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Diane Pohl passes away

Clatskanie City Manager Greg Hinkelman said Pohl died Tuesday, Sept. 12, from failing health.

“It is with deep sadness that I am announcing that former Mayor Pohl passed away,” Hinkelman said in an interview with The Chief Wednesday, Sept. 13. “She was a dynamic woman who always put Clatskanie first and she was passionate about the issues facing the city. She was very involved in the community. She will be missed.”

Hinkelman said Pohl hired him as Clatskanie City Manager in 2008. Pohl was first elected city mayor in 2004. She survived a recall in 2015. Following the unsuccessful recall effort, Pohl thanked the community for its support.

“I want to thank the people who supported me through this difficult time,” Pohl said. “I am thankful to be afforded the opportunity to continue to lead Clatskanie forward to accomplish projects and ideas that will benefit our citizens and especially our children.”

Pohl held office until 2017, following her loss to now Mayor Bob Brajcich.

“Diane was a great friend, and a fine mayor,” Deborah Hazen said. “She loved the Clatskanie community, and was a very strong advocate for what she believed would be good for our community.”

According to Hinkelman, Pohl requested that she have her ashes scattered at Depoe Bay, where she once lived.

New dawn for Clatskanie Volleyball

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

This year marks a fresh start for Clatskanie Middle/High School’s volleyball team. Despite graduating much of their veteran core, Head Coach Amanda Baker is optimistic about what her young squad can accomplish this season.

Last year, the Tigers finished with an 8-8 record in the league and non-league play but qualified for the State Playoffs, where Knappa ousted them in the first round. Coming into this season, Baker was unsure how the team would look after graduating seven seniors at the end of last season.

“Coming into the season, I wasn’t sure what to expect, having lost most of the team. I had been hearing lots of promising things about the incoming freshman class, and two of them actually joined us for team camp at the end of July,” Baker said. “That is where my high hopes for the season started. I took just seven girls to La Grande for a week, where they played their hearts out and began a bond I hope will carry through the season.”

In addition to the outgoing seniors, the composition of this year’s team is very young, with no seniors on the squad. Still, the team is not without veteran leadership, and two of the starters from last year’s team remain on the court for Baker.

Junior Natalie Baker started as a middle blocker and has played

all six rotations since her freshman year. Sophomore Joey Sizemore is the returning setter and top server from last year as well. Also returning is Mya Jensen, who is starting this year as a pin hitter.

“I’m looking to my returning varsity players to help lead the team this year. They are all still young themselves but have stepped up to the task,” Baker said.

There are three freshmen stepping into starting positions for the program this year.

“We have three freshmen starting on the court for us this year: Olivia George on the other pin, Lacey Willis, our other six rotation

middle blocker, and libero McKinsey Doyle,” Baker said.

The team has enjoyed a good measure of success in their early season results. Through their first eight games, the Tigers won five games and lost three. In their non-league contests, the team went 3-2. The team continued the positive momentum in their first three league games, winning against Faith Bible / Life Christian and Knappa, but losing to Gaston.

“Being so young, I foresee some inconsistencies, but I have been very impressed with the coachability of all the players so far this year,” Baker said. “After our impressive

season opener win against Rainier and third-place finish at the Warrenton tournament, I knew these girls had the grit to make something out of this season.”

Going forward, Baker’s goals for the team are to focus on communication, staying positive, continuing to come together, and securing themselves a spot in the state playoffs. Having already notched a win against the team that knocked them out last year, confidence within the team should be buzzing.

One of the exciting initiatives the team has going is a fundraiser that directly ties to their performances on the court. It’s called the “Kill-o-meter,” and the idea is that donors from the community donate $1 for each kill the team scores.

A kill is awarded to a player any time an attack is unreturnable by the opposition and is a direct cause of the opponent not returning the ball, or any time the attack leads directly to a blocking error by the opposition. A kill leads directly to a point, according to NCAA’s volleyball rules.

“The goal is to hit 500 kills for the season. We have 12 donors and have already put up 109 kills as a team,” Baker said. “We are very excited about what this support means to the team and hope to see our supporters in the gym.”

Follow results for Tigers Volleyball at osaa.org.

Clatskanie City Councilor resigns

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

Clatskanie City Councilor Jim Helmen has resigned from his post on the council, citing difficulty balancing the responsibilities of the council and his position as Superintendent of the Vernonia School District.

“I resigned from the Clatskanie City Council because my work schedule made attending City Council meetings and work sessions difficult,” Helmen said. “It wouldn’t have been fair to others if I couldn’t be fully present in such a crucial position.”

Helman first joined the council

in 2017 by Mayor Bob Brajcich, filling the seat from former council member David True. Helmen was serving his second term, which was slated to end Dec. of 2026. Before taking the job as Vernonia School District Superindentent in 2022, Helmen held positions of middle/ high school principal and assistant principal from 2015 to 2020.

During his time on the council, Helmen said that his greatest accomplishment was being part of a group that supported the city manager in making decisions that benefited the Clatskanie Community and its residents.

“Serving the Clatskanie community brings me great joy and a sense

of pride. It’s an honor to be a part of decisions that truly benefit people’s daily lives,” Helmen said. “For me, there’s no better gift or responsibility than being able to serve others. I will miss the city council members and City of Clatskanie employeesthey are an incredibly dedicated and high-integrity group of individuals.”

The Clatskanie City Council will appoint someone to fill out the remainder of Helmen’s term, and the process is pending. The council is made up of seven members, including Brajcich. Though Helmen is stepping down from his Coun-

Columbia County to receive $867,453 for homelessness support

funding allocations to counties within Oregon’s Balance of State Continuum

Contact The Chief

ties that make up the Balance of State Continuum of Care.

