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Columbia County continues its hearing on the Port Westward rezoning application in Project2:Layout 1 2/21/12 3:24 PM Page Clatskanie on Oct. 3

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

St. Helens stays undefeated in league and takes top spot at Parkrose tournament, Page A13

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The Chronicle

TODAY’S WEATHER Mostly sunny Highs to 56 Page A15 Lows to 42

$1.00 Vol. 131, No. 40 16 Pages

www.thechronicleonline.com

Fact or fiction? Sheriff responds to questions about jail operations

Keeping an eye out

BY SHARI PHIEL The Chronicle

This is the first of a two-part story on Columbia County Sheriff Jeff Dickerson answers to questions about jail operations and the need for funding from a proposed levy on this November’s ballot. Look for the second part in next week’s issue of The Chronicle on Oct. 9. On Nov. 5, voters will be asked to vote on ballot measure 5-234, a four-year local option levy that would add 57 cents per $1,000 of assessed value to Sheriff Dickerson property tax rolls. Funding from the levy would go to support operational costs for the jail, raising an estimated $2.28 million in year one, $2.36 million in year two, $2.43 million in year three and $2.5 million in the final year, for a total of $9.57 million. Construction of the jail, which was built for a total cost of around $29 million, was completed in 2001 and was funded by a 1998 levy that added 38 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. But finding enough money to cover the ongoing operational costs has proved to be difficult. In a July 10, 2001, article in The Chronicle, then-Sheriff Jeff Derby outlined a plan to charge neighboring Tillamook, Clatsop and possibly other counties to help pay for those operational costs. But Derby admitted that would only provide a short-term answer. “We realize this isn’t going to last forever. When the jail bond got passed, we told the public that at some point we ­­­­ See JAILS, Page A4

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Photo by Don Patterson

This artistic gateway is the work of local artist, Teresa Knight.

Community gardeners help feed hungry residents

BY DON PATTERSON The Chronicle

“We had a good year,” said Scott Bauska during a small celebration on Sept. 25 at the community garden in St. Helens. The garden has so far

produced 1,529 pounds of fresh produce, most of which was donated to the Columbia Pacific Food Bank and the Community Meals program in St. Helens. In all, volunteers made 38 trips to the food bank loaded with beets, beans

squash, tomatoes, kale and pumpkins, all fresh from the garden. Bauska heads up a group of six volunteers who put in six to eight hours a week working the garden. Most are members of Master Gardeners, an educational program sponsored by the

Oregon State University Extension Service. The garden sits on a fenced plot behind the St. Helens Senior Center and next to a small neighborhood park on S. 15th Street. The space been used as a community garden for years, according to Bauska.

At first, organizers tried to attract neighbors who wanted to rent space to grow vegetables for their own consumption. That didn’t work, he said. Then, two years ago, they turned it into a re-

­­­­ See GARDEN, Page A3

Artistic gateway opens community garden in St. Helens BY DON PATTERSON The Chronicle

“Like a giant man coming out of the ground.” That’s how one child described the gateway to the community garden in St. Helens. The artistic gateway is the focal point of a new fence surrounding the garden and the inspiration of local artist Teresa Knight. Knight’s daughter, Stacie Knight, saw a need for the garden to have a fence when she visited in the summer of 2012, so she wrote a grant to secure the funds necessary to build it. However, the grant Knight received required the fence be created from art rather than chain links. “That’s where I came in,” said Teresa Knight, who is widely acclaimed for her artistic creations in the local community. She

Photo by Don Patterson

Community garden volunteers Shirley Harrison and Scott Bauska scour bean plants for the last of this year’s bountiful harvest. The produce helps Columbia Pacific Food Bank provide fresh vegetables to hungry residents.

designed a gateway built from a natural material called cob. Cob is a mixture of clay, sand and straw and it’s use as a building material dates to the earliest

civilizations. The design, Knight said, was a collaborative effort. Knight started the project in June of 2012, expecting to finish up by September. But the project

fell behind schedule and languished during the rainy winter months. In May, Knight started working on the sculpture again. “The design evolved,” Knight said. When she needed a reel for the fishing pole, a visit to the local lumberyard produced a discarded spool that fit the bill. The work received a coat of protective concrete and mosaic tiles as finishing touches. The design calls for decorative panels, 58 in all, to surround the garden. The framework is in place and recently, the first panel, created and supplied by Riverside Industries, was hung in position. For anyone wanting to donate a panel, applications are available at the South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce office. The creation is a community effort, but designs require approval, so check with the chamber before you start mixing paint.

