SHC614

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annual graduation ceremony.

event June 9.

SHHS Graduation 2023

of you holds the key to unlock it.”

S

eniors at St. Helens High School (SHHS) walked across the stage at Doc Ackerson Stadium and into the next stage of their lives during the school’s

Under the stadium lights and sprinkling rain, St. Helens’ seniors listened to speeches from members of their class and faculty and celebrated their achievements with hundreds of gathered friends and family during the

“If there is one thing that I hope you leave with here today, it’s that pretending is not the answer,” Valedictorian Pearl Hilton said. “Being vulnerable and asking questions is your door to success, and each and every one

In a published column in the June 7 Chronicle, SHHS Principal Katy Wagner outlined the courageous of the seniors.

“This class of 2023 has shown tremendous courage in their pursuit of knowledge, embracing

new perspectives, and becoming confident citizens of integrity,” Wagner said. “Rather than shy away from complex topics that our society has experienced in the last four years, they have leaned in, listened intently, and sought understanding.”

Council adopts $92.5M spending plan

RYAN

HOOVER Country Media, Inc.

T he St. Helens City Coun-

cil has adopted the city’s $92.5 million fiscal year 2024 operating budget, making only one change from the budget committee’s recommendations.

During its June 7 meeting, the council revised the city public safety fee increase, which is bilked as part of residents’ utility bills each month, upping the fee to $10.

The only revision was an increase in the public safety fee – which is billed as part of residents’ utility bills every month – upping the fee to $10. The fee was increased to help the city construct a new public safety facility as well as help maintain the city’s general fund reserves.

Background

Predicted to run a 5% deficit in the next fiscal year, the budget document states that the city is using general fund reserves to alleviate the deficit. The general fund reserves balance is predicted to be negative by fiscal year 2025-2026.

Other funding options implemented in the FY 24 budget include an increase in garbage and recycling rates and an increase in utility rates. Resolutions for both these increases were passed at the June 7 meeting, and the new rates will go into effect on or after the next full billing cycle beginning July 15.

No changes we’re made to the adopted budget regarding the controversial decision to leave a vacant police officer position unfilled. To help balance service levels and maintain the general fund reserve, the city’s the budget document

recommends “leaving one vacant officer position unfilled.”

City of St. Helens Communications Officer Crystal King acknowledged the possibility of funding the vacant position through additional revenues, such as a possible general obligation bond and a local levy and gas tax but made no promises the city would pursue those routes.

“If resources become available through future revenue increases or reductions in services elsewhere, then the City Council has the ability to consider filling the vacant positions,” King said.

The decision to keep this costcutting budget policy comes just after the St. Helens Police Association, the union representing the police department, has called the decision to leave the vacant position

New Port Commissioner ready to serve

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5,240 votes to 4,177 for the open Port Position 3 in the May election.

About the Port of Columbia County

T

he May 16 Special Election results have been officially certified, and the election marks a shake-up of the elected officials around Columbia County.

The Port of Columbia County had three commissioner positions up for grabs. Two of the positions were won by incumbents Nancy Ward and Chip Bubl, who defeated Paul Langner and Duane Neukom, respectively. The newcomer to the Port Commission is Nick Sorber, who defeated Greg Pettit by a margin of

The Chronicle reached out to Sorber for his insight about what he hopes to bring to his new position.

The Chronicle: What does it mean to you to have won this election?

Nick Sorber: I’m humbled and honored that the voters had the confidence in me to take on this position and be a part of the economic engine for Columbia County.

The Chronicle: You discussed maximizing the use of Port properties in your address to us before the election; how will you work with the other commissioners to address this priority?

Sorber: I will be taking a closer look into the use of one of our greatest resources, the Columbia River. I believe there are more great opportunities there. The Port also has waterfront properties in Columbia City and on the Willamette Slough that may be a bit underutilized. That’s not to say the Port staff and commissioners aren’t currently working hard to make the best of those assets, but maybe someone like me with the private sector experience in the industrial marine trades and its workforce can help move the bar even further.

We obviously need to collaborate not only as a board but also with other entities like Columbia Economic Team, the county, utilities, cities, and private industry. Being a rural area, it is imperative that we all

work together as a community for the benefit of our citizens.

bring to the board of commissioners as the only new member following this election?

a fresh set of eyes on current and future Port projects. This is something that can be very beneficial to any organization. The Port has some great opportunities in the works and on the horizon with Port Westward and the airport. We have great assets with the McNulty Creek Industrial Park and Multnomah Industrial Park, with some possibly great recreational opportunities in the latter as well.

like parks and roads and services like police, fire departments, and schools.

The Chronicle: Is there anything I haven’t asked you about that you would like to address?

Sorber: We covered a lot in the first questions. I would just reiterate that I am humbly honored to be chosen as the new Port of Columbia County Commissioner for position #3.

The Port of Columbia County is a special district in Columbia County, Oregon. The boundaries of the Port District span 51 miles along the Columbia River from the Clatsop County line in the northwest of Columbia County, to the Multnomah County line in the southeast, and includes the cities of Scappoose, St. Helens, Columbia City, Prescott, Rainier, and Clatskanie.

The Port was created in 1940 under Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) Chapter 777 to promote economic development opportunities in the Port District, primarily through the lease and development of industrial property. Port dollars are used to purchase and develop land, infrastructure, and facilities. The Port plays an important role in the attraction, retention and expansion of businesses, resulting in job growth and increasing the local tax base.

Originally called the Port of St. Helens, the Port was renamed in 2018 to be more representative of the entire district. Today, the Port of Columbia County owns 10 different property sites and 2,400 acres, including industrial properties with excellent highway, rail, airport, and maritime access. The Port also owns and manages recreational properties at Scappoose Airport, Scappoose Bay Marine Park, and Bayport RV Park & Campground.

The Port of Columbia County office is located in Columbia City and may be reached at 503-369-2602.

The St. Helens High School seniors toss their caps in the air at the conclusion of the 2023 graduation ceremony. See more photos on A9.

Courtesy photo from Nick Sorber

Nick Sorber Port of Columbia County, Commissioner, Position 3.

Advocates call for more child care funding

Country Media, Inc.

Oregon parents, child care providers, advocates and concerned Oregon lawmakers rallied the lawn of the Capitol Mall in Salem Monday, June 12, to call on the state legislature to increase funding for child care.

The recently passed 2023-25 Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) budget includes funding levels that will cause at least 1,000 families to lose high-quality affordable child care accessed through the Employment Related Day Care program.

“With Oregon sitting on nearly $2 billion in unexpected revenue, how can the State justify cutting even a nickel from the funding our families, our children, and our economy needs,” Family Forward Oregon Senior Political Director Courtney Veronneau said. “Cuts of this magnitude will make it extremely hard for parents to afford child care. We will not rest until child care and early learning investments are increased at the level our communities need.”

On the Capitol Mall lawn, parents, child care providers and advocates placed 1,000 pinwheels to represent the families that will lose access to child care without a budget increase. Oregon’s Employment Related Day Care program provides working families financial assistance to cover the cost of child care that parents need in order to go to work or go to school. Advocates warned that

The recently passed 2023-25 Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) budget includes funding levels that will cause at least 1,000 families to lose high-quality affordable child care accessed through the Employment Related Day Care program.

without increased funding, families will be stripped of their subsidies, making it immensely harder — if not impossible — to afford child care.

Angie Garcia owns Escuela Viva currently which has three child care centers in Portland and Gresham that serve approximately 140 families.

“I am fielding over a dozen new prospective families a week,” Garcia said. “Our waitlist continues to grow and we will not be able to fill the need for child care in our community. Only families who can afford to pay for their spots now will be able access care. Centers like mine will take the money, because we desperately need it to survive. Calling into question, once again, the equity of our system.”

The funding cuts come

following the State’s recent commitment to expand access to Employment Related Day Care and support more families which advocates call a cruel bait and switch.

“Children are our future. Our future teachers and child care providers, legislators and Governors, our future workforce. Investing in early learning and care opportunities is proven to help children develop the social, emotional, and academic skills they need for success in school and life,” Children’s Institute Director of Policy & Advocacy Dana Hepper said. “The only way to solve the problems that have plagued child care for decades is through sustained state investments in this system, not a reduction in that investment.”

“Everyone benefits when child care providers get the support they need to deliver

the care that kids deserve. More children get a chance to learn and grow. More families get the lifeline they need to have joyful connections and stable homes. More communities thrive” Asian Pacific American Network of Oregonv Co-Executive Director of Programs Amy Powers said. “Our state budget should reflect this. Child care providers endured so much during the pandemic, Oregon cannot turn our back on them now.”

At the Monday press conference, Oregon lawmakers called on the Legislature to increase funding by $100 million to support the Department of Early Learning and Care to fully implement important changes to the Employment Related Day Care program and prevent kicking families off of the program. They also called for the fol-

lowing budget increases:

• An added $7 million for the Early Childhood Equity Fund and $17.8 Relief Nurseries to serve 855 more families and compensate child care providers.

• An added $5 million required for Healthy Families Oregon to protect the jobs of program staff and compensate child care providers.

• An added $25 million for the Oregon Child Care Capacity Fun to support child care provider with starting new programs or expanding expanding their existing business.

