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Wednesday, December 14, 2022
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Large American flag presentation made in St. Helens
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The flag was presented by Betsy Johnson, in the vest, by the flag pole and conducted on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day in St. Helens. STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.
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ormer State Sen. Betsy Johnson has donated a United States flag to Columbia County. “This is a giant flag, so it was important to me to find a sizeappropriate flagpole where it can be properly flown and honored,” Johnson said during the presenta-
tion Wednesday, Dec. 7, National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, at the Columbia County Courthouse in St. Helens. The flag measures 15 feet by 25 feet. Johnson presented the flag to the Columbia County Board of Commissioners during a public, outdoor ceremony. The ceremony concluded with the unfurling and hoisting of the flag to the top of the flagpole, which stands behind
the Courthouse Annex Building. A multiorganizational group of volunteers raised the flag during the ceremony. Personnel from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the Saint Helens Police Department, Columbia River Fire and Rescue, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, and Columbia County’s Emergency Management Department were present. “We are overwhelmed by
Betsy’s generosity,” Columbia County Commissioner Henry Heimuller said. “We accept this flag as a symbol of Betsy’s commitment to the people of Columbia County and all of Oregon. It will warm a special place in our hearts each time we see it.” The flag was raised to halfstaff in accordance with Gov. Kate Brown’s order for all flags at public intuitions be lowered for National Pearl Harbor Re-
membrance Day on Dec. 7. Johnson was born in Bend, raised in Redmond, and served in the Oregon House and Senate for over 20 years. She most recently mounted a campaign for Oregon Governor as an Independent candidate against Republican Christine Drazan and Democrat Tina Kotek. Johnson said the flag was the backdrop at her election night watch party last month.
Oregon Supreme Court issues ruling on Ballot 114 JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc. WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
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he Oregon Supreme Court has rejected a request from Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum to “immediately” review a temporary restraining order by Harney County Judge Robert Raschio, which prevents enforcement of Measure 114. The high court’s action late Dec., 7, means that Measure 114 is still in limbo and would not take effect Dec. 8. Judge Raschio ruling Tuesday, Dec. 6, came just hours after Federal Judge Karin Immergut in Portland allowed the measure to continue, though she put a hold on the provision in the measure that would require a permit to purchase a firearm. According to court documents, Judge Raschio placed a temporary restraining order on the measure until December 13, when the courts will decide whether a further injunction is necessary. As the basis for his ruling, Judge Raschio ruled that the measure does not enable Oregonians to exercise their Second Amendment rights to purchase a firearm or bear a magazine capable of holding ten or more rounds. “Deprivation of fundamental
constitutional rights for any period constitutes irreparable harm,” The judge ruled. Background Measure 114, which seeks to make sweeping gun control regulations, narrowly passed in Oregon by a 50.7% majority. The measure would require a permitting process to purchase a weapon; ban the sale, manufacturing, and transfer of magazines holding more than ten rounds; and background checks that must be completed before a gun may be sold or transferred. Part of the permit process would require safety training and a demonstration in the presence of a police chief or sheriff. OSP Statement Oregon State Police released the following details late Wednesday, Dec. 7. “An injunction has delayed the implementation of Ballot Measure 114. With that new information, we wanted to give you an update on what it means here at the Oregon State Police. The OSP’s Firearms Instant Check System (FICS) unit will continue to work to process and resolve the pended/delayed FICS transactions. This delay of implementation will allow firearm sales to continue being processed under
the current law. OSP continues to work with our partners to set up the Oregon Permit to Purchase program with our partners at the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association (OSSA) and the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP). OSSA and OACP are still working through the training requirement portion of the application process. At this time, Permit Agents are not able to accept or start processing Permit to Purchase applications. On December 8, 2022, OSP will be launching a “Permit to Purchase” webpage with preliminary information such as the Permit to Purchase Application, a description of the steps for acquiring a permit, as well as other information including answers to questions that we are anticipating.” Gun sales surging Firearm sales are skyrocketing at the Electronic Super Store in Lincoln City. “This makes the pandemic look like a walk in the park,” Store operator Bruce Polvi said. “It is crazier than we have ever seen it.” Polvi said public concern over Ballot Measure 114 is driving the sales. Firearm permit approval requests through the state system have also skyrocketed since the measure passed, according to Polvi. According to Polvi, people aren’t just purchasing one firearm.
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Gun sales are surging across the state following the passage of Ballot Measure 114.
“Usually people were purchasing one firearm, but now we are seeing people buy 12 to 24 firearms at a time,” he said. “A lot of them are thinking that this is shutting it off and so it is a panic situation.” Pulvi said he is hearing from gun and sporting good stores from around the starte. “We’ve been contacted by multiple gun and sporting good stores that are closing, or that have closed, and they are trying to get
rid of their inventory, so that are asking us to buy their inventory because they didn’t what to get stuck with merchandise they couldn’t sell,” Polvi said. “They’ve been told that as of Dec. 7 at 10 p.m. the system that processes background checks is going to close down.” Follow this developing story at thechronicleonline.com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Chronicle.
Respiratory viruses, hospitalization surge, precautions urged Opinion ..................... A4 Poll ............................ A4 Obituaries ................. A5 Classified Ads ......... A6 Legals ....................... A7 Community Calendar A8
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Vol. 140, No. 50
WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc. JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.
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he Oregon Health Authority (OHA) advises Oregonians to take precautions against respiratory illnesses in the wake of a flood of hospitalizations. Oregon health officials said that hospitalization rates have skyrocketed due to the combined impacts of Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, and COVID variants. “The combination of surging flu, RSV, and COVID-19 cases is pushing hospitals past their current ICU bed capacity, which never happened during the darkest days of our COVID-19 Pandemic in Oregon,” Sidelinger said during a media briefing Dec. 8. The panel included the state epidemiologist for OHA, Dr. Dean Sidelinger, and three clinicians who
could speak to the severity of the crisis. According to Sidelinger, between Oct. 23 and Nov. 13, Oregon saw a “fivefold” increase in child hospitalizations. While that number peaked during the week of Nov. 19, the current hospitalization rates remain higher than any previously recorded number. Influenza in Oregon communities doubled weekly for five consecutive weeks from Oct. 18 to Nov. 28. Hospital visits due to the flu have increased rapidly since late October and affect people 65 and over the most. “This year’s influenza season has begun earlier than it normally does, and we are seeing high levels of influenza nationwide,” Sidelinger said. “We will keep monitoring the influenza situation and its effect on hospitalization, but we do expect flu activity to maintain its upward trajectory into the winter, particularly as the holiday season and the gathering with loved ones continues.”
COVID-19 pandemic The doctors also stressed that the pandemic is not over. COVID test positivity rates ballooned from 1 percent to 30 percent. Not only have cases risen, but hospitalization because of COVID as well. Patients with COVID in hospitals have risen from 235 to 347 in the past month, a 48 percent increase. ICU hospitalizations have also increased from 27 to 35, a 30 percent raise. While death rates have remained steady, the statewide forecast from OHSU published on Dec. 2 suggests that the surge in respiratory illnesses will keep pressure on Oregon’s hospitals. They project that RSV cases will decline while hospitalization from the flu will increase. The forecast projected COVID-19 hospitalizations to peak Monday, Dec. 12 with about 408
See VIRUS Page A7
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The governor’s executive order gives Oregon hospitals additional flexibility to meet current needs.