TCC630

Clatskanie Heritage Days full of fun, patriotism

WILL

LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

The 2023 Clatskanie Heritage Days kicked off with the annual Car Show last weekend, with the bulk of the festivities to take place this weekend and on the Fourth of July.

The Heritage Days Committee, which has organized the event, has been working to ensure the event’s success since January. Committee member Sarah Johnson of Clatskanie PUD said coordinating the event has been a team effort.

“A lot of time and hard work has gone into the coordination of the 2023 Clatskanie Heritage Days celebration. Debi and Greg Smiley, our Heritage Days co-chairs, are

fantastic leaders for our planning committee,” Johnson said. “The Clatskanie Chamber of Commerce sponsors the event coordination, but it is the dedication of the planning committee, business sponsorships, volunteers, and our community residents attending the events that makes Heritage Days successful each year.”

Saturday, July 1, the festivities will return with a “Strut your Mutt” dog show at Clatskanie City Park from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., followed by Movie Night in the Park at dusk. At 7 p.m. on July 1, Clatskanie will welcome back the Hypnotist Family Entertainment show at the Birkenfeld Theater.

Sunday, July 2, an “All Class Reunion” will be held at the City

Park Gazebo, and Monday, July 3, there will be a “Reunion in the Restaurants.” These events will be a great opportunity for people to come together and strengthen old connections.

Community parade

The annual long-standing tradition community parade kick off the celebrations. At 10 a.m. The parade staging will occur with the marching band and horses lining up at Clatskanie Elementary School, 815 S Nehalem Street, while motorized floats will line up at the front entrance of Clatskanie Middle/High School, off Bel Air Street. The 4th of July Parade will begin at 11 a.m. The parade participants include

the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Clatskanie Post, marching bands, horses, farm vehicles, fire trucks, law enforcement patrol vehicles, and dozens of colorful floats. Spectators line Nehalem Street from the elementary school to the city park to watch the event. The Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies and local volunteers help guide the parade through the city to the Clatskanie City Park.

Fun on the Fourth

In addition to the weekend activities, Independence Day Tuesday, July 4, will feature a full day of fun.

“Another popular event brought back from last year is the Donkey

Races. They will be held at 3:30 p.m. in the park on July 4. For the athletes out there, the softball game and 3 on 3 Basketball Tournaments will be held the afternoon of the 4th as well,” Johnson said. “This year we are bringing in a Game Truck for the video game enthusiasts, and it will be the first time for providing free cartoon caricature artist drawings.”

The full schedule of events may also be found on the Clatskanie Chamber/Heritage Days website at clatskaniechamber.com or on at the Facebook page ClatskanieHeritageDays@clatskanieheritagedays.

All the Heritage Days events in the park are family-friendly, and

See HERITAGE Page A6

Rainier Days in the Park celebration returns

WILL LOHRE

Country Media, Inc.

T he annual Rainier Days in the Park celebration is back, and the town and waterfront will be alight with a parade, carnival, vendors, food, thrill rides, live music, wrestling, and fireworks.

The event will take place at Rainier City Park on July 7, 8, and 9. In 2022, the event drew around 2,000 people over three days, according to Rainier Mayor Jerry Cole. Coming out of the COVID pandemic, the event has remained a mainstay in Rainier.

“It draws people in, it’s definitely fun for the whole family,” Rainier City Administrator Scott Jorgensen said. “It’s the kind of thing where you can spend all day, bring your kids, they go on the rides, you got live music. So, It’s something for everyone.”

Though they had to cancel the event in 2020 due to the pandemic,

they still managed to have a parade that year, and the event has been going strong since, according to Cole.

day event will feature circus wheel acrobats, a carnival, and craft and food vendors each day.

Saturday

• 10 a.m. Parade

• 12 p.m. Idol poets

• 2:30 p.m. Cloudshine

• 5 p.m. Big River Big Band

• 8 p.m. Back into Black AC/DC tribute

• 10 p.m. Fireworks

Sunday

• 10 a.m. All church service

• 12 p.m. Faith-Based Music all church events

Presale all-day ride passes for the event, and carnival are available at Deli Store and More for $30. The event boasts an impressive firework display that will seek to be voted as the “Best on the Columbia River” for the eleventh consecutive year.

