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Wednesday, October 11, 2023
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Police staffing issues mount for SHPD
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St. Helens Police Department is dealing with a severe staffing shortage that could jeopardize 24-hour coverage. WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
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he St. Helens Police Department (SHPD) has been a topic of conversation in recent weeks, and while the new police station has been a hot-button issue, the staffing levels of the department are also cause for concern. At a city council meeting on Oct. 4, multiple public comments were put forward to the council regarding the staffing levels of the department and the potential risk of losing 24-hour police coverage due to a shortage of officers. Hearing from SHPD The Chronicle reached out to St. Helens Police Association President Dylan Gaston and St. Helens
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Police Chief Brian Greenway to better understand the critical needs of the department. “Our challenge is, we think there are 21 sworn [officers] right now. But that includes administration, three people who are currently in training, people who are on medical leave, and we have two more people about to go on medical leave, so that number is not indicative of the number that we have working patrol right now,” Gaston said. “Including supervisors, we have 12 on patrol right now.” Gaston said that the 12 people on patrol right now are not enough to sustainably provide the 24-hour service that the city needs. Gaston said there are association members who are “consistently working around 60 hours of overtime every two weeks.” Gaston said that while people are happy to work more on a short-term basis, it isn’t sustainable long term, and “it seems like that’s the city’s plan.” Officers are initially scheduled for four 10-hour shifts per week, but due to the lack of staff, there are a lot of SHPD members who work six to seven days a week and sometimes work 20 days in a row without time off. Greenway echoed Gatson’s concern. “In the fall of 2022, we lost two officers, which strained our staffing levels. We hired two new officers to fill those vacancies; however, they will complete their entire training program in the fall of 2024,” Greenway said. “Our
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The Big Halloween Parade
City officials estimated between 10-15,000 people lined the streets for the Big Halloween Parade.
Courtesy photo from Jenni Bandov
Local creator sharing comics with the community WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
A local artist and comic creator has been sharing his works with local businesses, spreading the adventures of Rocket Girl and other heroes throughout the St. Helens community. Jonathan Dickson began sharing his artwork and comics with several of his favorite businesses in about 2018, and he started because he wanted to create and share his work within the community. Dickson has been living in St. Helens for more than a decade, he loves the close-knit community and the proximity of his favorite hang-out spots. Dickson has enjoyed making connections within the community. Dickson has given some of his comics to Dutch Bros, the CC Rider, Sunshine Pizza, and Burgerville, among others. The biggest collection currently resides at the Burgerville, and while the staff initially started by hanging the drawings on the wall, they now have a big enough collection that they have compiled a binder full of his comics and art.
Will Lohre / Country Media, Inc.
Jonathan Dickson and Sheila Kruger show off Dickson’s work at Burgerville in St. Helens.
“At first, he was bringing them in, and we were hanging them up on the wall. He would make holiday cards and occasionally one of his comic strips with Rocket Girl. It was clear that he took a lot of time to do this for us,” Burgerville General Manager Leah Williams said. As they continued to get more and more pieces, Williams got a binder so that all of the work could
be put together. After compiling a trove of comics, Williams got an author photo of Dickson, which is on the cover of the binder and placed the collection in Burgerville’s free library. “We labeled it, and we say that it’s a restaurant copy only, and ask everybody not to take it home,” Williams said. “People really like to look at his artwork when they come
in, and we’ve had people come in that have asked if we can make a copy of it because they want to be able to show people that they know that you can achieve your dreams, you can write a book as Jonathan has.” Williams said that Dickson’s work has been inspiring to many of the people who come in, and she’s actually had to replace the original binder because of the wear-andtear it underwent because so many people were looking through it when they came in. In addition to his artwork, Dickson likes to keep up a healthy lifestyle, participating in basketball and bowling. Dickson even medaled in an Oregon Special Olympics basketball event in 2019! Dickson also volunteers at Columbia Pacific Food Bank and enjoys giving back to the community. Dickson spends his free time perusing the selection of comics at Pantheon Comics and Games, the bowling alley, and walking around town. Dickson also spends time with his friend Sheila Kruger and her husband, watching movies and keeping up with the Portland Trail-
blazers. “There are so many places that he’s comfortable with that he can walk to on his own, and visit. The comic books store, [Burgerville], if he needs to do a little shopping on his own, he can do that, and it’s like everywhere he goes, he keeps making friends,” Kruger said. Dickson is always creating new characters for his comics, and he even created characters for Kruger and her husband, Stealth Wing Lady and Talon. With the constant stream of new comics and characters, the community should expect new installments of the adventures of Rocket Girl and others, and the best place to see them is to stop in at the Burgerville at 715 South Columbia River Highway. “We look forward to Jonathan bringing in his artwork, and we’re always happy to see him. It’s been nice to connect to him on a more personal level. He’s kind of a shy guy, but he always has these big beautiful smiles for us when we get excited about him bringing something in and put it into the book,” Williams said.
