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The St. Helens Chronicle
OSAA appoints new Championship Thresholds Task Force at May meeting
A new task force for the Oregon School Activities Association will look at the amount of teams and individuals who compete in state championships for sports and activities. The OSAA Executive Board appointed the Championship Thresholds Task Force at its May meeting. The 12-member committee includes representatives from each of the six classifications, as well as three additional at-large members (one each for Class 6A/5A, 4A/3A and 2A/1A), two representatives...
ODOT urges drivers to practice safe driving coming into summer travel season
Summertime usually means vacations and road trips. According to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR), now is a good time for a little planning and some safety checks that might spare you from dealing with the consequences of a breakdown – or worse, a highway crash. DFR reminds Oregonians of safe driving tips and to check with your insurance agent or company to review your insurance policies. With changes in driving patterns and potential risks during the...
Tech Tips to help kids avoid the ‘Summer Slide’
As summer approaches and classes come to an end, many students are excited to take a break from learning. However, there is a risk of students experiencing the “summer slide,” which is a loss of academic learning and skills that can occur during the summer months. According to Sociological Science, students could lose up to three months of their learning during the summer. “Summer break can be a time for students to relax and recharge, but it’s also important to mix in educational opportunities to...
Early Literacy Educator Preparation Council releases final recommendations
Following a one year review of Oregon's early literacy education, a state council has released its final recommendations to strengthen educator preparation programs for teaching reading and writing in Oregon elementary schools. In January, the Early Literacy Educator Preparation Council released initial recommendations to revise educator and school administrator preparation program standards for literacy instruction. Members of educator prep programs and the general public were able to submit feedback to the recommendations. ...
It’s calf and fawn season – keep your distance from elk and deer
Oregon’s deer and elk give birth from May through July. It’s natural for mother animals to leave their young alone and hidden for extended periods of time while they go off to feed, so never assume a young animal is orphaned when you see it alone. The mother will return when it’s safe to do so—when people, pets or predators aren’t around. Removing an animal from the wild is also a violation of Oregon wildlife laws. (ORS 497.308 – No person shall remove from its...
Column: Hayley Starkey with Beyond the Forest and her entrepreneurial journey
In the next installment of the new series under the heading of “GRO Greater”, which focuses on all-things-entrepreneurial in St. Helens and beyond, in Columbia County, we spent time with Hayley Starkey, business owner of Beyond the Forest Events LLC in St. Helens, for insights into her entrepreneurial journey and some lessons learned. Describe for us what it was like when you first had the idea to start Beyond the Forest? Was it a lightning bolt or something that developed over time? Was there an...
OHA issues heat wave safety advisory
Summer kicked off officially June 20, and Oregon Health Authority recommends people in Oregon take steps to keep this season from becoming a “bummer” with tips for staying healthy and safe. The Oregon ESSENCE Summer Hazard Report dashboard allows people to monitor trends in the most common summer-related hazards. The dashboard contains interactive graphs showing total daily counts of emergency department and urgent care center visits in Oregon associated with four injury and illness categories: heat-related illness, water submersion events, wildfire-related smoke inhalation, and air...
Garden Plots: Corn crops and controlling summer bugs
The Columbia County Beekeepers Monthly meeting has been canceled for July since it would have been on July 4. It’s not too late to plant corn Vegetable gardening has moved in fits and starts this year. Some gardeners, depending on your location, might consider planting short-season corn like “Sugar Buns.” These take about 70 days to maturity corn. You don’t have to do that this year if you get the...
Hot weather safety for pets
With the temperatures rising this week, Greenhill Humane Society administrators are encouraging pet owners of the importance of keeping pets safe this summer. Leave pets at home when running errands. Leaving your animal in a parked car, even for just a few minutes, can easily cause heat stroke or brain damage. A car's interior temperature can increase in minutes, even with the windows slightly open. Dogs are especially vulnerable to...
