SHC-75

Wednesday, July 5, 2023

$1.50

Serving Columbia County since 1881

CRFR audit indicates potential fraud

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

Early findings of the boarddirected forensic audit into Columbia River Fire and Rescue’s (CRFR) finances indicate widespread mismanagement of district funds.

Accounting firm Merina+Company (MCO) conducted the audit, and at a special CRFR board meeting on June 30, MCO Partner Robert Moody detailed the early findings of the audit that was ordered on April 28.

Prior to ordering the audit on April 28, in a regular board meeting on April 11, Medina stated that he had presented documents to Columbia County District Attorney Jeff Auxier that showed financial irregularities on the part of current and past employees and their family members before his arrival. Medina announced that Auxier and Oregon State Police would investigate these irregularities.

According to Moody, financial irregularities stem from multiple past employees being improperly classified for purposes of employer retirement contributions to PERS, $1 million of under-reported salaries and wages to the workers’ compensation provider, and irreconcilable credit card charges on district accounts.

Moody opened his report to the board, saying he has 35 years of governmental accounting, auditing, and reporting experience, but this case is unique.

“I will admit that outside of a couple of other fraud cases that I’ve worked, I’ve never seen anything quite like this,” Moody said. “Internal controls over financial reporting and accounting at the

district, it would be an understate ment to say they just weren’t good.”

The audit was conducted using records provided by the district, but Moody noted that there were instances of missing or unavailable records that could be indications of fraud.

“The lack of complete, accurate, and retrievable financial records is often an indication of either incompetence on the part of finanical personnel or an indication of a complex scheme of obfuscation to mask misappropriation,” the audit states.

One area where documentation was lacking was reporting ex-

Chief Director of Finance, Jimmy Sanchez, all credit cards for the district were recalled, except for one in Medina’s name. Prior to Medina’s arrival, the district established credit card accounts with U.S. Bank in 2016. Some of the charges that the audit highlighted as being examples of potential misuse were:

• Charges at hair salons

• Air, lodging, and meal travel costs for which no documentation was provided

• Excessive charges to Amazon

the district’s checking account, bypassing board approval. Individuals who had districtissued cards were Monica Cade, Richard Fletcher, Jennifer Motherway, Marit Nelson, Eric Smythe, Jay Tappan, Ian O’Connor, David Coombs, Jeremy Lehner, Erick Holsey, and Medina.

Between 2016 and 2022, the referenced accounts made purchases amounting to $709,728, an average of $118,288 per year across all cardholders, according to the audit.

Former CRFR Finance Di-

rector Marit Nelson and former Fire Chief Ian O’Connor incurred charges of $204,080 and $209,784, respectively, nearly 30% of total credit card charges for that period.

The report found that former employees Motherway and Nelson incurred travel expenses of $2,174.52 and $4,599.02, where no supporting documentation was provided. These travel expenses included multiple one-night stays in Las Vegas.

For the same period from 2016 through 2022, MCO identified $35,574 in meal expenditures. MCO found that $19,688 of these expenditures could be attributed to the account of Cade and Motherway. The audit said the purchases from these two accounts “appear excessive.”

The report also stated that there was a downward trend in spending on the accounts of Motherway, Nelson, and O’Connor on the arrival of Chiefs Medina and Sanchez.

It should be noted that a civil lawsuit was filed against the CRFR and Chief Medina on April 7 by former employees Anika Todd and Jennifer Motherway, alleging sexual harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, and a hostile work environment. A third employee, Monica Cade, joined the lawsuit on the same day as the CRFR emergency board meeting.

PERS and workers comp

The audit also found that several employees, including Motherway, Cade, Nelson, Susan Cerelli,

See CRFR Page A7

City gets $2.5M for sewer system improvements

STAFF REPORT

Country Media, Inc.

T he City of St. Helens has been awarded a $2.5 million Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from Business Oregon for sewer system improvements.

The funds will be used for design, engineering, environmental review, and permitting for the St. Helens Sanitary Sewer Capacity Improvements Project.

In November 2021, the City of St. Helens updated its Wastewater Master Plan. The City’s previous master plan was developed in 1989, and the update was long overdue. Cities use master plans as a road map to evaluate their current infrastructure, prioritize necessary improvements and deficiencies, and plan for future growth.

The City’s 2021 Wastewater Master Plan analyzed the St. Helens sanitary sewer collection system and concluded that the majority of the City’s sewer mains are currently operating at or above

capacity. The sanitary sewer collection system has a finite capacity to carry wastewater based on the size of the system’s infrastructure such as pipes and manholes. When a sewer exceeds 85% of its flow depth to pipe diameter, it is considered undersized. Inadequacies in the sewer system increase the risk of potential sanitary sewer (sewage) overflows in the system.

After reviewing the data, it was clear that to continue to provide safe and effective sewer service and protect public health and St. Helens waterways, sewer deficiencies would need to be immediately addressed. City staff and the St. Helens City Council launched the Sanitary Sewer Capacity Improvements Project to perform critical capacity upgrades.

The project will achieve several objectives, including:

• Reducing the risk of potential sanitary sewer overflows in the

SEWER Page A9

Columbia County DA Auxier leaving office

WILL LOHRE

Country Media, Inc.

A fter six years serving Columbia County, District

Opinion ..................... A4

Poll ............................ A4

Community Calendar A4

Obituaries ................. A5

Classified Ads ......... A6

Legals ....................... A6

Crossword ............... A7

Vol. 141, No. 28

Attorney Jeff Auxier is stepping down from his elected position effective July 7.

Auxier has accepted a senior deputy district attorney staff position in the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office and he cited a number of reasons for stepping away prematurely before his team ended in Columbia County.

“This is really a family decision. Something that my wife and I think is best for our family and our two boys. And I feel really good about the office that I’m leaving in Columbia County,” Auxier said. “I am someone who worked in Multnomah County for a little under ten years before coming out here, and I feel compelled to help with the public safety challenges that are happening in the city right now.”

Compensation in Auxier’s new position was also a factor. In his new position, Auxier is slated to make $204,637 per year within the Multnomah County DA’s office.

As District Attorney in Columbia County, Auxier said he received about $131,000 from the state annually, and about $19,740 in

additional compensation from the county per year, totaling approximately $150,000.

Auxier was originally elected in 2017, before being reelected in May of 2022. Auxier was slated to serve a second four-year term.

While he said he loves Columbia County and has enjoyed living here for the past ten years, Auxier added that he feels compelled to rejoin his colleagues in Multnomah County. Auxier and Multnomah County DA worked together in the misdemeanor unit “ages ago.”

“[Schmidt] is someone that I care about; I know he cares about that office, and he’s someone I’d be proud to work for,” Auxier said.

Auxier said he’s been considering the move for most of the spring. While he will be stepping down, Auxier said he doesn’t foresee his successor changing approaches to cases and investigations that Auxier was managing.

Will Lohre / Country Media Inc.

CRFR board members and command staff hearing the results of the financial audit at a special meeting on June 30.

Millions earmarked for mental health, addiction services

On some fronts, the Oregon Legislature took immediate action to address the state’s behavioral health and addiction crises. On another front, lawmakers avoided direct action by creating a task force to discuss solutions.

For example, lawmakers passed an expansive proposal that would make opioid overdose reversal medication more widely available in different settings, like public schools and buildings. They also passed a 40cent monthly phone tax to pay for a new crisis hotline, 988. But other decisions will take more time to play out: They formed a task force to look at alcohol taxes and addiction programs rather than raise the beer and wine tax to pay for recovery programs.

Though the 2023 legislative session is wrapped up, Oregon remains in the throes of a complex set of behavioral health and addiction crises. Residential treatment options for people grappling with behavioral health issues are limited, with more demand for beds than availability. The opioid addiction crisis – and deaths from overdoses – are on the rise in Oregon, with lethal fentanyl widely available.

Advocates and lawmakers agree that years of work lie ahead for Oregon’s behavioral health system.

Residential treatment

Through different bills, state lawmakers have allocated money to expand residential treatment facilities for people who need mental health or addiction treatment services.

They include:

• $50 million in lottery bond funding to expand residential treatment for people with severe mental illness.

That came through Senate Bill 5506, an end-of-session budget proposal.

• $15 million to expand facilities that treat children and adults with drug or alcohol addiction is included in Senate Bill 5525, which Gov. Tina Kotek has not yet signed.

It’s unclear how many people those budget items might help. The Oregon Health Authority officials didn’t provide the Capital Chronicle with an estimate of the number of beds they expect to add.

But lawmakers want to track where the money goes – and what the needs will be. Senate Bill 5525 requires the agency to prepare a report showing how many behavioral health facility beds the system has and how the money has expanded the system. That report is due by Feb. 1, 2025 and will go to the Legislature’s joint budget committee as the next long session starts.

“We will know how much more residential treatment capacity we need to have,” said Rep. Rob Nosse, D-Portland and chair of the House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care. “And we’ll either fund it or make a lot of progress

towards getting it.”