“This session, we have the opportunity to make important investments in the future of our state, the children of Oregon,” Oregon Rep. Thuy Tran said. “By allocating additional funding to child care and early learning programs, we can and must ensure that more Oregon families and children have access to care that they need.”

“I know our rural communities are being hit especially hard by the child care crisis,” Republican Sen. Dick Anderson, who represents much of Oregon’s coast from Lincoln City to Coos Bay, said. “While every county in Oregon is a child care desert for at least one age group, the severity of child care deserts in rural Oregon is ten percent higher than for urban communities. We cannot afford to wait any longer to make the investments that our child care system needs.”

Speakers and advo-

cates also spoke about the importance of child care when it comes to the state’s workforce participation and economic wellbeing.

Survey

The 2022 Market Rate Survey revealed that child care costs have increased between 12%-37% depending on geographic location, age group and provider type – far outpacing inflation. Without adequate investments in child care, working parents — especially mothers — won’t have access to the child care they need to enter the workforce, which poses a significant barrier to economic growth in Oregon. Advocates noted that Oregon is experiencing a devastating child care shortage as child care workers struggle to make ends meet on poverty-level wages and care business owners struggle to keep programs open.

A recent report from Oregon State University shows that with the exception of Gilliam County, every Oregon family raising infants and toddlers lives in a child care desert. Nationally, this crisis—which was exacerbated by the pandemic—is negatively impacting the economy to the tune of $122 billion in economic losses each year. The Department of Early Learning & Care budget, which includes funding for child care and early learning programs, was already approved in the Oregon House and currently awaits a vote in the Senate.

New study looks at the morality of armed-self protection

the gun, including whether they have a permit or have received training and whether they have a criminal history or history of mental illness, Barnhart said.

The findings, just published in the Journal of Consumer Research, offer new insights into Americans’ complex views of gun rights.

Article

Guest

Chronicle

American consumers use their understanding of gun rights when judging the morality of civilians’ use of guns to protect themselves from crime, and that assessment varies depending on specific scenarios, new research from Oregon State University shows.

The study’s objective was to explore Americans’ understanding of the Second Amendment, the only constitutional right that explicitly entitles individuals to a consumer product, and how that understanding guides which gun-related behaviors are deemed morally acceptable.

The authors also examined how recent court rulings and legal and market changes have expanded consumers’ rights to use guns for protection against crime.

Findings of the study indicate that individuals have

very different ideas of what should and should not be allowed with guns, but their thinking is generally motivated by trying to do the right thing, such as ensuring the safety of their loved ones or others, said Michelle Barnhart, an associate professor in OSU’s College of Business and one of the paper’s authors. “We cannot just put people into categories of progun or anti-gun,” she said. “People are very complex in the way they think about gun rights and armed protection in America. When people think about whether or not it is moral to use a gun for protection, they make judgements based on specific factors and characteristics of the situation.”

People will consider the place where the gun is being carried or used; the type of perceived threat; and the background and experience of the person carrying

Coauthors on the paper are Aimee Huff, associate professor in the OSU College of Business, and Inara Scott, associate professor and associate dean for teaching and learning excellence in the College of Business. Barnhart and Huff study American gun culture from a consumer perspective, while Scott is an attorney who specializes in constitutional law, business ethics and other topics.

Through one-on-one interviews and a large, professionally moderated online discussion group, the researchers sought to better understand how consumers view their gun rights and why some consumers assume the legally and morally complex responsibility of owning and using guns for protection, while others leave that responsibility to the state

Previous research has shown that the number of U.S. gun owners who keep guns for protection has risen over the last two decades, from 65% in 2000 to 88% in 2021. That shift has occurred while crime statistics indicate rates of violent crime, including assault and robbery, declined by 79% between 1993 and 2021.

Strategic messaging can shape how people understand large-scale problems and

their own capacity to address those problems. The researchers found that in recent decades, messaging from pro-gun lobbying groups, politicians, some U.S. courts and others has presented protecting oneself, family and community from crime as an individual responsibility. Researchers call this shifting responsibility for addressing a social problem away from the state and to the individual “responsibilization,” Barnhart said.

We cannot just put people into categories of pro-gun or anti-gun. People are very complex in the way they think about gun rights and armed protection in America.

“The unique thing about responsibilization with regard to guns is the shift over time in what is considered responsible behavior,” Barnhart said. “With the encouragement of lobbying groups and other market factors, behaviors such as carrying handguns in public for selfprotection, which were once prohibited by law, are now considered by many to be something that responsible people do.”

Understanding why people believe armed protection is necessary and responsible is important, the researchers say, because widespread use

of guns to protect against perceived criminals can have negative consequences.

“We see some of the negative consequences of armed self-protection in the recent spate of shootings of people who mistakenly knocked on the wrong door, entered the wrong driveway or got into the wrong car by gun owners who ostensibly shot because they believed they were protecting themselves from criminal activity,” Barnhart said.

The researchers found that generally consumers view their rights under the Second Amendment as a bundle of rights, including the right to protect oneself and one’s family and the right to protect one’s property, but the makeup of that bundle can vary from person to person. In addition, some view Second Amendment rights as secular, and others as sacred, or divinely granted. Consumers also differed in whether they perceived the rights as timeless or outdated and as absolute or conditional.

“Using these categories, you can begin to see where Americans fall on the spectrum of gun rights and the Second Amendment,” Huff said. “A lot of polling questions just ask whether people support the Second Amendment or not, but that does not capture the nuance that comes with people’s understanding of the Second Amendment.”

The researchers also examined how people’s perceptions of the Second Amendment have been influenced by adoption of new

laws around gun carry and ownership and court decisions that affirm acceptable uses of firearms for selfdefense, such as “stand your ground” laws.

“Our understanding informs the law, but the law also informs our understanding,” Scott said. “This paper really gets to deep questions about how we interact with each other in society, and how that is shaped by influences around us.”

The researchers also found that consumers’ understanding of the Second Amendment may not always be supported by current law, which can put them in legal jeopardy. For example, some people in the study indicated that the Second Amendment gives them the right to use force to protect against property theft, but U.S. law generally does not recognize the right to use force in that scenario, Huff said.

“That speaks to the benefits of requiring some kind of training for gun owners; in states where training is required to carry a concealed handgun, gun owners gain understanding of the laws in their state, and perhaps an appreciation for differences in other states’ laws,” she said. “Training requirements could help to protect gun owners who want to abide by the laws in their state.”

Michelle Klampe is a writer-news researcher at Oregon State University Relations and Marketing. She may be reached at michelle. klampe@oregonstate.edu or at 541-737-0784.

Metro Creative Connection

MICHELLE KLAMPE

~ Michelle Barnhart, OSU

Metro Creative Connection

The study indicates that individuals have very different ideas of what should and should not be allowed with guns

City police makes special visit

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The Kindergarteners at Lewis and Clark Elementary School enjoyed a special visit from two St. Helens Police Department officers as part of a communityoriented theme.

Officers Evin Eustice and Adam Raethke visited three Kindergarten classes at Lewis and Clark Elementary on June 2. They were invited to talk to the class,

interact with the students and answer their questions, and have them look at some of the “cool” police things they have, including their cars. “The students had some excellent questions, including why both Officer Raethke and I wanted to become police officers, of course, how fast we’ve driven our police cars, and they wanted to know everything about our uniforms and what tools we carry

to keep ourselves and the community safe,” Eustice said.

After the Q&A portion of the visit, the officers took the students outside to see their patrol cars and some of their equipment. The officers fired up their car’s lights and sirens and let the kids try on some of their equipment, including a bulletproof vest and helmets. The students also got to feel how heavy a ballistic shield is (almost

40 pounds), and the officers explained how these tools keep the officers and the community safe.

“Officer Raethke really shined with the students, he explained to them all that he is originally from St. Helens and became a police officer to give back to his community and to keep everyone safe,” Eustice said.

“Officer Raethke explained to the students that he has three kids of his own, and he really understands the

importance of investing in our youth. Officer Raethke encouraged some of the students to become police officers when they grow up because of the positive impact we get to make in people’s lives.”

Eustice said that the experience was rewarding and that the teachers and staff of Lewis and Clark Elementary did an excellent job at facilitating the event and keeping everyone on track. For a little bit of fun,

Lewis and Clark Principal Martina Barnett even sat in the back of one of the patrol cars, according to Eustice.

“Overall, it was a wonderful experience getting to interact with the students, and Officer Raethke put it best when he talked about wanting to build a rapport with the kids and have them realize that we are part of the community, here to help them, and they can always count on us,” Eustice said.

City library sets Summer Challenge events

SUBMITTED BY THE ST. HELENS LIBRARY

The St. Helens Public Library invites you to find your voice this summer during the 2023 Summer Library Challenge for youth, teens, and adults.

This year’s Summer Library Challenge brings back special programs in addition to the opportunity to win prizes as you read and participate in activities.

The 2023 Summer Library Challenge theme is “Find Your Voice.” The theme emphasizes using voices to share stories, express yourself, and spark change, not only with the sounds that you make, but with the words you write, the art you create, the movements you perform, and the actions you take each day to impact the world.

