ecial Report Sp
2021
What you need to know
Special Report: Port of Columbia County
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021
VOL. 129, NO. 40 Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891
Columbia County moves down to ‘high risk’ COVID-19 level, in-person dining returns Local response
MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net
Declining COVID-19 case rates in Columbia County have allowed the county to move down to the ‘high risk’ category, which means limited in-person dining, along with other indoor activities, can return starting Friday, Feb. 12. Gov. Kate Brown announced Feb. 9 that Columbia County, and nine other counties in the state, have moved from ‘extreme risk’ to ‘high risk.’ “Thanks to Oregonians who have stepped up and made smart choices, we have made incredible progress in stopping the spread of COVID-19 and saving lives in Oregon,” Brown said. “This week we will see 10 counties move out of extreme risk, including the Portland tri-county area, for the first time since November. This is welcome news, as we’ll start to see more businesses open up and Oregonians being able to get out a bit more.” County Commissioner Margaret Magruder applauded the work of individuals in the area in following health guidelines and keeping the rates low. “We need to compliment everybody throughout the county for being diligent and staying healthy,” she said at a county meeting Feb. 10. “Hopefully we wont backslide.” Backsliding would mean a rise in case rates and could potentially shift the county back up to ‘extreme risk’ at the next risk level
Metro Creative Connection / The Chief
As Columbia County transitions to high risk, the classification will allow indoor dining and indoor entertainment to return at 25% capacity.
assessment in two weeks, and close the restaurants and businesses allowed to reopen in ‘high risk.’ ‘High risk’ restrictions Columbia County had been at an ‘extreme risk’ since the framework was put into place at the start of December, which has limited
certain business operations and capped gathering sizes at six. Transitioning to high risk will allow indoor dining and indoor entertainment to return at 25% capacity. It will also expand the number of people allowed to participate in outdoor events to 75, up from 50 allowed in extreme risk. This impacts K-12 sports and outdoor
fitness classes. Some restrictions will remain unchanged in the transition to high risk, however. Social and at-home gatherings inside are still capped at six people from a recommended limit of two households total and retail stores are still limited to operating at 50% capacity with curbside pick-up encouraged.
For Kim Rogers, owner of Colvins Pub in Clatskanie, the news was a welcome relief for him and his staff. With the history of closing and reopening with little notice, he hopes the numbers stay low enough to keep the county out of the extreme risk level. “I hope we’ve learned out lesson and we can stay on the positive side,” he said. “I hope and pray that we all do our due diligence and keep this thing at bay so we can continue to get our profits.” He said that some of his staff were “basically crying” when they heard that in-person dining would return to the restaurant. For servers and bartenders, tips from waiting tables have a major impact on income and in-person dining means more hours for staff. Rogers plans to take advantage of every hour they are allowed to be open and will welcome in-person diners from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday when the new rules go into effect. In Rainier, owner of Cornerstone Cafe Marc Overbay is similarly ready to reopen the dining area to customers. The restaurant is on the smaller side and Overbay expects that maybe about four tables will be available for diners. “It’s not huge, but it’s good,” he said. “Just getting people back to work is all I’m concerned about.” See COVID-19 Page A6
Dream to reality: Rainier enhances area trails JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Rainier’s river trail project enhancements have began along the Columbia shoreline. Work crews are clearing away unwanted brush and large boulders to make way for a paved path through the natural setting. Rainier City Administrator Scott Jorgensen said the riverfront project has been in the making for the past 19 years. “What we want to do is increase recreational opportunities for folks around town so there is connectivity and more access for the handicapped, pedestrians, those bicycling, so that folks will be able to walk from the park to the post office to our A Street area businesses in a natural setting,” he said. Rainier Major Jerry Cole said the Columbia River and the city’s riverfront walkway is an economic,
environmental and health plus for the city. “These trails add enjoyment to people’s lives and helps their health,” Cole told The Chief in an earlier interview. “People love that kind of stuff. They enjoy the outdoors and the river.” Jorgensen said the trail enhancements give the city an advantage. “It’s for residents to enjoy and it helps to bring people to our community,” Jorgensen said. Crews are now working on the first phase of the trail enhancement, which is 720 feet heading from the city park south along the shoreline. Jorgensen said the second phase will be longer, an estimate is pending since that enhancement is still under design. Jorgensen says the cost of the first two phases of the river path work will be approximately $200,000 that would be paid for through grants and if necessary, the
city could use a portion of timber funds that are dedicated for capital improvements. “So if we don’t get the grants, we are basically loaning money from the timber fund at zero percent interest and paying it back over time,” he said. For Jorgensen, the development of the riverfront path is all about community livability. “A goal of mind is to make Rainier attractive for young professionals with families,” he said. “One of the ways to do that is through promotions of active lifestyles. Thats why we have a parks committee forming because we have city properties throughout town that would allow us to provide more opportunities for the youth of the community.” Jorgensen and Cole said they Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
See TRAILS Page A2
Work has begun to clear a section along the Rainier riverfront to enhance the city’s trail system.
Clatskanie’s lost sports seasons MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net
The Clatskanie girls basketball team is in a unique position. For two years, the Lady Tigers won game after game on their road to state. And for two years they took home the state title. Then the pandemic hit. Now, nearly a year after schools first closed and sports seasons were
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initially delayed, the team has two back-to-back championship titles with no chance to go for a third. Olivia Sprague is a senior at Clatskanie Middle/High. She has played sports in Clatskanie for as long as she can remember. She started young— playing in youth leagues and local tournaments— and joined the basketball and softball teams in high school. She was a member of the basketball team that brought home the first ever women’s state championship to Clatskanie in 2018, a proud memory of overcoming odds. Even further, the team did it the next year, too. “Winning that second championship was just as great as the first one,” she said. “Us winning once again only reinforced that we deserved to be there and took away any doubt that the year before was just luck.” After riding the high of back-toback victories, the pandemic was unexpected. “This was supposed to be the beginning of our junior year success, as we planned to go back to back in softball as well, but when we got home everything was different,” Sprague said. Instead of having a community celebration in honor of the
Chief photo
The Clatskanie girls basketball team celebrates their win at the state 3A semifinal game March 7, 2020. They went on to win state, but haven’t been able to get back on the court to defend it this year.
team, people across the state were instructed to stay home and limit time around others in order to contain the early spread of COVID-19. Sprague, like many others at the time, didn’t expect the pandemic to span as long as it has. “I figured we would be out for two weeks, then return after spring break, and life would remain normal,” she said. “Never in a million years would I have guessed that I still wouldn’t go back to school one year later.”
