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Sand Island Sand Castle Competition canceled

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

A s the process of securing an event coordinator continues to unfold, the City of St. Helens has canceled the Sand Island Sand Castle Competition, citing logistical issues and the lack of a tourism contractor.

The decision to cancel the competition was made by the St. Helens City Council and was discussed during the work and regular city council meetings on July 16. The council expressed regret over needing to cancel the event, but deemed it necessary due to the lack of planning time as the city negotiates with Treadway Events & Entertainment LLC.

City Administrator John Walsh detailed some of the issues with holding the event this year via email. Part of the issue stems from logistical problems created by the transition of event management services from E2C, which ended June 30, and the new contractor not being in place yet.

“The primary issue is that the city does not have an executed contract with a new event contractor yet and the Sand Island Sandcastle Competition was scheduled to occur August 2-4, 2024. The city does not have the logistical resources and staffing to organize the event, which is complex due to it being on Sand Island,” Walsh said. “Sand forms need to be built, restrooms and portable showers need to be transported to and from the island, equipment necessary to build the sculptures needs to be transported, a shuttle needs to be in operation to ferry attendees to and from the island, and sufficient lead time is needed to promote the event and sell tickets.”

pointment about the late cancellation of the event.

The sand castle contest was started in 2021, and though the competition will not be held this year, the city and council hope to bring the event back next year under the management of its new event coordinator. During the council regular session on June 16, sand castle competition coordinator Brittany Lapp expressed disap-

Lapp helped coordinate securing “16 or 17” carvers for the event and described how hard it was to tell them the event wouldn’t be happening.

“They’re pissed. I feel like my integrity has been jeopardized. It’s been really tough dealing with the backlash. They know it’s not completely my fault, but they’re frustrated,” Lapp said. “This

is something that we’ve really started to build and make.”

One disappointing aspect of the cancellation is that there was an Oregon Public Broadcasting special that was going to feature the Sand Island Sand Castle Competition and some of the carvers who partake. “It makes me sick that this film’s going to be released and I’m one of the main spokespersons of it, all of our carvers are going to

be so excited to share it, but it’s like, ‘Oh, by the way, it’s not happening,’” Lapp said. “It’s just very frustrating.”

Ultimately, Walsh said the city hopes to hold the event again in 2025 when “a new contractor is on board and there is sufficient lead time to plan and promote the event.”

Clatskanie Arts Commission in need of volunteers

LOHRE

WILL

Country Media, Inc.

Though the Clatskanie Arts Commission (CAC) is gearing up for its 35th Annual Performing Arts Series, the organization is seeking volunteers to ensure that bringing the arts to Clatskanie can continue for years to come.

Elsa Wooley is a board member and organizer for the (CAC) and has been since the organization began in 1988. Wooley has been involved with the CAC from the beginning, along with her husband, Donovan “Dee” Wooley, who was the music teacher at CMHS.

Wooley said that she and “Dee” have been involved for such a long time but that right now, “it’s a lot of work for very few people.”

“We had a couple of people leave our board last year that we thought would have longevity

and would carry on. But it didn’t work for them,” Wooley said. “The bottom line is if we don’t get the volunteers, we really can’t sustain the Arts Commission and what we bring here. It takes manpower. I’m sure there are people in our community that have skills and believe in the arts, and they just have never thought about the need for somebody to continue this longevity.”

There are three vacancies on the CAC board at the moment. Wooley said it isn’t just the CAC that needs help but that many of the non-profits she’s spoken to in Clatskanie have struggled to get volunteers involved.

The CAC is a non-profit corporation, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization created to provide a variety of entertaining programs and events that enrich the lives of the people of the Lower Columbia River Region.

Wooley said that as a small town, it’s essential for people to get involved in the community and support each other.

“That’s the heart of this community. We’ve always been volunteers. No one is really helping us. We’re too far from Portland and we’re kind of far from the coast, so we just have to do our own thing,” Wooley said. “That’s our strength, that we come together and make things happen.”

One stark example of what can happen without support is that the CAC has had to cancel the revival of the Clatskanie Bluegrass Festival scheduled for this fall. The festival was set to take place in September after an 11-year absence, an effort headed by Nate Hendricks, a member of the CAC Board.

In a message on the CAC

See CLATSKANIE, Page A10

Attorney General candidate visits county fair

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

Election Day is around the corner, and in an effort to connect with Columbia County voters, Oregon Attorney General candidate Will Lathrop took a trip to the Columbia County Fair & Rodeo.

The July 18 visit was the fifth stop Lathrop has made in the county while on the campaign trail. Lathrop, a Republican, is running against Oregon Representative Dan Rayfield for the role of Oregon Attorney General. During his visit, Lathrop met with Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley. Their meeting included a “friendly, but fierce, showdown” with Bravo from the Columbia County K-9 Unit. Both Pixley and Lathrop took turns wearing the “bite jacket,” and Bravo showed off his biting and take-down skills.

The spectacle drew an audience of about 80 people, according to Lathrop’s campaign manager Sam Herscovitz.

Speaking on his time at the fair, Lathrop said he was impressed with the Columbia County Fair and Rodeo.

“There’s a really good turnout; the stockyards were great; they just had a great feel,” Lathrop said.

When asked what sticks out to him about Columbia County compared to other parts of Oregon, Lathrop said that he can see that it is a tight-knit community with engaged voters.

“You have people in Scappoose, St. Helens, and Rainier that really care about their local community, their local schools. There’s a sense of local pride,” Lathrop said.

“From a campaign perspective, it seems like an unusually large number of reasonable voters; people who are looking for someone who

can lead, rather than voting on a blank party line.”

Lathrop expressed that it’s a great place to campaign because people “listen and they interact.” Pixley is just one of the elected officials in Columbia County who has endorsed Lathrop. In an email to the Chronicle & Chief about his endorsement of Lathrop, Pixley thanked Lathrop for his time.

“I am thankful Will was willing to come out and be part of our K9 demo here in Columbia County,” Pixley said. “It was great to have Will join us at the Fair this evening to meet local law enforcement leaders in our community and be part of our K-9 demonstration. I trust Will to be an honest leader for our state, and I look forward to working with him.”

Other officials in the county to

See ATTORNEY, Page A9

COURTESY PHOTO BY JENNI BANDOV

“The primary issue is that the city does not have an executed contract with a new event contractor yet and the Sand Island Sandcastle Competition was scheduled to occur August 2-4, 2024,” City Administrator John Walsh. See SAND, Page A6

COURTESY PHOTO

Donovan and Elsa Wooley in the Birkenfeld Theatre in the Clatskanie Cultural Center.

COURTESY PHOTO

Will Lathrop taking a Chomp from CCSO’s K-9 Bravo.

Scappoose Movies by Moonlight returns

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

Friday nights in August are going to be filled with movie magic in Scappoose as the Movies by Moonlight series returns to Heritage Park. The free program an initiative from Scappoose Public Library and the City of Scappoose Parks department. There will be free movies each Friday in August at Heritage Park at 52469 SE Second Street. All movies start at dusk, with pre-movie events beginning at 6 p.m.

Scappoose Parks Committee Vice Chair JJ Duehren said this is the eighth year of holding the Movie by Moonlight event and that it’s been building each year, and now it’s a “phenomenon.” Duehren said that Scappoose Head Librarian Jeff Weiss has been a great partner in getting the event off the ground. Duehren said a lot of

thought goes into selecting the movies each year. The balance is insuring the movies are family friendly, but also enjoyable for adults. The

Hit and run kills Rainier man

LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

Law enforcement is investigating the death of a 21-year-old Rainier man who seems to have been the victim of a hit-and-run on the morning of July 21.

Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley said law enforcement responded to the incident around 8:30 a.m. on Sunday.

“On July 21, 2024, around 8:30 a.m., law enforcement received a report of a possibly deceased male who appeared to have been hit by a car near milepost 47 on Highway 30 in Rainier,” Pixley said. “Medics and law enforcement responded to the scene and attempted to render aid to the victim, identified as 21-year-old Damian Burgess of Rainier.”

According to Pixley, the Columbia County Major Crimes Team has been activated and is investigating the death. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to call our tip line at 503-366-4698. Heartbreak for the family

SUBMITTED BY

OREGON DEPT. OF HUMAN SERVICES

Having enough to eat is crucial for good health and well-being. Yet hunger is a persistent problem across the country and here in Oregon. Feeding America reports that 1 in 6 children in Oregon face hunger. To help children get the food they need to thrive, the Oregon State Legislature approved the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) to offer Summer EBT this year. With support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Summer EBT provides eligible families $120 per child for groceries when school is out, and children lose access to food programs offered at schools. Help us spread the word—thousands of families may be eligible for this new benefit and not know it.

Thirty-seven states, all five U.S. territories, and two tribes have committed to making Summer EBT available to kids and families in their communities this summer. This initiative is backed by a decade of demonstration projects and rigorous evaluation showing that it works to reduce child hunger and support healthier diets, including increased consumption of whole grains, dairy, fruits, and vegetables and decreased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. Summer EBT works in tandem with other nutrition programs like the USDA Summer Nutrition Programs, Summer Food Oregon and Oregon Food Bank’s Food Finder.

At a July 17 media event,

“best deal in the state.”

“Three years ago, I reached out to the Scappoose Police Department to see if they wanted to participate in doing hotdogs and burgers,” Duehren said. “We were actually able to create a charitable funding source for that with all the money going to the Scappoose Community Club.”

