Circuit Life in Court ELECTION 2020 Columbia Judge County Race Page A11 Page A6 Wednesday, May 13, 2020 $1 TheThe ChronicleChronicle thechronicleonline.com Serving Columbia County since 1881 Reopening Columbia County Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle A couple wave and watch as boats float past the dock at St. Helens on Sunday, May 10. More and more people ventured outside over the past weekend following Governor Brown’s announcement Thursday that Oregon will begin to reopen following the COVID-19 pandemic. Columbia County has applied to Governor Brown’s office to reopen its economy. qualify for Phase One of the Gover- Under Brown’s Reopening tions on Friday, May 8. Counties • Have the hospital capacity to JEREMY C. RUARK nor Brown’s Reopening Framework. Framework, some counties will be must: handle any surge in COVID-19 cases [email protected] “The county has applied and the eligible to begin the limited reopen- • Show a decline in COVID-19 or • Have enough personal pro- plan is in review with the governor’s ing of additional business sectors have fewer than 5 hospitalizations tective equipment for health care Slow start to New Normal office,” Columbia County Commis- beginning as early as May 15 if they • Have sufficient COVID-19 test- workers sioner Alex Tardif said. “When it’s have demonstrated they have met all ing and contact tracing capability olumbia County has applied approved, we’ll be able to set a date prerequisites for reopening. Oregon • Establish plans for the isolation Cto the State of Oregon to for when it reopens.” counties began submitting applica- and quarantine of new cases See REOPENING Page A5 Riverfront development Thousands of masks for those in need according to Masog. This means that CHRISTINE MENGES The Mask Makers have made ap- slowly moving forward [email protected] proximately $55,000 worth of masks for facilities that need PPE. to construct the road connections, The Mask Makers of Scappoose JEREMY C. RUARK The group has approximately 13 boardwalk and trails along the river have made more than 6,000 masks people who sew masks, and their [email protected] and other public amenities that will for workers who directly deal with locations go from East to West Coast benefit the public and attract quality COVID-19 patients. of the United States. New plans and drawings are development in the riverfront district. Local resident Lisa Masog When she heard about healthcare emerging from city hall giving The City has made two unsuc- founded the group in late March. facilities and similar institutions the community a better vision of cessful attempts at obtaining federal The masks are donated for free, being in need of PPE like masks, proposed development along the funding and is currently preparing a and the workers volunteer their time Masog reached out to seamstresses Columbia River in St. Helens. third submittal to the BUILD (Better to construct each protection face she knew individually, talked to In the following conversation with Utilizing Investments to Leverage mask. Masks, part of personal pro- them about her vision of forming a The Chronicle, St. Helens Com- tection equipment (PPE) essential for munications Officer Crystal Kings Christine Menges / The Chronicle These are five of the masks that The Mask frontline workers currently sell right provides us with the latest details. See RIVERFRONT Page A10 Makers have sewed to be donated. now for an average of $10 apiece, See MASKS Page A11 The Chronicle: In late February we reported, “Unti recommended immediate next steps of the project would be for city staff to price the cost of the now-reduced infrastructure in order to have a preliminary figure for funds to be raised for Phase 1 of the project.” Has City staff accomplished the pricing and what is that pricing? King: The St. Helens Riverfront Redevelopment project is a once in a lifetime opportunity to redefine St Helens as a desirable destination community. The City’s acquisition of the property in 2015 secured the community’s interest and provided the opportunity to ensure the public interests in the redevelopment. Over JUSTICE WITH INTEGRITY the past several years, City staff have been working to secure funding COLUMBIA COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE DISTRICT 19, POSITION 3 Endorsed by: The Honorable Judge Cathleen B. Callahan, Circuit Court Judge of Columbia County • Stephen D. Petersen, attorney Opinion: ...................A4 in Rainier • Agnes M. Petersen, attorney in St. Helens • David B. Herr, attorney in Scappoose Poll: ...........................A4 Paid for by Clarke 4 Judge Cartoon: ...................A4 Obituaries: ................A5 TV Guide: .................A7 To our valued customers, 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 Classified Ads: .........A8 and proactive, we have adopted a enhances sanitation procedures including disinfecting bathrooms, cart handles and carry baskets multiple Legals: ...................A8-9 times daily. In additions, we are offering customers the opportunity to order groceries and pick up curbside. Customers who would like to utilize this method may call, text, email or Facebook Message their orders to the store. Curbside pick up will works as follows: 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. Vol. 138, No. 20 Customers may contact the store to place orders using the following: 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, May 13, 2020 Oregon jobless claims for unemployment benefits. initial claims totals since STAFF REPORT There are currently 635 em- March 15 include health care [email protected] ployees working unemploy- and social assistance (39,700) ment claims, with more hiring and retail trade (33,100). Even though many work- underway and a new contact Every sector of the econo- ers in Columbia County and center opening next week. my has seen increased claims across the state are expected Claims processing continues activity. Accommodation and to return to their jobs in the seven days per week. food services’ share of total next several weeks under In addition to more staff- claims is declining, although Oregon’s Reopening Plan, un- ing, Employment Department the industry still accounts for employment claims continue officials said they agency also 28 percent of initial claims to rise. continues working to imple- since mid-March. Shares of During the week of April ment more unemployment total initial claims are increas- 26 to May 2, the Oregon benefit programs. ing in retail trade, manufactur- Employment Department Programming and testing ing, administrative and waste received 19,600 initial claims is underway for the Pandemic services, and wholesale trade. for unemployment benefits. Emergency Unemployment Multnomah (6,500), Wash- The agency has received more Compensation (PEUC) pro- ington (3,900), and Clacka- than 381,800 initial claims gram. This provides up to 13 mas (2,900) counties had since COVID-19 businesses weeks of extended unemploy- the largest number of claims closures began in mid-March. ment benefits for those who during the week of April 26 have run out of benefits and to May 2. More initial claims Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle The process remain out of work due to data by industry and area can The Scappoose Marine is being discussed as a possible location for the homeless shower trailer. COVID-19 business closures. be found on the QualityInfo. Four out of five (83%) Program eligibility and more org COVID-19 page. initial claims for regular un- details for this and other employment benefits received programs are available in the How to file a claim A trailer, not McCormick Park between March 15 and May 2 CARES Act section of the or find a job have been processed. For each agency’s COVID-19 page. Councilor Keith Locke said “I worry about the of the past four weeks, more To file an online claim CHRISTINE MENGES that CAT’s executive director floodgates opening from [email protected] claims have been processed Initial Claims for unemployment benefits, Dan Brown had decided that Longview, Portland, Rainier, than received in Oregon. go to Oregon.gov/employ or that would be the solution. Washington,” Morten said. The Employment Depart- While the St. Helens City In a releases, the Oregon call 1-877-FILE-4-UI. For The question the council- “I mean, good luck, because ment has also processed more Employment Department help finding jobs and training Council is embracing plans to ors and city staff members are if you start something, how than 10,000 applications for provide community showers said details about 30,300 resources, contact your local now facing is where to place are you going to get out of Pandemic Unemployment of the 45,100 initial claims WorkSource Oregon center or for the homeless, it is not en- the trailer.