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Wednesday, April 5, 2023
thechronicleonline.com
Serving Columbia County since 1881
mEGGa Egg Hunt back in full swing Peter Cottontail will return to St. Helens this weekend as the 2023 mEGGa Egg Hunt gets underway at the Columbia County Fairgrounds, 58892 Saulser Road in St. Helens, Saturday, April 8. The mEGGa Egg Hunt is a free family event that has become a tradition since its inception 23 years ago. Gates will open at 10:30 a.m., and the fun will last until 12:30 p.m.
Foundation. An organization also sponsors each age group’s hunting field. Richardson’s Furniture sponsors the 0-2 group, the 3-4 is sponsored by Re/Max Power Pros, the 5-7 by InRoads Credit Union, the 8-9 by Premier Restoration Partners, and the 10-12 is sponsored by Dr. Auto. Pamona Grange sponsors the plant-a-seed, and Warren Grange sponsors the food booth. Dyno Nobel and Scaptax - Scappoose Business & Tax Service, Inc sponsor the coloring contest.
The mEGGa Hunt
Activities beyond the hunt
The main draw for the event is, of course, the hunt. About 36,000 pieces of candy have been bought for the young hunters, according to event organizer Heather Epperly. Organizers spread candy throughout the fairgrounds fields, and children split by age group have the chance to run around in the grass, collect candy, and win prizes. “The actual hunt starts exactly at 11 a.m., the fire engine will sound its siren, the kids will run out, [and] search for the candy,” Epperly said. “Each field will have 10 prize coins in them, and those coins can be turned in up at the booth to pick a prize.” There will be five age groups participating in the hunt: 0-2 year olds, 3-4, 5-7, 8-9, and 10-12. The five groups will separated into different fields so kids are hunting with others their age. “We divide them off, we have a ribbon around them, and then we have a big flag in the middle that has the age on it, and so then each
While the hunt for candy is the main attraction for kids of Columbia County, the event will also feature a petting zoo, a scavenger hunt, and even a chance for a photo with Peter Cottontail himself. There will also be a pavilion with food, coloring pages, and a plant-a-seed feature. A special needs area will also be provided, sponsored by Kiwanis. The special needs area has been expanded this year, something Epperly said they have wanted to do for a couple years. “In the floral building, the special needs kids are going to have basically the same thing that’s in the pavilion, they’ll just have a quieter area to do it in,” Epperly said. “So they’ll have coloring pages in there, and they’ll have the plant-a-seed in there, and they’ll have a bunny in there that they can take pictures with, and then they’ll have their own hunting area.” After the event was canceled
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Children fanned out over the grassy fields at the Columbia County Fairgrounds to find the hidden treasures during the 2022 mEGGa Egg Hunt.
one is divided,” Epperly said. “We all go at the same time, but they each have their area.” To help folks get to the event, CC Rider, Columbia County’s bus service, has volunteered to offer a park and ride option from McBride Elementary School. “Normally, we shuttle people from the St. Helens High School,
but because of the construction the high school has going on, we’re actually going to shuttle people from the McBride School this year,” Epperly said. “We are encouraging people to use that because we’ve had so much rain, we don’t know what the fields are going to be like to park in.” Shuttles will begin running
from McBride to the fairgrounds at 10:15 a.m., ahead of the gate opening at 10:30. The final shuttle will return to McBride at 12:45, 15 minutes after the gates close. “It’s not possible without our sponsors and our volunteers,” Epperly said. The main sponsor of the event is the Samuel S. Johnson
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Chronicle Follow Up
Hospital feasibility study nearing completion WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
A decision about constructing a hospital in Columbia County is still pending after months of resumed discussions about the healthcare needs of the region. The results of a new study to determine if a hospital is feasible are expected by mid-May, according to Columbia County Public Information Officer Mark Pacheco. This comes more than eight months since the Columbia County Board of Commissioners directed then Columbia County Public Health (CCPH) Director Michael Paul to enter negotiations for the hospital feasibility study. While Pacheco could not offer any insight into the study’s findings, he reemphasized the purpose of the study, as was decided by the Board of Commissioners last June. “It is important to point out that the county is not advocating for a hospital,” Pacheco said. “The study will analyze existing and projected changes to the community’s population and demographics to determine if a hospital would be practical, or
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Workers posed in front of a sign at the site depicting an artist’s rendering of the Columbia River Community Hospital. The hospital was never built.
even feasible, in Columbia County.” The study is being conducted by California-based Jensen Partners, a strategic, operations, and facilities healthcare planning and project and construction management firm. The
cost of the study is estimated to be roughly $120k ($119,700). According to a series of Chronicle special reports in June 2022, then Columbia County Commissioner Henry Heimuller said the
tion of services, and growth potential of a new hospital in Columbia County, according to the Jensen Partners CCPH Feasibility Study proposal. Yet to be determined is if the Board of Commissioners decide that a hospital should be built, how construction would be funded, and how the ongoing operation of the hospital would be paid for. St. Helens Mayor Rick Scholl is open to the prospect of a hospital in Columbia County, given the proper timing and need. “Access to healthcare is a fundamental need of a thriving community. As St. Helens and Columbia County continue to grow, the need for healthcare will also grow,” Scholl said. “When the time is right, we will welcome a hospital to our area. I have spoken with a County Commissioner about the status of the study.” Background on the county’s hospital needs
county had set aside federal pandemic relief funds to cover the cost of the feasibility study. The market analysis will provide insight into the viability, future capacity, utilization, correct distribu-
The Chronicle reported in
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4 local students to sing at Carnegie Hall
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Vol. 141, No. 15
Beth Hanson
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MARGARET TRENCHARD-SMITH Chronicle Guest Article
Four high school students have been selected to receive scholarships from the Ford Family Foundation to sing in New York City in 2024.
Aidan Pulito
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Currently, they are rehearsing The Wisdom of Columbia County with the Columbia Chorale of Oregon for its inaugural performance at Scappoose High School on June 16. Then on May 27, 2024, they’ll be standing on the Perelman Stage
Jaedyn Schumacher
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at Carnegie Hall to sing this original work created for Columbia County. The four students Beth Hanson is a freshman at Summit Learning Charter School
Kayla Bissell
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and volunteers as a teacher’s assistant at Columbia County Christian School. While maintaining honor roll status, Beth finds the time to
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