This funding aims to reduce the number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness by adding at least 100 new shelter beds and rehousing at least 450 households by June 30, 2025.

“Homelessness is a crisis in both urban and rural communities throughout Oregon,” Kotek said. “In many conversations during my 36-county listening tour, Oregonians have repeatedly emphasized the need for more shelter capacity and rehousing services in their communities. This funding, tied to specific outcomes, will make a measurable impact in addressing this crisis in rural Oregon. And we can’t stop here – I will keep pushing for concrete solutions that will support community needs going forward.”

The following funding amounts are based on many factors, including the appropriation made available by the Legislature, detailed plans that local communities submitted, and a distribution formula developed by the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department:

Columbia County: $867,453 to rehouse at least 20 households

Baker, Grant, Union and Wallowa counties: $1.2 million to rehouse at least 33 households

Benton County: $2.4 million to add at least 50 shelter beds and rehouse at least 31 households

Clatsop County: $3.8 million to add at least 80 shelter beds and rehouse at least 33 households

Coos County: $1.9 million to add

add at least 25 shelter beds and rehouse at least 40 households

and Malheur counties: $1.3 million to rehouse at least 34 households Hood River, Sherman and Wasco and counties: $1.9 million to add at least 34 shelter beds and rehouse at least 29 households

Josephine County: $2 million to

See HOMELESS Page A4

Carman honored for Service to Senior Citizens

SUBMITTED BY CLATSKANIE

SENIOR CITIZENS

Chief Guest Article

Honored for his 28 years of volunteer service to the Clatskanie Senior Citizens, Inc. (CSC) was Ernest “Ernie” Carman at a recent luncheon in the organization’s Castle Café.

Carman was presented with a handmade quilt featuring local landmarks, including The Castle, a framed photograph, and a plaque thanking him “with deepest gratitude and affection” for his “many years of dedicated service to the Clatskanie Senior Citizens.” Carman recently retired as the longtime president of the organization.

Since 1979, the CSC has owned the recently-restored Thomas J. Flippin House, known as “The Castle.” Lunches are prepared and served in the ground floor kitchen and dining commons (Castle Café) on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Local

their guests are invited to

Courtesy photo

Diane Pohl.

Clatskanie Historical Society Museum. Call Deborah Hazen at 503-338-8268 for

Courtesy photo from Jolene Day Ernest Carman, right, was recently honored for his many years of service to the Clatskanie Senior Citizens, Inc. by current senior board members, from left, Rebecca Fisher, Claudia Hill and Deborah Hazen.

Courtesy photo from Cynthia Forney

Natalie Baker gets up to protect the night for the Tigers.

Courtesy photo from Vernonia School District Jim Helmen See HELMEN Page A3

Columbia County honors 9/11 fallen ever forget •

it organization that supports currently serving military members. The organization was founded by Sheriff Brian Pixley in 2019 and is part of CCSO Volunteers, according to Rupe.

and the Heroes who serve it, we will continue to honor and remember.”

Hometown Heroes of Columbia County, community members gathered outside the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and honored those whose lives were taken that tragic day. During the proceedings, different people took turns reading the names of the fallen.

The reading of the names began at 8:46 a.m., the time at which Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center’s north tower 22 years ago. In all, 2,977 names were read and honored. It’s important to remember that New York was not the only community that experienced loss. The World Trade Center incident accounted for 2,753 lives lost, 343 of whom were firefighters.

There were 184 lives lost in the incident at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and 40 people died in the plane crash outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

“It’s not only important but critical to remember an event that changed the history and the course of

our country and all of our lives. Our first responders, our military, and the victims’ loved ones were

reminds us that tomorrow is not promised for any of us. It is known that a Hero dies twice, once with their death

To support actively deployed service members, the Hometown Heroes of Columbia County send care packages “full of love” from the community to help with their time away from home.

The 9/11 remembrance day event started in 2021, and Hometown Heroes hopes to establish it as an annual event and grow participation from the community. About 20 people were in attendance this year.

“We plan to continue this annual event, and hope more community members learn about it and join us each year,” Rupe said. “We continue to serve and support our military and first

Public Information Officer for Columbia County Mark Pacheco was in attendance and gave some insight as to what these types of events mean in communities across the country.

“Events like these are opportunities to connect with the community and to display the unity that bonded us as a nation on that historic day,” Pacheco said. “Hometown Heroes of Columbia County and other similar organizations nationwide are focused on remembering and honoring those who lost their lives on that fateful morning 22 years ago.”

Rupe said that Hometown Heroes is making an effort to provide many opportunities for our community to learn about “our heroes” and how we can all support them.

CRFR update: Withdrawn loan, interim fire chief options

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

The Columbia River Fire & Rescue (CRFR) has withdrawn its request for a loan of $1.6 million from the City of St. Helens, a development that was made public during a City Council work session on Sept. 6.

The discussion of the potential loan was the third item on the council’s agenda, but there was no discussion to be had, as Mayor Rick Scholl noted that CRFR had pulled their loan request.

City Administrator John Walsh met with CRFR Chief of Finance Jimmy Sanchez Aug. 21, and after that meeting, Sanchez made a formal request for the funds needed to help the district operate until tax revenues arrived in November. Following Scholl’s announcement, Walsh stated that the city received an email withdrawing the loan.

“Just late last week, we got a letter withdrawing their request, they obviously had another solution; they figured it out,” Walsh said.

Council President Jessica Chilton inquired as to what the solution might be, and Walsh said that there had been no indication as to how CRFR would handle its financial challenges.