The St. Helens Public Library is offering programs in three different categories: a youth Summer Library Challenge for ages birth to 11, a teen program for ages 12 to 17, and an adult program for ages 18 and older. The Summer Library Challenge begins June 19 and runs until August 13, 2023, for all age categories.

Youth ages birth – 11

Parents and caregivers should register their youth on Beanstack at https://sthelens. beanstack.com/reader365 or in-person at the St. Helens Public Library. Once registered, pick up a free tote bag, book, bookmark, and a reading log in the Library.

You can earn badges by logging the minutes you read. Each time you visit the Library and have earned a badge(s), visit the circulation desk for one spin of the prize wheel to win a prize.

In addition to a reading log and prizes, the Library is hosting family storytimes every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. and weekly programs. See the schedule below for more details.

Teens ages 12-17

Register on Beanstack at https://sthelens.beanstack. com/reader365 or in- person at the St. Helens Public Library. Once registered, pick up a free tote bag, book, bookmark, and

a reading log in the Library. Log the minutes you read to earn badges for a chance to win weekly drawings for $5 Dutch Bros coffee cards. Grand prizes at the end of the program include a $100 Powell’s Bookstore gift card, a $100 Blick Art Materials gift card, a $100 Pantheon Comics and Games gift card, and a Fujifilm instax mini 11 instant camera.

In addition to the weekly drawings and grand prizes, teens can participate in programs hosted by performers and Library staff. See the schedule below for additional details.

Adults ages 18 and older

Register on Beanstack at https://sthelens.beanstack. com/reader365 or in- person at the St. Helens Public Library. Paper copies of bingo sheets, book review templates, and reading logs are available at the Library.

Once registered, complete three tasks each week, submit book reviews, or log reading time to be entered into a weekly drawing for a chance to win $20 gift cards to local restaurants. Participants who complete one challenge earn a tote bag and can also earn books from the Library’s prize cart.

Grand prize drawings will take place on August 14. Participants have the chance to win one of two grand prizes: a “Night Out in St. Helens” which includes a $50 gift card to a local restaurant and tickets to the Columbia Theatre or “Afternoon Fun” which includes two one-hour kayak rentals from Next Adventure and a $40 gift card to a local restaurant.

Adult programs will be offered on most Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. Check the Library’s online calendar as event information is added at https://www.sthelensoregon. gov/calendar/month/202306?field_microsite_tid=73. Programming will include DIY Collage Coasters, Make Your Own Gift Bags, Origami Wallets, Homemade Herbal Tea, and Collaborative Art for the Columbia Center Courtyard. Specific dates will be announced soon.

Summer Library Challenge Programs

You do not have to have a Library card or be participating in the Summer Library Challenge to attend the following programs. Some programs require pre-registration and include specific age ranges. Please read the descriptions carefully.

Nathalia, Saturday, June 17, 11 a.m. Colombian-born songwriter and performer Nathalia hosts a fun and interactive presentation of her original bilingual music. From start to finish, her catchy melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and musical stories will have families singing, dancing, even learning a little Spanish, in this exciting

multicultural experience! All ages welcome.

Cardboard Creation Time, Wednesday, June 21, 2 p.m. Come unleash your inner engineer or artist and see what you can create! We provide cardboard and tools; you provide the imagination. Ages 6 and up.

Fooble the Dragon, Thursday, June 29, 11 a.m. Join Fooble the Dragon for a whimsical, weird, and wonderful hour of laughter, song, and storytelling! This is an all-ages puppet show featuring a beatboxing dragon. Come laugh yourself silly with Fooble! All ages welcome.

STEAM Zone – Carnivorous Plants, Wednesday, July 5, 3 p.m. Join Mx. Aryn in the Makerspace to learn all about carnivorous plants, how to take care of them, and photosynthesis! Each participant will get a carnivorous plant to take home. Ages 8 to 12. Limited to 10 people; registration required.

Teen Zine, Thursday, July 13, 2 p.m. For decades, “zines” (short for magazines) have been powerful tools of self-expression and a great way to share ideas offline. Come join Mx. Aryn in the Makerspace to learn how to make them! All materials will be provided, and you can donate your zine to be added to the library zine collection!

Ages 13 to 17. Limited to 16 people; first come, first served.

Tie Dye, Wednesday, July 19, 2 p.m. Join Mx. Aryn in the Library courtyard to tie dye! Bandanas and blank t-shirts will be provided, or you can bring your own cotton fabric materials if you have something you’d like to tie dye. Make sure not to wear anything you would mind getting messy! Ages 6 and up. Limited to 15 people; registration required.

Oregon Rocks, Friday, July 28, 2:30 p.m. Take off on a geology adventure and explore our ever-changing planet Earth. Dig into rocks, fossils, earthquakes, and volcanoes through hands-on activities and rockin’ specimens. Discover the dynamic forces that have shaped Oregon’s landscape over time!

Ages 5 to 11.

STEAM Zone – Slime

Time, Wednesday, August 2, 3 p.m. Join Mx. Aryn in the Makerspace where we’ll be talking about states of matter, non-Newtonian fluids, and putting what we learn into practice by making some slime! Ages 8 to 12. Limited to 10 people; registration required.

Red Yarn, Thursday, August 10, 11 a.m. Red Yarn (aka Andy Furgeson) weaves folksongs and puppetry into high-energy, interactive shows for family audiences. With traditional and original songs blending folk, rockabilly, country and blues, Red Yarn will have audiences singing, dancing, stomping, clapping, and celebrating the multicultural musical heritage of the USA. All ages welcome.

Reptile Man, Saturday, August 12, 11 a.m. The Oregon Reptile Man was bitten in 1970. Not literally, but by extreme curiosity concerning the natural world and its seemingly infinite colors, patterns, and abilities in the reptile realm. The Reptile Man uses

exotic reptiles from around the world as educational ambassadors to 400 organizations each year. Ages 5 and up.

End-of-Summer Dance Party, Wednesday, August 16, 2 p.m. Come celebrate the end of summer reading at the Auditorium with a dance party!

Wear your best summer outfit and come prepared to boogie! All ages welcome. For more information, contact St. Helens Public Library Director Suzanne Bishop at 503-397-4544 or at sbishop@sthelensoregon.gov.

Courtesy of Lewis & Clark Elementary School

Students listen to Officers Evin Eustice and Adam Raethke during their visit.

Courtesy of Lewis & Clark Elementary School Kindergarteners got to check out the police equipment, including safety vests, used by the officers.

Courtesy of Lewis & Clark Elementary School Children explore the back of an SHPD patrol car.

Calculate your working families kicker

lator below gives you a sense of the difference.

To interpret the results of the calculator, consider someone who has an Adjusted Gross Income of $500,000 per year, more than about 97 percent of all Oregonians. Under current law, they’d get a kicker worth more than $17,000. With the Working Families Kicker, they’d get the same amount as everyone else — about $2,450.

OREGON CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY

Chronicle Guest Column

As working families across Oregon struggle with rising costs and meager wages, Oregon is on course to send massive tax rebates to the richest Oregonians.

A $5.5 billion “kicker” rebate appears to be on its way. The rich will get huge

rebates, while low- and moderate-income Oregonians will receive little or nothing.

It doesn’t have to be this way. A better kicker is possible.

The Working Families Kicker would send every Oregon tax filer an equal amount, resulting in most Oregonians getting bigger tax rebates, helping families make ends meet. The calcu-

Methodology

This analysis is based on 2020 tax year data and does not have all of the tax information needed to calculate your exact kicker. Instead, it uses average tax information and effective tax rates for similar filers to estimate a kicker amount.

The Working Families Kicker value is set at the average (mean) kicker for

all taxpayers last estimated by the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis for the upcoming kicker. The current kicker was estimated based on the most recent estimate from the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis of $5,537,500,000. This analysis does not factor in changes in the distribution of incomes between the 2020 tax year and the tax year the kicker will be distributed based on. This analysis also does not incorporate tax paid to other states in the kicker estimate.

For the calculation of the percent of Oregon tax filers who make less than you, we calculated the share of filers with adjusted gross income below the income bin you fit into. For example, if you made $120,000, you fit into the $100,000 - $250,000 income bin from the Oregon Department of Revenue and 79 percent of filers make less

than $100,000.

Here is the link to the calculator: www.ocpp. org/2023/06/12/calculateworking-families-kicker.

Read more about the Oregon Revenue Forecast and see the entire document with

this column at thechronicleonline.com. The Oregon Center for Public Policy’s mission is to achieve economic justice for all Oregonians through research, analysis, and advocacy. The Center is located in Portland and may be reached at 971-279-4732.

Garden observations into summer 2023

Is it too late to plant corn?

No, it is not too late to plant either a first crop or second crop of corn. It would be prudent to grow a variety that takes less time to mature.

One that I have found does well here is Sugar Buns, a 70-day corn. With warm soils and nice daytime temperatures, it will germinate quickly and you will be eating corn before you know it.

“June drop” of fruit

Fruit pollination weather was fairly good this past spring although your particular location can be different than other parts of the county.

Fruit set on apples and pears appears strong. However, we have had several calls about cherry and plum trees that dropped their fruit. This can happen all at once, usually when the weather warms.

