Sea Lions Return to the Columbia River in Rainier
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SNAP clients Clatskanie to receive football emergency challenges allotments Page A6 Page A2 FRIDAY, $1.50 MARCH 12, 2021 VOL. 129, NO. 44 Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891 Sea lions return to the Columbia River in Rainier Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief California sea lions have taken up space on this dock at Rainier along the Columbia River. They can be The sea lions are frequent visitors to this dock at Rainier, feeding on several different species of fish along heard from miles as they bark back and fourth. the Columbia River. cause damage to the docks, so the docks to see them,” he said. “California sea lions breed in JEREMY C. RUARK city has taken steps to mitigate the Cole said he’d like to see the the Channel Islands off Southern [email protected] damage. city take advantage of the sea lions California,” Milstein said. “While If you live in Rainier, or visit “We put up electric fences They are smart enough to return appearances by, perhaps, setting up the females stay to feed their grow- the city, you likely will hear them. along the docks because they a special area as some costal cities ing pups, males fan out in search were causing several thousands to good fishing spots such as have done to enhance tourism. of food to put on weight until they Dozens of sea lions have taken the Columbia. up residency along a small portion of dollars worth of damage,” Cole The California sea lions are a return to the Channel Islands for of the docks at Rainier’s riverfront. said. “They were destroying part ~ Michael Milstein, federally protected species, accord- the next breeding season. They “The sea lions have been of the docks, making it unsafe for NOAA Fisheries ing to NOAA Fisheries Public Af- are smart enough to return to good frequent visitors here for the everyone.” fairs Officer Michael Milstein, who fishing spots such as the Colum- last four or five years, at least,” Cole said the electric fences, said the sea lions at Rainier and bia.” Rainier Mayor Jerry Cole said small pole-like devices approved they get over it,” he said. other parts of the Columbia River According to Milstein, the Cali- as he watched the large animals for such prevention, are secured to While Cole said the sea lions are virtually all male sea lions that fornia sea lions are a conservation congregate on a portion of the the dock railings and have helped can cause structural damage to the spread out across the West Coast success. docks along the Columbia River at lessen the damage done by the sea dock and eat away streams of fish, and as far north as Alaska during Rainier. lions. they are a public draw. the winter and spring in search of Cole said the sea lions can “It gives the sea lions a zap, but “Yes, people like coming to the food. See SEA LIONS Page A3 How the $1.9T stimulus bill benefits Columbia County don’t have access to paid family needed resources to our state, lo- JEREMY C. RUARK leave and can’t afford child care. It cal, and tribal governments so they [email protected] will help restaurants like a beloved support the health of our communi- Columbia County is expected Portland eatery that has been shut ties and can also pay firefighters, to receive $10 million in stimulus down for months but could finally first responders, and other critical relief under the $1.9 trillion pack- reopen thanks to the Restaurant employees,” he said. “It’ll mean age approved by the U. S. House Revitalization Fund.” investing in our schools and educa- Wednesday, March 10. Bonamici said the legislation tors so we can safely get students Individual cities will see a por- also will help school leaders in back into classrooms. It’ll mean tion of the relief legislation. Clats- districts big and small who want to getting personal protective equip- kanie would receive $370,000, bring students back to classrooms ment in the hands of our frontline Rainier $410,000, St. Helens is but don’t have the funding to do so health heroes, and getting shots expected to receive $2.8 million, safely and the arts industry worker into arms with a massive, national Scappoose $1.4 million and Verno- in Portland who has relied on vaccine distribution plan.” nia $460,000. unemployment benefits since last President Biden signed the leg- Individual citizens are also June and can’t afford to lose them islation into law Thursday, March expected to receive $1,400 checks. now. 11. See the full list with this story at “I’ve fought hard for this aid Clatskanie City Manager thechiefnews.com. based on these and so many other Greg Hinkelman and Rainier City In total, Oregon will receive an compelling stories, and am grateful Administrator