A different kind of year Ryan Tompkins, athletic director of Clatskanie School District, has been navigating the tumultuous year of sports schedules and adapting plans as restrictions have changed. A big part of those schedules, and sports seasons at large, is factoring in the final weeks of play offs leading to championship games. “Clatskanie has state championships to defend. We won the last two girls basketball state champion-
ships and softball championship,” he said. “For our community that’s a big deal.” As the restrictions have changed over the last year, affecting what is and is not allowed on school campuses, Tompkins said he and other athletic directors have been left with questions. For instance, are teams limited to playing teams in the same county, or teams in counties at the same risk level? Will there be state championships? “All of that is ‘TBD,’” he said. “They’ve left the door wide open.” He said it’s been difficult on the athletes. Some of the teams, like the girls basketball team, were able to squeeze in their seasons last year, but spring sports were not as lucky. “The softball team felt like it missed out on that, feel like they’re currently missing out,” he said. Senior Alexis Smith has dabbled in different sports and been playing since she was in kindergarten, though basketball and softball have been her main interests. “Basketball and softball I have played throughout my high school career until COVID said ‘Yeah, no. Not this year,’” Smith said. “It was very heartbreaking to me, softball is See SPORTS Page A4
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Friday, February 12, 2021
A LOOK AHEAD
2021
Port of Columbia County T h e C hief
JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Editor’s Note: This is the fourth in a series of special reports by The Chief providing insight from members of our community into what we might expect in 2021. In the following conversation with The Chief, Port of Columbia County Executive Director Doug Hayes shares insight on the year ahead from the port’s vantage point. The Chief: What does the port see as its top four priorities for 2021? Doug Hayes: The top priorities for the port are economic development and growth, specifically development at Scappoose Industrial Airpark and the McNulty Creek Industrial Park in St. Helens. The rezone at Port Westward is also a priority, as the land in the rezone will be used to address the critical shortage of large tracts of rural industrial land with river access throughout Columbia County, the Portland metropolitan area, and the entire Lower Columbia River region. We are starting our fiscal year budget process this
week, which may adjust slightly some of the priorities in 2021.
local economic opportunities to create and sustain jobs.
The Chief: What challenges has the COVID-19 pandemic caused the port’s economic development efforts and how has the port overcome those challenges?
The Chief: What is the future target development for the port properties at McNulty Way and Railway Avenue and how is the Port marketing those properties and to whom?
Hayes: We have had limited economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic due to our diverse lines of business and tenant listings within the port district. We have done very well during this period, and it was our fiscal stability that enabled us to reduce the port’s property tax levy to zero in 2020, lowering the overall tax rates for district residents and businesses during these difficult times. The commissioners and staff will assess the tax levy during the budget process again in 2021 to determine whether or not we continue to do this in the future. At the beginning of the pandemic, the port also contracted for three months with an experienced financial counselor to offer free aid to small businesses within the port district in navigating the application process for federal and state relief funds. The port saw the need in the community for this type of assistance and felt it fit within our mission of fostering
Hayes: We are looking at developing our 47-acre property at McNulty Way in St. Helens. McNulty is a certified shovel-ready site by the state of Oregon, which means the property has all utilities and construction can proceed within a very short time. The property is zoned industrial, with both highway and rail access, which makes it an attractive site for manufacturers. We are currently in negotiations for developing the site, but we cannot be more specific at this time. Railroad Avenue has seen some interest from businesses, but we need to work on expanding the northern access to that property to make development there viable. The port actively markets all of our available properties on LoopNet, an online commercial real estate marketplace; Oregon Prospector, a GIS web tool provided by Business Oregon; and various partnerships with regional economic development agencies such as
Greater Portland Inc. and Columbia County Economic Team. The Chief: What is the future target development for the port’s property in Columbia City and how is the port marketing those properties and to whom? Hayes: The port’s Columbia City property is zoned light industrial, but we are very cognizant of what type of industry would be a good fit and well-received by the community in Columbia City. We do have companies who have expressed interest, but we cannot go into detail until negotiations are complete. The Chief: What are the next targeted project developments for the Scappoose Airpark? Hayes: The port has made major capital investments at the Scappoose Industrial Airpark over the last couple of years with the Taxiway-B Relocation Project and the Airpark Water/ Sewer Project that brought sanitary sewer service to the west side of the airport. We are constantly making infrastructure improvements to the facility with the help of the FAA to attract new business interest and improve our facilities at the airport.
The port just completed a 31,500-square-foot building that was built-to-suit for new tenant Titan Aviation and we have received interest from other companies for similar projects. The Chief: Briefly, please give us a summary of the status of the expansion at Port Westward? Hayes: The rezone application for Port Westward is currently with the county and we anticipate that they will vote on it sometime this spring. If the rezone application is approved, the property at Port Westward will attract diverse rural industrial employers that will offer family-wage jobs, much needed tax revenue and a greater investment in our communities in Columbia County. The port took on this rezoning now because it takes years to accomplish. These are years a potential tenant will not have to take rezoning property, allowing them to get started on the permitting process sooner. This will also give the public a chance to weigh in on an actual project and take less time getting to a resolution. The Chief: In total, how many acres of property does the Port own and operate and
have for development? Hayes: The port owns a total of 2,400 acres at 10 different property sites in the port district. We are currently marketing a total of approximately 142 acres that is available for development. The Chief: What would be the estimated economic value that the port generates annually in Columbia County? Hayes: According to a market analysis done in 2012 for the port’s Strategic Business Plan, the port supports direct employment of over 476 jobs within Columbia County with over $29 million in direct annual labor compensation. The port also supports a direct annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of approximately $66 million, and over 342 secondary jobs (full and part-time) and a secondary GDP of nearly $22 million. We are currently working to update our strategic plan with a new financial analysis and expect that we will see an increase to these numbers. To reach the Port of Columbia County, visit portofcolumbiacounty.org, or call 503-397-2888. The port office is located at 100 E Street in Columbia City.
In-person classes resume Tuesday in Rainier STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
Juniors, seniors and students in grades three and below will be back in school for hybrid learning Tuesday, Feb. 16, in Rainier. As the case rate in Columbia County has dropped over the past several weeks, the district has been able to meet the conditions required by the state to reopen schools to those students. Other grades will be brought back in following weeks. Grades four through eight will be back on Feb.
