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Wednesday, May 31, 2023
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Streets, Utilities Extension Project moving ahead other major waterfront projects.
WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
Columbia View Park Amphitheater
The construction on First Street after the Cowlitz intersection to the riverfront property in the historic Riverfront District in downtown St. Helens is expected to be completed in June, according to the city of St. Helens Communications Officer Crystal King. “This section is anticipated to be complete in approximately one month. The contractor will then begin work in another area once this section is complete,” King said. The construction is part of the city’s Streets and Utilities Extension Project, which aims to improve key streets and intersections in the city’s historic Riverfront District and extend utilities onto the city’s 24-acre Riverfront Property. “The Streets and Utilities Extension Project will improve the safety of existing intersections, create inviting pedestrian connections in the Riverfront District, and increase parking in the area,” the city’s website states. Otak, Inc. is the city’s project engineer, Mayer/Reed, Inc. is the city’s landscape architect for the project, according to the city’s website, and the construction contractor is Moore Excavation, Inc. The project was launched in 2021 to help provide a foundation for public amenities and private development on the Riverfront Property. With First Street being closed beyond the Cowlitz intersection, some parking for the downtown area has been unavailable. The city has
Under Phase I of the Riverwalk Project, the city entered an agreement with Mayer/Reed in March of 2021. Mayer/Reed is a Portlandbased landscape architecture firm, and under the 2021 agreement, the council tasked that firm with providing the following services: • To prepare full plans, specifications, estimates, permitting, and bid assistance for the Riverwalk Project Phase I and the Columbia View Park Amphitheater. • Prepare plans, specifications, and estimates for Riverwalk Project Phase II at 30 percent design. • Bid assistance and construction management services for Riverwalk Project Phase I and Columbia View Park Amphitheater.
Signs marking the construction have been erected on First Street in St. Helens.
designated temporary parking lots to meet the need while the project is completed. Upcoming projects In addition to its work on the Streets and Utilities Extension Project, the city has other projects scheduled for this summer. One of the projects will be site prep for Riverwalk Project Phase I. While the city is not anticipating
beginning construction until early fall, blackberry mitigation work will be conducted along the riverbank in preparation for the project. King also detailed work the city will be doing as part of the Columbia Boulevard Sidewalk Project and another project near McBride Elementary School. “Columbia Boulevard Sidewalk Project- Starting July 2023. Construction of new sidewalks along Columbia Boulevard from Gable
An amendment to the agreement was decided in the March 15 regular council session to confirm that the new stage placement is correct in Columbia View Park as part of the Riverwalk Project Phase I work. The estimated cost for the additional services was $7,150. Mayer/Reed recently provided the council with the rendering which will be used to create an updated visual image of what the new stage would look like in its proposed location, according to King said.
Will Lohre / Country Media, Inc.
Road to Sykes Road to build on the previous improvements made along Gable Road by the St. Helens High School,” King said. “In addition to sidewalks, a new Rapid Flashing Beacon will be installed near McBride Elementary School. The project is being funded by a Safe Routes to School Grant, Columbia County funds, and the City’s Street Funds.” In a previous update, The Chronicle outlined specific details about
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‘Simple’ assignment gains world attention you compose Tantrum and what does it mean to you and to your students?
JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.
What a local teacher has done is gaining worldwide attention. St. Helens Middle School Band Director Travis Freshner has composed music for the school students called, “Tantrum.” The music has been performed by schools in Oregon and southwest Washington and is gaining worldwide attention. Kjos Music, one of the world’s leading publishers of band music, has decided to publish “Tantrum” worldwide. “In addition, J.W. Pepper, the distributor who everyone buys almost all of their band music from, has selected it to be part of their “Editor’s Choice” collection, which is used to signify what they see as being the best of new pieces to come out this year from any publisher,” Lisa Scholl of the St. Helens Band Patrons said. “St. Helens Middle School Band is printed at the top of every page.” The Chronicle has reached out to Travis Freshner to gain insight into this music project. The Chronicle: Why did
Travis Freshner: Tantrum began as a simple extension of a project I was doing with my classes. I often do simple creativity and composition assignments with my students, just to introduce them to the idea of creating something musical of their own. Then I decided that if I was going to ask them to try something new, it was only fair for me to try something new, too. So, while they were given a smaller and simpler project, I gave myself the challenge of writing something on a larger scale for them, which eventually turned into Tantrum. The piece was inspired by my observations as a young father; not just of my own son’s behavior, but also by the behaviors I saw from other kids when dealing with the hardships and frustrations of toddlerhood. Throughout the piece, I tried to capture the different stages or phases of a full-blown meltdown tantrum. See FRESHNER Page A9
Travis Freshner conducting/directing the St. Helens Middle School music program students.
Courtesy photo
Senate Republicans willing to return the last day of session during emergencies, help students who face sexual harassment and put $140 million into literacy programs, one of Gov. Tina Kotek’s priorities. Democratic lawmakers want the impasse to end before the last day of the session. Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, on Tuesday told reporters the absentee senators need to return to debate and vote on all the bills. It’s unclear what would happen if Republicans and Democrats do not reach a deal to get the Senate back to work. Kotek was in the state Capitol on Monday, meeting separately with Republican and Democrat senators about the walkout and held more meetings on Tuesday with House Republican and Democratic representatives. “Everybody has a valid perspective, and my job is to figure out if there’s a pathway to resolve this,” Kotek told reporters on
BEN BOTKIN Capital Chronicle Chronicle Guest Article
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Vol. 141, No. 23
Courtesy photo from Ben Botkin / Oregon Capital Chronicle
The Oregon Senate chamber on Friday, May 5, 2023, the third day of a Republicanled walkout.
Oregon Senate Republicans on Tuesday declared they’re willing to return to the floor to pass bipartisan legislation and budget bills on June 25, the final day of the session. Senators continued to participate in the GOP-led walkout on Tuesday, boycotting the floor session for the 15th day and preventing the Senate from reaching the two-thirds quorum needed to conduct business. Dozens of bills hang in the balance as the walkout persists, jeopardizing not just future state budgets but efforts to build a veterans home in Roseburg, help homeless schoolchildren and make housing more available. In the latest effort to gain public support, Democrats sent out a release on Wednesday with a list of stalled education bills. They include proposals that would provide electronic notification to parents
See SESSION Page A9