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Wednesday, April 19, 2023
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Rising from the Ashes
Columbia Hills Retirement Center for damages. While seven residents are still waiting for the construction to resolve, Bailey said many of the tenants were moved back in by midNovember of 2022.
WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
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onstruction is well underway at Columbia Hills Retirement Center to repair the damage caused by the grim fire and explosion that took one tenant’s life at the facility on Oct. 5, 2022. More than seven months later, 21 of its tenants have returned to the Columbia Hills Retirement Center at 36050 Pittsburg Road in St. Helens, according to board member and Treasurer of Columbia Hills Ellen Bailey. “We were very fortunate to have 21 of our residents move back into their independent living at Columbia Hills,” Bailey said. “There are seven of the residents that we were able to assist with temporary, residential housing until the construction is complete at Columbia Hills.”
The community was the glue that held everything together. From the first responders to the hotel staff, emergency management, and Red Cross in the initial days to the outpouring of love and support from our staff, family, and the community, our residents couldn’t have felt more love and support during such a difficult time. ~ Ellen Bailey, Columbia Hills Board Member and Treasurer
Will Lohre / Country Media, Inc.
Columbia Hills Retirement Center will have a fresh face this November.
What caused the fire? In a published account in The Chronicle following the fire, CRFR investigators said an explosion occurred during the fire caused by oxygen cylinders stored in the apartment of the fire’s origin. Following the deadly incident, the CRFR investigators stressed that the use of oxygen in homes has an increased risk of catastrophic fire, especially if the cylinders are in places where temperatures are high. The final cost of the damages has yet to be determined, according to Bailey. Columbia Hills have been working with insurance and other entities and haven’t finalized a total
“The fire occurred on Oct. 5, thirteen residents returned on Oct. 14, eight tenants returned on Nov. 9, and the additional seven are awaiting construction to return,” Bailey said. “We were fortunate to have a community that came together so quickly and provided such a vast array of support to our residents. In such an unsettling time, the community really stepped up to make their transition period so much smoother.”
See REBUILDING Page A7
Kelli Nicholson / Country Media, Inc.
The charred remains of a section of the retirement center following the fire in October.
Clearing abandoned, derelict vessels from waterways JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.
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ou can see them along lakes and in rivers in Columbia County and in waterways throughout the state. Now, the State Land Board is urging continued action to address the impacts of abandoned and derelict vessels on public waterways and public schools. Abandoned and derelict vessels seriously threaten waterway health and safety, creating both environmental and navigational hazards, according to the State Land Board and marine patrol deputies across the state. Penalties The penalties for vessel abandonment range from $440 on the low end to thousands of dollars on the high end. If the vessel becomes submerged, it becomes an even greater expenditure to remove the vessel that, for one boat owner, came out to a total of $55,000, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. The most common types of offenders of abandoned vessels range from people living on their boat, to scrappers and owners of “fixer uppers,” but larger vessels, such as
The former military vessel Sakarissa was removed from the Columbia River.
abandoned cargo and military ships are also causing concern. For years, the Department of State Lands has worked with state, federal, and local partners to remove the most hazardous vessels. But lack of a statewide abandoned and derelict vessel (ADV) program with dedicated funding has resulted in the Common School Fund spending millions removing
vessels, while hundreds more pile up in public waterways. The Land Board, on April 11, created an Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Program Workgroup to propose a comprehensive ADV program for Oregon, including identifying funding needs and potential sources. Read the agenda item, which includes support letters from each member of the Land
Courtesy photo
Board or watch the meeting video with this story at thechronicleonline.com
enue from waterway leases, easements, and other paid uses covers most waterway expenses. But ADV cleanups come with big price tags that far exceed revenue – so the Common School Fund and Oregon schoolkids end up footing the bill. Since 2017, the Common School Fund has spent more than $18 million removing ADVs from public waterways. Recent costs include $35,0000 for removal of a sunken cabin cruiser from South Slough on the south coast and $150,000 to remove a float home drifting down the Multnomah Channel in Portland. The largest recent project, removal of the former military vessels Sakarissa and Alert from the Columbia River in Portland, cost more than $4 million, with Metro contributing $2 million. The U.S. Coast Guard spent an additional $2.3 million to raise the sunken vessels and remove oil. “When irresponsible owners abandon vessels in waterways, our schoolkids pay the price,” DSL Director Vicki L. Walker said.
Cleanups connected to school funding The Land Board oversees school lands and the Common School Fund, as well as Oregon’s publicly owned waterways. Rev-
$18.8 million proposed for vessel removals
See WATERWAYS Page A7
Opinion ........................... A4
SHHS Music Program prepares for State
Obituaries ....................... A5
STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.
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t. Helens High School (SHHS) Wind Ensemble Band and Chor Leonis Choir are back in the city after taking first place last week in the COWAPA League Championships. The SHHS Wind Ensemble and Chor Leonis will both compete at the State Championships later this spring.
Crossword ..................... A6
Legals ............................. A7 Earth Day 2023 .............. A8 Child Abuse Awareness A9
Sports ........................... A10 Phone: 503-397-0116 Fax: 503-397-4093 1805 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR 97051
Background
Vol. 141, No. 17
The SHHS Wind Ensemble is an auditioned/director recommended ensemble. The class objective is to learn and perform music of the highest level and quality possible at venues across the State. Students work to develop tone, technique, musicality, and an understanding and apprecia-
See CHOIR Page A7
The SHHS Wind Ensemble performing.
Courtesy photo from Aaron Augustus