Oregon native and Rainier resident Delbert Larson is the 2023 Grand Marshall for the Rainier Days in the Park parade.

“Parades too, that’s a chance for the community to shine, and you just see how happy it makes people,” Jorgensen said. “It’s something that everyone looks forward to in town.”

This will be the 32nd Rainier Days in the Park, according to the Rainier Oregon Historical Museum. The Rainier Days in the Park started in 1992 and was originally sponsored by the Rainier Chamber of Commerce. Since 2011, the event has been under the direction of Mayor Jerry Cole and a committee of community volunteers.

According to Cole, the event is made possible by a host of sponsors, including: Teevin Bros., Remax Power Pros, Rainier Chevron, Luigi’s Pizza, Deli Store and More, Rightline, Grocery Outlet, Hudson Garbage, Clatskanie PUD, Columbia River PUD, Port of Columbia County, Vilardi Electric, and the Columbia County Cultural Coalition.

Port commission adopts $16.2M budget

Port Commission has the authority to impose a property tax levy of $0.0886 per thousand upon the assessed value of all taxable property within the district but has instead voted to keep the levy at zero for the past four years. By assessing the tax rate at zero since 2020, the port has saved local taxpayers approximately $1.9 million.

“This will be the fourth year the Port of Columbia County has opted not to tax property owners, saving taxpayers more than one million dollars,” Port of Columbia County Commission President Robert Keyser said. “We are pleased to be able to fully fund our

expenditures. The budget assumes that the port’s 42 commercial and industrial tenants will continue with their building and property leases. Combined budgeted revenues for all port tenant leases, permits, and licenses add up to more than $6 million. Port Westward remains the port’s most profitable property site, accounting for almost half of total revenue at over $3 million. One of the port’s largest tenants, Columbia Pacific Bio-Refinery, also known as Global Partners, is projected to continue transloading renewable diesel at Port Westward at the same volume of approximately one to two vessels per month.

Other Port Westward tenants include Portland General Electric with their Beaver Power Plant and the Port Westward 1 and 2 Generation Plants, and Next Renewable Fuels, which intends to build a $2.5 billion renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel production facility on their 90-acre ground lease.

The port intends to spend an estimated $7.2 million in capital projects in 2023-24. Significant

Jeremy C. Ruark / Country Media, Inc. Rainier Mayor Jerry Cole tossing candy to spectators at a past Rainier Days Parade.

Jeremy C. Ruark / Country Media, Inc.

The VFW American Legion Clatskanie Post leads the annual Heritage Days Parade.

What you need to know about fireworks safety

JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.

A new report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) finds a significant upward trend in fireworks-related injuries. Between 2006 and 2021, injuries with fireworks climbed 25% in the U.S., according to CPSC estimates. Last year, at least nine people died, and an estimated 11,500 were injured in incidents involving fireworks.

“It’s imperative that consumers know the risks involved in using fireworks, so injuries and tragedies can be prevented. The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to watch the professional displays,” CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric said. “CPSC’s Office of Compliance and Field Operations continues to work closely with other federal agencies to prevent the sale of illegal consumer fireworks.”

CPSC’s report shows:

Of the nine U.S. deaths, six were associated with firework misuse, one death was associated with a mortar launch malfunction, and two incidents were associated with unknown circumstances.

There were an estimated 11,500 emergency roomtreated injuries involving fireworks in 2021—down from the spike (15,600) experienced in 2020, during the first year of the COVID-19

pandemic, when many public displays were cancelled.

An estimated 8,500 fireworks-related injuries (or 74 percent of the total estimated fireworks-related injuries in 2021) occurred during the 1-month special study period between June 18 and July 18 last year.

Young adults 20 to 24 years of age had the highest estimated rate of emergency department-treated, fireworks-related injuries in 2021.

In 2021, there were an estimated 1,500 emergency department-treated injuries associated with firecrackers and 1,100 involving sparklers.

In 2021, the parts of the body most often injured by fireworks were hands and fingers (an estimated 31 percent of injuries) along with head, face, and ears (an estimated 21 percent).

About 32 percent of the emergency department-treated fireworks-related injuries in 2021 were for burns.

In 2021, approximately 31 percent of selected and tested fireworks products were found to contain noncompliant components, including fuse violations, the presence of prohibited chemicals and pyrotechnic materials overload.

