Columbia County Since 1881 Former SHHS Teacher Sentenced to Over 4 Years in Prison for Sex Abuse
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Grange members New turf field stress safety coming to St. Helens at Cornelius Pass project Middle School Page A3 Page A11 Opinions A4 • Out & About A5 • Community Events A5 • Obituaries A6 • TV Guide A7 • Classified Ads A8-9 • Public Notices A9-10 • Blotters A11 • Sports A12 Wednesday, August 21, 2019 $1 TheThe ChronicleChronicle thechronicleonline.com Serving Columbia County since 1881 Former SHHS teacher sentenced to over 4 years in prison for sex abuse Julie Thompson/The Chronicle New South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce director, Chrissy Marquardt. New chamber director steps up JULIE THOMPSON [email protected] New South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce director, Chrissy Marquardt, is a self- professed island girl from Jamaica living on a farm in Scappoose. She comes to the chamber after running her own design and consulting busi- ness, Scappoose Web Design, for the past seven years. “I’m very passionate about small business,” Marquardt said. She speaks quickly and punctuates her sentences with enthusiasm. “I be- Julie Thompson/The Chronicle lieve that an economy changes and Kyle Jarred Wroblewski, 45, alongside attorney David T. McDonald. progresses through small business had shown a consistent pattern of made to his behavior, which could these instances took place a decade and not necessarily the govern- JULIE THOMPSON sexually predatory behavior and result in disciplinary action. How- prior to the charges Wroblewski ment.” [email protected] repeatedly engaged in sexually in- ever, the state argued, a year later stood accused of, they represented Chamber board director Hope appropriate conduct with other stu- in April of 2009, Wroblewski was the “defendant has engaged in Wirta said Marquardt was tapped A former St. Helens High School dents, as well. The court’s attention again admonished by the school for grooming, pushing limits and using for the position following previous teacher and coach was sentenced to was directed to “Exhibit 1” in the similar behavior and suspended. his position to access and victimize director Simon Date’s exit because 50 months in prison on six counts state’s sentencing memorandum, in In the memorandum, the state this community for years.” she showed up to the interview and of second-degree sexual abuse for basically told them what direction which Wroblewski was admonished said of particular note is the portion The state said Wroblewski’s an inappropriate relationship with a by the school for inappropriate of the school’s response to Wro- relationship with the teen began in they needed to take. 17-year-old girl, which he pleaded “We chose her because when behavior in a conference summary blewski’s grievance, which states: October of 2017 when they began guilty to in July. letter. “The punishment fits the infraction. running together, after the victim we interviewed her, she wasn’t just Kyle Jarred Wroblewski, 45, looking for a job. She already un- The letter, dated April 28, You have been guilty of serious had reached out professing trouble appeared before Judge Ted Grove 2008 and signed by then Assistant misconduct; as indicated above, sleeping and struggles with de- derstood, and she was already kind on Monday, August 19 for sentenc- of doing the job in her own capac- Principal Joanna Rau, notes several your conduct constitutes sexual ha- pression. The state alleged several ing, alongside his attorney, David T. incidents that were discussed with rassment of students. Your behavior instances of sexual misconduct, ity,” Wirta said. “She was connected McDonald. with everybody in the community. Wroblewski, including “smelling is strictly forbidden by state and including intercourse, happened on The state, through District At- girls and referring to their ‘deli- federal law as well as the District’s school grounds, and continued for She was all about the chamber.” torney Jeff Auxier, recommended Marquardt said she joined the cious’ perfume,” helping a female policies.” over a year. 90 months in prison arguing that student stretch out at the track, At that time in 2009, Wroblews- Additionally, Auxier said that chamber when it was still under the Wroblewski has repeatedly dem- direction of another director, prior running his hands through girls’ ki was again given another list of Wroblewski had given special to Date, but at that time she wasn’t onstrated that he is unwilling or hair, giving shoulder massages, and expectations from the school dis- treatment to a friend of the victim’s getting out of it what she needed as unable to exercise self-control and behaving in a manner that students trict, including that he would have who knew about the inappropriate a small business owner. It wasn’t targeted vulnerable