Vernonia
Politics
Columbia County sheriff disappointed at failure of jail levy, wants to try again in November
Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley is reacting to the rejection of a jail levy Tuesday, May 21, saying he will give the levy another go at November’s general election. The measure aimed to provide a new and higher tax to fund jail operations. The latest numbers Thursday morning, May 23, show the levy being defeated 64% to 36%. “I am very disappointed by the outcome of the jail levy," Pixley...
Early Results: Columbia County's 2024 Primary Election
Election Day has come and gone in Columbia County, and though the election results won't be certified until June 17, initial returns indicate that many across the county were not willing to approve measures that would add to their tax bill. Levies for the St. Helens Police Department, the Columbia County Jail, and Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District all fell short of a majority approval. The only levy that has been approved by a majority of voters at this time is Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District's...
OPINION: You can help your Columbia County community by donating to GLOW
Our GLOW Fund provides emergency bill payment assistance to families in need. Through April, we have helped 178 families in our community, providing $17,800 in assistance toward their electric bills. In 2022 and 2023, we provided an average of more than $40,000 in assistance each year. Unfortunately, our GLOW Fund account balance is running low. GLOW is funded by generous contributions from our customers, employee fundraisers and surplus scrap metal...
Magruder continues to lead early Columbia County election results, but November runoff may be required
As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 22, Margaret Magruder is maintaining her lead for Columbia County Commission Position 1, gaining 48% of the vote to 39.6% for Alex Tardif and Brian Brust with 12%. For Position 3, Casey Garrett is unchallenged with 95.6% of the vote. Even with her lead, the top two candidates are likely to head to a runoff election in November, if neither receives 50% of the certified vote come June. ...
Winner Winner: Scappoose student wins second place in statewide mayors contest
Catania Fenstermaker, a 6th grader at Otto Petersen School, won the second-place prize for her essay in the Oregon Mayors Association’s (OMA) “If I Were Mayor…” civic awareness contest. Each year, students statewide compete in three age groups using different media, describing what it would mean if they were the mayor of their city. Posters are designed by 4th and 5th-grade students; 6th through 8th-grade students write essays; and 9th through 12th-grade students produce a short video. ...
OPINION: Columbia County’s industrial land, workforce training make area new hub for global manufacturing innovation
Columbia County, just north of Portland, has been at heart of the region’s manufacturing since the 19th century. Here they made cobblestones for Portland’s first city streets and U.S. Navy ships for the first world war. Now Columbia County is making a new future with a rising new workforce, trading yesteryear’s timber milling for advanced manufacturing with new metal alloys and computer-aided design. “Students are deciding as early as 4th...
Important Notice: St. Helens City Hall Entry Restrictions on May 24 Due to Construction
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Republican fundraisers ran afoul of Oregon liquor rules, investigation finds
The Columbia County Republican Central Committee violated state liquor regulations when it auctioned bottles of high-end bourbons, including Pappy Van Winkle, during fundraisers in 2022 and 2023, a state investigation found. The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission inquiry followed a report last year by The Oregonian/OregonLive that determined the rural...
Banks School District secures bond for campus upgrades, early results show
Early election results are in, and Banks students will most likely be seeing major classroom upgrades with a new school bond. As it stands, the vote to approve Measure 34-36 leads with over 60%, as of 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 22. So far, ballot returns show a little more than 42% of registered voters weighing in, though not all have been tabulated. Oregon law allows for ballots postmarked on Election Day to be counted if received within the following week. ...
St. Helens Public Library in search of a new youth librarian
The St. Helens Public Library is in search of a new youth librarian. The search follows the resignation of the current youth librarian, Aryn Keeney, who accepted a position with another library in the Portland area. “Aryn moved on to another library," Library Director Suzanne Bishop said. "I think they feel like it’s a better fit for them. We’re certainly going to miss them quite a bit. They made some...
SFAC heads into the forest
Members of the State Forest Advisory Committee joined Oregon Department of Forestry staff for a tour of several sites in the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests on May 16, ahead of a committee meeting the next day. The group saw a shooting complex, partial-cut harvest operation and hiked to a future section of the Salmonberry Trail near Reehers Camp. The tour departed from the Hornshuh Creek Fire Station on Highway...
Nature park and labyrinth in St. Helens ready to be dedicated
The ambitious Blessing Woods Nature Park and Labyrinth, designed as a location to meditate and connect with nature during stressful times, will be officially dedicated at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 25, at Christ Episcopal Church in St. Helens. Church Vicar Jaime Sanders said the church has completed the initial planting and layout phase of the project. “The Nature Park is designed to be a place of refreshment for people and...
Developing: Downtown construction causing closures, cancellations
Due to construction and congestion in downtown St. Helens’s historic Riverfront District, the city has had to cancel and alter events while the projects are completed. While the city announced it is holding its concert series in McCormick Park this year, the 4th of July fireworks display has been canceled. The city discussed the cancellation of the fireworks display at its Apr. 17 work session. In an email to the...
Memorial Day: Gold Star Family marker to be dedicated
The St. Helens Garden Club invites all Gold Star Families and donors from Columbia County to join is on Memorial Day at the Veterans Park in Columbia City at 11:00 a.m. as we honor and celebrate all our veterans. At that time, there will be the dedication of the new Gold Star Memorial Marker, honoring those families whose sons and daughters made the supreme sacrifice for our Freedom. Thank you...
The Columbia Chorale will soon take a bite of the Big Apple
The Columbia Chorale of Oregon is headed to New York City’s Carnegie Hall next week, despite some bumps in the road. The Columbia County-based group, made up of members from a variety of communities, will be performing “Magnificat,” an original work from English composer John Rutter at the historic venue May 27. “Magnificat” is based on the New Testament’s announcement of the birth of Christ. Rutter will also serve as...
Accessible Resources: SBDC looking to help small businesses across the county
In an effort to make business materials and resources more accessible to budding and growing businesses, the Small Business Development Center has partnered with the St. Helens Library to offer a space for all things business. The space is in a corner of the St. Helens Public Library, and the purpose is to provide easy access to valuable resources and information for aspiring entrepreneurs and existing small business owners. The opening of the Small Business Resource Corner was celebrated by the St. Helens Library alongside...
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