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Clatskanie Farmers Market returns for 10th year

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

The Clatskanie Farmers Market is returning for its 10th year this summer, and the people of Clatskanie and those transiting Highway 30 will have something to look forward to each Saturday through September.

The 2023 Saturday Farmers Markets begin June 3 and are conducted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Clatskanie’s Cope’s Park

The market was first established in 2014 in the community.

Executive Director Jasmine Lillich and her partner and Clatskanie Farmers Market Board President Brandon Schilling said they are excited about the continued growth of the market.

The

work.

~ Jasmine Lillich, Clatskanie Farmers Market

The Farmers Market became a nonprofit 501(c)(3) in 2015 and received a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant in 2017. That grant has laid the groundwork for the farmers market as an established force with financial credibility.

Lillich and Schilling moved back to Clatskanie in March 2020 and took on leadership roles for the Clatskanie Farmers Market from the

original founders. Their goal was to expand the number of vendors in the market and get more customers.

“So [the founders] decided to take a step back and step down from the board, and we assembled a whole new board with new energy, and some still founding members on that board, but we kind of reinvigorated and had a new vision for the farmers market,” Lillich said. “One: attract more vendors. Which is a desire; you want to go and find a lot of vendors when you go to a market, right? So that was a big goal. And two: attract more customers.”

Growth during COVID

Lillich said they have had great success in achieving those goals. Lillich and Schilling took on their roles for the market in November of 2020 after their first year as vendors. During COVID, Lillich said they didn’t see a big impact in participation in the market from customers or vendors.

The Clatskanie Farmers Market is part of the North Coast Food Trail, which is a tourism resource and guide to food-related businesses throughout the North Coast. Lillich said many of the Food Trail’s

businesses grew rather than shrunk during the pandemic.

“For me, it’s been really amazing to sound the call to local producers and see all the amazing personalities come out of the woodwork who didn’t have a platform that they really could depend on or have the time to engage with,” Schilling said. “Now that there’s sort of this critical mass building, I think people are feeling a lot more comfortable to come out and incorporate their businesses and livelihood in a more communal fashion.”

The Famers Market saw an increase in new vendors and more

excitement around local food and local goods due to supply chain disruption during COVID. They also saw an influx of customers. Lillich and Schilling are thankful for the infrastructure the market’s founders Darro Breshears-Routon, Steve Routon, Lynn Green, Sonia Storm-Reagan, Wanda Derby, Becky White, Kris Lillich, and Tracy Prescott-MacGregor laid.

“The last three years, I’ve just been so grateful to step into an organization that has been so well established. And be able to learn how a non-profit works, how it functions,” Lillich said. “I’ve written probably $140,000 worth of grants for the farmers market in the last two years. But that was all because of the founders.”

For opening day, the Farmers Market will have 26 vendors, up from 13 vendors on opening day last year. Lillich said they already have 42 vendors signed up to vend on different days throughout the season. Last year there were 446 customers on opening day, so she’s hoping for about 700 at the opening weekend this year. The vendors offer fresh produce and pantry staples, art and crafts, body products, plants & starts, and food and drink options.

Lillich and Schilling have enacted a variety of strategies to help get more participation and customers to the market. The Clatskanie Farmers Market has started throwing festival days where certain products are the focus for vendors.

“That has been part of our strategy is to have these themed festivals. And that’s a strategy for food hubs, too, is to really push when something comes in to harvest. Like apples, or garlic, or honey, to have a

Clatskanie Food Hub opening June 8

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

For those in Clatskanie who want access to local food and produce year-round, the Clatskanie Food Hub will be opening June 8, located at 80 Steele Street in Clatskanie.

Under the umbrella of the nonprofit Clatskanie Food Market, Executive Director Jasmine Lillich and her partner and Clatskanie Farmers Market Board President Brandon Schilling are spearheading a project that they hope will bring the community closer to its local food systems. The Clatskanie Food Hub will be a marketplace, farmto-table venue, and food literacy classroom.

The store’s hours will be:

• Thursday 2 p.m.-6 p.m.

• Friday 2 p.m.-6 p.m.

• Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

• Sunday 2 p.m.-6 p.m.

The grand opening at 2 p.m.

June 8 will start with a “vegetable cutting ceremony.” That day, people will be welcomed into the store, greeted by 32 vendors lined up for that day. There will be festivities throughout the day, including free pizza while supplies last from Blue Bell Knoll Farm and Bakery, beverages from Crooked Creek Brewery, and live music by Blair Borax, sponsored by Fall Creek Preserve.

The Clatskanie Food Hub arose out of Schilling and Lillich not being satisfied with the unsustainable food model of pulling large amounts of produce for a one-daya-week vending opportunity at Saturday markets.

“‘Stacking it high and watching it fly’ is what they call it in the Saturday market world, where you have to stack your table full of produce; otherwise, no one will buy it,” Lillich said. “What happens is there is a lot of, naturally, waste because you have produce sitting out in the sun all day. And if you just

See FOOD Page A7

Writing Festival organizers announce contest winners

Contact The Chief

Phone: 503-397-0116

Fax: 503-397-4093

chiefnews@countrymedia.net 1805 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR 97051

Reach - Aria Brooks

Adult:

• 1st place: A Girl Again - Sarah Summerhill

• 2nd place: The Wind LedgerDaniel Hannon

Ages 8-10:

• 1st place: The Acorn - Parker Jones

Courtesy photo

The winners of the Raymond Carver Writing Festival Poetry Contest.

Courtesy photo from Jasmine Lillich

Nearly 450 people attended the opening day of the Clatskanie Farmers Market in 2022.

Courtesy photo from Jasmine Lillich

The Clatskanie Food Hub is located at 80 Steele Street in Clatskanie.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife issues bear advisory

JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is advising that this is the season for the emergence of black bears from their dens in search of

The advisory is especially important for rural and coast regions of the Bear attacks on humans are rare but the attacks do happen. According to online reports, there have been 82 fatal bear attacks in North America with 66 of those committed by wild black bears over the past several years. The online reports also state the deadliest months for bear attacks are May through

“Now is the prime time to look around your property and make sure food sources attractive to bears are secure and inaccessible,” the ODFW states in a release. “If you live along the Oregon Coast or own or manage coastal rental property, consider using bear-resistant trash cans.”

