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Wednesday, January 25, 2023
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Eisenschmidt Pool to close for repairs WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
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isenschmidt Pool will be closing in February to undergo repair of two of the pool’s filter pits. According to the pool’s website, the repairs could take up to three weeks. Pool operators have slated the closure from Feb. 20 through Mar. 11. Finding the leaks General Manager Anne Scholz said the pool will close in February to repair the filter pits, allowing the Scappoose and St. Helens High School swim teams to conclude their seasons with access to the pool. Scholz said she noticed leakage from the pool in December. “They started leaking after this little freeze we had before Christmas, so I don’t know if that caused my problem,” Scholz said. “I check on the pool every single day, and because of that freeze, and because I drive a pickup that’s not really reliable in icy weather, I didn’t check on it on Christmas Eve, and then when I showed up on Christmas morning to check on it, we were a foot and a half low on the water. So, we have a huge leak.” After discovering the leak, Scholz started isolating systems to figure out where the leak was. Scholz brought in a Scuba instructor at the Portland Scuba Academy, David Waite, to do leak-checking. Using red food coloring in a syringe, Waite would swim around, squirt the coloring into the water, and see where the leak would suck it out.
While investigating the bottom of the pool for leaks, the diver also discovered a 35-foot crack in the pool. Using some “underwater epoxy putty” to patch the crack, Waite temporarily fixed it. Unfortunately, a more permanent fix for the damage will only be possible once management can drain the pool in September. The upcoming repairs
The repairs in February will address two leaks in two of the pool’s three filter pits. Pools can’t be drained in the winter; fortunately, these repairs can be made without emptying the water. The repair will include replacing the piping under six feet of rock, pebbles, and sand. Scholz estimated the price of this project could reach around $80,000. “Right at the beginning of COVID, I had to rebuild one of my filter pits, and that cost me about $33,000. And so, going double that is $66,000. But then there’s inflation from COVID, so I think we’re going to approach $80,000, but I’m not positive,” Scholz said. Luckily, Scholz suspected something like this may happen and has budgeted with these potential repairs in mind. However, the St. Helens High School swim program is trying to organize a “swimathon” to help raise funds for the pool repairs. Details about the fundraiser were pending at press time. What’s next for St. Helens’ swimmers According to Scholz, about 100
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Eisenschmidt Pool is located at 1070 Eisenschmidt Lane in St. Helens.
to 150 people use the Eisenschmidt Pool daily. For those looking to swim during the closure, Rainier, Astoria and Portland are the closest locations that have facilities. Scholz also emphasized that the pool may not be closed for the entire three-week estimate and that the facility will reopen “as soon as possible.” During the routine September closure, crews will drain the pool that normally holds 230,000
gallons of water, and address the 35-foot crack. Eisenschmidt Pool was originally built in the summer of 1939 as a life-saving measure for residents of St. Helens, after three drownings occurred in the Columbia River in the summer of 1936.
Fast Facts Eisenschmidt Pool was built in 1939. The pool holds 230,000 gallons of water. Before the COVID pandemic, the pool attracted an estimated 500 visitors daily during peak seasons.
The Chronicle will update this story as new details become available. Follow the repairs and pool closure at http://sthelenspool.com.
Fentanyl use, dealing, overdoses spiking in Oregon WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
Columbia County Sheriff concerned
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regon is facing an overdose crisis. According to Oregon Health Authority (OHA), unintentional and undetermined drug overdose deaths in Oregon more than doubled between 2019 and 2021. Illicitly manufactured Fentanyl (IMF) is at the heart of this crisis and has now surpassed methamphetamine as the most frequent drug involved in overdose deaths. An issue briefing from the OHA to the Oregon Governor’s Office revealed staggering statistics on the crisis. “Fentanyl overdose deaths increased nearly 600% between 2019 and 2021, from 71 to 509, respectively. In 2021, more than half (54.6%) of overdose deaths involved more than one drug and/or alcohol,” the report said. What is Fentanyl
Courtesy from Lincoln City Police
Law enforcement agents are finding powered fentanyl in drug investigations across the state.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin, and 100 times stronger than morphine, according to the CDC website. Doctors prescribe phar-
maceutical fentanyl to treat severe pain, especially after surgery and for advanced-stage cancer. Its illicit form is often added to other drugs to make them more potent, cheaper to make, and more addictive.