Fruit drop is due to poor pollination. Either the weather was too cold and/or wet to

get the bees moving were too cold to get moving or there weren’t enough of them. The fruit flowers were either not pollinated or incompletely pollinated. For stone fruits like cherries, the fruit appears normal and then drops. But if you cut into the pit, there is no seed. And that growing seed is what tells the tree to keep pumping nutrition into the developing fruit. Without the signal, the plant sheds the fruit. With apples, you may see misshapen fruit. Cut horizontally through the center and you will see one or two of the cavities with no seed.

Can you plant a lawn now?

The grass species that do best in Oregon are not adapted to germinate at air temperatures of 85+ degrees. They germinate best between 55 to 65 degrees but will generally be all right up to 80 degrees.

Is it worth it to seed a lawn now? Probably not. Soil temperatures have warme d just enough to make the seed happy. But watering is a challenge as daytime temperatures rise. Newly seeded areas need to be more or less constantly moist but not sodden. This requires deft watering with your sprinklers. You have to move them at constantly changing intervals to match the changes in the temperatures and wind. Too much water and the seeds rot. Too little and the seeds fry.

So the best advice for now is to wait until September to do your renovation. You might try over-seed bare spots now since you have less at risk and less sprouting area to manage.

Speaking of bare lawn spots

Bare spots show up when the weather gets hot. The most common causes of bare spots are mole tunnels, roots eaten by the larvae of the European crane fly, an excessively drained spot in under a part of your lawn (possibly a rock or a septic pipe or sandfilled trench), or root diseases that reduced the turf’s capacity to take up water. All these sub-surface conditions can be hard to fix.

Trying to grow lawns on St. Helens basalt is always challenging. The deeper the soil over the rock, the better results you will have. But you are not going to move the rock. This problem is only found in the St. Helens area.

Community EvEnts

June 15 9-1-1 Communications District Board of Directors meeting 9 a.m. For instructions on how to join the meeting via Zoom, contact 503-3666973

June 17 St. Helens Kiwanis Community Parade 9 a.m. Check-in and Registration. New Location at Lifempowered, 105 Port Ave. St. Helens, OR 97051. Staging on Milton Way. Judging at 11 a.m. Parade starts at noon. Information contact: Lisa Lewis 503-407-7916 or Judy Thompson 503-397-6056 st.helenskiwanisparade@ gmail.com.

June 20 The Daddy Trains from Portland 7 p.m. Hear about The Daddy Trains from Portland as Sue Glen talks about this unique happening. $5. 1925 First St., Columbia City.

Ongoing events

Fridays - Sunday

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.

Resonate Recovery

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

Wednesday - Sundays. This is a Bible based, Christ-centered 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.

Columbian Toastmasters Promoting positive learn-

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

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.

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.

Mole tunnels in clay soils they finally collapse on their own. Rototilling the lawn and re-grading it (and posting “no mole” signs) will allow you to seed a new lawn next fall.

Crane fly larva feeding is not consistent from year-toyear. Ironically, the females prefer to lay their eggs in the lushest lawn they can find in September/October. There are some treatments for crane flies but most years they aren’t needed. If you let your lawn dry out and go completely dormant in the summer, you will never have crane flies. If you do have crane fly larvae, skunks, starling, and raccoons often consume the bulk of them.

Root diseases are also unpredictable with some grass species resistant to a particular disease and susceptible to another. That is why we often plant grass species mixtures. In the end, you can take the bare spot and clip off enough of the dead grass, so you get put new seed directly on the soil. You can cover the seed

with a thin coating of fine peat moss. Then water as described above – not too wet and not too dry and, with a little luck, you will fill those spaces with new turf.

Food Preservation

Are you planning to preserve food from your garden or purchased from a farm this summer? If so, call or visit the OSU Extension Service office before you start canning, freezing, or drying.

Costly and potentially harmful mistakes can be made by using outdated canning recipes and instructions. You can find free publications AND pressure gauge testing at the Columbia County Extension office located at 505 N. Columbia River Highway in St. Helens. If you have questions, phone Jenny Rudolph at the office at 503-397-3462.

You can download for free all our food preservation publications at https://extension.oregonstate.edu/mfp/ publications. An additional great resource is the National Center for home Food Preservation at http://www.uga. edu/nchfp.

Important Notes

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

• The Extension Service

offers its programs and materials equally to all people.

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

Have Questions?

If you have questions on any of these topics or other home garden and/ or farm questions, please contact Chip Bubl, Oregon State University Extension office in St. Helens at 503397-3462 or at chip.bubl@ oregonstate.edu. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Free Newsletter

The Oregon State University Extension office in Columbia County publishes a monthly newsletter on gardening and farming topics (called County Living) written/edited by yours truly. All you need to do is ask for it and it will be mailed or emailed to you. Call 503397-3462 to be put on the list. Alternatively, you can find it on the web at http:// extension.oregonstate.edu/ columbia/ and click on newsletters.

Contact Information Oregon State University Extension Service – Columbia County 505 N. Columbia River Highway St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-3462

Metro Creative Connection

City releases annual water quality report

The City of St. Helens drinking water meets or surpasses all federal drinking water standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), according to a statement released by the city. The City of St. Helens has issued its 2022 water quality report detailing the results of water testing, in addition to information such as water conservation tips and essential utility billing information.

Metro Creative Connection

The city is required by the Oregon Health Authority to take 15 routine water samples monthly from designated areas throughout the city, testing for microbiological contaminants in the drinking water. Periodically, testing also looks for contaminants like arsenic, cyanide, lead, and mercury.

The city is required by the Oregon Health Authority to take 15 routine

Solution for the June 7, 2023 crossword puzzle

Tualatin Valley FUNERAL ALTERNATIVES

away in her sleep the Sunday morning of May 7, 2023. She

Rigdon in Houlton, Oregon on Feb. 13, 1933. A lifelong resident of the St. Helens area, she has lived in Houlton, Yankton, St. Helens, and Deer Island.

In high school, Alene was an accomplished musician, playing French horn, piano, and the accordion. Alene was also a member of the Civil Air Patrol.

In her senior year in high school, she met Ronald Royce Dougherty. A month after graduation they united in marriage on July 1, 1951 before Ronald shipped out to Korea for a year. Through the years they hunted, fished, and rock hounded along with their children and enjoyed going to rodeos, especially the Pendleton Round-up. Alene raised three

James “Jim” Earl Woods of Pearce, Arizona, died peacefully in his sleep on April 7, 2023, at age 94. Jim was born in Ada, Oklahoma, on Jan. 17, 1929, to James Fredrick Woods and Winifred (Brantley) Woods. He grew up sharecropping with his parents in Ada along with his five siblings, Lester Woods, Kenneth Woods, Herman Woods, Altina Jacobs, and Lois Castillo.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; siblings; and by his wife, Alva Louise Woods, in 2021.

water samples monthly from designated areas throughout the city, testing for microbiological contaminants in the drinking water. Periodically, testing also looks for contaminants like arsenic, cyanide, lead, and mercury. City of St. Helens water distribution operators and water filtration plant operators are state certified. Employees receive annual training to keep their knowledge and certifications current.

The Oregon Health Authority performs a survey of the city’s water system and recordkeeping every

obituariEs

Doris “Alene” Dougherty

Feb. 13, 1933 ~ May 7, 2023

Plant until it closed. She also worked for the census one year. Her retirement years were spent traveling extensively in the western states. She made yearly trips to Colorado’s All-4-Fun jeep event with her brother, Death Valley Days, campouts with groups she belonged to, and winters in Quartsite, Arizona, crossing into Mexico occasionally. She went as far east as Crazy Horse Monument in South Dakota, taking part in the Volksmarch and west to Hawaii and north to Alaska.

five years, and the City of St. Helens is listed as an outstanding performer.

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requires that utility providers such as the City of St. Helens provide an annual Consumer Confidence report to their customers. This report is issued by the City of St. Helens as an annual Water Quality Report.

The report is published on the City’s website at www.sthelensoregon.gov/ publicworks/page/waterquality-reports.

daughters and a son, getting them involved in church activities, scouting, and 4-H. She participated as church camp coordinator, scouting assistant, and as a 4-H leader. She taught her kids to work by taking them strawberry picking, and later she became a “Row Boss” in the strawberry fields.

After becoming a widow in 1983, Alene went to work fulltime as a security guard at Linnton Plywood and then Security at the Trojan Power

Other interests of hers were line dancing, attending music jams, taking pictures of things she found interesting, and reading books on historical events and biographies. She made a point of visiting family and friends as she traveled.

Alene currently attended Warren Community Fellowship and was a member of the Deer Island Grange. Her past memberships included LOW’s (Loners on Wheels), LOA (Loners of America),

Jan. 17, 1929 ~ April 7, 2023

Lisa Gibson, and Rebekah Thomas; and two sons are Tracy Woods and James Drew Woods. Jim also had two stepsons, Curt Evern, and Scott Johnson (deceased).

Longview Senior Line Dance, Mile-Hi Jeep Club, a rockhound group, Warren Baptist Church, and was active with the local senior centers.

Alene is survived by her daughter Juanita (Larry); daughter Leona (Jim); son James; sister Frances (Mick); brother Ollie Leroy; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great grandchildren.