According to the ODFW, a bear’s strongest sense is smell and everything from trash cans to grill drippings can bring them to your property. Finding your trash spread out across

the yard or driveway can certainly ruin your day, but the consequences could be much more severe. If bears become habituated to humans, too comfortable around people, they could pose a serious threat to human safety.

“A bear that loses its wariness of people and becomes conditioned to human-provided sources of food may be humanely killed, according to the ODFW. “This is often the only option to protect humans and ultimately to protect the larger bear population from learning the same behavior.”

Bear background

Bears, like all wildlife, have a specialized diet that coincides with seasonal changes. Access to human-provided food can negatively impact their health, lead to conflict with humans and in many cases have fatal consequences.

Experts said bears have a great memory when it comes to food. Not only will they remember where they have found food before, including trash, but female bears will also pass this knowledge down to their young. Intentionally or unintentionally feeding bears can negatively affect multiple generations of bears.

Most conflict between humans and bears is preventable. Bears don’t want to be around humans, but the prospect of an easy meal is often too good to resist. Removing items that attract them to the area is the most important step you can take to protect people and ensure bears stay wild, ODFW officials said.

The ODFW recommends that residents follow these BearWise tips:

• Never feed or approach bears. Feeding bears, intentionally or unintentionally, will cause them to associate humans with food. It is also against the law in Oregon (ORS 496.730).

• Secure food, garbage and recycling. Please ensure that your trash and dumpsters are secure from bears by using commercially available garbage cans, metal bars over dumpsters, fully enclosed trash storage, or by storing garbage inside. Take trash out immediately before pick-up, not the night before. Wash garbage cans with bleach to reduce their smell. Food waste is one of the strongest attractants for black bears and allowing bears access could qualify as illegal feeding if appropriate steps are not taken to prevent the issue.

• Remove bird feed -

ers when bears are active. Birds have plenty of naturally available food sources and bears will commonly feed from and destroy birdfeeders.

• Never leave pet food outdoors. It attracts bears and other wildlife, putting your pets and wildlife at risk.

• Clean and store grills after each use.

• Alert neighbors and ODFW to unusual bear activity, including continued sightings during daylight hours, lack of wariness around humans or pets.

Share these tips with your neighbors, friends and family. A community effort is vital to preventing problems with bears. One person who feeds or attracts bears, intentionally or not, can pose a risk to everyone in the neighborhood. Living responsibly with black bears is possible and it’s up to everyone to do their part to keep humans safe and bears wild, ODFW officials said.

Contact your local ODFW office to report unusual bear activity or for information and resources to help prevent conflict with black bears.

Learn more about living with black bears at https:// myodfw.com/articles/helpkeep-bears-wild.

Clatskanie honors veterans during annual holiday

ing I was doing something good,” Gaspard said.

“When people would honk as they drove by gave me pride for my country and our veterans.”

The students also place gold painted boots to honor the veterans.

“I get names of veterans from all over,” Sherman said. “Every year the numbers grow. We started out with a few but now it is over 2,400 and I get new names added every day.”

History

The Piercing Arrow Private School flag project started on a small scale.

“This project started out with me honoring my dad and my husband,” Sherman said. “This is the eighth year, and the number of flags has grown steadily.”

Chief Guest Article

Memorial Day in Clatskanie was observed by honoring those who served the country with the display of more than 2,400 flags around the small city.

The display project is an annual event conducted by Piercing Arrow Private School and Principal Lori Sherman. Clatskanie student Iolaus Krotzer, a senior at Piecing Arrow, and student Eian Gaspard led the project, along with Sherman’s guidance.

“I have a better ap-

preciation for the veterans and my country,” Krotzer said. “I would never have known so much about them. I learned so much about our country’s history.”

Krotzer said during the project a very moving moment occurred.

“We were working on the flags and a gentleman approached me, thrilled that he found his father’s flag,” Krotzer said. “It made the project even more meaningful.”

Gaspard said participating in the project made him feel good.

“I felt great inside know-

Those who wish to have a flag displayed to honor a loved one can call Piercing Arrow Private School at 503-728-3783.

The Clatskanie Rural Fire Protection District parked a fire truck in front of Cope’s Park and raised the truck ladder high to display a large American flag. The patriotic display attracted the attention of folks who stopped to look at the large flag.

Cope’s Park also featured a display of flags from each branch of service:

Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and the Merchant Marines.

Sherman said next year they want to have a parade

and banners coming into town. Donations are needed for the event and people can donate to Louis Larsen Auxiliary #68, 948 Nehalem, Clatskanie, Oregon 97016.

CMHS connection

Local veteran Robert Gray spends considerable time taking care of the veteran’s graves at the Westport Cemetery. He

was assisted this year by Clatskanie Middle/High School (CMHS) students who helped him place flags to honor the veterans.

“I feel the past will be in good hands with these traditions when it is their turn in the future to carry them on,” Gray wrote on a Facebook post.

Memorial Day was first celebrated as Decoration Day. It is a federal holiday in the United Sates designed

to honor U.S. military personnel who served in the armed forces.

Disturbing event

Following the holiday event, organizers of the local Memorial Day projects said several of the carefully placed flags were destroyed.

“I am offering $100 for anyone who has information about this destruction,” local veteran Phil Hazen said.

Courtesy photo

Oregon is home to about 25,000 to 30,000 black bears, North America’s most common bear species.

LAUREY WHITE

Courtesy photo from Laurie White

The Clatskanie Rural Fire Protection District positioned a fire truck with a large American Flag at Copes Park during the Memorial Day observance.

Alexander Edward Mueller was sent to our family on March 21, 2007. A miracle from the start and an angel sent from God, he was the third of our four children.

He is best described as a wild child. He never feared anything, looked danger in the face, and tried almost everything. He shoved a lot of life into his 16 years.

Alex was an avid outdoorsman, starting out by fishing and hunting with his Grandpa and Dad. He helped Grandpa cut wood and work outside. He loved doing work around the property with his Dad and running the tractor. In 2021 he shot his first buck that the family lovingly called Elliot due to its uneven horns.

He was always a Mama’s boy, even in the teenage years when he pretended not

to be. He would crawl into my lap just for a snuggle or to read a book. We loved cooking together, going for hikes, kayaking and watching movies.