In 2021, the Legislature put an historic $1.3 billion toward behavioral health for a variety of needs, such as expanding residential facilities and incentives to recruit and retain people in the behavioral health care workforce. Nosse said the state’s new spending builds upon that investment.

“None of that went away,” Nosse said. “This is a new investment on top of that.”

Oregon State Hospital

Oregon State Hospital, the state-run psychiatric residential facility in Salem and Junction City, will benefit from the Legislature’s actions, both directly and indirectly, said Amber Shoebridge, a spokesperson for the hospital.

Lawmakers earmarked $6 million for case management services to help more patients leave the hospital and return to their communities, Shoebridge said in an email. It’s unclear how far that will go toward meeting the needs. The hospital declined to make anyone available to answer questions.

The state hospital, overseen by the Oregon Health Authority, accepts people who are “aid-and-assist” patients with pending criminal charges and in need of treatment to aid in their defense. The hospital also accepts patients who are found guilty except for insanity and sent there instead of prison.

The hospital has faced scrutiny and litigation in recent years over its inability to move patients through treatment and return them to communities in a timely manner. That’s resulted in hundreds of people languishing in jails waiting for care, sparking lawsuits by disability advocates and others. In September, a federal judge ordered the state hospital to treat and return “aid-and-assist” patients back to their communities within 90 days for misdemeanor charges, six months for felony charges and one year for violent felonies.

Community mental health

When people leave the state hospital, they receive care from community men-

tal health programs, which operate in each of Oregon’s 36 counties.

These programs can help people before they deteriorate and end up in jail and the state hospital. They offer a mix of services, treatment and programs.

New funding for community mental health programs includes:

• $7 million to expand community treatment for people with severe psychiatric illness who are under civil commitment orders.

• Nearly $5 million for community mental health programs that provide treatment to people to keep them out of jail. These programs are also called jail diversion.

At the same time, providers say resources are stretched for community mental health facilities, with the state hospital discharging patients sooner than in the past, said Cherryl Ramirez, executive director of the Association of Oregon Community Mental Health Programs.

“The problem is with the faster discharges, we just don’t have the capacity in the community to place people in appropriate settings,” Ramirez said in an interview. “Especially with aid-and-assist clients, they’re much more likely to be houseless.”

Ramirez said the Legislature’s investments in residential services, community mental health programs and the 988 funding, are steps in the right direction. But she said the state needs for more staff in community settings and throughout the behavioral health system.

988 hotline

Oregonians will see a 40-cent monthly tax on their phones, including cells, starting in January to pay for the state’s 988 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline.

The service, run by the nonprofit Lines for Life in Oregon, became available in 2022 as part of a national mandate from Congress.

Under House Bill 2757, the tax revenue will first go toward the hotline’s call center. Any remaining money can pay for mobile crisis intervention

teams. Those teams, set up throughout the state, send trained specialists to people having a breakdown on the streets, for example, and direct them toward services. They offer an alternative to traditional law enforcement and, combined with the 988 line, an alternative to 911 calls.

Ramirez praised the proposal as providing a stable source of funding that would help increase behavioral health care workers needed for crisis response teams.

“We need to invest a lot of funding into hiring a workforce because we need many more teams to be able to have the staffing required 24/7,” Ramirez said.

In its first year, the phone tax is expected to generate about $26 million.

Opioid overdoses

The rise in opioid overdose deaths has alarmed state officials and public health advocates, especially with fentanyl awash on the streets. The number of deaths have more than doubled in the last several years. In 2019, 280 Oregonians died of opioid overdoses, and in 2020, that increased to 472, according to Oregon Health Authority data. Deaths spiked again in 2021, with 737 fatalities. The deaths for 2022 are not yet fully compiled. So far, the total is 631.

The bills that passed include:

• Fentanyl possession would become a class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 364 days in jail, a $6,250 fine, or both. The move through House Bill 2645, which Kotek hasn’t yet signed, was backed by Republicans and is intended to give law enforcement tools to fight the crisis and dealers. It closes a loophole created by the passage of Measure 110, which voters approved in 2020 to decriminalize low-level drug possession and put more money

toward addictions services.

• Naloxone – the lifesaving medication that stops opioid overdoses – would become more widely available in public schools and public buildings under House Bill 2395, which is also not yet signed. Under the bill, first responders like firefighters and paramedics would be able to give naloxone kits to people who face the risk of a future overdose.

• The Oregon Health Authority, Board of Education and Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission will develop education materials to teach schoolchildren about the dangers of opioids under Senate Bill 238, which Kotek has signed into law. Tony Morse, policy director of the Portland-based advocacy group Oregon Recovers, praised the bill’s passage, saying it’s needed with the alarming rise of opioid overdoses among Oregon adolescents.

Lawmakers also passed other addiction measures:

• For youth, House Bill 2767, on Kotek’s desk, would create a pathway for “recovery” schools, which help youth with drug or alcohol addiction issues, gain state approval and accreditation. Currently, Oregon only has one recovery school –Harmony Academy Recovery High School in Lake Oswego.

• House BIll 2513, still awaiting Kotek’s signature, would make administrative changes to help the state carry out the mandates in Measure 110. It would provide more staff support to the oversight council and set deadlines for an audit, among other changes.

Alcohol addiction

Lawmakers took smaller steps toward addressing the state’s epidemic of alcohol addiction, creating a task force to explore the issue.

An average of about six people a day die of alcohol-attributable causes in Oregon, according to a

state report. In 2021, 2,153 people died of alcohol-related causes, including liver disease and overconsumption, state data shows.

Under House Bill 3610, Oregon would start a 20-member task force to look at alcohol prices and addiction services, with input from the liquor industry, public health officials, health care and advocates for recovery. The task force would be required to look at the tax on alcohol and funding for addiction treatment and determine whether lawmakers should consider increasing the alcohol tax to better fund addiction services. The bill, not yet signed by Kotek, would require the task force to give lawmakers recommendations by September 2024. Advocates welcome the move as a step in the right direction.

A state report concluded that the 2019 cost of excessive drinking in Oregon totaled about $4.8 billion, including lost earnings from work and costs from vehicle crashes, jail, court cases, health care, education and human services programs.

“If you can make drinking a little bit more costly, then you have less consequences that come out of excessive alcohol use,” said Tony Morse, policy and advocacy director for Oregon Recovers, which advocates for solutions to the state’s addiction crisis. “Number two, it’s a revenue stream when we need more treatment, detox and prevention programming in Oregon. This is a funding bucket that we can use to fund these desperately needed services.”

The measure’s passage comes after failed attempts to raise alcohol taxes, including this session when Gov. Tina Kotek requested – then dropped – a request for the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission to add a 50-cent surcharge to bottles of alcohol to fund mental health and addiction services.

Metro Creative Connection

The Oregon Legislature passed measures to provide more residential care, respond to people in crises and fight the opioid overdose epidemic.

Gov. Kotek eyes passed bills - and what remains

BOTKIN

Capital

Sometimes, Oregonians don’t get everything they want from the Legislature, even after a 160-day session. And sometimes, not even a governor can convince enough legislators to pass a bill.

Now, Gov. Tina Kotek is mapping out a future strategy after the Senate killed her proposal on changing the land-use law so cities can extend their urban growth boundaries which designate the area where contractors can build. The measure, House Bill 3414, was a key part of her push to expand the state’s long-term housing supply by adding more flexibility for city land use. It’s part of Kotek’s wider push to address the state’s homelessness crisis and housing shortage.

Kotek said she personally worked in the final days of

the session to get support for the proposal. It passed the House on Friday on a 33-21 vote but the Senate voted it down on Sunday.

“I thought we would pass the bill,” Kotek said Wednesday in a news conference. “We didn’t. That happens. That doesn’t mean we aren’t coming back on the topic. So I upheld my side of the bargain, which was to try to get it done. And we need to continue that conversation.”

The bill would have allowed cities to extend their urban growth boundaries by up to 150 acres. Republicans and some Democrats supported the idea but most Democrats, who hold the majority, opposed it. With a 15-10 vote, it fell one vote short of the 16 needed to pass in the 30-member Senate.

But Kotek, who traded in her House speaker’s gavel for the governor’s office after last year’s election, had wins, including on housing.

“I do believe the Legislature made good progress with the funding and some of the policy work both on homelessness and housing during the session,” Kotek told reporters. “But as many of you know, I’m never satisfied and we have more work to do.”

Kotek said she and her staff will evaluate everything that the Legislature accomplished and look at further work on the issue. It’s unclear whether – or when –lawmakers will take the issue up again. The short session starts in February 2024.

The Legislature passed 600 bills this session. They include:

• $155 million for the state’s emergency response to immediately start to reduce homelessness this year.

• $316 million to house another 750 families, prevent homelessness for 11,700 households that are at risk, help shelters, support 700

more beds for shelters and other housing efforts.

• $650 million in bonding to build more affordable housing.

Kotek has about 350 bills left to review. She has 30 days after the end of

them. Without either, a bill becomes law without her signature.

