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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2023
VOL. 132, NO. 19 Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891
New dawn for Clatskanie Volleyball WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
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Diane Pohl.
Courtesy photo
Diane Pohl passes away Clatskanie City Manager Greg Hinkelman said Pohl died Tuesday, Sept. 12, from failing health. “It is with deep sadness that I am announcing that former Mayor Pohl passed away,” Hinkelman said in an interview with The Chief Wednesday, Sept. 13. “She was a dynamic woman who always put Clatskanie first and she was passionate about the issues facing the city. She was very involved in the community. She will be missed.” Hinkelman said Pohl hired him as Clatskanie City Manager in 2008. Pohl was first elected city mayor in 2004. She survived a recall in 2015. Following the unsuccessful recall effort, Pohl thanked the community for its support. “I want to thank the people who supported me through this difficult time,” Pohl said. “I am thankful to be afforded the opportunity to continue to lead Clatskanie forward to accomplish projects and ideas that will benefit our citizens and especially our children.” Pohl held office until 2017, following her loss to now Mayor Bob Brajcich. “Diane was a great friend, and a fine mayor,” Deborah Hazen said. “She loved the Clatskanie community, and was a very strong advocate for what she believed would be good for our community.” According to Hinkelman, Pohl requested that she have her ashes scattered at Depoe Bay, where she once lived.
his year marks a fresh start for Clatskanie Middle/High School’s volleyball team. Despite graduating much of their veteran core, Head Coach Amanda Baker is optimistic about what her young squad can accomplish this season. Last year, the Tigers finished with an 8-8 record in the league and non-league play but qualified for the State Playoffs, where Knappa ousted them in the first round. Coming into this season, Baker was unsure how the team would look after graduating seven seniors at the end of last season. “Coming into the season, I wasn’t sure what to expect, having lost most of the team. I had been hearing lots of promising things about the incoming freshman class, and two of them actually joined us for team camp at the end of July,” Baker said. “That is where my high hopes for the season started. I took just seven girls to La Grande for a week, where they played their hearts out and began a bond I hope will carry through the season.” In addition to the outgoing seniors, the composition of this year’s team is very young, with no seniors on the squad. Still, the team is not without veteran leadership, and two of the starters from last year’s team remain on the court for Baker. Junior Natalie Baker started as a middle blocker and has played
Courtesy photo from Cynthia Forney
Natalie Baker gets up to protect the night for the Tigers.
all six rotations since her freshman year. Sophomore Joey Sizemore is the returning setter and top server from last year as well. Also returning is Mya Jensen, who is starting this year as a pin hitter. “I’m looking to my returning varsity players to help lead the team this year. They are all still young themselves but have stepped up to the task,” Baker said. There are three freshmen stepping into starting positions for the program this year. “We have three freshmen starting on the court for us this year: Olivia George on the other pin, Lacey Willis, our other six rotation
middle blocker, and libero McKinsey Doyle,” Baker said. The team has enjoyed a good measure of success in their early season results. Through their first eight games, the Tigers won five games and lost three. In their non-league contests, the team went 3-2. The team continued the positive momentum in their first three league games, winning against Faith Bible / Life Christian and Knappa, but losing to Gaston. “Being so young, I foresee some inconsistencies, but I have been very impressed with the coachability of all the players so far this year,” Baker said. “After our impressive
in 2017 by Mayor Bob Brajcich, filling the seat from former council member David True. Helmen was serving his second term, which was slated to end Dec. of 2026. Before taking the job as Vernonia School District Superindentent in 2022, Helmen held positions of middle/ high school principal and assistant principal from 2015 to 2020. During his time on the council, Helmen said that his greatest accomplishment was being part of a group that supported the city manager in making decisions that benefited the Clatskanie Community and its residents. “Serving the Clatskanie community brings me great joy and a sense
of pride. It’s an honor to be a part of decisions that truly benefit people’s daily lives,” Helmen said. “For me, there’s no better gift or responsibility than being able to serve others. I will miss the city council members and City of Clatskanie employees they are an incredibly dedicated and high-integrity group of individuals.” The Clatskanie City Council will appoint someone to fill out the remainder of Helmen’s term, and the process is pending. The council is made up of seven members, including Brajcich. Though Helmen is stepping down from his Coun-
season opener win against Rainier and third-place finish at the Warrenton tournament, I knew these girls had the grit to make something out of this season.” Going forward, Baker’s goals for the team are to focus on communication, staying positive, continuing to come together, and securing themselves a spot in the state playoffs. Having already notched a win against the team that knocked them out last year, confidence within the team should be buzzing. One of the exciting initiatives the team has going is a fundraiser that directly ties to their performances on the court. It’s called the “Kill-o-meter,” and the idea is that donors from the community donate $1 for each kill the team scores. A kill is awarded to a player any time an attack is unreturnable by the opposition and is a direct cause of the opponent not returning the ball, or any time the attack leads directly to a blocking error by the opposition. A kill leads directly to a point, according to NCAA’s volleyball rules. “The goal is to hit 500 kills for the season. We have 12 donors and have already put up 109 kills as a team,” Baker said. “We are very excited about what this support means to the team and hope to see our supporters in the gym.” Follow results for Tigers Volleyball at osaa.org.