victims from his referred to as “too touchy.” no physical contact with students relationship – giving the student an until Date took over, she said, that position of trust at St. Helens High Wroblewski was then given a unless necessary to prevent injury she could really see the momentum School. Letter of Directive outlining the or to provide aid. and opportunity. The state argued Wroblewski necessary changes that must be The state argued that, while See PRISON Page A11 Date was able to connect her to the networking relationships she needed to help her business flourish, and when he left, she said she didn’t want to see the organization lose the steam that had been created. Especially when she’d already be- come so involved. It was Marquardt Building Community who helped choose many of the paint colors in the chamber’s recent redesign, and her husband built one of the tables. All about the St. Helens Recreation Program “I don’t even know how many hours of my time I spent up here grown with the help of a $25,000 CHRISTINE MENGES grant from the Ford Family Foun- to help. I’d come in on a Saturday [email protected] with my family to pick up furniture. dation in April of 2018, and then It didn’t matter to me that I wasn’t another grant of $20,000 from There is one place in St. Helens the Columbia Pacific Economic getting paid to do it at the time. I where all sorts of activities are just wanted to see this venture be Development District in September available. From bingo night to of 2018. Matt Brown, City Finance candle-making classes, fly-tying Director also said in a city council classes to Zumba, a lunch group See MARQUARDT Page A12 work session that funds from the for senior citizens to playgroups General Fund have helped sustain for very young children, and the program. many more activities - St. Helens Because the program is new, residents can avail themselves of St. Helens residents may not be them all. aware of all the activities the center They are all available through offers. the St. Helens Parks & Recreation The Chronicle sat down with Program, founded in 2018, and Shanna Duggan, Recreation Coor- a program that St. Helens City dinator; Ryan Ward, Youth Lead; Council just recently resolved to and Crystal Farnsworth, Communi- help fund by instating a $2 Com- Courtesy photo cation Officer to discuss upcoming Several kids came out to the rec center’s ‘Tween Night’ in July. The event featured munity Recreation and Parks Fee to programs. appear on residents’ utility bills as an obstacle course, dodgeball and board games. Fly-tying instructor Jim Crislip also St. Helens Recreation Cen- a line-item fee in January of 2020. stopped by to teach the kids how to tie a fly. ter programs run in three-month The city estimates the fee will cycles. With the summer program generate about $160,000 annually Helens School District (SHSD) conjunction with the school district for programming. Superintendent Scot Stockwell to have afterschool programming The recreation program started approached the city council about for children. in February of 2018 when St. having a recreation program in Since then, the program has See RECREATION Page A6 Wednesday Night BBQ Vol. 137, No. 34 3 pm - 7 pm centerplacemarket.com/sthelens.html • 1111 Columbia Blvd, St Helens, OR 97051 • 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. A2 www.thechronicleonline.com Wednesday, August 21, 2019 Prescribed burn set for Saturday Christine Menges/The Chronicle N. Vernonia Road, showing an absence of sidewalks and many trees bordering the road. Street improvements in St. Helens the sidewalk, moving the At the most recent work CHRISTINE MENGES sidewalk closer to the road session, city councilors gave [email protected] and away from the property funds through both the Ser- line in order to keep the trees. vice Transportation Program The city is moving ahead Removing some trees and and through Timber Rev- with plans to install sidewalks planting others would also enue from the city’s timber on N. Vernonia Road and im- be problematic because of harvest. prove the intersection at 1st the natural gas, storm drains, Nelson said she had up Photo: CRFR Street and St. Helens Street. This map shows the area where the prescribed fire operations will take place, including road closures, in St. sewer and water lines in the to $150,000 available from Helens. Over the years, many area, Nelson explained. the Service Transportation St. Helens residents have The council gave their Program, for an expected that drips slag to help start behavior. complained to city council permission to save some of $350,000 construction cost STAFF REPORT fires, according to Pricher. “Number one is always about lack of sidewalks on the trees, as well as find areas for the project. [email protected] Firefighters will also train on safety, and number two is go- N. Vernonia Road, especially to plant new ones.