The burgers and hot dogs cost $1, and have been donated by the Scappoose Grocery Outlet. There are also movie snacks and beverages from the Scappoose Community Club. People are encouraged to bring their own picnics, but Duehren did note that no alcohol or smoking is allowed at the park.

result is “five family friendly movies” and thematic activities and events each night. The event also features what Duehren said is the

Though Pixley said that Burgess is Damian’s legal last name, many on Facebook, including friends, community members and Damian’s personal Facebook profile, referred to him as Damian Tapia Martinez. Word regarding his tragic passing has been shared on the Rainier Community Bulletin Facebook page. Burgess was the father of an 8-month-old daughter. Makenna Calhoun is the mother of the child and was Burgess’ girlfriend. Calhoun shared a link to a GoFundMe that has been started in order to raise money to help with memorial costs and other expenses. Calhoun shared the following message in the description of the GoFundMe: “On the morning of July 21, I lost my soul mate, my daughter forever lost her daddy and our lives are forever changed. Damian was only 21 years old when someone struck and killed him and left him for me to find. Mine and my daughter’s lives will forever be altered, and I have no idea how to navigate this world without him. As well as his loved ones. Our world has been flipped upside down, and I am seeking help to cover the memorial costs, as well as possible legal fees and caring for our 8-monthold daughter while we make it through these dark times! Please share! Anything helps! His loved ones and I are very appreciative of everyone’s

While the movies are the main attraction, the event starts at dusk, and features games like “Pizza Bingo,” sponsored by Fultano’s, air guitar contest, along with

support while we grieve our tragic loss.”

The fundraiser’s goal is $20,000, and since it was created on July 22 has already received more than $730 as of July 23.

To donate to the family, visit: https://gofund. me/4ade870e.

representatives from ODHS, ODE, the USDA, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Salem, Marion, and Polk Counties and the Oregon Food Bank spoke to raise awareness about the new Summer EBT program. The Boys and Girls Clubs offer summer meals to children.

“Driven by the ongoing economic fallout of COVID-19, the end of pandemic safety nets and the rising cost of food and housing, we are in an ongoing hunger crisis,” said Sammi Teo, Public Policy Advocate at the Oregon Food Bank. “Last year, we saw 1.9 million visits to food assistance sites through the Oregon Food Bank Network — a 14 percent increase from the previous year and a record number of visits. For families facing food insecurity, June has long marked a time when kids no longer have easy access to breakfast and lunch at school. Many parents and caregivers must come up with at least 10 additional meals per week, per child. Summer EBT helps bridge the hunger gap during the summer. By having Summer EBT on a card that families can use when grocery shopping, they can better accommodate dietary needs and cultural preferences.

“There are many people who still don’t know about the program. There is a short window to apply, and there is a short window to use the benefits,” said USDA FNS Western Region Administrator Jesus Mendoza, Jr. “While it’s a new program nationwide, this program has been tested here in Oregon. We learned that this program does help address food insecurity for children during the summer months.”

ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams said, “Just like Summer Learning addresses unfinished learning between school years, accelerates academic achievement and strengthens student well-being, Summer Meals keep students connected to proper nutrition so they can stay active and engaged while classes are out. And its why Oregon jumped at the chance to provide Summer EBT to eligible families this year. Giving our families more access to groceries during the summer means students will show up for the first day of class ready to learn.”

ODHS Director Fariborz Pakseresht said, “On June 28, 2024, more than 321,000 children were automatically enrolled in Summer EBT because they participate

lawn games and live music. Duehren said there should be more than enough activity to keep people entertained until the movie starts.

The schedule is:

August 2: Bill and Ted’s Excellent Aventure, with air guitar contest, and live music from The Decades.

August 9: Wonka, with “Pizza Bingo,” sponsored by the Port of Columbia County.

August 16: Indiana Jones & the Dial of Destiny, Movie Trivia with Film Director Brian TrenchardSmith.

August 23: Gran Turismo, Sweetwater Performs.

August 30: ET, Alien Costume contest and free cake from Fred Meyer.

Duehren implored folks to load up the car and “bring the kids, blankets, and a stadium

chair for some free evenings outside at the movies.”

“These kind of events can entertain, but they can also have a positive impact. There’s a lot to worry about today in the world, and if we can give people a place to escape to for even a few hours; that’s a good thing,” Duehren said.

The movie series sponsors include Fred Meyer, Fultano’s Columbia River PUD, Scappoose Grocery Outlet, City of Scappoose, Port of Columbia County, US Bank, Means Nursery, Scappoose Police, Columbia Scappoose Library, and Scappoose Parks.

For event information, please contact Jeff Weiss at (503) 543-7123 or JJ Duehren at Scappoose Parks. Or visit their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/ ScappooseMoviesbyMoonlight.

Oregon’s Employment sees little change in June

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.1% in June and 4.2% in May and has been in a tight range between 4.0% and 4.2% since October 2023.

Gains and losses

In June, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 600 jobs, following a gain of 4,000 jobs in May.

June’s gains were largest in health care and social assistance (+1,200 jobs); financial activities (+800); leisure and hospitality (+700); and other services (+700). Declines in June were largest in professional and business services (-1,800 jobs) and manufacturing (-600). Health care and social assistance continued its rapid expansion.

During the two-and-ahalf-year period January 2022 through June 2024, it added 34,000 jobs, or 12.8%. Employment gains in social assistance have accelerated in recent months and the industry added 8,800

in other programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or receive services through Medicaid. So far, 322,500 children have received Summer EBT. This adds up to $38.7 million in federal funds that families are spending at grocery stores and farmers’ markets in their communities.”

ODHS estimates another 30,000 children in Oregon may be eligible for Summer EBT if they apply. To be eligible, children must:

• Attend a school participating in the national school lunch or breakfast programs.

• Be in households with incomes at or below 185

percent of the Federal Poverty Level.

ODHS encourages families to visit the Summer EBT website in English and Spanish to review eligibility criteria. If a family believes their children may be eligible, please call the Summer EBT Call Center to verify that they need to apply. The Summer EBT Call Center number is 833-673-7328 and can provide customer service in many languages. Families that need to apply can do so online in English or Spanish, or by email or regular mail in multiple languages. Don’t delay—the deadline to apply is Sept. 2, 2024. Families have 122

jobs, or 12.2%, during the past 12 months. Meanwhile, the three healthcare component industries each added more than 2,000 jobs since June 2023: nursing and residential care facilities (+2,700 jobs, or 5.1%); ambulatory healthcare services (+2,700 jobs, or 2.7%); and hospitals (+2,200 jobs, or 3.7%).

Despite large gains in health care and a few other industries recently, the list of declining industries is growing. Six major industries cut a substantial number of jobs in the past 12 months. Three of these major industries each declined by about 3,600 jobs since June 2023: retail trade (-3,600 jobs, or -1.7%); professional and business services (-3,600 jobs, or -1.3%); and manufacturing (-3,500 jobs, or -1.8%).

The other major industries cutting at least 700 jobs in that time were construction (-2,700 jobs, or -2.3%); transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-1,100 jobs, or -1.4%); and information (-700 jobs, or -1.9%).

The U.S. unemployment rate, at 4.1%,changed little in June.

days from the day they received Summer EBT food benefits before they expire. For example, if benefits were issued on June 28, 2024, families have until Oct. 28, 2024, to use Summer EBT benefits.

Speakers from the event:

• Sue Bloom, CEO, Boys and Girls Clubs of Salem, Marion and Polk Counties

• Sammi Teo, Public Policy Advocate, Oregon Food Bank (she, her)

• Jesus Mendoza, Jr., USDA FNS Western Region Administrator

• Fariborz Pakseresht, ODHS Director (he, him)

• Dr. Charlene Williams, ODE Director (she, her)

COURTESY PHOTO FROM MCKENNA CALHOUN Damian with his daughter.

COURTESY PHOTO FROM JEFF WEISS

Folks enjoy live music before the Movies by Moonlight during a past year.

POLICE REPORTS

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

July 9

• Police took a report on credit card/ATM fraud at the 400 block of Columbia River Highway.

• Law enforcement responded to a report of child abuse/ pornography at 700 Matzen Street.

July 12

• Officers arrested a 38-yearold male subject on disorderly conduct, harassment, and resisting arrest at the 400 block of 16th Street.

• Police arrested a 37-yearold male subject and a 26-year-old male subject on fugitive warrants at the 2000 block of Columbia Boulevard.

• Law enforcement responded to a hit-and-run at the 300 block of Columbia River Highway.

July 14

• Police responded to a violation of a release agreement at the 300 block of 16th Street.

• Officers arrested a 33-yearold male subject on domestic violence and simple assault near Columbia River Highway and 5th Street.

• Police issued a citation to a 44-year-old male subject for driving while suspended at Old Portland Road and Kaster Road.

July 15

• Officers arrested a 38-yearold female subject on DUII, and reckless driving near North Columbia River Highway and Pittsburg Road.

• Law enforcement arrested a 38-year-old male subject and another 38-year-old male subject for criminal trespass II at the 200 block of Columbia River Highway.

• Police arrested a 23-yearold male subject for violation of release agreement at the 300 block of North 16th Street.

July 16

• Officers arrested a 38-yearold male subject on disorderly conduct II, unlawful entry into a vehicle, and probation violation at the 400 block of Columbia Boulevard.

• Police arrested a 43-yearold male subject on DUII, reckless driving, and reckless endangering of another near South Columbia River Highway and McBride Street.

July 18

• Police arrested a 38-year-old male subject for disorderly conduct II, carrying a concealed weapon, and violation of a release agreement near South Columbia River Highway and Columbia Boulevard.

