Fair & Rodeo photos
School bathroom renovations
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FRIDAY, JULY 29, 2022
VOL. 131, NO. 12
Summer heatwave eases Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891
should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. • Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. • When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. • Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. • Wear lightweight and loosefitting clothing when possible. • Schedule frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments. • Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. • Heat stroke is an emergency. Call 9-1-1.
JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Late this week, the National Weather Service (NWS) extended its Excessive Heat Warning to 9 p.m. Saturday for the region. The warning had first been issued Sunday, July 24. The NWS and health officials warned that the excessive heat expected to range from the low 90s to low 100s during the day and 60s to 70s at night can be dangerous. “Extreme heat will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities and for those that do not have access to air conditioning,” the NWS warning stated. Relief ahead NWS Meteorologist Colby Neuman said the ridge of strong high pressure that caused the heatwave is slowly moving. “Cooling will result as the high pressure moves toward the east, that will allow air from the ocean and more moisture potential to move into our area,” he said. The weather shift is expected to occur following Sunday’s temperatures into the upper 90s.
Children cool down at the Briarcliff Pool in Rainier during this week’s heatwave.
“Next week there is a pretty good shot at below average temperatures, into the 70s, with possible a 50% chance of rain but there are still a lot of uncertainties at this point,” Nueman told The Chief early Thursday, July 28. Over the past week, temperature records were set in the greater Portland area and greater Vancouver area. Temperatures reached
102 at the Portland Airport and 101 in Vancouver. The old records of 100 degrees in both areas were recorded in 2020. “It’s very likely that areas in Columbia County reached near temperature records, or new records as well, but we won’t know that until we receive data collected by our volunteer weather spotters,” Neuman said.
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
NWS warning The NWS alert also listed the following safety precautions during heatwaves: • Drink plenty of fluids. • Stay in an air-conditioned room and out of the sun. • Check on relatives and neighbors. • Young children and pets
Columbia County officials also issued a warning about the hot weather and placed the NWS alert on the county’s website Monday, July 25. State of Emergency On July 26, Governor Kate Brown declared a state of emergency in 25 Oregon counties, including Columbia County, from July 25 through July 31, to ensure additional resources are available
See HEAT Page A2
The hospital that was never built Dissolution, lawsuits, and battle over Millard Road
Special Report ZOE GOTTLIEB chronicle2@countrymedia.net
Editor’s Note: The Chief’s final investigative report will answer the question of how the Columbia Health District dissolved, the lawsuits that were filed and dismissed against the former CHD board members, and the transfer of the Millard Road property to the City of St. Helens. Board response After Measure 5-209 passed in November 2010, the Columbia Health District (CHD) board promised to lower the hospital tax and announced its intent to dissolve. The measure, a citizen-led ballot initiative, called for the $.38 per $1,000 property tax to be repealed and all taxes levied for the hospital project to be refunded to taxpayers. According to former CHD Vice Chair Gary Heide, the only way to repeal a permanent tax rate would be to dissolve the special district. On Feb. 3, 2011, former CHD Chair Jay Tappan, Heide, board members Laura Tomanka and Lisa Galvovich, and newly appointed board member Diane Hutson, approved Resolution 2011-01, outlin-
Obituaries .................. A3 Opinions ..................... A4 Community Events .. A4 Classified Ads ........... A5 Legals ......................... A5 Out & About ............... A6
Contact The Chief Phone: 503-397-0116 Fax: 503-397-4093 chiefnews@countrymedia.net 1805 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR 97051
Courtesy photo
Pictured are the members of the Columbia Health District Board elected in 2011. Left to right, Peggy Crisp, Tammy Maygra, Carrie Cason, Georgia Keiper, and Madalene Anderson.
ing four actions the board would take in dissolution: 1. The hospital project shall remain abandoned. 2. CHD shall continue the public health authority functions in accordance with the Local Public Health Services Agreement, as amended, with Columbia County. 3. CHD shall attempt to sell the property located at 35101 Millard Road, Warren, Oregon (the “Hospital Property”). 4. CHD shall prepare and adopt a supplemental budget for the fiscal year 2010-2011 in accordance with ORS 440.403(2) to effectuate this resolution. Additionally, the resolution stated that although Measure 5-209 was
declared unenforceable by the Oregon Judicial Department (ODJ), “it is the intent of the Board of CHD to effectuate, to the extent possible, the will of the people in passing Measure 5-209.” In a one-on-one interview with The Chief, Heide reflected on the outcome of the citizen-led ballot initiative that stopped the hospital project in its tracks. “I can really only speak for myself,” he said. “I was disappointed.” Letter of the law Oregon Revised Statute 198.945 states that if a majority or more of the votes cast in a special election approve dissolution, the district can
then be declared dissolved. “The board shall thereupon constitute a board of trustees who shall pay the debts or procure releases thereof and dispose of the property of the district,” the statute reads. The Chief asked Oregon Special Districts Association (SDAO) Executive Director Frank Stratton whether a special district board can initiate dissolution before verifying the results of an election. Stratton told The Chief that we would have to get in contact with a lawyer who could interpret the state statute. Emails between Tappan and former CHD Public Health Administrator Karen Ladd reveal that the former board intended to convey
CHD assets to a nonprofit months before the new board members were elected and before holding a dissolution vote. “Hi Karen, I just finished talking to Earl, and I think we have a good understanding of where we’re going. Here’s what we need to do,” Tappan wrote in an April 4, 2011 email. “We need to send them a letter asking to mutually terminate the PHA [public health agreement] NLT [no later than] 30 Jun 11. We will agree to operate until that time under some short-term agreement to continue providing PH services. We will not reference any arrangement past 30 Jun so as to blunt the criticism of us doing a sleight of hand with the Foundation transition.” “The commissioners need to have that impression of ‘selecting’ a next provider of PH services past 30 Jun.” In his email, Tappan refers to a conversation he had with one of the county commissioners, Earl Fisher. Fisher, Henry Heimuller, and Tony Hyde were all Columbia County commissioners at the time of dissolution. Ensuing backlash On April 6, just two days after sending the email, Tappan wrote a letter to the Columbia County Board of Commissioners requesting a ter-