saw this vacancy as an opportunity to play an active role in preserving and enhancing the qualities that make Scappoose a special place to live.” Stepping into the role of city councilor, Jacobs said her primary priorities include promoting smart and sustainable growth while preserving the core values that define Scappoose. Jacobs said she wants to ensure the community remains family-oriented and tightly-knit. I also aim to actively engage with our residents, listening to their concerns, ideas, and feedback, and incorporating their input into our decision-making processes,” Jacobs said. Additionally, she wants to focus on enhancing infrastructure, supporting local businesses, and fostering economic development to create a “thriving and vibrant Scappoose.” Jacobs is a human resources business partner for Nike, and she said her human resources background will help her in her new role on the council. Jacobs expects to contribute to the council by bringing a “diverse set of skills and experiences” to the table. “My background in Human Resources has equipped me with
strategic planning, effective communication, and team leadership skills, which will be valuable in addressing complex issues and making informed decisions,” Jacobs said. “I also have a track record of collaboration, having worked with diverse teams and stakeholders throughout my career and civic engagements. I am a dedicated listener, eager to hear and incorporate the voices of our residents into our decision-making processes.” While Jacobs is new to the city council, she has been a member of the Scappoose Planning Commission since August 2021. In her new role, Jacobs said she feels honored to serve the people of Scappoose. “Serving the citizens of Scappoose in this capacity is a tremendous honor and responsibility. It means a commitment to our shared future and a dedication to preserving the unique character of our town,” Jacobs said. “It signifies the opportunity to make a positive impact on the daily lives of our residents, ensuring that Scappoose remains a place where families flourish and where the sense of community continues to thrive. It’s a chance to give back to the community that has given so much to me and my family over the years.”
Scappoose City Council welcomes new member WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
The Scappoose City Council has selected the newest member, who will serve out the remainder of for-
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mer Councilor Pete McHugh’s term following his resignation. At a council meeting on Oct. 2, the council interviewed three applicants, and Marisa Jacobs was chosen for the position. Ty Bailey and Jon Kangas were also interviewed. While Jacobs ended up as the newest member of Scappoose’s city government, Mayor Joe Backus said he felt that each of the candidates could have fit the role. “I can’t speak for the others on their decision, but for me, I could see working with any one of them. They all had unique backgrounds and different perspectives that they would bring to the table and do a good job,” Backus said. “I feel Marisa will do a good job really listening to all the information and make her decisions based on facts and experience. I believe she will hold me and the council accountable, fight for transparency, and put in the time to help develop better community engagement. She will be a good addition to our team.” Jacobs was sworn in during the regular session following the interview process and will serve the remainder of McHugh’s term, which ends Dec. 31, 2024. Jacobs said her motivation for pursuing the job was a
Marisa Jacobs
Courtesy photo
deep-rooted commitment to the wellbeing of the community. “Throughout my career and civic engagements, I’ve witnessed the positive impact effective local governance can have on people’s lives. I wanted to leverage my skills and experiences to contribute directly to the betterment of Scappoose,” Jacobs said. “Moreover, the sense of community that defines our town has always resonated with me, and I