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4-H fun at the County Fair and Rodeo

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

The Columbia County Fair is back in full swing, and the ultra-popular Columbia County Rodeo will return this weekend, bringing unbridled action to the county for its 108th year.

The theme this year is “Spurring Up Summer Fun,” and the fair will offer a host of activities, including carnival rides, 4-H livestock shows and auctions, food, drink, and of course, the rodeo. One of the staples of the fair each year is the Columbia County Youth Livestock Auction. It provides an opportunity for people to purchase livestock that is raised by Columbia County 4-H Livestock Club members and get high-quality meats while supporting youth and their agriculture projects.

“This is a huge fundraiser for our youth, we hope you’ll take the time to go over and purchase an animal or simply watch the process. These youth have done a great job raising and caring for these animals, and they will be the first to tell you, they are very proud of what they do,” the fair website states.

Benefits of 4-H

Four industrious youths from

Clatskanie are participating in the 4-H Livestock Club and hope to sell their swine at the auction on Saturday. James Kujala (12), Rhiley White (12), Gavin (14) and Logan Larson (12) have all taken on the task of raising pigs this year and are ready to reap the rewards of months of hard work. While the goal of raising livestock is always to sell it, it can be hard to say goodbye to the animals the youths have raised.

“This is my first year, but my father did 4-H for many years, and my grandma also had some involvement in 4-H. My pig Webby, she was the runt of the litter, so she missed weight by a little bit, so I need to find people to sell her to,” Kujala said. “I’m going to be a little upset that Webby is gone. It’s going to be a mix [of emotions]. I’m going to be a little bit happy about the money and excited to do it next year.”

Gavin Larson has been involved with the Clatskanie 4-H Livestock Club auction for the last two years, and this year will be his third year raising chickens and his first year raising a pig. Last year, Gavin raised Grand Champion market chickens, the highest possible placement. Raising pigs has been a bit different.

“It’s been much more eventful than my previous years just doing chickens. It’s definitely been a lot more work than chickens; chickens

are just a breeze,” Gavin Larson said. “I like doing pigs. Again, they’re difficult, but not so difficult that they’re overwhelming.”

Gavin got his pig when it was just eight weeks old, and it was born in January of 2023. Since taking charge of the pig, Gavin has needed to feed the pig each morning, ensure they have water, and clean out their pens when they get dirty.

“It’s a pretty simple process out loud, but it’s eventful sometimes,” Gavin Larson said.

With more than 6 million members, 4-H is the largest out-of-school youth program in the United States, according to Oregon State University Extension Association website. 4-H empowers young people to find what sparks their curiosity, learn skills and leadership, and impact their communities. 4-H is over 100 years old and began as a way for new agricultural developments to be shared with young people in rural communities.

For Rhiley White, this is his second year raising a pig for the 4-H auction, and he’s really appreciated the opportunities that the 4-H program has afforded him. White says that people have some misconceptions about 4-H.

“I’m glad that you guys are getting an inside view of it to see that

Community offers support after tragic fire

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

he community of Westport is coming together to support Jeff and Ronda Hazen after a structure fire destroyed their home and took the life of their beloved

Six minutes after midnight on Monday, July 10, Westport Fire was notified of a structure fire on Old Mill Town Road. Clatskanie Fire and Knappa Fire were also notified, according to Westport Fire Chief Greg Brody.

“We got there a little while later, and we had a fully involved structure fire that was extending into a nearby carport; it was on fire, a car was on fire, the trees around the structure were on fire, there was a lot of fire,” Brody

Brody said they began fighting the fire, and more crews and

resources arrived to support. The fire was brought under control around 1 a.m. The next day, a fire investigation team came and investigated the cause of the fire; the cause is unknown at this time.

Jeff Hazen is a Volunteer Firefighter and was not home at the time of the blaze, but he traveled from St. Helens to be with his wife following the news of the incident.

While the fire claimed many of the Hazen’s possessions as well as their terrier, Ronda Hazen was saved by the courageous quickthinking and actions of her neighbors Breanne Hendricks and Alec Hansen. Ronda Hazen was awoken by her fire alarm and battled through the flames to get to her front porch, where she collapsed and began screaming for help.

“A resident that lived across the street, a young woman by the name of Breanne Hendricks,

heard her screaming and ran across the street to the house and found her, basically, on the front porch, under the flames, in intense heat, grabbed right onto her and dragged her away from the house,” Brody said.

A short time later, Hansen arrived and assisted Hendricks in getting Ronda Hazen away from the house. Hansen then attempted to reenter the house and save the family dog but to no avail.

Hendricks was awoken by the distant sounds of screaming that night. When Hendricks heard Ronda Hazen yelling for help, she jumped into action, moving to save her without hesitation.

“She was still crying for her dogs, and she didn’t want to leave without grabbing them, but I just had to get away from the house,” Hendricks said. “Then I started

Citizens speak up at Merkley town hall

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

Sen. Jeff Merkley held a town hall at Lewis and Clark Elementary School in St. Helens to connect with Columbia County residents to take their questions and hear their concerns.

Merkley opened the meeting by inviting people to express their feelings and ask questions but requested that attendees listen to opposing perspectives and be civil during the

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discourse. The event was held Satur day, July 15.

Merkley holds town halls in every county in Oregon, and the event at Lewis and Clark Elementary was his 539th town hall. Merkley said that the benefit of the town halls is to better understand the issues different com munities in the state face.

“If I didn’t do all these town halls in very remote parts of the state, I wouldn’t get to talk to a lot of the smaller community newspapers. And I certainly wouldn’t hear firsthand about how the issues differ in dif ferent parts of the state,” Merkley said. “We have different economies, different cultures, different wildlife, you know. So it is valuable to hear directly from constituents to hear what they wrestle with.”