Navigating the shortfall

Akin Blitz, who represents both CRFR and the city in different capacities, said that to the best of his knowledge, Sanchez was

resignation from the interim fire chief position after the district board’s termination of former Fire Chief Joel Medina. Smythe returned to work Sept. 11. Smythe confirmed what Blitz said last week.

“Chief Sanchez worked with U.S. Bank to secure funds for the shortfall. A new contractual agreement is currently being arraigned and will be presented to the Fire Board of Directors at the next meeting for consideration/signing,” Smythe said.

The CRFR Board of Directors was set to meet Sept. 12, but the meeting has since been postponed to Sept. 19 due to “lack of quorum.”

Interim fire chief solutions

The search for an interim fire chief has been headed by the Special Districts Association of Oregon (SDAO) and Senior Consultant George Dunkel.

The CRFR Board will hear a presentation from Dunkel during their meeting Sept. 19, and the SDAO has identified two candidates for the position of interim fire chief and one candidate to operate in a consulting role for the district, according to the board’s agenda packet.

“We reached out to many individuals (retired fire chiefs) who have shown interest in providing interim fire chief services. We also contacted State and Regional fire service organizations for names,” Dunkel

chief, finance person, hu man resources person, and potentially an IT person if a firefighter currently is supervising IT.”

“There will be nothing easy or cheap in stabilizing an organization facing these issues,” Weninger wrote to Dunkel. “From what I know, and I am certain there are many more pressing issues, this stabilization will be very complex and time-consuming.”

In his report that he will make to the board on Sept. 12, Dunkel and the SDAO presented three primary options. Each plan was framed on how the district will manage over the course

Will Lohre / Country Media, Inc.

Volunteers read the names of those who passed away on September 11, 2001.

said he and the SDAO will concerns of the board with support.”

Funding option emerges for sewer plant project

JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.

Clatskanie city officials are taking a different path to help finance a new multi-milliondollar sewer plant.

The Oregon Legislature was not able to provide additional funding for the project before adjourning during the 2023 session. Clatskanie City Manager Greg Hinkelman then took his request to individual state agencies.

“We need $6 million more,” he said. “That additional request will be used to shore up the soils where we want to build the new plant. As you know, during the Geotech assessment, the soils were found to be liquifiable and will turn to mush during a seismic event. As a result of that finding, we need to do significant soil prep in order to build on that site.”

Crunching the numbers

Hinkelman said as he met with the state agency heads, financial options available were outlined.

“It is a matter of different interest rates and grants, so those options are in our hip pocket,” he said. “If we do financing options through the state, we will have to do a full environment assessment.”

That, said Hinkelman, would take time and could risk the timeline restriction on the original $10 million contract of December 2024.

During the meeting with the state officials a new option

emerged.

“We are hopeful that we can use the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) money to do the soil prep work,” Hinkelman said. “What remains we can apply to the actual plant construction and finance the shortfall, which is undetermined as yet, through the state revolving fund. When we get an RFP (Request for Proposal) back for the soil prep we should know how much that shortfall will be. So, we are going to try to reposition the federal allocation to make that work.”

Hinkelman said the city council gave authorization Sept. 6 to move ahead with the new plan to fund the soil prep project.

Hinkelman was successful in gaining $10 million from the 2022 Oregon Legislature to build the wastewater treatment facility and a $720,000 community development block grant for the engineering and design of the new plant that will be built at the same location of the current facility at 100 NW 4th Street in Clatskanie.

Challenging history

The existing plant is aging and has failed over the past few years. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued a $2,800 fine to the City of Clatskanie in Dec. 2022, following repeated sewer plant failures. The violations are of the DEQ’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit that regulates the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The fine is a result of two incidents that happened within weeks of each other, according to Clatskanie City Manager Greg Hinkelman.

“The sewer plant experienced failure of a seal within the clarifier that resulted in high levels of E.coli that were discharged into the Clatskanie River in January and March,” Hinkelman said.

Following the discharge, the city closed the Clatskanie River and issued warnings to the public not to use the river on both occasions of the plant

failure. The failure of the seal also impacted other categories of reporting that showed elevated levels of Effluent limits; Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD’s) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS), according to the DEQ.

Hinkelman said the city conducted a thorough review of each failing and determined that excessive debris was getting into the treatment system, which was caused by issues with the debris removal system, also known as the headworks, that required adjustments to a screen-cleaning brush and the replacement of a gear box.

Part of the fix included hiring a diver to go into the wastewater area of the plant to remove debris from the seal that cause one of the failures. Read that story and see photos of the project at thechiefnews. com.

“We need the new plant because the existing plant is experiencing structural failure and we have had mechanical issues over the last couple of years.” Hinkelman told The Chief in a published interview last July. “The biggest problem with the existing plant is there is no redundancy which has proven to be a huge liability, especially during the last couple of mechanical failures.”

Follow this developing story at thechiefnews.com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.

Patrick McCoy takes on Rainier Public Works

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

Rainier has appointed Patrick McCoy as the Interim Public Works Director after Sue Lawrence retired from the full-time role in favor of a part-time contractor capacity.

Rainier City Administrator Scott Jorgensen said Lawrence was eligible for retirement through PERS, but will work with McCoy and the city to perform very specific functions around “water, sewer, and compliance with DEQ regulations.”

“Essentially, what we did was she retired her position full-time as Public Works Director, but we’re still contracting with her on a part-time basis,” Jorgensen said in an August interview.

“She’d actually started off as a contractor back in 2017. We’re basically getting her back into that role as we transition the department.”