The Chief has reached out to The Oregon Fire Marshal’s (OSFM) Public Affairs Director Alison Green for in-

sight into Oregon’s fireworks rules for safety.

The Chief: Specifically, what are the rules in Oregon about the rules of illegal fireworks. What is legal. What isn’t? And why are these rules in place?

Alison Green: There are certain fireworks that are illegal in Oregon for private individuals. (See the attached infographic examples). Oregon law prohibits the possession, use or sale of any firework that flies into the air, explodes, or travels more than 12 feet horizontally on the ground without a permit issued by the OSFM. Fireworks commonly called bottle rockets, Roman candles, and firecrackers are illegal in Oregon without a permit.

This is to prevent fires and injuries to folks during the 4th of July holiday.

The Chief: What are the penalties that someone possessing illegal fireworks in Oregon face?

Green: Officials (law enforcement) may seize illegal fireworks and charge offenders with a class B misdemeanor which could result in a fine of up to $2,500. Those who misuse fireworks or allow fireworks to cause damage are liable and may be required to pay fire suppres-

Self-Service gas bill stalls

STAFF REPORT

Country Media, Inc.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has yet to sign a bill overwhelming passed by the state legislature allowing self-service gasoline.

“I want to hear from Oregonians,” Kotek said in a June 28 media briefing.

“What do people think?”

Kotek has 30 days to approve or veto some 300 bills approved by the legislature.

House Bill 2426 gives drivers statewide the choice to pump their own gas, but at least 50% of the pumps must still offer attended service for elderly, disabled, or preference-driven customers.

The Oregon Senate has passed House Bill 2426 with overwhelming bipartisan support. The new law

gives Oregon drivers the choice to pump their own gas or receive service from a gas station attendant. Under the new law, at least 50% of the pumps must still offer attended service for elderly, disabled, or preference-driven customers.

“This bill strikes a balance between consumer preferences, business needs, and employment considerations,” Chief sponsor of the bill Sen. Janeen Sollman (D - Hillsboro) said. “It provides Oregonians choice at the pump, while still protecting access for the elderly and disabled community members.”

According to a KOIN report, those testifying for the bill included gas station operators who said they are struggling to hire enough employees. Those opposing the bill expressed concerns

about fairness to the workers that are on duty and safety at the pumps.

In 2015, legislators allowed self-serve gas during nighttime hours in rural and coastal counties to help fuel retailers and drivers.

In 2017, they extended this allowance to all hours in rural counties. Additionally, in 2020, 2021, and 2022, Oregon’s fire marshal temporarily lifted the self-service ban statewide during emergencies like wildfires and heatwaves.

HB 2426 aims to simplify the existing patchwork rules regarding self-service gas for all Oregonians, while protecting jobs and maintaining attendant services for Oregonians who want them.

HB 2426 was sent to the Governor’s desk for consideration.

sion costs or other damages. Parents are also liable for fireworks damage caused by their children.

The Chief: What are the life and safety concerns the State Fire Marshal has about the use of illegal fireworks in Oregon?

Green: Even legal fireworks carry an inherent life safety concern. We ask that folks are safe by following the 4 Bs of safe fireworks use:

• Be prepared before lighting fireworks: keep

water available by using a garden hose or bucket.

• Be safe when lighting fireworks: keep children and pets away from fireworks. Never use fireworks near or on dry grass or vegetation.

• Be responsible after lighting fireworks: never relight a dud. Please wait 15 to 20 minutes, then soak it in a bucket of water before disposal.

• Be aware: Use only legal fireworks in legal places. Illegal fireworks that fly into the air, explode, or travel more than 12-feet horizontally on the ground amplify the risk of legal fireworks to

life safety. (See the infographic attached illustrating the percentage of burns from fireworks).

The Chief: How are the laws and regulations about illegal fireworks in Oregon enforced?

Green: Law enforcement (local, county, and state) enforces illegal fireworks laws. There are additional regulations on federal public lands and state parks. Our agency oversees the sale of legal fireworks by retailers and issue permits for professional firework displays.

Courtesy from the Oregon State Fire Marshal Courtesy from the Oregon State Fire Marshal

Courtesy from the Oregon State Fire Marshal

Minimum wage increase in Oregon

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

Daniel Kallunki

July 8, 1977 ~ May 25, 2023

Daniel Joseph Kallunki was born July 8. 1977 and passed away June 25, 2023.

