host a “free community activity” at their booth, which brought out the vendors’ creativity and sparked fun for families in attendance.
Mayor Rick Scholl and others were grilling up burgers and barbecuing the free food. The St. Helens City Council was out and about,
meeting with constituents from around the community. Rolling into town were the Highway 30 Cruisers, which were on full display, showing the hottest wheels Columbia County has to offer. The Decades band rocked the stage into the afternoon.
King and the city expressed gratitude for all of the organizations and people who made Citizens Day a success this year.
“As always, we appreciate The Decades band for donating their time to have live music at the event and the Highway 30 Cruisers for organizing a wonderful car show,” King said. “This event is made possible thanks to many local businesses and volunteers donating resources and time, and we thank each of them for their support in making Citizens Day in the Park possible.”
Early Literacy Educator Preparation Council releases final recommendations
JEREMY C. RUARK
Country Media, Inc.
Following a one year review of Oregon’s early literacy education, a state council has released its final recommendations to strengthen educator preparation programs for teaching reading and writing in Oregon elementary schools. In January, the Early Literacy Educator Preparation Council released initial recommendations to revise educator and school administrator preparation program standards for literacy instruction. Members of educator prep programs and the general public were able to submit feedback to the recommendations.
These recommendations are a significant step forward.
~ Tina Kotek, Oregon Governor
“These recommendations are a significant step forward,” Gov. Kotek said.
“I appreciate that the council has not just layered on new requirements. They have also tried to streamline existing standards and build on the things we’ve had and continue to be important, like dyslexia standards. In addition to the council, I want to thank Oregon’s educator preparation program faculty and leaders who took the
Zuber
New info may beget new leads in case
From Page A1
From the moment the investigators delivered their conclusion, the Zuber family had serious concerns about the investigation. The Justice For Sarah Zuber Facebook page, created to bring awareness to the family’s ongoing plight, now has more than 2,000 followers.
When Massey met with Pixley, Pond, and the Major Crimes Team, she said the energy in the room from the gathered parties seemed committed to finding answers for the family.
“Following Mrs. Massey’s presentation, she departed, and the investigative team convened to strategize the best way to incorporate the new informa-
time to share their perspectives with us. We listened and many hours were spent taking your feedback into the revisions of the recommendations.”
State Rep. Boomer Wright (R-Coos Bay) served on the council.
“We must always do what’s in the best interest of our children,” Wright said. “These recommendations represent a way to support teachers and principals to ensure they have the knowledge and skills to do what we’re asking them to do for students. And to make sure that happens well, we also need to set up the right level of resources and support for our educator preparation programs to meet the new expectations the Council has recommended.”
“I have been honored to serve on this council alongside an outstanding group of individuals with one goal in mind: improving literacy outcomes for all of Oregon’s children,” said Ronda Fritz, council co-chair and Associate Professor at Eastern Oregon University. “We were able to move the standards for Oregon’s teacher preparation programs to reflect what science tells us about how children learn to read as well as the content and methods that are critical for ensuring proficient readers. I believe these standards will give educator preparation programs a clear roadmap for designing courses and programs that will produce teachers with the essential knowledge and skills to create proficient readers and writers.”
tion into our investigation,” Pacheco said. “It was decided that Sheriff Pixley would share the files with the entire team, enabling each member to identify any actionable leads. Our primary focus is on examining physical evidence to guide the investigation forward.”
Caring community
Massey made a post to the Justice for Sarah Zuber Facebook page following the meeting with law enforcement and officials, announcing that “the meeting was highly productive,” and she was “pleased to announce that the case is officially reopened and ongoing.” The post was met with excitement from community members, generating more than 220 “likes” and 40 comments.
Massey said that Pixley’s willingness to allow her to speak with the Major Crimes Team and Pond was a triumph of the community’s investment in the case.
“I am proud to have been part of the collaborative process that brought together so many different Oregon stakeholders to lay the groundwork for our educator preparation programs,” said Susan Gardner, council co-chair and Dean of the College of Education at Oregon State University. “We had a wide range of expertise on this council – elementary school teachers and administrators, higher education faculty, state agency leaders, and our passionate representatives and senators. This made for a powerful team that brought together so many voices and perspectives, adding richness to the work we produced together.”