When Lawrence fully steps away is “up to her,” Jorgensen said. McCoy has been serving as Rainier’s Forester for the last “couple

HELMEN

From Page A1

cilor position, there are issues that he hopes the council will continue to try and address.

of years,” and Jorgensen said the working relationships he had with city staff and his qualifications through prior experience were important in his selection.

“We have a very good rapport; we work well together. So, in that sense it was a natural fit, and that seemed to make a lot more sense than casting a wide net,” Jorgensen said. “He’s a known quantity for the city. He’s done waterlines, he’s done sewer lines, he’s worked with unions; those are all things he’ll have to do in this role, so in that sense, it was a very natural fit.”

McCoy and Lawrence will work together during the transitional period. McCoy’s position as Interim Public Works Director is a trial period for both he and the city. At the end of the year, if the arrangement is working for both parties, the city will have the ability to cement it as a full-time permanent position.

McCoy was unanimously appointed to take the position at the Rainier City Council’s

“One critical area that requires urgent attention is the completion of city sewer updates and the development of a robust infrastructure to facilitate access to the city’s sewer plant,” Helmen said.

meeting on Aug. 17. McCoy began acting in the capacity of Interim Public Works Director on Sept. 1.

Jorgensen said that one of the priorities he has for the Public Works Department is “professional development of public works staff.” The City of Rainier has incentives in place to encourage staff members to receive special training and certifications.

“As we’ve been transitioning, I’ve been asking every individual member of public works staff what their wish list is. ‘What training would you like? What certifications would you like,’” Jorgensen said. “We want them to be the best they can be.”

Jorgensen expects that McCoy will be a positive force in supporting the growth of the public works department and expanding their skill sets. When asked whether he hopes McCoy will end up being the permanent fill-in for the position, Jorgensen said he has enjoyed working with McCoy and hopes to continue to do so.

“That’s why this arrange-

“Additionally, there is a need to explore possibilities for expanding opportunities for small businesses and providing affordable housing options for families.”

The timeline by which

Diane Marie Dillard

April 20, 1942 ~ Sept. 6, 2023

Diane Marie Dillard, of St. Helens, Oregon, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and close friends on Wed., Sep. 6, 2023. She was 81 years old.

Diane was born in Mason City, Iowa to Paul and Elsie Kruggel and was their only child.

Surviving Diane are her sons, Daniel and James Dillard; daughter-in-law Charlie Dillard; granddaughter Crystal Dillard; and great grandchildren, Maddyson Ragner and Max Ragner all of St. Helens, Oregon. She was a longtime member of First Lutheran Church in St. Helens.

Diane moved to Rainier, Oregon as a young child and then to St. Helens, Oregon in 6th grade where she attended McBride Grade School. She graduated from St. Helens High School in 1960 and attended University of Oregon. Diane married Max “Sandy” Dillard Aug. 8, 1964 and they had two sons. Daniel in 1965 and James in 1968. Sandy passed away in 1998. Diane went on to work for the Boise Cascade paper mill in St. Helens where she

Public Relations Manager for the mill. In that role, she was very involved in supporting community groups, especially youth activities. She retired from Boise Cascade in 2009 after 44 years of service. Diane stayed active with local Boise Cascade retirees. She enjoyed planning the annual retiree open houses and always had a fun theme to go with them. She also owned and operated two floating home marinas in St. Helens, Oregon.

Diane cared greatly for her community and was best known for her civic activities, volunteerism, and philanthropy. Over the years, she served on many public and nonprofit boards like the Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Columbia River Fire and Rescue, Sacagawea Health Center, Columbia Learning Center, and the PTO. She was instrumental in fundraising and helping keep the St. Helens fireworks going over the years. She received many awards for her outstanding civic service.

Diane was very involved in emergency and disaster management, being a part of the Columbia Emergency Planning Association. She was the first person to bring in the Red Cross to the area to assist first responders in disaster relief.

Diane’s extraordinary kindness was always present in whatever she was doing. She had a way of making everyone she met feel important and special. One of her greatest talents was as a connector of people. She could see the value in

ment is kind of flexible for now, as a trial period, to see if it works for him, to see if it works for the city. My hope is that it does and that it’s beneficial for all involved. Not just city council, not just management staff, but also for the public works staff as well,” Jorgensen said. “And that he can bring out the most of their potential and get them all multiple certifications and additional training so they can build up their skillsets and become even more valuable to the organization.”

Helmen’s seat will be filled in undetermined at this time. Follow developments at thechiefnews.com and in the Friday print editions of the Chief.

bringing people together for a better good for each other or the community.

It was the norm for visitors to her home whether doing work or just stopping by to leave with a chocolate treat or a jar of her homemade freezer jam. She always remembered important dates in people’s lives. If Diane knew your birthday or anniversary, you were just about assured of receiving a card or flowers as would you if you were ill, grieving, graduating, or getting married.

A viewing will be held from 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 14, 2023 at Columbia Funeral Home and a public celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on Sept. 30, 2023 at 34090 Skyway Drive in Scappoose, Oregon 97056 at the Scappoose Airport.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Diane’s honor can be made to Chance to Become Scholarship in Care of Columbia Learning Center. PO Box 1094, St. Helens, OR 97051. Please sign our online guestbook at www. columbiafh.com.

Jeremy C. Ruark /Country Media, Inc.

The new plant is slated to be built at the existing sewer plant site on NW 4th Street in Clatskanie.

Courtesy photo Patrick McCoy

Feelings… whoa whoa whoa… feelings

MICHELLE PIERSON YOUNG Chief Guest Article

Let’s talk about your feelings. There is a specific, yucky feeling emotion that happens when we’re facing a circumstance unfamiliar to us and we don’t yet know what to do about it. There’s a lack of information and foundation to our moves.

