Defense stands tall as St. Helens remains undefeated, Page A13
Fire district announces new volunteer coordinator, Page A6
Wednesday October 3, 2012
TODAY’S WEATHER
The Chronicle
Sheriff’s race in the crosshairs BY SHARI PHIEL The Chronicle
You might think the race between Obama and Romney would be the talk of the town but across Columbia County, it’s the race for county sheriff that Jeff Dickerson everyone seems to discussing. With just two contestants – Scappoose resident and recently Dave Fuller resigned deputy Dave Fuller and current Sheriff Jeff Dickerson – it’s quickly becoming one of the narrowest and most heated races on the ballot. Rather than focusing on ways to reduce crime, cut spending or increase patrols, both candidates have been spending more time responding to allegations and questions about professional conduct, ethics and illegal activities. The furor began last April when Fuller, then a regular, full-time deputy with the CCSO, was involved in a single-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 30 somewhere between St. Helens and Rainier. “We received information from a citizen that then Deputy Fuller was intoxicated and crashed his car while off duty,” said Undersheriff Andy Moyer. “The Sheriff turned the investigation over to the
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Sunny PAGE A15
Highs to 70 Lows to 36
75¢ Vol. 130, No. 39 16 Pages
Teachers take message to the streets BY SHARI PHIEL The Chronicle
ST. HELENS — Teachers from the St. Helens School District took to the streets – the corner of Gable Road and U.S. Highway 30 – on Sept. 28 to protest the district’s implementation of mandatory furlough days. The protest came on the first of eight furlough days scheduled throughout the school year. The decision to cut eight days from the school calendar came last June during the district’s annual budgeting
We are concerned that the community is not aware this is a furlough day. Keith Meeuwsen St. Helens High School teacher’s labor union
process. At that time, the budget committee was looking at a budget shortfall of over $1.5 million. All staff members, includ-
ing classified, licensed, confidential, administrative employees and the superintendent will have their salaries reduced by those eight days. According to the district, this is expected to result in a savings of $75,000 per day for a total of $600,000. “We are concerned that the community is not aware this is a furlough day,” said St. Helens High School teacher and teachers’ labor union leader Keith Meeuwsen. “We just wanted See TEACHERS, Page A4
Courtesy photo
Teachers from the St. Helens School District take their protest of mandatory furlough days to the streets on Sept. 28, when the first of eight mandatory furlough days was implemented.
Hangar project heralds bright future
See SHERIFF, Page A3
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SHARI PHIEL / The Chronicle
Columbia County Commissioner Tony Hyde, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Port of St. Helens Commissioner Chris Iverson, Scappoose City Manager Jon Hanken, state Sen. Betsy Johnson, Jude Dennis and Mike Dennis grab a shovel and break ground on Oregon Aero’s new hangar project.
BY SHARI PHIEL The Chronicle
SCAPPOOSE — With gold shovels at the ready, about 100 local and regional elected officials, company executives and employees from Oregon Aero and invited guests gathered to break ground on what many called a sign of future growth and potential at the Scappoose Industrial Airpark.
The groundbreaking was held on Sept. 28 to celebrate the beginning of construction on a new 22,000-squarefoot hanger, the third building at the airpark that Oregon Aero will occupy. “This project offers tangible benefits to our customers and employees,” said Tony Erickson, Oregon Aero’s chief operating officer. “The expansion will significantly enhance our ability to serve our customers and partners through more efficient and productive seat
Scappoose student asked to stay at home BY SHARI PHIEL The Chronicle
SCAPPOOSE — Scappoose School District Superintendent Stephen Jupe said a student, whose behavior was “causing concern” at Scappoose Middle School, was asked to remain at home while school officials on police investigate the matter. Reportedly, the student’s parents became concerned over something the student had written and contacted school officials. “Scappoose Middle School responded yesterday to a student whose behavior was causing concern. The student in question is not in school today and the family is fully cooperating with the school and the authorities,” said Jupe in a press release issued on Sept. 25.
cushion upgrade work flow. It also gives us the opportunity to expand current business, enter new markets and increase our export business.” On hand for the lunchtime event were scores of officials and representatives from the wide range of agencies that helped bring the project to fruition, including the Port of St. Helens, the city of Scappoose, Columbia County See AERO, Page A4
Rainier teen struck by hit and run driver BY SHARI PHIEL The Chronicle
SHARI PHIEL / The Chronicle
A Scappoose Middle School student was asked to stay at home after the student’s parent and school officials became concerned by something the student had reportedly written.
While the Scappoose Police Department investigates the situation, Jupe said students were safe and that the district and law enforcement were focused on maintaining ongoing safety in the school.
“We can reassure everyone that any issue that might cause anxiety has been removed, and in fact had been taken care of prior to [Sept. See STUDENT, Page A4
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is seeking help from the public in identifying the motor vehicle and its operator that struck a 16year-old male, high school student who was running cross country in the vicinity of Parkdale and Meserve roads in the Rainier area on Sept. 19. The youth was struck from behind and was knocked unconscious for a period of time, but was able to make his way to the Rainier High School office, where he reported the crash to his father. He was later taken to St. John Medical Center in
Longview with multiple bruises to his back, shoulder blade and thigh. Deputies responded to the area upon learning of the crash but were unable to identify a suspect. The investigation did show that the crash occurred during a detour of traffic from a commercial truck incident at U.S. Highway 30 and the Lewis and Clark Bridge. “That was during that time when there was a jackknifed semi near the bridge and there were a lot of people turning around up there. I think that it could have been someone who was lost and might have been looking and might not even know they hit the poor kid. Maybe, I See RUNNER, Page A3
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