Rainier Police Department

July 5

• Officers were dispatched to a disturbance involving several people. Peace was restored.

• An employee called requesting an officer to check the welfare of an elderly woman who had been waiting for a ride. No one was found in the area.

Oregon Democrats praise Biden, welcome his decision to drop out

campaign on Sunday,

• A resident was upset about his neighbor’s landscapers trespassing on his property.

July 6

• Officers were dispatched to a verbal domestic disturbance. Peace was restored.

July 7

• A business alarm was accidentally activated.

• A stray dog was reportedly running through the city park.

• An officer investigated the report of a domestic disturbance.

July 9

• A panic alarm was accidentally activated at a local business.

• Officers responded to a harassment at the boat ramp. Peace was restored.

• A caller reported a theft of fishing gear from his boat. The reporting party called back later to advise that the item had been misplaced, not stolen.

July 10

• An officer responded to a false business alarm.

• A suspicious vehicle

checked out okay.

• A business reported finding a baggie of suspected drugs.

July 11

• A caller was concerned about the welfare of a man that appeared to be passed out in his vehicle.

• A report of an abandoned vehicle was filed.

• A passerby was concerned about the general health of a dog.

• A vehicle was stalled on the bridge. Assistance was rendered.

• Multiple callers were concerned about a person who had been lying by the side of the highway. The individual was not in distress.

• A caller reported an abandoned trailer at the Budget Inn.

• An officer checked on a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of Chevron.

July 12

• A call came in reporting a man attempting to break into a shed. The owner declined to press charges.

• Barking dog complaint on Old Rainier Road.

LYNNE TERRY AND JULIA SHUMWAY

Oregon Capital Chronicle

Minutes within the announcement that President Joe Biden is withdrawing from the presidential campaign, Democratic leaders in Oregon reacted to the news.

Comments came from U.S. congressional members, candidates for congress, the governor and local leaders in emailed statements and on social media. They sounded a chorus of praise for Biden’s leadership and legacy and stressed their commitment to defeating former President Donald Trump in November.

U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer fired off the first statement via email. Blumenauer is the only Oregon congressional member facing retirement at the end of this term, and he’s also the only Oregon congressional member who publicly called on Biden to step down.

He praised the breadth of Biden’s accomplishments, noting they came as the country was stumbling out of the pandemic and recovering following an insurrection on Capitol Hill against his election.

“The president led our nation back from the brink,” Blumenauer said. “He reestablished our reputation on the international stage. He enacted landmark legislation to rebuild and renew America, lower prescription drug prices, bolster domestic manufacturing, and combat the climate crisis in the single largest investment made by any government at any point in history.

“Today, President Joe Biden cemented his legacy in American history as the greatest president in the last 50 years. He made the right decision to spend the remainder of his presidency implementing his landmark achievements rather than fighting a campaign against Donald Trump. I am encouraged that President Biden can devote his full attention to this work.”

U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas also issued a statement, calling Biden a “faithful public servant” who had rebuilt the middle class and bolstered

working families in “times of crises.” The next focus, she said, is winning the November election by defeating Trump.

“This is not a choice between Republican or Democrat. It’s a choice between democracy and authoritarianism,” Salinas said. “We must make our voices heard loud and clear at the ballot box this November and protect democracy for future generations.”

U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Oregon, did not directly comment on Biden’s decision but retweeted a post from a Democratic strategist that says “ RT if you’re all-in with Kamala Harris for President!” with an emoji of a palm tree and a coconut. Harris supporters have used those emojis to refer to a viral quote from Harris: “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.”

Gov. Tina Kotek tweeted a thank you to Biden for decades of leadership and his “steadfast dedication” to making life better for working families.

“Oregon, and the whole country, are so much better off today – safer, healthier, and more secure – because of Joe Biden’s years of service,” Kotek said.

State Rep. Janelle Bynum, the Democrat running against Republican incumbent Lori Chavez-DeRemer in the 5th Congressional District, thanked Biden for his work in a post on X:

“Thank you to President Biden for your tireless work and dedication to our country. In the midst of crisis, this administration created

the strongest economy in the world and lifted up the middle class,” Bynum wrote. “This November, we must come together to stand up for democracy, reproductive rights, and all Oregonians. The work continues!”

State Rep. Maxine Dexter, the Democratic nominee to replace Blumenauer in the Portland-based 3rd Congressional District, said Biden has “once again shown what true leadership looks like.”

“The country owes him a debt of gratitude for creating millions of new jobs, historic investments in our infrastructure, and bold climate action that will make a difference now and for generations to come,” Dexter tweeted.

Kevin Stine, a Medford city councilor who will serve as one of Oregon’s delegates to the Democratic National Convention, said it was the right decision and that he plans to cast his vote as a delegate for Harris.

“As 1 of 4,000 delegates to the convention, this was the right choice, and I look forward to what is next. All the best to Joe Biden for his service to the nation,” Stine tweeted.

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/07/21/ oregon-democrats-praisebiden-welcome-his-decisionto-drop-out/

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.

• A resident called about a person dumping glass in front of their house.

• An abandoned vehicle was reported on Washington Way.

• A caller requested a welfare check on a man near the bridge.

• An officer assisted a disabled motorist near the bridge.

• Call received about a person concerned about the welfare of a baby bird. Reporting party was given the phone number for the Audubon Society.

• An officer checked on a suspicious vehicle on View Street.

• A generator was stolen from the back of a pickup truck.

• Report of a man that appeared to be looking in cars. No one matching the subject was found in the area.

• Officers responded to a disturbance near the fire station. Peace was restored.

• A suspicious circumstance in a business parking lot checked out okay.

• A resident reported suspicious activity outside of their home. No one was found in the area.

GETTY IMAGES

Democrats praised President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the election

July 21, 2024, saying they now needed to focus on defeating former President Donald Trump. apply

Community Events

July 25 Columbia 9-1-1

Communications District Board of Directors Regular Meeting

1 p.m. in person and via Zoom. For instructions on how to join the meeting via Zoom, please contact the administration staff at 503366-6973.

July 26 Back to our Roots

6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Praise & Worship at Rainier City Park, 681 W A Street in Rainier. For more information please call Angela Wayman at 971-7570271.

July 28 Rainier All-Class Picnic

11 a.m. - 4:00 p.m at Hudson-Parcher Park, 75503 Larson Road in Rainier. Potluck begins at noon. The picnic is sponsored by the Rainier Oregon Historical Museum. The museum will provide the park admittance fee, water, coffee, plates, utensils, & napkins. Please help offset the $300 park fee and cost of supplies by making a donation when signing in at the picnic site registration table. It is recommended that you bring extra chairs and a potluck dish.

August 1 17th Annual I/DD Picnic “Heroes of Advocacy”

11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Columbia County Fairgrounds. Come by for a petting zoo, face painting, caricatures, costume contest, DJ and dancing, catered lunch, games and more. Feel free to bring a comfortable chair, sunglasses, hat and sunscreen. Visit HeroesofAdvocacyPicnic.eventbrite.com.

August 2 Movie by Moonlight in Heritage Park

6 p.m. pre-movie events begin at Heritage Park, 52469 SE 2nd Street in Scappoose. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure starts at dusk. Bring a blanket and chair. Air Guitar Contest and live music from The Decades. Dollar hot dogs and hamburgers grilled up by the Scappoose Police Department.

August 2-4 Vernonia Friendship Jamboree Come by for vendors, kid zone, log show, parade, bike show and much more. For more information call Angela Wayman at 971-757-0271.

August 3 Vernonia Log Jam Car Show

9 a.m. - 3 p.m. located inside Vernonia Friendship Jamboree, 377 Bridge Street in Vernonia. Come by for raffles, car show, beer garden, The Decades Band and more. Fore more information call Angela Wayman at 971-7570271.

August 9 Movie by Moonlight in Heritage Park

6 p.m. pre-movie events begin at Heritage Park, 52469 SE 2nd Street in Scappoose. Wonka starts at dusk. Bring a blanket and chair. Pizza Bingo. Dollar hot dogs and hamburgers grilled up by the Scappoose Police Department.

August 16 Movie by Moonlight in Heritage Park

6 p.m. pre-movie events begin at Heritage Park, 52469 SE 2nd Street in Scappoose. Indiana Jones & the Dial of Destiny starts at dusk. Bring a blanket and chair. Movie Trivia with film director Brian Trenchard-Smith. Dollar hot

dogs and hamburgers grilled up by the Scappoose Police Department.

August 23 Movie by Moonlight in Heritage Park

6 p.m. pre-movie events begin at Heritage Park, 52469 SE 2nd Street in Scappoose. Gran Turismo starts at dusk. Bring a blanket and chair. Sweetwater will perform. Dollar hot dogs and hamburgers grilled up by the Scappoose Police Department.

August 30 Movie by Moonlight in Heritage Park

6 p.m. pre-movie events begin at Heritage Park, 52469 SE 2nd Street in Scappoose. ET starts at dusk. Bring a blanket and chair. Alien Costume Contest and free cake from Fred Meyers. Dollar hot dogs and hamburgers grilled up by the Scappoose Police Department.

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 503369-0329 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.

Did you attend the Columbia County Fair and Rodeo?

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 971757-6389.

22nd Annual Scappoose Farmers’ Market (May 4thSept. 28th)

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 714-768-9327 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 503-543-2110.

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.

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.

Are you excited for this year’s Columbia County Fair and Rodeo?

challenge in Oregon. Approximately 35 percent of Oregonians live in rural and frontier communities compared to just 15 percent of the U.S. population. But, too often, we rely on one-sizefits-all approaches that don’t work well in rural communities. So, here’s what I’m doing to help improve access to health care on Oregon’s coast and across the state.