Merkley’s town hall drew about 40 members to the audience in the school gym at Lewis and Clark Elementary and fielded questions on a variety of topics, including the cost of pharmaceuticals, railway safety, diverting water from the Columbia River to California, the Supreme Court, climate change, plastics, and other more local issues.

When discussing diverting of water to California from the Columbia River, Merkley stated that there are no concrete plans to enact the plan and said it would happen “Over my dead body.”

In response to a question from a retired pharmacist about the rising costs of pharmaceuticals, Merkley referenced his End Price Gouging for Medications Act bill, which would ensure that the maximum price the United States pays would be the same price as other developed countries like Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Canada, Australia, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Sweden.

huge huge difference,” Merkley said.

In response to a comment about support for railway workers and avoidance of railway disasters, Merkley voiced his backing for improving safety for railways and support for increasing relief for rail workers’ benefits and worker’s compensation.

Regarding the Supreme Court, Merkley said that the politicized nature of the court needs to be changed. Merkley said that he wants to find a way to change the way the Supreme Court is staffed. A potential solution he offered would be instituting an 18-year service term on the court for justices before they step back into a “senior status” classification, where they would then serve in a capacity supporting circuit courts. This would be an alternative to adding more seats to the court.

Merkley also said that there needs to be more accountability within the

change, Merkley said that snowpack is decreasing, and the result of diminishing glacier runoff is less water but also increased fire risk, among other consequences. Merkley also said that the increased numbers of climate chaos incidents are a result of increasing carbon levels.

“The test of humanity is whether we can stop going up. Right now, we’re actually going up faster than we did ten years ago. And ten years ago, we were going faster to the top than we did twenty years ago,” Merkley said.

Merkley said that despite all the discourse surrounding global warming and climate chaos, the planet is actually doing worse. Merkley said he is trying to hold the Biden administration accountable for all the fossil fuel-based projects they have been involved with.

One of the final issues Merkley

Will Lohre / Country Media, Inc.

When asked whether the government for importers using plastic packaging, Merkley said that was an option he considered but would look into. According to Merkley, the issue of plastics is a high-priority concern. Merkley said that United States citizens consume about a credit card’s worth of plastic every week through drinking water, eating food, and breathing air. Merkley said that Congress is working on solutions to put safety regulations in place to limit the environmental impact of plastics.

Interview with Merkley

Prior to the town hall, The Chief had an opportunity to sit down with Merkley for an interview to catch up on what the senator has been working on this year and to touch base on some of the ongoing commu-

See MERKLEY Page A4

Senator Jeff Merkley addresses attendees of his 539th town hall meeting.

Will Lohre / Country Media, Inc.

Front, left to right, James Kujala, Logan Larson, and Rhiley White. Behind, Gavin Larson.

Courtesy photo from Westport Fire and Rescue The blaze began around

LONGVIEW FIRE

Columbia County interim DA appointed

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

terim District Attorney Colin Benson has taken up the mantle of Jeff Auxier, who re signed from office in favor of a position in the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office.

Auxier’s final day in the position was July 7, and Governor Tina Kotek appointed Benson, who was Senior Assistant Attorney General at the Oregon Department of Justice.

“I like Columbia County

public marina, and it is great to be back.”

Benson served in the organized crime section of the criminal justice division as a senior assistant attorney general at the Oregon Department of Justice. He previously worked as a deputy district attorney in Roseburg.

Benson will join the team assembled and previously

public safety and protecting the rights of crime victims,” Benson said. Benson will serve as the District Attorney in Columbia County until Gov. Kotek makes an official appointment, but the timeline by which that next step is taken is unclear.

“I expect to be in the position until the governor

with a diversity of back grounds and experiences. Applicants must submit a District Attorney Interest Form to the Governor’s Office. Please note that the District Attorney Interest Form is not the same form that is used for judicial vacancies.

Interested applicants should address their completed application forms to Rich-

on Monday, July 24, 2023.

Oregon law requires that, at the time of appointment, the appointee must be admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Oregon (ORS 8.630 and ORS 8.640).

Follow this developing story here online and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.

State reopens housing funding program

STAFF REPORT

Country Media, Inc.

The Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) will resume accepting new applications for the Oregon Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) program at 10 a.m. Aug. 2, 2023.

The agency estimates there are enough funds to support about 500 additional eligible homeowners. The program offers federal temporary COVID-19 emergency mortgage relief intended to support homeowners who have experienced severe financial hardships due to the pandemic. It provides funding for past-due mortgages and other housing expenses, as well as ongoing payment assistance, to a limited number of homeowners with low to moderate incomes.

The pause that began on May 31, 2023, allowed OHCS to assess current applications in its queue and better project the amount of HAF funds remaining for homeowners. As an exception during the pause, the program continued serving the most at-risk homeowners who were in active foreclosure.

“Oregon families that were financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and are now at risk of foreclosure should review the HAF eligibility requirements and consider submitting an application,” said Ryan Vanden Brink, assistant director of Homeowner Assistance Programs. “Any homeowner falling behind should reach out to their mortgage servicer or a free housing counselor at a state-approved homeowner-

ship center right away.”

HAF will reopen with a focus on homeowners in active foreclosure and those traditionally underserved by mortgage markets. Homeowners can learn more about eligibility requirements and, if eligible, apply online starting at 10 a.m. Aug. 2, 2023, at oregonhomeownerassistance.org.

HAF funding is limited. The state is prioritizing Oregon households that are at the highest risk of foreclosure. Once the $72 million of funding available for homeowners is gone, the program will close. Even if homeowners are eligible, there is no guarantee their application will be funded. Other loss-mitigation options depend on a homeowner’s mortgage and their servicer. Homeowners should evaluate all their options.

