Bulletproof Dance vest for legacy K9 Lars Page A12 Page A2 Wednesday, .50 March 24, 2021 $1 thechronicleonline.com Serving Columbia County since 1881 New Grocery Outlet taking shape Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle Courtesy drawing form the City of St. Helens Planning Department Construction for the new Grocery Outlet along Highway 30 began last fall. This is a conceptual drawing of the new Grocery Outlet being constructed in St. Helens. Rainier. with this story at thechronicleonline. ($84,945,316), health care and social lets had an average annual employ- JEREMY C. RUARK Specific details about when com. assistance ($52,378,690), educa- ment of 788 in 2019, ranking them [email protected] construction will be completed and According to third quarter of tional services ($46,375,798), public fifth highest in employment behind Work is moving ahead for the when hiring for the new store would 2020 Oregon Employment Depart- administration ($38,429,376), con- manufacturing (1,552), health care new 16,000-square-foot Grocery take place have yet to be released. ment information, there were 320 struction ($36,043,065), transporta- and social assistance (1,455), ac- Outlet store under construction at Oregon Employment Depart- food and beverage stores and 534 tion and warehousing ($23,178,815), commodation and food services 475 S. Columbia River Highway. ment Regional Economist Shawna general merchandise outlets in Co- accommodation and food services (1,233), and educational services According to its website, Sykes said the average wage of food lumbia County with a total payroll ($22,274,908), the balance of retail (1,143). Grocery Outlet has 11 stores in the and beverage stores plus general for the two business segments at trade minus grocery and general Portland metro-Southwest Washing- merchandise stores is $26,869 annu- $21,171,394 in 2019. merchandise stores ($21,392,255) Follow this developing story at ton area and 300-plus stores nation- ally, but that wage can vary greatly The two segments ranked 10th and utilities ($21,296,903). thechronicleonline.com and in the wide. The closest Grocery Outlets depending on the specific job. See a highest in terms of payroll within Sykes said the food and beverage Wednesday print editions of The to St. Helens are in Scappoose and detailed chart of positions and wages the county behind manufacturing stores and general merchandise out- Chronicle. Eisenschmidt Pool boiler to be replaced and had to rewire it, but it needs to be pay that back at $2,000 a month.” JEREMY C. RUARK replaced.” To help cover that cost, the pool [email protected] The boiler is essential to keeping team launched a GoFundMe account Anne Scholtz has been pretty the 230,000 gallon pool and the air last week. As of Tuesday, March 23, busy over the past year. in the building warm. Scholtz had the account had collected $4,670. Do- As the general manager at Eisen- Energy Trust of Oregon conduct a test nations may be made at Help Eisen- schmidt Pool in St. Helens, she was of the boiler and the report showed it schmidt Pool Install a New Boiler. forced last spring to close the facility was only 64% efficient. The pool, located at 1070 Eisen- and lay off 25 employees due to the “Energy Trust determined that schmidt Lane in St. Helens, reopened financial strain of the COVID-19 we would save $2,000 a month if we Feb. 15 by appointment only under pandemic, leaving her and a small replaced this boiler,” she said. the pandemic health and safety core management team to keep the The pool district has ordered two guidelines. pool stable until regular operations condenser boilers, one for backup, “We continue to offer limited laps, could resume. and one to replace the existing aging swim lessons, aerobics and the St. Adding to those issues was a pool boiler. The cost for that project is Helens and Scappoose High School leak and damage caused by a winter estimated to be $110,000. swim teams used the pool for prac- storm. The latest challenge is an ag- Scholtz said the Energy Trust has tices,” Scholtz said. ing 30-year-old boiler. agreed to pay $42,000 towards the The pool was built in 1939 fol- “It hasn’t been reliable in nearly cost. lowing three drownings of three a year,” Scholtz said. “I have to come “That is extremely generous,” she people in the Columbia River in in regularly and check it. We’d had to said. “We also obtained a $70,000, Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle three-year loan, from Columbia Pacif- Eisenschmidt Pool General Manager Anne Scholtz said the pool boiler is unreliable put a camera on it so I can tell when and needs to be replaced. it goes out. We have made repairs ic Economic District and we have to See BOILER Page A3 New parks and rec manager selected ing at 2625 Gable Road to estab- with ensuring the successful as a utility billing specialist. In STAFF REPORT lish a new