TCC128 by C.M.I.

Tigers back on the mats

Briarcliff Pool closes

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2023

VOL. 132, NO. 31 Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891

Clatskanie Bluegrass Festival returning WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

he Clatskanie Bluegrass Festival is set to return in September of 2024, and the catalyst behind its revitalization is the Clatskanie Arts Commission (CAC) Board’s youngest member, Nate Hendricks. The festival date is to be Sept. 13-15, 2024, and according to CAC Secretary and Treasurer Elsa Wooley, it will be the first time the event will return after an 11-year absence. Henricks is 18-years-old and joined the Arts Commission before the pandemic. He has a love of bluegrass music that was sparked by playing a student-model banjo that his grandmother gave him. “I just kind of picked it up. It was about the only thing I had to do besides schoolwork. So I started playing the banjo and then started playing guitar, and that led into pretty much all the bluegrass instruments,” Hendricks said. Hendricks can be seen performing his music at Colvin’s Pub and Grill about twice a month. Hendricks started as a dishwasher in Colvin’s kitchen but approached owner Kim Rogers to see if he could play his music at the restaurant. “Upon hearing him play, I was just kind of blown away. He’s very, very talented. His style of music and his singing is just a very old soul kind of songs,” Rogers said. “Then we started talking about the bluegrass festival and his passion to bring that back.” Rogers recently made a $1,000 donation to the CAC to support Hendricks’ efforts to bring the Clatskanie Bluegrass Festival back

Kim Rogers presents a check to Nate Hendricks to support the Clatskanie Bluegrass Festival.

to the community. Rogers said he wanted to make a contribution to support Hendricks’ musical aspirations. Rogers said that Hendricks’ ability seems like something you’d see on America’s Got Talent. “Anybody that needs my help that has that kind of ambition and that kind of drive, these days, being 18, 19-years-old? You gotta be kidding me. I would give the guy my right leg if I could. He’s just one of those kids who’s going to do something with his life,” Rogers said. “I’m so blessed that when I see him in another 10 to 15 years, and I go to one of his shows, I’m going to be like, ‘I knew that kid when he

was scrubbing eggs off a plate!” Creating community Hendricks said that beyond the music, what made him fall in love with bluegrass was the people. About a year ago, Hendricks and his grandmother went across the country for a bluegrass festival in Maryland. “At a music festival, in any other genre, strangers are strangers; you don’t know anyone. You go there to enjoy the music, and you head on home. With bluegrass, the people you meet are more like family,” Hendricks said. “I met people

Courtesy photo from Elsa Wooley

[in Maryland] once, I’ve only met them once, and we’re still in contact with each other. I could go and stay at their home if I needed to go to that part of the country.” Those types of connections are part of the motivation for Hendricks to bring the bluegrass festival back to Clatskanie City Park next September. Planning the festival has been going without any significant hitches. “I haven’t really encountered any large problems. Most everything is going pretty smoothly,” Hendricks said. “Progress has been great. Contacting bands has been amazing. I’ve already known a lot

of the bands in the Pacific Northwest, so getting ahold of them hasn’t really been a problem.” Hendricks said that right now, he has five bands lined up to play at the festival. This being the first year of the festival, Hendricks said he isn’t planning on performing himself because he’ll be running around handling the organizational components. One of the focuses for Hendricks for the festival is to engage more young people with the genre. One way Hendricks hopes to engage kids is through the Chick Rose School of Bluegrass. “They have a wide array of instruments that they bring to festivals. And they have a two-hour training program where you sign your kid up, and we teach them how to play that instrument,” Hendricks said. “They then perform that same day.” Hendricks isn’t part of the Chick Rose School of Bluegrass, but he’s helped teach kids in the program because he “enjoys it.” Ahead of the festival, Hendricks said any donations to help fund the project would be appreciated. Addressing the community, Hendricks said he wants people to attend and engage with the event. “I just want the community to show up and see what bluegrass is all about,” Hendricks said. “Don’t be afraid to talk to any of the musicians at the festival. The community needs to grow, and the only way for it to gorw is by you getting interested.” Tax-deductible donations in support of this event may be sent to the Clatskanie Arts Commission, PO Box 1110, Clatskanie, OR 97016.