22 and high school freshmen and sophomores will be back on March 1. The hybrid learning model combines in-person classes with online learning and students who participate will be broken into cohorts to limit the number in each building at a time. One cohort will be at school on Mondays and Tuesdays and the other on Thursdays and Fridays, with comprehensive distance learning in place on the days they are not at school. “Students attending hybrid will be expected to follow all district safety
protocols,” Superintendent Joseph Hattrick wrote in a hybrid announcement letter to district families. “This includes properly wearing a face mask, following physical distancing requirements, and other directives from your child’s school.” The district has prioritized the return of high school seniors in addition to early learners after a push from students and in an effort to prepare the students for graduation, Hattrick had said earlier. Hudson Park Elementary School Principal Heidi Blakley issued a letter to
district families as well, explaining the hybrid and return process to the school. “It’s hard to believe that we will soon have students in our classrooms again whom have not been inside a school for almost a year,” she said. “Teachers and students will be adjusting to new procedures and protocols, while also adapting the model of instruction to hybrid learning.” Learn more about the Rainier School District reopening at the district website: rainier.k12.or.us.
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
Several students from Rainier Jr./Sr. High School hold signs during an early morning rally Jan. 11 urging the Rainier School District to resume in-person classes.
Renewable diesel moves through Clatskanie
Courtesy photo
The Global transloading facility at the Columbia Pacific Bio-Refinery at Port Westward, near Clatskanie. STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
Global Partners has received and will ship its first load of renewable diesel at the Port of Columbia County
in Clatskanie. Since 2016, Global Partners has been storing and handling another biofuel, ethanol, at the Clatskanie facility. In July, Oregon Department of Environmen-
tal Quality approved permits for Global to receive, store and ship renewable diesel through their Columbia River terminal. “We are thrilled to be moving low-carbon fuels in Oregon. These fuels are part of the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, bring more jobs and commerce to Oregon, and meet the West Coast’s low-carbon fuel standards,” Global Partners CEO Eric Slifka said. Renewable diesel is a cleaner fuel derived entirely from plant and animal byproducts and it can be used in any diesel engine. It can help reduce greenhouse emissions and help meet state and federal climate standards. There is huge demand for renewable diesel, driven in part by government climate policy, a release from
TRAILS From Page A1
hope the city could develop interconnectivity of different trails in the city to take advance of the various city creeks and access to the Columbia River. “You could take a bike and ride all over, or you could hike the trails all over the city if you wanted to,” Jorgensen said “The sky is truly the limit.” According to Jorgensen, the city engaged in a collaboration with area residents, Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief Large equipment can been seen along the Rainier riverfront as crews businesses, state and federal begin clearing the area to enhance the city’s trail system. agencies in the planning and development of the riverfront The current trail enMayor Cole and it is now trail project. hancement is expected to be becoming reality. It is a plan “It started with a vision,” completed by this coming to enhance the daily lives of Jorgensen said. “It has been summer. our residents.” a long-time priority for Columbia County’s trusted local news source
Global partners stated. “It’s encouraging to see that corporations such as Global are moving forward into a renewable energy source, which will benefit not only local communities, but an entire region,” said Doug Hayes, executive di-
rector of the Port of Columbia County. The switch to renewable diesel has long been on the agenda of Global and local port authorities have welcomed the change. “As we transition to more environmentally friendly
fuels, I’m gratified to see Global Partners leading the way right here at the Port of Columbia County by shipping renewable diesel via our Port Westward dock facility,” Port of Columbia County Commissioner Larry Ericksen said.
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Friday, February 12, 2021
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•O bituaries • •
Valancia “DeeDee” Elaine Rinck March 29, 1933 ~ Feb. 1, 2021
Metro Creative Connection / The Chief
Tax season: Here’s what you need to know STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
The Oregon Department of Revenue will begin processing state income tax returns on Feb. 12, the same day the IRS will begin processing federal returns. Although some taxpayers have already submitted their returns, processing doesn’t start until the tax season officially begins. Returns will be processed in the order they are received. However, as in years past, the department won’t be issuing personal income tax refunds until after Feb. 16. The fastest way for a taxpayer to get a refund is by e-filing. Taxpayers who e-file returns and request refunds via direct deposit receive their refund sooner, on average, than those who file paper returns and request refund checks. A refund hold is part of the department’s tax fraud prevention efforts and allows for confirmation that the amounts claimed on tax returns match what employers report on Forms W-2 and 1099. Once we begin processing returns, filers can check Where’s My Refund? to see the status of their refund. As a result of COVID-19 stimulus payments, unemployment benefits, and federal tax law changes, there may be impacts to what taxpayers file on their Oregon income tax returns. Here are some important topics and information for Oregon personal income tax filers. Stimulus payments Economic Impact Payments received during 2020 and early 2021 may impact the amount of federal tax subtraction that can be claimed on the 2020 Oregon personal income tax return. The federal tax subtraction is based on the amount of federal tax you had to pay in the 2020 tax year. Individuals should reduce the amount of federal tax paid in 2020 by the payments received to determine the amount of federal tax subtraction they are allowed. The federal tax subtraction is limited to $6,950 (or $3,475 if married filing separately). Unemployment benefits Unemployment benefits are taxable to Oregon. Funds received through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program are also taxable to Oregon. Unlike W-2 wages, unemployment benefits do not automatically have amounts withheld to pay taxes at the end of the year. Individuals who did not elect to have withholding on their unemployment may see an increased tax bill.
For individuals still receiving unemployment benefits in 2021, the department urges recipients to submit Form 1040WH to the Oregon Employment Department to authorize withholding. Oregon withholding The Oregon Department of Revenue has its own Form OR-W-4. Individuals should review their withholding to determine if changes are necessary for tax year 2021. A calculator is available to help ensure withholding amounts are correct.
make payments, visit www. oregon.gov/dor or email questions.dor@oregon. gov. You can also call 800356-4222 toll-free from an Oregon prefix (English or Spanish) or 503-378-4988 in Salem and outside Oregon. For TTY (hearing or speech impaired), the Oregon Revenue Department accepts all relay calls.