See HOSPITAL Page A3
Illegal marijuana enforcement team JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, (CCSO), is seeking new manpower to establish an illegal marijuana enforcement team. “We recently received a $940,000 grant from the Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) to put together an illegal marijuana enforcement team,” Pixley said. “So, we are hiring to back fill spaces for this team and also for an open position.” Why this team is needed now Pixley said this specialized enforcement team has been needed for quite some time and the concern is twofold. “The first is the human trafficking component,” he said. “Often times these illegal grows are tied to organized crime from either a Mexican or Chinese cartel. As such, they often will use “indentured servants” to work these grows to pay off some form of debt owed to the cartel. In my
opinion, this is the biggest reason for our team.” Pixley said the location of the illegal marijuana grows is his second concern. “The fact they grow in rural areas across Oregon, then ship the marijuana to the East Coast where they can sell the marijuana on the streets,” he said. Pixley shared pictures that he took while the CCSO worked with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Oregon State Police (OSP) in 2021 investigating an illegal marijuana growing operation in Columbia County. “The pictures depict part of one grow we had here in Columbia County,” Pixley said. “The year-long investigation culminated in 26 search warrants served across the state of Oregon and one in Texas over a two-day period in September of 2021.” As a result of the search warrants, Pixley said the following was recovered statewide:
Courtesy photo from CCSO
This photo shows the elaborate equipment used at a site in Columbia County to produce the illegal marijuana.
Courtesy photo from CCSO
See MARIJUANA Page A3
This illegal marijuana growing operation was the center of a federal, state and Columbia County Sheriff’s Office investigation in 2021.
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Friday, July 29, 2022
Rainier schools see construction improvements The Chief: Are the school doors throughout the buildings able to be locked from inside? If not, is that part of the new security system?
JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Significant building renovations are underway at the Rainier School District. The Chief talked with Rainier School District Superintendent Joseph Hattrick to gain insight into the why the projects are needed now and what the impact will be for students and staff at the schools. The Chief: What specific projects are being conducted this summer at Rainier schools? Joseph Hattrick: In June, we focused our efforts on reopening the Briarcliff pool and had a successful reopening. The facilities team is now working on remodeling two of our restroom areas in response to community concerns about equity. We are transforming our restrooms so students in the high school and the commons will have access to both gendered and non-gendered restrooms. • The bathroom discussion began last year through the Facility assessment and plan. • The facility team did a site visit to look at what single stall restrooms look like. • At a board meeting in May, there were public comments asking about how the district handles students using bathrooms who identify as a different gender than that which they were born. • At the June Board meeting I presented a facility
Hattrick: Yes, they are able to be locked from the inside and will be to ensure access from the outside is limited.
The Chief: What is the total estimated cost of all the summer projects planned at the schools, and how will that cost be funded? Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
Rainier School District Superintendent Joseph Hattrick shows what the new bathrooms will look like, with individual private stalls, as workers in the background prepare the site.
plan and the board approved it which would ensure all students have access to their gendered bathroom and for those uncomfortable, there would be alternate bathrooms. • Hudson Park Elementary School will have one boys, one girls, and two single-stall bathrooms available for use. • Rainier Jr/Sr High School will have one boys, one girls, and three single stall bathrooms for use by staff and students. • The commons will have single stall restrooms for use and gendered bathrooms will remain available in locker rooms. We are also remodeling our wrestling room to ensure a safer learning and athletic space for our students. We are also re-installing three poles at our football stadium and replacing all lights with LED lights so that there is
better lighting in the event of the need to have outdoor learning/meeting spaces. We are also implementing the rules of HB 3294 which requires feminine products and dispensers in all restrooms. We will be working with a group to reorganize and ensure the woodshop is ready for students when they return in September. Finally, we are reviewing bids to re-roof some of our buildings and working with an envelope general consultant to determine the cause of the elementary gym floor damage and once we receive their report, we will be remediating the water and repairing the floor. All of this is in addition to the normal deep clean throughout our buildings and upkeep of our beautiful campus. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the facilities team (which includes maintenance and custodial) for all of their hard work.
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
An inside look of one of the new Rainier High School equity bathrooms.
The Chief: Why those specific projects? Hattrick: All of the projects we have identified were prioritized through a collaborative effort last year. Through our Facility Assessment which was conducted by Soderstrom Architects and worked with a Facility Committee to determine campus priorities. Additionally, through public forums, board meetings, and advisory council meetings, additional priorities were identified, and we are doing our best to determine those projects that could be accomplished this summer that will have a positive impact on students and safety in the fall. The Chief: What projects will be continuing during the upcoming school year, why those projects and how will students and staff work around those projects? Hattrick: All of the
projects listed above are projected to be completed before students return. We have not yet identified the fall projects but any we choose to address will not interfere with students and learning. The Chief: What new security measures are being established at the schools and how will those measures alter how students, staff and visitors enter and exit the school buildings? Hattrick: This summer we are also revising all safety plans at all of our schools to ensure all of our drills and procedures are done in a way to ensure all are aware of safety protocols. Additionally, we are installing cameras and a buzz-in system at each of the main entrances, so visitors will be required to have access granted rather than leaving external doors unlocked. This is an incredible improvement from the past.
