2020 Readers’ Election Readers’ Choice Choice voices of the community 2020 Awards Page A4-5 PRESENTED BY The Chronicle Awards & The Chief Wednesday, .50 October 28, 2020 $1 TheThe ChronicleChronicle thechronicleonline.com Serving Columbia County since 1881 Lions plant painted rocks Photo courtesy of the Lincoln County School District While some Oregon school districts have resumed limited in-person instruction, Columbia County school districts are con- tinuing remote learning due to the increasing COVID-19 cases. Courtesy photo Courtesy photo The rock painters clockwise, starting at front, are Kathy Syrstad, Rosemary Jeffrey, Niki Kirsch, Jean Kirsch A tray full of the Lions Club painted rocks. and Sue Mueller. In-person found ways to safely contin- on the painting rocks project words on the back. already been retrieved by the JEREMY C. RUARK ue serving the community. seeking an eye-catching The rocks are being public,” Syrstad said. “We classes still [email protected] The club’s latest project designs. On the back of placed in St. Helens’ City will periodically add more is painting and distributing the rocks, an encouraging Parks and public areas for rocks.” distant Although the COVID-19 colorful small rocks around message is added and se- anyone passing by to enjoy, As winter sets in, Syrstad pandemic has made meetings the community. lected rocks got an additional according to Lions Club and activities more difficult, JEREMY C. RUARK the St. Helens Lions Club Lions Club members “surprise” included. A small member Kathy Syrstad. [email protected] members said they have gather outside to work safely sticker has encouraging “Some of the rocks have See ROCKS Page A8 School districts in Colum- bia County are preparing in- person classroom instruction Fairgrounds faces financial challenges plans, but those plans will not be put into place as soon as She said the fairgrounds cial disruption, however, came district officials had hoped. MONIQUE MERRILL projected a $40,000 loss in from the cancelation of the The St. Helens School [email protected] revenue over the weeks that annual fair and rodeo, which District has not yet set a spe- the fairgrounds sheltered brought in over $90,000 cific date to resume in-person It’s been a long year of wildfire evacuees in Sep- in revenue in 2019. It’s the instruction. canceled events and reimag- tember. The grounds are on largest event hosted on the St. Helens School District ined celebrations, and the Saulser Road in St. Helens. grounds, and brings thousands Superintendent Scot Stock- Columbia County Fair Board “The loss was due to the of visitors each year. well sent a letter to parents has felt the impact. fairgrounds not being avail- Other events were late Thursday, Oct. 22, stat- “We are financially strug- able to incur any revenue reimagined, like the annual ing, “When we are able to gling,” said Julie Pelletier, during the emergency shelter design a plan that can safely vice president of the Colum- situation,” she said. Chronicle photo Tents were set up at the Columbia County Fairgrounds in St. Helens in staff and support limited bia County Fairgrounds Fair The most significant finan- in‐person Instruction for our Board and vendor coordinator. See FAIR Page A3 September to house evacuees from regional wildfires. most at risk students we will notify eligible students and families. “We are hopeful this can be the first phase to return- ing to school, yet we know it will take significant work as a community to bring our num- bers down to allow in‐person instruction for all students.” Distance learning will continue until state required metrics are met to safely resume in-class room instruc- tion, according to district officials. Scappose School District Superintendent Tim Porter sent a letter to parents on Tuesday, Oct. 20, suggesting that his district will likely not resume in-person instruction JUSTICE WITH INTEGRITY until January. COLUMBIA COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE “Our ability to fully open DISTRICT 19, POSITION 3 classrooms is dependent on health metrics in Columbia, Endorsed by: The Honorable Judge Cathleen B. Callahan, Circuit Court Washington, and Multnomah Judge of Columbia County • Stephen D. Petersen, attorney in Rainier • Counties specifically, which Agnes M. Petersen, attorney in St. Helens • David B. Herr, attorney in in turn are dependent on our Scappoose • Mary Anne Anderson, attorney in St. Helens community following good Paid for by Clarke 4 Judge practices, including the wear- ing of face coverings, Porter said. “We are likely months away from re-opening our school buildings in a broad manner, even for a hybrid/co- BRANDEE DUDZIC hort model of learning.” See the St. Helens and Scapppose superintendents’ letters attached to this story at County Commissioner Position 1 thechronicleonline.com. NEIGHBOR • VETERAN • MOTHER Paid for by Brandee Dudzic for Columbia County Commissioner See CLASSES Page A11 Brandee2020.com Daylight Savings 8pc Fall back: Nov. 1 Viewpoint: ..................A4 Letters: .....................A4-5 Calendar : ...................A5 Obituaries: ..................A6 TV Guide: ...................A7 Classified Ads: ............A8 Legals: ..........................A9 original price Garden Plots: ..............A9 Fried forChicken Vol. 138, No. 44 $6.99 $8.99. 