I call it yucky, but it’s sciency name is structure loss. Our collective experience of structure loss includes, but is not limited to, when we went into a worldwide quarantine during the pandemic (Is it over yet? Asking for a friend.).

We were doing a thing, it was a big thing. We’d never done that thing before and we weren’t exactly sure how to do it. Other people, doing the thing, often irritated us with how they did the thing, or they got judgy about how we were doing the thing. And frankly, it was difficult to say who did it wrong and who did it right. That describes a lot of circumstances, but it was on high octane as we all tried

September 16 Poetry Reading and Broadside Launch with Poet Laureate Emeritus Paulann Petersen

1 p.m. - 4 p.m. An open house at the C.C. Stern Type Foundry in Clatskanie will be held prior to the reading. This event is free and registration is required. To register, visit metaltype.org.

6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at the Clatskanie Cultural Center. This event is put on by C.C. Stern Foundry, a non-profit arts organization, focused on preserving the heritage of the metal type casting industry. This event is free. Please register at www.metaltype. org/events/poetry-readingand-broadside-launch-withpaulann-petersen.

September 16 “Fireflies in the Night: The Great Wigwam Burner”

1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. at 106 W B St., inside Rainier City Hall. Presented by the Rainier Oregon Historical Museum. This is a documentary by Jay Critchley. There is a logging exhibit upstairs on the 3rd floor of City Hall with kids’ games, a wigwam burner coloring contest, and a logging grappler.

Sept. 22-24 Wings Over Willapa Festival

The Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 5th annual Wings Over Willapa. This multi-day bird and art festival will be held at 7112 67th Place in Long Beach. For more details, call 360-642-3860.

to navigate a worldwide experience on a personal level. We had no real structure to build from. We were all starting fresh. We still are in many ways. But what can you do with that feeling, it’s an underlying imbalance with a little fear? I find putting a label on something helps, knowing everyone has the feeling even if we manage it differently also feels nice. But the best thing I learned about yucky feelings, is simply that they are “designed” to move us to action. Our emotions are drivers. They are designed to help us identify what we want and what we don’t want.

I can tell you this, no one wants structure loss and structure loss knows this. It gets up in your business and it yells at you, “build something.” It begs you to act in your own behalf and restabilize. It would be cooler if it felt more like happiness, the emotion that says, “Ohhh yeaaaaahhh, love me some of this. ‘Second helpings, please.” But such is life, not everything is happiness.

October 14 & 15 Arts & Crafts Sale Noon - 4 p.m. This event will be held upstairs at the Birkenfeld Theatre at 75 S. Nehalem Street in Clatskanie. Locally produced, handmade arts and crafts. Stop by for holiday gifts and to support local artists. For questions please contact Roni at roni@ quackedglass.com.

October 29 5th Annual Trunk or Treat by Hometown Pizza

1 p.m. – 3 p.m. at 109 E A Street Plaza, Rainier, Oregon. There will be raffles and prizes for costumes and best decorated vehicles. This event is free. Any vehicle is welcomed to show up an hour before the event to decorate their vehicle. Please bring your own candy to hand out. For questions, please contact Nina Pogue at 503-556-3700.

Ongoing

Clatskanie Senior Center lunches

Clatskanie Senior Center Lunches now served Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at noon at the Castle Cafe, 620 SW Tichenor. Call 503-7283608 for reservations. Use ground floor entrance to the left of front stairs. Good parking in back off of SW Bryant Street. Castle Tours available by appointment, includes Clatskanie Historical Society museum. Call Debbie at 503338-8268.

Caples Evening Programs

The cost for this evening and all our Fireside Chats will be only $5. Caples will be offer-

But my clients find, when they can properly identify the yuck that they would like less of, or the structure they would like to feel grounded in, they can easily figure out some ‘next right moves’.

We’re still feeling the effects of a world and circumstances we couldn’t have seen coming. But we all know there have been some great things that have come of it. Those are things we built, new ways of doing things and being in the world. We have new “structures” we couldn’t have had if we hadn’t learned what we learned.

Not every emotion feels good. Not every circumstance does either. But there’s possibility in everything and when we’re willing to learn, we’re make new structures and ideas to add to those we already have. And maybe that adds a little more happy into the world as we go along the path.

Michelle Pierson Young is a Lincoln City life coach and may be reached at Michelleatplay.com.

ing a different program the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at 1925 First Street in Columbia City. For more information, call 503-3975390.

Lower Columbia River Watershed Council

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

The Rainier Oregon Historical Museum (ROHM) is open from noon - 4 p.m. Saturday (except major holidays weekends). ROHM is located inside Rainier City Hall at 106 W B Street. For more information, call 360-751-7039.

The Rainier Public Library is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays and 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays. It will be closed Sundays and Mondays.

Avamere at St. Helens hosts a Virtual Dementia Support Group – 3rd Wednesday of each month from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. For more details, contact Jenny Hicks/Avamere at St. Helens at 503-366-8070.

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

The Chief

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Columbia County to hire medical examiner

LAUREY WHITE

Chief Guest Article

Columbia County is poised to fill the important role of medical examiner. Columbia County has not had its own medical examiner in almost 30 years. The Chief spoke with Columbia County Medicolegal Death Investigator Rebecca Fieken, who is shepherding the process.

The duties of a medical examiner include overseeing all death investigations under the medical examiner’s jurisdiction, preparing death certificates, interpreting toxicology analyses, and bringing medical expertise to the evaluation of medical history and physical examination of the deceased.