Free help is available

Homeowners can get free help from certified housing counselors around the state to learn about budgeting tools and evaluation of options to keep their homes, such as modifications, adding deferred payments to the end of a mortgage, or HAF. Housing counselors are knowledgeable, experienced, and dedicated professionals who can help homeowners communicate with their mortgage servicers.

Homeowners should be aware that some housing counseling agencies take longer to respond due to high volume or remote working policies.

In addition to connecting with a certified housing counselor, Oregon homeowners should directly contact

their mortgage servicers and lenders to see what types of mortgage assistance and foreclosure prevention programs are available. Homeowners who communicate with their lenders and servicers have some additional protections and usually have more time to figure out their options.

Avoiding fraud

The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services recommends being extremely cautious with offers to help from unauthorized companies or people.

Homeowners are urged not to provide financial or personal information unless they verify the company or person’s licensing status. It does not cost anything to apply for the HAF program or meet with an

Oregon housing counselor. There are a number of common warning signs homeowners should watch out for that may indicate a scam. If a homeowner suspects they’re being contacted by a scammer, they can file a report with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Oregon Department of Justice, or the U.S. Treasury’s Office of the Inspector General. To verify a lender’s license, visit the Division of Financial Regulation’s license page and compare it with the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) license number. This number must be included on all advertising materials and should be easy to find. To verify a housing counseling agency’s status with the state, make sure they are listed on the OHCS website.

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD

THEME: ON THE ROAD

ACROSS

1. More down in the dumps

6. Will Ferrell’s 2003 Christmas character

9. Century Gothic, e.g.

13. Twisted cotton thread

14. Greek “t”

15. Biblical mount

16. Dessert sandwiches

17. Barley bristle

18. Pungent edible bulb

19. *Shared ride

21. *Yellow Brick Road

traveller

23. Member of the Benevolent Order

24. Sword handle

25. The little one “stops to tie his shoe”

28. AI “fodder”

30. *Gas station option

35. Thailand money

37. Phone cam images

39. Fill with happy spirit

40. Bora ____

41. Vexed

43. Uncontrolled swerve

44. Middle Eastern V.I.P.s

46. Genesis twin

47. “The Odyssey,” e.g.

48. Hooray!

50. Speaking platform

52. Campfire residue

53. What sailors are to captain

55. Lawyers’ org.

57. *Jack of “On the Road” fame

61. *Refreshment break

65. Live sign for radio, 2 words

66. Shakespearean “fuss”

68. Bar order, with “the”

69. Ownership document

70. Mitt Romney’s title, abbr.

71. Christmas Eve visitor

72. Keats’ works, e.g.

73. *Major road, abbr.

74. *Certain number of cylinders

DOWN

1. Cold War’s Warsaw Pact, e.g.

2. Turkish money

3. One on drugs

4. Run off to Vegas?

5. Sold on eBay, usually

6. Short for “and elsewhere”

7. Hammurabi’s code, e.g.

8. Plural of fundus

9. Porto____, Italy

10. Got this!

11. Sodium hydroxide

12. Like Tim of “A Christmas Carol”

15. Foray

20. Giraffe’s stripedlegged cousin

22. Like one of the Testaments

24. Fine-toothed metal cutter

25. *Famous road from Beatles crossing

26. Actress Watts

27. Minute parasite

29. *Spare one

31. “If all ____ fails”

32. Sarpa ____, coral reef fish

33. Tiny purses

34. Olden day phlebotomy instrument

36. Waterproof canvas

38. Clothing line

42. UAE’s most populous city

45. Close the fastener, e.g.

49. Epoch

51. Between 90 and 180 degrees

54. E-wallet’s content

56. Very, in music

57. Japanese zither

58. Author Bagnold

59. Goes with interest

60. Great masters’ medium, pl.

61. *Hoofed “express” traveler

62. “The Summer I Turned

Pretty” actress Lola ____

63. Solemn promise

64. Surveyor’s map

67. Morning drops

Courtesy photo Colin Benson

Courtesy photo from Charles Duvineck

The fire that broke out on July 18 at the Nippon Dynawave chip operation, commonly known as Weyerhaeuser Paper Company, is contained to one large chip pile, according to the Longview Fire Department Facebook page.

The blaze was located at 1701 Industry Way, and authorities have reported that no one was injured. It is reported that the fire started in woodchips at the plant location. The smoke from the blaze is affecting air quality in surrounding areas, according to multiple outlets. The Lewis and Bridge closure prevented emergency response assistance from organizations such as Columbia River Fire & Rescue, according to CRFR’s Facebook page.

Appeal planned after federal judge upholds gun ballot

BEN BOTKIN

Oregon Capital Chronicle

Chief Guest Article

Gun rights groups have filed notice to appeal a federal judge’s ruling upholding a voter-approved Oregon law that bans large ammunition magazines and requires permits to buy guns.

Portland attorney James Buchal filed the appeal notice July 17, on behalf of Mark

Fitz, Grayguns, Inc., G4 Archery, Second Amendment Foundation and Firearms Policy Coalition. In court filings, the Second Amendment Foundation, a nonprofit based in Washington state, says it has more than 700,000 supporters and members nationwide, including thousands in Oregon, and advocates for firearms rights.

The Firearms Policy Coalition, a nonprofit based in California, lobbies and advocates for firearms rights as well.

Fitz, a Clackamas County resident, is a firearms owner and member of the Second Amendment Foundation and Firearms Policy Coalition. Grayguns, based in Douglas County, and G4 Archery, located west of Portland in Washington County, are both federally licensed firearms dealers in Oregon.

