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FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2023
VOL. 131, NO. 50 Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891
County’s first female firefighter celebrates retirement WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
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he first paid female firefighter in Columbia County celebrated her retirement from the force with friends and family at El Tapatio Mexican restaurant in Rainier. Amy Frigaard, who was hired by the Rainier Fire Department in 1998, retired in May of 2022 and the celebration was held on April 17. After Rainier and St. Helens fire districts merged in 2002, she continued her work at the thennewly formed Columbia River Fire & Rescue (CRFR). Serving the community
Before being hired, Frigaard was a volunteer for five years, and her time in the service amounted to more than 25 years. Serving the community meant a lot to Frigaard during her time with the Rainier Fire Department and CRFR. “Being able to help a lot of people, I mean, we kind of get called when it’s the worst possible moment, and to be able to help and get them to the hospital, or take care of them, it’s a pretty big honor See FIREFIGHTER Page A6
Courtesy of Amy Frigaard
Frigaard, pictured on the left, fights a blaze at the CRFR training grounds.
Magruder inducted into Agricultural Achievement Registry The Diamond Pioneer Agricultural Achievement Registry was established in 1983 when the College of Agricultural Sciences celebrated its 75th anniversary. Since then, the College has honored the significant lifetime contributions to agriculture, natural resources, Oregon State University, and the people of our great state. This year’s inductees include:
JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.
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Columbia County resident is among Oregon State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences inductees to the 2023 Diamond Pioneer Agricultural Achievement Registry. Clatskanie resident Margaret Magruder is one of the 12 inductees. She is a third-generation farmer who has followed her family tradition and devoted countless hours to the sheep industry in Oregon and the United States. As owner and manager of Oregon Shepherd, a wool insulation company, she has worked closely with OSU Extension, notably on research surrounding selenium, an essential micronutrient for animals. Magruder’s family was always active in 4-H and her lifelong interest in livestock production has resulted in her helping improve the quality, economic impact, and natural resource management of animal agriculture. Magruder has a history of service in industry and government, including the Oregon Sheep Growers Association, the Ameri-
• Connie Cyrus – Sisters • Keith Cyrus – Sisters • Mike Darcy – Lake Oswego • Dennis Glaser – Tangent • Conrad Jones – Bandon • Margaret Magruder – Clatskanie • Dr. Carol Mallory-Smith – Albany • Dr. Stella Coakley – Corvallis • John Nyberg – Newberg • Kenneth Thompson – Tigard • Juanita Wilson – Monmouth • Lou Ann Wolfe – Hermiston County resident inducted into Agricultural Achievement Registry
can Lamb Board, and the Oregon Board of Agriculture. In 2008, Margaret was given special recognition by the Oregon Leadership Summit for her efforts to achieve sustainable solutions that benefit
rural communities, the environment, and the economy. Currently serving as an elected Columbia County Commissioner, Magruder brings the same practical skills found in good farming to the
Courtesy from OSU
larger Columbia County community, according to a release from OSU. About the registry
The College of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State celebrated the lifetime contributions of the 12 new inductees to the Diamond Pioneer Agricultural Achievement Registry during a gathering April 13.
Effort launched to clear abandoned, derelict vessels JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.
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ou can see them cluttering rivers and lakes in Columbia County and other waterways across Oregon. Obituaries ......................... A3 Opinions ........................... A4
Now, the State Land Board is urging continued action to address the impacts of abandoned and derelict vessels on public waterways and public schools. Abandoned and derelict vessels seriously threaten waterway health and safety, creating both environmental and navigational hazards, according to the State Land Board and marine patrol deputies across the state.
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Penalties
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The penalties for vessel abandonment range from $440 on the low end to thousands of dollars on the high end. If the vessel becomes submerged, it becomes an even greater expenditure to remove the vessel that, for one boat owner, came out to a total of $55,000, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. The most common types of offenders of abandoned vessels range from people living on their boat, to scrappers and owners of “fixer uppers,” but larger vessels, such as abandoned cargo and ships are also causing concern. For years, the Department of State Lands has worked with state, federal, and local partners to remove the most hazardous vessels. But lack of a statewide abandoned and derelict vessel (ADV) program with dedicated funding has resulted in the Common School Fund spending millions removing vessels, while hundreds more pile
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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
Courtesy photo
The former military vessels Sakarissa was removed from the Columbia River.
up in public waterways. The Land Board, on April 11, created an Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Program Workgroup to propose a comprehensive ADV program for Oregon, including identifying funding needs and potential sources. Read the agenda item, which includes support letters from each member of the Land Board or watch the meeting video with this story at thechiefnews.com.
Cleanups connected to schoolfunding The Land Board oversees school lands and the Common School Fund, as well as Oregon’s publicly owned waterways. Revenue from waterway leases, easements, and other paid uses covers most waterway expenses. But ADV cleanups come with big price tags that far
exceed revenue – so the Common School Fund and Oregon schoolkids end up footing the bill. Since 2017, the Common School Fund has spent more than $18 million removing ADVs from public waterways. Recent costs include $35,0000 for removal of a sunken cabin cruiser from South Slough on
See VESSELS Page A6