Who we are Hearts of meals for families encouragement Page A2 Page A9 Wednesday, April 22, 2020 $1 TheThe ChronicleChronicle thechronicleonline.com Serving Columbia County since 1881 Celebrations continue Reopening CHRISTINE MENGES [email protected] Oregon Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s social distancing order due to the novel Draft plan released coronavirus is impacting just about all public gatherings, including JEREMY C. RUARK children’s birthday parties. [email protected] Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley has launched a new program Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has to help make sure local children released a draft of her Reopening don’t miss such an important mile- Oregon Plan. stone. The governor’s press secre- The Columbia County Sheriff’s tary Liz (Craig) Merah told The Office (CCSO) is on the road hold- Chronicle that the draft presenta- ing birthday processions for children tion has been shared widely—with ages 3-13 in Columbia County. legislators, local county officials, Pixley said the CCSO has done stakeholders, the Associated Press, approximately 50 processions since and other reporters who asked to the program began April 6. see a copy. “It has been difficult sometimes “We are holding a series of because we do these in between meetings to seek input on the draft calls for service,” Pixley said. “If it plan from business owners, prac- gets busy, we aren’t able to do the titioners, and other stakeholders,” processions. But we try to fit in as Merah said. “We are emphasizing many as we can. that this is a draft that is subject to The birthday procession is what change and for which we are still it sounds like: CCSO officers, which Happy Birthday, by procession! seeking input, and should not be are usually however many Pixley misconstrued as a final document.” Merah said that Brown and her administration have been think- Photo courtesy of Jessica Pomazal See BIRTHDAY Page A9 Tristan Pomazal looks out and waves at Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies during a procession for his 10th birthday. ing about how to reopen Oregon’s communities and economies since we began enacting social distancing measures “We have been in touch with Showers for homeless: City council reviews request state and local elected officials, The restrooms and playground public health experts, and the CHRISTINE MENGES equipment are currently closed Governor’s Medical Advisory [email protected] due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Panel since then to discuss how to McCormick Park itself is still open. accomplish that goal,” Merah said. JEREMY C. RUARK People can use the trails but should “Reopening Oregon is not a process [email protected] practice physical distancing while that will happen overnight or state- doing so, according to City of St. wide all at once, and we recognize Helens communications officer that some areas of the state will Columbia Community Mental take longer to reopen than others. Health (CCMH) and Community Crystal King. During the St. Helens City Coun- However, there are clear differ- Action Team (CAT) are asking that ences between the COVID-19 case the City of St. Helens open McCor- cil April 15 work session, CCMH and CAT made the formal request numbers in urban and rural Oregon mick Park’s restrooms for shower- counties –– for example, a number ing facilities for the estimated 241 unsheltered individuals in Columbia Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle County. See SHOWERS Page A7 This building at McCormick Park in St. Helens houses restrooms and shower facilities. See REOPENING Page A6 BRANDEE DUDZIC County Commissioner Position 1 (503) 232-7292 NEIGHBOR • VETERAN • MOTHER HEAT AND COOL UP TO 1000 SQFT. Paid for by Brandee Dudzic for Columbia County Commissioner Brandee2020.com INSTALLED FOR AS LITTLE AS $2800 AFTER REBATES AND INCENTIVES RX18NMVJU/FTX18NMVJU Contact The Chronicle Phone: 503-397-0116 JUSTICE WITH INTEGRITY chroniclenews@ COLUMBIA COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE countrymedia.net DISTRICT 19, POSITION 3 Endorsed by: The Honorable Judge Cathleen B. Callahan, Circuit Court Judge of Columbia County • Stephen D. Petersen, attorney in Rainier • Agnes M. Petersen, attorney in St. Helens • David B. Opinion: ...................A4 Herr, attorney in Scappoose Paid for by Clarke 4 Judge Poll: ...........................A4 Cartoon: ...................A4 To our valued customers, TV Guide: ................A5 At St. Helens Market Fresh, we are committed to always to serving the needs of our community during this crisis. In an effort to be safe and proactive, we have adopted a enhances sanitation procedures including disinfecting bathrooms, cart handles and carry baskets multiple Classified Ads: .........A6 times daily. In additions, we are offering customers the opportunity to order groceries and pick up curbside. Customers who would like Legals: .......................A7 to utilize this method may call, text, email or Facebook Message their orders to the store. Curbside pick up will works as follows: Obituary: ..................A8 1. Orders placed before 2 pm can be pick 3. Orders paid via phone may be picked 5. Customer name and contact information up the same day by 4 pm with curbside up anytime. must be included in all orders payment. 