Our team looks forward to ultimately prevailing in the state courts as well. Measure 114’s provisions are common sense safety measures that will save lives.

U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut wrote in a 122-page opinion published late Friday afternoon, July 14, that all parts of Oregon’s Measure 114, approved by voters last year, are constitutional. But the law remains on hold because of an ongoing court case in Harney County, where a trial is scheduled for September.

Measure 114, which narrowly passed last fall, would

ban making, selling or buying ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. It also would require people to take a firearm safety course and pass a background check to receive a permit to buy a gun. And it would close a loophole in federal gun law that allows people to buy guns without a completed background check if it takes more than three days to process a background check.

“Before this court are two core questions: (1) can the state of Oregon limit the number of bullets to 10, that a law-abiding citizen can fire without reloading; and (2) can the state of Oregon require firearm purchasers to obtain a permit, which imposes various requirements, including a completed background check, safety training and consideration of mental health status, before purchasing a firearm,” Immergut wrote. “After a weeklong bench trial, this court concludes that the answer to each of these questions is yes.”

Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, whose office defended Measure 114, welcomed the news.

“Great news from the federal court today! After a weeklong trial in early June, U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut ruled that Oregon’s new gun safety laws are constitutional in their entirety,” Rosenblum said in a statement. “For now, Measure 114 remains on hold due to a state court order from Harney County. But our team looks forward to ultimately prevailing in the state courts as well. Measure 114’s provisions are common sense safety measures that will save lives.”

The Oregon Firearms Federation, which describes itself as the state’s “only no-compromise gun rights organization” was the lead plaintiff in the case. Three other federal lawsuits filed by Oregon residents, gun manufacturers, gun shops and other firearms groups were consolidated with the Oregon Firearms Federation’s case.

The firearms federation posted a statement on its website indicating that it will appeal the decision, which it called “absurd.” The group also personally attacked Im-

mergut, calling her “painfully ignorant and in the pocket of Oregon’s far left ‘Department of Justice.’”

Judge Karin Immergut ruled against gun owners, the Second Amendment and a basic understanding of the English language and ruled that Ballot Measure 114 is just fine.

~ Oregon Firearms Federation statement

“Today, Judge Karin Immergut ruled against gun owners, the Second Amendment and a basic understanding of the English language and ruled that Ballot Measure 114 is just fine,” the statement said. “The decision is 122 pages and we just received it so we have not had time to analyze it in depth,” the website said. What we have read defies belief. While not entirely unexpected, Immergut’s ruling is simple nonsense and sure to be overturned at the 9th circuit.”

Immergut concluded that the gun groups’ attorneys didn’t prove that the Second Amendment protects largecapacity magazines. Even if they did, she added, Oregon’s restrictions are consistent with a history of firearm regulation. The same goes for

requiring permits to purchase firearms, she wrote.

Large-capacity magazines

Plaintiffs argued that large-capacity magazines, which allow gun users to fire more than 10 shots without reloading, are standard and commonly used for selfdefense. But Immergut said the evidence they provided was largely anecdotal and outweighed by data compiled by an expert witness for the state.

Lucy Allen, the senior managing director at National Economic Research Associates, testified that her analysis of hundreds of incidents involving people using guns to defend themselves found no instances where a person fired more than 10 shots. On average, 2.3 shots are fired in those incidents, Allen testified.

But large-capacity magazines are commonly used in mass shootings, including the three deadliest shootings in American history: the

2017 Las Vegas shooting at a country music festival that killed 60 people; the 2016 Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, where 49 people died; and the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting where 32 people died.

When shooters didn’t use large-capacity magazines and had to pause to reload their guns, would-be victims were able to flee, hide or fight back. Nine children were able to run when a school shooter in Newtown, Connecticut, stopped to reload his gun in 2012, and congregants at a synagogue shooting in California in 2019 were able to chase the shooter out after he fired all 10 rounds and tried to reload his weapon, the opinion continued.

“Defendants presented credible evidence at trial demonstrating that the relationship between restrictions on (large-capacity magazines) and reductions in mass shootings is so pronounced

that it is a causal relationship, meaning that the restrictions were at least partly responsible for the reductions,” Immergut wrote.

She concluded that the new permit requirement is similar to the permits required in Oregon and other states to carry a concealed handgun, and that the U.S. Supreme Court endorsed Oregon’s concealed carry permit system in a 2022 ruling that overturned a more stringent New York permit law.

Measure 114 remains on hold at least through September as the state court case continues. Meanwhile, Gov. Tina Kotek on Thursday, July 13, signed a new state law that took effect immediately and prohibits the manufacture or sale of so-called “ghost guns,” or homemade firearms that lack serial numbers and can’t be traced.

Additional gun legislation isn’t likely during the legislative short session in 2024, but pro-gun groups are trying to put a measure on the 2024 ballot to eliminate Oregon’s concealed carry permit law and allow firearm owners to carry concealed weapons without licenses.

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2023/07/14/ federal-judge-upholdsoregon-law-banning-largeammunition-magazines-requiring-permit-to-buy-guns/ Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com.

~ Ellen Rosenblum, Oregon Attorney General

Connor Radnovich / Oregon Capital Chronicle

High-capacity magazines are banned by a new law in Oregon that is currently tied up in the courts.

Businesses warned about fake customers

LOGAN HICKLE

Chief Guest Article

Since 1912, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has guided consumers in finding honest and ethical businesses, and how to keep bad businesses at bay. Let’s flip the script here and ask, how about businesses needing protection against unethical consumers?

Some customers may set impossible expectations when it comes to getting in touch; some customers don’t want to hear that your business doesn’t offer the product they need. And some customers, well, they may not exist at all.

