Local Man Shares Explosion Experience
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Nature Airpark Park Airmarking project Page A8 Page A5 Wednesday, .50 November 4, 2020 $1 TheThe ChronicleChronicle thechronicleonline.com Serving Columbia County since 1881 MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net Chris Ostling is lucky to be alive, and he’s well aware of it. Ostling survived the explo- sion of the boat he lived aboard at the St. Helens Marina, and said he is grateful for the support he’s received from the community. The explosion occurred late Sunday evening, Oct. 25, and was triggered by a mishap with a marine-grade propane heater kept aboard. “Honestly I should be in little pieces scattered around the river as fish bait,” he said. “Miracles do happen.” Ostling had lit his propane heater, which draws fresh air from outside, and turned away for a few minutes. He said he started to hear strange noises from the area and when he returned he saw flames. He knelt down, his face inches away from the heater, and twisted the knob to turn it off but it let oxy- gen in instead. Then, it exploded. Local man “Basically I turned the knob and I saw a tongue of flame come at my face and I closed my eyes,” he said. The blast knocked him back only about six inches, but he said the moments that followed were si- shares explosion lent, as though he had been sucked Monique Merrill / The Chronicle into a vacuum. He felt the blast and Chris Ostling survived a boat explosion at the St. fireball wave past him. Helens Marina on Sunday, Oct. 25. He lost his pet “The boat just seemed to be rac- cat Joss, and most of his possessions, but said ing away from me in all directions the community response has been overwhelm- but down,” he said. “It was abso- experience ingly positive. lutely silent. It was just surreal.” Shortly after the initial shock, Photo courtesy of Columbia River Fire & Rescue A propane heater is suspected to be the cause of the boat explosion at the St. Helens Marina on Sunday night, Oct. 25. Chris Ousting was aboard and injured and his cat was killed in the blast. See EXPLOSION Page A8 High schoolers hold presidential election to reach kids online compared to in JEREMY C. RUARK person.” jruark@countrymedia.net Meeuwsen said the students have been very interested in the election. Joe Biden beat Donald Trump “And they certainly have their in the mock 2020 general election opinions about who should run the held by students at St. Helens High country and what ballot measures School. should pass,” he said. “It makes you “The purpose was to have kids get feel hopeful when you see this inter- involved in the election process and est from young people.” be informed of the issues that Oregon The following are the results from and the country are facing,” St. the SHHS mock election prepared by Helens High School Social Studies SHHS social studies teacher Mitch teacher Keith Meeuwsen said. Yen-Kastoff. The students had access to a digi- tal survey and voted online to engage Presidential election Courtesy photo in the mock election. Local school districts are now reviewing the easing of the metric guidelines means and when they might resume in-person instruction. “The biggest takeaway is to have Donald Trump (Republican) / discussions before and after the Mike Pence (Republican): 68 votes election and to make sure kids were (36.4%) In-person instruction guidelines eased aware of what is going on in their Joe Biden (Democrat) / Kamala state and country,” Meewsen said. Harris (Democrat): 106 votes (56.7%) Districts reviewing next steps “Last presidential elections the stu- Howie Hawkins (Green Party) / dents elected Donald Trump so it will Angela Nicole Walker (Green Party): on the latest COVID-19 studies science to guide my decision MAX KIRKENDALL and data by the Oregon Health making. My top priority has been be interesting to see if they are right 6 votes (3.2%) newsguardeditor@countrymedia.net this time around.” Jo Jorgensen (Libertarian) / Spike- Authority (OHA), align to CDC and will always be the health and JEREMY C. RUARK recommendations, are in line safety of Oregonians.” Because of the pandemic and Cohen (Libertarian): 7 votes (3.7%) jruark@countrymedia.net remote learning, Meeuwsen said with standards in other states like Since Oregon’s metrics were less than 200 kids voted in the mock Oregon State Measure 107 - California and help Oregon meet originally issued in August, Despite two straight days of more data has become available election. Allow Campaign