Since Columbia County has been without a medical examiner, any cases requiring an autopsy are sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Clackamas, Oregon.

“The State Medical Examiner’s Office has seven Board Certified Forensic Pathologists overseeing all 36 counties within Oregon and provides all autopsy services to those 36 counties,” Fieken said.

While there are not any formal requirements to be a medicolegal death investigator, the ideal individuals, and

HOMELESS

From Page A1

add at least 16 shelter beds and rehouse at least 31 households

Klamath and Lake counties: $1.4 million to rehouse at least 38 households Lincoln County: $856,178 to add at least 70 shelter beds and rehouse at least 16 households

Linn County: $1.9 mil-

often the most successful ones, typically have a combination background of education and skills encompassing areas of medicine and law, according to Fieken.

Candidates with character

“Character also plays a huge role in the success of an individual in this field,” Fieken said. “This field is physically, mentally and emotionally demanding. Most ideal qualities include adaptability to working in unpredictable environments, sound decision making, critical thinking, integrity, appropriate sensitivity in delicate situations and the observant ability to appropriately manage the emotional burden of repetitive exposure to trauma, death and disease and above all compassion and empathy.”

“My current position, Chief Medicolegal Death Investigator, was established and filled by the District Attorney’s Office with the help of the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office,” Fieken said, adding, “The Medical Examiner position is a contracted position with the county and appointed by the State Medical Examiner’s Office.”

Medical examiners are not required to be a specialist

lion to add at least 30 shelter beds and rehouse at least 32 households

Tillamook County:

$769,404 to add at least 20 shelter beds and rehouse at least 12 households

Yamhill County: $1.3 mil-

lion to add at least 14 shelter beds and rehouse at least 21 households

Communities established 16 Local Planning Groups with designated leads to

in death investigation or pathology, but they must be a licensed physician, in contrast to a coroner. According to the National Institute of Health, a coroner is an elected layperson who often does not have professional training.

“The term medical examiner is the job title of a physician or pathologist working in the capacity of a government agency,” Fieken said.

In the state of Oregon, a medical examiner may be a medical physician with acquired duties in the field and does not have to be a forensic pathologist.

“Only a Board-Certified Forensic Pathologist may perform autopsies. In the case of a medical doctor as a medical examiner, their field of study would be any branch of medicine and not necessarily in pathology or forensics,” Fieken said. “A forensic pathologist specializes in pathology and forensics after graduating medical school.”

Any new staff who will work under the medical examiner will be appointed by the Columbia County’s District Attorney’s office. Follow this developing story at thechiefnews.com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.

coordinate and create a plan to achieve the outcomes. Local Planning Groups are made up of experts from local governments, non-profits, and people with lived experience of homelessness. These groups will be responsible for the implementation of funds to help move individuals and families into housing stability.

Local Planning Groups submitted 29 shelter projects for consideration, with a total request of over $37 million.

name and city of residence will be published). By submitting a letter, writers also grant permission for them to be posted online. Opinions expressed on this page are the writer’s alone and do not represent the opinion of the newspaper or its parent company, Country Media, Inc.

Guest commentary

We welcome all variety of community viewpoints in the newspaper. These longer, guest opinions might be columns written by newsmakers, public officials or organization representatives. Or you might just have interesting thoughts to share and a penchant for writing. If you’d like to submit a guest column for publication, contact us at (503) 397-0116 or chiefnews@countrymedia.net.

All columns are subject to editing for style, grammar and clarity. However, views expressed in guest columns are independent and do not represent those of The Chief, its staff or Country Media, Inc.

Obituaries

Obituaries received after noon on Wednesday may not be in time for that Friday’s paper. Obituaries may be emailed to chiefnews@ countrymedia.net, sent via mail, or dropped off at the office. We also accept obituaries written by funeral homes. Include the address and daytime phone number of the person who submitted the

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502

Help Wanted Administrative Assistant I Columbia County, OR. EOE. Deadline 9/28/2023. Apply at ColumbiaCounty OR.gov.

Special Ed

esd112.org/tak

CC23-1846

The Rainier City Council will hold a public hearing on October 2, 2023, at 6:00 PM at Rainier City Hall, 106 W. B Street in Rainier, to consider an application submitted by Columbia River Launch Service to rezone a 0.303acre parcel from Central Business District to Waterfront Commercial to allow for the development of warehouse and maintenance facilities. The subject property is located on E. A street and is identified as Tax Lot 7216-DA-00301.

This application will be reviewed under the proce -

CC23-1842

dures, standards and criteria of Rainier Municipal Code (RMC)18.45 Waterfront Commercial Zone, RMC 18.125.030 Quasi-judicial amendments to the comprehensive plan map or zoning map, and RMC 18.160.040 Type III Quasi-judicial land use decisions. Evidence to be relied upon to make a decision on this application is in the public record and available for review at Rainier City Hall, at no cost. Copies can be made at a reasonable cost. A copy of the City’s staff report and recommendation to the Planning Commission will

CC23-1847

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Public Notices

be available for review at no cost at least seven days before the hearing, and a copy can be provided on request at a reasonable cost.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

All interested persons are invited to submit written comments to Sarah Blodgett, Rainier City Hall, PO Box 100, Rainier OR 97048 by 5:00 PM September 18, 2023, or present oral testimony at the public hearing. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION contact Sarah Blodgett at 503.556.7301 Monday through Friday between 8:00 A.M., and 5:00 P.M.

