Election 2022 Page A2
Burn ban lifted Page A2
$1.50
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2022
VOL. 131, NO. 25 Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891
Law enforcement gets active shooter training JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.
I
n an effort to better protect local school children, teachers, staff and citizens, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) is hosting active shooter training in Rainier. Specific details about the location of the training had not been released as of press time by the CCSO. The training is designed to give law enforcement officers the skills needed to effectively deal with an active shooter and to help prevent mass shootings. The nonprofit research group, Gun Violence Archive, defines a mass shooting as one in which at least four people were killed or injured, according to a report earlier this month in The New York Times. Gun Violence Archive tracks gun violence using police reports, news coverage and other public sources, The Gun Violence Archive has counted at least 531 mass shootings so far this year, through mid-October, The New York Times report states. The five-day instruction level course began Oct. 24 in Rainier. It is being taught by four Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) instructors and
one FBI Agent. Those who attend will then train the deputies or officers in their department. “This course was developed through Texas State University and will bring cutting edge active shooter training to Columbia County,” Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley said. “We are honored to host this highly acclaimed course in Columbia County.” Since this is the first course in a series of seven, there may be opportunities for additional training in the future, according to Pixley. The class is federally funded. There is no cost to CCSO. CCSO will be joined at this training by other local agencies: • St. Helens Police Department • Rainier Police Department • Kelso Police Department • Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office In a release from the CCSO, the training is described as a dynamic course of instruction designed to teach instructors how to prepare the first responder to isolate, distract, and neutralize an active shooter. The course will cover: • Shooting and moving • Threshold evaluation
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
The active shooter training includes mock sessions similar to this event to prepare law enforcement for an actual event.
• Concepts and principles of team movement • Setting up for and room entry techniques • Approach and breaching the crisis site • Secondary responder tactics • Improvised explosive devices
• Post engagement priorities of work The course will culminate with dynamic force on force scenarios and include instructor-required teach-backs to ensure the quality of instruction taught back to first
responders. CCSO is the agency contracted by the City of Clatskanie for the city’s law enforcement services. Jeremy C. Ruark may be reached at jruark@countrymedia. net.
Earth’s Climate Emergency: Vital signs at ‘record extremes’ STEVE LUNDEBERG Chief Guest Article
The earth’s vital signs have worsened to the point that “humanity is unequivocally facing a climate emergency,” according to a just-published report by an international coalition of researchers. The report, “World Scientists’ Warning of a Climate Emergency 2022,” published in the journal BioScience, notes that 16 of 35 planetary vital signs the authors use to track climate change are at record extremes. The report’s authors share new data illustrating increasing frequency of extreme heat events, rising global tree cover loss because of fires, and a greater prevalence of the mosquito-borne dengue virus. They also note large increases in fossil fuel energy consumption following COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns – despite an upswing in commitments for fossil fuel divestment – and a rise in atmospheric
Courtesy photo from OSU
The report’s data illustrates increasing frequency of extreme heat events, rising global tree cover loss because of fires, and a greater prevalence of the mosquitoborne dengue virus.
carbon dioxide levels to 418 parts per million, the highest on record. William Ripple, a distinguished professor in the OSU College of
Forestry, and postdoctoral researcher Christopher Wolf are the lead authors of the report, and 10 other U.S. and global scientists are
co-authors. The report follows by five years the “World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity: A Second Notice” published by Ripple in in BioScience and co-signed by more than 15,000 scientists in 184 countries. “As we can see by the annual surges in climate disasters, we are now in the midst of a major climate crisis, with far worse to come if we keep doing things the way we’ve been doing them,” Wolf said. “We implore our fellow scientists to join us in advocating for research-based approaches to climate and environmental decision-making.” Other co-authors of the report are from UCLA, the University of Sydney, Independent University Bangladesh, the University of Cambridge, the University of Exeter, Bezos Earth Fund and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. “Climate change is not a standalone issue,” said Saleemul
Huq of Independent University Bangladesh. “It is part of a larger systemic problem of ecological overshoot where human demand is exceeding the regenerative capacity of the biosphere. To avoid more untold human suffering, we need to protect nature, eliminate most fossil fuel emissions and support socially just climate adaptations with a focus on low-income areas that are most vulnerable.” The report points out that in the three decades since more than 1,700 scientists signed the original “World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity” in 1992, global greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 40%. “As earth’s temperatures are creeping up, the frequency or magnitude of some types of climate disasters may actually be leaping up,” said the University of Sydney’s Thomas Newsome. “We urge
See CLIMATE Page A3
Appeal withdrawn in NEXT Fuels permitting process JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
There are new developments in the proposal to build a $2 billion renewable fuels facility at Port Westward. The Beaver Drainage Improvement Company has passed a resolution to immediately withdraw an appeal filed against the Department of State Lands’ Removal/Fill permit issued to NEXT Renewables. The permit was granted by the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) in March 2022 and is a key state permit needed to construct
and operate a clean fuels facility and wetland restoration project proposed for Port Westward, according to a release from NEXT spokesman Michael Hinrichs. The resolution was passed during a meeting Oct. 21. “We are thrilled to learn that the BDIC Board passed a resolution to immediately withdraw their appeal of our DSL Removal Fill permit,” NEXT CEO and Chair Chris Efird said. “This is a win for NEXT, and we look forward to maintaining
See NEXT Page A3
The proposed $2 billion renewable fuels facility would be located at Port Westaward.
Courtesy from NEXT
Obituaries ................. A3 Election 2022 ........... A2 Opinions ................... A4 Classified Ads ......... A5 Legals ....................... A5 Community Events . A6
TERRYMASSEY4SHERIFF.VOTE
Contact The Chief Phone: 503-397-0116 Fax: 503-397-4093 chiefnews@countrymedia.net 1805 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR 97051
Collaboration Communication Accountability electkellyniles.com Paid for by Elect Kelly Niles ID # 21881