SHHS’s new sculpture welcomes students back
Clatskanie volleyball off to hot start PAGE A8
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THE COLUMBIA COUNTY
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 | Columbia County, Oregon
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St. Helens candidates aiming for change WILL LOHRE
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he upcoming election will bring many issues in St. Helens and the county to the forefront of the civil discourse. While incumbents are running for each position on the St. Helens city council, newcomers and familiar faces are also vying for the two open council positions. Molly Matchak and Ginny Carlson have both thrown their hats in the ring to compete for the council seats currently held by Russell Hubbard and Jessica Chilton. Carlson previously held a seat on the council from 2012 until 2020, while Matchak is running for the first time but previously owned a business in the riverfront district. The Columbia County Chronicle & Chief reached out to each of the candidates to hear what they think are the important issues facing the city, and what they would bring to the council. Molly Matchak For Matchak, the decision to enter the race for council was informed by her previous experience as a business owner in the Riverfront District. Matchak owned Molly’s Market, a convenience store downtown, for four years before its closure in the summer of 2023. Matchak said that her previous ownership experience is her “only reason” for being motivated to run. “I changed from being some-
one who had no political aspirations to someone who wanted to be a voice for family and business,” Matchak said. “Every decision by council should begin by asking, ‘If this was my money would I be moving forward? Does this bring us closer to making our livability goals? Can we pay for this?’ The question of risk vs. reward needs to be wellresearched.” Expanding on her motivation to run for council, Matchak said she wants to live in a place “where everyone can be part of the community with options that make livability and freedom a standard, not a dream.” Matchak referenced that she feels the council needs to be “above board” and said she hears the phrase “good ol’ boys” attributed to the council and the decisions they make. “I have often heard people say that the council already made up their minds before public hearings. I want that to stop,” Matchak said. “You won’t see my signs all over town. I won’t win the sign war, but if you want someone that will work for you and your family or business, I am for you.” When asked what issues she sees facing the city, Matchak gave a list of a variety of topics, including the budget, “adequate police,” sewer upgrades, wastewater and the lagoon, riverfront completion, attracting new business, metered growth, inclusion, infrastructure, available services, environmental protection, building regulations, freedom of speech and transportation services. “The list goes on. We need to
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Molly Matchak
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look beyond our own cities to find best practices and develop a new master plan that brings together the voices and experience we absolutely need today,” Matchak said. When asked what her message is to the community, Matchak said that she is trustworthy, hardworking, pro-business and family. “I am very excited to run for this position and represent our city in key areas where we have immediate challenges,” Matchak said. “I am for you, and that means everyone. Our city is struggling, and ‘We must build doors so opportunity can knock.’ I am looking for those who want to join my vision of responsible government that taps into the resources we have available and makes fiscally responsible decisions.” Ginny Carlson A familiar face to the council, having served on it for eight years, Carlson said her motivation for running was “community member pestering.” Carlson said that she heard from community
Ginny Carlson
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members that they wanted her back on the council to try and bring more transparency and accountability to proceedings in the city government. “The whole thing over the police levy, and the fee on the water bill, and the lack of transparency on what that money’s is for. All those things are creating a lot of discourse in the community,” Carlson said. “That brings people to ask me, ‘When you were in office, we knew what was going on.’ And it’s not like I fixed it, it was a whole different council back then.” Carlson said that questions over tourism and other issues have led community members to ask her to run, and she said she decided to file because people deserve a choice. When asked what her previous time on council would help her with this go-round, Carlson said it comes down to listening and doing the research. “Practicing patience and taking time to gather all the informaSee ST. HELENS, Page A3
ight months ago, Country Media, Inc. merged the two weekly newspapers it owned in St. Helens and Clatskanie into a new publication, the weekly Columbia County Chronicle & Chief. The Salem-based corporation had acquired the St. Helens paper in February 2009 and the Clatskanie paper in August 2014. “When we decided to combine these two publications, we had been experiencing declining revenues in Columbia County, along with a difficulty recruiting and retaining experienced reporters and advertising sales employees,” said Country Media president Steve Hungerford. “Combining the two newspapers into one was a last-ditch effort to reduce expenses and reestablish profitability,” he said. “Sadly, that wasn’t successful.” The final edition of the Chronicle & Chief will be published the last week in September, on Sept. 25. The company’s chief executive for operations, Joe Warren, said subscribers will be receiving a refund. Country Media currently owns ten community newspapers in Oregon and one in Northern California, most of them along the Pacific coastline. Employees of the Chronicle & Chief are being offered positions at other company locations.