Alex lived his entire life in Rainier, starting out at Little Jungle Daycare, then Sunnyside, and eventually Hudson Park and Rainier Junior Senior High. He loved school as a little kid and tried very hard at everything. He had a love of sports as well, playing soccer, baseball, football, wrestling and trap.

When it came to his friends, he was loyal, fun loving and the life of the party. He LOVED bonfires, hanging out at the beach and in the woods. His friends have said “it was impossible to be bored around Alex.”

He loved his siblings to a fault. He would fight

Darrel Alan Nys

Farmworkers challenges, solutions

with them tooth and nail but defend them the same. They did so much together and were rarely seen apart. One of the last things he did was set the tent up outside and sleep out there with Nate. The hole left by his absence will never be filled.

On May 16, 2023 Alex was having a great day as every teenager should and was tragically struck by a car on Mt. Solo Road in Longview. He suffered a major head trauma and spent the next seven days at Randall Children’s Hospital getting the most exceptional care. However, his job here was done and the lessons he was tasked with teaching complete. God called him home on May 22, 2023, with all of us at his side.

As a family we made the decision to have Alex become an organ donor. He has saved and or changed multiple lives.

He is survived by his parents, Bryan and Sandi; sisters, Megan, Faith and Kenzie; brothers, Nathan, Adam and Dennis; nephews, Oliver, Devon and Jordan; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was greeted in heaven by his grandparents, Dennis, Kristian and Arianna.

There will be a celebration of life at 2 p.m. on June 24, 2023 at Rainier High School.

Jan. 18, 1960 ~ May 26, 2023

Darrel Nys passed away on May 26, 2023 after an extended illness from physical and mental issues experienced for a number of years after his retirement. He was born in Corvallis, Oregon, to Paul and Judy (Sramek) Nys on Jan. 18, 1960. The family home for over 30 years was in Albany, Oregon, where Darrel graduated from South Albany High School and was named as Valedictorian of his class. He enrolled at OSU, and later, at OIT in Klamath Falls where he earned his degree in mechanical engineering. This is where he met his wife, Darla Thurston, and they were married in 1987 in Bend, Oregon. His first job took them to Everett, Washington, where he was employed at Boeing building 747’s for more than five years. Afterwards his career took a different path, and he began working for a number of paper mills in the Northwest including the

Halsey Paper Mill in Halsey and Georgia Pacific mill in Wauna, Oregon. In between, he was named the manager for Voith Corporation in Portland which serviced paper machines in Oregon and Washington. He was well known up and down the coast for his keen knowledge of paper machines and could solve most technical manufacturing problems. Eventually, they built a new home on the family tree farm in

Thomas Ramey

Feb. 4, 1928 ~ May 18, 2023

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Beth, of 70 years; daughter Melanie Donner; and great granddaughter Amber King.

He is survived by his sister Margaret Johnson of Modesto, California; three sons, Tom of Kelso, Wash ington, Robert of Rainier, Oregon, and Richard of Woodland, Washington; eight grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchil dren.

Rainier.

Darrel was an avid expert fisherman and spent many seasons on the Columbia River fishing with family and friends. He also thoroughly enjoyed crabbing and clamming. In fact, usually Darrel had dug his limit of clams while the rest were working on their first five clams. In the fall, one could find him hunting for game and ending up with trophy-sized antlers, mostly taken locally.

He is survived by his exwife Darla; parents, Paul and Judy; sons, Nick and Derek; grandsons, Ashton and Jamison; twin grandaughters, Samantha and Aria; in-laws, John and Doretta Thurston of Bend; plus numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

No services are planned and contributions, if desired, can be designated to the Rainier High School District or the Rainier Historical Museum. He will be interred in the private family gravesite in Apiary.

Susan (Chamberlain) Willette

An Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) Agricultural Worker Housing Study substantiates that most of the state’s farmworkers earn very low wages, and many farmworker households are in poverty.

Due to low wages and a lack of affordable housing, Oregon’s farmworkers have few housing options and often live in poor and overcrowded conditions, according to the study.

“Farmworkers have long been an essential backbone to our state. Centering their humanity, dignity, and wellbeing, requires we continue advancing safe and healthy farmworker housing—as we do in service to all people of Oregon,” OHCS Director Andrea Bell said. “It’s important to acknowledge that migrant and seasonal agricultural workers and their families are the foundation of Oregon’s large agricultural sector. Lack of housing options leads to health disparities that leave generational impacts. This is not abstract. Seeing ourselves in one another requires that we take care of those that sustain our food system.”

There are more than 531,000 jobs connected to Oregon agriculture, food, and fiber, and agriculture contributes $42 billion to Oregon’s economy each year. As of 2017, there are an estimated 100,122 farmworkers in Oregon, doing the skilled and difficult work of growing, picking, and packing food, according to Bell.

WINNERS

From Page A1

• 2nd place: Life - Jersey

Gellatly

Ages 11-12:

• 1st place: Disneyland: The Happiest Place on EarthMerryn Craig

• 2nd place: RiversideMadisen Prahl

Key recommendations include increasing farmworker income and support lower cost alternative homeownership.

The report is the culmination of almost four years of work. In December 2017, the Data and Research Subcommittee of the Agricultural Workforce Housing Facilitation Team (AWHFT) recommended OHCS commission the in-depth study. The goal was to update statewide information on agriculture workforce housing to better understand the current needs and barriers to help inform future program decisions, funding opportunities, and policy decisions.

OHCS commissioned Stamberger Outreach Consulting to conduct the study in Hood River, Marion, Morrow, and Yamhill counties. The report focuses on how to optimize the use of available resources, review current housing, as well as understanding what policies and funding options encourage employers to offer housing, and increase innovation in the provision of housing.

“A central goal of this study was to hear the experiences and recommendations of farmworkers and agricultural employers to ensure their voices were included in this process,” said Jamie Stamberger, author of the study and research director at Stamberger Outreach Consulting. “We

Ages 13-15:

• 1st place: Buried Beneath - Hannah Isaacson

• 2nd place: Potluck of Happiness - Estella Hamilton

Ages 16-18:

• 1st place: Nature is a Wonderland - Bethany Hagen

The Festival Committee thanks Wauna Credit Union and PGE - Beaver and Port Westward mills for their support of this contest.