Kotek said she hasn’t identified any bills she’s planning to veto.

“We are just sitting down with bills,” Kotek said. “A

lot happened. My team reads every bill. I read every bill. I don’t have any ‘yay’ or ‘nay’ at this point.”

Following this developing story here online and in the Wednesday print editions of The Chronicle.

Portland-area auditor named new secretary of state

the professional background and ethical judgment to rise above politics and lead the important work of the agency forward.”

Kotek called GriffinValade at a news conference “a leader with a steady hand,” adding that she was “precisely what this world demands at this moment after the scandal in that office.”

She said she expects Griffin-Valade to scrutinize what the office is doing, how it conducts business and make any needed changes.

“She will look at everything they’re doing,” Kotek said. “I will leave it to her discretion if she needs to make any (changes).”

In the release, Griffin-Valade said she has the experience to bring back accountability and transparency to the office.

Gov. Tina Kotek tapped LaVonne Griffin-Valade, a longtime government auditor in the Portland area, to become Oregon’s next secretary of state.

The appointment that marks the end of a tumultuous chapter for the office following the resignation of Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, who left in early May amid a moonlighting scandal.

Kotek’s appointment, announced Wednesday, will be effective on Friday when Griffin-Valade is sworn into office. She will serve the remainder of the term, and voters will pick the next secretary of state in the November 2024 election.

The Secretary of State’s Office, with 231 staff members, oversees elections, audits of state agencies and business filings for Oregonians.

Deputy Secretary Cheryl Myers has overseen the agency since Fagan resigned.

The secretary of state is the next in line to be governor.

Griffin-Valade, who’s 69, retired in 2014 to become a full-time writer after working as an auditor for more than 16 years. She was hired as a senior management auditor at the Multnomah County Auditor’s Office in 1998 and later became the elected Multnomah County auditor.

In 2009, Griffin-Valade was elected Portland city auditor.

“I told Oregonians in May that the primary objective of our next Secretary of State was to restore confidence in the office,” Kotek said in a statement.

“LaVonne Griffin-Valade has

“It’s never been more important to have a leader who will focus on rebuilding the public’s trust in the Secretary of State’s office, and that is exactly what I will aim to do every day,” she said in a statement.

As Portland auditor, Griffin-Valade oversaw divisions requiring a high level of independence and ethical judgment from managers and staff, the release said.

She also worked on government auditing nationwide and in Canada as a member of an international committee. After she left office, she earned a master’s in fine arts in writing and has published personal essays. In 2021, she published “Dead Point,” the first in a series of gritty crime novels featuring Sgt. Maggie Blackthorne of Oregon State Police. Griffin-Valade lives in northeast Portland, has been married 41 years and has four children and as many grandchildren.

The Oregon Public Employees Retirement System pays her a pension of $31,098 a year, according to data compiled by The Oregonian/OregonLive, and as secretary of state she’ll earn $77,000 annually, which is set in statute.

Griffin-Valade’s appointment follows the sudden downfall of a rising political star. Fagan resigned on May 2, just one day after she apologized for “poor judgment” in accepting a $10,000-amonth consulting job for a cannabis chain seeking to expand. The Secretary of State office was conducting an audit of the cannabis industry at the time. Fagan said she needed the side job to make ends meet with her secretary

of state salary. A former state legislator, she won the role in the 2020 election.

On Feb. 20, Fagan began working with Veriede Holding LLC, an affiliate of La Mota, which grows, manufactures and sells cannabis products, while her office was auditing the state’s regulation of the cannabis industry. Fagan was researching other states’ cannabis regulations.

In early February, shortly before she started working for La Mota, Fagan recused herself from the audit, which was largely finished by that time. But Fagan had communicated with La Mota about

the scope of the audit, raising questions about whether she had a conflict of interest that might have undermined the work of state auditors who were unaware of her side job.

In May, Sens. Brian Boquist, I-Dallas, and Art Robinson, R-Cave Junction, sent a letter to the U.S. Attorney’s office and requested an investigation after reading a Willamette Week article about the owners of La Mota who gave thousands in dollars in campaign funds to prominent politicians, including Kotek and Senate President Rob Wagner, and Fagan, all Democrats.

Since Fagan’s resigna-

tion, several investigations have started.

Federal prosecutors have subpoenaed the Secretary of State’s Office, the Department of Administrative Services, the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission and the Department of Revenue for records related to Fagan and La Mota cannabis retailer owners Aaron Mitchell and Rosa Cazares. Separately, the state Justice Department is investigating the audit, and the state ethics commission is investigating Fagan after receiving complaints.

Michael Romanos / Oregon Capital Chronicle

Gov. Tina Kotek speaks during an interview with the Oregon Capital Chronicle in the ceremonial office of the state library in Salem on May 17, 2023. Kotek talked to reporters on Wednesday, June 18, 2023, about the legislative session.

BEN BOTKIN Oregon Capital Chronicle Chronicle Guest Article

Courtesy photo from Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek’s office Gov. Tina Kotek has named LaVonne Griffin-Valade to be secretary of state following the sudden departure of Shemia Fagan amid a moonlighting scandal.

News and Views

My parents immigrated to continue family legacy in America

Iowa. My parents’ dedication and commitment helped make their lifelong dreams of small business ownership a reality. My mom successfully opened her own private medical practice, which brought new challenges of caring for her patients while simultaneously managing the daily functions of a growing business. I learned from her experiences the value of advocating for policies that promote small business growth which create the high-paying jobs our communities desperately need.

The journey

ditional access to capital, business training and federal contracts. By helping these entrepreneurs, we are supporting the innovation, competition and unique experiences that AANHPI communities bring to the larger small business picture.

loans under $50,000 totaling $3.7 billion.

Equity goals

I am proud to be a first generation Asian-American with parents who immigrated to this country for the opportunities all Americans enjoy today.

My father, who is a trained physician, delivered phonebooks at night while my mother held jobs in a nursing home and cut fabric at a local store. My mother was also a medical resident at the University of Chicago three hours away from her daughters, who lived in

Today, as I look back at my parents’ small business journey, I fully understand the critical importance of supporting our AsianAmerican, Native Hawaiian, Pacific-Islander (AANHPI) business communities. Both President Biden and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman have created a plan to help AANHPI small businesses grow by providing ad-

While Asian American, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders make up only 6.2% of the U.S. population, they own 8.4% of all small businesses nationwide. Three million businesses are owned by Asian Americans employing five million people with annual revenues of more than $1 trillion. Most of these businesses are in the professional, science, medical and technical services segments of our economy.

One way the SBA is supporting our nation’s AANHPI entrepreneurs is through its flagship loan guarantee programs. In fiscal year 2022, the agency approved 1,084 504-loans worth $1.5 billion and 5,603 7(a)-loans totaling $5.3 billion to AANHPI businesses. During this same period, the agency also approved 165 micro-

In May 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14031, which directed the development of an ambitious, government-wide interagency plan to advance equity, justice and opportunity for AANHPI communities. The SBA established four equity goals that focus on direct assistance including: Goal 1: Improve access to capital for underserved communities, including AANHPI small business owners. SBA is investing in additional technology to match underserved borrowers with Community Financial Institutions, including Community Development Financial Institutions. For borrowers, application requirements will be simplified, data will integrate automatically, a high-quality customer service support system will be available, and the process will be mobilefriendly.

Goal 2: Expand access to federal procurement and contracting opportunities. SBA will enroll more small, disadvantaged businesses into its business development and contracting programs including the 8(a) Business Development program, HUBZone program and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business certification program. The goal is to strengthen those businesses’ capabilities to compete and perform on contracts.

Goal 3: Provide support and expanded access to disaster assistance. SBA will work with its field and program offices to develop a systematic and formal process with its resource partners to assist AANHPI businesses with disaster loans, including application completion, reconsiderations, credit repair, and managerial and technical services.

Goal 4: Increase access to business counseling, training, and services. SBA will investigate innovative approaches for reaching AANHPI clients through its

Community Navigators Pilot Program, Women’s Business Centers, Small Business Development Centers, SCORE and Procurement Technical Assistance Centers.

As a result of my parents’ hard work, my mother became a successful entrepreneur who loved the work she did every day. I am proud of my parents’ fortitude and business savvy and feel proud that the SBA is a staunch ally of the AANHPI community.

For more information on how the SBA can assist your small business start, grow or expand, please visit www. sba.gov. Also, remember to follow us on Twitter @ SBAPacificNW.

Aikta Marcoulier oversees the SBA’s programs and services as the agency’s Acting Regional Administrator for the Pacific Northwest serving Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. She is also the Regional Administrator serving Colorado, Montana, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

City ordinance resorts to silencing speech, critics

STEVE TOSCHI

Chronicle Guest Column

When you think about a government passing laws that say, “You will not state anything that conflicts with our decisions,” We will control who are your friends,” and “We don’t want people to be around ‘your kind,’” you would think these are laws that would be passed in Russia, or China.