Preceding Alene besides her parents and husband were three infant daughters, Rowena Faith (1953), Vickie Ann (1960), Julie Kay (1961), and daughter Kathie (2016).

A celebration of life for Alene will be held at 1 p.m. on June 17, 2023 at Warren Community Fellowship. Reception to follow the service at the church. Alene’s favorite charities were the Gideons, the Billy Graham Association, and her church. Her ashes will be placed at the Old Yankton Cemetery privately at a later date. Columbia Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

June

As an adult, Jim lived for one year in Brooklyn, New York, then a few years in southern California, and then 25 years in Warren, Oregon, where he raised his family. Jim spent his retirement

Lorraine Janene Burger, age 57, of Scappoose, Oregon, passed away on May 28, 2023. She was born on Feb. 21, 1965, in Los Angeles, California. Lorraine lived in several towns in the Portland area throughout her life, including Tigard, Scholls, Cornelius, Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Scappoose. After high school, she received an associate degree and was certified as an Oregon State Master Gardener. Alongside her husband John, she was the owner and operator of John Burger Heating & A/C. At one point, Lorraine sold family valuables to raise money to save the Scap-

years in Pearce, Arizona, where he lived for 30 years. Jim had six children, as well as many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and even great-great grandchildren.

Jim’s four daughters are Sheila Greener, Teresa Gunn,

To support his family, Jim worked as a master die cast mold maker, and he and his family ran a small farm with a few farm animals, including beef cattle, dairy cows, and two horses. During those years the children were at home, Jim and Alva took them on many interesting road trips and camping trips.

Jim loved working on cars and motorcycles, fixing almost anything, and growing trees of many varieties. He also loved to read.

As a long-time member of the Willcox Congregation

Lorraine Janene Burger

Feb. 21, 1965 ~ May 28, 2023

Lorraine enjoyed many hobbies, including gardening, raising chickens, ducks and other fowl, and rock hounding. She combined all of these to create a beautiful garden and home.

of Jehovah’s Witnesses he enjoyed Bible study and sharing what he learned with others. Please go to this website www.westlawnchapelmortuary.com and search for “James Woods,” and there you are invited to leave a message for the family and/ or leave a memory. Also posted at that website are location and Zoom details for the Memorial Service to be held at 3 p.m. on Sat., June 17, 2023 in Willcox, Arizona, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a charitable contribution to the Worldwide Work of Jehovah’s Witnesses at www.donate.jw.org, or to a hospice organization in your area.

poose Peace Candle of the World from 2011-2015. She was involved with the Elks Club and attended Warren Community Fellowship in Warren, Oregon.

Rosemary Peterson

May 17, 1930 ~ May 26, 2023

Rosemary Peterson passed away on May 26, 2023 at the age of 93. She and her deceased husband Ron used to reside in St. Helens before buying property outside Morton, Washington.

Celebration of Life service will be held at 1 p.m. on Sat, June 17, 2023 at Central Lutheran Church in Morton, Washington.

Lorraine had a big family that she cared for very well. There was a lot of travel time spent going to Texas and Montana to see her six grandchildren from her son Tyler. She spent most of her summer days with all the children in the family, taking them for nature walks, teaching them to raise baby chicks and ducks, and taking them on toy shopping sprees.

Lorraine is survived by

her husband, John Burger; her sons, Tyler Lewis and his wife Jherachyl, and Paul Lewis; her daughter Courtney Piner and her husband Falcon Piner; and her grandchildren Jhester Onod, Andrea Lara, Kayla Lara, Jayden Lara, Jherrod Lewis, and Julien Lewis.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her father Larry Pasiemiak; mother Sharon Korpowski; and her brother David Pasiemiak. A viewing was held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fri., June 9, 2023, and a memorial service was held at 2 p.m. that same day at Columbia Funeral Home in St. Helens, Oregon.

Wilma Delores (Dee) Brush

July 11, 1929 ~ June 7, 2023

Wilma Delores Brush, a resident of St. Helens, passed away on June 7, 2023.

A graveside service will begin with a processional at 12:45 p.m. at the Mausoleum at River View Cemetery, 300 S. Taylors Ferry Rd., Portland, Oregon 97219, on Sat., June 17, 2023.

James “Jim” Earl Woods

Includes children, custody, support, property and bills division. No court appearances. Divorced in 1-5 weeks possible. 503-772-5295. www.paralegalalternatives.com legalalt@msn.com

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FREE high speed internet for those that qualify Government program for recipients of select programs incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet service. Bonus offer: Android tablet FREE with onetime $20 copay. Free shipping & handling. Call Maxsip Telecom today! 1-877-390-0458.

Spring has sprung and it’s planting season again

This year Nature Hills, America’s largest online plant retailer, has an exclusive offerFrench Manicure Panicle Hydrangea. Sale price just $24.60 plus s/h. Call for details and order today. Call Nature Hills Plant Nursery 1-844-5500583 or visit naturehillsdeal.com/ bloom45.

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15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-536-8838.

Call LeafGuard and say goodbye to gutter cleaning for good No cleaning. No leaking. No water damage. No more ladder accidents. Get LeafGuard today and be protected for life. FREE estimate. Financing available. 20% off total purchase (Restrictions may apply.) Call 1-844345-1537. Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Money Down + Low Monthly Payment Options. Request a FREE Quote – Call now before the next power outage: 1-877-557-1912.

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Get your favorite live TV, sports and local channels. 99% signal reliability! CHOICE Package, $84.99/mo for 12 months. HBO Max and Premium Channels included for 3 mos (w/ CHOICE Package or higher.) No annual contract, no hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-855602-2009.

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Enjoy speeds from 5G and 4G LTE networks, no contracts, easy installation, and data plans up to 300 GB. Call 866-857-2897.

Are you a pet owner?

Do you want to get up to 100% back on Vet Bills? Physicians Mutual Insurance Company has pet coverage that can help! Call 1-833-975-1626 to get a free quote or visit insurebarkmeow.com/onac.

Portable Oxygen Concentrator May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and longlasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 855-8390752.

Safe Step North America’s #1 Walk-In Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-ofthe-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-833395-1433.

Wesley Financial Group, LLC. Timeshare Cancellation Experts. Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 844487-0221.

Life Line Screening

Stroke and Cardiovascular disease are leading causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection! Contact Life Line Screening to schedule your screening. Special offer - 5 screenings for just $149. Call 1-844-655-0972. Donate your car, truck, boat, RV and more to support our veterans! Schedule a FAST, FREE vehicle pickup and receive a top tax deduction! Call Veteran Car Donations at 1-866-695-9265 today!

Donating your vehicle? Get more! Free Towing. Tax Deductible. Plus a $200 restaurant

voucher and a 2-night/3-day hotel stay at one of 50 locations. Call Heritage for the Blind to donate your vehicle today - 1-844-5339173.

301 Health & Nutrition

Alcoholics Anonymous Info-line, (503) 366-0667 www.pdxaa.org

312 Events

Community Yard Sale

Join Christ Episcopal Church in St. Helens for a community yard sale on July 8. Sell your goods at a safe place. We will do all the promotion & provide tables (for 15% fee). Deadline to reserve a table is June 24. Contact carol.craig19@ yahoo.com or call 971.221.4640.

502

Help Wanted

Immediate Opening Sewing, taping, etc. Part-time 6-Noon, M-Th. Apply in person only. 33550 SE Santosh St. Scappoose, OR 97056.

2000 Chevy truck for sale for $2,200. Call 503-987-1266.

702 Garage Sales

Garage Sale New & Used

Thurs-Sat 15th17th 9am-5pm 35287 Firlock Park Blvd. Fishing rods/reels, camping, outdoor gear, household stuff, weed eater and new set of kettles.

Garage Sale One Day. Only

Friday June 16th 10am-5pm Cash Only. 194 South 7th up behind the funeral home.

Multi-Family Sale

Thursday, 6/15, Friday, 6/16, and Saturday 6/17, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Loaded with vintage/antique items, shop and mens stuff, RV stuff, home-baked goods, homecanned goods, crafts, hardware, kid’s, men’s, and women’s clothing and shoes, and kids toys. A bargain for everyone.

Classified Ads Deadline: Mondays by noon. Late submissions may not make the paper.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN OF A PUBLIC HEARING Public Notices

CH23-1367

Monday June 26, 2023

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIV-

EN that NEXT Renewable Fuels, Inc., has submitted an application, for a Modification of Prior Approval for a previously approved Site Design Review and Variance (DR 21-03/V 21-05).

If approved, the proposal would relocate the rail tracks, tree buffer, and storm facilities northward from the Primary Agriculture (PA-80) zone into the Rural Industrial Planned Development (RIPD) zone. The rail tracks, tree buffer and storm facilities were previously approved as part of a separate application (CU 21-04), but that application was appealed and reversed by the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals. The application proposes moving the rail tracks, tree buffer and storm facilities entirely onto land zoned RIPD. The properties are identified by tax map numbers referenced above,

are all zoned Resource Industrial Planned Development, total approximately 109 acres and are located at 81009 Kallunki Road.