Recreation Center and continuation of the parks and rec- 2018, she transitioned to working [email protected] expand recreation programs and reation division’s capital improve- part time in the utility billing divi- The City of St. Helens has se- opportunities in the community. ment projects as well as ensuring sion and part time as a pecreation lected Shanna Duggan, the city’s The city launched a national that the St. Helens community has coordinator when the city first recreation manager, as its new recruitment process for the Parks sufficient recreational opportuni- created its recreation program. parks and recreation manager. and Recreation Manager position ties and safe spaces to enjoy the She was promoted to a full-time The position was created to and received over 30 applications outdoors. position as the city’s recreation oversee St. Helens parks and from candidates across the United “I am passionate about creating manager in July 2019. Most re- recreation divisions, which were States. inclusive spaces and opportunities cently, Duggan was named as one combined into a single division “The candidate pool could not for everyone in the community,” of the city’s 2020 Employees of in February. The reorganization have been any more competitive,” Duggan said. “I look forward to the Year. comes at an ambitious time for St. Helens Public Works Direc- strengthening the collaborations Duggan is a St. Helens resident the city’s parks and recreation tor Mouhamad Zaher said. “We we have with other community and raised her three children in the divisions. underwent a rigorous process to organizations, promoting transpar- community. She is the founding The city currently has major bring the most qualified candi- ency, finding additional ways to member of the Columbia County improvement projects underway at dates to the interview table, and I foster community engagement and Sole Sisters community group. McCormick and Campbell Parks, am pleased to announce that our volunteerism, and increasing our She is a member of Connect St. plans for improvements at Colum- own Shanna Duggan rose to the communication efforts.” Helens, the Columbia County bia View and Godfrey Parks, and top of the list as the most qualified Duggan has worked for the Childhood Trauma Informed Net- Courtesy photo of City of St. Helens candidate.” City of St. Helens for 10 years. work, and the Columbia County Shanna Duggan recently acquired the former First Missionary Baptist Church build- Duggan will now be tasked She was hired in December 2010 Health Coalition. Police Blotter ........... A3 10th Annual 2021 Opinion ..................... A4 Columbia County Garden Plots ............ A4 Crossword ................ A6 Obituaries ................. A6 Business TV Guide ................... A7 Classified Ads ......... A8 Legals .................. A8-10 Sports ..................... A12 Guide The 2021 Columbia County Business guide is a full color, glossy magazine Vol. 139, No. 12 that showcases local business and highlights current news events. It PUBLICATION DATES: is the go-to reference for visitors, CHRONICLE: JUNE 23, CHIEF: JUNE 25 newcomers, residents, and potential AD DEADLINE: JUNE 9 customers of Columbia County. The Chronicle The Chief For space reservation, contact Amy: 503-397-0116 or [email protected] A2 www.thechronicleonline.com Wednesday, March 24, 2021 Who We Are: Community rallies for K9 Lars easy for anyone, even those forcement K9’s face the same was on assignment and not JEREMY C. RUARK who can’t afford to give cash dangers as human officers in available for immediate [email protected] donations,” Hogan said. performing their duties. comment at press time. The Clatskanie resident Jean “K9’s are killed and in- Chronicle will be following Hogan has been pretty busy New vest for Lars jured in the line of duty every the vest fundraiser and hope since November. year,” Pixley said, adding to chat with Pesio in a future Last fall following the The group’s latest project that having a new and more edition. passing of her grandmother is a fundraiser to purchase a effective safety vest will and as her son went off for new bullet proof vest for Co- greatly benefit K9 Lars. The next step basic training in the U.S. lumbia County Sheriff Office “When I heard the Clats- Air Force, Hogan said she (CCSO) deputy K9 Lars. kanie community wanted Hogan has yet to meet K9 needed to find activities to “I called the sheriff and to do a fundraiser for Lars, Lars. keep her busy. asked what we could do it was humbling for me,” “As soon as we have Hogan said she prayed for to help,” Hogan said. “We Pixley said. “The fact that a raised all the money we need something to do and decided wanted to let Sheriff Pixley community is willing to give to buy the vest, I do want to she needed to reach out to know that we appreciate so much for Lars, Deputy meet Lars and give him a help others.