Metro Creative Connection

interviewed 80 farmworkers and nine agricultural employers, as well agency experts. Through these interviews and our analysis of available data, our team identified eight critical issues for farmworker housing. These issues must be addressed in order to meet the need for farmworker housing.”

Key recommendations of the study include the following:

• Increase farmworker incomes.

• Provide direct rental assistance to farmworkers.

• Increase the supply of housing that farmworkers can afford.

• Develop programs to provide special clearance and/or requirements, or cosigners, for farmworkers to satisfy rental application and mortgage loan requirements.

• Support lower-cost alternative homeownership models including community land trusts and housing cooperatives that provide ownership opportunities for farmworkers.

Read the executive summary and full report on the OHCS website, executive summary and full report on the OHCS website.

The Raymond Carver Writing Festival (RCWF), a free celebration of the art of writing and of one of its greatest practitioners, Raymond Carver. The world-renowned poet and short story writer was born in Clatskanie 85 years ago. A mural dedicated to Carve graces the south facing wall of Clatskanie’s former hospital, located on North Nehalem Street in downtown Clatskanie, visible from Higher 30.

Thomas Ramery, 95, went to be with his Lord on Thurs., May 18, 2023. He passed peacefully at his home in Rainier.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on Sat., June 10, 2023 at The Raini er Senior Center. Memorial contributions can be made to Rainier Senior Center.

Alexander Edward Mueller

Framework to fuel action, improve literacy proficiency in Oregon

STAFF REPORT

Country Media, Inc.

Oregon Department of Education (ODE) has released the final version of Oregon’s Early Literacy Framework, a statewide resource document to fuel action and improve literacy proficiency for Oregon’s students. An overview of the framework is also available.

The framework provides coherence, clarity, and common ground for high-quality, comprehensive early literacy education statewide, according to the ODE.

“This resource elevates critical elements of comprehensive literacy instruction including fostering students’ sense of belonging in school, instruction grounded in the science of reading, culturally responsive teaching, and a focus on serving all students, inclusive of multilingual students, students experiencing disabilities, and students with dyslexia,” the ODE states in a release.

Oregon’s Early Literacy

June 3 Clatskanie Farmers Market opens for the season at Copes Park, 60 Lillich Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Saturday.

Booths that represent plants, food and farming, arts, crafts and wellness, fresh produce, pantry staples, body products, plants and starts and culinary delights. Three additional educational booths.

June 10 Clatskanie Farmers Market presents Sprouts Festival - A Day for Kids

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Cope’s Park. Stop by for face painting, games and plant starts for kids. Dance performance at noon and more. Free admission and activities.

June 10 Daybreakers

Kiwanis Annual Secure

Framework is informed by extensive literacy research, state literacy data, literacy frameworks in other states, consultation with literacy researchers, and conversations with practitioners and community partners. ODE included feedback from educators, literacy experts, and community members across Oregon, building from the preview draft released in March.

Oregon’s Early Literacy Framework lays a foundation to improve reading and writing skills in K-5 classrooms and is directly tied to Governor Kotek’s Early Literacy Success Initiative (HB 3198).

HB 3198 is in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

“Oregon must make significant strides to improve the quality of literacy instruction and to ensure the experience of belonging in classrooms,” Governor Tina Kotek said. “This means ensuring that every student receives classroom instruction aligned to grade-level standards and thoughtfully informed

by research and culturally responsive practices and cultivating and strengthening community partnerships and family engagement to meet students’ strengths and individual needs.”

If HB 3198 passes this session, it would provide additional resources to help Oregon schools improve literacy outcomes, building professional learning and core implementation planning steps from Oregon’s Early Literacy Framework.

ODE is investing in the development of Oregon’s Early Literacy Framework as part of its commitment to addressing unfinished learning and supporting literacy education infrastructure for the long term.

“It is essential that every child in Oregon read and write with confidence and competence. Learning to read and write early is key to later learning in school and on the job,” ODE Director Colt Gill said. “The purpose of a statewide literacy framework is to build momentum and

capacity for making literacy instruction stronger in every school in our state so that all kids leave elementary school reading and writing with grade-level proficiency in at least one language. This

framework is the starting point for this work - passage of HB 3198 is essential to give schools the resources they need to see it through.”

Learn more about the

•C O mmunity e V ents

Shred Day 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. behind State Farm on Sykes Road and Highway 30 in St. Helens. $5 per file box donation.

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

Sept. 22-24 Wings Over Willapa Festival

The Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 5th annual Wings Over Willapa. This multi-

day bird and art festival will be held at 7112 67th Place in Long Beach. For more details, call 360-642-3860 Organizer websites: https://friendsofwillapanationalwildliferefuge.wildapricot.org/ https://www.fws.gov/refuge/willapa, Email: info@ friendsofwillaparefuge. org Event website: https:// friendsofwillapanationalwildliferefuge.wildapricot. org/Wings-Over-Willapa

Ongoing

Clatskanie Senior Center lunches

Clatskanie Senior Center Lunches now served Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at noon at the Castle Cafe, 620 SW Tichenor. Call 503-7283608 for reservations. Use ground floor entrance to the left of front stairs.

The Chief

Good parking in back off of SW Bryant Street. Castle Tours available by appointment, includes Clatskanie Historical Society museum. Call Debbie at 503-338-8268.

Volunteers needed

The City of St. Helens has partnered with Columbia County and is seeking volunteers to help with a 6-week Pickleball program at Campbell Park starting mid-June on Sunday afternoons. If interested, please contact, Casey Garrett: casey.garrett@ columbiacountyor.gov - or - Shanna Duggan at sduggan@sthelensoregon.gov

Caples Evening Programs

The cost for this evening and all our Fireside Chats will be only $5. Caples will be offering a different program the third Tuesday

of each month at 7 p.m. at 1925 First Street in Columbia City. For more information, call 503-3975390.

Lower Columbia River Watershed Council

Lower Columbia Watershed Council meets the second Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Clatskanie PUD building. Zoom links are also available. Visit the council’s website for agenda postings and Zoom at www. lowercolumbiariver.org/ events-page.