Government control of speech, suppression of speech, social isolation and shaming of people who criticize the government occur in this world every day – usually elsewhere. But recently St. Helens passed a law on votes by Rick Scholl, Jessica Chilton, and Brian Gunderson for the purpose of suppressing speech and association. Councilors Brandon Sundeen and Patrick Birkle voted against it.

The new law empowers

any city councilor, or staff, to accuse any commissioner with a “lack of integrity” or a “violation of the code of conduct” for simply stating to anyone that they disagree with the city council, even in private conversations. The law empowers any councilor or staff to accuse a commissioner of a violation of “code of conduct” for being impolite, belligerent, and being seen with people that may give the “appearance” of a lack of objectivity, among pages of other alleged possible issues. The commissioner is then “tried” by his/her accusers. If found “guilty,” the commissioner can be counseled or fired. The law is about the council suppressing ideas. It creates a procedure to bring false accusations, to shame people, and to isolate people who may disagree with them. I personally have experienced false accusations by

Rick Scholl and Jessica Chilton. The genesis of this law was my effort to bring to the public’s attention the danger of the city enacting a law that allowed homeless camping in all our neighborhoods and business districts.

Scholl, Chilton, and Gunderson want to make sure that their commissioners (Parks, Planning, Budget) will not express thoughts different from theirs. The threat of a bogus trial by one’s accusers upon false accusations of “code of conduct” violations is a method to control the narrative. When controversial matters arise, people will be silenced. Or the council will only attract those willing to agree with them to their commissions.

The law violates the United States Constitution. Even commissioners are entitled to have and express independent thought and even strong disagreement with the

Community EvEnts

July 9 Ice Cream Festival

2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Caples House, 1925 1st St., Columbia City. Sundaes are $5. Music by Yankton Grangers. For questions, please call 503-397-5390.

July 18 Fireside Chat

7 p.m. at Caples House, 1925 1st St., Columbia City, $5. Trish Ovendorf speaks on Why is Caples House called Caples House? For questions, please call 503397-5390.

Ongoing Events

Fridays 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Caples House offers Tea and Sweets: a bottomless cup of tea with a homemade dessert. ONLY $5. In The Cottage, 1925 First Street, Columbia City. 503-3975390.

Fridays - Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. - Caples House Museum Tours, 1925 1st Street in Columbia City.$5. Stop by and see what has changed. 503-397-5390.

Lower Columbia River

Watershed Council

Lower Columbia Watershed

CONTACT US

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

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

Overcomers Outreach

Meetings are held every Sat -

urday at 9 a.m. at Creekside Baptist Church, 51681 SW Old Portland Road in Scappoose. Call Fred 971-7576389.

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.

Watch Spring on Fridays 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Have tea and a sweet in Caples’ Cottage, 1925 1st Street in Columbia City. Cost is $5. 503-397-5390.

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 jruark@countrymedia.net or chronicleclassifieds@countrymedia. net, or call 503-397-0116.

government. It is the sign of very weak, very desperate, and very worried leadership to resort to suppression of speech and association to control their agenda.

As an attorney in California and Oregon, I took an oath to “support the Constitution of the United States.” As such, I cannot be part of a government that violates the Constitution.

I’m not going to sign a document (also a violation)

that I agree to “go along with the program.” Plus, having already been falsely accused of by Rick Scholl and Jessica Chilton, I don’t want to waste my time or have my reputation damaged dealing with bogus allegations brought before a kangaroo court.

It’s clear to me that positive changes for our people, and protection of our people, will come at the ballot box.

I think I’ll be much more ef-

fective to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our people working for a change of leadership. It is needed.

Steve Toschi is an Attorney at Law and a citizen of St. Helens.

The comments made in this guest column are the writer’s alone and do not represent the opinion of The Chronicle or its parent company Country Media, Inc.

Phone: (503) 397-0116 • Fax: (503) 397-4093

• Website: www.thechronicleonline.com • Editorial: chroniclenews@countrymedia.net ADVERTISE WITH US: Display ads: chronicleads@countrymedia.net

Editorial policy: Opinions expressed on this page are independent of The Chronicle views and are solely those of the writers expressing them.

Write to us: We want to hear from you and encourage you to write letters to the editor. Because of space limitations, shorter letters have a better chance of being printed. We may edit your letter for style, grammar and clarity, although we do as little editing as possible. If you don’t want your letter printed under those conditions, just let us know. Thank-you letters are limited to a general thanks and summary of

an issue or action. We reserve the right to exclude lists of people, organizations and businesses. Letters received after noon on Friday may not be in time for the following Wednesday’s paper.

To verify authenticity, all letters must be signed and include your address and daytime phone number. We won’t print your street address or phone number (just your city of residence). Submissions may be emailed to chroniclenews@countrymedia.net, sent via mail, or dropped off at the office.

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.

Courtesy photo

Aikta Marcoulier

Oregon’s minimum wage increases

JEREMY C. RUARK

Country Media, Inc.

People earning minimum wage in Oregon are receiving a pay boost this month.

Under the state’s formula, the wage is divided into three geographical areas, according to the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI).

• The standard minimum wage

Benton, Clatsop, Columbia, Deschutes, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk, Tillamook, Wasco and Yamhill counties.

• The Portland Metro minimum wage

• The non-urban minimum wage

Baker, Coos, Crook, Curry, Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Wallowa and Wheeler counties.

The minimum wage rates in Oregon increased July 1.

“Raising the minimum wage can increase worker productivity, reduce absenteeism, and strengthen recruitment and retention of employees, which is a critical component of addressing Oregon’s workforce shortage,” according to a

Crossword solution

Solution

crossword puzzle

release from the BOLI.

The minimum wage rates will increase as follows:

• Standard minimum wage: $14.20 per hour

• Portland Metro minimum wage: $15.45 per hour

• Non-urban minimum wage: $13.20 per hour

The law requires an adjustment to the minimum wage to be calculated no later than April 30 of each year based upon any increase in the U.S. City Average Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) for All Urban Consumers for All Items from March of the preceding year to March of the year in which the calculation is made.

This amount is required to be rounded to the nearest five cents. The current standard minimum wage rate is $13.50. Based on an increase in the CPI of 5.0% from March 2022 to March 2023, the calculation used for determining the standard minimum wage rate as of July 1, 2023 is as follows:

$13.50 X .05 = $0.675, rounded to $0.70. The Portland metro minimum wage is $1.25 more than the standard minimum wage, and the non- urban minimum wage is $1.00 less than the standard minimum wage.

KOIN Portland contributed to this report.

Metro Creative Connection

Columbia County will see the wage increase to $14.20 per hour under the states standard minimum wage.

obituariEs

Martha Esther Burton

Oct. 6, 1928 ~ June 27, 2023

Martha Esther Burton passed away on June 27, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was 94.

Martha was born in Freewater, Oregon on Oct. 6, 1928, to Karl D. Ganz and Vera Loretta (Gaskill) Ganz. She was the oldest of six children. Martha grew up in Freewater and Milwaukie, Oregon.

After high school, she attended Eastern Oregon College of Education at LaGrand for one year and then Pacific Bible College for one year where she met her husband Edmond. They married on July 30, 1950. She moved to St. Helens in 1954 with her husband and their three children to help with a small church which became Sunset Park Community Church.

Martha worked many years at The Bank of St.

Mary Lou Davis passed away on Mon., June 5, 2023, at the age of 88 in her home in Columbia City, Oregon with family by her side. She was deeply loved and will be missed.

Mary Lou was born in Sitka, Alaska on March 13, 1935 to Ole Sunde and Christine (Burke). In 1954 she married the love of her life Harvey Davis. They met while he was stationed with the Coast Guard in Sitka. They had three children,

Rosemary Ann Sickles was born an only child in St. Helens, Oregon on Nov. 6, 1948, to Edith (Kyle) and Anthony Alesko. She passed away with her family by her side, on June 16, 2023.

Helens, later Western Bank. In 1973 she began working at the Columbia County Courthouse in the Oregon State Judicial Department. She retired from there in 1994.

Martha has been a member of Sunset Park Community Church since moving to St. Helens, taking an active

part in its ministries including Sunday school, the music department, the nursery, and as church treasurer. She loved traveling, reading, music, and scrapbooking.

Martha is survived by her children, Shirlene (Stephen) Perini of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Lorna (Dan) Standeford of Anchorage, Alaska, Kevin (Kathi) Burton of St. Helens, and Merrie Loyd of St. Helens; grandchildren, Karissa Griffith, Micah Perini, David Perini, Geoffirey Crezee, Michael Ryan Crezee, Madison Laughlin, Karissa Pena, Molli McLean-Burton, Courtney Armstrong, and Dallas Naish; great-grandchildren, Elyssa Griffith, Chloe Griffith, Annalise Griffith, Brielle Griffith, Levi Perini, Jackson Perini, Sebastian Perini, August Perini, Levi Crezee, Lydia

Mary Lou Davis

March 13, 1935 ~ June 5, 2023

Cindy, Donald and Deanna.