Hattrick: While the total costs are still unknown as we are awaiting bids, those projects that we have initiated will cost above $300,000 so it is reasonable to assume all projects will cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $500,000 - $600,000. We are using a combination of grant funds as well as general funds. The Chief: What projects are planned for the district after this summer? Any new schools? Hattrick: We are in the planning phase to further review our facility assessment and plan. The goal of the facility committee would be to remodel buildings with the possibility of building a new elementary building and remove all portable structures. We are unsure of how we will proceed at this time. Follow the Rainier School projects at thechiefnews.com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief.
New OSU research: Earthquakes and water MICHELLE KLAMPE Chief Guest Article
The U.S. Geological Survey reported a 2.9 magnitude earthquake rattled across the Portland metro area shortly after 1:30 a.m. Sunday, July 24. The USGS said the quake was centered between Aloha and Hillsboro. Another small quake, at 4.0 magnitude, occurred about an hour later off the Oregon Coast at Coos Bay. There have been no reports of damages or injures from the two earthquakes. New Research A novel three-dimensional model of the fluid stored deep in Earth’s crust along the Cascadia Subduction Zone provides new insight into how the accumulation and release of those fluids may influence seismic activity in the region. The fluid collects near but does not penetrate a thickened section of the crust known as Siletzia lies beneath much of western Oregon and Washington. The pressure associated with these fluids could be a factor in the seismic phenomenon known as episodic tremor and slip, or ETS, said Gary Egbert, an electromagnetic geophysicist in Oregon State’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences and lead author of
HEAT
From Page A1 to respond to forecasted excessively high temperatures. Multiple days of extreme heat with little or no cooling overnight may also impact critical infrastructure, causing utility outages and transportation disruptions, according to Brown. “With many parts of Oregon facing a high heat wave, it is critical that every level of government has the resources they need to help keep Oregonians safe and healthy,” Brown said. “I encourage everyone to take proactive steps to keep themselves and their families safe, including drinking plenty of fluids, taking advantage of cooling centers, and checking in on neighbors, friends, and loved ones.” Brown has directed
Courtesy photo
The Cascadia Subduction Zone.
a new paper detailing the findings. Tremor and slip Episodic tremor and slip is a fault behavior that includes both localized non-volcanic tremors and slow-slip events that may occur over hours or days. It occurs throughout the Cascadia Subduction Zone, from northern California to British Columbia, but is less frequent and intense beneath the central core of Siletzia, which runs primarily under the Oregon Coast range and ends near Roseburg. The findings, just published in the journal Nature Geosciences, have applications for increasing understanding of seismic activity along the Cascadia Subducthe Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) to activate the state’s Emergency Coordination Center to coordinate essential protective measures. She has also directed state agencies to provide any assistance requested by OEM to support response efforts. Heat-related illnesses are preventable — all Oregonians are encouraged to learn the symptoms of heat stroke, heat exhaustion and other heat-related illnesses, according to a release from Brown’s office “Oregonians who do not have air conditioning in their homes are strongly encouraged to make a plan today to find a cool location they can access during the heat wave,” the release states. To find cooling centers in Oregon, call 211, which will be operating 24/7 during the heat wave, or visit
tion Zone, Egbert said. “Water is a key player in both seismic activity and volcanism in Cascadia,” he said. “This is a new view of these fluids. It’s information that could be used in conjunction with other data, and more detailed model studies, to better understand large earthquakes in Cascadia.” Decades of work Egbert’s paper draws from decades of work to collect magnetotelluric data, both offshore and on land, throughout the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Magnetotellurics is a geophysical technique that uses surface measurements of magnetic and electric fields to reveal subsurface variations in electrical resistivity. the 211 website. Brown is asking all Oregonians to check in on vulnerable friends, family, and neighbors who may be susceptible to extreme heat to help them access ways to stay safe. Heat history It was a little over a year ago that the Northwest set all-time record highs when a blistering heat wave evolved in late June 2021. During that historic weather event, the Oregon state record of 119, previously set at multiple locations, was tied at Pelton Dam, located about 90 miles southeast of Portland. Temperatures reached 116 degrees in portions of Columbia County on June 29, 2021. Follow the latest weather developments 24/7 at thechiefnews.com.
North Columbia County’s trusted local news source
“Most solid rocks don’t conduct electricity very well, but dissolved solids cause water to be conductive, so the magnetotelluric data can be very useful for detecting where water exists in the subsurface,” Egbert said. Water naturally cycles down from the ocean into the Earth’s crust, where it accumulates and chemically combines with minerals. Where the oceanic crust is thrust beneath the continent along subduction zones, it heats up and releases water. The released fluids can weaken crustal rocks, leading to a crustal deformation, both from slow-release stress, such as with episodic tremor and slip, and from very large, damaging earth-
quakes. Improved knowledge of the subsurface fluid distribution is highly relevant to assessing seismic hazard in areas such as Cascadia, where there is significant potential for a catastrophic megathrust earthquake, Egbert said. Using software developed by Egbert and colleagues, the magnetotelluric data allowed the researchers to create a detailed threedimensional view of where fluids are stored within the Cascadia forearc, the area between the ocean trench and its associated volcanic arc. The three-dimensional imaging allows researchers to see fluids accumulate more directly and draw inferences about their movement. The new images show fluid trapped in elongated sheets that run parallel to the coastline and also reveal areas where underthrust sediments are piling up against impenetrable volcanic rock that stores little water. Beneath the core of Siletzia, the storage and transport of fluid is more focused within a narrow subduction channel that exhibits less episodic tremor and slip. “The results demonstrate how the deep roots of Siletzia are critical to how fluids are transported and where they pond within the subduction zone,” said co-author Paul Bedrosian of the U.S. Geological Survey. “The im-
plications of this for understanding seismic variability in Cascadia is just starting to be recognized.” It’s complicated More research is needed to understand the relationship between these fluids and earthquakes along the Cascadia, but that work is not out of reach, Egbert said. “It’s a complicated problem, but ultimately there is potential application for interpreting this information in conjunction with seismic data and geodynamic modeling to determine the relationship between fluid storage and movement and seismic events,” he said. Additional co-authors on the paper are Bo Yang, an associate professor at Zhejiang University in China who worked on the project as a postdoctoral researcher at Oregon State; Anna Kelbert of the U.S. Geological Survey; Kerry Key of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory; Dean Livelybrooks and Blake Parris of the University of Oregon; and Adam Schultz of Oregon State. Michelle Klampe is a writer-news researcher at Oregon State University Relations and Marketing. She may be reached at michelle. klampe@oregonstate.edu or at 541-737-0784.