I worked across the aisle to create the new Office of Rural Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This office is responsible for tailoring health care delivery strategies to the unique needs of rural areas, including developing rural-first programs rather than trying to adapt urban programs to rural settings.

I’m also pushing the federal government – as Oregon’s representative on the U.S. Senate spending committee – to keep investing in rural health care. In March, I secured $2 million for a new chemotherapy clinic in Curry County, where chemotherapy services are not currently offered. This means folks will no longer need to travel hundreds of miles outside of their communities for care. And, after hearing too many heartbreaking stories of addiction and overdose deaths from fentanyl and other drugs from folks around our

state, I made sure that Congress invested $145 billion in the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program in fiscal year 2024 to combat addiction across the country. As the husband of a nurse, I know that many health care providers in rural areas are overworked and underpaid, clocking too many hours, caring for too many patients, and traveling too many miles to provide care. That’s a recipe for burnout – and workforce shortages only make a bad health care situation worse.

That’s why I reintroduced the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act to train and retain more nurses. And I’ve reintroduced the Nurse Overtime and Patient Safety Act to require hospitals and other providers who participate in Medicare to limit mandatory overtime for nurses, so these new

nurses don’t burn out and leave the profession.

Telehealth has also been a game-changer for rural health care. Some Oregonians in rural areas have to drive hundreds of miles each way for basic care – and sometimes even farther to see a specialist. Telehealth brings that care to them. It’s particularly powerful for mental health care, connecting those in isolated areas with the quality care and support they need to thrive. And it’s better for many health care providers, allowing them to spend less time traveling and more time treating patients.

Making telehealth work effectively is yet another reason I believe that high-speed internet has to reach every town and every household across our state. To accomplish that, I supported the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that included the Broadband Equity, Access, and Development program, which is investing nearly $700 million to expand broadband in Oregon alone. And the American Rescue Plan is providing another 17,000 broadband connections across our state. These investments will connect communities and improve rural health care. These are just a few ways I’m pushing to improve rural health care on the coast and across our state. I’ll keep fighting for more resources so that all Oregonians can access the health care they need, no matter where they live.

Editorial policy

Opinions expressed on this page are independent of The Columbia County Chronicle & Chief, its staff, and Country Media, Inc.. Views and are solely those of the writers expressing them.

Letters policy

This newspaper’s letters to the editor are limited to a maximum of 250 words and will be edited for grammar, spelling and blatant inaccuracies. Unsubstantiated or irresponsible allegations, or personal attacks on any individual, will not be published. Letters containing details presented as facts rather than opinions must include their sources. Writers are limited to one published letter per

month. All submissions must include the author’s full name, local street address and telephone number (only the 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 share and a penchant for writing. If you’d like to submit a guest column for publication, contact us at 503-397-0116 or chroniclenews@countrymedia.net.

Obituaries

Obituaries received after noon on Friday may not be in time for that Friday’s paper. Obituaries may be emailed to chronicleclassifieds@countrymedia.net,

or

Merkley Monthly: Improving access to rural health care COURTESY PHOTO

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702

Garage Sales Garage Sale Fri. 7/26 & Sat 7/27 from 9-4. 58890 Morten Lane off Bachelor Flat towards Fairgrounds. Birdhouses, plants, and lots of misc. No earlies. Cash preferred.

GARAGE/YARD

SALE! 48” Din-Table w/ 4 chairs $125, folding tab/4 chairs $25, HP laser jet printer & new toner $25, 2 HP monitors 21” $15/each, childs bouncing castle $40, bar stools, file cabinets, ottoman, lamps, queen aero inflatable bed, shelves, quilt tops, fabrics & patterns, stained glass remnants, tools, grinder & diamond saw, holiday, clothes, tools, childrens toys, books, games, humidifiers & even strawberries, raspberries & maple trees! Fri & Sat, 8-2. 35014 Stag Ct (turn on Whitetail) SEE YOU HERE!

Multi Family Garage Sale Thurs 7/25-Sat 7/27 from 8-4. Ladies brand name clothes sizes L-14/16, some new with tags, linens, quilts, blankets, some tools, Schoolhouse electric lighting, lamps, sheets. 650 A St., Columbia City.

Hay for sale. 503-397- 1370. $6. St. Helens area.

800 Rentals

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804

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808 Houses Unfurnished

#20 2 bdrm Townhouse @

CC24-3020

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Monday, August 5, 2024 at 6:30 PM NOTICE

IS HEREBY GIVEN that Wayne Weigandt, on behalf of property owners Mary Ann Pinon and Homero Cortez, has applied for a Minor Partition Application (MP 24-06) and Variance Application (V 24-04). The applicant proposes to partition one existing parcel into two parcels, with a variance to the minimum lot size requirement from 1.00 acre to 0.92 acres for each parcel. The subject property associated with Map and Taxlot 4117-A0- 00700 is approximately 1.96 acres and is zoned Single-Family Residential (R-10). SAID PUBLIC HEARING will be held before the Columbia County Planning Commission on Monday, August 5, 2024, starting at 6:30 p.m.

This meeting will be hybrid in nature, allowing participants to log in via Go-ToMeeting (link below) or attend in person at Healy Hall, within Columbia County Public Works Department, 1054 Oregon St., St. Helens, OR 97051. Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https:// meet.goto.com/880602597

You can also dial in using your phone. United States (Toll Free): 1 866 899 4679 Access Code: 880-602-597

The criteria to be used in deciding these requests will be found in some or all of the following documents and laws, as revised from time to time: Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 197.797; Oregon Administrative Rules; Columbia County Comprehensive Plan; Columbia County

CC24-3019

Zoning Ordinance- Section 700 Single-Family Residential, Section 1504 Variances; Columbia County Subdivision and Partitioning Ordinance- Article II Administration and General Provisions, Article VII Minor Land Partitioning. The specific criteria applicable to this request are listed and evaluated in the staff report. A copy of the applications, all documents and evidence relied upon by the applicants, and the staff reports will be available at the Land Development Services office located at 445 Port Ave, St Helens, OR. and online at https://www.columbiacountyor.gov/departments/LandDevelopment/ planning-commission at least 7days 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. The hearing will be held according to the procedures established in the Zoning Ordinance. Interested parties may appear and be heard. 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 testimony against the application. Then those who are neither in favor nor opposed to the application will have an opportunity to present evidence and testimony. The applicant will then have the opportunity to rebut any of the evidence or testimony presented. 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 those entitled to notice at a later date. The Commission may continue the hearing to a time and date certain in the future. Failure of an issue to be raised in a hearing, in person or by letter, or failure to provide statements or evidence sufficient to afford the decision maker an opportunity to respond to the issue precludes appeal to the Board based on that issue. Additional information about these applications may be obtained from the Planning Division of the Land Development Services Department, at (503) 397-7217. If you have any questions or concerns regarding access to the meeting or need accommodation, please call Jack Niedermeyer at the Land Development Services office at (503) 397-7217. THE PLANNING COMMISSION Dan Magnia, Chairman

NOTICE OF ELECTION OF DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS

Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, an election will be conducted by mail for the purpose of electing board members (positions/ zones and terms) to the following districts: CLATSKANIE PEOPLE’S UTILITY DISTRICT • Director, Subdivision 1 (4 Year term): Portions of North Clatskanie-Marshland, Portions of South Clatskanie, Portion of Clatsop County • Director, Subdivision 2 (4 Year term): City of Clatskanie • Director, Subdivision 5 (4 Year term): Portions of City of Rainier COLUMBIA RIVER PEOPLE’S UTILITY DISTRICT • Director, Subdivision 3 (4 Year term):

CC24-3017

Portions of: Milton, City of St. Helens 4 and 6, Yankton • Director, Subdivision 4 (4 Year term): City of St. Helens 1 and portions of 4 McNULTY WATER PEOPLE’S UTILITY DISTRICT

• Director, Subdivision 2 (2 Year term): Portions of: Milton, McNulty, City of St. Helens 6 • Director, Subdivision 3 (4 Year term): Portions of McNulty, N Warren, Yankton • Director, Subdivision 4 (4 Year term): Portions of Milton, McNulty, City of St. Helens 6, Yankton • Director, Subdivision 5 (4 Year term): Portions of: Milton, City of St. Helens 6, Yankton Each candidate for an office listed above must file a declaration

of candidacy (SEL190) with the Elections Department of Columbia County within the period beginning on July 18, 2024 and ending no later than 5:00 p.m. August 27, 2024. Each filing must include a filing fee of $10.00 or a petition of nomination (SEL121) signed by at least 25 registered voters residing in the electoral district for the office. Filing information, forms and Voters Pamphlet submission packets are available on-line on the County Elections page at the Columbia County website www.columbiacountyor.gov or available in person at the Columbia County Elections Department, 230 Strand St., St. Helens, OR.

NOTICE OF COUNCIL MEETING

The Clatskanie City Council will meet on Wednesday, August 7th, 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 July 3rd, 2024 regular meeting, a resolution establishing fees for city services, and a resolution revising resolution 2024-03. An updated agenda will be available at City Hall by

Sand

Island Sand Castle

Competition canceled

From Page A1

Event coordinator update

During the July 16 work session, Walsh described the negotiation process with Treadway as ongoing and developing day by day. On July 22, Walsh told the Chronicle & Chief that negotiations are “proceeding and we anticipate having a contract with them soon.”

