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FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2023
VOL. 131, NO. 36 Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891
Back in time
The cars of Clatskanie “Sometimes it’s just nice to drive a car with a lot of power,” Don said. Michael Tillson
LAUREY WHITE Chief Guest Article
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latskanie is known primarily for its namesake river which empties into the great Columbia. But it is also known for something else… vintage cars. Yes, the vintage car collectors are among us and their collections are magnificent. Denny Welters came by his love of cars early. His father owned a Studebaker dealership where the Clatskanie Chevron stands today. “I was in grade school,” Denny said. “And it was so fun to be able to walk to Francis Welter Studebaker after school.” Turns out Clatskanie was quite a car town back in the day. At one time, in the 1950s, there were four major car dealerships. Denny remembers the cars coming in double decker on a train. Denny worked at many of the dealerships, washing cars and pocketing his hard-earned money for a long-desired purchase. “A bunch of us went in together and bought an old Model A,” he said. “It was twenty-five dollars, a 1930 model.” Problem was, he was only 14 and not allowed by law, or by his father, to purchase a vehicle. “We had to hide it,” Denny laughed. “We had such good times, until we wrecked it!” Denny’s favorite car is his Studebaker, a 1951 model. It has
Courtesy photo from Jerome White
Dennis Welter and his wife, Kathy, and their Studebaker.
a bullet nose, patterned after the World War II B-47 and complete with a hood ornament replicating a gun. It was purchased in Paradise, California after the great fire they had in 2018. Called the Camp Fire, it proved to be the costliest disaster in the world in terms of insured losses. There wasn’t much left standing, save for a few houses and buildings. But a garage which stored the Studebaker
was left intact, and Dennis soon acquired the car. Don Crenshaw Don Crenshaw and his wife, DeAnn, recently made their forever home in Clatskanie after living near Everett, Washington where Don worked as an engineer for Boeing. His first love was a 1969 Pontiac Firebird that originally
belonged to this mother. Like all the cars seen, it is pristine and still shines with its gorgeous root beer color. One of Don’s most beautiful acquisitions is a 1955 Pontiac Chieftain, which has 30,000 original miles! It also has the driver’s manual and all other pertinent information relating to the car. Don’s favorite car is his 67 Firebird. It is also very fun for him to drive.
Michael Tillson is another Clatskanie car collector whose fleet of cars, and motorcycles, is awe-inspiring. Michael is very careful not to call his cars classic, rather they are vintage, he said. According to Oregon.gov, classic cars are defined “as those that are 25 or older and sanctioned as special interest: i.e. a street rod or a multipurpose wheeled vehicle. Special interest car registration is permanent and only one plate is issued.” Michael has been collecting cars for decades, but his favorite is a 1934 Hudson convertible. “Yes, she is queen of the fleet,” Michael said. “She also has a rumble seat.” The story of how Michael acquired this beauty is an interesting one. He first spied the Hudson at an auction in Las Vegas he was attending. Years later he saw it at the prestigious Barrett Jackson Auctions in Scottsdale Arizona, which, according to their website “has the world’s greatest car collection auction.” That day’s auction had just ended, but Michael stuck one of his business cards in the Hudson’s ashtray. Serendipity occurred because shortly thereafter he got a
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Gov. Kotek declares homeless state of emergency WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
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regon Governor Tina Kotek declared a homeless state of emergency as she took office this week. Kotek recited the Oath of Office in a swearing-in ceremony before the Oregon Senate and House of Representatives at the state capitol building in Salem Jan. 9. In her speech to the joint assembly, she expressed a desire to address issues with housing, behavioral health and addiction, and education. Kotek began by acknowledging that this election cycle had the highest voter turnout in the state’s history. Though Kotek was elected as a Democrat, she emphasized the need to serve all Oregon’s people, regardless of political affiliation. “Governing is about serving Oregonians. All Oregonians. And I have heard from people loud and clear the status quo is not working, and for many Oregonians, it has never worked,” Kotek said. “I believe that for most of us, this is not a partisan issue or, frankly, a criticism of any one leader. This
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Contact The Chief Phone: 503-397-0116 Fax: 503-397-4093 chiefnews@countrymedia.net 1805 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR 97051
concern transcends party lines, and county lines, and cultural divides.” Homelessness state of emergency In her speech, Kotek declared a state of emergency regarding homelessness in Oregon and announced an executive order to establish a housing production target of more than 36,000 new homes per year. “I am declaring a homelessness state of emergency. Our state’s response must meet the urgency of the humanitarian crisis we are facing,” Kotek said. Kotek proposes a $130 million investment to help “at least another 1,200 Oregonians” move off the streets within a year. State legislators, who were also sworn in on Monday, still need to approve this spending. Kotek urged legislators to take up this package as soon as possible. This package would be just the first step in what Kotek labeled a “comprehensive housing and homeless package.” Strengthening community ties Kotek also invoked the message of Republican Governor
Courtesy photo
Tina Kotek takes the Oath of Office as Oregon’s Governor during her inauguration Jan. 9.