In recent months, BBB

Great West + Pacific has received multiple complaints from businesses regarding fake customers that have initiated a quote request, pro-

vided deposits (often paying more than required), and then requested a partial refund of the deposit due to a personal emergency. Here’s what happens next: The honest and ethical company grants these refunds as a money order or via payment platforms like Zelle or PayPal. Unfortunately for businesses, the original deposit, often provided via cashier check, is found to be fraudulent, resulting in lost funds by the business after returning money to the fake customer. These bad actors use many different names in their tactics. However, the name Donna Bass has been used in multiple instances across the United States, including at least twice in the Great West + Pacific service area. In fact, a roofing com-

pany accredited with the BBB reported losing $4,500 to a customer named Donna Bass. But this was no normal Donna Bass. She claimed to be unable to meet the roofers at her home due to undergoing cancer treatment. So, the honest roofing company went to the home address, visually inspected the roof, and provided a quote to Donna Bass. Donna paid the full $12,000 via cashier’s check, much more than the required one-third deposit. The following day she requested a partial refund due to a family emergency, and the day after that, needed more funds returned. Donna Bass was still well above the required one-third deposit amount, so the business fulfilled both requests.

A few days later the business’s bank notified them that

the original $12,000 cashier’s check was fraudulent. The company suddenly realized they’d been taken advantage of. The home they visited had no connection to this supposed Donna Bass. Trust goes both ways in a business transaction. Customers might not be what they seem in some instances. Look to protect your business and vet your potential customers. The roofing company that was taken advantage of is doing so by now verifying with city public records that the customer who reaches out to them is listed as an owner of the home.

At Better Business Bureau, we encourage all companies to verify who they are interacting with before exchanging any funds, whether the prospective customer came directly to their

website or from a third-party service. If you’re targeted once, don’t think you won’t be targeted again. Since the Accredited roofing company was targeted, they have since been targeted two more times by individuals using other names.

Businesses may want to be cautious of customers that are not able to meet in person or give an unusual sense of urgency. Pay close attention to individuals that request the business accommodate them for family emergencies or other extenuating circumstances. Keep in mind that some of your real customers may have legitimate family emergencies, but if they are bringing this up on multiple occasions and leveraging it against your business, that’s a warning sign. Also, ensure that any payments from a

customer clear your bank before returning any funds to the customer.

Other scenarios in which a business can be taken advantage may include fake invoices and email phishing. Build out a vetting procedure for all staff to follow and review it regularly as tactics and technology change. Ensure employees know what to look for in protecting the business.

Logan Hickle is the Public Relations and Communications Manager at BBB Great West + Pacific. The Better Business Bureau (BBB), a private, non-profit organization, has empowered people to find businesses, brands, and charities they can trust for more than 110 years. For more information, visit BBB. org.

Cyberspace careers rewarding, challenging, critical

SARAH CUNNINGHAM

Chief Guest Column

Cybersecurity is defined by the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency as “the art of protecting networks, devices, and data from unauthorized access or criminal use and the practice of ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.” According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, those working in cybersecurity strive to address four main threats: theft of data; vandalism, including the destruction of data by a computer virus; fraud; and invasion of privacy, such as the illegal accessing of protected personal financial or medical data.

Cybersecurity has become increasingly important in recent years due to the increased reliance on computers, the Internet, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi as well the widespread adoption of smart devices such as smartphones and smart TVs. Cybersecurity work isn’t limited to a single occupation. Many occupations incorporate one or more aspects of cybersecurity work to keep information safe. Those working in cybersecurity must continue to learn and evolve to remain ahead of potential threats.

Cybersecurity encompasses several occupations

As information is collected and distributed in multiple ways, most computer occupations primarily responsible for other tasks still play a role in cybersecurity. For example, a web developer’s main objective may be to design a website where users can access the information or services they need but they may also be responsible for securing confidential information from being accessed via the site. Likewise, a software developer may be primarily responsible for creating a product that customers use but may also be tasked with ensuring the software’s source code cannot be stolen or manipulated. Computer user support specialists may teach internal staff at an organization how to secure information on their devices and avoid digital threats such as phishing attempts, in addition to performing

MERKLEY

From Page A1

nity issues our paper has been tracking.

Merkley said that the federal government is working to decrease the threat of wildfires present through treating atrisk areas through prescribed burns and maintaining forests surrounding areas. Merkley said there are federal grants available to communities in need.

Regarding economic support for small towns, Merkley said that one of the big pieces of revitalizing cities is making American Rescue Plan Act funds available. The St. Helens Waterfront Redevelopment Project is a project that

tasks such as helping staff resolve other computerrelated issues. There are also occupations dedicated primarily to cybersecurity:

Information security analysts plan, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Many ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. Information security analysts may also respond to security breaches and viruses.

All other computer occupations, a catch-all for occupations that don’t fit neatly into any of the other computer occupations, contains several detailed occupations directly related to cybersecurity such as penetration testers, information security engineers, digital forensics analysts, and blockchain engineers.

Penetration testers evaluate network system security by conducting simulated internal and external cyberattacks using adversary tools and techniques. They attempt to breach and exploit critical systems and gain access to sensitive information to assess system security.

Information security engineers develop and oversee the implementation of information security procedures and policies. They build, maintain and upgrade security technology, such as firewalls, for the safe use of computer networks and the transmission and retrieval of information. Information security engineers also design and implement appropriate security controls to identify vulnerabilities and protect digital files and electronic infrastructure, and monitor and respond to computer security breaches, viruses, and intrusions, and perform forensic investigation.