Is Columbia County ready for Obamacare? Witt to seek sixth term BY SHARI PHIEL The Chronicle

While the federal government shutdown has now become a reality, enrollment for the Affordable Care Act – better known as Obamacare – at the heart of the dispute between the House and Senate officially continued its roll out on Oct. 1. Coverage under the healthcare reform begins Jan. 1, 2014. The split between the two legislative bodies has left many, including some of its own members, deeply frustrated and angered by the partisan politics. “I am deeply disappointed. It is a reckless path that will hurt our economy and cast a shadow of instability and uncertainty over the country,” said Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D– Oregon), noting the House has voted to repeal or defund the ACA more than 40 times. “This obsession with defunding the ACA has taken time that should have been spent on important legislative priorities like immigration reform and job creation.” Despite the Tuesday start date, residents in Co-

lumbia County looking to sign up for the new health care program will have a hard time doing so. Cover Oregon, the state’s designated health care exchange, has delayed online enrollment after the technology behind the public corporation’s website wasn’t ready. The technology issues have an immediate impact on individuals and business owners looking to sign up now. “Customers will be able to search for a certified insurance agent or community partner in their area or by a specific language. They will also be able browse and compare plans, and sort them by different criteria as well as estimate how much savings they might receive and sign up to receive email updates,” said Cover Oregon representative Michael Cox of what customers could expect in early days. Who should enroll? “Everybody should be looking at their coverage beginning Oct. 1 if they’re uninsured or individually insured on their own, outside of their employer. All individuals that have coverage on their own,

all of their coverage will cease to exist at the end of December,” said Beth Acevedo of Hagan Hamilton Insurance. Those without health insurance, or those with an employer offering health insurance that costs more that 9.5 percent of your income and who make between $15,000 and $41,000 a year, based on number of dependents, will be eligible for a tax credit. Customers will be able to choose between four benefit levels: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. If you’re thinking of just skipping enrollment entirely, you may want to reconsider. Individuals who choose not to have health insurance coverage will face a tax penalty under the law. There are exemptions based on income level, religion, or if coverage costs more than eight percent of your income. In preparation of the healthcare rollout, Hagan Hamilton added 21 agents across four locations to handle the extra workload. Most employers, depending on the number of employees and cover­­­­ See ACA, Page A6

VERNONIA — State that enabled the Vernonia Rep. Brad Witt (D-ClatsSchool construction project kanie) addressed a to move forward. crowd of supportThe original ers and volunteers school was devat the Vernonia astated by severe School to anfloods in 2007 nounce he is seekand construction ing a sixth term in of the new school office. was completed Since taking during the sumoffice in January mer of 2012. 2005, Witt says Witt has been has worked to recognized as an Brad Witt create sustainable, innovative leader family-wage jobs for his in Salem for jobs and educaconstituents throughout his tion; he sponsored legisladistrict, all while assuring tion increasing Oregon’s that taxpayer dollars are investment in career and used for the greatest value. technical education pro“I have worked tirelessly grams. to support policies that alWitt closed his remarks low us to get people back to by thanking voters for work, provide our kids with giving him the privilege of a world-class education, representing them in Salem and lay the ground work for and asked voters to support a sustainable economy that him again. will support our families for “We have been hurtgenerations to come,” said ing for far too long. I am Witt to his supporters at the asking you to support my school. “Our work together candidacy so we together to provide the funding can realize the incredible needed to build this school potential this area has to is a testament to our comsupport family-wage jobs mitment to the future of our once again and provide our community.” children with the education Working with state they need to fill those jobs Sen. Betsy Johnson (Dwhen they enter the workScappoose), Witt said he force.” also helped secure the More information can be final $4 million in funding found at VoteBradWitt.com.


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