Vic Atiyeh, who decided to visit each Oregon county to strengthen connections between Oregonians across the state and the government. Before the joint assembly, Kotek vowed to visit each Oregon county so she can listen to the issues the people have directly from the source. “We can only deliver results on our complex problems by listening, digging into the details, and forming solutions together, and
by advocating for better results at every level of government. That’s why I pledge to visit every county in Oregon within my first year of office,” Kotek said. State accountability In Kotek’s final major point, she promised to make state agencies more accountable in the coming years. This week, Kotek said she would deliver a “new set
of expectations” to leaders of state agencies. She emphasized the need for better customer service. “That means being more efficient, more effective, and creating systems that will empower the state’s 42,000 public servants to deliver for Oregonians. So many state employees are working incredibly hard to do their jobs but struggle because of unnecessary bureaucratic barriers or outdated systems that do not meet the challenges of the day,” Kotek said. Kotek takes over the governorship from Democratic Governor Kate Brown, who could not run for reelection due to term limits. Brown became governor in 2015 and dealt with various crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and rampant fires across Oregon. Kotek is the third female governor of Oregon and joins newly elected Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey as the first lesbian governor in United States history. In addition to Governor Kotek’s inauguration, the legislature also reelected Corvallis Democrat Dan Rayfield as House Speaker, and Rob Wagner, a Democrat from Lake Oswego, was elected Senate President.
Funding for small businesses affected by COVID-19 STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.
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usiness Oregon has partnered with the CCD Business Development Corporation to offer $3 million in CDBG-CV Statewide Small Business and Microenterprise Grant Assistance (SBMA). The program is funded with federal grant funds from the Oregon Community Development Block Grant program CARES Act funding for communities affected by COVID-19. SBMA grants will be awarded between $2,500 to $30,000 per business. Microenterprises whose owner meets who meet low- and moderateincome (LMI) criteria can qualify for up to $10,000 in grant funding. Small businesses can qualify for $2,500 per LMI employee retained up to $30,000 in funding. Eligibility Requirements: A microenterprise (five or fewer employees) or small business (more than five employees) that: • Was in business prior to March
8, 2019. • Can document COVID-19 impact (lost revenue, mandated closures, workforce issues, supply complications, etc.). • Was generally stable/strong prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. • Has an owner and/or employees who meet low- and moderateincome (LMI) criteria. Limited time The program will launch 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 23, and will close at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27. Applications for this grant program will be processed on a lottery basis. At the time of application closure, all submitted applications will be randomized and processed. To register and apply, visit www.ccdbusiness.org/oregonsbma. Technical assistance is available to assist with completing the application process. You may use Google Translate on the application registration and program webpages for non-English languages or please
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The program will launch 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 23, and will close at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27. Applications for this grant program will be processed on a lottery basis.
contact CCD Business Development Corporation at 1-888-263-0971 or oregonsbma@ccdbusiness.com for additional assistance. Video tutorials for both small business and microenterprise applications, including helpful tips, are also available. The link to the YouTube playlist for the video tutorials can be found at on the CCD’s website. Business Oregon, in partnership with CCD Business Development Corporation, will be hosting two vir-
tual Q&A meetings about this grant opportunity on Friday, January 13 at 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Register for the virtual Q&A meetings using this online form. The SBMA grant award selections are expected in February 2023 and the funding is expected to be distributed to selected grantees in March 2023. For more information, visit www. oregon.gov/biz.