The Rainier Oregon Historical Museum (ROHM) is open from noon - 4 p.m. Saturday (except major holidays weekends). ROHM is located inside Rainier City Hall at 106 W B Street. For more information, call 360-751-

Early Literacy Framework, partially funded through Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER III), by visiting the Early Literacy Framework webpage.

7039.

The Rainier Public Library is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays and 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays. It will be closed Sundays and Mondays. Avamere at St. Helens hosts a Virtual Dementia Support Group – 3rd Wednesday of each month from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. For more details, contact Jenny Hicks/Avamere at St. Helens at 503-3668070.

To list an event in the Community Calendar, email details with a phone number that may be published, to chronicleclassifieds@countrymedia.net, or call 503-397-0116.

The framework provides coherence, clarity, and common ground for high-quality, comprehensive early literacy education statewide, according to the ODE.

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Spring has sprung and it’s planting season again

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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.

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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 1-844655-0972.

Veteran Car Donations

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 - 1-844-533-9173.

Sat., Aug. 26 & Sun., Aug 27

Looking for

Vendors

If interested contact Patty Watson 503-201-9912 or Beverly Anderson 503-300-9013

Regular vendors $50

Food vendors $150

Bay City Pearl & Oyster Music Festival 502

Help Wanted

Pool Manager

H21776

Clatskanie Park & Recreation District is accepting applications for a Pool Manager. Please see the Clatskanie Park and Recreation District’s website (www. clatskanieparksandrecreation.com) for job description

details and requirements: Applications can be returned by mail to ; Clatskanie Park & Recreation District, PO Box 737, Clatskanie, OR 97016 or by email to csp@cni. net. If you have any questions, please leave message at 503-728-2757. Applications will be accepted until the position has been filled.

Seasonal Part-time Landscape and maintenance crew

The Clatskanie Park & Recreation District is looking for seasonal part-

time landscape and maintenance crew member(s). Must be at least 18 years of age and able to pass a background check. Duties are, but not limited to; mowing, landscape maintenance, trimming and general park maintenance and upkeep. Immediately through September: 25-30 hours per week (approximate). You can download an application from our website: clatskanieparkandrecreation.com or you can contact Cyndi Warren or by phone at 208- 249-7144 to request an application. Applications will be accepted until Friday, June 2nd.

Sexton

The Rainier Cemetery District is accepting applications for a Sexton - Maintenance and Facilities Manager.

General Position Summary: The Sexton will oversee the scheduling of maintenance of the twelve cemeteries in the district, all equipment, and facilities within the district, this will include outside contract servicing when necessary. This position will also include mowing, trimming, minor equipment, and facility repairs as needed. The Sexton will work closely with the Office Manager to keep all burials and state mandated documents filled out and up to date. The Sexton

for directing at least one other maintenance person and volunteers when available. Pay range: $48,000 to $60,000 annually, dependent upon experience. For the complete job description and an application, please visit the District’s website: rainiercemeterydistrict. com, under Employment Opportunities. Applications must be received by 5:00pm on Sunday, June 18th, by email: office@rainiercemeterydistrict. com or to the PO Box 307, Clatskanie OR 97016. 860 Storage

CLATSKANIE Mini Storage

CC23-1800

NOTICE OF COUNCIL MEETING

The Clatskanie City Council will meet on Wednesday, June 7th, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 75 South Nehalem St. (Clatskanie Cultural Center, 2nd floor). Agenda items include, but are not limited to: approval of the minutes of the May 1st, 2023 workshop and regular meeting; the second reading of a “time, place, and manner” ordinance, approval of the new auditor contract, a Public Hearing

CC23-1798

on resolutions establishing new Sewer, Water and Street/Storm rates, a resolution to approve a rate increase for Hudson Garbage; a resolution to renew the Infrastructure Maintenance and Improvement fee, a Public Hearing on a resolution to loan money to the General Fund, a resolution extending workers compensation to volunteers, a resolution authorizing funds to be used in the financial management of the City; a

Public Hearing on receiving State Shared Revenue, and a resolution adopting the 2023-2024 fiscal year budget, making appropriations and imposing the City Tax, An updated agenda will be available at City Hall by June 2nd, 2023. Access to the meeting on Zoom will be posted on the city website, www.cityofclatskanie.com. Please call City Hall (503) 728-2622 at least 48 hours in advance if you need assistance.

NOTICE OF COUNCIL MEETING

The Clatskanie City Council will meet on Wednesday, June 7th, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 75 South Nehalem St. (Clatskanie Cultural Center, 2nd floor). Agenda items include, but are not limited to: approval of the minutes of the May 1st, 2023 workshop and regular meeting; the second reading of a “time, place, and manner” ordinance, approval of the new auditor contract, a Public Hearing

CC23-1797

on resolutions establishing new Sewer, Water and Street/Storm rates, a resolution to approve a rate increase for Hudson Garbage; a resolution to renew the Infrastructure Maintenance and Improvement fee, a Public Hearing on a resolution to loan money to the General Fund, a resolution extending workers compensation to volunteers, a resolution authorizing funds to be used in the financial management of the City; a

NOTICE OF AUCTION

Rainier Storage Place, LLC will hold a foreclosure auction at 28610 Dike Rd., Rainier OR 97048 of the contents of the following storage

Public Hearing on receiving State Shared Revenue, and a resolution adopting the 2023-2024 fiscal year budget, making appropriations and imposing the City Tax, An updated agenda will be available at City Hall by June 2nd, 2023. Access to the meeting on Zoom will be posted on the city website, www.cityofclatskanie.com. Please call City Hall (503) 728-2622 at least 48 hours in advance if you need assistance.

unit: CY4 (8x40) Denny McGuire. Auction is at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 17th, 2023.

State police release holiday enforcement details

Oregon State Police (OSP) has released enforcement statistics from OSP’s 2023 Memorial Day Weekend Friday, May 26 to Monday, May 29, 2023,¬ that occurred across Oregon.

The figures include the Friday, “All Patrol Day,” where all sworn OSP members travel the highways to increase the agency’s patrol presence during the busy weekend.