Finance Limits record high reported COVID-19 its priority to return students to “Which is disappointing,” he said. in-person instruction. from school districts across the cases, the State of Oregon and country. ODE worked with the “Typically we run a pencil and paper Yes, allow localities to make laws Oregon Department of Education “Over the course of just a few ballot at school with kids in atten- limiting campaign contributions: 95 months, life has transformed,” Oregon Health Authority to es- (ODE) has adjusted their reopen- tablish when students can return dance and get pretty close to 100% votes (51.1%) ing schools metrics, which will Gov. Kate Brown said in press turnout. This year, being an online allow some students to return conference Oct. 30. “From the survey, we have about a 25% turnout. back to the classroom. very first case of COVID-19 in It just goes to show how hard it is See ELECTION Page A2 The new metrics are based Oregon, I have continued to use See INSTRUCTION Page A4 ELECTION 2020 Election 2020 results and reaction on thechronicleonline.com NORBEST OR JENNI-O TURKEY FROZEN - 12-14lb Letters: .........................A4 STOVETOP STUFFING MIX - 6oz Poll: ..............................A4 Thanksgiving - 14.5oz Cartoon: ......................A4 CHICKEN BROTH SWANSON Obituaries: ..................A5 LARGE OLIVES FOOD CLUB - 6oz TV Guide: ...................A5 Holiday Meal Deal 2 CANS FOOD CLUB VEGETABLES - 14.5-15.25oz Classified Ads: ............A6 OCEAN SPRAY CRANBERRY SAUCE - 14oz Legals: ..........................A7 Gift CAMPBELL’S CREAM OF CHICKEN OR MUSHROOM -10.5oz Certificates FRIED ONIONS FOOD CLUB - 6oz available GRAVY PACKET FOOD CLUB - 1oz RUSSET POTATOES - 5lb BAG ROLLS WHITE OR WHEAT THAW AND SERVE - 12ct $ IMPERIAL MARGARINE - 16oz Vol. 138, No. 45 PUMPKIN PIE 8” CYRUS O’LEARY 39.99 - 8oz OCT 28th - NOV 26th, 2020 COOL WHIP TOPPING 7 AM - 10 PM EVERY DAY • (503) 397-2288 1111 Columbia Blvd, St Helens, OR 97051 • marketfreshonline.com FREE YARD DEBRIES RECYCLING SAT., APRIL 20! 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Quality Bark at Competitive Prices chronicle2@countrymedia.net commute outside the county emergency like a heart attack He said the long term impacts Sold• BEAVER byVariety yard or Unitof Fir for & pick Hemlock up or BARKDelivery bark Dust for work and because resi- or a stroke, because they of the new disease are not • • VarietyMulch of Fir & Hemlock Potting Bark Soil Dust dents rely on hospitals outside are worried about becoming fully known yet, sometimes • BEAVER Mulch & Potting Soil BARK of this county, Paul said. infected or taking up time and symptoms linger after the • • CedarCedar Chips & Chips Trail Mix & Trail Mix “If our case rates in those space that could be used by disease is gone. It is known Clean Woodwaste Recycling communities continue to COVID-19 patients. that the mortality rate for CO- $ YardClean Debris Woodwaste & Clean Wood RecyclingWaste Recycling $915 per yd. increase beyond the current “We are going to be able VID-19 is between five to 10 CleanYard = No pressure Debris treated, & Woodwastepaint or stain Recycling level, we will see the same to continue our regular care times AREhigher than Y theOU average CONFUSED WoodYard$6 yard Waste Debris with = Lumber, $8 minimumWITH & branches, Woodwaste charge small MEDICARE? stumps Recycling and logs. happen here, and it will for patients,” he said, and that seasonal flu, he said. We$6 yarddo not with accept $8 minimum trash, charge plastic, dirt or sod. unavoidably have an adverse the hospitals have separate People with existing medi- effect on local businesses and COVID-19 wings. “We have cal challenges are at a greater the reopening of schools in a moral obligation to plan for risk to the course of COV- WeWe Deliver Deliver 1 Unit 1 Unit Minimum! Minimum! Columbia County,” Paul said. the worst.” ARE YOUID-19, LOOSING he said. People should YOUR BB CURRENT E E AV AV E E MEDICARE R R BABA R R COVERAGE? K K “To avoid those disruptions, When it comes to holi- be cautious when they are People may be tiring of we all have to increase our days, Neville said people with loved ones who are older the pandemic, but there’s still adherence to the public health must make some difficult or have a condition that might 503-543-30005400054000 West Lane Lane Rd Rd a long way to go, health of- recommendations — particu- decisions. put that at an elevated risk. 503-543-3000Scappoose Oregon Mon-Fri Scappoose Mon-Fri(503) 8-5 543-3000 8-5 Oregon ficials warn.