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MARIJUANA From Page A1 • 32,999 total marijuana plants • 1504 lbs. of bulk marijuana • 23 firearms • $353,000 in cash. Pixley said the grant funding will be critical in the CCSO illegal marijuana enforcement efforts. “The $940,000, two-year grant will allow us to completely stand up a team,” he said. “It pays for all needed equipment and 2.25 full-time employees.” At the conclusion of two years, there is a potential for additional funding to continue the team, Pixley said. Deputies to receive specialized training Once the new deputies are hired, they will be required to take specific training before performing duties. The training for an enforcement deputy includes a
HOSPITAL From Page A1 mination of the Local Public Health Services Agreement (LPHSA). In a letter dated May 4, 2011, the commissioners “agreed to terminate the LPHSA, under the condition that the old board would transfer the public health service building on 2370 Gable Road to the county as well as assets, “including but not limited to cash assets, that are available for the provision of public health services.” Also, in May, five women - Peggy Crisp, Tammy Maygra, Carrie Cason, Georgia Keiper, and Madalene Anderson - were elected to serve the CHD. In a letter to the Columbia County Spotlight, Nancy Whitney, an advocate for Measure 5-209 and an outspoken critic of the former CHD board, shared the following concerns. “They [board] have asked the county commissioners to dissolve or ‘terminate the Public Health Authority agreement… ‘no later than June 30, 2011,’” she wrote. “This is one day before the new board takes over. Accidental timing I don’t think so.” Declaring an ‘emergency’ Once the LPHSA was terminated, on June 8, 2011, the CHD board met with the county commissioners for an “emergency meeting.” In that meeting, the commissioners agreed that “due to the timing of the termination of the existing Local Public Health Services Agreement, an emergency exists,” and awarded the PHF the contract for providing health services in Columbia County. As Tappan had written in his April 4 email, “Under no circumstance does the Foundation receive any public dollars or assets until they are transferred first to the County or the City. We (Foundation) will only be able to negotiate with them for money and assets after the dissolution and selection of the Foundation as the next PH provider for Columbia County.” “We can’t just pass assets to the Foundation until the BOC [board of commissioners] selects us as the provider through the PHA agreement.” Several former CHD employees were also found to have worked for the PHF, according to PHF meeting minutes from 2012. An election asking the taxpayers whether the CHD should be dissolved wasn’t held until much later, on Sept. 20, 2011, records show. The Chief asked Heide why the board had requested that the commissioners terminate the agreement for providing public health services in the county. “I don’t remember,” he responded. “The new board’s principal interest seemed to be to find out what we had done wrong. The public health people pushed to get back into a nonprofit, which is where they were before. And they did for a while and then the county took public health services back.” Millard Road controversy In dissolution, the newly elected CHD board and the county commissioners were embroiled in conflict over who
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Friday, July 29, 2022 12 to 16-week Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP) pairing the new deputy with a Field Training Officer to learn applicable on the job skills and training, according to Pixley. New recruits will also have to attend a 16-week basic academy at the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (ODPSST) in Salem. Training for the corrections deputy includes a 12 to 16-week FTEP, which also pairs the new deputy with a Field Training Officer to learn job skills and training. The new correction deputy recruits will also have to attend a six-week basic academy at the ODPSST. Pixley said the hiring process can be challenging. “We have a rigorous hiring policy that can take up to four months to work through the process,” he said. “One of our biggest challenges though is the pay. We are so close to the Portland Metro area, that applicants can make more money by driving to Multnomah or Washington Counties. We are currently in negotiations for a new union contract, so I
am hopeful we will be able to close that gap a little bit.” According to Pixley, the annual salary range with benefits for a new deputy is $23.02 – $33.73 per hour. The CCSO also offers a 5% incentive pay for advanced certificates and Columbia County offers a full benefits package and enrollment into the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), according to Pixley, who adds that deputies also earn sick time and vacation time, depending on their years of service. “A career with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is very rewarding,” Pixley said. “We spend a lot of time in the community really giving back as much as we can.” The CCSO hosted a deputy hiring event Saturday, July 23, at the Warren Community Fellowship. The City of Clatskanie contracts with the CCSO for law enforcement services within the city.
were the rightful trustees of the Millard Road property. The hospital property on 35101 Millard Road had a valuation of $3.3 million after site development and was the district’s most valuable property asset, according to CHD records. Resolution 2011-13, adopted by the former CHD board on June 9, 2011, designated the county commissioners as the District Board of Trustees if voters approved dissolution; however, when the new CHD board was sworn in July 1, that board designated two persons, Joe Cason and Brady Preheim, as trustees for the Millard Road property. On Jan. 9, 2012, the new CHD board awarded Brady Preheim a warranty deed for 35101 Millard Road. The new board also requested a preliminary injunction to prevent the county from taking possession of the property, which former Circuit Court Judge Ted Grove granted, according to a February 2012 edition of the St. Helens Chronicle our sister publication. “The harm to the plaintiffs would be substantial and irreparable if the assets of the dissolved district were conveyed should the plaintiffs ultimately prevail,” said Grove in his ruling. “The Court is unable to identify any injury defendants would suffer by this preliminary injunction.” In an interview with The Chief, Preheim said that the county justified its right to the Millard Road property by claiming the CHD was already dissolved, when “Oregon statute says the district exists up until the dissolution plan is completed.” “It was up to the elected board to come up with a plan for dissolution,” he said, adding, “That plan included me selling the property.” Special Districts Association of Oregon (SDAO) Attorney Peter Mersereau, who represented the county, said that in October 2011, the county’s records clearly showed the new board members did resign and establish the commissioners as the trustees. “In this case, the board, on Oct. 13, 2011, chaired by Ms. Maygra, did appoint the Columbia County Commissioners as the board of trustees. When that occurred, all authority for that district passed from the board of directors to the board of trustees,” said Mersereau. On Feb. 5, 2013, the Columbia County Circuit Court ruled in favor of a motion for a summary judgment on behalf of the county and the City of St. Helens and ordered Preheim to execute and deliver a Quit Claim deed transferring the title of the property. In 2015, that ruling was affirmed by the Oregon Court of Appeals.
