Columbia County Since 1881 Leap Day Coronavirus Strikes Oregon Babies Celebrate
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‘Spring Equipment ahead’ fire at area Sunday log yard Page A4 March 8 Page A3 Wednesday, March 4, 2020 $1 TheThe ChronicleChronicle thechronicleonline.com Serving Columbia County since 1881 Leap Day Coronavirus Strikes Oregon babies celebrate CHRISTINE MENGES [email protected] This past Saturday, the world had a Leap Day, or an extra day added to February, Feb. 29. Most years, February ends on the 28th. But once every four years, the month gains an extra day. The reason why has to do with how the earth revolves around the sun. While people tend to think of years as being 365 days long, in reality it takes the earth 365 days, five hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds to make a full revolution. If calendars didn’t account for those extra five-ish hours, the seasons would eventually go out of whack. That’s why, to account for the discrep- ancy, an extra day is added (more or Oregon cases increasing School districts take action Columbia County response less) every four years. For most people, the extra day JEREMY C. RUARK JEREMY C. RUARK CHRISTINE MENGES is just one more day in the calendar [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] year. For those born on the date, it’s a Oregon health officials have identified School officials in Columbia County The Chronicle sat down with Michael bigger deal. a third presumptive positive case of CO- are taking preventive steps to ensure Paul, the Public Health Administrator for While most people have a 1 out VID-19 among state residents. The third student and staff safety in light of the Columbia County, to talk about steps that of 365 chance of being born on any case is an adult Oregon resident from coronavirus presumptive cases that have the county is taking to monitor the coro- other calendar date, being born on Umatilla County who is hospitalized in been reported by the Oregon Health navirus and handle an outbreak should Leap Day has a probability of 1 out Walla Walla, Wash. Authority. one occur. of 1,461. This means that “leaplings,” On Monday, March 2, state and local as they are known, comprise less than health officials are moving quickly to St. Helens Schools The Chronicle: Is what’s happening 0.07 percent of the world’s popula- contact people who may have been in in Clackamas County affecting Columbia tion. close contact with the individual who Following the Chronicle’s query last County in any way? If those odds weren’t crazy tested as a presumptive positive case. week about steps being taken, the St. enough, even more mind-boggling The third case is not linked to travel to Helens School District’s community Paul: Clackamas County declared is the fact that there are two sets of a part of the world with known cases of relations specialist Stacey Mendoza an emergency, but not a public health fraternal twins in Columbia County COVID-19. It is considered a case of replied, “The Oregon Health Authority in emergency. A public health emergency born on this date. community transmission. collaboration with the Columbia County is defined within the state. The state of One pair just celebrated their Preliminary reports indicate the Or- Health Department is providing us with Washington declared a state of emer- fourth or “first” birthday. The other egon resident attended a youth basketball information and guidance regarding gency. just turned sixteen, or “four.” game at a gymnasium at Weston Middle coronavirus.” Finn and Magpie The first set of twins were born to See CASES Page A4 See SCHOOL Page A9 See COUNTY Page A8 Becky Bean of St. Helens, and their names are Finn Bean, a boy, who was born at 4:26 p.m., and Magdalena, or “Magpie” Bean, a girl, who was born at 4:32 p.m. on Leap Day of 2016. This year, they celebrated their “first” or fourth birthday. For them, it’s the first of many more birthdays School renovation bond that they will only be able to celebrate on the actual day once every four years. What’s more, Becky said, it’s the last Leap Day birthday on a Satur- day, until their 32nd birthday. Becky said her twins’ birth was not planned for Leap Day at all. (503) 232-7292 “It was supposed to be one baby, HEAT AND COOL UP born in like, April,” Becky said, “And TO 1000 SQFT. then they came a month early.” Finn and Magpie, the youngest of INSTALLED FOR Becky’s four children, who have so AS LITTLE AS far been celebrating their birthday on $2800 AFTER REBATES Feb. 28, are too young to understand AND INCENTIVES the concept of having a birthday on RX18NMVJU/FTX18NMVJU Leap Day, Becky said. “They’re like, ‘we have a birthday every year,’ and I’m like, ‘No, no no. This is the special birthday,’ and they’re like, ‘they’re all special.’ I’ve tried to explain the concept, but all they hear is ‘birthday,’” Becky said. Illustration courtesy of the St. Helens School District While the children themselves This earlier artist’s drawing shows what the St. Helens High School campus could look like like following improvements. may not yet understand, Becky said she was very excited to celebrate and support for a bond measure. renovate and remodel the high sing Happy Birthday to the twins on CHRISTINE MENGES Should the ballot measure pass, school buildings, of which most [email protected] their actual birthday. For leaplings, it will be at the cost of $0.94 per classrooms were constructed in the myriad freebies and special deals exist $1,000 estimated property value, 1950s. for those born on this special day. Voters will be asked in May to according to Wright. SHSD officials detailed the Viewpoints: ..............A4 approve a $55 million bond mea- On Leap Day, Becky took her In the fall of 2019, SHSD Su- expected changes in a recent news twins to Build-A-Bear Workshop, Poll: ...........................A4 sure designed to fund renovation perintendent Scot Stockwell, with release, saying the renovations of St. Helens High School. which offers a special deal to Cartoon: ...................A4 the approval of the SHSD board would focus on safety and security. leaplings where they get to build a of directors, withdrew a proposed Other changes would include up- Board decision teddy bear for $2.29. She also took Blotter: ......................A4 bond measure which would have dating and repairing aging build- them to Olive Garden, which gives been for $65 million from the fall ings, modernizing the high school leaplings a deal where they can get Garden Plots: ...........A5 The St. Helens School Dis- ballot. Stockwell cited the need to career and vocational training labs, trict (SHSD) Board of Directors four desserts in order to make up for Calendar: ..................A5 continue to listen to the communi- upgrading classrooms, and expand- the other birthdays they had to skip. unanimously approved the bond ty and to see what they would like ing seating in the athletics and measure to appear on the May 19 Because Becky has twins, they got TV Guide: ................A7 in a fully renovated high school. auditorium rooms. eight desserts, which means she and Primary Ballot at their Wednes- After that decision, the figure Wright told the board the $55 Classified Ads: .........A8 day, Feb. 26 regular public board her other kids were able to indulge in for the bond measure was dimin- million bond measure would be all of the sweetness. Legals: .......................A9 meeting. The decision follows a ished to either $50 or $55 mil- the most appropriate because it presentation from Jeremy Wright, Additionally, Becky said she’s lion, with the final figure being received the most support from the found a few hotels that offer free stays Events: ....................A11 a representative from Patinkin dependent on what polling showed Sports: .....................A12 Research Strategies, a consulting would be most supported by com- firm which conducted polling in munity members. the community to determine the If passed, the measure will fully See RENOVATION Page A6 See LEAP Page A12 NEXT Vol. 138, No. 10 WEEK! Truckload Meat Sale Save the date March 12th and 13th 1111 Columbia Blvd, St Helens, OR 97051 • 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. • (503) 397-2288 A2 www.thechronicleonline.com Wednesday, March 4, 2020 Port enters contamination cleanup study approved the port’s feasi- sure they understand that CHRISTINE MENGES bility study work plan in they’re on board and then [email protected] November 2019. The work it’ll go to DEQ,” Harrington plan was completed ahead said. The Port of Columbia of time in order to move After DEQ looks at the County is moving forward forward with the feasibility completed feasibility study, with the next step in clean- study as quickly as possible, there will be a public com- ing a contaminated site at according to Port docu- ment period and ultimately one of its industrial parks. ments. a record, the final step. Railroad Corridor Cascadia Associates con- The Railroad Corridor Industrial Park, located at sultant Kurt Harrington has Industrial Park is a 104-acre 1550 Railroad Avenue in been working on the project site, zoned for heavy indus- St. Helens, was home to since its beginning. trial use, of which 17 acres the former Pope & Talbot “I’ve been on it a long is currently available. The wood-treating site and time,” he said. “I’m very current cleanup involves an contains creosote contami- passionate about seeing this area that is approximately nation. To clean up the site, thing through.” 25.15 acres in size, and the port began a remedial Cleaning up the site would become available investigation in 1995 and involves looking at different for development after DEQ finally received approval alternatives, required under has deemed the site as No Christine Menges / The Chronicle of the completion of the DEQ’s cleanup rules, Har- Further Action.