Clatskanie City Councilor resigns WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
Clatskanie City Councilor Jim Helmen has resigned from his post on the council, citing difficulty balancing the responsibilities of the council and his position as Superintendent of the Vernonia School District. “I resigned from the Clatskanie City Council because my work schedule made attending City Council meetings and work sessions difficult,” Helmen said. “It wouldn’t have been fair to others if I couldn’t be fully present in such a crucial position.” Helman first joined the council
See HELMEN Page A3
Courtesy photo from Vernonia School District
Jim Helmen
Columbia County to receive $867,453 for homelessness support STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.
Metro Creative Connection
Columbia County will see $867,453 to rehouse at least 20 households.
Obituaries ................. A3 News and Views ...... A4 Classified Ads ......... A5 Legals ....................... A5 Crossword ................ A6
Contact The Chief Phone: 503-397-0116 Fax: 503-397-4093 chiefnews@countrymedia.net 1805 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR 97051
Gov. Tina Kotek has announced funding allocations to counties within Oregon’s Balance of State Continuum of Care as part of her homelessness state of emergency, as well as the specific outcomes attached to these emergency dollars. The funding comes from House Bill 5019, approved by the Oregon Legislature and signed by Governor Kotek in response to her homelessness state of emergency. The bill, among other allocations, included $26.1 million to rehouse people experiencing homelessness and expand shelter capacity in the 26 rural counties that make up the Balance of State Continuum of Care.
This funding aims to reduce the number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness by adding at least 100 new shelter beds and rehousing at least 450 households by June 30, 2025. “Homelessness is a crisis in both urban and rural communities throughout Oregon,” Kotek said. “In many conversations during my 36-county listening tour, Oregonians have repeatedly emphasized the need for more shelter capacity and rehousing services in their communities. This funding, tied to specific outcomes, will make a measurable impact in addressing this crisis in rural Oregon. And we can’t stop here – I will keep pushing for concrete solutions that will support community needs going forward.”
The following funding amounts are based on many factors, including the appropriation made available by the Legislature, detailed plans that local communities submitted, and a distribution formula developed by the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department: Columbia County: $867,453 to rehouse at least 20 households Baker, Grant, Union and Wallowa counties: $1.2 million to rehouse at least 33 households Benton County: $2.4 million to add at least 50 shelter beds and rehouse at least 31 households Clatsop County: $3.8 million to add at least 80 shelter beds and rehouse at least 33 households Coos County: $1.9 million to add
at least 8 shelter beds and rehouse at least 32 households Curry County: $594,000 to rehouse at least 14 households Douglas County: $1.4 million to rehouse at least 34 households Gilliam, Morrow, Umatilla and Wheeler counties: $2.1 million to add at least 25 shelter beds and rehouse at least 40 households Harney and Malheur counties: $1.3 million to rehouse at least 34 households Hood River, Sherman and Wasco and counties: $1.9 million to add at least 34 shelter beds and rehouse at least 29 households Josephine County: $2 million to
See HOMELESS Page A4
Carman honored for Service to Senior Citizens SUBMITTED BY CLATSKANIE SENIOR CITIZENS Chief Guest Article
Honored for his 28 years of volunteer service to the Clatskanie Senior Citizens, Inc. (CSC) was Ernest “Ernie” Carman at a recent luncheon in the organization’s Castle Café. Carman was presented with a handmade quilt featuring local landmarks, including The Castle, a framed photograph, and a plaque thanking him “with deepest gratitude and affection” for his “many years of dedicated service to the Clatskanie Senior Citizens.” Carman recently retired as the longtime president of the organization. Since 1979, the CSC has owned the recently-restored Thomas J. Flippin House, known as “The Castle.” Lunches are prepared and served in the ground floor kitchen and dining commons (Castle Café) on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Local seniors and their guests are invited to attend. To make
Courtesy photo from Jolene Day
Ernest Carman, right, was recently honored for his many years of service to the Clatskanie Senior Citizens, Inc. by current senior board members, from left, Rebecca Fisher, Claudia Hill and Deborah Hazen.
reservations call 503-728-3608 and leave a message. Activities such as chair yoga, games and crafts are also held at the senior center.
The two upper floors of the Castle, restored to late-Victorian splendor, are open for tours, special events, and overnight stays, and
also house the Clatskanie Historical Society Museum. Call Deborah Hazen at 503-338-8268 for more information.