Date Night
CMHS Sports
Page A7-8
Page A6
$1.50
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2023
VOL. 131, NO. 40 Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891
Unveiling set for renovated performing arts center lights anymore. It was time to start investing in a new system.”
LAUREY WHITE Chief Guest Article
Donation drive
The new and improved Donovan Wooley Performing Arts Center at Clatskanie Middle/High School will be unveiled Feb. 23. History Donovan, or “Dee,” as he is called, came to teach in Clatskanie in 1968. When he first started teaching in this area, he taught classes at Quincy Grade School, Westport Grade School, Clatskanie Grade School and Clatskanie High School. Dee taught beginning band, band and choir and traveled among the schools each day. As the music program grew, other teachers were hired to cover the grade and middle school. Dee then taught band and choir in the high school along with Stage Band (Jazz Band) at 7 a.m. each morning. He also had a pep band at all the games and a marching band in the local parades. The bands won several awards during his years of teaching and his stage band competed at festivals in Oregon, in Vancouver, British Columbia and at the World’s Fair in Spokane, Washington. He retired in 1994. The last concert before his retirement was a surprise as the music students met with the school board and requested the auditorium be renamed in his honor. It became the Donovan Wooley Performing Arts Center. During the concert the various hair and clothing styles of Dee were lovingly revisited. Students talked about the impact he had on their lives and their love of music. The choir and the band ended the concert with a joint musical piece and the announcement of the renaming of
The CMHS performing arts center renovation in the works.
The center seats became a holding place during the project.
the auditorium. This event was held in May 1994. The community proved to be very supportive of the new auditorium when a bond levy was passed for the new high school. Before the auditorium, concerts were held in the grade school gym and all equipment had to be taken down the afternoon of the concert and loaded back up afterwards. Supporters of the school’s music program said the auditorium was a
dream, not only from a performance aspect, but from the fact that the music groups could more easily rehearse in the space and move equipment easily across the hall from the band room. But as years went on, the sound and lighting systems badly deteriorated and much more advanced systems were available. However, there was no budget for a total upgrade, according to school officials. Gels (color filters) were replaced
Courtesy photo from Jaime Erwin
Courtesy photo from Jaime Erwin
but the light systems became much dimmer. The sound system was old and had been installed in unideal locations. “When I first arrived in Clatskanie eight years ago, I was so impressed by the auditorium, but the lighting system was failing,” CMHS teacher Jaime Erwin said. “I had a student and his father go through as many lights as possible to try and salvage what we could. But the reality was they didn’t make the
A new sign with a donor wall is in the works as part of the renovations, according to Ewrin. “The donor wall started about five years ago and we raised about $5,550,” she said. “Then the COVID shutdown happened, and the project went on hold.” The Clatskanie School District was successful in gaining voter approval of a bond measure for district building improvements, which Erwin said is helping with the performing arts center’s renovation costs. “Teachers Ken Kamppi and Beney Flatz, along with their Career Technical Education (CTE) classes are creating the music notes with each donor’s name (for the donor wall) plus a new Donovan Wooley Performing Arts Center sign,” Erwin said. “The sign design was created by student Hannah Isaacson, a sophomore. There is a pretty cool artistic surprise too. I am so excited to see the outcome.” Erwin said the renovated auditorium space is almost completely transformed. An unveiling concert in the improved space will be held 7 p.m. February 23. A dedication ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. The event is free to the public. Donations will be accepted at the door. The Clatskanie Arts Commission has announced that the Oregon Symphonic Band will be performing on the stage in April. The Donavon Wooley Performing Arts Center is located inside Clatskanie Middle/High School at 471 SW Bel Air Drive. For more information, call CMHS at 503-728-2146.
SNAP emergency food allocations ending STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.
Most residents in Columbia County and across Oregon who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will receive emergency allotments this month. Approximately 416,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $71 million in extra food benefits during February in addition to their regular SNAP benefits. This will be the final emergency allotment provided to Oregonians. March 2023 will be the first month since April 2020 that most people on SNAP in Oregon will only receive their regular SNAP food benefits. “We know that many rely on these additional emergency food benefits to get enough healthy food for themselves and their families,” Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Director Fariborz Pakseresht said. “As Oregon continues to be impacted by COVID-19 and the rising cost of food, we know that without these emergency food benefits some in Oregon may experience hardship and hunger.”
Obituaries ................. A3 Opinions ................... A4 Classified Ads ......... A5 Legals ....................... A5 Crossword ................. A6 Sports.........................A6 Date Night .............. A7-8
Contact The Chief Phone: 503-397-0116 Fax: 503-397-4093 chiefnews@countrymedia.net 1805 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR 97051
Metro Creative Connection
SNAP is a federal program that provides food assistance to approximately 1 million eligible, low-income families and individuals in Oregon, including many older adults and people with disabilities.
Fariborz said he is encouraging people who are concerned to start planning for this change today. “Having a plan ahead of time will reduce the chance of experiencing an emergency or crisis later,” he said. “There are food supports available to everyone in Oregon, you can find what is available in your community
by contacting our partners at 211, the Oregon Food Bank or by visiting needfood.oregon.gov.” “It’s critical that Oregonians facing reduced support for groceries know that food remains available to all who need it,” Oregon Food Bank CEO Susannah Morgan said. “Across rural, urban and suburban com-
munities, more than 1,400 free food markets, pantries and meal sites are moving mountains to make sure families have the resources we need to fill the gap. And everyone is welcome — regardless of race, gender, religion or immigration status.” “The end of the emergency allotments, as we all know, will be a very
hard time for many folks and families, but we know there are great people at 211, ODHS and our partner agencies who stand ready to help and will lead with compassion to help the community navigate this change,” 211info Emergency Management Director Kerry Hoeschen said. “At 211info we are available 24/7 to provide information and referrals to agencies offering support for a wide variety of needs such as rent and utility payment support” The services includes more than 1,000 food resources across Oregon and Southwest Washington such as food pantries, farmers markets, community gardens, fresh food distribution and summer food programs for all Oregonians. To find out more about general resources and food programs contact 211info. Language interpreters are available. Preparing for the change Current SNAP households will receive emergency allotments on Feb. 10. Emergency allotments will be issued Feb. 27 or March 1
See FOOD Page A5
State Supreme Court issues Measure 114 ruling JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.
The Oregon Supreme Court has ruled against allowing Measure 114 to take effect. The measure would require a permit to purchase a firearm and a background check. The measure triggered a firestorm from gun shop owners and others that it was unconstitutional. The court ruled against a petition filed by the Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum in January. The measure was narrowly approved by voters in November but has been on hold due to continuing court challenges. Read the court decision in the information below provided by the Oregon Supreme Court. Cases decided February 9, 2023. Joseph Arnold, et al. v. Tina Kotek et al., (CC 22CV41008) (SC S069998)
Jeremy C. Ruark / Country Media, Inc.
Gun sales across the state sharply increased following passage of Ballot Measure 114.
On petition for a writ of mandamus filed January 13, 2023; considered and under advisement on January 31, 2023. The petition for a writ of mandamus is denied without prejudice. The
motion for stay is dismissed as moot without prejudice. Opinion of the Court Per Curiam. Today, the Oregon Supreme Court denied a petition for writ of mandamus filed by the state,
which had asked the Court to vacate two preliminary orders entered in a pending trial court
See MEASURE 114 Page A6