St. Helens Elks Lodge donates over $7,500 from Annual Car Show
Gearing up for the Garlic Festival PAGE A2
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Chronicle & Chief The Columbia County
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 | Columbia County, Oregon
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County reopens Apiary Road WILL LOHRE
Country Media, Inc.
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fter months of repairs, Apiary Road has been reopened for use. Columbia County announced the opening of the road on social media on Aug. 8, saying that the paving had been completed at the site of the closure at Milepost 11.8. The county said the road will be open, but that some work is still in progress. Drivers are advised to drive slowly through this section because the county is finishing up the last details, including putting up barricades and lane markings. The county closed the roadway in November 2023 and began soliciting contractors to assist with the project. Columbia County Assistant Director of Public Works Grant DeJongh detailed the timeline of work on the Apiary road project. “Emergency work, including emergency excavation, began after the culvert failed in January 2024. In February 2024, formal preliminary survey, geotechnical analysis, and design work began,” DeJongh said. “Reconstruction
Courtesy photo from Columbia County
A photo of the “Apiary washout.”
efforts began in June 2024, which culminated in the installation of a new structure, rock backfill, and paving.” DeJongh said the project was “solicited pursuant to an emergency declaration by the county,” and that the costs billed to date are roughly $600,000.
Starting Aug. 12, the county told drivers on the road to expect single-lane closures as the county completes work on the shoulders, hydroseeding, and cleaning the intersection with Schaffer Road. Traffic will still be allowed, but people are advised to be cautious and patient.
The completed paving on Apiary Road.
Courtesy photo from Columbia County
tors, and emergency services. The completion of this project restores this functionality to the county road system,” DeJongh said. “We also would like to express our appreciation to the residents of the County and the traveling public for their patience during this project.”
DeJongh said that completion of the Apiary Road project is a welcome development for convenient travel throughout the county. “Apiary Road is one of the two main non-state highway arterials through Columbia County. It is a major haul route, as well as a throughway for residents, visi-
Clatskanie resident achieves Navy dream WILL LOHRE
Country Media, Inc.
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Will Lohre / Country Media, Inc.
Rebecca Pickering presenting a ceremonial check to April Beardsley.
St. Helens bowlers support county veterans WILL LOHRE
Country Media, Inc.
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trikes and splits aren’t the only good things happening at bowling lanes in St. Helens, as for the third year in a row, the St. Helens branch of the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) has gathered donations to help local veterans in need. The donations were then converted into Fred Meyers gift cards, which were gifted to local veterans groups. Rebecca Pickering is the assistant manager of the St. Helens USBC chapter and is one of the fundraiser’s key organizers. Pickering explained how the fundraiser works. “Our bowlers donate throughout the whole bowling season, and then we gather those funds and send them to our national association, which is the Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL),” Pickering said. Then we get the majority of that portion back, so we can give to our local veterans. We try to keep our funds within the local community and county.” Pickering said that they convert the funds to gift cards so the money can be used for “gas, clothing, food, whatever their needs are.” This year, Pickering presented $725 to local veteran groups. Members of the St. Helens and Scappoose Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion accepted the donation at the Fred Meyer in
Scappoose on Aug. 9. Pickering described the arrangement as a “great partnership.” The veterans groups vet the requests from veterans in need to ensure that the funds are going to people who can use them. Kathy Antonich is the historian with the American Legion Post #42 in St. Helens, and she said these additional funds are helpful around the holidays. “We get requests through different sources, and then we try to vet the requests and come up with families that can particularly benefit from the gift cards,” Antonich said. “Then they can get holiday food or gifts, or things like that. We’ve had some wonderful thank yous and appreciations from the recipients of those gift cards.” Roger Antonich is the quartermaster for the Scappoose VFW Post and a member of the St. Helens American Legion Post in St. Helens. He said they monitor different situations throughout the county to best assess who needs the funds and how they can help. While the holidays are often a time of need, he and the veterans groups are keeping track of people who are going through hard times and may benefit from a helping hand. Scappoose VFW trustee April Beardsley was in attendance for the check presentation, and she said that she appreciates the bowling See St. Helens, Page A10
IN THIS ISSUE Police Reports .............. A3 Opinion .......................... A4 Obituaries ...................... A5 Market ............................ A6 Public Notices .............. A7 Games & Puzzles .......... A8 Crossword .................... A9 Sports .......................... A10
or Clatskanie’s Nikole Young, the path to serving her country has been a winding road, but after years of preparation and effort, Young has been commissioned to join the Navy as a Public Affairs Officer (PAO). Young held a commissioning ceremony to mark the occasion at the Veterans Memorial in Clatskanie on Aug. 2. She was commissioned by her officer recruiter, Lieutenant Commander Blake Hendrick, among friends and family. To reach this point, Young submitted her application, was selected by the Navy Board, was appointed by Congress, and See CLATSKANIE, Page A9
Courtesy photo from Lost Locals Media
Nikole with her son Angus after the commissioning ceremony.
CCSO hosts National Night Out T
he Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) held its annual National Night Out event to connect with the community and form relationships with residents of Columbia County. “Events like National Night Out help humanize the badge and strengthen relationships between law enforcement and the community, as well as with other agencies throughout the county,” Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley said. “It’s also a chance for everyone to have some fun while forming these connections.” The event was held Aug. 6, and brought agencies from around the county together to link up with people from around the county. Pixley said that based on the amount of meals served, there were around 600 community members in attendance. Pixley said it was the biggest turnout that CCSO has seen at the event, and they hope to continue growing the event in the future. Attendees had the option to partake in family-friendly activities, and there was free food and beverages for attendees. National Night Out featured two bouncy houses, jail tours, popcorn, snow cones, cotton candy, burgers and hot dogs, police cars, fire trucks, police horses, a K9 Demo, live music, and a dunk tank. The dunk tank fundraiser is a
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A youngster getting close for a toss at the dunk tank.
staple of the event, and folks had the opportunity to purchase balls to throw at a target; when they hit the mark, they watched as the person in the tank was dumped
Courtesy photo from CCSO
unceremoniously into the water. Though Pixley was not one of the volunteers who spent time getting See CCSO, Page A2
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