Digital forensics analysts conduct investigations on computer-based crimes establishing documentary or physical evidence, such as digital media and logs associated with cyber intrusion incidents. They analyze digital evidence and investigate computer security incidents to derive information in support of system and network vulnerability mitigation. Digital forensics analysts also preserve and present computer-related

was developed using these funds. Merkley said they are seeking additional funding this year to help disburse more funds to towns in need.

“We have things like the St. Helens waterfront project, trying to get funding to help St. Helens rebuild their waterfront that becomes an integral part of the town, and makes the whole economy work a little bit better,” Merkley said.

When asked about inflation and its impact on smaller communities, Merkley discussed the difficult task the Federal Reserve faces in raising interest rates to tame inflation. The raised interest rates affect families as they try to secure car loans or purchase homes. Two areas Merkley focused on were prescription drugs and housing.

evidence in support of criminal, fraud, counterintelligence, or law enforcement investigations.

Blockchain engineers maintain and support distributed and decentralized blockchain-based networks or block-chain applications such as cryptocurrency exchange, payment processing, document sharing, and digital voting. They design and deploy secure blockchain design patterns and solutions over geographically distributed networks using advanced technologies. They may also assist with infrastructure setup and testing for application transparency and security.

Strategic roles in management that deal with the governance, risk assessment, and compliance aspects of cybersecurity exist within the computer and information systems managers occupation.

High-wage, high-skill, and high-demand

Cybersecurity occupations require education beyond high school. According to O*NET, information security analysts, penetration testers, information security engineers, digital forensics analysts, and blockchain engineers all typically require a bachelor’s degree. In addition to a four-year degree, cybersecurity related occupations often require IT certifications such as the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification. As new security measures are implemented, bad actors work quickly to circumvent them. Because of this, those who work in the cybersecurity field must continuously learn and adopt new methods to protect against emerging threats.

Due to an increased reliance on technology, cybersecurity occupations are in high demand. The information security analyst occupation is expected to have nearly 1,400 job openings in Oregon from 2021 to 2031 and grow by 33%, much faster than all occupations in Oregon (13%) and computer occupations overall (16%). All other computer occupations –which includes penetration testers, information security engineers, digital forensic

Merkley referenced his End Price Gouging for Medications Act as a way to fight the increasing price of prescription drugs. Regarding housing, Merkley has a variety of solutions in mind.

“There’s a whole bunch of things I’m doing to lower the cost there. It includes things like using expended tax credits to do affordable housing, rent vouchers, veterans vouchers,” Merkley said. “One of the things that I’m proposing that hasn’t been proposed before is banning hedge funds from buying houses.”

Merkley said there are hedge funds that, in some markets, are purchasing 40 percent of houses for sale. This diverts equity from everyday people to some of the most wealthy Americans.

analysts, and blockchain testers – is expected to grow by 11% and have more than 3,200 job openings statewide from 2021 to 2031, more than four times the typical number of openings (733) for an occupation in Oregon during the same period.

Cybersecurity occupations, like most computer occupations, pay a high wage. Information security analysts earn median wages more than twice the median for all occupations statewide, at roughly $105,000 annually as of 2022. The median wage for occupations falling under the broad

all other computer occupations category is roughly $82,700. The management side of cybersecurity may offer even higher wages, with a $132,200 median annual wage for computer and information systems managers. This compares with a median wage of $48,800 for all occupations statewide.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity work spans several occupations that are high paying and are in high demand, as companies, governmental organizations, and other entities seek to protect against

digital threats. A career in cybersecurity can prove rewarding for those who enjoy practical problem solving and life-long learning. To learn more about opportunities in cybersecurity, visit the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies’ site for information on career pathways and education and training programs.

Sarah Cunningham is an Oregon Employment Department Projections Economist. She may be reached at sarah.e.cunningham@ employ.oregon.gov, or at 503-871-0046.

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Public Notices

CC23-1820

NOTICE OF BOARD MEETING

The Board of Directors for Clatskanie School District 6J will hold their monthly Board meeting, Monday, July 24, 2023 @ 6:30 p.m. at the Clatskanie Elementary Library, 815 Nehalem or via Zoom. Please see our

CC23-1818

website at www.csd.k12.or.us for a zoom link. The agenda includes but is not limited to: Superintendent and Principal’s reports, financial report, policy updates and the consent agenda. The public is encouraged to attend.

NOTICE OF LIEN SALE

Public Lien Sale Ron’s Self Mini Storage LLC, 401 W. B St., Rainier, OR.

Units # 103 Erin Richardson, 151 Joshua Kanal -

FIRE

From Page A1

screaming for blankets for her, and then other neighbors showed up. Alec was the second one to show up.”

While Hendricks did not consider her actions heroic at the moment, the gravity of the situation caught up with her once she spoke to the fire chief. Brody said that Hansen and Hendricks will be recognized for their heroic acts at a board meeting on August 9 at 7 p.m. at the community center.

“I didn’t really feel any type of heroic things; it was just so sad, the whole situation; I wish I could have gotten that dog out with Alec, it was really heartbreaking to watch Ronda lose her pet and everything in front of her. I was just trying to be more comforting than anything,” Hendricks said. “After all of them talked to me about that situation, I did feel like, ‘Okay, it was a really good, honorable thing that I did.’”

Jeff Hazen in his own words

Since the fire, Jeff and

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Ronda Hazen have been dealing with the fallout of that night.

“You never think you’re going to lose your house and all of your possessions, or nearly all of them, and that’s what happened the night of the fire,” Jeff Hazen said. “We lost everything, I really don’t care that much, personally, about the things in the house because things and houses can be replaced, but I was so thankful that Ronda was able to get out of the house and that the neighbors helped get her away from the house and keep her safe from the fire.”