In 1982 the family moved to Oregon. Mary Lou was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She battled several life-threatening health issues over the years and bounced back with courage and determination to make the best of any situation.

Mary Lou is survived by her loving daughters, Deanna Cunningham (Columbia City, Oregon) and Cindy Davis (Waikoloa,

Hawaii); beloved grandson Cody Cunningham (Columbia City, Oregon); and numerous extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Harvey; son Donald; sisters, Dorothy Parshall and Sharon Stroud; brother Richard Sunde; father Ole Sunde; mother Christine (Burke); and stepmother Hixie Sunde-Arnoldt.

A private family service will be held at a later date.

Rosemary Ann Sickles

Nov. 6, 1948 ~ June 16, 2023

Community College with a nursing degree. She worked at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene, Oregon. After moving back to St. Helens, she worked for eleven years at Emanuel Hospital in Portland in the Trauma Care Unit.

She graduated from St. Helens High School in 1966. She attended business school and received her medical transcription certification. She worked as a transcrip tionist at the hospital in St. Helens, Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland, and for some private physicians. Her desire to become a nurse be- came a reality when in 1997 she graduated from Lane

With her husband of 50 years by her side, Susan Ann Hebert passed away in her Deer Island home, on June 25, 2023. She was 76 years old.

Susan spent much of her life in Oregon. Born in Portland, Oregon, in July of 1946, she graduated from nearby Newberg High School. Committed to finding her biological father from whom she had become separated, through her own investigative efforts Susan successfully located him in Florida. Their reconnection, first by telegram and followed by a quickly arranged flight, inspired her to relocate to Florida to become better acquainted.

Moving to Florida proved fortuitous as it was in Miami, in 1972, at a Parents Without Partners Dance that she met

her soulmate, Leonard. Just thirteen days after they met, Leonard and Susan officially wed and become a wonderfully blended family of seven. A desirable career opportunity led the family to relocate back to Oregon, establishing themselves in the Oregon City,

She loved the Oregon State Beavers. She especially loved going to as many football games as possible. She also enjoyed traveling (her favorite destination was Hawaii), jazz festivals, dancing, but her best time was spent with her family. The beach trips and clamming were

Milwaukie, Warren, and Deer Island communities. While she was officially licensed as a cosmetologist, Susan found herself drawn to multiple caregiving roles throughout her life. Motivated by a desire to prevent others from ever struggling to afford daycare, Susan established her own home childcare service- growing from just a couple neighbors to an exponential size in no time. Her passion for caregiving continued as she transitioned to assist elderly clients in their homes, performing daily needs of cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping, and other errands. Her clients became like family to her, and she affectionately referred to them as “her people.”

Susan is best described as unselfish, caring, and well-

Crezee, Isla Crezee, Halcy Crezee, Arora Pena, Maximo Pena, Luna Pena, Vincente Pena, Lilo Laughlin Walls, and Krew Knutson; siblings, Marjorie Patterson of East Wenatchee, Washington, Harold Ganz of Touchet, Washington, and Sylvia Beach of Spokane, Washington. She was preceded in death by her husband Edmond T. Burton; son Theodore L. Burton; and grandchildren, Ashley Burton, Brandon Crezee, and Matthew Burton. Memorial contributions in Martha’s name may be made to Sunset Park Community Church, Snoopeeland, National Right To Life at nrtl. org, or Clarehouse Hospice at clarehouse.org. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on July 7, 2023 at Sunset Park Community Church in St. Helens.

always a favorite. She is survived by her three children, Ron Schwirse, Robert (Alice) Schwirse and Melanie Veach; grandchildren, Caitie (David) Dunnington, Hallie (Logan) Schwirse, and Logan Veach; stepsons, Ben and Sam Sickles; and many close friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Steve Sickles; parents, Anthony and Edith Alesko; and granddaughter Amy Schwirse.

A service will be held at 1 p.m. on July 8, 2023 at 34801 Smith Road, St. Helens.

liked by all. Her extremely outgoing and unabashed nature will be missed by all who knew her, including those she frequently visited at Bertucci in St. Helens and the Miami Dolphins, who surely benefitted from the steadfast dedication of their most enthusiastic supporter.

Susan is survived by her husband, Leonard Hebert; five children, Dianna Turner, Dawnna Forbes, John Hebert, David Hebert, and Joann Seitz; and 15 grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her mother Evelyn (Johnson) Stone, and father Howard McCurdy.

Future plans are pending for a private graveside service at Willamette National Cemetery and a Celebration of Life for all who knew her.

Susan Ann Hebert July 15, 1946 ~ June 25, 2023

Kenneth Jay Tice was born in Kingfisher, Oklahoma on Sept. 20, 1939 and passed away on June 20, 2023 in St. Helens, Oregon. A celebration of life is pending and will be posted on columbiafh.com.

Kenneth Jay Tice Sept. 20, 1939 ~ June 20, 2023

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 one-time $20 copay. Free shipping & handling. Call Maxsip Telecom today! 1-877390-0458.

EarthLink

Choose EarthLink

Fiber Internet for speeds up to 5 Gigs, no data caps, no throttling. Prices starting at $54.95. Plus, a $100 gift card when you make the switch. Call 1-866-2663817. Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 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.

The Generac PWRcell, a solar plus battery storage system SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-844989-2328.

Switch and save up to $250/year on your talk, text and data No contract and no hidden fees. Unlimited talk and text with flexible data plans. Premium nationwide coverage. 100% U.S. based customer service. For more information, call 1-877916-0803.

Dish Network Only from Dish- 3 year TV Price Guarantee! 99% Signal Reliability, backed by guarantee. Includes Multi-Sport with NFL Redzone. Switch and Get a FREE $100 Gift Card. Call today! 1-866-373-9175.

DIRECTV OVER INTERNET

Get your favorite live TV, sports and local channels. 99% signal reliability! CHOICE Package, $84.99/ mo for 12 months. HBO Max and Pre-

mium Channels included for 3 mos (w/CHOICE Package or higher.) No annual contract, no hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-855602-2009.

Connect to the best wireless home internet with EarthLink

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 855-839-0752.

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 1-833-3951433.

The bathroom of your dreams for as little as $149/ month! BCI Bath & Shower. Many options available. Quality materials & professional installation. Senior & Military Discounts Available. Limited Time Offer - FREE virtual in-home consultation now and SAVE 15%! Call Today! 1-844-847-9778.

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.

American Heart Association

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

Eagle Star Rock Products

Seeking heavy equipment operator, front end loader experience preferred. Position is full time, Monday-Friday. Full benefit package available, including health, eye, & dental insurance; 401K, and vacation time. Call 503-3977861 for details.

Immediate Opening

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

702 Garage Sales

Garage Sale! Saturday, July 8th from 8:30a12:30a. A few antiques, furniture, tools, pet items, collectibles, yard tools and more. Lots of free items too! 59929 W. Kappler Rd., St. Helens, OR.

Tea & Treasures community yard sale Saturday, July 8 from 10- 3 at Christ Episcopal Church, 35350 E. Division Road, St. Helens. Tons of treasures to be found at multiple vendor tables! Bake sale with a huge variety of delectable treats. One day only!

sale: 345 Riverside Dr. St Helens. Fri. 7/7 from 8-3 & Sat. 7/8 from 9-2. 2 Twin frames/mattresses, tools, clothing, Christmas decor, household items, boating/fishing, bedding, miscellaneous.

CH23-1382

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

Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of SHIRLEY ANN McCARTNEY, Deceased. Case No. 23PB03632 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS Proceedings for this estate have been commenced. Claims against the estate may be presented to the co-personal representatives listed below. Any person who has a claim against the estate must present the claim to the co-personal representatives 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 co-personal representatives, or the attorneys for the copersonal representatives. Dated and first published on: July 5, 2023. Anna McCartney, Co-Personal Representative 154 N. 7th Street St. Helens, OR 97051

CH23-1381

Phone: (503) 396-1814. Tony McCartney, Co-Personal Representative 485 S 10th Street St. Helens, OR 97051 Phone: (503) 4380349. Attorneys for CoPersonal Representatives:

Aaron J. Trukositz, OSB No. 204618, Nicholas O. Herman, OSB No. 143360, LOWER COLUMBIA LAW GROUP LLC, 52490 Southeast Second Street, Suite 100, Scappoose, Oregon 97056, Phone: (503) 5434800, Fax: (888) 543-4806 Email: aaron@lowercolumbialaw.com, nick@lowercolumbialaw.com.

Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of RICHARD ALLAN FRENCH, Deceased. Case No. 23PB03510 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 July 5, 2023. Christopher A.

New Oregon Department of Education Director

Gov. Tina Kotek, as Superintendent of Public Instruction, has appointed Dr. Charlene Williams to serve as the next Director of the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction. Williams brings 30 years of experience as a teacher and public school administrator, working in school districts of all sizes. She is the first Black woman in Oregon history to be appointed to the role and will officially take over as interim director on Monday, July 10.