ous health district board about was the fact that we were very concerned about public health itself having a future, and the ability for all those programs having to do with healthcare to continue on.” The Chief then asked why the county transferred the Gable Road property to the foundation, which consisted of several of the former board members, right around the same time a new CHD board of directors was elected. “You can certainly pull all those minutes and go back and take a look,” Heimuller said. “What makes sense is welldocumented in everybody’s history.”
County response In a one-on-one interview with Heimuller, The Chief asked the commissioner whether he or the other commissioners had conversations with the former CHD board to “speed up” the process of dissolution. “I don’t believe that there was anything in that context,” Heimuller responded. “Did I have conversations with all those people? Yeah, because I’m in Kiwanis with them, as well as a few other dozens of things. The only thing that we specifically talked to the previ-
For more information, contact Sergeant Chris Neifert at chris.neifert@columbiacountyor.gov
•
Arthur Martin Silva, Jr. May 29, 1927 ~ March 10, 2020
Arthur Martin Silva Jr. passed away peacefully on March 10, 2020 at age 92. Art was born in Clatskanie, Oregon to Arthur Silva Sr., DDS, known locally as “Doc,” and his wife Helen (nee Kratz). At an early age, Art, his younger sister Allegra and his mother moved to Portland where he attended school and graduated. Art joined the U.S. Navy near the end of WWII. After graduating from Reed College in Portland, Art moved to New York and later Los Angeles, where he was a professional dancer, model and actor. Art graduated from UCLA with a degree in education, and ultimately became an art professor. He found that teaching art-related classes, including art history, was his forte. He taught
Editor’s note: The Chief reached out to all five members who served on the CHD board at the time of dissolution. All but one of the board members either declined our request for an interview or did not respond to our inquiries. The Chief also reached out to Columbia Health Services, formerly the Public Health Foundation of Columbia County. A representative for Columbia Health Services declined to answer how much of the former CHD’s funds were transferred to the PHF following dissolution, citing state law as reason for the denial. Read the full Chief investigative series at thechiefnews. com and join the conversation. Do you believe that Columbia County should have a hospital? Post your comments on this story at thechiefnews. com.
at Chapman University and Fullerton College until his retirement several years ago. Art was passionate about fishing and camping with his family, and his summer vacations from teaching afforded him the opportunities to spend countless summers
in the Sierra and Cascade mountains where trout fishing was his passion. At home, Art created a huge garden of roses, daffodils, fruits and vegetables, along with chickens and other critters. At the same time, he developed an interest in photography and became a skilled photographer. Art is survived by his two children, Nathan and his son Collin of Tustin, California, and Justina Silva and her husband Patrick (Brown) and their daughters Olivia and Isabella Brown of Bellingham, Washington. Art is also remembered fondly by his former wife Michelle Silva Brown and several nieces and a nephew. Art will be buried at Murray Hill Cemetery in Clatskanie.
Richard “Ric” Brooks Jan. 7, 1952 ~ July 18, 2022
Ric was born in Bossier City, Louisiana to Walt and Joan Brooks. He grew up in Tigard, Oregon. Ric was in the Air Force reserve and the Army. He also was a volunteer for Clatskanie Fire as an EMT/ Firefighter for several years. He worked 27 years for the United States Postal Service before retiring from the Postmaster position in Clatskanie
in 2012. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. Ric was preceded in death by his mother and father. He is survived by his wife Annette; son Brad (Katie); daughter Bobbie Sutherland (Dave); grandchildren, Jacie, Jarrett, Darren and Joseph; and sisters, Pamelia and Kathy. Ric’s ashes will be spread at his favorite hunting spot.
Faye Eileen Eddings
What now? While The Chief was not able to confirm that the former CHD board acted illegally, as the plaintiffs of the federal lawsuit alleged, what we did find was that neither the county nor the former CHD board carried out the will of the taxpayers who had spent the last several years funding the failed hospital project. The federal lawsuit named 13 defendants, including Heimuller, who holds a seat on the county commission to this day. The lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed on Feb. 13, 2013, according to court records. St. Helens Communications Officer Crystal King told The Chief that the City of St. Helens has plans to sell a portion of the property and leave the other portion of the property open for recreational use. County records show that a total of $92,080.76 was returned to special district taxpayers. In a final interview with Nancy Whitney, who played an integral role in stopping the hospital tax, she described to The Chief how it felt to finally have the story out after more than a decade of waiting. “It’s very upsetting to me,” she said, of the time it took for the information to be published. “We have aged a lot, but I’m still willing to fight and get other people interested in doing what’s right.” The Chief asked Heide what advice he has for county officials as they undertake the hospital feasibility study. “Take your time,” Heide said. “I think one of the mistakes we made is we tried to move too fast. We saw this immediate need and we wanted to meet it immediately.”
•O bituaries • •
July 8, 1943 ~ July 25, 2022
Faye Eileen Eddings 79, of Olympia, Washington and formerly of Clatskanie, Oregon, passed away on July 25, 2022 in Olympia.
