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Wednesday, September 20, 2023
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City Council welcomes new member WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
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replacement for the open seat on the St. Helens City Council has been appointed, and new Councilor Russell Hubbard was unanimously selected to fill the vacant seat left by Patrick Birkle. Birkle resigned from the council because he is a third-grade teacher at Columbia City Elementary School. Birkle said that he did not feel he could balance the duties of the city council with his responsibilities as a teacher. The St. Helens City Council interviewed ten candidates for the position during a special meeting Sept. 14. Following the interviews, the council deliberated, and each member put forth their choice for top candidate. Councilors Brandon Sundeen and Mark Gundersen both put forth Hubbard as their top selection. Councilor Jessica Chilton said her top choice for the position was Jay Echternach but said that Hubbard was her second option and that he was a “great choice.” Mayor Rick Scholl noted that his three top choices would be Virginia Carlson, Echternach, and Hubbard. Scholl ultimately put forth Hubbard as his top choice, in agreement with Gundersen and Sundeen. “He’s definitely qualified in his demeanor, and I’ve watched him action and under high stress,” Scholl said. “It takes a lot to be on a City Commission at all but to be able to stick around for nine years and to do a good job,” Sundeen added. “I think he asks good questions; he’s very in-depth.” Gundersen echoed the sentiments shared by other councilors
and noted that his experience on the Planning Commission and his calm communication style would be welcome on the council. Chilton also agreed with the other councilors but noted that many of the interviews they conducted were insightful.
I want to be coming from the businessperson’s aspect because that’s what I relate to being in business. The effects, from zoning to decisions of what the city’s doing, how’s that affecting the small businessman? Because we desperately need small business in here. ~ Russell Hubbard, St. Helens City Councilor
I think [Russell] is a really good choice for the council, and I’m happy to move forward with [Russell],” Chilton said. Hubbard has been living in St. Helens for the better part of 15 years and has served on the city’s Planning Commission for nine years. Hubbard also serves on the board of the Columbia River People’s Utility District (PUD). Following the discussion, Hubbard confirmed that he was interested in the nomination. Gundersen motioned to appoint Hubbard to the city council, and the motion passed unanimously. The other candidates considered were Carlson, Echternach, Nicholas Hellmich, Scott Jacobson, Brady
Preheim, Jared Stram, Stephen Topaz, Steve Toschi, and Diana Wiener. Swearing in
Municipal Judge Amy Lindgren swore Hubbard in at the St. Helens Municipal Court a little after 11 a.m. Sept. 15. Hubbard’s wife, son, and daughter-in-law attended the occasion. After the ceremony, Hubbard gave comment to The Chronicle about what the appointment meant to him. One of the points of emphasis for Hubbard is that he is approaching the council position from a businessperson’s perspective and bringing his experience from his time on the Planning Commission. “When this position became available, I thought, ‘Well, there’s a way to continue my effort from the Planning Commission into the council and bring a businessman’s standpoint,’” Hubbard said. “I’m a general contractor/developer, and there’s nobody like that on the council right now. I felt that it was good to have a voice there. It was unanimous, and I’m really pleased about that because consensus is quite nice to hear from your peers.” Hubbard owns and operates his own construction company and is developing an apartment building on the property located across from Red Apple Market. Focus When asked what he views as the pressing issues for the city, Hubbard said he is not interested in rehashing decisions that have already been made. Hubbard wants
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Russell Hubbard being sworn as the new St. Helens City Councilor on Sept. 15.
SHSD and city secure over $1M for afterschool programs SUBMITTED BY THE ST. HELENS SCHOOL DISTRICT
In a remarkable display of collaboration and dedication to the community’s youth, the St. Helens School District and the City of St. Helens Recreation Program are thrilled to announce the allocation of $1,178,590 in funding for the 21st Century Community Learning Center Afterschool Program. These funds, from the U.S. Department of Education, will support the program for the next five years, ensuring its continued growth and impact. Since its inception in 2018, this remarkable partnership between the St. Helens School District and the City of St. Helens Recreation Program has witnessed phenomenal growth. This success is attributed to the unwavering trust and support of parents and the community, who recognize the program’s vital role in nurturing our youth. At the heart of the St. Helens 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) Afterschool Program lies a commitment to fostering a sense of connectedness and providing safe spaces for our children. The program is purposefully designed to develop the whole child, catering to their academic, physical, and socio-emotional needs.
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Vol. 141, No. 40
The grant from the U.S. Department of Education amounts to $1,178,590 in funds.
The St. Helens 21st CCLC Enrichment Program serves as an accessible, welcoming hub for students in grades K-5. Here, they can congregate for nutritious snacks, engage in physical activities, receive valuable life skills training, and find assistance with homework.
Additionally, students can explore a wide range of enriching activities in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), entrepreneurship, drug-free education, internet safety, and more. One of the program’s unique features is its reliance on the exper-
Courtesy photo
tise of local community arts organizations, musicians, and librarians. Through collaborative efforts, students will embark on experiential learning journeys in math and science. Moreover, they will have the opportunity to participate in arts and music activities meticulously
designed to enhance engagement, boost standardized performance, and nurture social-emotional health and self-esteem. The St. Helens 21st Century Community Learning Center Afterschool Program is set to kick off in January 2024, starting at Lewis & Clark Elementary School. Building upon its successes, the program will expand to additional elementary sites, reaching even more students in our district. This monumental achievement would not have been possible without the vision and dedication of key individuals. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Shanna Duggan from the City of St. Helens Recreation Program and former Director Matt Doyle from the St. Helens School District, who spearheaded the grant-writing process. Their tireless efforts, supported by the Northwest Regional Education Service District (NWRESD), have brought this invaluable resource to our community. Stay tuned for more details and updates as we embark on this exciting journey to empower and inspire the youth of St. Helens. More details will be released and posted on both the School District’s and the City’s websites in December 2023.
Halloweentown mural WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
Downtown St. Helens is already in the midst of its transformation into a Halloween haven, and one of the newest fixtures is a mural painted on the back door of 2Cs Vendor Mall. The mural illustrates the Nightmare Before Christmas character Jack Skellington and is the creation of Kylie Liebelt, who is a recent high school graduate. Liebelt said she took on the project because she knew the owner of 2Cs, Mitzi Ponce, and had done artwork for her before, painting the garbage barrels in front of the store. Following that project, Ponce asked Liebelt to paint the back door of the building. “Her back door would get tagged a lot, a lot of people would spray paint it and put graffiti all over it,” Liebelt said. “She wanted something more professional, and something that people probably wouldn’t tag.” Liebelt knew she wanted to
do something Halloween related, and after sketching some ideas and presenting them to Ponce, Jack Skellington was chosen to adorn the door. This was Liebelt’s first mural she’d done by herself, and she enjoyed the process. Ponce was happy with the final product, and Liebelt felt the same. “[Ponce] was very happy with it, and that made me very happy,” Liebelt said. “It all came together. There were some parts where I was worried that it wouldn’t look too good or how I imagined it, but when I was done with it, I was really proud of it, and it’s probably my favorite project that I’ve ever done.” Liebelt said she’d love to do more murals in the future and loves having more art throughout St. Helens. For more coverage of Halloween happenings in St. Helens, follow along at thechronicleonline.com and in the Wednesday print editions of the Chronicle.
Courtesy photo from Kylie Liebelt
Check out Liebelt’s mural on the rear door of the 2Cs Vendor Mall.