Valancia “DeeDee” Elaine Rinck, 87, passed away Feb. 1, 2021 at an Adult Care Facility in Longview, Washington. She was born March 29, 1933 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania to George and Edith Devine. At age three, Deedee moved with her family to the Rainier, Oregon area, where she remained the remainder of her life. She married Jim Rinck Sr. Jan. 25, 1951. The two of them celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary one week before she passed. She was a very good cook; always cooking from scratch. Deedee and children canned 100’s of
quarts each year of various fruits and vegetables. She enjoyed music, reading and crossword puzzles. At 87, she had naught a gray hair on her head. Deedee raised
a large herd of goats, each having a personal name. She kept perfect documentation and charting on the goats’ lineages. Deedee is survived by her husband Jim Rinck Sr.; five children, Elaine Watkins (Dick), Jim Rinck Jr. (Kathy), Kathy Kennedy (Bob), Linda Johnson (Mike), and Steve Rinck (Kristi); 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and sister Diane Mitchell. She is preceded in death by1-year-old son David Rinck, and sister Pat Delashmutt. A private family graveside service was held Feb. 6, 2021 at Hudson Cemetery, Rainier.
Kay Brown
Jan. 19, 1941 ~ Jan. 7, 2021 Kay Brown, a lifelong resident of Clatskanie, Oregon passed away on Jan. 7, 2021. Kay was married to Gary Brown who preceded her in death.
She is survived by her daughters, Leslie and Shaleena; two daughters in Georgia; seven grandchildren; two great grandchildren; two sisters; and a brother.
Due to COVID-19, there is no funeral planned at this time. A memorial will be held at Erickson’s private beach, a favorite spot for Kay and Gary, in the summer of 2021.
FRIDAY, SATURDAY & MONDAY 9AM - 6PM
Business use of home Oregon is automatically tied to changes made to taxable income under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Employees who receive a paycheck or a W-2 exclusively from an employer are not eligible for the business use of home deduction, even if they are currently working from home. Along with other changes, the TCJA suspended the use of employee business expenses for employees through 2025. Visit the IRS for more information on business use of home. Disaster relief (COVID-19, wildfires, straight-line winds) The Oregon Department of Revenue recognizes not all individuals will be prepared to pay their taxes in full this year. The department is offering penalty waiver relief for individuals impacted by COVID-19, wildfires, or straight-line winds. To learn more, visit Revenue’s tax relief options webpage. Free-file All Oregon taxpayers preparing their own returns can file electronically at no cost using Oregon’s free fillable forms. There are many free or low-cost preparation options available for both federal and Oregon tax returns. Some software companies offer free software use and e-filing for eligible taxpayers. Visit the Oregon Department of Revenue website to take advantage of the software and free offers and get more information about free tax preparation services. Revenue online The Oregon Department of Revenue continues to expand features available through Revenue Online. Individuals can view letters sent to them by the department, initiate appeals, make payments, and submit questions. Visit Revenue Online to learn more. To get tax forms, check the status of your refund, or Building Bridges to Self Sufficiency
Community Action Team
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Are you a veteran? You may be entitled to benefits for serving your country.
Contact your Veteran Service Officer • 503-366-6580 Call CAT at (503)397-3511 to find out if you qualify. Rental and energy assistance applications are available at 125 N. 17th St., St. Helens, OR. Also available on our website at www.CAT-TEAM.org
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Take a deep breath PAUL VOGEL Chief Guest Article
… hold it. Now let it out slowly… slowly… and think about how you’ll handle the easing of COVID restrictions when they take effect on Friday. Yes, we can go back into restaurants, but be smart; continue to be careful. Your favorite restaurants, bars and other businesses want to stay open. You might exhale but they’re still holding their breaths, hoping this doesn’t evaporate after “warning week” because people went nuts and let their guard down. Easing the restrictions doesn’t mean easing good practices that got us here. We have to keep doing these things even while, especially while, we can go back into our favorite places. Don’t make this Risk-reduction a flash in the pan. The only thing worse than the months of restriction would be to go back on restriction. Play it smart, play it safe. Make this work. We’re awash in a sea of changing numbers around COVID: confirmed cases, hospitalizations death rate, vaccinations, and more. They’re all very sobering and keep us mindful of those who we have lost personally and as a nation, those who are at greatest risk from the virus as well as the economic downturn, and those who are working fearlessly and tirelessly on the front lines of treatment. Encouragingly, the U.S. is consistently reporting fewer than 100,000 new daily cases and hospitalizations continued to decline. Oregon is seeing similar declines overall, but not in every county, although our state sadly crossed the threshold of more than 2,000 deaths over the weekend. The fact that our county has maintained relatively low new case count numbers over the past few days provides
a small ray of hope, both medically and economically. We need to seize both the opportunity and responsibility that goes with it. There is significant community and personal interest at stake. Because we have maintained low numbers throughout the past week to ten days, Columbia County will now move from “Extreme Risk” to “High Risk”—which may not sound like much but means a lot. First, it means fewer people are getting sick; that’s good. Second, it means there can be further easing of restrictions that allow our businesses, especially gyms and restaurants, to operate differently and welcome guests indoors. Any improvement in that regard is a help to our entire community. What’s more important, though, is making sure they can stay more open, and not get whipsawed by our numbers going back up – making them close down. Again. For a county to make it (down) to the High Risk level it must have a COVID-19 case count of less than 200 per 100,000 people, and a test positivity rate less than 10%. Even Washington and Multnomah Counties are currently below the case count for the 14-day assessment cycle. Columbia County can, and has, done this too. What it will take now is to keep on doing what we’re doing and sustain it. Wear your mask or face-covering. Keep your distance. Don’t hang out with anyone new. Wash your hands – a lot. Clean surfaces – your phone, your keys, your wallet, everything that may get exposed to the virus when you’re out. And keep being responsible. Being responsible means what we’re doing here, apparently: avoiding outbreaks by avoiding crowds. And parties. And events.
Businesses are being responsible: testing, relentlessly cleaning, shielding, limiting customers and adapting in order to keep doing business. Things like self-serve carts and merchandising, take out, expanding web pages for online ordering as well as e-commerce and Zoom customer service. They want to be working as much as you want them to be. You help make it work by being responsive and respectful. The honor-system at the flower cart is keeping that business alive and brightening the days of people you care for. The vaccines are slowly getting out there. As frustrating as they are, the systems seem to be improving. But it’s tough on many, especially those without reliable broadband (a lot of people here). Help your neighbors, especially seniors. Go online, figure out the sign-up and register them for a shot. Throw on a mask and drive them to it. The sooner frontliners, teachers, seniors and those with compromised health get vaccinated, the sooner the rest of us will too. Remember back when we were talking about Response, Recovery and Respect? We were also talking about a fourth R: Resilience. Resilience means doing everything we can to keep the numbers down and keep businesses re-opened. Give business owners the confidence to commit to the next steps toward normal by doing everything you can to reduce your own risk, and that of our County. Work the numbers. Let’s embrace High Risk this weekend and get to Low Risk by March. We can do this. Paul Vogel is the executive director of the Columbia County Economic Team. He may be reached at 503-4101061.