Metro Creative Connection

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

recruitment and retention of employees, which is a critical component of addressing Oregon’s workforce shortage,” according to a 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.

Oregon’s new Secretary of State

Chief Guest Article

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 GriffinValade has 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.

“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. GriffinValade 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-a-month 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 resignation, 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.

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

He has one daughter, Aiyana Jade. He loved the color red, Adidas, music, writing lyrics and study ing Buddhism. He served in the Navy for 3 ½ years and received training as a quartermaster. Danny loved working on boats and was a diesel mechanic. He saw himself as an activist as well as an environmentalist.

He will be remembered and deeply missed by family and friends. Donations may be made, in lieu of flowers, in Danny’s

name to Voluntary Service (C4VOL), 3710 S.W. U.S. Veteran’s Hospital Road, Portland, OR 97239. Cards may also be sent to his daughter, at Aiyana Kallunki, c/o Sally Kallunki, P.O. Box 1025, Clatskanie, OR 97016. Danny will be laid to rest at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. There will be a commemorative gathering in remembrance of Danny from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sat., July 8, 2023 at Sally Kallunki’s house.

April 6, 1942 ~ April 30, 2023

On April 6, 1942, Jim and Marcheta Lumajarvi welcomed their first child, Sharon Nadine, in Clatskanie, Oregon. Sharon passed away April 30, 2023 after a fouryear battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Over the next years, Sharon welcomed three more sister and three more brothers. Sharon graduated from Clatskanie High School in 1960 with a great career in many activities with cheerleading at the top. Sharon’s English teacher, Lucille Hanson, guided her to Linfield where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education to be a teacher. Her first love, Bruce Crouser, took place at Linfield and shortly after graduation, they married. In three years was the birth of their two sons, Greg and Steve. Bruce’s job with Crown Zellerbach, to receive promotions, determined their place of residence. Sharon’s first teaching job in Dufur was shortened with the birth of son, Greg. Sharon’s next teaching job was in her old high school for six years, teaching Home Ec. Off the family went over the next few years to Portland, Port Angeles, Antioch, California and New York. After a short time in New York, Bruce and Sharon divorced. Sharon’s

next man in her life was George Mercer and after a few years, he passed away from a stroke. After George, for the 15 years and until her passing, was Larry Hermo, who brought Sharon back to Oregon. Upon soon to be in Milwaukie with not knowing anyone but Larry, she immediately made friends and she joined a Garden Club, her college roommate, Marva, got her into PEO and then into Villages, every one of the clubs were strong and Sharon helped them to be top level. The strength of Sharon’s life was her disposition of likeness. She was never to be bad to anyone regardless of their personality. Larry’s favorite greeting was, “Sweets,” whenever we left there was always a kiss and, “I love you.” Whatever Sha-

ron was doing, her favorite expression was, “I am most happy with my hands in the dirt.” Her flowers circled our yard yearly with beauty. Sharon was a good sports fan, rooting for Linfield teams and the Yankees. Larry and Sharon traveled many places in the U.S. which included Maui, Phoenix, Lake Tahoe and Palm Springs. Our adventures took us to see Halls of Fame. Sharon is survived by three sisters, Nina, Lynn and Jan; and brothers, John and Jeff. Her brother Joe preceded Sharon in death. Sharon has two sons, Greg and Steve; and grandson August. When she married Larry, she had two stepsons, Brad and Scott; and three step-grandkids, Troy, Alex and Megan.

Arnie William Sundberg

April 19, 1941 ~ Nov. 21, 2022

Arnie will be buried at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland Oregon on July 14th at 1:00 pm.

A celebration of Life will be held at 1 pm on July 15th at the Clatskanie Legion Hall.

Sharon Nadine Hermo

The port’s mission is to foster

BEN BOTKIN

Oregon Capital Chronicle

Thoughtful watering, other gardening thoughts

CHIP BUBL Clatskanie Grows

Chief Guest Column

We are coming into summer with quite low soil moisture.

The heavy rain early last week helped, but we still are in a moisture deficit. This will have implications for a variety of plants.

July and August are normally the driest months of the year. You should expect less than one and a half inches of rain in July and about an inch in August.

Most of our vegetable crops need even moisture through their short growing cycle.