SAID PUBLIC HEARING will be held before the Columbia County Planning Commission on Monday, June 26, 2023, starting at 6:30 p.m. This meeting will be hybrid in nature, allowing participants to log into a digital Go-To-Meeting (link provided below) or attend in person at Healy Hall within the Columbia County Public Works Department, addressed at 1054 Oregon Street in St. Helens. June 26, 2023 Planning Commission Meeting

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https:// meet.goto.com/475936085

You can also dial in using your phone. Access Code: 475-936-085 United States (Toll Free): 1 866 899 4679 United States: +1 (571)

317-3116 Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://meet. goto.com/install Interested parties may appear and be heard. If you have any questions or concerns regarding access to the meeting or need accommodation, please call Kay Clay in the Land Development Services office at (503) 397-1501. The criteria to be used in deciding the request will be found in the following: Columbia County Zoning Ordinance Section 200 General Provisions, Section 680 Resource Industrial-Planned Development, Section 1100 Flood Hazard Overlay, Section 1120 Sensitive Bird Habitat Overlay, Section 1130 Historic Overlay, Section 1170 Riparian Corridors, Wetlands, Water Quality, and Fish and Wildlife Habitat Protection Overlay Zone, Section 1180 Wetland Area Overlay, Section 1185 Natural Area Overlay, Sec-

tion 1190 Big Game Habitat Overlay, Section 1300 Signs, Section 1400 Off-Street Parking and Loading, Section 1450 Transportation Impact Analysis, Section 1550 Site Design Review, Section 1603 Quasijudicial Public Hearings, as well as Columbia County Stormwater and Erosion Control Ordinance Section I(B) Applicability. The specific criteria applicable to this request will also be listed and evaluated in the staff report. A copy of the application, all documents and evidence provided by the applicant, and the applicable criteria are available for inspection at no cost and will be provided at reasonable cost. You received this notice because you own property located near the property that is the subject of this notice. Columbia County is required only to notify the applicant, owner, owners of record of property of adja-

cent properties per the most recent property tax assess ment roll, and other persons identified. You may want to share this notice with others in your neighborhood as some may not be aware of the proposal. Notice to mortgagee, lien holder, vendor or seller: ORS Chapter 215 requires that if you receive this notice, it must be promptly forwarded to the purchaser. Failure to raise an issue in a hearing, in person or by writing, or failure to provide statements or evidence sufficient to afford the Approval Authority an opportunity to respond to the issue precludes raising the issue in an appeal to the Land Use Board of Appeals. Additional information about this application may be obtained by calling Deborah Jacob at (503) 397-1501.

Written materials may be submitted prior to the public hearing. Those submitting written materials are

of the public hearing. Please submit written materials to Planning@ColumbiaCountyOR.gov You can also send written materials via US

Mail to: Columbia County Land Development Services Attn: Planning 230 Strand Street St. Helens, OR 97051

The hearing will be held according to the procedures established in the Columbia County Zoning Ordinance, including CCZO Section 1603, and in accordance with ORS 197.797. Under state law, the failure to raise an issue at the hearing, in person or by letter, or the failure to provide statements or evidence sufficient to afford the decision-maker an opportunity to respond to the issue, precludes the ability to appeal the decision based on that issue. June 14, 2023 THE PLANNING COMMISSION Dan Magnia, Chairman

Public Notices

CH23-1371

NOTICE OF VOUCHER PROGRAM

Northwest Oregon Housing Authority (NOHA) announces the opening of a new Housing Choice Voucher program waiting list for a new Project Based Voucher (PBV) community.

Merwyn Apartments: Studio and 1 BR units in Astoria, OR-PBV waiting list opens June 16, 2023. Pre-Applications are available at http://

CH23-1372

www.nwoha.org/forms.aspx.

In order to be eligible for assistance in these projectbased units, applicants must meet eligibility requirements for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, any additional eligibility requirements approved for the location, and the property’s tenant selection criteria. Applicants currently

on NOHA’s HCV wait list who wish to be placed on a PBV wait list, must submit an updated pre-application. Applicants position on the HCV will not be negatively impacted whether they apply for PBV or not. Additional information can be found on our website: www.nwoha. org and/or by contacting the property directly.

Informal Request for Proposals # S-C00055-00007226 Legal Services

Notice is hereby given that Columbia County, through its Board of County Commissioners will receive proposals for contract legal services through 5:00 p.m. on July 3, 2023. No Proposals will be considered after that time. Columbia County is seeking a qualified attorney to provide legal advice and

services related to the County’s four unions. The Request for Proposal documents are available at the County’s website at https://www.columbiacountyor.gov/bids and on Oregon Buys at https:// oregonbuys.gov/bso/view/ login/login.xhtml. Questions and clarifications should be directed to Sarah.Hanson@

columbiacountyor.gov. It is the Proposers responsibility to check the website or Oregon Buys frequently to be aware of any addenda. Proposals will be accepted at the following address until 5:00 PM July 3, 2023. Columbia County Counsel Attn: Sarah Hanson, 230 Strand St, St Helens, Oregon 97051.

code 289-007-645.

and by phone

CH23-1366

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

Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of JOSEPH ANTONE FLORI, Deceased. Case No. 23PB00820 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS Proceedings for this estate have been commenced. Claims against the estate may be presented to the personal representative listed below. Any person who has a claim against the estate must present the claim to the personal representative not later than

four months after the date of the first publication of this notice at the following address: 52490 Southeast Second Street, Suite 100, Scappoose, OR 97056. Any claim not presented within this time period may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the estate proceeding may obtain additional information from the records of the Court, the personal representative, or the attorney for the personal representative.

Dated and first published on: June 14, 2023. Brenda Flori, Personal Representative, 175 N 8th Street, St. Helens, OR 97051, Phone: (503) 3972422. Attorney for

Local man arrested for stalking, coercion

The St. Helens Police Department is seeking additional information from the public related to an investigation involving the unlawful use of a global positioning system (GPS) device and stalking which occurred in St. Helens.

Jeremy C. Ruark / Country Media, Inc.

On Wednesday, June 7, the Portland Police Bureau arrested 41-year-old Tyrone Rucker, of St. Helens, near

Marine Drive in Portland on an outstanding warrant. The warrant was related to a St. Helens Police Department investigation which began on March 20, 2023, when a citizen reported that they discovered multiple mobile trackers hidden on their vehicle. report, St. Helens detectives executed multiple search warrants for electronic data related to the mobile trackers and financial records related to a subscription service used

to monitor the trackers. Based on evidence, St. Helens officers executed an additional search warrant at a residence in the 300 block of North 10th Street in St. Helens. New evidence was discovered in the residence; however, Rucker was not

Grand Jury. The jury indicted a Global Positioning System,

Stalking, Tampering with a Witness, and Coercion.

A warrant was issued for Tucker’s arrest.

The St. Helens Police Department was assisted by the United States Marshals Service, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Sherwood Police Department, and the Portland Police Bureau in locating Rucker. Rucker was lodged at the Multnomah County Detention Center for the arrest warrant.

The investigation was

a collaborative effort with assistance provided by the Sherwood Police Department, the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office, and the Washington County District Attorney’s Office.

Anyone who has had contact with Rucker since March 2023 and has information related to this case is encouraged to contact the St. Helens Police Department at 503-397-3333 and request to speak with Detective Gaston or Detective Smith.

What to expect in Oregon this fire season

RYAN HOOVER

Chronicle Guest Article

“There is no future without fire and smoke. It’s part of our real world. But the good news is we can exercise a little bit of control, regulation, and influence on how things are going to burn in the future.”

Those words from John Bailey, a professor at Oregon State University’s College Forestry. With fire season in Oregon typically beginning in mid-May, Oregon State University hosted a fire outlook forum May 22 designed to connect the media with Oregon’s leading wildfire experts.

Panelists included Bailey, who studies the roles of forest management in accomplishing landowner objectives; Larry O’Neill, Oregon’s state climatologist and an associate professor in OSU’s college of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences; Erica Fleishman, Director of the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute and a professor in OSU’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences; and Nick Siler, the assistant state climatologist and an assistant professor in OSU’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences.

The panelists stressed the fact that despite Oregon having a cooler Spring – with below-average temperatures and statewide snowpack levels reaching 189% of normal levels in April – there are still major concerns for this fire season. Bailey said that cooler weather can allow fine fuels to develop, increasing the chances of wildfires as forest fuels, such as grasses and trees dry out.

Fuels development

“These kind of fire seasons where we have a coolerweathered spring really drives the fuel development, particu-

larly fine fuels,” Bailey said. “Later on, when things dry out, those fuels will cure. So, fuels will be more abundant and contiguous to each other. My reading of the fire warning forecast for this coming summer is that July and August are forecasted to be a little warmer than normal. So that fuel and warmth towards the end of the fire season has most foresters worried at this point.” State Climatologist Larry O’Neill said that despite the cooler weather and strong snowpack, “About 52% of the state is still in moderate or worse drought conditions according to the U.S. drought monitor right now.” For O’Neill, the biggest concern for these drier areas is the soil moisture estimates, which are “historically dry” going into this fire season. Nicolas Siler added below-average precipitation in the Northern parts of Oregon has contributed to the drought conditions. The heavy snowpack and cooler temperatures are still predicted to have some impact on this fire season, though. O’Neill said both factors should push back the start of fire season by a few weeks.