While thankfully, no person was harmed, Jeff Hazen said that the loss is still devastating; in particular, the loss of their Yorkshire Terrier and the family heirlooms and sentimental items have been difficult. Jeff Hazen said that those are irreplaceable items.

“You start realizing some of the things that aren’t just things you bought at the store. My mother was a master at cross stitch, and she had made a lot of pieces for my wife, myself, and for us as a couple, and after she passed we also inherited several

CC23-1821

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NOTICE OF BOARD RETREAT

The Board of Directors for Clatskanie School District 6J will hold their annual Board retreat, Monday, July 27, 2023 @ 11 a.m. at the Colvin Pub & Grill, 135 Nehalem, Clatskanie, OR.

CC23-1815

The agenda includes but is not limited to: Review of the Board and Superintendent working agreement and update as needed. The public is encouraged to attend.

NOTICE OF LIEN SALE

Public Lien Sale Rainier Mini Storage LLC, 323 W. B St., Rainier, OR. Units #19 Sharon Gilmore, 20 Austin Young, 30,31,32 Scott Snyder, 58 Marc Lina, 62 Nancy

of them, so things like that; they’re irreplaceable,” Jeff Hazen said. “Things like that; those kind of are a gut punch when you think about them.”

While the aftermath of the fire has been difficult, the fire could have had greater consequences without the acts of heroism from everyday citizens and acts of kindness from first responders.

“I’ll forever be in debt to the neighbors who got there, Breeanne and Alec,” Jeff Hazen said. “The biggest impact for me is what the [Clatskanie Fire] chaplain did. When I arrived, and I wanted to get Ronda away, take her back to the motel room I had in St. Helens, she didn’t have any shoes, and the chaplain took off her shoes and gave them to Ronda. And it’s the most selfless act I’ve ever seen anybody do. It was a little thing, but it had a huge impact on me. It just blew me away.”

It’s times like these when small communities come together to help support each other. In a town of around 400 people, when community members are going through a hard time, they rally around those in

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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA

Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048, or the claims may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceedings may obtain additional information from the records of the Court, the personal representative or the attorney for the personal representative. Dated and first published July 7, 2023. Tina Marie Cramer, Personal Representative. STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C. Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048.

Courtesy photo from Westport Fire and Rescue

“You never think you’re going to lose your house and all of your possessions, or nearly all of them, and that’s what happened the night of the fire,” Jeff Hazen said.

need.

“I think my biggest thing, I mentioned how happy we are living in Westport. I’m a small-town guy, I grew up in a small town, and I’ve lived in big cities, and there’s nothing better than living in a small community such as Westport or Clatskanie because there’s such a sense of community,” Jeff Hazen

said. “We so appreciate the efforts of everybody who came out that night.”

A friend of the Hazen’s started a GoFundMe to help offer financial support that has already raised more than $4,000. While the tragedy of losing a home is heartbreaking, it’s times like these when the community comes together to lift each other up.

Breeanne Hendricks had this to say about the community.

“I definitely feel like in small towns, when something tragic happens like this; people do kind of tend to stick together,” Hendricks said. “From my point of view, I feel like everyone definitely does come together when something like that happens.”

Midway at the River City Speedway

MIKE WEBER

Chief Guest Article Midway through River City Speedway’s 14-race stock car racing schedule, many area drivers are contenders for a Columbia County Racing Association (CCRA) division championship.

St. Helens drivers Bob Berg, Brad Korpela and Kasey Lee and Sean Fox of Rainier are currently leading their series point standings and are on target to win a CCRA title.

Other drivers who are ranked in the top five of their respective division standings and still have shot at winning a division championship too include St. Helens drivers Lanette Phillips, Anthony Brinster and Chris Lee.

Phillips has had a phenomenal season as she has recorded six top-four main event finishes in her Ross Diesel & Auto sponsored 1979 Buick Regal. She recorded her first win July

15 in a 25-lap race on the quarter-mile clay oval track. Phillips, 48, has also won one trophy dash and two heat races this season.

“I was really happy to get my first win of the season on Saturday, so that was really exciting,” said Phillips, the defending Pure Stock Division champion. Lanette’s husband Korpela, leads the Street Stock Division standings with his 1987 Dr. Auto sponsored Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

Korpela has won two main events and one heat race and he’s seeking to win his first championship. Phillips trails Pure Stock Division frontrunner Myke Landis of West Linn.

“It would be really nice if I could win another championshp,” said Phillips. “I’m very realistic though and I know that Myke is a really talented driver who also has a good chance to win the title.

It typically takes about half the season before I start to feel comfortable again in my race car.”

Brinster, 39, drives the Economy Auto Parts 2012 Nissan Sentra owned by Rainier’s Dick Gaboury and he’s ranked sixth in the Tuner Division standings.

“If it wasn’t for all the help I get from Dick, I certainly wouldn’t be racing this year,” said Brinster, who has been driving Gaboury’s race

car for the last three years. “We made some big changes at the middle of last season and it seems like we’re still fighting some gremlins and we’re just now getting to the point where we have everything figured out.”

Brinster’s son Blayne is a co-driver with Washougal’s Dan Beaudoin of the Economy Auto Parts 2005 Sentra and the duo leads the Tuner Division standings. Anthony Brinster also

drives Gaboury’s car in the Four-Cylinder class at Sunset Speedway in Banks and he’s ranked second in the division standings with two main event wins and three top-five finishes.

Berg, 58, leads the FourCylinder Division standings with his 1998 Cozy Lawn Maintenance sponsored Dodge Neon. Berg, the defending series champion, is seeking to win his second straight title. Berg won the season opening main event on May 13 at the speeway and he’s recorded a total of three top-three finishes.