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The Chief
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Friday, July 29, 2022
•C latskanie G rows • •
Clatskanie Grows: Emerald Ash Borer and Columbia County expert with recent experience from Minnesota), or call the Columbia Soil and Water Conservation office in Warren at 503-433-3205. Take a good picture of the hole (or captured borers if you see and/or grab them) and have precise tree location information.
CHIP BUBL Chief Guest Column
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is in Forest Grove, the first detection in Oregon and the only detection to date west of Colorado. They apparently had been there for some time as the infested trees were clearly dying. In the coming months, we will have some idea how far those EABs have spread. Emerald Ash Borers came from Asia where the native ash trees are resistant to their feeding on bark cambium. That is not the case of our native species found throughout most of the United States or Europeans species that have been used in landscapes. Oregon ash are at serious risk. They are found at lower elevations in the Willamette valley and along the Columbia River. Here, they are mainly concentrated in a band along the Columbia River and the lower portions of its tributaries in Columbia County. Learn what ash trees look like.
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There are a lot on Sauvie Island. They can tolerate high water tables and fairly heavy clay soils areas swampy well into spring or along year-round creeks are the most likely places to see them. There are many ornamental ash species of U.S. and European origin found in home landscapes and planted in parks, streets, and some along Highway 30. It is important for homeowners with ash trees or those that hike natural areas that have Oregon ash to learn the EAB’s most distinctive characteristic (besides dying ash trees). The exit holes of the larva that have transformed into an adult borer are “D” shaped, i.e., a half-circle connected by a straight line. The D-shape can be flipped in all the ways a “D” can be flipped. They are not generally arranged like the round holes of woodpeckers and sapsuckers. EAB holes are much more random. The EAB adults are themselves are really tiny, a third of an inch to half an inch long, longer than wide,
and pointed at the back end. They have a metallic green appearance. We have one larger insect, the golden buprestid, that could be confused with EABs by a casual observer based on the green metallic appearance, but they are
For more information, see: https://www.oregon.gov/ odf/Documents/forestbenefits/fact-sheet-emerald-ashborer.pdf . https://catalog.extension. oregonstate.edu/ em9160/html. There are a few ways of
Clatskanie Grows much larger than EABs and shaped much different as well. If you notice a suspicious “D-shaped” hole in an ash tree, (EABs don’t feed on any other trees) call the Oregon Department of Forestry, at 503-397-2636 in Columbia City, or the OSU Extension office in St. Helens at 503-397-3462 (Alex Gorman, our new Extension Forester is an EAB
treating individual trees, but we hope it won’t come to that. The treatments are complex, have undesirable side-effects on other insects, and can be quite costly. Large landscape-scale aerial treatment that was done for the Asian gypsy moth about 15 years ago in the St. Helens area won’t work on EABs. The OSU Extension
Office is fully open from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Master Gardener™ class signups being taken for 2022-23 class in St. Helens. The OSU Extension office in Columbia County will be offering the Master Gardener™ training starting this fall at the OSU Extension office in St. Helens. This year, we are trying a new schedule that allows people that work to attend. The classes will be held on alternate Saturdays from 9 a.m.- noon starting Sept. 10 through Thanksgiving. Then there will be a winter break. The classes will start again in early February and go through the end of April. Cost of the program is $100 which includes a large resource book. Some scholarships are available. OSU Master Gardeners™ are responsible for providing volunteer gardening education to the community as partial payback for the training. If you might be interested in the program, call the Extension office at 503-397-3462 for more details. Many Extension publications available online Are you putting up salsa, saving seeds, or thinking about planting kiwis? OSU has a large number of its publications available for free download. Just go to https://catalog.extension. oregonstate.edu. Click on publications and start exploring.
Important notes Donate produce and/ or money to the food bank, senior centers, or community meals programs. It is greatly appreciated. The Extension Service offers its programs and materials equally to all people. Have questions? If you have questions on any of these topics or other home garden and/or farm questions, please contact Chip Bubl, Oregon State University Extension office in St. Helens at 503-397-3462 or at chip.bubl@oregonstate.edu. The office is open from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 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 503-3973462 to be put on the list. Alternatively, you can find it on the web at http://extension. oregonstate.edu/columbia/ and click on newsletters. Contact information Oregon State University Extension Service – Columbia County 505 N. Columbia River Highway St. Helens, OR 97051 503 397-3462
•C ommunity E vents • •
July 31 Rainier All-Class Picnic Picnic starts at 11 a.m. and potluck at noon and ends at 4 p.m. at Hudson-Parcher Park, 75503 Larson Road in Rainier. It is recommended that you bring extra chairs and a potluck dish. The picnic is sponsored by the Rainier Oregon Historical Museum. The museum will provide the park admittance fee, water, coffee, plates, utensils, and napkins. Please help offset the $300 park fee and cost of supplies by making a donation when signing in at the picnic site. August 5 Movies by Moonlight Scappoose Public Library and the City of Scappoose offer free Movies by Moonlight each Friday in August at Heritage Park, 52469 SE Second Street, in Scappoose. For up-to-date information about the events, visit the Movies by Moonlight website link, Facebook page, or contact Jeff Weiss 503-5437123. Food vendors will be on site with snacks and full meals available for purchase. All movies start at dusk with pre-movie events beginning at 7 p.m. In the event of rain, the showing will be rescheduled. Alcohol and smoking
are not permitted in the park. August 5-7 Sandcastle Building Competition Sandcastle competition and a pirate encampment on Sand Island Campground and Marine Park at St. Helens. Over 25 professional competitors from across the country will compete for top honors. For more information, or to book a campsite ticket or a day pass, visit https:// discovercolumbiacounty. com/events/sand-islandsand-castle-competitionaugust-5-7-2022. August 6 Legion BBQ The American Legion Vernonia Backyard BBQ from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 627 Adams Avenue. Live music, huge raffle prizes, PSE compound bow, game camera, charter boat fishing trip for two worth $400+, BBQ grill and smoker combo, outdoor propane fire pit, multiple gift certificates $25-$50 and more. Come have a great time with your local Veterans. August 14 Free Concert The Oregon National Guard band General Dischord is scheduled to perform at 3 p.m. Aug. 14 at Birkenfeld Theatre, 75 S. Nehalem in
Clatskanie. Although this performance is free, seating is limited to 160. Attendees are asked to reserve tickets. Call Elsa Wooley at 503-7283403 (leave a message and she will confirm your ticket reservation) or email her at elsawooley1@gmail.com. Ongoing Farmers Market Clatskanie Farmers Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday through September 24 at Cope’s Park in downtown Clatskanie. Lower Columbia River Watershed Council Meets at 7 p.m. every other second Tuesday. Meetings are currently held electronically by Zoom. For more information, contact Council Coordinator Allan Whiting at E-mail: allan@whitingenv. com, or call 503-789-9240. Visit the council’s website for agenda postings and Zoom at www.lowercolumbiariver. org/events-page. To list an event in the Community Calendar, email details with a phone number that may be published, to chronicleclassifieds@ countrymedia.net, or call 503-397-0116.