“We had such a great snowpack and it’s still lingering in many of the SNOWTEL sites in the Southern Oregon Cascades. It’s projected to melt down a little later than normal,” O’Neill said. “That’s basically a function of how much snow there was this year. That tends to push back the start of fire season a little bit. If that’s a silver lining to anything, there may be a few less weeks of above normal fire risk for the region, which would be great.”

El Niño impact

One major difference this fire season is that we are entering an El Niño year. During El Niño, trade winds weaken, and warm water is pushed

toward the U.S. west coast. The Northern U.S. is typi cally warmer and dryer than usual during El Niño years, but O’Neill said El Niño likely won’t have much of an effect on Oregon’s fire season.

“My perception is that we’re still in neutral conditions. La Nina finally left us after three years, which is great, so now we’re kind of in this transition period [between] la Nina to warmer than normal [temperatures],”

O’Neill said. “Those [warmer] conditions aren’t expected to fully develop until later this summer and into the fall and winter, which is pretty standard for these transition periods. Right now, we’re not expecting big impacts on out weather, especially earlier this summer. With that said, this summer is projected to be warmer than normal across the U.S. West.”

Those warmer temperatures have already begun to set in, too. Siler stated that the month of May “has run about 7 degrees above average in Western Oregon so far and with below-average precipitation.” These warmer temperatures may help explain the two heat waves Oregon has already experienced this

more heatwaves this summer.

“We are in a climate that is progressively warming,” Siler said. “Seasonal forecasts indicate that this summer will be warmer than normal – in part because El Nino but largely because we’re in a warmer climate. So, that alone suggests that heat waves are likely to be more common this summer than in typical summers.”

Warming temperatures, warming seas, dryer soil, and greater fuels will likely all play a role in how this fire season looks in the state of Oregon, but Erica Fleishman noted that humas also play a huge role in wildfire ignitions across the West.

Human impact

“An overwhelming majority of wildfire ignitions across the West are human caused,” Fleishman said. “They’re not from lightening. That varies somewhat from region to region. As we talk about fire risk, a piece that’s not [mentioned] is where the ignitions come from and especially where human-caused ignitions come from. So, to some extent, humans can control their behavior. That is something

Crossword PuzzlE

that can reduce wildfire risk appreciably. There are predictable human behavior patterns, and people can do a lot about controlling that component of wildfire risk.”

Fleishman and Bailey both said that one predictable human behavior pattern was the spike in human-caused wildfires that occurs during the Fourth of July week due to fireworks.

“People like fireworks,” Fleishman said. “On fourth of July there is a huge spike in wildfires that correlates to fireworks use. So, that’s in the data. Some of them are small, but it really constrains capacity of wildfire resources. Labor Day is similar. Keep in mind the factor of sparks starting a lot of fires.”

“On the Fourth of July, it’s not a little blip, it’s like 20 percent increase in [wildfire] ignitions, relative to the week before. It’s a spike,” Bailey added.

This rings especially true for Oregon. The Oregon Department of Forestry collects historical fire data for the state, keeping track of the number of wildfires, the total acres burned, and how and where fires ignite each year. Last year, Oregon saw 29 wildfires during the week of June 24 through July 1. The following week, July 2 through July 9, Oregon saw 50 wildfires. Of the 79 wildfires that occurred over this two-week period, 78.5% were human caused.

The silver lining

A silver lining going into this fire season will be the fact that funding is currently being distributed from the Oregon State Fire Marshall to fund wildfire preparedness programs and strategies throughout the state, due to Oregon Senate Bill 762. For example, over 106 organizations were awarded funds as part of the

Community Wildfire Risk Reduction (CWRR) grant, totaling $18 million. The CWRR grant is intended to cover personnel costs, projects for vulnerable communities, defensible space programs, community common area projects, educational projects, fuel mitigation and reduction costs, tree service and debris cleaning companies, and planning and administrative costs, according to the Oregon State Fire Marshall’s office.

John Bailey said that “it’s great to have” funding for risk-reduction strategies, and that communities should develop a “cohesive strategy that looks at resistant landscapes, fire-adapted communities, safe and effective responses for firefighting resources, and having evacuation plans.”

Bailey also stressed the importance of homeowners cleaning their roofs, decks, and gutters to help mitigate fire fuels and avoid wildfire home losses.

“In addition to taking care of your own [house], work with your neighbors, communicate with your neighbors, help them out,” Bailey said. “If they’re not able to do some of the work, help them out. In many ways, your fates are tied together.”

Those seeking more information about 2023 wildfire season in Oregon can check out https://wildfire.oregon. gov/pages/current-conditions. aspx for current conditions and active fires.

Those seeking wildfire occurrence data from the Oregon Department of Forestry can check out their data portal at https://data.oregon.gov/ Natural-Resources/ODF-FireOccurrence-Data-2000-2022/ fbwv-q84y.

Look for more updates on how you can prepare for 2023 fire season at thechronicleonline.com

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD

THEME: THE 1970s

ACROSS

1. Aardvark’s repast 5. Game official, colloquially speaking

8. In alignment

12. Tiny bottle

13. Big rig

14. ____ Apso

15. Fairy-tale opener

16. Arabian chieftain

17. Peter Pumpkin ____

18. *White House Plumbers’ affair

20. Arrival times, acr.

21. *Gerald R. Ford and Nelson A. Rockefeller

22. Tolkien’s Ogre-like creature

23. *Charlie’s TV detectives

26. At sea but close to shore

30. Always, poetically speaking

31. Adjust 34. Cupid, to the Greeks 35. High 37. 9 to 5, e.g. 38. Bow-like structure 39. Hippocrates’ promise 40. Struck in certain way, in baseball 42. Paleontologist’s estimate 43. Like a kilt

Solution

45. English county 47. Boiling blood 48. ____, Stinky and Stretch

50. Shade of beige

52. *”Rainy Day People” singer Gordon ____

56. Things on a list

57. Rod of a hot rod

58. *Bee Gees or The Supremes, e.g.

59. Saintly glows

60. Never, poetically speaking

61. Pre-Easter period

62. Demeanor

63. *Banned insecticide, acr. 64. Oxen connector DOWN

1. Assert

2. *”Black Gold” singer Nina ____

3. Diplomat’s asset

4. *Popular bell-shaped part of garment

5. Gerrymander

6. Gives off

7. *Earth and Wind part-

8. *First female British prime minister 9. Pro ____ 10. Operates

13. Wisest

14. Unfriendly looks

19. Track event

22. Buck

23. Famous fable-maker 24. *Kathmandu location and Hippie Trail stop

25. Heating outlet cover

26. Research facil.

27. Shamu and such

28. *Khmer ____

29. English county

32. Sound of impact

33. Coffee holder

36. *Mao’s honorific

38. Sunbaked, archaically speaking

40. Busy flyer

41. *____ Rolle of “Good Times”

44. Corbel

46. *”Killing Me ____ with His Song”

48. Spayed

49. End of a shoelace

50. Evening purse

51. Wrap in waxy cloth

52. It “was made for you and me”

53. Black and white cookie

54. Piglet sound

55. Carrying container

56. *Helen Reddy’s “____ ____ Woman”

Courtesy from My Photo Buddy / Shutterstock

The forecast by experts is another threatening wildfire season across Oregon.

SHHS seniors step into the future

unfilled “a colossal mistake,” primarily due to their ongoing staffing shortage.

“The first purpose [of this post] is to reiterate where the association stands and let it be known that we think it is a colossal mistake for the city to neglect the staffing of the police department,” the association’s Facebook post read.

Following the city council’s decision to adopt the budget, which includes not filling a police officer’s position, the association posted another statement.

“This will directly result in unreasonable amounts of overtime, officers leaving for properly staffed agencies, the inability for officers to be at community events etc. The city has been advised countless times of what the fallout will look like and still maintained that it was not necessary to properly staff the police department. The association members are doing their best to keep the commu-

Residents speak out against budget move, councilors respond

At the June 7 meeting, multiple residents spoke out against the city’s decision to leave the vacant officer position unfilled. One resident urged the city to use the increased public safety fee to fund the vacant position instead of the new police station.

“I wouldn’t mind suggesting we pause the construction of the police station and focus on getting police,” they said.

“While there’s an unfunded police position, which maybe will get funded, I really think you need to add to the core police group. That’s more important than building the building. I think we can’t afford the police station now.”

Jennifer Massey stressed the need for police officers because of staffing shortages

police coverage. According to Department is one of the only

“As you know, there’s a dire need to fill [officer] positions soon, otherwise St. Helens will be without 24-hour coverage,” Massey added. “I recently learned that another current officer is already in background to transfer to another agency outside of Colombia County. While I don’t have the evidence, I understand this to be due to the fact that the council supported the county and not the city.”

City Councilors responded to some of the public’s concerns during the councilor comments portion of the meeting, underscoring the need to find creative budget solutions and fund the vacant police officer position.

“It’s my opinion that we need to get a little more creative and problem-solve with the budget. I am extremely concerned about the police issue,” Council President Jessica Chilton said. “We need to

get more creative in look ing at how we can get these police officers and keep our city safe.”