Coming to an agreement with Treadway is an urgent priority for the city as they prepare for Halloweentown this fall. During the July 16 work session, Mayor Rick Scholl expressed that there is still plenty of time to hold Halloweentown this year. Walsh and others emphasized that Halloweentown will look different this year because of construction in the Riverfront District and that the event will have a new manager. The break with the city’s previous event coordinator

has not been without issue.

Previous event contractor

Tina Curry of E2C Corp. had been the driving force behind much of St. Helens tourism and has contracted with the city in that rolesince 2017. Curry filed a protest to the city for its choice of Treadway Events as its preferred candidate. On July 8, the city issued a response to the appellant denying the protest. One point of contention between the city and E2C Corp. is the city being unable to access social media accounts associated with the city’s tourism program. There has also been talk of a “Wauna [bank] account” that has funds associated with tourism. Discussion of the account has stirred discourse online and at council meetings over who the funds in the account belong to, between the city and E2C. When asked about the city trying to recover access to the “Wauna trust account” and the social media pages, Walsh said, “the city is working with our legal counsel and E2C regarding the funds in the Wauna Account and the social media accounts. Under advisement

PORT OF COLUMBIA COUNTY SCAPPOOSE

BAY MARINE PARK: MARINA IMPROVEMENTS

PROJECT UPLAND PHASE 1

Bids Due: August 6, 2024, at 3:00PM INVITATION TO BID Sealed bids for the Port of Columbia County “Marina Improvements Project Upland Phase 1”, must be addressed and delivered to Miriam House, Operations Manager, Port of Columbia County, 100 E Street, Columbia City, OR 97018 by the bid closing time of 3:00pm, on August 6, 2024, at which time the bids will be publicly opened and read. A non-mandatory prebid meeting will be held at

CC24-3015

August 2nd, 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.

of our legal counsel, additional details are not being disclosed at this time.”

Speaking at the council regular session, Scholl explained more about the logistical issues of holding the sand castle competition and the Wauna account funds.

“Our contractor has signed agreements with the sand castle competition, and failed to pay the insurance on the boat, and give you the revenue source. We are, by contract, working with our attorneys because we have a contract. I can say we own all the assets, and the tourism account is ours. We own the entire tourism program. Guaranteed. But we have to go through the process,” Scholl said.

the site, 57420 Old Portland Road, Warren, OR 97053 on July 26 at 11:00AM This is a prevailing wage project. The scope of work being considered, but is not limited to, the following: 1. Reconstruct the east end of the upper parking lot for parallel loading parking spaces and relocate ADA parking 2. Widen sidewalks to the existing gangway 3. New pavement and restriping of the parking lot adjacent to the marina building 4. Install new pay station and relo-

cate existing pay station 5. Stormwater improvements 6. New electrical connections to pay stations and outdoor outlets 7. Install new hydrant Contract bid documents are available on the Port of Columbia County’s website at www.portofcolumbiacounty. org. The contract bid 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.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held before the City of St. Helens Planning Commission on Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at or after 6:05 PM and before the City Council on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at or after 6:15 PM in the City Council Chambers, located in the City Hall building at 265 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR. Access into City Hall for these hearings will be from the plaza side entrance. Zoom will also be available to participate. Virtual access information to join the hearing will be available on the applicable agenda. Agendas can be found on the City’s website: https://www.sthelensoregon. gov/meetings. The purpose of these hearings is to consider an application as follows: File No: CPZA.1.24 Applicant: City of St. Helens Request: Amendments to the St. Helens Development Code and Comprehensive Plan in response to Measure 109 (2020) regarding psilocybin land uses, House Bill 3109 (2021) regarding child care land uses and other “housekeeping” amendments, validity periods for land use decisions in particular. Testimony from the public in either oral or written form is invited. The hearings will be conducted in accordance with those procedures found in the City Development Code (SHMC Title 17) Chapter 17.20 and any rules of procedure adopted by the City Council. The Planning

CC24-3018

Commission is authorized to make a recommendation to the City Council who is authorized to approve, deny, or approve this application with conditions, based on the on the legislative standards per SHMC 17.20.120. The City’s code can be found online: https://www.codepublishing. com/OR/StHelens/ Failure to raise an issue, including constitutional or other issues relating to any proposed conditions of approval, at a hearing, in person, or by letter, or failure to raise an issue accompanied by statements or evidence sufficient to afford the approving authority an opportunity to respond to the issue precludes appeal to the applicable appellate jurisdiction (e.g., the Land Use Board of Appeals, LUBA) on that issue, and precludes an action for damages in circuit court. The application file is located at City Hall (265 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR) and all documents in the file are available for inspection. A copy of the staff report will be available for review at least seven (7) calendar days prior to each hearing. There is no cost to inspect the file or staff report; copies are available at a reasonable cost. The report for this application will also be available on the City’s website at https://www.sthelensoregon. gov/meetings. Questions should be directed to the City Planning Department by phone: 503-397-6272, e-mail: jgraichen@sthel-

ensoregon.gov, mail: 265 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051, or in person at City Hall. The meeting location is accessible to persons with disabilities. A request for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or for other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting to City Hall at 503397-6272. We cannot accept electronic testimony via hard drive or other external device at the public hearing due to potential risks to the city’s network. If you plan on submitting electronic testimony, presentations, etc., please coordinate this with staff in advance. Any written testimony provided at the public hearing should be in hard copy form. CC24-3017 The Clatskanie City Council will meet on Wednesday, August 7th, 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 July 3rd, 2024 regular meeting, a resolution establishing fees for city services, and a resolution revising resolution 2024-03. An updated agenda will be available at City Hall by August 2nd, 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.

In the Matter of the Estate of: Evelyn A. Kellar, Deceased. Case No.

NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Kaitlyn Burns has been appointed personal representative. All persons having claims against the estate are required to present them, with vouchers attached, to Kaitlyn

“That’s all we can say about that right now.”

Message from City Administrator John Walsh

Though the city has been going through turbulence with its tourism program, Walsh emphasized that there are many other areas that the city is working on to support the “health, safety, and wellbeing” of the community. In addition to the ongoing projects in the Waterfront Redevelopment Project, Walsh referenced the city’s work to bring more industry back to town.

“The city has a Letter of Agreement (LOA) with Project Arcadia to negotiate terms to restart the paper

24PB05332

Burns, 70233 Apiary Road, Rainier, OR 97048, 209613-3713, personal representative of the estate of Evelyn A. Kellar, 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 July 24, 2024.

mill and bring back jobs to our community,” Walsh said.

During his report to the council during the council work session on July 16, Walsh described an agreement for Project Arcadia as “imminent.” Walsh noted that progress has been made on the new police station, and noted a variety of other programs and projects the city has been undertaking. Walsh said that the city is working to address sewer capacity issues identified in the Sewer Master Plan, updating the Transportation System Plan. Other items in the process are “securing additional funding to build a new water reservoir,” selling the city’s

Millard Road property, and several departments working on code updates to address new state and federal legislation and ensure the city is providing effective services to the community

“While tourism is one component to the overall success of St. Helens, the City of St. Helens is working on many other important projects and services to support the economic health, safety, and wellbeing of our community,” Walsh said.

“This is all being done while our staff continue to provide the day-to-day services that are necessary to preserve the highest possible quality of life for our residents, businesses, and visitors.”

OBITUARIES

Larry Trotter

Jan. 26, 1950 ~ June 20, 2024

Larry D. Trotter was born on Jan. 26, 1950 and passed away on June 20, 2024. A memorial service will be held for family and friends at 1 p.m. on Aug. 17, 2024 at Longview Church of the Nazarene, 814 15th Ave. Longview, WA 98632. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Longview Church of the Nazarene.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, dad, grandpa and great papa, Wallace Edward “Wally” Thompson on July 6th, 2024 at the age of 82. Wally was born in St. Helens, Oregon on June 29, 1942 to Ernest and Nadine Thompson. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Linda Thompson, daughter Nicki Thompson, son Scott Thompson, granddaughters Bailey (Travis) Feakin, Kallie Trask (Mickey Rush), Toni (Rogun) Zenger, great grand-daughter, Amelie Zenger, and sister Darlene (Jimmy) Luttrell.

Wally lived in St. Helens his whole life and as a young boy he attended St. Fredericks Catholic School and McBride Grade School and then went on to graduate

Alice May Curelo 101, of Scappoose, Oregon passed away on June 28, 2024 at home surrounded by loved ones. Alice was born in Romona, Oklahoma to LeRoy and Mary Kathryn Rempe on Sept. 28, 1922. She moved with her parents to Lincoln Park, Michigan when she was 2 years old. She grew up in Lincoln Park and married Theodore (Ted) Curelo on

Cheryle Lynn (Verley) Warren peacefully went to meet Jesus on Thursday, July 11, 2024, surrounded by family.

Cheryle was the oldest of four children born to Rex and Corda (Capps) Verley on April 8, 1948, at Cowlitz General Hospital in Longview, Washington.

Cheryle was raised on Hungry Hollow Loop in Westport, Oregon with her two brothers and sister. She graduated from Clatskanie Union High School in 1966.

Cheryle married Lonnie, her sweetheart, on June 21, 1968. They remained in Westport raising their two sons throughout their 56 years of marriage.