The recommendations were broken into three sections: educator preparation program (EPP) approval standards, implementation recommendations, and educator licensing standards recommendations.
Key takeaways from the recommendations on educator preparation program approval standards include:
Combining Reading Instruction Standards with Dyslexia Standards into one cohesive standard. This will streamline standards that are focused on teaching reading and writing.
Creating new Literacy Standards that relate to the content of Oregon’s Early Literacy Framework and the models of reading acquisition embedded in the Framework. These standards are designed to guide the preparation of Kindergarten through 5th Grade teachers and admin-
“I love the fact that Sheriff Pixley has been a driving force to get all these people to the table. I had the floor to present this information to them, and I was super humbled to have this opportunity,” Massey said.
Massey said she and the Justice for Sarah Zuber team had been involved with the case for more than two years, and though they are regular citizens, the motivation to help the family has come from trying to do the right thing for another person in need and “be a good neighbor.”
“This is the epitome of community. That is what it is. Because it is the citizens who either knew Sarah, or didn’t but took time to learn her story and what the concerns of the family were, it involved work from our law enforcement officers,” Massey said. “As a community, we need so many moving parts to make it work, and we need to rely on each other and capitalize on the strength that each
The recommendations are designed to strengthen reading and writing teaching in Oregon elementary
schools.
istrators on evidence-based practices for teaching literacy.
Key takeaways from the implementation recommendations include:
Phase in the proposed recommendations so that all Oregon EPPs are implementing new standards by the fall of the 2026-27 academic year.
State support for Oregon EPPs to adapt to the new standards.
Ensuring that all educators, including experienced teachers and graduates of out-of-state EPPs, are supported and held accountable for meeting high standards for literacy instruction.
Investing in the implementation infrastructure needed to enable consistent,
other can bring to the table, and with unity and solidarity, we can make a monumental difference. And I think the collaborative partnerships between agencies and citizens is so important.”
Pond echoed the sentiments about the importance of collaboration with the community and what the district attorney’s office will commit to in the case going forward.
“We at the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office believe in doing the right thing. We are committed to supporting and engaging with law enforcement and community members to investigate actionable leads. While we cannot promise closure for the Zuber family, we can promise that we will not stand in the way of progress in this case and will do whatever we can to ensure every viable lead is pursued,” Pond said. “All the law enforcement agencies in Columbia County, including our office, are united in seeking a
research-aligned implementation of new standards in educator preparation and in schools.
Key takeaways from the recommendations on educator licensing standards include:
Preliminary licensure requirements for all newly licensed educators should take effect in 2027.
Consider funding and capacity needs, develop processes for how all educators can demonstrate competency of standards, and minimize economic barriers to certification.
Kotek established the Early Literacy Educator Preparation Council through Executive Order 23-12 in May 2023 to strengthen the preparation of teachers and
resolution to this matter.”
Statement from Rebecca Zuber
Regarding the recent development in the case, Rebecca Zuber shared the following message with the community: To all who have so deeply touched our hearts by becoming emotionally involved in following Sarah’s story. Words cannot possibly express our family’s heartfelt thanks for your continued support. The official reopening of this investigation is a direct result of your continued interest and involvement. This intensely emotional journey has brought us one step closer to finding the answers. There are hundreds of individuals who contributed in various ways. The Zuber family wants you to know we recognize each of you, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. The prayers that have continued to float heaven-
school administrators to instruct elementary students on reading and writing.
The council was directed to create recommendations as an advisory body to the Governor and the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) and consider an implementation plan and timeline to align to the Council’s recommendations. TSPC has already begun considering the Council’s recommendations.