Friday, February 12, 2021
Weekly Online Poll
Last Week’s Results
With restaurants allowed to reopen at 25% capacity, will you dine indoors or get takeout from restaurants? Dine indoors
Would you take the COVID-19 vaccine when it is available to you?
60% Yes
Takeout
40% No
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•V oices
Support for the rezone The Feb. 5 article “Next steps for port expansion,” regarding the rezoning of acreage adjacent to Port Westward, was very one-sided. After years of applications, appeals and modifications, Oregon’s Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) has ruled that all concerns raised by neighboring farmers and environmentalists have been met. LUBA says only one question remains: Is rezoning the property from “Agricultural” to “Resource Industrial Planned Development” “reasonably compatible” with surrounding farms? The answer is yes. Farming has existed alongside military/industrial use at the site for 80 years. In fact, local farmers lease unused property at Port Westward for grazing and mintgrowing. According to the zoning restrictions required by LUBA, any industries cited on the acreage must be compatible. North Columbia County has thousands of acres of under-utilized farmland. Ninety percent of the county is zoned “natural resources.” The rezoning of these 837
of the
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acres won’t have a significant negative impact on agriculture. Oregon has a shortage of large marine industrial sites. Columbia County has a 70% commuter rate, and the resulting traffic problems, loss of social capital and decreased revenues. Local good-paying jobs are needed for the health of our families and community. Port Westward industries already pay 24% of Columbia County’s property taxes. Revenues for schools, roads, 911, sheriff, fire, etc. will increase with the location of new industries. The rezoning of this acreage at Port Westward is a critical component for the future prosperity of Columbia County. We urge Columbia County Commissioners to approve the Port Westward rezone. Deborah Hazen Clatskanie
Ban coyote killing Many Oregonians may not be aware that coyote killing contests continue to occur in Oregon. Prizes are awarded to the person who kills the most
coyotes by weight. Killing as many animals as possible for cash, prizes and entertainment violates Oregonians’ humane values and the spirit of traditional hunting ethics and damages Oregon’s reputation. Ethics aside, scientific studies do not support indiscriminate, mass killing of coyotes as an effective means of reducing coyote populations, minimizing conflicts with pets or livestock, or increasing numbers of game species. Studies show that by killing members of stable family packs, an increased rate of reproduction can occur in future generations. This is not an example of the urban and rural divide; a majority of Oregonians in both urban and rural areas care about the state’s wild animals and find this type of entertainment cruel, irresponsible and a complete disrespect for life. I urge Oregon state lawmakers to follow in the footsteps of Washington, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Massachusetts and Vermont who have already banned wildlife/coyote killing contests by passing House Bill 2728. Kathryn Balogh Scappoose
Clatskanie School District looks ahead CLATSKANIE SCHOOL BOARD Chief Guest Article
The Clatskanie School District Board of Directors is very excited to share some good news. Not only are our kids going back into our buildings, but we have been approved to receive a $4M OSCIM grant from the Oregon Department of Education. The Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching (OSCIM) Program provides matching funds up to $4M to districts that pass a local general obligation bond, and Clatskanie School District (CSD) has been granted the full amount. The goal of the program is to encourage local communities to invest in their district’s public schools and boy do our buildings need that investment. This coming June the final payment of the $10M bond taken out 20 years ago will be paid. That bond was used for much needed maintenance on both
buildings as well as the grade school renovation resulting in the new wing and library. There has been little, if any, capital improvement to our buildings since. We plan to put a new bond of $10M on the ballot in May. By keeping the bond to $10M it will not increase what property tax payers have been paying for the past 20 years, but now the passage of this bond will actually result in $14M. There is much planned for these funds, but a couple of the biggest items are remodeling Clatskanie Middle/ High School to truly separate the middle school from the high school with separate entries, hallways, classrooms and lunchrooms, as well as much needed up-grades to the auditorium, and making changes to both Clatskanie Elementary School (CES) and CMHS so the entries are secure as has been requested by the community. New roofs, parking lots, security systems, and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in the
district as well. Ruptured coils in the HVAC system at CMHS has resulted in two flood incidents in the past year and the system is so obsolete that parts are no longer available. There are 40-50 of those coils in the system so we are crossing our fingers that they do not continue to rupture. There you have it – not only exciting that our students are coming back into the classrooms but a gift of $4M to help us make those classrooms and buildings safe, sanitary and efficient. More information and drawings will be coming your way via websites, social media and this newspaper so stay tuned. It is our honor to join this community in serving our students both in their education and in their safety. The CSD School Board includes Megan Evenson, Kara Harris, Ian Wiggins, Katherine Willis and Kathy Engel. The Clatskanie School District may be reached at 503-728-0587.
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Courtesy of Alexis Smith
Smith and the Clatskanie softball team don’t have the opportunity to go for a second state championship title this year, nor did they last year.
