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Wednesday October 17, 2012
Indians beat Cheesemakers for their sixth straight win, Page A11
TODAY’S WEATHER
The Chronicle
Where we stand BY SHARI PHIEL The Chronicle
In our continuing coverage of local elections, we look at the candidates for Columbia County Commissioner. This week, we profile Tammy Maygra, who is running for Position No. 3, and current commissioner Earl Fisher, who is running for Position No. 1. We asked each candidate four questions about the county’s economy, budget and their positions on the proposed coal export projects. For the full answers to all four questions and the candidate bios, go online to TheChronicleOnline.com. Earl Fisher Earl Fisher was born in Flint, Mich., holds a bachelor’s degree in education, a master’s degree and completed the superintendent program at the University of Oregon. After teaching social studies at the high school level, he went on to serve as principal at Clatskanie High School before being named as superintendent of Clatskanie School District. He has served as Columbia County Commissioner for the past four years and is active in numerous organizations. Tammy Maygra Tammy Maygra is a retired sawmill worker. She worked at Pendleton Woolen Mills and also worked as a shipyard laborer and is a homemaker. She actively serves in many community organizations and is administrator of the Jones Family Timber Land Trust. Maygra attended St. Helens High School, graduating in 1976. She was elected to the Columbia Health District board See ELECTION, Page A4
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Mostly sunny PAGE A13
Highs to 60 Lows to 38
75¢ Vol. 130, No. 41 16 Pages
Boy, 12, saves grandmother from fire ing,” said Dean. Seth Cutright said he smelled gas leaking into the home just moments before his 64-year-old grandmother Rose Cutright lit a cigarette. In an interview with KATU TV, Seth said there was a “boom and then a flash before your eyes” and the home quickly went up in flames. The explosion may have been caused by a leaking propane tank, although officially the cause of the fire has not been determined. “It’s still under investigation,” Dean said, although he expects to have more information about how the fire started within the next couple of days.
BY SHARI PHIEL The Chronicle
VERNONIA — Seth Cutright, 12, who is recovering from serious burns to his hands and face, is being called a hero after rescuing his grandmother from their burning home. According to Deputy Chief Dean Smith, Vernonia Rural Fire was called to a home on Bridge Street around 2:45 p.m. on Oct. 12. Upon arrival, crews found the home already fully engulfed in flames. “When we arrived, the patients were already outside of the build-
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Courtesy photo
Venonia 12-year-old Seth Cutright is being called a hero after rescuing his grandmother from their burning home.
Seth and his grandmother were the only ones home at the time of the fire and the 12-year-old quickly moved into action. Seth grabbed his
grandmother and carried her from the burning structure. He said by the time he got his grandmother outside, the flames on her body had gone out. He then ran to a neighbor’s and told them to call an ambulance. Both are now recovering at the Oregon Burn Center at Emanuel Hospital in Portland, where Rose Cutright remains in serious condition. During the KATU interview, Seth’s father, Roger Cutright, said to his son, “I love you. I’m proud of you. You’re my hero.” Firefighters also had a difficult time getting to the fire because of See FIRE, Page A3
THE ROAD HOME
Gunshot survivor Dana Terry finds the road to recovery filled with friends This whole event made me feel like there are still people who care. I never realized how many friends I have. Dana Terry
BY SHARI PHIEL The Chronicle
ST. HELENS — Last July, Dana Terry’s future looked bright. Summer (one of her favorite seasons) had finally shaken off the soggy rains plaguing June. The days had turned warm. Dana, 50, of St. Helens, had only recently moved out of her daughter’s home and into a new home she was renting off Railroad Avenue that offered a little privacy and a space for gardening. Dana was also working at Ace Hardware, a job she genuinely loves. But on July 8, something happened in just a split-second that nearly cut that bright future short. Dana was at home with her 21year-old son, Robert. During an altercation between mother and son, Robert produced a handgun, stating he wanted to harm himself. As the conflict between the two continued, Robert started to leave. Dana says it was then that he tossed the loaded weapon to the ground. The gun, which was cocked,
Dana Terry is all smiles as she unpacks holiday decorations at Ace Hardware in St. Helens.
fired upon striking the ground, discharging a single round that struck Dana in the hand and abdomen. “I didn’t know that I was shot there. I clearly felt it in my hand though,” she said. “It wasn’t until I got outside and I looked down and saw the one spot.” Dana said her immediate concern – not surprisingly – was that she wasn’t feeling any pain in her stomach. She
said she was worried the bullet had damaged her spine, or punctured her intestines, liver or some other major organ. As it turned out, Dana had every reason to be concerned. As the bullet entered her abdomen, it ricocheted against her bones, cutting through her liver and gallbladder. After removing her gallbladder, Dana’s doctors found
Into the record books: BY KYLE BOGGS The Chronicle
The list of Oregon high school girls who have scored 100 goals in their four-year careers is short, but Scappoose High School senior Ariel Viera made it a little bit longer last week. There is no official record book, but OSAA spokesman Steve Walker said only three other players have recorded 100 goals during their Oregon prep careers: Hillsboro’s Tiffeny Milbrett (136), Jesuit’s Laura Schott (116) and Tualatin’s Anna Marie Popma (100). Viera joins the group after scoring four goals in a home match against Tillamook on Oct. 10 (see page A11). The milestone reflects not only her incredibly high talent level, but also the amount of work she has put in over the past four years. “I think it’s a huge accomplishment. It shows the career scoring, not just a one-
SHARI PHIEL / The Chronicle
the bullet narrowly missed a main artery and her kidneys. “They had to cut me completely open because I had internal bleeding… the bullet bounced around and hit my liver three times. But the good thing about the liver is that it will rejuvenate,” Dana said. “It just wasn’t my See DANA, Page A3
Scappoose High School’s Ariel Viera joins 100-goal club
year mark,” said her coach, Chris Dorough. “It shows she started as a freshman playing at a high level.” The idea that she could eventually get to 100 goals started partway through her freshman year, during which she scored 21 of her team’s 49 goals. “I’m a goal setter. Even for school and stuff, I set goals for what I want to do that year and what I want to accomplish. So freshman year, I was like, ‘OK, let’s get to the playoffs, and maybe 100 goals my senior year,’” Viera said. The goals continued to accumulate for the humble forward. Her ability to score seemingly at will might make some players rest on their laurels, but Dorough said Viera strives to improve every day. “Her freshman year she came in and was very quiet. Some of the older girls were loud and dominating, and she just went about her business. Seeing a younger girl working that hard, the older girls see that,” Dorough said. That hard work has paid off. Viera has twice been named the Cowapa League Player of the Year and twice been named first-team All-State. As Viera has transitioned from fresh-
man phenom to star senior, her role on the team has predictably changed. “She’s taken on a vocal role as she’s gotten older. She’s not yelling at people, but she’ll let them know that ‘Hey if you go there, I can get you the ball.’ She does it in a respectful way,” Dorough said. Which is one of the many reasons her teammates were just as excited as she was when she scored that 100th goal. The entire team mobbed her in celebration. “It felt great having the whole team just rushing to me. I was like, ‘Yay!’” Viera said. Reaching triple digits was one goal for Viera, but a bigger team goal still lies ahead. When asked what goals she has for the future, Viera responded, “I think everyone knows – the state championship. That’s definitely what we’re shooting for. I think everyone deserves it, especially the 10 seniors on this team.” Even though the team is dominated by seniors, there are several underclassmen playing key roles. Having Viera around to mentor them has been a blessing for See ARIEL, Page A3
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