• Calls for Services –2,417

• Reported Crashes- 210

• Routine Contacts4,180 Total number of warnings/ citations for OSP’s Fatal 5

• Speed- 2,415

• Occupant Safety- 195

• Lane Safety- 525

• Impaired Driving- 25

• Distracted Driving- 69

• All Other- 2,570

The Oregon State Police has a wide range of programs and specialties our sworn ranks are in charge of, such as major crimes, tribal gaming, lottery security, arson, collision reconstruction, fish and wildlife, explosives, K-9, aviation, and more.

“OSP leadership makes it a priority that at the end of the day, all sworn to stay in tune and up to date with why the Oregon State Police was founded to keep our highways safe,” OSP said in a release.

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD

THEME: AT THE MOVIES

ACROSS

1. Mother Earth, to Ancient Greeks

5. Barrel, unit

8. Foot the bill

11. Quiet time

12. Nemo’s forgetful friend

13. Horace’s poem

15. One thing on a list

16. Ophthamologist’s check-up, e.g.

17. Range of hills in England, pl.

18. *Ticket booth (2 words)

20. “Odyssey,” e.g.

21. Biased perspective

22. Azog or Bolg in Tolkien’s Moria

23. *Siskel or Ebert

26. To the degree

30. Brick and mortar carrier

31. Governing authority

34. Key component of a loan

35. Highly skilled

37. E in CE or BCE

38. “____ ____ a high note”

39. End of the line

40. Like certain yellowish hair color

42. Compass bearing

43. Ambled

45. Warhol or Samberg,

formally

47. Churchill’s sign

48. Anna Wintour’s magazine

50. “Heat of the Moment” band

52. *Like some seats

56. More slippery

57. Initial bet in poker

58. Popular dunking cookie

59. “Little ____ fact”

60. Simon and Gurfunkel, e.g.

61. *Sentimental movie, or ____-jerker

62. Literary “even”

63. *Shooting location

64. ESPN award

DOWN

1. Not intellectually deep

2. ____pilot

3. Holly family

4. *Kate Hudson’s

“____ Famous” (2000)

5. Put someone in a bind

(2 words)

6. Modified leaf

7. Tick-born disease

8. Ralph Lauren’s inspiration

9. Puts two and two together

10. “Owner of a Lonely Heart” band

12. Vandalize

13. Pitchers

14. *Tub contents

19. Behave like a coquette

22. Comes before first Mississippi

23. Bracelet add-on

24. Barrel racing meet

25. Think tank output, pl.

26. *Widescreen cinematography abbreviation

27. Dimmer, e.g.

28. Do penance

29. Re-establish

32. Neuter

33. Investment option acronym

36. *Movie ad

38. Boredom

40. *Upcharge for an online ticket purchase, e.g.

41. Aerie baby

44. Pine

46. Indicate

48. *Movie theater, e.g.

49. Set of eight

50. Teenager’s breakout

51. Land of Israel

52. X-ray units

53. Wraths

54. Type of tide

55. *Like a bloody horror movie

56. Short of Isaac

Solution to crossword in next week’s issue of The Chief

Oregon GOP legislators’ walkout continues

get their work done on the floor, which includes passing bills. Each member of the Senate also has an allowance of nearly $87,000 for the legislative session for the costs of staff, newsletters and supplies.

skip floor sessions.

“We’re having meetings,” Knopp, R-Bend, said. “We are going to committees. We’re doing our constituent work. We’re being available to people.”

the tyranny of the majority for people who don’t want to follow the law,” Knopp said.

Empty desks at the Oregon Senate chamber as the Republican walkout continues.

BEN BOTKIN

Oregon Capital Chronicle

Chief Guest Article

Oregon taxpayers have spent tens of thousands of dollars paying senators who are participating in the GOPled Senate walkout. And their salaries and per diem are just part of the cost of the stalled session.

Since May 3, most Republican senators and an Independent senator have boycotted Senate floor sessions, denying the upper chamber its twothirds majority needed to conduct business. Senators face no financial consequences for failing to show up for floor sessions: They get paid their salary and an in-session per diem nevertheless, according to state law and Senate rules.

Their annual taxpayerfunded salary is about $35,052, or $2,921 a month, which they receive whether

MARKET

From Page A1

day around that to really push those sales because there’s an abundance of that certain product at that time,” Lillich said. “Customers love it; vendors love it because they can get rid of this surplus that otherwise needs to be canned or preserved in some way if they don’t sell it all fresh.”

This year, there will be four festival days. The Spout Festival June 10 is directed at engaging kids. July 29 is the Pollination Celebration. August 19 is the Garlic Festival, which Lillich said is one of the most popular days, and drew over 800 customers last year. September 30 is the Harvest Festival, the season’s final festival day.

Lillich and Schilling have also enhanced the live music component of the Farmers Market. Through $2,000 grants from the Columbia County Cultural Coalition, the Farmers Market has been

FOOD

From Page A1

put out what people would buy, they wouldn’t buy it because they want it to look abundant. So we were sick of that model.”

The food hub is a way for people to buy their local produce more than one day a week at the farmers market.

Lillich said the only places where people can get groceries in Clatskanie are Dollar Tree, Safeway, and the local gas stations. “That seemed like a problem to us,” Lillich said. “And we wanted to support the producers. There are all these producers who aren’t included in the Saturday market model.”

Lillich and Schilling are not only part of the leadership at the Clatskanie Farmers Market, but also vendors. They are farmers and co-owners of Wild Locals Kitchen and Farm.

receive a daily per diem of $157, including on the weekends. That money is intended to cover costs such as meals, lodging and other miscellaneous expenses. It’s a flat rate and not based on reimbursements.

Each day, those costs add up.

Take Tuesday, May 31 the 18th day that the walkout has halted the Senate. The 10 senators with unexcused absences will be paid $1,570 in per diems and about $960 in salary for that day. That’s $2,530.

Since the boycott began, the total paid to boycotting senators for the days they didn’t show up for floor sessions: more than $47,000.

And that doesn’t include the cost of legislative staff who are paid to help senators

able to pay the musicians at the market and attract bigger bands to the market.

Supporting those in need

Keeping the Farmers Market accessible to customers and vendors is important, according to Lillich, who added that they have some of the lowest vendor fees in the state of Oregon, and she doesn’t want to raise the fees as a way to help vendors who may be experiencing economic hardship.

On the flip side of that, the market also accepts food assistance currencies.

