Stormy Weather Arts Festival
Burn ban update
Inside
Page A3
$1.50
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
thechronicleonline.com
Serving Columbia County since 1881
Local law enforcement taking active shooter training
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle
The active shooter training includes mock sessions similar to this event to prepare law enforcement for an actual event. JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
I
n an effort to better protect local school children, teachers, staff and
citizens, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) is hosting active shooter training in Rainier. Specific details about the location of the training had not been released as of press time
by the CCSO. The training is designed to give law enforcement officers the skills needed to effectively deal with an active shooter and to help prevent mass shootings.
The nonprofit research group, Gun Violence Archive, defines a mass shooting as one in which at least four people were killed or injured, according to a report earlier this month in the New York Times. Gun Violence Archieve tracks gun violence using police reports, news coverage and other public sources, The Gun Violence Archive has counted at least 531 mass shootings so far this year, through mid-October, the New York Times report states. The five-day instruction level course began Oct. 24 in Rainier. It is being taught by four Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) instructors and one FBI Agent. Those who attend will then train the deputies or officers in their department. “This course was developed through Texas State University and will bring cutting
edge active shooter training to Columbia County,” Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley said. “We are honored to host this highly acclaimed course in Columbia County.” Since this is the first course in a series of seven, there may be opportunities for additional training in the future, according to Pixley. The class is federally funded. There is no cost to CCSO.
of instruction designed to teach instructors how to prepare the first responder to isolate, distract, and neutralize an active shooter. The course will cover: • Shooting and moving • Threshold evaluation • Concepts and principles of team movement • Setting up for and room entry techniques • Approach and breaching the crisis site • Secondary responder tactics • Improvised explosive devices • Post engagement priorities of work
CCSO will be joined at this training by other local agencies: • St. Helens Police Department • Rainier Police Department • Kelso Police Department • Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office
The course will culminate with dynamic force on force scenarios and include instructor-required teachbacks to insure the quality of instruction taught back to first responders.
In a release from the CCSO, the training is described as a dynamic course
Local school teens rescue abandoned kittens HERB SWETT chronicle1@countrymedia.net
A recent service project for St. Helens High School freshmen turned out to be a rescue of five kittens as well. The project was a cleanup of McCormick Park. After the students were divided into crews, a crew of four, while cleaning the Frisbee golf course, noticed a sack that was moving. Two of the teachers on the project, Sydney Cave and Logan Burket, opened the sack and found the kittens. “We had one of our staff members (counselor Kimmi Ross) bring the kittens to Midway Veterinary in Warren,” Cave said. “The vets’ office said they were roughly three weeks old and covered in fleas but there were no
other serious issues.” “Other than being covered in fleas, they were pretty well kept.” veterinarian Dr. Hannah Ruland said. She described the animals as domestic cats with no specific breed. All the kittens were soon adopted. Two social studies teachers at the school, Cave and Jodi Mauldin, were among those adopting the kittens. “This field trip is one that none of us will ever forget,” said Payton Mauldin, daughter of Jodi Mauldin and a member of one of the other crews. “It holds a special place in all of our hearts. We’re reminded of it daily.” “After finding the kittens, I wanted to adopt one and make sure they had the best life possible after a horrible
start,” Cave said. “I adopted one of the female kittens and was able to bring it home that day. The students that found the kittens were in my class, so they got to be a part of picking out her name, which is now Nyx.” “The kittens have to be bottle-fed,” Jodi Mauldin said, “so Payton and I have been bringing our kitten to school and feeding her and caring for her. She has been like a school kitten with many students coming to pet her, hold her, help feed her, etc. There have been many students and staff interested in the wellbeing of the kitten, and she has become a great thing for our school. The students seem to have pride in that we found these kittens and essentially saved them, and now the students
are getting to help in the care of the kitten and see that it’s going to be okay. It was a bad and sad situation that has turned into a good experience for our students and has shown them how stepping up and doing the right thing matters and they can make an impact in both big and small ways.” Payton Mauldin said her mother brings her kitten to class some days. “I’m incredibly proud of our staff and students for their dedication to serving our community—both in a cleanup effort of McCormick Park on their field day, and also for taking care of these kittens, getting them healthy, and finding them good homes, St. Helens High School Principal Dr. Katy Wagner said.
Courtesy photo
This is one of the rescued kittens.
Spokespersons for Columbia County Animal Control and the Columbia County Humane Society say that they do not often receive cats although there has been an increase of dogs received.
Spokespersons for Columbia County Animal Control and the Columbia County Humane Society say that they do not often receive cats although there has been an increase of dogs received.
Replica gun, alleged threats lead to arrest STAFF REPORT chroniclenews@countrymedia.net
A 35-year-old man faces multiple criminal charges after he allegedly threatened several local residents and police with a gun. St. Helens Police responded to a report of of a suspect menacing a victim on Wonderly Drive. The reporting party said that a male suspect, later identified as 35-year-old Anthony Stratton, was in the victim’s driveway with a gun and that Stratton had threatened to shoot the victim. Stratton fled in his vehicle before officers arrived on scene.
See ARREST Page A9
Your FIRST VOTE for St. Helens City Council
Election 2022 ............. A2 Opinion ....................... A4 Obituaries ................ A5 Classified Ads ............ A6 Crossword .................. A6 Legals ....................... A7-8 Sports ....................... A10
Phone: 503-397-0116 Fax: 503-397-4093 Email: chroniclenews@ countrymedia.net 1805 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR 97051 Vol. 140, No. 43
Steve Toschi www.toschiforcitycouncil.com
• 33 years of St. Helens experience • Planning Commissioner
BRANDON
SUNDEEN ST. HELENS CITY COUNCIL
• Safe Streets, Smart Growth, Economic Prosperity • Oregon Attorney with business success
Paid for by Elect Steve Toschi
Someone A Let’s bring who dedicated back some CARES VOLUNTEER CIVIC PRIDE
Let’s work together to make sure St. Helens remains a great place to live for years to come.
Paid for by Brandon Sundeen for City Council