Cheryle loved God and her family and loved any opportunity to share with others. Having the family all together, whether it was her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews or her brothers and sister made her the happiest

Wallace Edward Thompson

June 29, 1942 ~ July 6, 2024

from St. Helen’s High School in 1960 where he met Linda. They married in December of 1963. Together they owned Bemis Printing for 24 years where he was a printer by night and a Municipal Court judge for the City of St. Helens by day. Wally had many jobs over the years but

most recently he was Justice of the Peace for Columbia County until his retirement in 2017. Over the years he was also an Interim County Commissioner, Port Commissioner, a member of the City Parks Commission, a member of the Kiwanis Club, a member of the St. Helens High School Booster Club, a member of the National Judges Association and State of Oregon Justice of the Peace Association where he was the president for 2 years, among other endeavors. Wally loved being involved in his community and was a people person, making friends wherever he went.

Wally loved spending time with his family. Some of his hobbies included restoring old Chevys, clam digging, fishing, hunting,

Alice May Curelo Sept. 28, 1922 ~ June 28, 2024

Dec. 21, 1940. They made their home in Lincoln Park, Michigan until his death on Nov. 21, 1994. Alice moved to Scappoose, Oregon in September 1996 to be close to her children and grandchildren. She had a happy, active social life at the Scappoose Senior Center where she was a volunteer in the Senior Center Quilting Room. She was also a parishioner

and with the joining of the Verley and Warren families, there was never a shortage of family and opportunities to be together, sharing a meal or special life moments.

Cheryle was very active in volunteering with her church, Westport Christian Center, and Turning Point.

Cheryle was very close to her paternal Grandparents, Ralph and Juanita (Chapman) Verley. Her favorite things to do while spending time with them was to can, bake, plant

at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church.

Alice was a caring and loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Kay and Edmond Jackson; son and daughter-in-law, Joseph and Saundra Curelo; three grandchildren, Marci (Mark) Jackson, Joel (Johanna) Curelo, and Melinda (Riley) Baker; and seven

and harvest all the things associated with their enormous garden and many fruit trees. She loved making Christmas candy and treats with her Grandmother during the Holiday’s.

In the true giving nature of Cheryle and Lonnie, they took in her grandmother, Juanita, after her grandfather’s passing and then later her own mother, Corda until shortly before her passing.

Cheryle had many jobs over the years, although none were more important to her than being a wife, mother and schoolteacher.

She worked Nationwide Insurance, Sprouse Reitz (Hi School Pharmacy) and finally before her retirement, as a receptionist at a local office in Clatskanie.

Cheryle is survived by her husband of 56 years, Lonnie; two sons and their wives, Mitch and Cyndi and Tim and Dawn; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, Shaine and Daniella Warren, Cole and Sydney Warren

camping and trips to Disneyland. He spent many hours working on his cars and polishing them to take to car shows and cruise ins. He enjoyed doing these activities with his family and many friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

A Memorial Service will be on Saturday August 3, 2024 at 11:00am at First United Methodist Church, 560 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, Oregon with a reception to follow. A private Graveside Service will be held at Columbia Memorial Garden at 2 p.m.

Arrangements are entrusted to Columbia Funeral Home 503-397-1154. Memories and condolences can be expressed on our website www.columbiafh.com.

great grandchildren. Arrangements are entrusted to Columbia Funeral Home 503-397-1154. Memories and condolences can be expressed on our website www.columbiafh. com. A graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 10, 2024 at Our Lady of Hope Cemetery, 18303 Allen Rd., Brownstown Charter Twp, Michigan.

(Beckett), Caleb Warren (Isla and Avie), Olivia and Brenden Hicks (Sawyer), Cade Warren and Nelson Warren; brothers and sister and their families, Mike and Charlotte Verley, Blaine Verley and Eva Sue and Dave Bridges; and her very best friend, Lynda Rochon.

Cheryle was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ralph and Juanita (Chapman) Verley; mother Corda (Capps) Verley; and her father and his wife, Rex and Mildred Verley.

Cheryle will be missed by all those that knew and loved her. Please join the family for a Celebration of Life potluck on Friday, July 26th at 2:00pm at the American Legion (930 NE 5th St), in Clatskanie. Please bring a side dish or dessert and a memory to share. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to Lower Columbia Hospice in Astoria or to Turning Point in Clatskanie.

George Stailey Johnson of Rio Vista, California, passed away on July 13, 2024, at the age of 87. He was born on Nov. 21, 1936, in Great Falls, Montana. He spent most of his childhood in Denver, Colorado.

He started his college career at Northwestern University in Illinois and finished his Bachelor of Science in The School of Commerce at USC in California. His professional career was in the medical field, selling medical equipment to hospitals, particularly anesthesiology machines. He was instrumental in develop-

George Stailey Johnson

Nov. 21, 1936 ~ July 13, 2024

ing the Hoyer Lift used in hospitals around the country. He had his own medical sales business for a number of

A celebration of the life of long-time St. Helens resident, James T. White, will be held from 2-5 p.m., Saturday, August 10 at McCormick Park Pavilion #2, 475 S. 18th St., St. Helens. James was born December 2, 1938 in Estacada, Oregon, the son of Edwin N. & Mary E. (Carter) White. He died July 18, 2024 in Longview at the age of 85. His family moved to St. Helens when he was a youth and he attended school in St. Helens, graduating in 1957. He served as a reservist in the Air Force. He worked for the Boise Cascade paper mill for over 45 years, retiring as the senior employee at the mill

years as well.

George was very athletic his whole life. He wrestled and played football in high school. As an adult, he enjoyed tennis, golf, and bocce ball. He coached his children’s football, softball, and baseball teams. He was an avid USC fan and went to many home and away games as a member of the Cardinal and Gold Club. He also played the piano and acted in several community theater productions. He was a man of deep faith and devotion to God. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was his faith that guided his family through the death of his daughter and son, his grandson and brother.

James T. White Dec. 2, 1938 ~ July 18, 2024

in 2004. On August 2, 1963 he married his best friend and love of his life, Dolly J. Coddington. Jim was a very talented

George is survived by his devoted wife of 43 years, Carolyn, who he called “Honey,” who was born and raised in St. Helens; three daughters; three sons; ten grandchildren; and thirteen great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking you to consider making a donation in his honor to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease Research at https://give.michaeljfox.org.

and active person. He enjoyed working on cars, painting a few for friends. He could draw and paint and make sculptures. He was on the swim team during high school. He competed with a group of walkers from Boise Cascade in the Portland to Coast Relays for several years. He was always walking as training and because he liked it, walking to and from work which was several miles and even adding distance for his training. He started donating blood to the Red Cross as soon as he was able and wound up donating 31 gallons. He and Dolly were active in their son’s sport, coaching or building

the old starting blocks for the swim meets. He and Dolly also had a shared love of music, attending several shows and concerts. He is survived by his

is also

by

Cheryle Lynn Warren April 8, 1948 ~ July 11, 2024

three sons, Scott & Tracey, Kelly, Jay; grandchildren, Erica (Brendan), Scotty (Kassy), Ashley, Olivia (Justin), and Roger. He

survived

his great grandchildren Jaidynn, Dolly Alison, Evelyn, Ivy, Lennox & Hazel, his brother, Bob, sister-in-law & brother-in-law, Judy & Ruben as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Dolly, brothers, Doug and Walt and sister Betty.

Solution for the July 17, 2024 crossword puzzle

Mary Catherine Wandler 1934 ~ 2024

Mary Catherine (Daeges) Wandler was born July 19, 1934, she passed away at St. Anthony Vil-lage Memory care Unit in Portland, Oregon just five days before her 90th birthday.

Mary was born in Spokane, Washington, one of nine children, to William and Catherine Daeges. She married Ralph Wandler in 1970 and were together till his passing in 2007. Her only son, Frank Austin, also preceded her in death in 2017.

In her younger years, she worked for U.S. Bank in Portland and eventually retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 1996. In Mary’s spare time she liked to sew for her many nieces and friends, and for church bazaars. She also Loved to bake, especially cookies, which she took to family reunions, holiday celebrations and for her many friends and Family.

In retirement, Mary and her husband bought an RV

and travelled the U.S. When the traveling bug wore off, they bought a home and settled in St. Helens, Oregon, where she sewed and baked for her many friends and family, until 2019 when she moved to Assisted Living at St. Anthony Village in Portland.

Mary is survived by one brother John Daeges (Jean) of McMinnville, Oregon; two sisters, Helen Sandbothe of Gresham and Maggie Malone

of Bellingham, Washington; daughter Renee Harn (Bob) of Seattle, Washington; and numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

Her family would like to extend our sincerest appreciation to all her caregivers at St. Anthony Vil-lage. She was treated wonderfully and with great dignity!

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Wed., July 24, 2024 followed by a reception at St. An-thony of Padua Catholic Church, 3720 SE 79th Ave. Portland, OR.

A Graveside Committal will be held at 2 p.m. at Columbia Memorial Gardens in Scappoose, Oregon.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Village or to St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Portland. Arrangements are entrusted to Columbia Funeral Home 503-397-1154. Memories and condolences can be expressed on our website www.columbiafh.com.

John Robert Bryan

Feb. 10, 1930 ~ June 27, 2024

John Robert Bryan, better known as Bob, passed from this life on June 27, 2024 at 3 a.m. at Kaiser Hospital in Orange County, California. He was 94 years old.

Born in Williston, North Dakota, on Feb 10, 1930, his parents Jack and Dorothy Bryan moved Bob and his younger brother Jim to Oregon when he was about 10. They lived with Grandparents at their chicken ranch in Springfield. Soon after, the family moved to Eugene where Jack worked for Montgomery Wards department store. On Pearl Harbor Day, Dec 7, 1941, Bob age 11, and his brother Jim age nine, were selling “Extra Edition” newspapers downtown for 10 cents each.