At a minimum, they will need an inch of water each week. Onions need very even moisture and about 9 inches per month as the bulbs are forming. If they run short of water, they stop growing and don’t restart again. That leads to small onions, with the size dependent on when they ran short of water.

is best managed by periodic light cultivation. Covering seeds with a mix of sand and potting mix will reduce or eliminate seed loss due to crusting.

Blossom end rot of tomatoes (not a disease but rather a shortage of calcium) will be reduced with even watering. Some liquid calcium sprays will also help. Bitter pit of apples is also a low water and low calcium issue.

Landscape trees and shrubs generally have fairly extensive root systems. But any newly (within the last two years) planted trees and shrubs will not have developed good root systems. They will need watering deep watering once a week to get them through until they are ready to thrive with less summer watering as their root systems get more robust. One advantage of planting native plants is that they evolved to handle little to no summer rain.

Lawns need to be either fully watered or not watered at all. If not watered, the grass will go dormant but will return in the fall. If watered sporadically and not enough, they are in grass limbo and don’t know what to do. Often those lawns die in patches. So you need to be all in or all out re watering lawns.

since that is the mole’s fa vorite food, encourages them to create their grocery aisles (tunnels) right under your crops. Trapping, watering in a wider pattern, and/or using lots more water are your only options.

Other garden thoughts

be covered with a mulch to prevent “greening”, which can produce a bitter flavor. Also, as potatoes come close to harvest and the leaves start dying, stop watering! This will give them longer storage life once harvested.

Though tomatoes are self-pollinating, no wind at all can reduce tomato fruit set. You can help them along by gently shaking plants if there is no wind to do the job.

Pacific NW Honeybee Survey and “what to do in the hive in July,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 6. We meet at the Saint Helens Extension Office or by Zoom. Please email me for the zoom link. All are welcome. Columbiacountyoregonbeekeepers@gmail.com.

Food preservation

greatly appreciated.

• The Extension Service offers its programs and materials equally to all people.

• The OSU Extension Office is fully open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Have questions?

If you are overhead watering, you might end up with “crusted” soil. This is a result of the physical pounding of the irrigation water followed by hot sun. It can keep small seeds from germinating. It

Moles do not help you water evenly. They making raising crops really challenging when you are using soaker or drip irrigation. The tight pattern of watering attracts earthworms which,

e

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 503-728-3608 for reservations. Use ground floor entrance to the left of front stairs. 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 sdug-

gan@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).

It is time to plan and soon plant crops for fall/ winter harvest. They include anything in the cabbage family except some of the more tropical varieties. Chard and kale do very well in winter. Beets and a number of other root crops are at their best once they get a cold snap so consider planning some now.

ROHM is located inside Rainier City Hall at 106 W B Street. For more information, call 360-7517039.

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.

If temperatures are above 93° or so, you may lose pollination with tomatoes and green beans. This leads to gaps in harvest in the weeks to come. Overhead watering may reduce the temperature around the plants enough to allow normal pollination.

Gardening events

Columbia County Beekeepers Monthly Meeting July 6

Dr. Dewey Caron will give a report on the 2022

Are you planning to preserve food from your garden or purchased from a farm this summer? If so, call or visit the OSU Extension Service office before you start canning, freezing, or drying.Costly and potentially harmful mistakes can be made by using outdated canning recipes and instructions. You can find free publications and pressure gauge testing at the Columbia County Extension office located at 505 N. Columbia River Highway in St. Helens. If you have questions, phone Jenny Rudolph at the office at 503-397-3462.You can download for free all our food preservation publications at https://extension. oregonstate.edu/mfp/publications. An additional great resource is the National Center for home Food Preservation at http://www.uga. edu/nchfp.

Important notes

• Donate extra garden produce and/or money to the food bank, senior centers, or community meals programs. It always is

If you have questions on any of these topics or other home garden and/or farm questions, please contact Chip Bubl, Oregon State University Extension office in St. Helens at 503-3973462 or at chip.bubl@oregonstate.edu. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Free newsletter

The Oregon State University Extension office in Columbia County publishes a monthly newsletter on gardening and farming topics (called County Living) written/edited by yours truly. All you need to do is ask for it and it will be mailed or emailed to you. Call 503-397-3462 to be put on the list. Alternatively, you can find it on the web at http://extension.oregonstate. edu/columbia/ and click on newsletters.

