Lawn mowing service comes to St. Helens
Vernonia Friendship Jamboree and Logging Show
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Chronicle & Chief THE COLUMBIA COUNTY
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 | Columbia County, Oregon
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Unity in the community at the Clatskanie Festival WILL LOHRE
Country Media, Inc.
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he Clatskanie Festival returns this year, and organizer Lori Sherman wants to bring free, family-friendly community fun to the Clatskanie community. The event will be Aug. 9 through Aug. 11, and will largely be taking place at Cope’s Park in Clatskanie. Sherman said that this year’s theme is “Unity in the Community.” The community festival was founded ten years ago by Sherman and her husband Steve. Sherman said the festival continues to grow, and she pointed to more participation in the Evening Light Parade. This year’s Grand Marshall is Clatskanie Library District Library Director Maryanne Hirning. Sherman said that Hirning is a big piece of the “Unity in the Community” theme because she has fully embedded in the community and is constantly trying to make connections. “She’s been here a little while, since she has been here, she has brought so many groups together. She’s brought the library, she’s brought the schools, she’s brought the Clatskanie Arts Commission, the city, the Food Hub; every group you can think of. You name it. [She’s brought] different people and groups together,” Sherman said.
Tressa Harris leading the pet show.
Festival fun On Friday, Aug. 9 on the start of the festival, there will be a costume contest of sorts called the “Community Walkabout,” where community
COURTESY PHOTO FROM LORI SHERMAN
A photo from last year’s Clatskanie Festival.
COURTESY PHOTO FROM LORI SHERMAN
members are encouraged to dress up in their “favorite era,” and enjoy music and friendly competition in Cope’s Park with prizes going to a variety of categories. Next, Iron Giant will be shown as a free movie
in the park, and though people need to bring their own chairs, popcorn will be provided. Free water will be provided all weekend by the Presbyterian church. This year’s event will also
feature more vendors; Sherman said there are over 20 vendors signed up for the festival. The festival vendors will be in City Park from 10 a.m. to
WILL LOHRE
Kelly and, Ashleigh Annamay Baumgarden of Astoria, and Cole Jacob Warren of Clatskanie. Baumgarden and Kelly were on the way to a prenatal appointment at the time of the accident, mere weeks before Baumgarden was set to be induced, according to a friend of Kelly who organized a GoFundMe. The GoFundMe seeks to raise funds for the couple and their newborn daughter, as Baumgarten and the child are in critical condition, and Kelly has had multiple surgeries, according to the GoFundMe’s description. Of the $12,000 goal, the fundraiser has already received $11,440 as of Aug. 6. The collision took place at about 1:45 p.m. on July 30 near milepost 50.5, only a half mile from a fatal accident that occurred on July 26.
According to OSP, the initial investigation indicated that a westbound SUV crossed over into the eastbound lane, where it struck another vehicle. Word spread to the community via social media, with Facebook groups for the Rainier and Clatskanie abuzz with posts on the crashes. Many commenters on social media discussed the need for more safety measures on this stretch of Highway 30. Only five days earlier, on July 26, OSP responded to a three-vehicle crash on Hwy-30, near milepost 51, in Columbia County. The preliminary investigation indicated a westbound gray Kia Soul, operated by Bridget
See UNITY, Page A8
Highway 30 crashes raise safety concerns Country Media, Inc.
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COURTESY PHOTO FROM COLUMBIA RIVER FIRE & RESCUE
A photo from the scene of the July 30 crash shared by CRFR on Facebook.
wo serious car crashes that took place within a mile of each other on Highway 30 on July 26 and July 30 caused people to speak out on social media about concerns over safety on that stretch of road. Both accidents were revealed to be “head-on collisions.” The July 26 accident claimed the lives of two Scappoose residents, and the July 30 accident resulted in serious injuries for three people, including two victims who needed to be flown to a trauma center via LifeFlight helicopters. Oregon State Police (OSP) identified the people involved in the July 30 accident as William Jacob
See HWY 30, Page A8
Columbia County jury indicts alleged animal abuser WILL LOHRE
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Columbia County Grand Jury returned an indictment against a Columbia County woman for 38 counts of felony aggravated animal abuse on June 11, following an investigation that yielded grim results. According to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), an investigation found that Kathryn Sullivan of Goble had “suffocated and frozen to death 19 newborn puppies.” The investigation arose when a Columbia County Building Inspector reported illegal activity by Sullivan during “contact at Sullivan’s residence.” Columbia County Animal Control Deputy Roger Kadell began an investigation and found corroborating evidence that led to his preparation and submission of a search warrant for the Sullivan property. CCSO detailed the information that led to the search of Sullivan’s property in a Facebook post on March 22. “This morning, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a Goble area residence after Columbia County Animal Control received informa-
tion that a Goble resident was freezing litters of puppies to feed their pet snakes,” the post stated. On March 22, a team consisting of Columbia County Animal Control personnel, CCSO Deputies, a biologist with the Oregon State Fish and Game, Oregon State Police Game Troopers, and a Columbia County Deputy District Attorney served a search warrant on Sullivan’s Rainier area property. During the search warrant, 19 deceased and frozen puppies were located, along with one prohibited snake and two restricted snakes. The deceased puppies were taken to the Oregon Humane Forensic Investigations Unit in Portland for a Necropsy examination. The County’s investigation and the findings from the forensic team were then presented to a Columbia County Grand Jury, who returned an indictment for 38 counts of aggravated animal abuse. One snake was removed from the property, and two others will require Sullivan to obtain a special permit from Fish and Wildlife to possess. “Columbia County Animal Control would like to thank all the partnering agencies that made this investigation possible,” a recent post on the CCSO Facebook page stated.
IN THIS ISSUE Police Reports .............. A3 Opinion .......................... A4 Market ............................ A5 Public Notices .............. A6 Crossword .................... A6 Obituaries ...................... A7
COURTESY PHOTO FROM CCSO
CCSO executed a search warrant at a Goble area residence after receiving information that a Goble resident was freezing litters of puppies to feed their pet snakes.
COURTESY PHOTO FROM CCSO
Another Ball Python that was found at the Sullivan residence near Rainier.
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COURTESY PHOTO FROM CCSO
A terrarium that contains a Ball Python, according to the label.
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