Kotek joined the Early Literacy Educator Preparation Council for their final meeting Monday, June 17, to offer gratitude to council members for their work over the past year and provide comments on their final recommendations.
ward are innumerable. God hears each of them. He has a plan. He knows exactly what happened to Sarah and He is in this investigation. Knowing this without a doubt, we are confident in the MCT that has now taken over. We are now in phase two of our journey to find out “What happened to Sarah Zuber?” Though it is not over, we find comfort in knowing we are not alone. We would never have gotten this far without the herculean efforts, unwavering commitment, and thousands of hours of hard work by Jennifer Massey and the JFSZ team, as well as literally thousands of members of Columbia County and beyond. God’s word in action through Jennifer and all of you, “Love your neighbor”. We are eternally grateful. We love you all so much.
See previous coverage of this story at thechronicleonline.com and the chiefnews. com.
COURTESY PHOTOS FROM THE CITY OF ST. HELENS
Images from this year’s Citizens Day in the Park.
COURTESY PHOTO
Clatskanie wins majors and minors Tournament of Champions!
WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
For the first time ever, or at least as long as anyone can remember, Clatskanie has won the Tournament of Champions for both the minors and majors age divisions in Little League baseball.
Little League is split up by age group, and the divisions are majors (12-yearolds and any 11-year-olds drafted), minors (8-11), rookies (6-8), and tee ball (4-6). This year, Clatskanie took home the top spot in both minors and majors, and the coaches of both teams couldn’t be happier.
Erik Davis is the Minors PUD coach, and Ian Wiggins coaches the Majors Wauna Credit Union squad; the Columbia County Chronicle & Chief reached out to both for their input on what the achievement meant to them and their teams!
Minors Davis and his team took
home the first-place honors when they beat Scappoose Dairy Queen 10-4 in the Tournament of Champions championship game Sunday June 9 in St. Helens at the Fair Ground field
The squad played 11 games throughout the season before playing in the tournament. Their season ended with a heartwarming run, placing first out of 15 teams and winning four games in a row to clinch the title.
Davis described the attitude of the team after winning the whole thing.
“They were super excited. They were really nervous to start with, and so it was kind of a slow start, but they ended up doing really well,” Davis said. “There was a ton of people from Clatskanie, or even other teams in our league that came to watch, and so it was pretty neat for them.”
Davis volunteers his time as a coach for the program, and one of the highlights of doing it is coaching his son, Weston,
and the connections he’s made coaching the other kids over the years. To help manage the team, Davis said he had a lot of help from his assistant coach Andrew Neely was a big help. Coming into this age group, Davis said this seems to be the age where it really starts to “look more like baseball.”
“They’ve just improved so much, and I think that’s the most rewarding part: seeing them play as a team and get along and start to get it,” Davis said. “Seeing the work in practice and all the time you put in paid off at the end, and I think that’s the coolest thing is to see them realize that.”
Davis said he’s not sure how long they’ve been doing the minors division Tournament of Champions, but the talk around the Little League community is that people can’t remember a Clatskanie Little League team winning in that age group.
One of the rewards for both teams is that they will
be the Grand Marshals for the Fourth of July parade at this year’s Heritage Days. Davis said it’s pretty “special” for them.
“They’re pretty excited about it. A lot of people in the community are asking them about it, so they feel pretty special,” Davis said.
Davis thanked the team’s sponsors and everyone in the community who supports the kids in the community and said that that support means a lot.
Majors
For Ian Wiggins’ Majors Wauna Credit Union team, their win in the Tournament of Champions was the first in almost 30 years. Clatskanie came out on top over a Scappoose-based team called Compassionate Care on May 22. Wiggins said he and his team had a “fantastic team” this year.
“They were great. They were good, they were competitive, but they were having fun,” Wiggins said. “Fun was the priority and
winning came along with it.”
Coming into the tournament, Wiggins said his team only lost two games all season and that they were playing good baseball from “day one.” In the double elimination tournament to end the season, both teams met on the final day with everything to play for. A loss for either meant a second place finish.
Majors Wauna Credit Union stormed to the championship, winning 17-1. Like Davis, Wiggins is also coaching his son, and he’s been coaching in Clatskanie Little League for 11 years. Next year, he’ll be moving on to the Babe Ruth League to keep coaching his youngest son, who is moving up to the next age group.