“I have dedicated my life to education because I’ve seen firsthand how a positive student-teacher relationship can set a child on a successful path for the rest of their life,” Williams said. “First and foremost, my goal will be to support students in every corner of the state so that they have the same chance to succeed. I recognize the significance of my appointment to this role and the immense amount of work we have ahead of us. I’m looking forward to building partnerships with students, educators and families across Oregon that advance equity and student success.”

“Dr. Williams is an exceptional leader and educator, and I believe will be a transformative, inclusive education director for all of Oregon,” Kotek said. “My vision is to make sure every child is successful and has a

safe place to receive a highquality public education. We have work to do to build toward that vision. I’m thrilled to work with someone who is highly skilled in developing and implementing programs designed at closing education gaps. Dr. Williams is strategic, thoughtful, hard-working, and exactly the leader our state education system needs at this moment.”

Williams has deep ties to the Pacific Northwest, according to a release from Kotek’s office. She spent the past seven years as an administrator in Southwest Washington public school districts, most recently as deputy superintendent at Evergreen Public Schools, where she has been supervising district leaders, leading the development of the district’s five-year strategic plan and launching a superintendent advisory committee.

Williams previously served as an assistant superintendent in the Camas School District from 2016 to 2022. She supervised principals, designed professional development opportunities, and facilitated district level meetings and trainings to better align district services and support to schools. This included facilitating the adoption of the district’s first equity policy, establishing affinity groups for staff and students, and the creation of community forums for Camas residents to discuss equity issues. She was a recipient of the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) Award for promot-

due to the misclassification.

ing access, equity, and social justice for students.

Williams also worked for seven years at Portland Public Schools, the largest public school district in Oregon. Her last role at the district was as the Senior Director of School Performance, where she helped redesign the teacher evaluation system in collaboration with the Portland Association of Teachers. She also worked with Peter Senge and the Waters Foundation to provide professional learning and resources for educators and leaders to implement systems thinking tools in their work.

Williams takes on the ODE Director’s position

after serving as principal at Roosevelt High School in North Portland. While there she facilitated a collaborative grant writing process, resulting in a $7.7 million investment to transform the school, and led a focused effort to accelerate graduation rates and close the graduation gap for students of color, resulting in a promotion to campus principal.

With her leadership, Roosevelt went on to significantly improve graduation rates and student performance, the release states. Williams led a collaborative team of teachers and administrators focused on closing the achievement gap across

all academic areas for lower socioeconomic students and students of color through methods of acceleration. She earned multiple state and national awards for improving student achievement.

Williams arrived in Oregon in 1999 to become a math instructor, program coordinator and curriculum developer at Portland Community College. From 2002 to 2009, she served as the Director of Education and later principal at Rosemary Anderson High School, an alternative school that is part of the Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (POIC).

“I am confident that Dr. Williams will continue ODE’s commitment to serving each and every student in Oregon’s 197 diverse school districts and striving toward equitable access to education for all our children,” Oregon Department of Education Director Colt Gill said.

“Throughout the process I learned that Dr. Williams is a collaborator, she believes every student matters, and that she is deeply committed to serving all of Oregon’s kids. She is the right leader for Oregon schools at this time.”

“This is a historical appointment that is going to make a positive difference for students and teachers across Oregon,” said Joyce Harris, a longtime educator, former director of the Region X Equity Assistance Center and former director of the equity center at Education Northwest. “Dr.

Williams has a special ability to connect with people. She is inspirational, approachable, and honest. During her time in Oregon, she was very effective at transforming a school’s culture through collaboration and engagement. She will be a powerful advocate for all of our schools and communities.”

“Dr. Williams is someone I know I can call and count on when I have a problem,” North Clackamas School District Superintendent Shay James said. “I’ve seen her unwavering commitment to each student and each community she serves. She always leans in and listens, showing the ability to lead and be a team player. Her brilliance lies in her work supporting educators’ professional development, bringing out the strengths in folks that ultimately moves our educational work forward. She understands the landscape of Oregon and will work to bring us together.”

Prior to selecting Williams as the next ODE director, Kotek’s education team led a national search that included candidate interviews with representatives from Student Success Advisories and educators across the state, the ODE executive team, Tribal Education Directors from Oregon sovereign nations, and the Governor’s executive team, prior to a final interview with Kotek.

The Oregon Senate will take up her confirmation as permanent director in September.

and Misty Holsey, among others, were misclassified for their PERS rates and benefits, and the district applied incorrect rates higher than they should have or allowed benefits that were inappropriate, resulting in over-contribution by the district.

As a result, from January 2019 to June 2021, the district over-contributed $52,175 for those five employees. These administrative positions were granted benefits and rates equal to those of active firefighters

Motherway has withdrawn all funds from her PERS account, and Nelson attempted to do the same but was refused by Chief Sanchez because of the financial review.

The employer decides the classification under PERS; only someone in the district can change this classification. It is unclear at this time who misclassified the employees, but the audit noted that Motherway’s withdrawal and Nelson’s attempt to withdraw are “suspicious” and could indicate awareness that PERS and the district may try and reclaim the lost funds.

The audit also found that

CRFR under-reported salaries and wages to the workers’ compensation provider SAIF of approximately $1 million. Under-reporting workers’ comp is often done to obtain a lower premium.

“My guess is there will be further conversations about that going forward with SAIF,” Moody said. “They will probably want their money at some point.”

Moody said they could only examine the period for the fiscal year of 2020-21 due to a lack of records. The report also stated that they could not conclude definitively based on the limited information.

Additionally, the audit stated that insurance 1099

Forms do not match the receipts from the district. Most amounts indicated in the cash receipts report were less than the amounts shown on the 1099s.

“The variances noted combined with a lack of effective internal controls over cash receipts and financial information, in general, provide an opportunity for misappropriation of funds through simple theft,” the audit says.

Board reaction

This special meeting was the last for CRFR board members Hans Feige, Kate McLane, and Mark Kreutzer. New board mem-

bers Fletcher, Ryan Welby, and Austin Zimbrick will be sworn in on July 11.

Upon hearing the findings of the report, Feige had mixed emotions.

“There’s a lot of other people now that see the same stuff we saw, and believe and agree with us, and believe that, like us, this should be pursued, and these people should be held accountable,” Feige said. “On one hand, it’s relief, because we’ve spent a lot of time and effort, and there’s a lot there, and we had to take a lot of grief from a lot of people.”

“The people in the report, are the same ones that were yelling, and I can’t be

the only one to see that and wonder what’s going on here,” Feige continued. “It’s also incredibly disappointing because I would prefer that this organization be run well.”

Feige said that these financial misdoings were done intentionally so that people could “live a lavish lifestyle.” Feige said that while this process will take time, he hopes that the new board will allow the audit to go uninhibited. Throughout the meeting, Moody maintained that they could not conclude that fraud had definitively occurred, and there were still more boxes of financial records to review.

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Deli side

DOWN

1. Air quality concern

2. Fibber

3. Farm measure

4. Sushi condiment

5. Natural moth repellent

6. To change, as in the U.S. Constitution

7. Fork prong

8. *”Harry Potter” animal (2 words)

9. Earthenware pot

10. *”Born Free” animal

11. I in T.G.I.F.

13. Administer diazepam

14. When Cinderella wins

19. Civil wrongs

22. “Some Nights” band

Solution

23. *”Life of Pi” animal

24. Close call

25. Bank job

26. Gossamer

27. Cry like #5 Across

28. Liquorice flavored herb

29. Hues

32. Backgammon predecessor

33. *”Babe” animal

36. *”Anchorman” and

“The Wizard of Oz” animals

38. Kundera’s “Unbearable Lightness of ____”

40. “That feels good!” exclamation

41. Set in motion

44. Like a go-getter bird

46. Lies in ambush

48. Wept

49. It makes waste?

50. Singular of #17 Across

51. Home versus ____ game

52. Guesstimate phrase (2 words)

53. To perfection (3 words)

54. Taj Mahal city

55. As opposed to gross

56. *”Willard” animal

Courtesy photo

Williams brings 30 years of experience as a teacher and public school administrator, working in school districts of all sizes. She is the first Black woman in Oregon history to be appointed to the role.

CRFR

Self-disclose works best for those with facial disorders

MOLLY ROSBACH Chronicle Guest Article

People with noticeable facial differences often feel compelled to explain the medical reasons behind those differences, but such involuntary disclosure may increase stigma, anxiety and depression, recent research from Oregon State University has found.

However, people who are able to disclose on their own terms, share openly and educate others about their conditions report positive outcomes like greater job satisfaction and higher selfworth.

“Facial difference” encompasses a broad spectrum of disorders, conditions, marks or injuries that are visible to others, including birthmarks, burns and scars.

Researcher Kathleen Bogart, an associate professor of psychology at OSU specializing in disability, has published two recent studies on the challenges experienced by people who feel pressure to explain their facial differences. The findings are based on both structured interviews and a larger survey of people with a variety of conditions such as port wine stain, facial paralysis and cleft lip.

“It seems that those who have very unusual conditions or are unable to hide

AUXIER

From Page A1

What’s next?