Contact resource Oregon State University Extension Service – Columbia County 505 N. Columbia River Highway St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-3462

J.J. LANDSCAPING

Gardening needs, lawn maintenance, clean ups, bark, soil, planting, pruning, aeration, fertilization, weed control, retaining walls, patios, sprinkler systems, installation/ repair/maintenance, plant trees, blackberry removal, free estimates and I have references.

360-241-6889 or 360-762-9220

150 Misc Services

DIVORCE $130

Complete preparation. Includes children, custody, support, property and bills division. No court appearances. Divorced in 1-5 weeks possible. 503-772-5295. www.paralegalalternatives.com legalalt@msn.com

FREE high speed internet for those that qualify 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.

LeafGuard

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 1-844-345-1537.

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 Fi-

nancing 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 Premium 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.

BCI Bath & Shower

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.

Heart Screenings

Stroke and Cardio-

vascular 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.

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.

CLATSKANIE Mini Storage

CC23-1810

NOTICE OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING

The Clatskanie City Council will meet on Wednesday, July 5th, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 75 South Nehalem St. (Clatskanie Cultural Center, 2nd floor). Agenda items include, but

CC23-1811

are not limited to: approval of the minutes of the June 7th, 2023 regular meeting; a public hearing authorizing a supplemental budget, and a discussion on Sewer Treatment Plant funding. An updated agenda will be

available at City Hall by June 27, 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.

HELP WANTED

Clatskanie

To help extend the life of Clatskanie PUD power poles, Davey Resource Group has been contracted to conduct our pole test and treat program for 2021. They will be working on our poles on the following roads and the surrounding areas: Swedetown Rd, Olson Rd, Alder Grove Rd, Lindberg Rd, Cedar Grove Rd, & Lost Creek. For questions or concerns, please call 503-728-2163.

This position will be responsible for the development, maintenance, and validation of GIS data for use in the implementation and tracking of electrical facilities and processes throughout the District’s service area.

Ideal Candidate! A driven, enthusiastic individual who is detail-oriented to provide GIS data system administration and strives to fulfill the District’s Vision Statement to: “Benefit our customers through innovation and adaptability.”

Compensation will be based on qualifications and experience. Clatskanie PUD offers a competitive benefit package. An application and full job description can be found on our website under About Us/Employment Opportunities at clatskaniepud. com. Submit completed application, résumé, and cover letter to Human Resources, PO Box 216, Clatskanie, OR 97016, secure fax 503-308-4884, or email: hr@clatskaniepud.com. This position remains open until 5:00 pm PDT, July 17,2023, or until filled. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Lynn Donner: ldonner@clatskaniepud.com or 503-728-2163.

Clatskanie PUD is an equal employment opportunity employer, following all necessary federal and state employment laws required. Clatskanie PUD will make reasonable accommodations for those covered by the Americans with

will

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

The Clatskanie Car Show is in the rearview mirror, and the winners in each of the 24 categories of

cars have been announced. Gabe Wiggins, who organized the event, said it was a success.

“The show went very well. It had good attendance by both participants and at-

tendees,” Wiggins said. There were 128 vehicles registered for the event that took place June 24, and 24 trophies were awarded. Here are the winners in each of the respective categories:

These are just some of the cars that showed out at the Clatskanie Car Show.

HERITAGE

From Page A1

most activities are free, according to Johnson.

“Heritage Days has a long tradition of bringing family members back to Clatskanie to celebrate the 4th of July where they grew up or to visit family that makes Clatskanie their home,” Johnson said. “It is fun to see old friends and

gives multiple opportunities for people to make new friends and great memories.”

History of the Heritage Days celebration

The Heritage Days celebration originated in 1959 in an effort to raise funds for the Clatskanie Pool, according to Chamber Board Director Nikole Young.

“There had been multiple drownings, including

drownings of children, in the Columbia River, so bring ing a pool into town was a top priority for all citizens. The result was barbeque and baseball fundraiser,” Young said.

Originally named the Clatskanie Scramble, the celebrations have evolved into a multi-day celebration over the years, and it now includes games, races, fireworks, logging demonstrations, and more.

Perks:

Raffle prizes:

Jon Campbell / Country Media, Inc.