“I coach a lot of sports, but baseball is my sport. It’s the one I love to coach, and I love the connections I’ve made with the kids over the years,” Wiggins said. Wiggins said that this definitely was the first time that Clatskanie swept the
two divisions, and when asked whether they did anything fun to celebrate, with a chuckle, Wiggins said that he did get a “bucket of ice” dumped on him.
While it’s nice to walk away from the season in first place, Wiggins said that the lessons he tries to teach aren’t “just about sports.”
“It starts with fun. That’s what we’re there for. We want to have fun, we want to learn a sport, and we want to be good teammates,” Wiggins said.
“Those are the three biggest things I focus on with them. If you’re a good teammate, you’ll be a good classmate, you’ll be a good coworker; these a steady foundations for life going forward.” Wiggins and his assistant coach, Tyler Brace, were very proud of how the team performed this year, and Wiggins ended the interview saying he’ll miss coaching this team, but he’s glad he’ll be coaching a lot of them going into the next age group.
St. Helens Saints enjoying tremendous success
MIKE WEBER Chronicle & Chief Guest Article
At the midway point of the summer league season, the St. Helens Saints are enjoying tremendous success in their American Legion single A (18U) baseball schedule as they’ve compiled a 9-2 record and have a four-game win streak.
The Saints recorded an impressive 11-10 win in a June 18 contest over the 17U single A Columbia Gorge Hustlers (1-6) at Quinton Street Ballpark in The Dalles. The Saints, guided by Coach Matt Lokken and assistant Coach Jackson Hald, followed with a 14-1 win June 19 over the JBD Athletics 16U squad at Mark Morris High School in Longview.
“It’s been a good summer so far and it was awesome geting a win in The Dalles,” said Hald. “It’s always a good atmosphere whenever we play the Hustlers out here. Every time we get a chance to come out to the Gorge, we just try to enjoy it as much as we can and we definitely had lots of fun today.”
In their win over the Hustlers, the Saints jumped out to a 7-2 first inning advantage. The Hustlers came back and knotted it 9-9 in the fourth inning. Tyler Mauldin, a 2024 St. Helens High Lions graduate, had a key role in helping lead the Saints to the victory. The relief pitcher,
one of five St. Helens graduates on an experience Saints squad, helped hold the Hustlers to just one run over the final five innings.
“We have a good mix of players with some young kids and a few older guys too,” said Hald. “We have some pretty good incoming St. Helens High freshmen who have been doing a nice job and the older guys (graduated seniors) have proved to be good team leaders too. I’m super proud of all these guys and I’ve coached most of them since they were little kids. Just seeing how they’ve grown up and become good baseball players had been a great experience for me.”
The exciting and evenly played matchup remained tied 9-9 through seven innings. The Saints regained the lead in the eighth, highlighted by an RBI single by Darrin Zuschlag. St. Helens graduate Connor Weiss, who earlier hit a triple, scored on Zuschlag’s clutch hit, lifting the Saints in front 10-9. In the top of the ninth, the Saints extended their advantage to 11-9 when Javon Holder hit a sacrifice fly RBI, driving home Quinn Swift, who earlier reached base after hitting a leadoff single.
The Hustlers fought back and got a run in the bottom of the ninth, making it 11-10. The Hustler comeback effort continued too as they loaded the bases and had a baserunner on third representing the tying run with two
outs. Mauldin just calmly displayed nerves of steel on the mound as he struck out the Hustlers final batter to help preserve the impressive road win. The Saints had a solid offensive performance with 12 hits and the Hustlers had 10 hits.
“Tyler really went right after those guys, he didn’t waver and he never showed any sign of frustation at all and that’s why we like to have older guys on our team,” said Hald. “I definitely feel like we have have a good chance to make it to the American Legion playoffs, which would re
COURTESY PHOTO FROM MIKE WEBER
COURTESY PHOTO FROM MIKE WEBER
Javon Holder (#7) pitches against the Hustlers June 18 in The Dalles.
COURTESY PHOTO FROM JENNELLE DAVIS
Minors PUD won their first-ever Tournament of Champions.
COURTESY PHOTO FROM JENNELLE DAVIS
Majors Wauna Credit Union took home first place for the first time in almost 30 years.