SPORTS
From Page A1
a huge part of my life and not being able to defend the title my teammates and I worked so hard for was a real let down.” The momentum the teams had been building has halted as restrictions on what is allowed have changed. At this point, any form of traditional state championships is likely out of the picture. “It sucks, because even if we do get to play somewhat of a season we most likely won’t be able to try again for the state title and it takes away from my ideal high school experience,” Smith said. All the sports teams have had to reckon with this loss of time, much like all the students have had to adapt to online learning, but for the girls basketball and softball teams it means missing out on defending their titles. “They’re one of the more accomplished groups of student athletes, this 2021 group of girls,” Tompkins said. “Some were pushing records that haven’t ever happened in the state.” Shelby Blodgett, a senior on the basketball team, was approaching the state record for rebounds. The state record is 1,642 and at the end of her junior she amassed 1,316 rebounds, averaging 15.8 per game. With her average, and the number of games in a typical season, she was on track to shatter that record. But she never got the senior season to do so. College level Despite the interrup-
tion to their senior years, both Blodgett and Sprague secured athletic scholarship and signed with Oregon Institute of Technology to play basketball. Sprague is also joining the school’s softball team. Smith signed with Lower Columbia College to play softball. “Even my class, with everything being shut down in March, really impacted us because we couldn’t go do campus visits,” Smith said. In normal years, student athletes are exposed to college coaches and recruiters through games, whether through school or private leagues. Sprague played basketball in the Amateur Athletic Union, which helped her connect to college coaches. Showcase camps and exposure tournaments also served as a way for her to get noticed. For the younger generation of student athletes coming up behind Sprague and Smith, students will have to rely more heavily on videos and digital connections to coaches and schools until more in-person events come back. It will be tough and impact the recruitment process, Sprague said. “It isn’t easy to rely on old films or just sell yourself with your own words,” she said. “Along with this, missing an entire year of playing is detrimental to an athlete considering the amount of growth that can occur within that period.” Another impact on the recruitment process is from the collegiate athletes who have missed a year or season of playing. Some schools have extended their seniors an extra year to continue to play as they finish school, meaning there’s less room for new players to
join, Tompkins said. “There’s kind of a backlog at the collegiate level of college athletes,” he said. “There’s a limited number of scholarships to hand out.” The loss of their seasons that Sprague and her teammates have felt is passed down to younger students, some who haven’t had the chance to compete at state or have an uninterrupted sports season in high school. “I feel for my younger teammates in this aspect because, as I said, a year is a massive amount of time in which an athlete can grow,” she said. “But also, missing a season of sports lessens the exposure you are getting to next-level coaches.” She added that the students she feels for the most are the kids in elementary and middle school. The ones who haven’t had the chance to try out different sports and find the ones they like, because they’ve been at home for the last year. “A year lost might be interest lost,” she said. In the meantime While anything resembling a traditional school year has been thrown out the window, sports aren’t entirely absent from Clatskanie. Tompkins has been holding practices throughout the year, as allowed based on state guidance. He said there has been a good turn out, even students who don’t usually play a sport will drop by the practice to get outside and interact with their peers. Right now the school is hosting cross country conditioning and football practice (with plenty of safety guidelines in place).
Columbia County Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Local Work Group and Public When: February 25, 2021 Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Location: Virtual Zoom online Meeting Please contact Jessica Wells at Jessica.wells@usda.gov for Zoom passcode and login information. The purpose of the meeting is to receive
public input from farmers, ranchers, foresters, agencies, and groups to help guide the conservation efforts of the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Columbia County. Due to COVID restrictions, our meeting will be
• The police blotter relates to the public record of incidents as reported by law enforcement agencies. All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Information printed is preliminary and subject to change. For specific details about cases listed, contact the appropriate law enforcement agency. Oregon State Police Feb. 3 • At 4:46 p.m., the Oregon State Police responded to a two vehicle, non-injury crash on Highway 30 near milepost 19. A black Nissan was westbound on Highway 30 and made a left turn from the center median onto Juniper Way, directly in front of a silver Ford. Driver of the Nissan was cited for failing to obey a traffic control device. Both vehicles were blocking the slow lane of EB 30 and were towed. • At 6 p.m., the Oregon State Police assisted the Columbia River Fire and Rescue with a hazardous material release along Highway 30 and milepost 29.5. A suspect vehicle struck a NW Natural gas line located on Oregon Street, and fled the scene. A large natural gas release occurred for approximately 1.5 hours, requiring one lane of Highway 30 westbound to be shut down. OSP and ODOT assisted with traffic control until the gas line was turned off. The St. Helens Police Department is leading the investigation. CC21-1376
CLATSKANIE PEOPLE’S UTILITY DISTRICT MEETING NOTICE The Clatskanie People’s Utility District Board of Directors has scheduled the next regular Board meeting for Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 5:30 pm via WebEx. A Board Workshop will not be held this month. An executive session may be called at the workshop and/or meeting, pursuant to: ORS 192.660 (2) (i) to review and evaluate the performance of an officer, employee, or staff member if the person does not request
an open meeting. AGENDA CLATSKANIE PEOPLE’S UTILITY DISTRICT REGULAR BOARD MEETING on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 5:30 P.M. I. PUBLIC COMMENTS II. CONSENT AGENDA · Minutes of Regular Board Meeting January 20, 2021 · Review payment of bills for January 2021 III. STAFF REPORTS UPDATE · Pole Inspection and Treatment RFP Results, Tom Brittain · Interconnec-
tion and Wheeling Agreement, Paul Dockery · Staff Reports Update IV. ACTION ITEMS · Policy Review: Policy 103 Budget Payment Plan Policy and Policy 319 Record Retention Policy · NW RiverPartners Hydropower Education Support V. DISCUSSION / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS · Board Comments & Calendar VI. EXECUTIVE SESSION VII. ADJOURNMENT
CC21-1371
NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING The regular meeting of the Clatskanie Park & Recreation District will be held on Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 6:00 at 555 SW Bryant St, Clatskanie, OR, Port of Co-
lumbia County Offices (the Old Middle School). Items on the agenda include, but are not limited to: General park maintenance and pool renovation update(s). Board
Chair, Andrew Mustola. ALL SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES IN PLACE AT THE TIME OF THE MEETING WILL BE STRICTLY FOLLOWED.