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

Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of SHIRLEY ANN RODS, Deceased. No. 23PB07507 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed personal representative of this estate. All persons having claims against

CC23-1841

the estate are required to present their claims, with vouchers attached, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice to the personal representative at P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048, or the claims may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceedings may obtain

CLATSKANIE PEOPLE’S UTILITY DISTRICT MEETING NOTICE

The Clatskanie People’s Utility District Board of Directors has scheduled the next regular Board meeting for Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 6:00 pm in the community room of the District’s administration building located at 495 E Columbia River Highway, Clatskanie. A Board Workshop will be held at 5:30 pm. An executive session may be called at the workshop and/or meeting, pursuant to: ORS 192.660 (2) (f) information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection. AGENDA CLATSKANIE PEOPLE’S UTILITY DISTRICT BOARD WORKSHOP

Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 5:30 P.M.

I. GUEST SPEAKER: Paul Vogel,

additional information from the records of the Court, the personal representative or the attorney for the personal representative. Dated and first published September 8, 2023. Cheryl Erickson, Personal Representative.

STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C. Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048.

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

Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of CALEB ROBERT HOCKING, Deceased. No. 23PB06188 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed personal representative of this estate. All persons having claims

against the estate are required to present their claims, with vouchers attached, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice to the personal representative at P.O. 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 September 8, 2023. Meryl L. Head, Personal Representative. STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C. Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048.

Executive Director Columbia Economic Team II. POLICY

REVIEW: 106 Lighting Policy III. STAFF REPORTS

UPDATE. CLATSKANIE

PEOPLE’S UTILITY DISTRICT REGULAR BOARD MEETING Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 6:00 P.M.

I. PUBLIC COMMENTS

II. CONSENT AGENDA

· Minutes of Board Workshop, August 16, 2023 ·

Minutes of Regular Board Meeting, August 16, 2023 · Review payment of bills for August 2023

III. ACTION

ITEMS · None IV. DISCUSSION / INFORMATIONAL

ITEMS · Board Comments & Calendar V. EXECUTIVE

SESSION VI. ADJOURNMENT CC23-1845 RE-

QUEST FOR PROPOSALS:

PORT OF COLUMBIA COUNTY MULTNOMAH INDUSTRIAL PARK NEW BUILDING PROJECT The Port of Columbia County is seeking proposals for a new 10,320 SF maintenance building with site improvements in St. Helens, Oregon. Bid packets containing the RFP with plans and specifications for this project may be found on the Port’s website, www.portofcolumbiacounty. org; obtained from the Port Offices located at 100 E. St., Columbia City, from 8:00 to 5:00, M-F; or requested via e-mail at house@portofcolumbiacounty.org. Submissions must be received by 4:00 PM on Friday, October 6, 2023. For questions, please call 503-928-3259.

FOR PROPOSALS: PORT OF COLUMBIA COUNTY MOWING SERVICES”

COVID booster coming to Oregon

STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.

People in Oregon could start receiving the nation’s newest COVID-19 vaccines as soon as next week after a federal advisory body endorsed the updated shots for everyone 6 months or older.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice’s decision Sept. 12 to recommend the updated mRNA vaccines comes a day after they were authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Studies show the vaccines, formulated to target currently circulating variants, induce antibodies against a wide variety of COVID-19 viral variants and are expected to improve protection against serious consequences of COVID-19 infection, including hospitalization and death. According to the CDC, the vaccines have been updated to include a monovalent (single) component that corresponds to the Omicron variant XBB.1.5 and related subvariants. They are approved for individuals 12 and older and authorized under emergency use for individuals 6 months through 11 years old.

Paul Cieslak, M.D., OHA’s Public Health Division,edical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at said ar-

rival of the updated monovalent COVID-19 vaccines – made by ModernaTX Inc. and Pfizer Inc.– represents a pivotal moment in Oregon’s COVID-19 response.

“They are the first updated vaccines approved after the federal public health emergency ended in May, and the first updated vaccines available on the commercial market,” Cieslak said. “This means we’ve taken a big step toward normalizing COVID-19 as something we live with and manage much as we do for influenza.”

The new vaccines’ availability on the commercial market means health care and vaccine providers must order and receive them directly from the manufacturers. During the pandemic, the federal government arranged for manufacturers to ship vaccines to state health agencies, which then managed orders and shipments for providers.

The new COVID-19 vaccines also are being made available at the start of the 2023–2024 respiratory season, when federal and state health agencies begin promoting influenza vaccinations as people send children back to school, head indoors to escape colder weather and gather for holiday celebrations. OHA tracks influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity each year between October and April

Studies show the vaccines, formulated to target currently circulating variants, induce antibodies against a wide variety of COVID-19 viral variants and are expected to improve protection against serious consequences of COVID-19 infection, including hospitalization and death.

when infection and hospitalization rates are highest.

“While we don’t yet know the seasonality of COVID-19, the fall months are when we start seeing flu and RSV cases go up, and COVID-19 hospitalizations are rising even now,” Cieslak said. “That’s why it’s important to have the new monovalent vaccines now so people can get them along with their shots for influenza and, soon, for RSV.”

A new RSV monoclonal antibody immunization for babies and toddlers is expected to be available commercially and to health care providers enrolled in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program later this fall. A new RSV vaccine for

adults 60 and older has been available on the commercial market for several weeks, and people should check with their insurance plan to make sure RSV vaccination is covered. The CDC has not announced a timeline for when the new vaccines will arrive in state-sponsored vaccine programs, such as Oregon’s Vaccine Access Program (VAP) which provides free vaccines for eligible children and adults.

In the meantime, OHA has directed vaccine providers to dispose of any leftover bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in their storage inventory according to their organizations’ policy for medical waste

Courtesy photo

disposal, and to record wasted doses in Oregon’s ALERT Immunization Information System. Insurance plans will cover the 2023–2024 COVID-19 vaccine when they become available. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires insurers to cover most ACIP-recommended vaccines without cost sharing (such as co-pays or deductibles).