CRFR appoints new board member WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

At a recent special meeting of the Columbia River Fire & Rescue (CRFR) Board of Directors, the directors interviewed two candidates for the vacancy on the board and selected a new member. The two candidates interviewed on Nov. 29 were former Columbia County Commissioner Joel Yarbor and current St. Helens City Councilor Mark Gundersen. Following an interview process, Gundersen was sworn in as the newest member of the CRFR board. Amid the myriad of issues facing the board, Gundersen comes in with an outside perspective, as he’s never been involved with the fire service. Gundersen said that the catalyst for his wanting the board position was when interim Chief Eric Smythe approached the city council to inquire as to whether any of the councilors would like to become more involved with the CRFR at a board level. “At least the majority of the council, myself included, thought it was kind of a good idea for us to have more communication. This would be a good way to start that,” Gundersen said. “It wasn’t a goal

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Mark Gundersen is sworn in by CRFR Board President Kelly Niles on Nov. 29.

of mine to get on the board. It was more of a need, and they asked me to come down and interview. I interviewed, and they accepted me. I’m happy to help. I like to give back to the community.” As he settles into his new position, Gundersen said that his top priority is to ensure that services are maintained at the same level in the

district. Gundersen noted that there are issues facing the district, but after speaking to the chiefs about the budget, he believes they can overcome the financial issues facing the district. “After meeting with those guys, they’re doing everything they can to make sure services aren’t limited,” Gundersen said. “I just want to make sure that we’re well served. These

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is the first year that Safeway has done the can and bottle drive. Long said that based on this year’s success, they will be doing the can and bottle drive again next year. The Turkey Bucks fundraiser is just part of Safeway’s efforts to support Turning Point this holiday season. Safeway is also doing “Holiday Bags” to raise money for Turning Point. “We have a $5.00 bag or $10.00 bag of items that will be donated to help feed our local families,” Long said. “We are still asking the community for can and bottle donations to help with this fundraiser. Just bring your bags into the store, and we will take care of the rest.” The bags contain a variety of canned and nonperishable goods to help stock pantries for families in need. Long said that she has been blown away by the efforts of the community to come together to support each other this holiday season. Thank you, Clatskanie, for all you do for our community,” Long said. “We can’t thank our community enough for all their help.”

services are important, and I want to make sure that we’re doing the best we can, with the resources that we have, to provide for the community.” Splitting time between the council and the CRFR board, Gundersen said he has the “bandwidth to do it.” With less than a week on the board under his belt, Gundersen said getting up to speed on the full scope of his role in the district is still a work in progress. Gundersen said that it’s a “team effort,” but said that trust throughout the district will be critical to the district’s success going forward. Gundersen emphasized that he feels that Smythe and the administration are going to keep the district “heading in the right direction.” “This isn’t a political thing. I’m just trying to help out. If we’re asked and, I can do it, then I’m trying to help out,” Gundersen said. “If there’s any issues, then I’ll step down.” A message from CRFR

In an information release addressed to the CRFR board and the media on Dec. 1, Smythe outlined the direction the district is going. The release was compiled by IAFF Local 3215 President Schrotzberger and

Smythe. Smythe said the arbitrator has come back with a ruling on the disputed labor contract. The ruling has compelled the administration and the union back to the bargaining table. Smythe said that negotiations will begin at once. In a preliminary meeting, Smythe met with union representatives for an informal discussion of the district’s financial situation and the outcome of arbitration. “The informal talks with President Schrotzberger, VP Petersen, and Secretary Strolis were productive and laid the groundwork for beginning negotiations next week. The direction given by the CRFR Board of Directors was to balance the Fiscal Year 23/24 budget as required by Oregon law (ORS 294.100),” Smythe said in the release. Smythe outlined what has contributed to the district’s overspending and current financial woes. Smythe said some of the changes have been legal issues, investigations, the hire and subsequent removal of a new fire chief, and financial challenges caused by “some combination of harmful choices/bad acts under audit

See CRFR Page A6

Can and Bottle Drive a success The first part of Clatskanie Safeway’s holiday can and bottle drive to raise donations for Turning Point Community Service Center has been a resounding success, according to Safeway Front End Manager Lisa Long. It was a success. The kindness and generosity of Clatskanie was unbelievable,” Long said. “The donations from the can and bottle drive put us above and beyond. The store had raised over 103% of our goal.” The Clatskanie Safeway does “Turkey Bucks” to raise money for Thanksgiving meals, and the proceeds are donated to Turning Point. Long said they achieved their goal of providing 172 meals for local folks in need. As of Dec. 1, Long said that they had raised $9,940 overall and that can and bottle donations were about $1,450. While the partnership between Safeway and Turning Point dates back more than 20 years, this

Courtesy photo from Lisa Long

Lisa Long (left) stands with the Holiday Bags that will raise money for Turning Point Community Service Center.