Marguerite Elaine (Korsmo) Ogden was born July 19, 1942, to Clarence and Ruth (Larson) Korsmo in Albert Lea, Minnesota.When Marguerite was two, the family moved to Washington State, where her father took a job at the creamery in Sequim. Two years later, the family settled in beautiful Clatskanie, Oregon, where Marguerite grew up. Her father was superintendent of the Darigold Creamery and her mother was a fifth-grade teacher. Korsmo Drive in Clatskanie is named for the family.Marguerite graduated from Clatskanie High School in 1960 and earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in sociology from Pacific Lutheran University in 1964. After college, she began her career as a librarian and receptionist at Boeing. She married Gerald Ogden on May 18, 1968 and the couple soon moved into their forever home in Tacoma, Washington. They welcomed daughters Karen in 1970 and Jill in 1974. In 2012, the family welcomed granddaughter, Robin Hollow. Marguerite is survived by her husband, Gerald; daughter Karen Ogden Hollow

Long time Goble, Oregon resident Mark H. Thomas, who in 2006 had relocated to Mill City, Oregon, passed away on July 17, at the age of 85.

(Dan) and granddaughter Robin Hollow, of Helena, Montana; Daughter Jill Ogden of Tacoma, Washington; and many beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Ruth Korsmo, and her brother, David Korsmo. Cremation services are being handled by TuellMcKee funeral services.A celebration of Marguerite’s life will be held Saturday, July 27, at 1 p.m., at Mount Cross Lutheran Church, 8902 40th Street West, University Place, Washington.Memorials may be sent to the PEO Chapter C.Z. Women’s Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 7276, Tacoma, WA, 98417, or to Mount Cross Lutheran Church, 8902 40th Street West, University Place, WA, 98466. See the full obituary at www. tuellmckee.com.

Mark Henry Thomas Nov. 12, 1938 ~ July 17, 2024

Born on November 12, 1938 in Goble Oregon, Mark began his working career at the age of ten, when he became employed in leading a pair of work horses in his family’s logging operation. In 1957, a year after having graduated from Rainier High School (Rainier, Oregon), he became employed with Longview Fibre, working at their paper mill in Longview, Washington up until his retirement in December 1999. It was while employed here in the early 1980s that he took up the hobby of golf with his coworkers. In addition to golf, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, hiking, metal detecting, and for several years was involved in youth baseball; following eight years of coaching Rainier Little League teams (Goble in particular), in 1976 he became president of the Rainier-Clatskanie Babe Ruth league, which he played a lead role in founding. In July 1959, he married the love of his life, Lela F. Jensen of Columbia City.

Over the years they enjoyed many outings, including evening “deer runs” and time well spent with their pets, all of which have preceded them in death.

He is survived by his wife at home, Lela Thomas; two sons, Robert M. Thomas of Clatskanie, Oregon, Terry L. Thomas (Sandra) of Gates, Oregon; a grandson, Trey J. Thomas of Corvallis, Oregon; two siblings, Al D. Thomas of Portland, Oregon, Wanda A. Obermeier of Goble, Oregon, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Verden V. Thomas and Ora G. Link; brothers Verden W. Thomas, Ray V. Thomas, Lloyd L. Thomas, Delbert L. Thomas, and sister, Lavida Thomas.

The family will be having a “celebration of life,” via social media.

Bob attended the first year of St. Mary’s Catholic High School where he met his first love, Georgia Louise. He joined the Air Force immediately after graduating and was stationed first in Alaska then sent to March Air Force base in San Bernardino, California. In ‘49, they were married there. Kathy, their first child was born in ‘53, and the family moved to Ontario, California after Bob’s discharge from the Air Force. He was employed as an aircraft mechanic and worked for Lockheed, at Ontario International Airport. Don, their first and only son, was born in ‘55.

In ‘71, after moving the family to Antelope Valley, California, Bob and Georgia were divorced. Afterward, he returned to Oregon. In his search to find boarding for his four horses, he met Coral, the second love of his life, who owned a farmhouse in Hillsboro. Bob moved his horses there and rented pasture from her. In ‘81 they were married and spent 14 wonderful years together. They traveled the US, square danced in towns across America, and

It is with a heavy heart the family is announcing the passing of their kind, caring, loyal and loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, Jim Chalk.

Born in 1956, Jim grew up and lived in Northern California before moving to St. Helens over 30 years ago. He loved life, remained positive and fought hard throughout his five-month battle with stage four cancer.

had numerous adventures. After Coral was diagnosed with ALS, they moved to St. Helens to be close to family for the extra care she needed. She passed in ‘95. Bob did lots of square dancing after that to help him deal with the loss, and one night, while at a dance, he met Dixie Blaha who became the third love of his life. She had lived in St. Helens all her life. They were inseparable companions for the next 20 years, until she passed. Toward the home stretch of Bob’s life, he met Harry and Maria Bludworth who held card games at their home three nights a week. They had a friend in common with Dixie who came also, where they ate dinner and played a card game called “Hand, Foot & Toe.” They became forever friends over the next three years.

In addition to this, Bob squeezed a lot into his weekly schedule for a man in his 90’s. He also drove to Beaverton to visit Jack and Donna, his nephew and wife, every Sunday for dinner and TV sports and occasionally attended other family gatherings. In addition to this he faithfully attended Mass at the local Catholic church every Saturday evening. For 10 years, and up until ‘23, Bob had been a member of the Anytime Fitness Gym in St. Helens

where he worked out 3-4 times a week. There he met Angie and Felichia, Manager, and Asst. Manager, who became dear friends. He was known as one of the oldest gym members, and many were inspired by his tenacity to work out consistently at his age. In October of ‘23, Bob’s health was in a decline and he decided it was time to move close to family as he needed more assistance. Following three consecutive hospital stays, he agreed to move into a beautiful retirement community only five minutes away from his son, Don, in Anaheim, California. Don moved Bob and his two kitties into a lovely apartment there in December of ‘23. He continued to decline, and Don visited him, and cared for his needs almost on a daily basis until he reached the end of his journey on Thursday, June 27, 2024.

Bob will be missed by many friends, and family who were dear to him. He is survived by his two children, Don and Kathy; three grandchildren, Sarah, Dane and Kelly; and his two kitties, Suzie and Fiona.

Bob’s life was characterized by the following favorite things: Raising animals, growing flowers, and sports cars. He loved water skiing, mountain hiking, running, biking, square dancing, and travel. He spent years reading/studying about Civil War & World War 2 history. Above all he was a great storyteller and had a long life of stories to draw from. Those who knew him will carry his story in their hearts forever.

A Celebration of Bob’s Life will take place at 5 p.m. on Tues., July 30, 2024 at the St. Helens Senior Center, 375 South 15th St., St. Helens, Oregon Bob’s final resting place will be at Fir Lawn Memorial Park, Hillsboro, Oregon, next to Coral.

Along with his wife of 38 years, Mitze Chalk, he leaves behind his daughter Jennifer Johnson; son-in-law Jacob Johnson; grandson Jace Johnson; brother Steven Chalk; sisters-in-law, Tomi Chalk, Sharon Carvalho, and Sherry Patterson; brothersin-law, Vic and David DeLevante; niece Sherry Whalen; cousin Tim Mackay; and many other nieces and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his sisters, Judith and Nancy Chalk; mother Annabelle Moore; and father Hewitt Chalk.

Jim’s initial career was in construction as a professional drywaller. He chose a second career later in life and

owned a commercial cleaning business for 19 years in St. Helens, as well as an antique store in Olde Towne. Estate sales and collecting was his passion as well as socializing with friends/family. He remained lifelong friends with Mark Parsons whom he met in kindergarten. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and loved sports, particularly his grandson’s baseball games!!! Jim was very sentimental (he still has the shirt hanging in his closet that he met his wife in 38 years ago)! Jim had a great laugh and sense of humor; a gentle soul and will be profoundly missed by all that knew him. There will be a memorial for family and friends on Sat., July 27, 2024, in the St. Helens area. If you would like to attend, please contact a family member.

Jim Chalk

Marguerite Elaine (Korsmo) Ogden

The Columbia County Fair and Rodeo has come and gone, and for five days the fairgrounds were abuzz with activity. Here are some of the sights from the fair this year:

ttorney

General candidate visits county fair

endorse

From Page A1

important to him because they represent “both sides of the aisle.”

“That’s the kind of candidate I want to be. This is a law enforcement position, not a law-creation position. When you work in law enforcement, you’re serving everyone. You’re not a Republican; you’re not a Democrat; you’re the person people call to get help,” Lathrop said. “It means a lot to me that I’m getting bipartisan support and people see that I can be a person that brings protection.” Lathrop’s biggest priorities if he were to be elected would be to protect children from abuse and exploitation,

reduce crime and hold drug traffickers accountable, and combat public corruption. Coming from a background in public service as a child sex abuse prosecutor, Lathrop said his number one priority is making Oregon “excellent at protecting children.” Lathrop said Oregon is struggling with many of the issues that face children and teens, including teen suicide, teen mental health, and online exploitation of children. These are parts of generational trauma that Oregon kids are being exposed to, according to Lathrop. In an election where there seems to be disunity between

the two largest parties in American politics, Lathrop said that he has observed a strong sense of unity across the state across party lines because “everybody’s a little bit miserable.”

“It’s for the same reasons. It’s crime, addiction, affordable housing, and homelessness,” Lathrop said. “I think this is fixable with new leadership. We’re not going to elect the same leaders and get some different results. This is possible with new leadership, and I want to be a part of that dawn of new leadership that’s focused on solving problems and protecting people.”

