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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2023
VOL. 132, NO. 18
Clatskanie sports coming back strong Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891
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latskanie athletics are back for the fall season, and Athletic Director Ryan Tompkins gave the Chief an inside scoop on what he is excited about for the upcoming season. The football, volleyball, and cheerleading programs have already started their seasons. Boys cross country has its first meet Sept. 23, and girls cross country will kick off Sept. 9. Girls soccer has teamed up with Rainier High School to compete in the 4A-1 Cowapa League. “We have seen an increase in participation in all of our programs over the last several years and would like to continue that trend,” Tompkins said. “We want as many opportunities for kids, and with higher participation, we are able to offer more JV/ JV2 opportunities.” Coming into the fall season, Clatskanie High School is happy to boast continuity, with each of its fall coaches from last year staying on to lead the way this season. This fall will also mark the return of the cheerleading program at the school. “We have our whole fall coaching staff returning for a second straight year and are excited to continue the work from last year,” Tompkins said. “We have added back cheerleading, that will be coached by CMHS Special Education Teacher Kayleen Jones. We are excited to have them on the sidelines for our upcoming season(s).” After a second consecutive summer of renovations at the high school, Tompkins is excited about the improvements that have been made and the opportunities the completed work will afford the athletics programs and the community. “We have many nice improvements to the facilities, none more
needed than the freshly paved parking lot. We are excited to get the community into our sporting events and enjoy the benefits of the work that has been done,” Tompkins said. Tompkins said that the teams will be looking to build off last year, and across the different programs, that means different goals for each of the teams. Football “Football made the state playoffs last year and would like to put themselves in the same opportunity by finishing in the top 3 in our league,” Tompkins said. Clatskanie Football had a tough game in their first showing of the season, losing to Willamina 40-7, but will look to rebound as they continue their non-league portion of the schedule against North Douglas / Yoncalla on Sept. 8. Volleyball “Volleyball made it to the district playoffs last year and would like to have an opportunity to get to go to the state playoffs,” Tompkins said. In their first six games, the Tigers have gone 4-2 under Head Coach Amanda Baker. The team played well at their preseason non-league tournament, notching wins over Rainier, Delphian, and Sheridan. After a loss in their last non-league game to Warrenton, Clatskanie rebounded with a win in their first league game with a 3-0 win over Faith Bible / Life Christian. Cross Country “Cross Country would love to get a top 20 finisher at Districts and have enough participation to have a full team,” Tompkins said. Both the boys and girls cross
Courtesy photo from Rob Hilson
Clatskanie Football back on the gridiron.
country teams are coached by Zach Davis. The boys will be competing in the 2A/1A-SD1 Special District 1, which will see them compete with the likes of Knappa, Nestucca, and Vernonia. The girls team will battle it out with programs such as Nestucca, Knappa, Vernonia, and Rainier in the 3A/2A/1A-SD1 Special District 1. Girls Soccer “Girls soccer ended their season last year with a win and has already started off the season 2-1. They look to continue developing this program under Coach Eric Smythe,” Tompkins said Sept. 5. Though they took a tough loss to Oregon Episcopal on Sept. 5, the team sits at 2-2 currently and will
look to finish their non-league portion of the schedule on a high note against Corbett Sept. 14. Getting involved Clatskanie Athletics is going strong this fall, with good participation numbers and some promising early season results. Tompkins emphasized that these types of opportunities bring value to the student-athletes but wouldn’t be possible without the community. “We feel that extra curricular activities have a huge impact on the success and well-being of our students and appreciate everyone that comes together to help the children of our community experience the joy of sport,” Tompkins said.
While the focus of fall sports is on the athletes competing on the field and between the lines, the events wouldn’t be possible without the community’s help, and Tompkins said that they are seeking volunteers to help keep the events running smoothly. “Every sporting event requires a large volume of volunteers that are seen and unseen,” Tompkins said. “A huge thanks to our Booster Club, Scoreboard operators, announcers, chain gang, flaggers, custodians, crowd supervision, ticket takers, field prep, and clean-up crews. We are always in need of volunteers! If you are interested in getting involved, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Ryan Tompkins at rtompkins@csd. k12.or.us.”