Sundeen noted that he agreed with Council President Chilton about needing to find creative budget solutions. we’ve got to get creative and solve this problem somehow. It might not be perfect, but I think we’ve got to do better than we have been,” Coun cilor Sundeen said.

Resident files FOIA Act to see councilor text messages about levy

Some residents also expressed their frustration over the council’s decision to not fund the vacant police position while showing their public support of the Colombia County Sheriff’s tax levy, Measure 5-290, which will add seven new sheriff’s deputies. At the May 3 city council meeting, councilors Sundeen, Gunderson, and Birkle all voted in favor of approving a letter of support for the sheriff’s levy. Unofficial results as of June 2 show

request for the text message regarding the levy,” Massey said. “I also found it interesting when reading Commissioner Sundeen’s messages where it said, ‘a lot of people are reaching out to me and so far none have been in support.’ But he still supported the levy. He goes on to say, ‘I agree. I’m a listener, and sometimes it’s hard to drown out the noise, which solicited the response, ‘the best-known leaders know how to do that. You’re going to see some support from some pretty powerful people, just FYI.’ This response is from a wellconnected Republican in the community. So, if that doesn’t

At the very end of the city sponse to Massey’s comment. cilor Birkle said. “But more seriously, my understanding when I go to a boys’ network is that it’s a group of people who regularly meet and have social relationships. They get together, talk about stuff, and do a little tit for tatt, trading. You rub my back and I’ll rub your back. I’m not aware of any ‘good ‘ole boys’ network. What could any of us gain from that? I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve met the sheriff and Commissioner Garrett. So be it.”

See previous coverage, including the full proposed budget attached to this story at thechronicleonline.com.

Photos by Will Lohre / Country Media, Inc.

Middle school wrestling team takes second at State

Country Media, Inc.

While this spring has featured many successes for St. Helens High School sports, athletic excellence has extended to St. Helens Middle School as well.

The St. Helens Middle School Girls Wrestling Team was crowned district champions for their third season running and achieved its second consecutive finish as the second-best team in the state. The team wrapped up its season with the state tournament in April, and coach Donnie Brummer was ecstatic with their finish.

“It was a grueling tournament. All of our girls wrestled with heart and showed the advancement they made this season,” Brummer said. “How we ended the season versus how we started was

While wrestling is an individual sport, teams as a whole score points based on how their wrestlers finish. With many of its wrestlers performing well across the different weight classes, St. Helens secured a second-place finish off those strong performances.

The team consisted of:

Nora Dame 90 lb

Izabella McColm 102 lb

Addison Andrehsen 110 lb

Kayla Caven 115 lb

Rebel Peau 115 lb

Annaliese Steele 125 lb

Nova Woolworth 125 lb

Karley Siemienczuk 140 lb

Leah Yarbor 160 lb

Jadyn Pense 160 lb

Vivianna Scott 220 lb

Stand out performances

Across the divisions, St. Helens had some fantastic

1st place in the 220 lb division and was the state champion. Dame and Steele finished 2nd place in the 90 lb and 125 lb competitions, respectively. Pense finished 3rd in the 160 lb class, and Peau and Woolworth finished 5th and 6th in their respective brackets.

Scott’s road to becoming state champion was especially unique because she had never played sports before joining the team this year. When asked about standout performers at state, Brummer said that each of the team’s finalists led the way for the team.

“New to our program was Annaliese Steele, making the state finals after a grueling tournament. Nora Dame made the finals and was winning all season long. She is one of our vet -

erans and leaders,” Brummer said. “Vivianna Scott was brand new to sports in general and was the most improved wrestler on our team. Going from never playing a sport to a state title in 1 season is very unique. We may never see it again.”

Next year Andrehsen, Pense, Steele, and Yarbor will make the leap to high school and bolster the ranks of an already strong St. Helens High School wrestling program. While the finalists performed well and were instrumental to the program’s success, Brummer also said that other members of the team stepped up in the season’s final stages.

“Jadyn Pense was a standout and leader all year long. There are some

kids that go out there and win week after week. She is one of those girls. She won many matches against male wrestlers throughout the season,” Brummer said. “Nova Woolworth battled through an intense injury at the end of the season. She refused to not be there for her team at the state tournament. She managed to finish 6th. Rebel Peau, a 6th-grade phenomenon, managed to secure 5th place, which is the highest finish by a 6th grader I’ve seen by a male or female.”

Takeaways beyond the mats

While clearly, there were many triumphs for St. Helens Middle School wrestling this year competitively, the takeaways from

the sport go beyond the competition itself. Brummer and the other coaches try and help their athletes learn lessons that will help them in their everyday lives.

“Wrestling teaches so much about life. We hope all of our girls learn about perseverance, hard work, and what we are able to achieve if we put in the blood, sweat, and tears,” Brummer said. With some of its strongest competitors returning for next year, St. Helens Middle School promises to be competitive beyond this historic season. Find more local sports coverage at thechronicleonline.com and in the Wednesday print editions of the Chronicle.

Scappoose High School captures State title

sentation.

back.”

For next year, Webb has high hopes about what the team can achieve off the back of this year’s success. Having seen what it took to win a championship this year, Webb and his team know what can be achieved. Webb said that it’s time to work harder than ever before and that it’s not the time to get complacent.

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

Scappoose High School Baseball has won the 4 A 2023 OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 4A Baseball State Championship, defeating Pendleton 12-2 in dominant fashion.

Scappoose ran through the state bracket, winning confidently at each step, but while the final scores showed wide margins, Head Coach Cameron Webb said that they had to come back to win in three of their four games. Going into the season, Webb and his program had ideas of what they could accomplish, but for a team that hadn’t won before, Webb felt that getting the team to believe in themselves was one of his priorities.

“We were talking early this season, you know, about that our goal should be a state championship. When a team’s never been there before, you kind of have to paint the picture for them of what that would look like and why that’s possible,” Webb said. “The kids were in on that from the start. They committed to that, and they were a re -

ally hard-working group.”

For Webb and his team, one of the mantras for their team was focusing on process over results. The team focused on bringing positive energy and not allowing situations to affect their team’s morale. Whether they were down 2-0 or winning by a bunch, Scappoose strove for consistency.

“Every day, we were bringing a positive attitude. We had a bunch of practices in the pouring rain, in the mud, and we were always running out there like, ‘Perfect weather, great day for baseball,’ and that was contagious for the team,” Webb said. “They bring that genuine positive energy to it, and then they put in enough work where they believe in themselves.”

Super seniors

While the team overall is pretty young, one of the keys to its success was its seniors’ leadership. Wyatt Anicker, Matthew Gross, Trey Fuller, and Chase Olsen each stepped up to the plate this season. Fuller, Olsen, and Anicker are also great players who have captured all-league hon -

ors each of the last three seasons.

“I knew it was going to be sad saying goodbye to these seniors. For me as a coach, I’ve been coaching Scappoose for five years, so I have been working with those guys since they were in 8th grade, and I’ve really been able to watch them grow up,” Webb said.

“It was pretty nice to be able to say bye to them after a win. Yeah, they’re going out, but they accomplished this pinnacle goal that we’ve been working toward for five years.”

Olson will be moving on to play college baseball at Centralia College, while Fuller and Anicker are still in the recruiting process to try and play at the next level. Gross will go to train to be a helicopter pilot in the army.

Rising to the occasion

While the seniors led the way it was the young members of the team who stepped up in the championship run.

Sophomores

Joe Fagan, Max Nowlin, and Quinn Olson shone in the finals, especially at the plate. Junior Grayson Grover was named MVP of the

final for his contributions on the mound.

“Our star performances were from a lot of younger guys,” Webb said. “A lot of our core group are coming

In addition to their tremendous team success, Scappoose had several players recognized with individual awards. Fagan was named Player of the Year for the Cowapa League and awarded First Team All-State in 4 A as a sophomore. Fuller was named Second Team All-State as an outfielder. Olson and Anicker were each named to the 4 A Third Team All-State, and Anicker was recognized as Co-Pitcher of the Year for the Cowapa League. Though they got a lot of recognition, Webb feels that the team could have had even more repre -

“We had such a deep team this year, like 1-9, and really 1-13; we had so many capable, accomplished players that really we feel like more of our guys could have received honors,” Webb said. “It’s just another reason why the focus is on winning the state championship. The awards and honors are kind of political, and you never know what you’re going to get. Well, if we go and win the title, no one can debate that.”

Going forward, Scappoose will look to hold itself to the high bar it has set, and its young team promises to give them another chance at a state championship. With a culture of commitment to a team goal, Scappoose has all the tools it needs to try and defend its title.

Follow our coverage of local sports at thechronicleonline.com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Chronicle.

Courtesy photo from Donnie Brummer

State champion Vivianna Scott atop the podium.

Courtesy photo from Donnie Brummer

St. Helens Middle School Girls Wrestling Team from left to right, Jadyn Pense, Addison Andrehsen, Annaliese Steele, Izabella McColm, Rebel Peau, Nora Dame, Nova Woolworth, Leah Yarbor. Coaches left to right: Cole Dicarlo, Donnie Brummer, Jeff Andrehsen, Michael Zacharias.

Courtesy photo from Josi Welter

Scappoose High School Baseball captured the 4 A state title, defeating Pendleton 12-2 on June 3.