Customers can use their EBT SNAP card at the market and can also use EBT cash. Customers using EBT SNAP are eligible to receive up to $20 of “double up food bucks tokens.” This means that those using their EBT card for $20 will get a free $20 cash match for free produce.

Selected vendors also provide food assistance through the Farm Direct

Lillich’s parents donated the building that will house the food hub to The Caltskanie Farmers Market in October of 2021. Initially, the plan was to open a separate non-profit for the food hub, but it worked out that when they moved back to Clatskanie in 2020, they could fold the idea into the existing Clatskanie Farmers Market non-profit. Lillich and Schilling assumed their positions within the Clatskanie Farmers Market as Executive Director and President as old board members stepped back.

Lillich and Schilling began writing grants to help raise funds for the food hub. In February 2022, they started a fundraiser in the community that raised $35,000 dollars. As part of a matching grant, the Oregon Coast Visitors Association (OCVA) gave $15,000 to go toward cool storage for moving seafood down the Highway 30 corridor from

Democratic senators and progressive groups have urged senators to return to work, saying the boycott is costing more than money.

“Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp and Senate Republicans are not only collecting a taxpayer-funded paycheck despite not doing their jobs, they are doing so while blocking progress on the very policies that their constituents need to achieve economic stability — affordable housing, behavioral health supports, protection from wildfire and drought, school funding and more,” Michele Ruffin, executive director of Our Oregon, a progressive nonprofit that advocates for social justice, said in a statement to the Capital Chronicle. “This political gamesmanship is an insult to regular Oregonians everywhere who show up for work every single day and expect their elected senators to do the same.”

In an interview with the Capital Chronicle, Knopp said Republican senators continue to do other work, even as they

Unlike past walkouts when Republican lawmakers vanished entirely from the state Capitol, senators still show up in Salem. For example, Sen. Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer, was absent from the floor last Wednesday but attended a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting later that day. On Tuesday, Knopp was absent from the floor but attended a Senate Rules Committee meeting.

Senate Republicans have said they are boycotting floor sessions because bills fail to comply with a state law that requires summaries of legislation to have an eighth-grade reading level. Republicans also have insisted that Democratic senators need to set aside bills they consider too partisan, including House Bill 2002, which expands abortion rights and access to transgender care, and House Bill 2005, which raises the minimum age to purchase most firearms from 18 to 21 years.

“What we would say is in fact that we are doing our job, because we are protect-

“And we’re saying you don’t have a choice because once our lawmakers say, ‘The law doesn’t apply to me, I’ve got the votes, I can do what I want’ — That is dangerous.”

Meanwhile, Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, had little to say Tuesday — either about senators continuing to get paid or whether the two sides can reach an agreement before the session ends by June 25.

“There’s a long time to go between now and the end of session,” Wagner told reporters after the floor session.

“Like I said, conversations are ongoing, and I think everything’s on the table.”

Taxpayers spend millions on the entire legislative session, regardless of whether bills pass or not. The total estimated cost of a long session is nearly $18 million.

Each day, the legislative session costs taxpayers nearly $97,500 on average, which includes salaries for representatives, senators and most support staff, according to legislative records.

And the Senate alone costs taxpayers nearly $37,000 a day on average during the session. That includes costs such

tions staffers and other aides who assist legislators.

Though it’s business as usual in the House and Republican senators say they’re working, the protest means that the session could end with millions spent and relatively few bills passed, including the budget. They include bills on housing and homelessness, food assistance, education and mental health and addiction care that thousands of Oregonians need.

Gov. Tina Kotek is likely to call a special session to pass the budget if lawmakers fail to adopt one.

Kotek announced May 31 that after more than a week of talks with the Senate Republican leadership to end their ongoing walkout, negotiations had reached an impasse.

Follow developments at thechiefnews.com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.

Fast Fact Senators continue to collect their pay and a $157-a-day per diem regardless of whether they show up for floor sessions.

the community, the Clatskanie Farmers Market would not be a reality.

Nutrition Program, which is for people eligible for the Women Infants and Children program and senior citizens.

The Clatskanie Farmers Market also has a program to engage children where kids from ages 3-12 get a free “power of produce token,” which is a $2 produce token that kids can use to buy produce from farmers

the North Coast.

They also received donations from Ford Family Foundation, Columbia Pacific Economic Development District, Oregon Community Foundation, and countless in-kind donations from within the community. The Clatskanie Food Hub aims to help producers get their food to a market.

“Whether that’s a wholesale institution, direct to consumer, aggregation, onto a delivery truck, it’s just helping producers get their product to the end user,” Lillich said.

The Clatskanie Food Hub will be open year-round on a consignment model. Producers will get 80% of the retail price, and the hub will take 20%. Lillich said this model is based on other food hubs on the North Coast, like Food Roots and North Coast Food Web. The 20% cut that the food hub gets is to cover operating costs and expand their work to help producers.

The hub will be a seasonal store, meaning that

directly. The money to fund that program comes from the local Kiwanis Club.

Lillich and Schilling thanked the City of Clatskanie and Clatskanie’s Parks and Rec department for their support of the market and for getting it to the point it is today. Parks and Rec allows the market to use the park facilities for free. The city has

only locally grown products will be in supply at a given time. All the inventory will be used, and if food is out of season, there may be a derivative of that product that is preserved and sold. Schilling described it as a way to educate and add value, so people understand how to get the most out of their food.

“For instance, we’ve got a rack of fresh, beautiful tomatoes; they’ve been in the store for a week, maybe some of them are starting to turn, well before they all turn, we want to capture those and have a class on how to can tomatoes,” Schilling said. “So people come in, they can those tomatoes, we’re able to buy the rest of the tomatoes from the producer to reduce their risk of consignment, and we’re actually able to turn that into a value-added product through an educational experience.”

It will look like a grocery store, but a different kind of grocery store, Lillich said. Beyond that, the food hub is looking to address the in-

allowed the market to have one business license that allows all the vendors to sell.

A message to the community

Lillich and Schilling said they couldn’t express enough gratitude to the community for making all of this possible. They said that without

frastructure issues needed to establish a local food system.

“There are so many missing links to having a local food system. It is like building from scratch. There’s been a lot of work already in the works; we’re sort of able to stand on the shoulders of giants at this point,” Schilling said. “You think about the way that our national and global food system has developed. They have a massive infrastructure, and we have basically zero infrastructure. It’s not just about having a refrigerator for people to go shop and buy these goods; it’s so much more dynamic in nature.”