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CONTACT US • Phone: (503) 397-0116 • Fax: (503) 397-4093 • Website: www.thechiefnews.com Editorial: chiefnews@countrymedia.net ADVERTISE WITH US: Advertising Email: chronicleads@countrymedia.net • Classified email: chronicleclassifieds@countrymedia.net Editorial policy Opinions expressed on this page are independent of The Chief views and are solely those of the writers expressing them. Letters policy This newspaper’s letters to the editor are limited to a maximum of 250 words and will be edited for grammar, spelling and blatant inaccuracies. Unsubstantiated or irresponsible allegations, or personal attacks on any
individual, will not be published. Letters containing details presented as facts rather than opinions must include their sources. Writers are limited to one published letter per month. All submissions must include the author’s full name, local street address and telephone number (only the name and city of residence will be published). By submitting a letter, writers also grant permission for them to be posted online. Opinions expressed on this page are the writer’s alone and do not represent the opinion of the newspaper or its parent company, Country Media, Inc.
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Obituaries Obituaries received after noon on Wednesday may not be in time for that Friday’s paper. Obituaries may be emailed to chiefnews@countrymedia.net, sent via mail, or dropped off at the office. We also accept obituaries written by funeral homes. Include the address and daytime phone number of the person who submitted the obituary, so we can verify information as necessary.
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CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District (C911CD) is conducting a hiring process for a Chief Financial Advisor. Apply online at www.col u m b i a 9 11 . c o m / careers. Additional information can be found on our website or by calling 503-366-6972.
CLATSKANIE MULTI-FAMILY GARAGE SALE July 29th (FRI) & 30th (SAT): 8am4pm 1465 SW Curtis Ct. Clatskanie, OR 97016 Household items, kitchenware, clothing, holiday & party decor, beauty products, jewelry, games, and MORE!
Need a job? check the classifieds online at www.thechiefnews.com to find your perfect job offer
Moving Sale It All Has To Go! No reasonable offer will be refused. Hardy R Cave 503-396-2665, at 225 S 13th St., St. Helens, Friday Sunday from 9 am - 6 pm.
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Public Notices CC22-1677
CC22-1674
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of KIM COLLEEN HARRIS, Deceased. No. 22PB06403 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PER-SONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed personal representative of this estate. All persons having claims against the
estate are required to present their claims, with vouchers attached, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice to the personal representative at P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048, or the claims may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceedings may obtain
additional information from the records of the Court, the personal representative or the attorney for the personal representative. Dated and first published July 29, 2022. Lee Colleen Ohler, Personal Representative. STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C. Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048.
Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of SHEILA JOYCE MCCALLISTER, Deceased. No. 22PB06168 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed personal representative of this estate. All persons having claims against
the estate are required to present their claims, with vouchers attached, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice to the personal representative at P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048, or the claims may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceedings may obtain
additional information from the records of the Court, the personal representative or the attorney for the personal representative. Dated and first published July 15, 2022. Larry McCallister, Personal Representative. STEPHEN D. PETERSEN, L.L.C. Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 459, Rainier, OR 97048.
CC22-1678
NOTICE OF CLATSKANIE CITY COUNCIL MEETING The Clatskanie City Council will meet on Wednesday, August 3rd, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers,
75 South Nehalem St. (Clatskanie Cultural Center, 2nd floor). Agenda items include, but are not limited to: approval
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of the minutes of the July 6th, 2022 regular meeting, the second reading of an ordinance for a property rezone and an
ordinance concerning Psilocybin in Clatskanie. An updated agenda will be available at City Hall by July 29th, 2022.
For those who would like to attend electronically, access to the meeting by ZOOM will be posted on the city website,
www.cityofclatskanie.com. Please call City Hall at 503728-2622 at least 48 hours in advance if you need assistance.