“To process the drugs in a pill form takes minimal effort,” Oregon State Police media relations representative Captain Kyle Kennedy said. “Equally, the inability of users to obtain prescription medications with Narcotic Analgesic properties, such as OxyContin, etc., has increased the demand.” Fentanyl is often used in conjunction with other stimulants and substances. It also is commonly consumed by mistake, with the user believing they are using a different substance, according to the CDC website. “Powdered fentanyl looks just like many other drugs. It is commonly mixed with drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine and made into pills that are made to resemble other prescription opioids. Fentanyl-laced drugs are extremely dangerous, and many people may be unaware that their drugs are laced with fentanyl,” the CDC states. Where is it coming from? IMF is typically made in Mexico and trafficked to the United States, where illegal drug markets distribute it more widely. Kennedy
detailed how the drug is imported and distributed. “Most of the fentanyl we seize comes from the southwest border of the United States, originating in Mexico,” Kennedy said. “Once the fentanyl is smuggled into the US, our investigations, along with other Law enforcement agencies, have determined it is stored in “stash houses” in southern California, Arizona, and Texas before being shipped to its final destination throughout the United States. In Oregon, common traffic corridors utilized are Interstates 5 and 84, as well as Highway 97.” Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley reported that there has been a “significant” rise in both dealing and fentanyl use countywide. The county has also had deaths due to the drug. Pixley also gave reasons why the drug is becoming more common. “We are seeing a sharp spike in fentanyl being used in the production of fake oxy pills and as an additive to other illegal substances,”
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Local linemen aid California utilities following storms WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
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ollowing torrential rain and wind around the New Year that knocked out power to thou-
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sands in Northern California, four linemen from the Columbia River People’s Utility District (CRPUD) drove down to assist Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) in restoring power in Central Valley. Emergency response
On Jan. 4, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency across the state to help mobilize emergency personnel and resources. “California is mobilizing to keep people safe from the impacts of the incoming storm,” said Governor Newsom. “This state of emergency will allow the state to respond quickly as the storm develops and support local officials in their ongoing response.” Activating the state of emergency was critical for California to address this storm and other storms this coming winter. The “atmospheric river” storms from the Pacific Ocean that have hit California have strained the state’s flood preparations. As part of this relief, out-of-state
utility workers, like Jesse Hutchins and the three other Columbia River PUD linemen were called in to give their support. The four linemen began their 18-hour drive down to Stockton Jan. 3. After being waylayed briefly in Medford, they arrived in California Jan. 4. “We were held up in Medford because California wouldn’t let us come in until it was declared an emergency,” Hutchins said. “Once it was declared an emergency, we were able to go into California.” The linemen were also in California when some of the worst outages occurred from continued storms throughout their time there. The crew primarily worked in the Napa area, which was also heavily affected. According to Hutchins, there was “a lot of damage” in Napa and to the north. The linemen helped with typical repairs that come about with inclement weather. “We replaced a pole, did a couple of underground services that went bad because of the rain, and replaced some cross arms, just your average storm stuff,” Hutchins said. According to KCRA in Sacra-
mento, at the peak of their power outages, 345,000 customers were without power Sunday, Jan. 8. That same day, California Governor Gavin Newsom submitted a request for a Presidential Emergency Declaration to secure additional resources and personnel to fight the damage. Biden approved the proposal on Monday, Jan. 9, which supports emergency relief. Supplying mutual aid These emergency response positions are voluntary. According to Hutchins, there is a list of people who can respond to these situations, and if linemen don’t want to or can’t go, the next person on the list is asked. Traveling to help out of area utilities is something the CRPUD has done before, but primarily in Oregon. Hutchins said that they have responded to calls in Eugene, Portland, West Oregon, and Florence but that it was “the first time that the CRPUD has gone down to California and helped out.” Being part of a mutual aid
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Local linemen from Columbia County helped restore power in Central Valley, California.
group, the CRPUD is now going further beyond its typical area of operations than they have before. The linemen returned Thursday, Jan. 12, after 10 days away from home.