7 AM - 10 PM EVERY DAY • (503) 397-2288 1111 Columbia Blvd, St Helens, OR 97051 • marketfreshonline.com A2 www.thechronicleonline.com Wednesday, October 28, 2020 New COVID cases Voter turnout early, high day, Oct. 22, which means STAFF REPORT can drop off ballots up to 8 messages and return most it’s been 10 or less days JEREMY C. RUARK [email protected] p.m. Nov. 3 at these drop sites: calls within 24 hours on since the onset of symptoms. [email protected] Clatskanie Library, 11 Lillich weekdays. As of Thursday, Oct. Seven new cases of St., Clatskanie; Rainier City “Voting by mail in Oregon 22, there have been 14 Voter turnout for the Nov. 3 Hall, 106 B St. West, Rainier; is easy, secure and resistant to COVID-19 were reported in COVID-19 hospitalizations Columbia County on Mon- General Election is at a higher Vernonia Public Library, fraud,” Attorney General Ellen reported since the pandemic level compared to the election 701 Weed Ave., Vernonia; Rosenblum said. “That said, day, Oct. 26, according to began, according to the the Oregon Health Authority of 2016, according to Colum- Columbia County Courthouse, there are reports of misin- Columbia County Public bia County Election Supervi- 230 Strand St., St. Helens; formation around this year’s (OHA). Health Department. The day’s report ensures sor Don Clack. and at the Scappoose City election, and voters may have Data from the county As of Friday, Oct. 23, Hall, 33568 E. Columbia Ave., urgent questions. I want Or- that the county is an- health department isolates other week behind opening pandemic. 35.84% of voters in the county Scappoose. egonians to know they can call cases within different zip On Friday, Oct. 23, the had submitted their ballots, 11 Voters with questions or our hotline and get a pretty schools under the current codes. Within the county, metrics, which require Co- OHA announced the highest days ahead of the election. In concerns about voting security quick call back.” St. Helens has reported by single day number of new 2016, only 18.72% of voters can call the Attorney Gen- lumbia County to report five the highest total number of or less new cases per week cases statewide since the in the county had turned in eral’s Voter Protection Hotline Follow election coverage at cases since the pandemic start of the pandemic at 550. their ballots, 11 days prior to at 971-673-4111. thechronicleonline.com and in for three weeks. began, with 72 reported. The county’s total num- Three of those cases were in the election. Staff at the Oregon Depart- the Wednesday print editions Comparing the number of Columbia County. Statewide, 39.8% of voters ment of Justice review the of The Chronicle. ber of cases reported since cases to the size of the com- the onset of the pandemic is The OHA is urging have submitted their ballots as munity, however, Rainier has Oregonians to rethink Hal- of Oct. 23. 266. Of those 266, eight are been hit the hardest, despite considered currently infec- loween celebrations this As to why ballots are com- having reported 49 total year, amidst another spike in tious as of data from Thurs- ing in earlier and at a higher cases since the onset of the cases around the state. rate, Clack said there is high public interest. “This election has whipped up serious hype and people are being cautious in ensuring Hey, we’ve got hay! their vote is heard,” he said. In overseeing the elec- tion process, Clack said there LAKEN GORTLER would be several indicators of Sponsored content a safe and secure election. “They could include We heard our custom- among others, registration in- ers talking about their need tegrity, reliable ballot delivery for hay, and now we’ve got and return, accurate results, some! It took us forever to timely results, voter engage- find a supplier. We looked ment, confidence and trust in and looked and looked, the system,” he said. but finally found a guy out Voters are encouraged to in Idaho. They’re USDA use area drop off boxes to certified, so that means the ensure their ballot arrives by Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle USDA comes out and looks election night, 8 p.m. Nov. 3. There are a number of ballot drop off boxes located in communities at their fields and then they Columbia County voters around Columbia County. have to cut it within ten days. So, we’ve got compressed bails of alfalfa, timothy, and $125,452 grant for food bank hay.