Honoring Veterans
Help to pay winter heating costs Page A2
Page A6-8
$1.50
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2022
VOL. 131, NO. 27 Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891
Brajcich re-elected, seeking solutions to city’s challenges RVs in front of the owner’s property to seven calendar days. “We already have parking ordinances that prohibit storing a motor home or a boat on the street,” he said.
JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.
Most folks around town refer to Bob Brajcich as Mayor Bob. “I try to listen and treat everybody with respect, that is the main thing,” Brajcich said following his re-election victory in the Nov. 8 General Election. “I try to work well with the City Council and the city staff.” Brajcich first became Clatskanie mayor in 2017 and he said he has a list of priorities for his next term in office.
Economic development
Highway safety Safety along Highway 30 that cuts through Clatskanie is a key issue in the city, Brajcich said. The city continues to work with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to improve safety and reduce the fast traffic along the highway. “We’d like to see the speed reduced and ODOT has a traffic calming program,” he said. “They did a project along Highway 101 in Gearhart to ease traffic speed there, so we are looking at that as a possible option.” The speed along Highway 30 in Clatskanie is 30 miles an hour (mph). While Brajcich and other city officials aren’t seeking to lower the speed, they are looking for ways to get drivers to follow the 30-mph speed. We just want people to go 30,” he said. “I understand, especially when you come down the highway at 65 miles an hour, that vehicles just continue at that speed. We get heavy traffic all the time with people on their way to the coast. So, people have to be educated. I am working
Chief photo
Bob Brajcich takes the oath of office in 2017 as the new Mayor of Clatskanie. He will be sworn in for his next term in January.
with our traffic safety committee because drivers need to aware of their driving habits. It’s a problem everywhere.” As drivers enter from the south along Highway 30, a flashing warning sign displays vehicles speed to remind drivers to slow to the 30-mile-an-hour posted speed. But Brajcich said more has to be done to slow the traffic into and out of the more congested area of the city. NEXT facility Another top priority for Brajcich is the proposed $2 billion NEXT renewable fuels project. “It will bring jobs and economic development to Clatskanie,” he said. “There is still a lot to do with that project.” The proposed fuel facility
continues to undergo the state and federal permitting process. Follow that development at thechiefnews. com and in the Friday print editions of The Chief. Affordable housing and RVs Brajcich is also concerned about affording housing in Clatskanie. “Housing development seems to be a crisis in Oregon and on the West Coast,” he said. “But in Clatskanie, there is available land for housing. It is limited because this is a small valley.” Brajcich said the City Council has passed an ordinance to lower lot size, which he said makes it more affordable for developers to build. Brajcich said completing the city’s efforts to better regulate transient and abandoned recreational
vehicles (RVs) is another key priority. In December, the City Council is scheduled to conduct the second reading of an ordinance to deal with the RV issue. “We want to be ahead of this issue,” Brajcich said. The proposed ordinance was developed after a recent special City Council work session. “It was a very productive work session with a lot of ideas,” Brajcich said. “Enforcement is always a consideration and that limited our ideas, but overall, we will not allow overnight RV parking on our streets. We have two RV parks, so there are places for them to park.” The ordinance also would prohibit RVs parked on private property in which someone is living in the RV. It also would limit parking the
One of the most expensive and key economic development projects in Clatskanie is a building a multimillion-dollar sewer treatment plant to replace the city’s current aging facility. “We are still working on the new sewer plant,” Brajcich said. “The cost could double so we are looking for more money. It is very expensive, but in the long run, It will save the city taxpayers a lot of money.” Brajcich said another key economic development project is the redevelopment of the former Humps Restaurant building on Highway 30. He said the new owners of the building are still working on the project to make the facility a multiple purpose business center with retail. “They told me when they get done, I won’t recognize it,” Brajcich said. “I do see a lot of activity there and that is a positive sign. I just want the lights on and activity, that’s important. They want to get several different shops in there. They are moving forward. It is important to Clatskanie because it is right in the center of town. Having no activity there is not a good sign, so having business activity there is going to be good.” The Chief asked Brajcich why he likes being mayor of Clatskanie. “I like serving the community,” he said. “I am very accessible. I am around town all the time, that’s how I function. All the council members want to make Clatskanie a place that you want to live.”