Fire agencies respond to barn fire in Rainier WILL LOHRE
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The scene of the barn fire on Dike Road in Rainier.
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Columbia River Fire & Rescue personnel on the scene of the Rainier fire.
olumbia River Fire & Rescue (CRFR) and other fire agencies from around the county are working to keep a barn fire on Dike Road in Rainier contained. According to CRFR Fire Chief Eric Smythe, the fire involves an “approximately 5,000 square foot barn.” Smythe said that the fire had “escaped into the brush and field” around the structure but that they had contained the spread. Though the fire is contained, Smythe said the fire will not go out due to the large amount of hay in the barn. “It has a very, very large amount of hay that is on fire in the interior,” Smythe said. “We are not going to
be able to put this out, so it’s going to smoke for probably a week. There’s not enough water on this planet to put this stuff out.” CRFR was assisted by units from Vernonia, Mist, Clatskanie, Scappoose, and the Oregon Department of Forestry. Smythe said there were around 20 people on the scene fighting the fire. Smythe said there were no injuries or animals hurt to his knowledge as of Sept. 9. “I don’t believe there’s any animals that have been hurt. All occupants have been accounted for. It’s just a barn with a large amount of hay,” Smythe said. “We’re not going to be able to put it out, it’s going to burn until it’s done burning, but we’re going to make sure we keep the fire from spreading.”
Police arrest Vault Elite Cheer coach for sexual abuse WILL LOHRE
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t. Helens Police Department has arrested a suspect in relation to the sexual abuse allegations that surfaced against a male coach at the Vault Elite Cheer. St. Helens Police Officers arrested 27-year-old St. Helens man Anthony Trenkler in the 100 Block of McMichael Streeton charges related to a sexual abuse investigation Sept. 6. Trenkler’s arrest capped a three-week investigation, which was initiated on Aug. 13, 2024, when a report was made regarding Trenkler while he was working as a coach at Vault Elite Cheer in St. Helens. Once the investigation was initiated, additional victims were located. On Sept. 6, 2024, St. Helens investigators lured Trenkler to the 100 block of McMichael Street, where he was taken into custody.
Detectives then executed a search warrant and seized additional evidence. Trenkler was subsequently lodged at the Columbia County Jail for sexual abuse I and two counts of attempted sexual abuse I. The allegations were made known publicly via a post on the Vault Elite Facebook page on Aug. 14. “It has been brought to our attention that there have been abuse allegations made against one of our former coaches. Vault Elite has terminated this coach’s contract, and we are fully cooperating with local law enforcement to ensure our athletes are safe. He will no longer be allowed in our gym and our athlete’s safety remains our top priority. Classes and camps have been canceled until further notice. Please join us for a parent meeting, Thursday Aug. 15, 2024 at 4:15 p.m. so that we can address your questions and concerns,” the post
IN THIS ISSUE Police Reports .............. A3 Crossword .................... A3 Opinion .......................... A4 Market ............................ A5 Public Notices .............. A5 Games & Puzzles .......... A6 Obituaries ...................... A7 Sports .......................... A8
Anthony Trenkler.
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stated. Investigators are seeking additional information about Trenkler and are concerned that there may
7 DAY FORECAST
Vault Elite Cheer in St. Helens
be additional victims. If you have additional information related to Trenkler, the St. Helens Police Department would
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like to hear from you. Please contact St. Helens Detectives Edwards and Smith by calling 503-3971521.
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