Feb. 5 • The Oregon State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Highway 30 near milepost 71 at 7:45 p.m. Investigation revealed eastbound a green Mini Cooper departed the highway when the driver fell asleep while driving. The driver, a 77-year-old man, appeared to have sustained under-carriage damage from traveling approximately 100 feet off of the highway shoulder into a bog. The car was marked and left for the owner to coordinate a tow. The driver sustained a head injury but denied medical attention. Feb. 6 • At around 1:15 p.m., the Oregon State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Highway 30 near milepost 44.5. A black Acura was westbound on Highway 30 when it left its lane of travel and crashed into the eastbound guardrail, causing extensive damage to both the guardrail and the vehicle. The driver, a 24-yearold man, displayed indicators
virtual via Zoom online. To request accommodations for persons with disabilities, please contact Jessica Wells with the USDA-NRCS at (503) 207-7949 by February 17, 2021. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
•B lot ter • • of impairment and admitted to being too impaired to drive. The driver consented to voluntary field sobriety tests where he continued to display indicators of impairment. The driver was arrested for DUII and transported to the Columbia County Jail. The driver provided two valid breath samples with a blood alcohol content of 0.21%. The driver was turned over to jail deputies on a book and release for DUII, reckless driving, reckless endangering and criminal mischief 2. ODOT assisted with traffic control. The vehicle was towed. Feb. 7 • Police received a report from an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife employee on Sauvie Island regarding three men who were goose hunting on the closed wildlife area at the north unit and had killed a drake mallard duck, whose season ended on Jan. 31. All three men admitted to goose hunting and stated they did not know the wildlife was closed to hunting and did not bother to check the regulations. Two of the men admitted to each shooting the duck once, each knowing that duck season was closed. The men then breasted the duck out and hid the carcass, which was recovered by the ODFW employee. All three men were issued citations for hunting closed area and the two men who shot the duck were also cited for take/possession of game bird closed season. The duck meat was seized and will be donated to charity • At 10:30 a.m., troopers were dispatched to a traffic complaint on Highway 30 near milepost 27 eastbound. Scappoose Police was able to locate and stop the vehicle on Highway 30 near West Road in Scappoose. When troopers arrived they found that the driver was in violation of a release agreement out of Deschutes County. The protected party was the passenger in the vehicle. The driver’s probation officer was notified and he decided to place a detainer on the driver. The driver was subsequently arrested for violation of his release agreement and on a detainer. The driver was booked and lodged at the Columbia County jail on those charges. The passenger was given permission to drive the vehicle and continued on her way. Feb. 9 • On the above date and time Troopers responded to a single vehicle non-injury roll over crash on Highway 47 near milepost 3.5. The driver admitted to driving too fast and leaving the roadway. The vehicle rolled over onto its top into a ditch. The
vehicle sustained major damage and was towed due to damage. Feb. 10 • At approximately 5:30 p.m., troopers stopped a vehicle for multiple traffic violations that was previously called in as a driving complaint near milepost 61 on Highway 30. The driver showed numerous indicators of impairment and consented to performing the standardized field sobriety tests. The driver was then placed under arrest for DUII, reckless driving and driving while suspended— misdemeanor. The driver provided a breath sample which resulted in a blood alcohol content of 0.18% The driver was cited and released and the vehicle was towed incident to arrest. • Troopers assisted the Columbia County Sheriffs Office with a juvenile walking in the highway near milepost 61 on Highway 30 just before 8 p.m.. The juvenile attempted to assault a police officer and was detained. CCSO transported the juvenile to the Cowlitz County Juvenile Detention Center. Scappoose Police Department Jan. 31 • Police responded to a call of vandalism near SE Sixth St. It was reported that a community mailbox has been damaged. This case is pending further suspect information. Feb. 1 • Police assisted the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office in locating a suspect from a previous incident in Deer Island. It was reported the suspect had fired a gun at the victim and then fled the scene. Police located the suspect vehicle and conducted a high-risk traffic stop. The suspect was later taken into custody by the sheriff’s office for further investigation. Feb. 2 • Police responded to the report of a theft in the 52000 block of NE Second St. It was reported that a catalytic converter had been taken off a service vehicle. The suspects had cut the fence and entered the secure property taking the vehicle part. This case is pending further suspect information. Feb. 4 • Police were dispatched to a residence in the 52000 block of NE First St., for a juvenile was in possession of a controlled substance. The juvenile was taken into custody by the Columbia County Juvenile Department.
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Friday, February 12, 2021
•C latskanie G rows • • Columbia County releases
Optimism and old trees CHIP BUBL Chief Guest Column
Optimism, frost, and micro-climates
Gardeners have to pay attention to the cold-zone ratings of plants when they are planning their permanent landscape. These zones refer to the cold extremes woody or herbaceous perennial plants may encounter and survive. Columbia County is mapped into Zone 8, which considerably broadens the palette of plants that can be tried. Experience over the last 20 years indicate that we probably fall into the gap between Zone 7 (a colder zone) and Zone 8. Often gardeners plant species that test the cold limits and eventually some of those plants will be injured or worse. Vegetable gardeners are not concerned about winter extremes since they aren’t growing woody material. But they are very concerned about spring, summer, and fall temperatures, especially frost dates and soil temperatures. With vegetable gardens, it is all about early warmth and fast growth. While individual frost dates can’t be given with precision, we do know averages and these averages can be instructive. For example, we know that in St. Helens, the average last spring frost is around April 15th and the first fall frost is around October 31st. Vernonia, on the other hand, has a last spring frost around May 20th and a first fall frost in late September, on average. Do these numbers predict frost dates with certainty? Of course not. But they do help the gardener plan. There is some evidence that the last spring frost is trending earlier and the first fall frost, later. That may provide a longer growing season for frost tender vegetables. Geography plays a significant role in gardening. Vernonia is about 600 feet higher than St. Helens which accounts for the shorter interval between frosts. As you travel toward Clatskanie along the Columbia River, the marine influence becomes more pronounced. Temperatures are less prone to extremes of either heat or cold. Clever gardeners learn techniques to make the most of their climate limitations. Somewhat tender woody plants can be grown along a
COVID-19 From Page A1
He said curbside has been tough for the business. In Rainier and other smaller, rural cities in Columbia County, food delivery apps aren’t as established and available as they are in larger metropolitan areas. “We don’t have all the services as we would in the city,” he said. With Valentine’s Day this weekend, Overbay hopes people will enjoy a meal together at the cafe and try their lasagna special. But mostly, Overbay hopes that the business can stay open and case rates stay low. Both Rogers and Overbay said they want to avoid having to close down again, and not reopen only close again in two weeks. “I hope this is the end of it,” Overbay said. “If we can get through this hump I think we’ll be okay. If they continue this, it will not be okay.”
south-facing house wall to take advantage of winter sun and the cold protection such a wall can offer. It is said that a house wall will radiate interior heat out two feet away from the wall. An overhanging roof line will give additional protection against convection frosts. The vegetable gardener makes extensive use of greenhouse or cold-frame grown transplants. This technique offers a warm environment to germinate the seeds and develop the plants. As spring arrives, the plants can be moved out into the garden. Protection, in the form of hot-caps or floating row covers, may be needed for a time to protect the transplants. Both woody and herba-
Douglas fir or western hemlock can be very long-lived. The same is true in landscapes. Peach trees are old at 20 while birches can double that. But oaks and maples can live hundreds of years. As trees age, their photosynthetic and respiration rates slow, they grow less vigorously, tree rings are narrower and dead limbs are more common. Wounds can be very slow to heal. All of these changes make it harder for the tree to recover from a storm event, insect or disease pressure or poor pruning. Prune judiciously. Learn what a branch collar is and how to prune so as not to damage it. Remove dead material where feasible and remove competing less valuable trees where your desirable trees are being shaded. Finally, don’t be afraid to remove a tree if it is clearly heading toward increasing distress. Have questions?