4. Customers will be notified of com- 6. Customers specify whether 2. Orders placed after 2 pm will be substitutions are acceptable. pleted orders using the same method scheduled for pick-up the next day by 4 7. Curbside pick-up will be available pm with curbside payment. used to place the order. Monday through Friday. Customers may contact the store to place orders using the following: Vol. 138, No. 17 Phone: 503-397-2288 • Text: (To be added soon) • Email: [email protected] • Facebook Messenger St Helens Market Fresh Unfortunately, we are unable to accept EBT and WIC benefits for curbside orders. We appreciate the health and happiness of our community and wish to thank for you continued support! Sincerely, Brian Brame, Vice President Kirby Company NEW HOURS: 7 AM - 9 PM EVERY DAY 1111 Columbia Blvd, St Helens, OR 97051 • (503) 397-2288 A2 www.thechronicleonline.com Wednesday, April 22, 2020 Who We Are Photo courtesy of Columbia County Commissioner Henry Heimulller, volunteers, and Cascades Tissue Group employees point at their first truck full of toilet paper after an hour of loading boxes at the warehouse in Scappoose. The product will go to the Community Action Team, food banks, senior centers and other social service organizations that can distribute it to those in need. 300 cases of toilet paper Christine Menges /The Chronicle Venetia Fields, wearing her protective mask and gloves, stands with the 40 lunches she has just picked up donated to county agencies from McBride Elementary School. Fields delivers 40 lunches to 14 different families daily. “On Friday, we got a call zations that can distribute it STAFF REPORT back from the local plant to those in need. [email protected] manager, Brian Dietz, and “Everybody’s trying said they’d really like to to make this work and do The Cascades Tissue help us out and offered to things for others and help Group in Scappoose is give us 300 cases of toilet our own neighbors out a making a special needed paper to distribute to those little bit,” Heimuller said. donation to Columbia folks,” Columbia County “So, special thanks to our County. Commissioner Henry business partners and cer- With toilet paper in high Heimuller said. tainly to Cascades Tissue in demand and sometimes It took a group of vol- Scappoose.” difficult to find during the unteers, with help from Cascade Tissue operates COVID-19 pandemic, Co- the work crew, two trips a $64 million paper prod- lumbia County has reached to unload the full supply ucts manufacturing facility out to the Cascades Tissue at the Columbia County in Scappoose. Group for help supplying Fairgrounds, according to local organizations and citi- the County release. The If you’ve been unable to zens in need, according to a product will go to the Com- find toilet paper, call the Christine Menges /The Chronicle release from the Columbia munity Action Team, food Columbia County Board of Venetia Fields drops off a lunch at one of the families’ doors during her caring journey. County Board of Commis- banks, senior centers and Commissioners Office at sioners. other social service organi- 503-397-4322. Providing meals for families Fields takes mostly When I got back she gifted CHRISTINE MENGES lunches to the families, but me the fee for grooming for [email protected] food is not the only item she gas money so I could con- has delivered. tinue doing this. That was St. Helens resident Ve- “For parents who don’t fantastically amazing.” netia Fields is doing a lot to have printer capabilities, A batch of little anec- serve her community during she said, “I’ve printed the dotes stand out to Fields on the COVID-19 pandemic. packets for the school, before her month-long free delivery Fields delivers approxi- the school started provid- service. She explains that mately 40 different lunches ing them. I’ve printed for there was the nine-year- to 14 different families in students to stay academically old boy who made sure to Columbia City and St. Hel- involved. For my own pre- yell out, “Thank you very ens on a daily basis. The en- school kids I’ve sent activi- much!” as Fields was return- tire process takes her roughly ties to their house, scissors, ing to her car. an hour and 15 minutes. paper, disposable items and There was the one-year- Fields said her delivery directions on how to make it old girl who looked fright- journeys began with requests enjoyable, a few ideas.” ened at the sight of Fields from her family members. in a mask and gloves, but Fields is an at-home child- then was excited when, the care provider, and when the “It just makes me feel next day, Fields brought the COVID-19 pandemic hit, good about being able to young girl her own mask and half her family members, serve in the community.” gloves to wear.