General Election results in Columbia County and we counted 9,400 ballots Tuesday,” Clack said. “I think there was a push to vote, but overall, it went fairly well.” Clack estimated voter turnout to be approximately 65%. The following are unofficial key local race unofficial results, which are scheduled to be certified in early December. For the full printout, visit https://results. oregonvotes.gov. Metro Creative Connection
JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.
Columbia County’s General Election Nov. 8 drew a surge of last-minute voting, according to Columbia County Elections Supervisor Don Clack. “We had a very late turnout
Obituaries ................. A3 Community Events A3 Opinions ................... A4 Classified Ads ......... A5 Legals ....................... A5 Veterans Day ........ A6-8
Contact The Chief Phone: 503-397-0116 Fax: 503-397-4093 chiefnews@countrymedia.net 1805 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR 97051
Courtesy from Laurey White
Students from Piercing Arrow Private School have placed this display at Clatskanie City Park to honor veterans.
Sheriff’s Race Brian Pixley 12,186 Terry E. Massey Jr 8,679 Commissioners Race Position 2 Kellie Jo Smith 11,508 Kelly R. Niles 6,108 City of Clatskanie Mayor Bob Brajcich 466 Jean Sampson 256 City of St. Helens Mayor Rick Scholl 3,720 Stephen R. Topaz 990 City of St. Helens City Council Mark Gundersen 2,169 Michael Zienty 295 Brandon Sundeen 2,298 Jesse Lagers 567 Steve Toschi 1,643 City of Scappoose Mayor Joe Backus 1,755 Brandon Lesowske 1,088 City of Clatskanie Prohibits Psilocybin-Related Businesses Within Clatskanie for Two Years Yes 459 No 286 City of St. Helens Prohibits Psilocybin-Related Businesses Within St. Helens for Two Years Yes 2,717 No 2,207
Courtesy photo from Lori Sherman
The Piercing Arrow Private School students assemble at the Veterans Memorial at Copes Park for a photo.
Local students pay tribute to veterans LAUREY WHITE Chief Guest Article
Veterans Day, held each year on November 11, celebrates the service of all military veterans. Students at Piercing Arrow Private School in Clatskanie, under the direction of principal Lori Sherman, set out again this year to honor the veterans. The students placed small flags around Clatskanie, each holding the name of a service member, both living and deceased. Gold boots are also displayed at the Clatskanie Veterans Memorial wall in honor of the veterans killed in war since 9/11. Sherman sees the importance of honoring the veterans for several reasons, primarily to honor those still living. “It is a tradition I started to honor our living veterans, such as my father, Harold J. Bowles, and my husband, Steven C. Sherman. Many people honor their loved ones after they have gone. I prefer to also honor the living so they can see how much they are appreciated,” Sherman said. “The students have seen how the community has supported this effort and it causes them to want to be a part of something
that means so much to so many.” She continued, “The number of flags has grown each year, each year surpassing 2,000. They represent all veterans from the state of Oregon.” Iolaus Krozer is a senior at Piercing Arrow, having attended the school since the age of four. “Placing the flags is something I love doing,” Krozer said. “It honors the veterans, which is the least I can do since they have fought and are fighting for all of our freedoms.” Piercing Arrow student Lillian Krozer said she is so proud to honor the veterans in this way. “Doing these flags each year is a time I can honor the men and women who proudly sacrificed for our freedom,” she said. “I’m so proud to be part of a school that honors the past as well as the present.” Jasper Watson, a seventh grader at the school, says it is important to honor our veterans. “I am excited to be part of something bigger than myself in a community that honors our country’s heroes,” Watson said. “I really like to work with my classmates and teachers on such a really worthwhile project.” For one official day, the country
stands united out of respect for our veterans. The holiday started as a way to reflect upon the heroism of those who died in our country’s service and was originally called Armistice Day. November 11 was the date at the armistice was signed ending World War I, according to Military.com. History.com states that it became Veterans Day in the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War. The observation of Veterans Day was originally set on the fourth Monday in October. But confusion ensued and the holiday we now celebrate is the original date – November 11. Proud Vietnam veteran Gerry Simmons, commander of the Clatskanie post of the American Legion, thinks the lesson the flags and the boots teach is invaluable. “A lot of history is not being taught in school,” he said. “The kids that help out with projects such as this are at an advantage. They are learning the history so many other students are not getting.” Piercing Arrow Private School is located at 175 N Nehalem Street in Clatskanie. The school may be reached at 503-728-3783.