The next step will be a governor-appointed interim DA who works in the criminal justice division of the Oregon Department of Justice. That person will serve as acting DA until the governor makes an official

their conditions are essen tially penalized if they do not disclose openly, because other people are more likely to notice those conditions and to be curious or confused by them,” Bogart said.

“The people who do not disclose are really kind of breaking a social expectation.”

There hasn’t been much discussion in psychology about the expectation for people with facial differences to explain their medical details to anyone who asks, she said.

“We have spent a lot of time trying to understand and support people who have concealable stigmas — people who may be LGBTQ+, who may have men-

Auxier noted that his two chief deputies would remain in the office. With them being involved in all of the major investigations and cases, Auxier assured that there would still be continuity. Auxier said that whoever the governor appoints as district attorney will then be up for election in the May 2024 primary.

In his six years as Columbia County District Attorney,

we’ve spent a lot of time thinking about whether and how people might disclose, and the outcomes that come from it,” Bogart said. “But it seems that psychologists and maybe the public as a whole didn’t really realize that this is something that people with very obvious, visible differences contend with as well.”

The studies, published in the journals Stigma and Health and Body Image, split disclosure into two broad categories: “agentic (non)disclosure,” where other people dictated the terms; and “autonomous (non)disclosure,” where the person was able to choose for themselves whether and

“The biggest point of pride for me is the team of prosecutors who I have assembled in the office. I think we really have a great combination of experience that rivals any office in the state, including the major metropolitan offices,” Auxier said. “Simultaneously, having a lot of young lawyers who bring a lot of energy to the office, and are excited to work here and are moving their families

Autonomous disclosures, including people who shared their conditions indiscriminately or actively sought to educate others about their diagnoses, were associated with lower rates of anxiety and depression, as well as higher job satisfaction when it came to disclosing to employers.

Agentic disclosures included people feeling forced to explain their condition to avoid a negative reaction from others; someone else choosing to disclose on their behalf without consent; and refraining from sharing at all because others advised them not to.

Autonomous nondisclosure included individuals

as an office that people want to come and work for. The people he is leaving the office to is the accomplishment he’s most proud of, Auxier said. Gov. Tina Kotek announced June 29 that she is seeking applications to fill Auxier’s post by appointment. Applications will be accepted through July 24.

In a release, the Governor’s Office said it welcomes

facial differences, avoiding social situations where they might be noticed or providing false explanations.

Forced disclosures and self-imposed nondisclosures were all associated with negative outcomes, including higher rates of anxiety, depression and public stigma and lower self-esteem. However, the studies did not determine whether these negative experiences were the cause or the result of people choosing not to disclose a condition, and the social response to that choice.

“Some of the people I spoke to felt really strongly that disclosing openly — using broadcasting as a way

Applicants must submit a District Attorney Interest Form to the Governor’s Office. Please note that the District Attorney Interest Form is not the same form that is used for judicial vacancies. The District Attorney Interest Form is available online: Interest Form.

Interested applicants should address their completed application forms to Richard A. Lane, General Coun-

to educate and engage in advocacy at a social level — could ultimately change society and make it less hard for other people to disclose, or make it less expected for them to do that,” Bogart said.

In the age of social media, some individuals with facial differences use their platforms to educate others and build community, but others may not even be familiar with the term “facial difference” and be able to tap into those communities for support, she said.

“The public should be aware that there is kind of a societal expectation where people feel they should have an explanation for the cause of someone else’s appearance,” Bogart said. “I suspect that anyone with a visible disability experiences the same conundrum around whether to disclose or not and faces this constant expectation to explain themselves. For that social expectation to go away, we need large-scale social change, and that is not something that can be done on the backs of individuals with facial differences.”

Molly Rosbach works at the OSU Department of Marketing and Research. She may be reached at molly.rosbach@oregonstate. edu.

forms to Shevaun Gutridge at shevaun.gutridge@oregon. gov. Forms must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, July 24, 2023. Oregon law requires that, at the time of appointment, the appointee must be admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Oregon (ORS 8.630 and ORS 8.640). Follow this developing story at thechronicleonline.

Some individuals with facial differences use their social media platforms to educate others and build community.

Columbia River summer Chinook fishing closed

Country Media, Inc.

With the summer Chinook run tracking significantly below pre-season expectations, retention of adult summer Chinook closed on the Columbia River mainstem downstream of Priest Rapids Dam (PRD) as of Saturday, July 1.

Fishery managers from Washington and Oregon made the decision during a Joint State Hearing June 28, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW).

Retention of sockeye salmon, hatchery steelhead and jack Chinook remains open from the AstoriaMegler Bridge upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge at Pasco, WA. The daily adult bag limit is two adult salmonids (only one may be a hatchery steelhead) and five hatchery jack salmon. All sockeye are considered adults.

Upper Columbia summer Chinook pass Bonneville Dam from June 16 through July 31 destined for areas in the Columbia River Basin upstream of PRD, and fishery management policy prioritizes summer Chinook fisheries in these areas by allocating them most of the harvestable surplus.

With summer Chinook abundance lower than

expected, the number of fish available to harvest in lower river recreational fisheries decreased by more than half, making a Chinook closure in areas downstream of PRD necessary. Chinook fishing will reopen for fall seasons on Aug. 1, see the Recreation Report / Fishing Report for Columbia River Zone and click “Regulation Updates” for details about the fall season.

Forecast report

The following forecast report was issued by the ODFW in May of this year. Oregon and Washington fishery managers recently finalized seasons and regulations for 2023 Columbia River summer and fall recreational salmon and steelhead fisheries. Detailed regulations are available at https:// www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/ OSCRP/CRM/index.asp (see Summer and Fall Columbia River Recreational Fishery Regulations) Forecasts for summer and fall Chinook, sockeye, and coho will allow opportunity for anglers to target these fish. However, added protections are necessary for ESA-listed Lower Columbia River (LCR) fall Chinook and summer steelhead.

last year’s actual return, and the forecast for sockeye is 234,500 fish, which is higher than last year’s forecast but significantly less than last year’s record return. For the summer season, retention of adult hatchery Chinook, hatchery steelhead, and sockeye will open June 16 and is expected to continue through July 31 from the AstoriaMegler Bridge upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco, WA. The bag limit is two adult salmonids, but only one may be a hatchery steelhead, and all sockeye are considered adults.

forecast of 67,800 fish would be the lowest return for upriver summer steelhead since counting started at Bonneville Dam in 1938. In recognition of the expected low abundance, anglers will see extremely conservative retention regulations again in 2023, similar to recent years.

Vehicle Wash Program

The forecast for summer Chinook is 85,400 adult fish, which is larger than

This year’s adult fall Chinook forecast of 554,000 fish is smaller than last year’s actual return. The 2023 Columbia River coho return is forecasted at 595,300 adults, which is similar to last year’s actual return. Chinook and coho retention seasons start Aug. 1 and vary by river section. This year’s regulations include additional measures, such as mark-selective (adipose finclipped only) retention rules for Chinook in the Buoy 10 fishery and salmonid angling closures upstream of west Puget Island when Chinook retention is prohibited. These are intended to help manage fishery impacts to ESAlisted stocks and to increase the stability of the planned season structure. If accurate, the preseason

CRPUD Kicks Off Energy Efficiency Program

We are thrilled to announce the launch of a new program this month that is designed specifically for our incomequalified customers with priority given to our senior citizens. We’re excited to provide you with free LED bulbs and loadsensing power strips that help you save energy and money. We can also install other items to help you save even more energy.

This program started on July 1.

The LEDs we are offering with this promotion use about 85% less electricity than standard incandescent bulbs, and they last about 15 to 25 times longer. That makes them the most efficient and reliable way to light up your home.

As an added bonus, we won’t just hand you the bulbs; our dedicated team will personally install them in your fixtures. Now let’s shed some light on the load-sensing power strips. These can be seamlessly integrated into your home to minimize energy waste.

When you aren’t using a device that’s plugged into them – like a TV or computer – the power strip automatically cuts

SEWER

From Page A1

collection system which will protect public and environmental health.

• Reducing inflow and infiltration in the collection system which will lower the costs associated with having to treat stormwater along with wastewater at the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant.

• Providing capacity for commercial, industrial, and residential growth. The project will focus on three existing sanitary sewer basins in

power to that outlet to save energy. That way, you don’t waste any power. Moreover, they extend the lifespan of your electronics and provide top-notch surge protection.

If your home has a qualified heating system, we are also offering a free Nest thermostat or similar device. These thermostats find extra ways to save money on your electric bill. They can lower the temperature when you’re not home, and you can control them using an app on your phone. That lets you set the temperature when you’re running errands or enjoying a vacation.

We really want to help you manage your electric usage better. That’s why we are offering this special promotion. We are starting with our senior customers who meet income requirements.

We are working with a company called RD Energy

need of critical upgrades as identified in the Wastewater Master Plan.