COURTESY PHOTOS FROM WILL LOHRE, KELLI NICHOLSON, AND CALEB NICHOLSON

COURTESY PHOTO

Will Lathrop with Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley and other law enforcement officers at the Columbia County Fair and Rodeo.

Columbia County resident competing to be “fittest in the world”

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

It takes a lot of hard work to reach the top, and Carleen Mathews knows that better than anyone, as she is about to compete in the Masters division of the 2024 CrossFit Games.

Mathews owns and operates CrossFit St. Helens and will compete for the prize of being the fittest 40-44-yearold in the world from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1 in Birmingham, AL.

“When I first got the official notice that I made it, I thought, ‘It’s a long summer ahead of us.’ 14 weeks. Now it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s coming so fast,” Mathews said. “There’s a little bit more nerves and more stress, but not as stressful as previous years.”

Though Mathews is competing in the Masters age division, she has been competing in CrossFit for over a decade. Mathews is a three-time CrossFit Games athlete in the open classification and also competed in the 35-39-year-old division, placing second in the world in 2019 and 7th in that division in 2022. Something Mathews is proud of at her gym is CrossFit St. Helens’ recovery

program. It’s a free CrossFit program open to those who are in recovery from drugs and alcohol and are 48 hours clean and sober.

One way Mathews battles the nerves to mentally prepare for the upcoming challenge is by leaning on the support network around her. “I lean on my training partners, I lean on my coach, I lean on my nutrition coach, people to remind me and tell me, ‘It’s okay, we got this, you’re one of the fittest in the world,” Mathews said. “Being reminded of that, and daily affirmations of what I need that’s going to help me.”

After taking a break from

the games in 2023, Mathews set out to return to the games in the 40-44-year-old division. Despite dealing with a wrist injury at the beginning of the CrossFit Games qualification cycle, Mathews finished 12th in her age group to be in the top 40 in the world and will compete for the world title on Labor Day weekend.

The CrossFit Games include a series of workouts, and span over the course of four days. Mathews said it will be about 12-15 workouts that will push her on a variety of fronts.

In a workout with Mathews and her best friend and workout partner Montana

Powell at her gym, CrossFit St. Helens, both competed against each other in 50-foot handstand walks, each trying to best the other. The competitiveness and companionship between the two push them to new heights. Mathews said that the support of her gym is one of the biggest motivators for her.

“The community is very important to me. The support I have from this gym, but also the greater community. I have a training partner that comes in, drives from Portland every day and trains with me, and that’s very important for me,” Mathews said. “That helps me have fun and if it’s not fun, it becomes

really hard. The 14 weeks becomes very hard.”

Thanks to the support of Powell and others, Mathews said the 14 weeks have flown by. Powell has been training with Mathews for about a year, but she said she was aware of her before through watching Mathews’ success in the Northwest CrossFit scene. Training with Mathews and pushing themselves to the limit together is something that has brought them together. Powell said training and watching Mathews’ journey has been a privilege.

“It’s fun to watch and fun to do it with her. I didn’t know her previously, I knew

of her. She’s super big in the CrossFit world, she’s an OG CrossFitter, so she’s been around a long time. So it’s a privilege to even be working out with her,” Powell said. “Just watching and learning as much as I can when I’m in here with her; it’s awesome.”

Something that makes Mathews excited about competing on the world stage is getting to represent St. Helens and the Columbia County community.

“The community is who brought me here; being able to have St. Helens CrossFit on my jersey is really cool and really important to me,” Mathews said.

Mathews said that she will have family and friends who will travel with her to Alabama for the CrossFit Games in support of her. Her number one fan? Her threeyear-old daughter.

“My husband and daughter will be there, and then my sister, my mom, and my niece will be there,” Mathews said. “My daughter is asking every single day when the CrossFit Games are. She’s very excited. She doesn’t know what she’s getting herself into, but she knows she’s getting on a plane and going to watch Mommy compete. So she likes that.”

Researchers enhance tool to better predict where, when wildfires will occur

A newly enhanced database is expected to help wildfire managers and scientists better predict where and when wildfires may occur by incorporating hundreds of additional factors that impact the ignition and spread of fire.

“There is a tremendous amount of interest in what enables wildfire ignitions and what can be done to prevent them,” said Erica Fleishman, an Oregon State University professor. “This database increases the ability to access relevant information and contribute to wildfire preparedness and prevention.”

Clatskanie

Arts Commission in need of volunteers

From Page A1

The Fire Program Analysis Fire-Occurrence Database was developed in 2013 by the U.S. Forest Service and since been updated five times. It incorporates basic information such as ignition location, discovery date and final wildfire size. The revised database now includes many new environmental and social factors, such as topography and vegetation, social vulnerability and economic justice metrics, and practical attributes such as the distance from the ignition to the nearest road. In addition to aiding onthe-ground firefighters and managers, the database could also help power companies evaluate short-term risk when deciding whether to implement a public safety

website, Hendricks said that despite the CAC’s best efforts, there was “not enough funding available to support the operational costs of the festival.” As a result, funds received were returned to businesses and leftover funds were donated to the Clatskanie Arts Commission in support of future performances.

“It broke our hearts to cancel it. With a couple of key people stepping away

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

power shutoff or land management agencies determine whether to reduce access to public lands or restrict campfires during certain times of year, Fleishman said.

“There seem to be a lot of policies that are guided to some extent by intuition or emotions rather than by a large body of evidence,” she said. “These data present one way to increase the objective evidence to consider when making those decisions.”

The team, including Fleishman, and led by Yavar Pourmohamad, a doctoral student at Boise State University, and Mojtaba Sadegh, an associate professor at Boise State, added nearly 270 additional attributes. The database now includes information on 2.3 million

from that project, we just were not getting the funding that we were hoping for. So, those two things we knew we had to pull the plug while we could still cancel the bands,” Wooley said. “It was a hard, hard decision. I know it’s a disappointment to us and the people who were hoping to come.”

Some of the areas Wooley

fires in the United States from 1992 to 2020.

“This provides a considerably deeper understanding of the individual and compounded impact of these attributes on wildfire ignitions and size,” Pourmohamad said. “It also identifies the unequal effects of wildfires on distinct human populations and ecosystems, which can, in turn, inform efforts to reduce inequities.”

Information from the database can also be incorporated into artificial intelligence and machine learning models that explain drivers of past fires or project likelihoods or effects of future fires, said Fleishman, who is affiliated with OSU’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences

and also directs the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute.

“It’s amazing what you can infer when you have the computational capacity and this much information,” she said. “You can ask a lot of questions that inform different actions in different places and to understand what is associated with wildfire ignitions and fire effects.”

A paper outlining the database is published in the journal Earth System Science Data. Other co-authors of the paper are Eric Henderson and Sawyer Ball of Boise State; John Abatzoglou, University of California, Merced; Erin Belval, Karen Short, Matthew Reeves and

said they could use volunteer support are with website management, lighting for performances, ticket taking at performances, performer hospitality, set up and break down at performances, publicity, booking and negotiating affordable contracts, and board members who are interested in “taking over the future leadership of this organization.”

The CAC is effectively seeking volunteers who can help strengthen the organization as it moves forward.

As a small town, one thing Wooley wanted to emphasize is that many of the non-profits and organizations lean on each other for support.

“We work so closely with so many organizations.

ACROSS

1. Barbed comments

5. Astern

8. Newspaper piece

12. Light beige

13. Old wound

14. Palate lobe

15. Reposed

16. Needle case

17. Katmandu’s land

18. *Natural electrical discharge

20. Fiber source

21. Madison Square Garden, e.g.

22. Anatomical pouch

23. *Like air from north of Canada

26. Same as boric

30. Slang for million dollars

31. Mother-of-pearl, pl.

34. Of a particular kind

35. Exclude or omit

37. Not safe

38. Parallel grooves

39. Campbell of “Scream” fame

40. Morally degraded

42. Lt.’s subordinate

43. Weed a.k.a. dyer’s woad

45. Nervous (2 words)

47. Rubber substitute, acr.

48. Broom of twigs

50. Wild plum

52. *Short-lived whirlwind (2 words)

56. Philip Roth’s “The Human ____”

57. Additional

58. Driver’s spare

59. Church songs

60. Biology lab supply

61. Pac Man’s blue ghost

62. *H in HI

63. Slightly insane

64. ____pool or ____pit

DOWN

1. Come together

2. Smoothie bowl flavor

3. Two-masted sailing vessel

4. Broad-brimmed beachwear

5. ____ ____ a play

6. Flora’s partner

7. H.S. math class

8. *Not sunny

Between larva and adult

Open up

Julia Olszewski, USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station; Nicholas Nauslar, National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center; Philip Higuera, University of Montana; Amir AghaKouchak, University of California, Irvine; and Jeffrey Prestemon, USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station. The research was supported by the Joint Fire Science Program, a program of the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Department of the Interior.

Sean Nealon is a news editor at Oregon State University’s University Relations and Marketing Department. He may be reached at sean. nealon@oregonstate.edu.

The Clatskanie Foundation and the Cultural Center, we work with the library and the schools. It’s a real collaboration. We could not do it without their support, business sponsors, and ticket sales,” Wooley said. “I just want the community to know how grateful we are for that, because we can’t survive in isolation.”

“Send help!” acronym

Make change

“Inside Out 2” main character

SEAN NEALON Chronicle & Chief

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Montana Powell and Carleen Mathews at CrossFit St. Helens.

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Carleen Mathews and Montana Powell doing handstand walks during a training session.