People can get the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines by contacting their health plan, health care provider, county public health clinic or federally qualified health center (FQHC). They can also search for a clinic by ZIP code by visiting vaccinefinder.org, or by calling

211 or visiting 211info.org.

In addition to getting vaccinated, health officials recommend people follow OHA and CDC guidance that empowers individuals at risk for severe illness to prepare for COVID-19 exposure and possible infection.

The guidance includes:

Knowing your risk. Talk to your health care provider about whether your age, vaccination status or medical condition makes you more susceptible to severe COVID-19 illness.

Making a plan. Think about how you’ll protect yourself and those around you if you become ill with COVID-19, or if your community’s transmission level changes.

Taking action when needed. Get tested if you have symptoms. If you test positive, contact your health care provider for treatment – such as with the antiviral medication Paxlovid for those at increased risk and those with severe illness – or consider telehealth options; let those around you know they may have been exposed; stay home until fever free for 24 hours and symptoms are improving; wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask for 10 days after you become sick or test positive; and avoid contact with high-risk individuals for 10 days.

State sees 1,200 job losses, unemployment rate at 3.4%

STAFF REPORT

Country Media, Inc.

Oregon’s unemployment rate stayed at 3.4% in August, the same as July. This tied Oregon’s record low of 3.4%, which also was reached in November and December 2019.

Since May, Oregon’s unemployment rate has been below 4%.

In August, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 1,200 jobs, following a revised gain of 3,400 jobs in July. August’s over-the-month job losses

were largest in retail trade (-1,600 jobs); construction (-1,000); and professional and business services (-800).

Job gains were largest in leisure and hospitality (+2,100 jobs). Payroll employment grew by 1.3% over the past 12 months. Over-the-year job growth decelerated to an average of 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.

Several major industries

grew rapidly over the past 12 months. Since August 2022, leisure and hospitality (+10,500 jobs, or 5.3%)

continued to add jobs at a rapid clip, but is still 6,100 jobs below its prior peak reached in February 2020.

Health care and social assistance (+14,000 jobs, or 5.2%) also added jobs rapidly over the past 12 months, with social assistance gaining 6,300 jobs in that time. Each of health care’s component industries added close to 2,500 jobs in that time. Government (9,400 jobs, or 3.1%) grew rapidly in that time as well, as local government recently rose above its pre-pandemic level.

Several industries have contracted in the past 12 months. Manufacturing (-4,100 jobs, or -2.1%) employs fewer workers than

a year ago, as many of its durable goods manufacturing component industries have cut up to 2% of jobs in that time. Similarly, retail trade (-3,700 jobs, or -1.8%) has cut jobs recently, with most retail component industries declining slightly since August 2022.

Meanwhile, after booming from 2019 through 2021, transportation, warehousing, and utilities has retraced some of those job gains, cutting 3,200 jobs, or 4.0%, in the past 12 months. The U.S. unemployment rate rose from 3.5% in July to 3.8% in August.

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Kind of wrap

6. Pose a question

9. Be sore

13. Ottoman title

14. Ornamental ponddweller

15. Florida Key, e.g.

16. Mr. T and friends

17. Knot-tying vow (2 words)

18. Milan’s La ____

19. *Walrus’ cousin (2 words)

21. *Crustacean “on the barbie”

23. Finish line

24. Creole vegetable

25. He had

28. Gives a helping hand

30. Tranquil

35. Frosts, as in cake

37. Bear, in Latin

39. All the words in a language

40. “By ____, I think she’s got it!”

41. Silver to Lone Ranger

43. Chows down

44. Mark Twain to Samuel

Langhorne Clemens

46. Toupee spot

47. Pestilence pest

48. Singer Eilish

50. Rub the wrong way

52. Yoda: “Do or do not. There is no ____”

53. *A type of whale or the color of many dolphins

55. Overnight lodging

57. *Inspiration for a certain pineapple dweller

60. *Inspiration for Marvel’s Doc Ock

64. South American juice

flavor

65. Bearded antelope

67. All thumbs

68. Pineda of Journey

69. Stomach pain-causing acronym

70. Hundred, in Italian

71. Hammer part

72. Not stood

73. Bar, legally

DOWN

1. R&R destinations

2. Angie Thomas’ “The

____ U Give”

3. Seaward

4. *Cetology object of study

5. Thin layer

6. *Like green sea turtle and loggerhead sea turtle

7. Grass “carpet”

8. Newsstand, e.g.

9. Fungal spore sacs

10. *Edible bivalve

11. S.O.S.

12. Pilot’s estimate, acr.

15. Netanyahu’s country

20. Abomination

22. 9 to 5, e.g.

24. Bone burial spot

25. Muslim woman’s headscarf

26. Cause for food recall

27. a.k.a. Lucifer

29. Between stop and roll

31. *Coral polyps’ structure

32. Raise one’s rank

33. Potassium nitrate

34. Student’s request for ChatGPT?

36. *#19 Across’ earless

cousin

38. Hostile to

42. Opposite of ecbatic 45. Smoke, sometimes 49. Energy unit 51. Attract 54. Front of cuirass 56. Religiously unaffiliated, pl. 57. Confident answer 58. Glazier’s unit 59. Baker’s baker 60. Give a boot

Closely confined 62. Plotting

“____! In the Name of Love”

Jeremy C. Ruark / Country Media, Inc. There were

employed and 82,788 unemployed in August, according to the Oregon Employment Department.