If you have questions on any of these topics or other home garden and/or farm questions, please conClatskanie tact Chip Bubl, Oregon Grows State University Extension office in St. Helens at 503 397-3462 or at chip. bubl@oregonstate.edu. ceous plants benefit from soil that drains well in the spring. Vegetable gardeners make raised beds. Once the soil is not saturated with water, it warms up faster. This is very important for vegetables, where root temperatures are as important as air temperatures. The permanent woody landscape may need improved drainage as well. Tile drains laid out prior to planting can improve water movement. However, the plastic drain tubes need to be laid carefully on a continuous grade to work well. There needs to be enough of a slope to actually carry the water off and there needs to be a place to dump the water. It is not good manners to put it into your neighbor’s yard. Sometimes a low soil berm can provide an area of improved drainage that will allow more water-sensitive plants to be grown.
Old trees need thoughtful care
The trees in our forest and the trees in our planted landscapes have a certain life span. In forests, alders are a relatively short-lived tree while western red cedar, The metrics The state’s risk level framework framework tracks each county’s COVID-19 case rate and test positivity rate over a twoweek period to determine what set of restrictions that county will follow to reduce the spread of COVID-19. There are four levels: extreme risk, high risk, moderate risk and lower risk. Counties with over 200 new cases per 100,000 people reported over a twoweek period and a test positivity rate of over 10% are considered at an extreme risk. To move to high risk, a county must report between 100 to 200 new cases per 100,000 people over a two-week period and a test positivity rate of between 8-10%. From Jan. 24-Feb. 6 there were 69 new cases reported, which equals a case rate of 130.8 cases per 100,000 people and a test positivity rate of 4.2%. The metrics follow a
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Free newsletter The Oregon State University Extension office in Columbia County publishes a monthly newsletter on gardening and farming topics (called County Living) written/edited by yours truly. All you need to do is ask for it and it will be mailed or emailed to you. Call 503397-3462 to be put on the list. Alternatively, you can find it on the web at extension.oregonstate.edu/columbia and click on newsletters.
COVID vaccine interest form MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net
Columbia County has released a vaccination interest form for people who want to sign up to be notified when they are eligible to receive a vaccine. The form asks for name, address, contact information and employment information to help determine when people may be eligible. People who submit an interest form will also be updated on vaccine status in the county. Sign up at form.jotform.com/ ColumbiaCountyPHD/vaccinationinterest. Those without internet access who are interested in receiving the vaccine are asked to call 503-397-7247 to sign up for the list. County Public Health Director Michael Paul anticipates that demand for vaccine will continue to outweigh the supply for a while, but asked residents for patience throughout the process. “We just want to make sure that people know vaccines are scarce,” Paul said a county commission meeting Feb. 3. “More information is coming in the coming weeks, and just know that there will be many more people who want to get vaccinated than there are vaccines available.” Eligibility Adults age 80 and older became eligible to receive vaccines starting this week. People age 75 and older become eligible next week on Feb. 15; people age 70 and older on Feb. 22 and lastly people age 65 and older on March 1. Across Oregon, there are approximately 795,000 people age 65 and older, according to Oregon Health Authority (OHA). The U.S. Census Bureau estimates around 19.2% of people in Columbia County are age 65 or older, which would
Courtesy photo from Columbia River Fire & Rescue
Vaccination clinics were held in January for members of the Columbia River Fire & Rescue District and other first responders as part of the Phase 1A group of the state’s vaccination plan.
mean about 10,000 people will be eligible for vaccinations by March 1. However, some of those people may have received the vaccine earlier if they were part of a Phase 1A, group which includes people in long-term care centers and health care workers. As of Feb. 10, doses have been administered to 3,500 people in the county. Of those, 838 have received both doses and are considered fully vaccinated. Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require two doses to be fully effective. The county is working with local health providers to administer vaccines. Agencies like Columbia Health Services receive the county’s allocations of vaccine and administer the shots to people when they are eligible and scheduled. The county is working to enroll more providers in the vaccination program. “Moving forward, this is going to be a major undertaking and huge challenge for all counties we need it to be a community effort and
county-wide effort,” Paul said. Insurance Health plan benefits are required by the state to cover the cost of COVID-19 vaccinations. State Public Health Director Rachael Banks mandated that private health plans operating in Oregon not charge for costs related to providing the vaccine, including the cost of the vaccine doses and supplies, and expenses of administering the shot like staff time. Both the Oregon Health Plan and Medicare programs do not charge patients for the costs of vaccinations either. People with questions about their insurance coverage should contact their insurance company directly. Newsletter To stay updated on COVID-19 information in the county, sign up for the public health department’s new newsletter at eepurl.com/ hpu5R5.
Are you putting up salsa, saving seeds, or thinking about planting grapes? OSU has a large number of its publications available for free download. Just go to catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu. Click on publications and start exploring. The Extension Service offers its programs and materials equally to all people.
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Oregon State University Extension Service – Columbia County • Address: 505 N. Columbia River Highway St. Helens, OR 97051 • Phone: 503-397-3462 • Email: chip.bubl@ oregonstate.edu downward case trend in the county. In the previous twoweek period, (Jan. 17-30) there were 74 new cases reported, which puts the county case rate at 140.3 per 100,000 people, and the test positivity rate was 4.7%. For reference, the statewide case rate average during the same two-week period was 225.9 cases per 100,000 residents a 5.3% test positivity. Case totals Within Columbia County, there have been 1,145 cases of COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic, and 21 pandemic-related deaths as of Feb. 9. The county is no longer averaging 10-15 new daily cases, but instead around five. The daily case rates have dropped statewide as well. The statewide daily case counts have been under 1,000 since Jan. 16, according to Oregon Health Authority (OHA).
Location: St. Helens High School, 2375 Gable Rd., St. Helens, OR Dates: Wednesdays, beginning Jan 20, Feb 2, Feb 10, Feb 17 Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Sign up: www.ohsu.edu/COVIDVans
SIGN UP TO GET YOUR TEST AT THIS LOCATION How do I get tested? - Go to URL to sign up for your timeslot. - Please carefully follow registration and scheduling instructions. What else do I need to know? - This is an outdoor testing event, so please dress for the weather. - Testing is for those older than 2 months. - If you tested positive before and do NOT have symptoms, you must wait 90+ days before getting another test. - COVID vaccine will not be provided at these events.