•C rossword P uzzle • • STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: THE 1970s ACROSS
1. Come clean, with “up” 5. *_____-a-Soup, launched in 1972 8. Hefty volume 12. Maui party 13. Detective’s assignment 14. One that insists 15. Seed covering 16. Dull pain 17. Waltz, in France 18. *Francis Ford Coppola’s “The ____” 20. Part of an eye 21. H. pylori consequence 22. Labor org. 23. *”Feathered” 1970s icon 26. One who delivers coal 30. *1978’s “Night Fever” spent 8 weeks in this Billboard slot 31. Fire-breathing monster, Greek mythology 34. Type of list 35. Open-mouthed 37. Acorn producer 38. Glossy fabric 39. Denim innovator 40. Enlist or talk into (2 words) 42. Golf accessory 43. Gracefully thin 45. Meat and vegetable stew 47. Stumblebum
48. One way to prepare an egg 50. Chicken pox mark 52. *Type of 1970s shoes 56. Top dog 57. Laughing on the inside, in a text 58. Bye, to Sophia Lauren 59. *1971’s “Sooner or ____” by the Grass Roots 60. *”Beneath the Planet of the ____” 61. Very light brown 62. Research facil. 63. *Progressive rock band of “Roundabout” fame 64. Fishing pole spool
DOWN
1. Capture the ____ 2. Continental capital 3. Aforementioned 4. Substance with rotten egg smell 5. Secret stash 6. Theater employee 7. Jury member 8. *Olivia Newton-John’s 1978 co-star 9. Eye amorously 10. Table hill 11. Before, to a bard 13. Can’t-get-it-off-one’smind kind 14. Throat dangler
19. Winged 22. Charge carrier 23. Young horses 24. *One of three 1970s TV crime-fighting women 25. Plunder 26. *”I’d like to buy the world a ____” 27. “Semper Fidelis” to U.S. Marines, e.g. 28. Bye, to Edith Piaf 29. Group of nine singers 32. *”Rich Man, ____ Man” miniseries 33. As opposed to mishap 36. *Salvador Allende successor 38. Chow down 40. Game official, for short 41. Inflammation of iris 44. Capital of Senegal 46. Footstuffs merchant 48. North face, e.g. 49. Intensely dislikes 50. Architectural drawing 51. Prefers 52. *Neil Simon’s “The Sunshine Boys,” e.g. 53. *”Interview with the Vampire” author 54. Kate Winslet as ____ of Easttown 55. *”____ Train” 56. *”Thrilla in Manila” winner
Solution to crossword in next week’s issue of The Chief. North Columbia County’s trusted local news source
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•R emembering
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Friday, July 29, 2022
2022 C olumbia C ounty F air & R odeo • •
Photos by Kelli Nicholson and Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
Planning has already started for the 2023 Columbia County Fair & Rodeo following the 2022 five-day event at the fairgrounds in St. Helens July 20-24. The Chief captured a few of the 2022 moments at the fair in the attached photos. See more photos at thechiefnews.com.
General Dischord returning to Clatskanie The 10-member musical performance team General Dischord, made up of soldier musicians from the Oregon National Guard’s 234th Army Band, returns to Clatskanie for a free performance at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, in the Birkenfeld Theatre, 75 S. Nehalem in Clatskanie. “This popular band was part of our recent Heritage Days parade and asked to return to one of its favorite towns,” Clatskanie Arts Commission spokesperson Elsa Wooley said. “The performance will include music from Sousa, the Beatles, Harry Potter and the ever-popular Service Song Medley.” Although this perfor-
The Oregon National Guard band General Dischord is scheduled to perform at 3 p.m. Aug. 14 at Birkenfeld Theatre.
Courtesy photo
Rainier hires new librarian STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
The City of Rainier has hired R. Allen Snider of Mirrored Lamp LLC as the city’s new librarian. Snider grew up in the Portland area, where his passion for reading and books first started, according to a release from the City of Rainier. Snider said he remembers the excitement of the Scholastic Book Fairs at his school and used those to help build his personal library. That collection is now up to 1200 volumes and books still sit on a bookshelf that was made by his grandfather. Snider graduated from Milwaukie High School, with honors, in 2004. He attended Portland State University and studied areas such as philosophy, linguistics and English and also worked in the school bookstore. From there, he went to the University of Washington (UW) and earned a bach-
R. Allen Snider
Courtesy photo
elor’s degree with honors in 2013, with an emphasis on Latin and Greek. While at UW he also worked as a language learning lab assistant. In 2015, Snider did master’s work at the University of Georgia, where he studied Latin and Greek. He also taught Latin and Writing for UGA’s Franklin College. Snider returned to the
Pacific Northwest and the University of Washington and completed a master’s capstone in information management in 2017. Snider said his library experience began many years ago when he was a circulation and reference volunteer at the Multnomah County Library’s Woodstock branch, where he processed returns and retrieved holds. Snider first started as a substitute librarian with the Rainier School District earlier this year and spent the past few months transitioning into his new role. “The city is happy to have someone with Allen’s experience and education working in the library,” City Administrator Scott Jorgensen said. “He brings a level of expertise and customer service that continues to serve the library’s patrons well.” Library history For the past few years, the city has contracted with
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mance is free, seating is limited to 160. Attendees are asked to reserve tickets. Call Elsa Wooley at 503-7283403 (leave a message and she will confirm your ticket reservation) or email her at elsawooley1@gmail.com. Wooley said thanks to the generous support of Donna Garlock, the Clatskanie Arts Commission will be kicking off its 34 Performing Arts Series with a free concert, Big Band in the Park, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Labor Day, Sept. 5 at Clatskanie City Park. For more information, visit clatskaniearts.org, or call Elsa Wooley at 503-7283403.
•C rossword S olutions • •
Solution for the July 22, 2022 crossword puzzle
the Rainier School District for the librarian position through an intergovernmental agreement, according to Jorgensen. “Both parties decided to let the agreement expire so the city could pursue other options following the retirement of previous librarian Colette Nordstrom:” he said. “The council budgeted a total of $60,000 for contracted services to staff the library. We did a one-month extension with the school district to cover the month of July, so we could find the staffing option that worked best for us.” The contract with Mirrored Lamp, LLC is for $55,000 for the remainder of the 2022-23 fiscal year and is for 32 hours of services per week, according to Jorgensn, which he added is the same as the current service level. The Rainier Public Library is located at Rainier City Hall, 106 B Street in Rainier. The library may be reached at 503-556-7301.
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