Find your zen at In Harmony Movement Studio WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
For those looking to find a little inner peace or maybe just become a little more flexible, In Harmony Movement Studio has opened in Rainier at 102 E. B St. “In Harmony is a newly-opened Movement Studio offering classes and workshops focused on fitness and well-being,” said owner Nicole Jordan. “In Harmony promotes a body and mind-positive practice and seeks to foster an environment of unity, inclusion, and encouragement. All body types, shapes, and mobility levels are welcome, as we all deserve access to tools that improve well-being.” Jordan decided to take the leap when she felt there was an unmet need in Rainier for more physical wellness outlets, and after seeing that need reflected on social media. “The inspiration for In Harmony is centered around an unmet need for health and wellness services in this area. I knew I needed it for myself, and that if I was feeling it, then others in the area were as well,” Jordan said. “I saw requests for yoga on the Rainier Facebook group, and that only further confirmed the idea
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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
of bringing something to this area.”
The studio will offer a range of classes and workshops that focus on various disciplines of fitness and personal wellness. Current class and workshop schedule includes: • Cardio Kickbox • Strengthen & Condition • Stretch & Breathe • Gentle Yoga • Vinyasa Flow Yoga I • Women’s Self-Defense The initial schedule is limited, with more programming planned in the fall, according to Jordan. Current rates are drop-in $10 with 5 ($47.50) and 10 ($90) class packs available. “At the core, the goal is to create fun and interesting ways that inspire movement, and not just with your body for exercise, but also movement and investment of overall health, stress-management, mind-heart-body connection, and so much more,” said Jordan. “Class offerings will extend far beyond one type, such as yoga, and cross into a range of cardio, strengthening, flex-
Courtesy photo from Nicole Jordan
In Harmony shares the building with Bell Imaging located at 102 E. B St. in Rainier.
ibility and mobility, and specialty workshops (e.g. Self Defense; CPR basics), to name a few. We look forward to bringing these much-needed services to the community.” The idea for a movement studio was born out of the need of the community that went beyond just a yoga studio. Jordan said that
through conversations in the community, she realized that people in Rainier needed a range of options to improve their fitness and wellbeing. “We have an aging population; people just looking to get in shape; people who suffer from trauma, PTSD, depression, and addictions;
people with low mobility and flexibility; and all-around life stress we all deal with,” Jordan said. “Having a local place that’s designed to help increase overall well-being felt critical.”
See STUDIO Page A2
$39M in food benefits to 325,000 Oregon children STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.
The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is issuing approximately $39 million in Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) food benefits to approximately 325,000 students in Oregon. “We are grateful to be able to provide these food benefits to eligible students in Oregon,” ODHS Self-Sufficiency Programs Director Claire Seguin said. “As communities continue to be affected by COVID-19 and the rising cost of food, we know that many families are experiencing hardship and are struggling to get enough healthy food for themselves and their children. We encourage anyone who is struggling to meet their basic needs to contact our partners at 211, the Oregon Food Bank and their local Community Action Agency for support during this difficult time.” How students will receive P-EBT food benefits The P-EBT food benefits will be issued onto the P-EBT cards mailed
to students in Spring 2023. Families who lost or threw away their card can contact the P-EBT call center at (844) ORE-PEBT or (844) 673-7328 to request a new card. Newly eligible students will receive two pieces of mail addressed to them: • A letter notifying them they will receive P-EBT • A separate envelope with their P-EBT card that has $120 of food benefits on it Who is eligible for P-EBT food benefits Students are eligible for this P-EBT issuance if they received free or reduced-price National School Lunch Program meals at school or attended a Community Eligibility Provision school in May 2023. More P-EBT food benefits to come for certain children Oregon has received federal approval to provide additional P-EBT food benefits to children under
Metro Creative Connection
SNAP is a federal program that provides food assistance to approximately 1 million eligible, low-income families and individuals in Oregon, including many older adults and people with disabilities.
6-years-old who received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food benefits between July 2022 and August 2023. Details about when and how these children will receive their P-EBT food benefits will be announced as soon as it is available. What is the P-EBT program?
Since 2020, Oregon has issued approximately $1 billion in P-EBT food benefits to help children in Oregon get enough quality and nutritious food. These additional food benefits
See SNAP Page A6