Lillich and Schilling want to create a local and regional food network in Clatskanie and Columbia County. The food that will be in the Clatskanie Food Hub will be limited to a 100-mile radius, though they are not accepting any products from the Portland metro area. Lillich said they have about 50 percent of their vendors from Clatskanie and Columbia

Rainier Clatskanie Youth Soccer Club

Now Open

“The reason why the system works is because Clatskanie and Columbia County show up. And if they ever stop showing up, this won’t work,” Lillich said. “Direct-to-farmer sales matter significantly. There are no middlemen. There’s no extra transportation. We help with the producer’s marketing. It’s a system that really benefits our local farmers, and because we have such a broken food system in our country and really in our world, we need to buy direct from our farmers as much as we can.” Lillich hopes in the coming years the Clatskanie Farmers Market will be acting as a support service for beginning and established farmers.

Find more information about the Clatskanie Farmers Market at https://www. clatskaniefarmersmarket. com.

County and 50 percent from Astoria, Washington, and other surrounding areas.

Lillich said that currently, there are 32 producers signed up for the food hub, but the applications are open and will be accepted year-round. The food hub offers not only the market component but also a classroom that will offer classes to help educate people about buying directly from farmers and ways to grow and support local food systems.

Lillich and Schilling said that this year would be focused on intake and getting producers into the market. They will gauge their hours and availability based on the buy-in and participation they get. The hub is volunteer run, but Lillich wanted to make sure that hub manager Candy Uskoski also got credit for her role in running the hub.

As the food hub gets off the ground, Lillich and Schilling wanted to emphasize that this venture’s success will hinge on community support.

“We can only support you if you support us. It’s going to require people to shift their purchasing habits and what they’re used to and comfortable and familiar with, but if they can take the dive with us and trust that the more, they can support us as a community, the more we can invest into making this a more robust and resilient food system,” Schilling said. “Their dollar goes further, spending it in the market because it goes direct to their neighbors. If we want to see a stronger quality of life in our community, county, and region, then we have to invest in our locals, in our people, and this is a powerful and easy way to do that.”

For more information about the Clatskanie Food Hub, call Jasmine Lillich at 503-412-8678.

Ben Botkin / Oregon Capital Chronicle

Courtesy from Jasmine Lillich

Fresh produce and pantry staples, art and crafts, body products, plants and starts, and food and drink options are offered by the vendors.

Clatskanie Softball season comes to a close

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

Clatskanie Middle/High School’s softball season has come to an end, as Grant Union/Prairie City bested the Tigers in the quarterfinals of the 2023 OSAA / OnPoint Community Credit Union 2A/1A Softball State Championship.

7-seeded Clatskanie won their first playoff game against Pilot Rock/Nixyaawii/Ukiah on May 24 by a score of 4-1. Their game against Grant Union/Prairie City took place on May 26, and the 2-seed side beat Clatskanie 8-0 but played a full seven innings.

Grant Union/Prairie City is a formidable side and will play in the state finals against Weston-McEwen/ Griswold on June 2. For Clatskanie, the season was a return to the big stage after the team was unable to qualify for the state tournament last year.

For a Clatskanie program that won state in 2019 and the COVID-shortened state tournament in 2021, their 3-9 record in league play last season was a blip for a

team that has enjoyed a lot of success over the past five years.

This year, the Tigers were back to their high

a 13-3 league record, and finished the season on a 9-1 record. Head Coach Teauna Hughes told the Chief that

biggest component of their improvement.

“I think the biggest factor in this year’s success up

girls coming together as a team. ‘Playing for the girl next to you rather than for yourself,’” Hughes said.

Looking ahead to next season, the program will deal with the same challenges that many high school programs deal with; the loss of its seniors.

Of the 17 players on Clatskanie’s roster on OSAA.org, six of the athletes are seniors. The departure of more than a third of the team means that younger players will need to step into more prominent roles, not only on the field but as leaders in the locker room.

Luckily, the Tigers have a good crop of young players to help shoulder the burden. Seven of the player on the roster are freshmen this season, and they will likely be the foundation for the program’s success next year and in the coming seasons.

While the Tigers will have wanted to end the season holding the trophy, this season has shown tremendous strides for a team that will continue to compete in the future.

Follow local sports coverage at thechiefnews. com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.

ODFW opens waterway for free fishing

STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) will host a family fishing event on Saturday, June 3 at Gnat Creek Hatchery, located at 92645 Gnat Hatchery Road in Clatskanie. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for youth under 16 years old. Free Fishing Weekend in Oregon is June 3-4, and no fishing/shellfish licenses or tags are required on those two

days. Both Oregon residents and nonresidents can fish, clam and crab for free.

ODFW will provide equipment including rods, reels and bait as well as some light refreshments, certificates and educational materials at the Gnat Creek Hatchery event. ODFW staff and volunteers will be available to answer questions and offer assistance to less experienced anglers. The limit is three rainbow trout per person. Ice will be provided but no fish cleaning service.

The event is free and registration is not required.

The hatchery

The hatchery is open to visitors daily from 7:30 a.m. to dusk, including a show pond with large rainbow trout and sturgeon, in addition to a fish food station for the public. An informational kiosk and picnic areas are available for visitor use.

Spring Chinook and winter steelhead fill the fish raceways at Gnat Creek Hatchery.

For visitors who want more than a day trip to explore the hatchery and adjacent Clatsop State Forest, Gnat Creek trail leads to a popular campground that is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Nearby

Bradley State Scenic Viewpoint and Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge are located near the hatchery. ADA-accessible restrooms are available at a nearby wayside.

Fishing Steelhead are available to the angler from December through February. For the angler seeking spring Chinook, May to July is the best time at Gnat Creek. The hatchery provides 2-1/2 miles of easy fishing access for spring Chinook and winter steelhead. Find more information about Free Fishing Weekend, including dates and locations of similar events happening statewide.

SINGING EAGLES OF MODOC OF MEDICINE CREEK

Photo from OSAA.org

Clatskanie’s softball team is back to competing at the highest level.

Metro Creative Connection

The free fishing offers a chance for families to participate together.