Berg’s wife Tiffany also drives a Neon in the series and she’s ranked seventh in the standings.

Kasey Lee, 13, is the defending champion in the Tracer Division (age 12-16) and he’s atop the standings in his Grumpy’s Towing sponsored Neon. Lee is focusing on winning a second straight title. Kasey’s dad Chris drives the Neon in the Tuner Division and he’s ranked

second in the point standings and he’s also a top contender for the series championship.

Sean Fox leads the Modified Division standings and is one of the top contenders for the championship. Fox and his son Austin are co-drivers of their car in Sportsman Division events and they’re currently in second place in the point standings behind Portland driver David Weaver. The next event at the speedway is the July 29 Back To School Night event at 5 p.m. It will include a special appreciation day for kids who will be given free backpacks. Following that event, the next race will be held Aug. 12. There’s a total of seven races left this season, which concludes Sept. 23. In case of inclement weather that sometimes can affect the schedule, it’s best to call the speedway office at 503-397-6506. The speedway is located at the Columbia County Fairgrounds, 58892 Saulser Road in St. Helens.

State adds 5,700 jobs, unemployment rate at 3.5%

STAFF REPORT

Country Media, Inc.

Oregon’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.5% in June, down from 3.7% in May, according to the Oregon Employment Department.

This was the fifth consecutive monthly drop in the unemployment rate, down from a recent high of 4.8% in January. The June rate was near Oregon’s record low of 3.4%, which was reached in November and December 2019.

of 4,200 jobs in May. June’s job gain was the largest monthly increase since January, when 9,600 jobs were added.

Gains and loses

Jeremy C. Ruark / Country Media, Inc.

There were 2,073,161 employed and 76,363 unemployed in Oregon in June, according to the Oregon Employment Department.

FAIR

From Page A1

it’s not all really hard work; it’s really, really cool,” White said. “There’s actually a lot of fun things you can do.

[People] don’t know about the 4-H meetings that you go to

to learn all the information. Those can get really fun; I mean, our 4-H group plays little games every month, so we can get to know each other. So it’s some hard work, but mostly really fun.”

White said this year he went in with a new respect for raising pigs after his first year. One of the highlights for him

In June, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 5,700 jobs, following a revised gain

this year was getting to see the different personalities of the pigs as they raised them. As to the money, though White is only 12, he said that he’s thinking about putting some of the money toward a car in the future and the other funds towards college.

White said that the process of raising the pig isn’t about

Over-the-month job gains were largest in government (+2,400 jobs); other services (+1,800); leisure and hospitality (+1,600); and professional and business services (+1,500). Declines were largest in wholesale trade (-1,300 jobs); transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-1,000); and manufacturing (-1,000).

just getting it ready to show; it’s about building a bond with the animal and giving it the proper attention and care.

Meetings start in August and continue through the livestock auction at the County Fair, according to White. In addition to raising livestock, being part of 4-H presents other opportunities for members. This year, Kujala has prepared some static exhibits for the fair. Static exhibits are projects that you create for 4-H, and they can receive recognition for their projects.

“I really enjoyed making three static exhibits. I made some digital art, a poster, and a photo of the Grand Canyon,” Kujala said. “[They’re] like projects that you show the 4-H, and they can be in certain topics like computer programming, woodworks, or photographs and digital art. After you do it, you get ribbons for each. Blue’s the highest ribbon besides Reserve Champion or Grand Champion.”

Kujala said that all three of his projects received blue ribbons and that the static exhibits will be displayed at the state competition. When asked what that competition will look like, Kujala said that he’s not sure, but he’s excited to be a part of it.

“I have no idea what it looks like because it’s my first year, and I’ve never made anything to state before, so it’s going to be fun,” Kujala said.

Each of the kids expressed excitement about the fair this

Payroll employment grew by 2.3% over the past 12 months. Over-the-year job growth decelerated to about 2% in the past five months from 12-month growth rates that were above 3% during the economic recovery period, which included much of the prior two years.

Overall view

Since June 2022, several industries have continued to expand rapidly, while others have been relatively flat or declining.

grew at one of the fastest rates of the major industries. In addition, the following three major industries each expanded by close to 4%, while adding close to 10,000 jobs each: leisure and hospitality; health care and social assistance; and government. However, a few industries cut jobs by about 2,000 each in the past 12 months, including manufacturing (-1.1%); wholesale trade (-1.9%); and transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-3.0%). The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.6% in June 2023,

year and talked about the fun that comes along with it, from the concession stands to getting to see all of their friends around the fairgrounds.

The Columbia County Fair

The Columbia County Fair will be at the Columbia County Fairgrounds located at 58892 Saulser Road in St. Helens.

Daily tickets for the fair at the gate are:

Youth $ 7 Adults: $ 13

Seniors /Vets: $ 7

For those interested in going to the fair on multiple days, there are season passes available for:

Youth: $ 25

Adults: $ 50

Seniors /Vets: $ 25

For those interested in partaking in the thrill rides at the carnival, the price for “ride bracelets” is $40 at the gate. Parking will not be free for the fair, and people should expect to pay $5 to park at the fairgrounds.

The hours for each day are:

Friday, July 21: 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Saturday, July 22: 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Sunday, July 23: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This year’s fair and rodeo will have some new features, chiefly that attendees can pay for V.I.P. seating at the rodeo and $20 V.I.P. parking for more convenient proximity. Attendees can pay $35 to reserve seating at the rodeo, separate from the general admission area. The purchase price for V.I.P. seating also includes entry to the fair.

Courtesy photo from Tom Egan Racing at River City Speedway in St. Helens.

Will Lohre / Country Media, Inc. Rhiley White and his pig at the Columbia County Fair.