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NATIONAL NONPROFIT DAY August 17, 2023
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2023
VOL. 132, NO. 15 Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891
Westport Fire and Rescue honors citizens’ heroic acts WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
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he two brave citizens whose heroic actions saved Ronda Hazen’s life from a devastating house fire in Westport have been recognized with a citizens award. Westport Fire and Rescue honored Breanne Hendricks and Alec Hansen at a Citizen’s Award Ceremony on Aug. 9 for their roles in saving Hazen’s life during a house fire July 10. “We believe in pride, honor, and integrity when it comes to serving the citizens of Westport, and we will continue to do so. But tonight is not about Westport Fire personnel,” Westport Fire Chief Greg Brody said. “Tonight is about two members of our community who chose to do heroic acts.” Jeff Hazen, Ronda Hazen’s husband, is a Volunteer Firefighter with Westport Fire and was not home the night of the blaze. That night, Ronda Hazen was awoken by her fire alarm and battled through the flames to get to her front porch, where she collapsed and began screaming for help. Hendricks, who lives across the street, heard her screaming and ran across the street to the house and found her on the front porch, under the flames, in intense heat. Hendricks grabbed Hazen under the arms and dragged her away from the house. A short time later, Hansen arrived and assisted Hendricks in getting
Courtesy photo from Westport Fire
A screenshot from the Citizens Award Ceremony on Youtube shows Breanne Hendricks and Alec Hansen receiving their plaques.
Ronda Hazen away from the house. Hansen then attempted to reenter the house and save the beloved family dog. “Though he tried valiantly, the heat was too intense, and he was forced to retreat. Unfortunately, a beloved family pet died that night, but Alec gave it his best effort,” Brody
said at the ceremony. Jeff Hazen spoke at the award ceremony about what Hendricks and Hansen’s actions meant to him and his wife. “The actions of these two people saved my wife’s life,” Jeff Hazen said. “These two, they’re rockstars. I’m glad they did not get hurt. I could
not have lived with that if they had gotten hurt. I will forever be indebted to them.” The ceremony ended with the presentation of plaques to memorialize their efforts, given to them by Brody. Hendricks and Hansen were also presented with Westport Fire vests and department mugs.
“Tonight, in this room, we walk among heroes. Heroes are made in the moment. Heroes never plan to be heroes. They receive that designation in the moment because they chose to do courageous, bold, selfless, and incredible acts, all in the name of helping a stranger to live,” Brody said. While Hendricks did not consider her actions heroic at the time, the gravity of the situation caught up with her once she spoke to the fire chief following the fire. Hendricks talked about the experience in an interview in July with The Chief. “I didn’t really feel any type of heroic things; it was just so sad, the whole situation; I wish I could have gotten that dog out with Alec, it was really heartbreaking to watch Ronda lose her pet and everything in front of her. I was just trying to be more comforting than anything,” Hendricks said. “After all of them talked to me about that situation, I did feel like, ‘Okay, it was a really good, honorable thing that I did.’” A friend of the Hazen’s started a GoFundMe to help offer financial support that has already raised more than $4,000. While the tragedy of losing a home is heartbreaking, it’s times like these when the community comes together to lift each other up. Read more about the fire and see photos with this story at thecheifnews. com.
Controversy surrounding Cemetery District WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
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ollowing a contentious board meeting, the Chair of the Rainier Cemetery District board has resigned from her position. During the Rainier Cemetary District (RCD) board meeting Aug. 16, Chair Judy Lepin made motions of no confidence in Directors Rick Fletcher and Scott Falconer. Following public outcry, the RCD held elections in May to increase the number of members of the RCD board from three to five. Lepin, Fletcher, David St. Onge, and Jim McGlone were elected during the May Special Districts Election. The basis for the motions was Lepin’s issue with the lack of transparency regarding the employment of District Bookkeeper/Manager Cyndi Warren and the contract between the district and Warren’s company CMW, LLC. Lepin alleged that Warren and CMW, LLC has been operating as an undocumented employee for around two years. Lepin also stated that CMW, LLC operates without a bond or business insurance. In addition, Lepin took issue with CMW, LLC’s billing of RCD and other clients for business expenses and said that CMW, LLC has been taking pay in advance for the completion of the hours it is being paid. Another component of Lepin’s concern is
Judy Lepin addresses Fletcher (center) during the board meeting Aug. 16.