Sanitary Sewer Basin

Six capacity upgrades will upsize over 10,000 feet (1.9 miles) of sewer mainlines on Sykes Road, Port Avenue, Gable Road, and Old Portland Road at Kaster Road. These improvements are considered high priority because of impacts for future development.

Sanitary Sewer Basin Five (The Interceptor) capacity upgrades will upsize the sewer mainline

for this project. Their friendly staff will be going door-todoor over the next few weeks to install these energy-efficient products. They will also work with you to find more ways to save money on your electric bill.

If you are eligible for this promotion, you should have already received a flyer in the mail. If you aren’t sure if you qualify or have any questions, please call our office at (503) 397-0590. You can also check our website at crpud.net/assistance for more information.

We are excited to help you save energy and money with this program.

Michael J. Sykes General Manager, Columbia River PUD

Hatchery steelhead retention will be allowed June 16 to July 31 from the AstoriaMegler Bridge upstream to The Dalles Dam and June 16 through Aug. 31 from The Dalles Dam upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco, WA with a reduced bag limit of one fish. After retention of summer steelhead closes in each area, it

is expected to remain closed through at least the end of the year.

“The summer steelhead forecast this year, especially for B-Index steelhead destined for the Clearwater and Salmon rivers in Idaho, is bleak and I’d encourage everyone to do what they can to avoid them once the areaspecific retention seasons close,” said Tucker Jones, ODFW Ocean Salmon and Columbia River Program Manager. (For more information on summer steelhead returns and management in the Columbia River Basin visit https://myodfw.com/articles/ steelhead-management-columbia-snake-river-basins )

Protective regulations will also include Thermal Angling Sanctuaries in Eagle Creek, Herman Creek, and the Deschutes River as well as in the Columbia River near the mouths of these tributaries (see the website for maps and detailed descriptions of these sanctuary areas).

For more information about Columbia River fishing seasons, visit ODFW’s online fishing reports at https:// myodfw.com/recreationreport/fishing-report/columbia-zone. Summer and fall season regulations will also be posted at this link before the season begins.

Sand Castle Contest

on Fourth Street from Wyeth Street to the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The Interceptor upgrade is high priority because it is the main wastewater collector for four of the City’s six sewer basins, collecting a significant percentage of the City’s wastewater as it travels to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Improvements to the Interceptor will be based on evaluating the sewer flow improvements of Basin Six and Basin Four after upgrades have been completed.

Sanitary Sewer Basin

40% OFF ENDS 7/31

Four (The Middle Trunk) capacity upgrades will upsize and reroute approximately 4,700 feet of sewer mainline. The Middle Trunk upgrade is high priority because it is the City’s most problematic trunkline for inflow and infiltration. Inflow and infiltration is stormwater and groundwater that enters the City’s sewer system through breaks or cracks in sewer lines or illegal stormwater connections. Because of this, Basin Four is also more likely to experience sanitary sewer overflows compared to any other sewer

line in the system.

The Business Oregon funding will assist with the design and review of the three basin upgrades. The City plans to first complete Basin Four and Basin Six upgrades.

With improvements to these basins, City staff can then evaluate the improved collection loads to Basin Five and properly size any necessary upgrades to the Interceptor Basin. By waiting to upgrade Basin Five until the impacts from the other project improvements are measured, it may be pos-

sible for the City to create a more cost-effective project and reduce the loan amount needed for construction.

The City has already applied for and received a loan through Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund for construction with a budget up to $16.4 million with up to $4.5 million in loan forgiveness. It is anticipated that project design will begin in late 2023 with permitting completed by late 2024. Construction will begin once permitting is complete.

Courtesy photo from the ODFW

With summer Chinook abundance lower than expected, the number of fish available to harvest in lower river recreational fisheries decreased by more than half, making the Chinook closure necessary.

MICHAEL J. SYKES

Sponsored content

John Beck Award winners announced

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

Two of St. Helens’ best middle school athletes received the annual John Beck Memorial Award, which recognizes athletic excellence and character and seeks to support athletes as they continue competing in high school.

Nate Peau and Jadyn Pense of St. Helens Middle School received the award at an assembly at the middle school on June 16 with John Beck’s siblings in attendance.

The award is a remembrance of John Beck, a local teen who tragically died in a head-on collision on May 20, 1968. Beck was a formidable athlete who competed in multiple sports and was an exemplary student and community member. Alan Holinbeck is the Athletic Director at St. Helens Middle School and has been managing the award since 2019.

“The winner embodies John’s spirit of competition and does all the little things (extra workouts on their own), that includes help-

ing others get better too,” Holinbeck said. “That with a good GPA and comments from their educators goes with the awards they receive throughout the school year.”

Peau and Pense were named the winners of the award out of six finalists. These six were selected from a pool of 30 by a three-person committee made up of Holinbeck, one of the school’s administrators, and Athletic Supervisor.

Peau participated in football, wrestling, basketball, and track and field, while

Pense took part in wrestling and track and field. Pense will continue on to play sports at St. Helens High School, while Peau will be attending Central Catholic.

“Nate is signed to play football at Central Catholic, but he will wrestle for the Lions over the next four years,” Holinbeck said.

Winners receive $600 to help support athletes continued athletic success through their four years of high school. For example, Holinbeck said that a past winner used some of the funds she received to pur-

chase a softball bat.

A Student Foundation committee disperses the funds, monitors that the athletes are making good use of their award money, and ensures they get reimbursed.

The award was presented for the first time to Dan Durbin in 1969. For a period from 1983 until about 1999, the award lay dormant. The award became revitalized through the work of Jim and Tom Linares in the late ‘90s, and the financial component was introduced, according to

Holinbeck. Since then, the award has been given out each year. This year was exceptionally special, however, because there was a reunion of past winners hosted at the middle school on June 15 as a tribute and celebration of Beck. Holinbeck described it as “something special.”

The award is a remembrance of John Beck, a local teen who tragically died in a head-on collision on May 20, 1968.

Coast Guard holds change of command

STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alert (WMEC 630) and crew held the change of command ceremony, Thursday, June 29, at the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria.

Cmdr. Lee Crusius relieved Cmdr. Matthew Kolodica as Alert’s commanding officer. Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson, Coast Guard Pacific Area commander, presided over the ceremony.

“I am truly honored to have commanded such a fine crew and ship,” Kolodica said. “Together, during a

24-month period, our crew accomplished a tremendous amount while demonstrating unwavering resiliency and devotion to duty. We preform hard, meaningful work daily and despite the numerous challenges we encountered on Alert, our team remained Semper Paratus, ‘Always Ready.’ I will miss Alert and her crew as I depart, but our legacy will endure for years to come.”

Kolodica will transfer to the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, where he will serve as the director of Professional Maritime Studies. During his tour as Alert’s command-

ing officer from June 2021 to June 2023, he led the cutter and crew throughout the Eastern Pacific combating drug traffickers during four separate deployments. The crew’s efforts to curtail drug cartels operating in

the Eastern Pacific Ocean under Kolodica‘s leadership resulted in the interdiction of over $100 million worth of illicit narcotics. Kolodica also worked closely with Coast Guard aviation units, Maritime

Security Response Teams, and international partners to conduct a variety of training missions which helped improved the U.S. and our allies’ counter-smuggling operations.

“I am extremely excited to be taking over this role and to continue the long tradition of excellence in rescuing distressed mariners, enforcing our nations laws, and defending America,” Crusius said.

Crusius received his commission from the Coast Guard Academy in 2007 and holds a Master of Science in Coastal Ocean Policy from the University of North Carolina. His previous tours have

focused on countering human trafficking and drug smuggling in the Caribbean and combatting illegal fisheries operations in the Bering Sea and Alaska. Crusius’s ashore assignments include serving as the Coast Guard Academy Equal Opportunity Advisor and as the 11th District’s Living Marine Resources Analyst. Alert, commissioned in 1969, is the newest of three 210-foot Reliance-class Medium Endurance stationed on the West Coast, and performs a variety of missions to protect Americans and American interests in the Northern and Eastern Pacific Ocean.

Get the Support You’re Looking For

Have You Considered a Midwife?

Giving birth is a natural, personal experience — not merely a medical event. Our certified nurse midwives (CNMs) understand this. They provide personalized, wrap-around support — education, physical and emotional — through your pregnancy, labor, birth and beyond. This includes early parenting and ongoing family planning and gynecologic care. And deliver your baby at the world-class Randall Children’s Hospital in Portland.

Besides great medical attention, our midwives provide: A partner to support you in your birth plan.

24/7 on-call guidance to address urgent medical concerns.

• Advanced clinical expertise with the skill to listen to your unique needs.

Call 503-413-4500 to schedule your free 20-minute consultation with our midwives.

Courtesy photo from Alan Holinbeck

Nate Peau with his family.

Courtesy photo from Alan Holinbeck

Jadyn Pense with her family.

Courtesy photo from Alan Holinbeck

The two winners with the very first winner in 1969, Dan Durbin.

Courtesy from the U.S. Coast Guard

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alert and crew at the change of command ceremony in Astoria.