Scott Jorgensen estimated $4.262 billion in Coro- the American Rescue Plan will said the city councils have yet to navirus Relief Funds, according now become law,” she said. hold specific discussions about the to Oregon U.S. Congresswoman Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff federal funding. Hinkelman added Suzanne Bonamici, who said the Merkley said the bill puts checks that Clatskanie’s council first American Rescue Plan will help in Americans’ pockets, shots in wants to verify how much it would the people of Northwest Oregon. arms, kids back in classrooms, receive under the legislation before “It will help the senior citizen and ‘open’ signs in windows discussing what the money could in Seaside who needs a vaccine but across Main Street America and be used for. doesn’t have access to the inter- it addresses a huge number of net,” Bonamici said in a statement. other critical issues throughout our Follow this developing story at Metro Creative Connection / The Chief nation. thechiefnews.com and in the Fri- Under the stimulus relief legislation, Clatskanie would receive $370,000 and Rainier “It will help the new mom and her would receive $410,000. See the full Oregon list with this story at thechiefnews.com. husband, both paramedics, who “It’ll mean getting urgently day print editions of The Chief. Who We Are: Bank staff conducts acts of kindness Bank’s culture is giving back to the Spring JEREMY C. RUARK community through volunteerism, [email protected] grants, and other efforts. I think it It’s not just taking money at the is important to show gratitude and forward teller window and wishing you a kindness and to get your community nice day. involved with the efforts to continue Employees at the Clatskanie that infectious Pay-It-Forward at- March 14 branch of Umpqua Bank have been titude.” conducting random acts of kindness The bank staff volunteers over throughout the city. 100 hours annually. In the latest community care “We also have washed people’s Obituaries ................. A3 project conducted in late February, car windows in the drive-thru, Seidl the bank staff collected fresh flow- said, “hidden prizes around town Clatskanie Grows .... A4 ers and handed them to strangers in random locations and we have given gifts to the Amber residents Opinions ................... A4 outside the Safeway Grocery store, assemble gift baskets with snacks and participate with many fundrais- Classified Ads ......... A5 and toys and distributed them to ing events. No that is not a typo, we Clatskanie Grade School, Clatskanie need to have fun too.” Legals ....................... A5 Middle/High School, Clatskanie According to Seidl, that fun Sports.........................A6 PUD, city hall and to Clatskanie Ru- includes giving away 300 hot dogs ral Fire Protection District offices. and ice cream every summer during The staff also presented a gift bag to the bank’s annual customer appre- the bank’s cleaning lady. ciation day BBQ while supporting Umpqua Bank’s Monica Seidl the library book sale. said the bank has been involved with The Umpqua Bank employees Random Acts of Kindness for about also help with Scholastic Book 15 years. Fairs, Heritage Days, hold board “I love the idea of giving back Courtesy photo from Umpqua Bank to my community and spear headed Savannah Gentry and Misty Roberts hand out flowers to strangers outside the Safe- the project,” she said. “Umpqua See UMPQUA Page A3 way grocery store in Clatskanie. A2 www.thechiefnews.com Friday, March 12, 2021 Oregon’s top ten consumer complaints should feel ‘ripped off’ and • Construction Contrac- STAFF REPORT that’s why we follow up tors (170 complaints) [email protected] with each and every com- Attorney General Ellen plaint that’s filed with us, In March 2020, at the Rosenblum has released either by phone or online— start of the COVID-19 the Oregon Department of and, yes—even throughout pandemic, DOJ learned Justice’s (DOJ) list of Top the pandemic.” some businesses were Ten Consumer Complaints According to Rosen- charging exorbitant prices for 2020. blum, between the year- for essential products, such Due to allegations of long pandemic and the aw- as toilet paper and cleaning price-gouging, this year in- ful fall wildfires, there were disinfectant. At the request cludes — for the first time plenty of new opportunities of Rosenblum, the governor — a new category: Grocery, to take advantage of Orego- issued an order activating Food and Beverage. nians, many of whom were Oregon’s price-gouging in desperate need of hotel statute. Days later, DOJ Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief 2020 stats rooms, cleaning supplies, warned Amazon, Facebook, The Oregon Employment Department reports 1,975,166 employed and 148,835 unemployed in January.