the variety of tasks CMW, LLC is in charge of for the board without documentation of the job position she fulfills. “CMW has no job application, no job description, no job background, or prior management background for the job she had for two years as the liaison. When asked to provide timesheets for the approximate $1,000 a month she pays herself, she can’t. When asked for the minutes to the meeting or the board approval for this position, and the $50 salary per hour being paid, she can’t,” Lepin said. “CMW spends RCD money on items that are not brought before the board for a vote.” Lepin stated it was unclear
whether she was a contract or district employee. Fletcher strongly stated that she was a contract employee and said that CMW, LLC does have a bond. Fletcher could not present the bond, and Lepin said that it had not been presented when she requested it from Warren. It should be noted that Warren was not present at the meeting to address the concerns. Fletcher stated that Warren had served the district well in the past two years when staffing was an issue. Lepin was not hoping to recoup back pay but was hoping for the legal documentation of her employment. A back-and-forth between Fletcher and Lepin did not prove productive, as Fletcher maintained
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that Warren was a contract employee, while Lepin continued questioning the status of Warren’s employment. Lepin began asking the assembled audience of about 15 people about the status of Warren’s employment. At that point, a concerned member of the public spoke up. “I don’t feel good about any of the attitude, the questions and responses from the audience. This is all board business that they should be handling, and they’re not,” the citizen said. “You are all intelligent people, you should be able to perform well in this setting, and it’s not happening. This is embarrassing. I’m embarrassed for our cemetery
district.” The citizen preferred to remain unidentified. County Commissioner Margaret Magruder was in attendance, and the citizen asked whether there is training that the board can take to improve their issues working together. Magruder did inform the audience that the RCD board had attended a Special District Association board training last week. Lepin made a motion to revisit the contract for CMW, LLC. “I would like to make a motion that RCD revisit their contract with CMW, and put requirements in there that she carry insurance and a bond, and that she pay herself after she’s done her job, and that she no longer pays for her business expenses out of our money, including her education, she is a contract employee, so, therefore, they belong to CMW, LLC,” Lepin said. Jim McGlone seconded the motion. The motion passed with votes from McGlone, Lepin, and David St. Onge. Fletcher and Falconer voted, nay. No confidence After other business was discussed, Lepin brought a motion of no confidence against Fletcher. The basis for the motion was that
See CEMETERY Page A3
Columbia Economic Team growing small businesses WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
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he COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges in many aspects of life around the globe, and in Columbia County, businesses did not escape the impact of the Carona Virus. There were many challenges that the pandemic presented small businesses, but people may be surprised to learn there were positives coming
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out of the pandemic as well. Paul Vogel, the Executive Director of the Columbia Economic Team (CET), detailed the mixed developments businesses experienced during the past several years. “No question, the pandemic was too much for some businesses to survive. Between emergency pandemic restrictions, employees afraid or unable to work due to illness or childcare issues, the challenges were myriad, and some businesses couldn’t adapt,” Vogel said. “Positive impacts, however, include changes in many peoples’ work circumstances that motivated them to branch out on their own and start new businesses… businesses of all types. That’s good for our small business economy and diversity of goods and services in our communities.” Small Business Development Center One of the initiatives the CET took to support small businesses and growth in the county is the development of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The CET started the SBDC during the year 2021/2022. It was borne out of reviewing the business finances of hundreds of small companies and organizations throughout the process of running four grant rounds of emergency relief funds, Vogel said.
“None of those grants turned a business around, but combined with other relief, certainly kept many going. But the important thing was the clear discovery that investing in solid, credible, accountable basic business advising was the best possible investment,” Vogel said. “Every city invested; the county invested; we recruited the statewide small business network as nearly a 50% investor, and we set a responsible start-up period to get established.” Vogel and the CET were told they shouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t have clients within the first 12 months. Vogel said the SBDC exceeded expectations and that within the first year, they had over 100 contacts and “scores” of registered clients. Vogel expects the that it is a number they will “probably double this year.” SBDC Director Jason Moon said that their clientele base is strong and that they’ve continued to grow in the months since it was founded. “Following the easing of shutdowns and the implementation of the Columbia County Small Business Development Center and resource center, we’ve witnessed the revitalization of existing businesses and the emergence of new ones. Currently, over 120 SBDC clients and averaging around ten new clients each month,” Moon said. The SBDC has hired an additional
business advisor and administrative support to increase capacity to meet needs and demand and continue to offer the service and recourse to all small businesses across the county, according to Vogel. Vogel and Moon noted that while they have supported numerous businesses, there are also small businesses and start-ups outside of their network, so the actual number of businesses that have come out of the pandemic is higher than its membership. The SBDC helps clients prepare to start and maintain their businesses with various services tailored to succeeding in Columbia County. “We offer free 1:1 confidential business advising, and are your business resource for helping you start, run and grow your best business, so you can thrive in our local economy,” Moon said. “This includes business plan development, navigating business regulatory processes, helping you manage cash flow challenges, just to name a few.” Challenges for small businesses
Vogel said the CET has seen consistent start-up and expansion across many sectors. The hospitality industry (i.e., Restaurants, coffee shops, cafes, specialty shops, and food trucks) is on the rise, and there is a resurgence in Rainier, St. Helens, and elsewhere, according to Vogel.
“We hope for success for all. With small businesses, statistically, a high percentage fail in the first three years; if you’ve made it four years, your chances of success are significantly improved,” Vogel said. “We’re still inside that four-year window, but between the new SBDC and now the Growing Rural Oregon (GRO) entrepreneurial ecosystem initiative – we have substantial new tools in place – at no charge to business owners.” In Clatskanie, Vogel said the SBDC and CET would be able to help over time because it is difficult to tell if business closures in Clatskanie are a result of the pandemic or just failed or untested businesses. “Clatskanie has lost many storefront businesses recently. including The Clatskanie Market, Clatskanie Floral Shop, The Clatskanie Mercantile, and Singing Dogs Jewelry. Plus, Grannis Square remains vacant; 2 major buildings are for sale, and Colvin’s is for sale. Some have ventured to say at least 40% of Clatskanie storefronts are vacant,” Vogel said. One of the biggest challenges businesses faced during the pandemic was the changing regulations and criteria that customers and employers needed to follow. “What I can say is that our Clatskanie businesses struggled through COVID by trying to keep up with the
See CET Page A3