$60B to reduce wildfire risks
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FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2023
VOL. 131, NO. 43 Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891
Crash ‘significantly damages’ pump building JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.
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he Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Clatskanie’s insurance company are investigating an apparent hit and run crash that heavily damaged a city pump building at NW 8th Street and Poplar Street. “We believe the event occurred sometime Saturday, Feb. 25,” Clatskanie City Manager Greg Hinkelman said. “Our public works crew discovered the damage and called me. I immediately went to the site to investigate. There is significant damage to the building, and it will have to be replaced.” The small cinder brick structure houses a water pump that is used as a backup if the city’s water pressure drops in adjacent pipes. The pump automatic begins to adjust the pressure to ensure water is continuing to flow to homes uphill, according to Hinkelman.
Courtesy from the City of Clatskanie
City officials said damage to the pump building is significant.
“The equipment inside the building doesn’t appear to be damaged, but the structure has been compromised and it is unsafe for us to get inside at this time to be sure,” Hinkelman said.
Hinkelman said it is believed that a vehicle, like a large truck or an SUV, struck the building and the driver left the scene of the crash. Damage estimates were pending as of Thursday, March 2
City officials say the building will have to be replaced.
Courtesy from the City of Clatskanie
List narrowed for school superintendent tion is $135,000 to $150,000. Evenson said the new superintendent will need to be ready to move the district forward. “We are right in the middle of our bond project (school renovations) and so getting that finished is going to be key and getting the next district budget together,” she said. “We have a lot of work to do. We need to have a board retreat to set our goals for next year and make sure the new superintendent is with us.” The Clatskanie School Board is expected to meet in regular public session March 13 to review the search. Evenson credited the five committee members, Jeff Williamson, Kara Burghardt, Billi Leinonen, Linda Sherman and Jamie Baker who she said volunteered their time to read through applications, listen to interviews, and give their input on each candidate. The new superintendent will take office July 1 and will replace Cathy Hurowitz, who resigned in November after serving the district for five years.
JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.
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he search for a new superintendent at the Clatskanie School District has been narrowed to two finalists. The Clatskanie School Board and Screening Committee interviewed five superintendent candidates, Tuesday, Feb. 21. The five were selected from the 13 candidates who initially applied for the open position that has been advertised through OSBA (Oregon School Boards Association). Immediately following the interviews, the school board selected David Marshall and Danielle Hudson as the two finalists for the position. Danielle Hudson Hudson is presently the executive director of student services in the Beaverton School District. Prior to coming to Beaverton in 2012. She has served as the director of supported education with the Molalla River School District. She also holds a Doctorate of Education degree from Portland State University. David Marshall Marshall is presently the superintendent of the Brookings-Harbor School District. Prior to coming to Brookings-Harbor he served as the assistant superintendent and human resources director with the Hermiston School District. He holds an Education Specialists Degree from Lewis and Clark College. The Clatskanie School Board also launched what board chair Megan Evenson said was “intensive reference checks on each candidate.” Each of
David Marshall and Danielle Hudson are the two finalists for the Clatskanie School District Superintendent position.
the two finalists have been invited to spend a “Day in the Community” on Monday, March 6. Staff, students, and community members will have an opportunity to meet both candidates that day and ask questions. That evening the Board will conduct a final interview with each candidate and may possibly offer one of them the Superintendent position in our district that evening, or shortly thereafter. “We are very excited to introduce these two finalists to our community and complete the process of hiring a new Superintendent to lead our Dis-
trict,” Evenson said in a message send to district patrons. Community opportunity Hudson and Marshall are scheduled to visit Clatskanie Middle/High School March 6 to talk with students and the leadership teams. Community members are invited to come to CMHS that afternoon at 4:45 p.m. for a question-and-answer session with the finalists. In a published interview with The Chief in November, Evenson defined the qualifications for the new superin-
Doctorate of Education
Courtesy photo
tendent. “We are looking for a leader that is going to put kids in our community first, that is our priority, and to empower the district administration and staff to do their very best for kids,” she said. The school board was expected to look at like-size districts to determine the salary and benefits for the new superintendent. “We want to be competitive and attract the right quality candidate,” Evenson said. The pay range for the Clatskanie School District Superintendent’s posi-
The Clatskanie School District operates the Clatskanie Middle/High School, Clatskanie Middle School, and the District Offices. The district employs 118 and serves approximately 701 students. Follow this developing story at thechiefnews.com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief. Meet and Greet 4:45 to 6:15 p.m. March 6 CMHS 471 Bel Air Dr. 503-728-2146
Local Legion seeking community assistance Obituaries ................. A3 Opinions ................... A4 Community CalendarA4 Classified Ads ......... A6 Legals ..................... A5-6 Crossword ............... A6 Sports.........................A8
Contact The Chief Phone: 503-397-0116 Fax: 503-397-4093 chiefnews@countrymedia.net 1805 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR 97051
LAUREY WHITE Chief Guest Article
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embers of the Oregon American Legion Post 68 in Clatskanie are asking for the community’s help. The need They are seeking support to help build a storage shed to house the Legion’s essential landscaping equipment. “With the cost increases of various things, including building materials, we have been unable to raise the funds for such a project,” Clatskaine American Legion member Lucas Young said. The operators of Clatskanie business, FINS Custom Tackle and Cafe, have volunteered to host fundraisers to defray the cost of the Legion’s storage shed. The business will be raffling off fishing trips and fishing equipment. The post has also opened up an account at Umpqua Bank where people can donate. Contributions can also be submitted to the Legion headquarters at 930 NE 5th Street in Clatskanie.
With the cost increases of various things, including building materials, we have been unable to raise the funds for such a project. ~ Lucas Young, American Legion Post 68
Courtesy photo from Lucas Young
The American Legion Post 68 is located at 930 NE 5th Street in Clatskanie.
With the help of the community, we can continue to improve our landmark American Legion Post which has stood since December 1919, the Clatskanie American Legion Facebook post states. About the American Legion The American Legion motto is Veterans Strengthening America, with principles that state “A Vet-
eran is a Veteran,” meaning the legion embraces all current and former members of the military. Post 68 has been in service for more than a hundred years, meeting various needs of service members. The American Legion Post is a landmark in Clatskanie, hosting Bingo games, spaghetti dinners and dances. But it is best known for its members, the veterans who served their country proudly.
The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veteran’s organizations. It is the largest wartime veterans service organization with close to 2 million members and more than 12,000 posts throughout the U.S. The legion has evolved from a group of war
See LEGION Page A8