Drug-Free Pep Rallies educate county youth
Columbia County Public Health, in partnership with the Opioid Response Network (ORN), recently held a successful series of nine Drug-Free Pep Rallies focused on overdose prevention, vaping, and marijuana education. These events were held at various schools across the county and engaged students in crucial substance use prevention and education activities. The rallies, which took place from May 6-10, featured numerous community speakers, including representatives from Columbia Health Services, Youth Era, Vernonia Police Department, Columbia River Fire and Rescue, St. Helens Police Department, Sauvie Island...
St. Helens Saints enjoying tremendous success
At the midway point of the summer league season, the St. Helens Saints are enjoying tremendous success in their American Legion single A (18U) baseball schedule as they've compiled a 9-2 record and have a four-game win streak. The Saints recorded an impressive 11-10 win in a June 18 contest over the 17U single A Columbia Gorge Hustlers (1-6) at Quinton Street Ballpark in The Dalles. The Saints, guided by Coach Matt Lokken and assistant Coach Jackson Hald, followed with a 14-1 win June 19...
Oregon adds 4,000 jobs
Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 4,000 jobs in May, following a revised gain of 2,400 jobs in April, according to the Oregon Employment Department. Health care and social assistance gained 1,900 jobs in May, while leisure and hospitality added 1,000. Monthly declines were largest in retail trade ( -800) and construction ( -400). Private-sector job growth has been very slow over the year, gaining 3,500 jobs (+0.2%). ...
Police Blotter: Police make arrests for thefts and DUIs
The police blotter relates to the public record of incidents as reported by law enforcement agencies. All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Information printed is preliminary and subject to change. For specific details about cases listed, contact the appropriate law enforcement agency. St. Helens Police Department May...
Oregon launches new summer food program for children
Oregon Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) is a new food benefits program to help shrink the hunger gap when children are on summer break and don’t have easy access to healthy meals at school. Summer EBT starts in late June and will provide $120 per eligible child to buy food. “Summer break is days away for families with school-age children. During the summer, many families must provide another 10...
Clatskanie budget’s big increase
The end of the fiscal year is fast approaching, and governmental agencies around Columbia County are wrapping up their budget cycles. Clatskanie’s budget has ballooned this year as a result of an influx of funding for the city’s sewer plant project. The Columbia County Chronicle & Chief reached out to Clatskanie City Manager Greg Hinkelman for more information about what citizens can expect from this year’s budget. The significant change...
SHMS athletes honored with John Beck Memorial Award
The Annual John Beck Memorial Award winners have been announced! The award recognizes two middle school athletes for their prowess on the field and character off it and supports their continued participation in sports at the high school level. This year’s winners were Sarah Cobabe and Noah Bigham. The awards were presented to Cobabe and Bigham at a St. Helens Middle School (SMHS) assembly June 14. St. Helens Middle School...
Swimming into the sunset
Gina Harrington has spent a lot of time in the water in Columbia County, and for much of her life, she’s spent it helping other people enjoy the water as well. Now, after almost four decades, she’s retiring. Harrington got her first paid swim teaching gig when she was 11. “I was babysitting, and the lady whose daughter I was babysitting said that I could take her up to the...
Two measles cases detected in Clackamas County
Out of an abundance of concern for the health and wellness of county residents Columbia County, has shared that two cases of measles have been identified in a single household in Clackamas County. Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Clackamas County public health officials are investigating them. One household member, an unvaccinated adult, was confirmed to have measles June 14. The individual developed a rash June 11. While the time range...
St. Helens awards letter of intent for events coordinator
The City of St. Helens has taken the next step in trying to select a new events coordinator, with the council voting to approve a notice of intent to award for Treadway Events & Entertainment LLC. The notice of intent to award begins the negotiation with the selected contractor candidate and also opens a seven-day “objection period.” The council made the unanimous decision at a special session on June 17 after hearing presentations from two finalists who submitted proposals as part of the city’s request...
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