False Kidnapping Alert Issued Gency Dispatch at 503-397-1521.” Recover Money Sent That Way
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Spring Back to In-home forward school vaccinations March 14 Page A2 Page A3 Wednesday, .50 March 10, 2021 $1 thechronicleonline.com Serving Columbia County since 1881 Independence Day fireworks possible been searching for a community JEREMY C. RUARK partner to oversee the Independence [email protected] Day celebration and fireworks show. There are new details concern- She said if any community organi- ing the City of St. Helens Indepen- zation is interested in taking charge dence Day fireworks demonstra- of the event, they need to contact tion. city officials at 503-397-6272. The fireworks would be held on Sand Island if the city council gives Fireworks history final official approval for the event, according to the city’s communica- The Fourth of July fireworks tions spokesperson, Crystal King. show was postponed last year due In a Feb. 17 city council discus- to the restrictions associated with sion, St. Helens Mayor Rick Scholl the COVID-19 pandemic and uncer- suggested hosting a tailgate party tainty of timelines. The city council at the city’s waterfront, estimating considered moving the display to that 500 cars, each paying a $20 December during the Christmas admission fee, could raise enough Ships event, but did not move for- money for a reasonable firework ward with that plan. show. Last year wasn’t the only year fireworks have been absent from To cut costs, Scholl suggested St. Helens during Independence the show be held on the city-side of Day celebrations. In 2012, a city the water instead of on a barge or fireworks committee was unable to on Sand Island. raise the $20,000 needed to host the display— which has typically been Pandemic impact funded entirely through donations and sponsorships. King told The Chronicle that However, fireworks did make a the fireworks demonstration would bang in St. Helens later that sum- depend on current Oregon Health Courtesy photo from the City of St. Helens mer when the Maritime Heritage Authority (OHA) pandemic safety The 4th of July fireworks demonstrations have attracted large crowds to the Columbia riverfront in St. Helens. Festival organizers stepped in to requirements in place at the time of raise $7,500 for a smaller dis- the event. will make a final decision about as it gets closer to July 4. Events the show costing in the range of play hosted over a week later, to “The city is planning to do fire- tailgating at a later date once poten- like these take several months $15,000 to $18,000,” King said. coincide with the opening of the works from Sand Island this year as tial guidelines are clearer closer to to plan, and include permitting “This should allow for a larger festival. long as the Oregon Health Author- July 4. through state and federal agencies display that people can safely enjoy ity and state guidelines allow,” “A contract with the fireworks before final event details such as from their vehicles and/or at a The Chronicle will report ad- King stated. display company has to be made tailgating are made.” distance. The council funds will be ditional details about the city’s King sad the city has not yet early in the year, and this is what King said the city contracts with used for the display, and the city plans for the fireworks demonstra- made an official decision about the precipitated the council’s recent dis- Canby-based Western Display Fire- will seek sponsorships to offset the tion as they become available. Fol- suggested tailgating because CO- cussion regarding planning to host works to conduct the show. cost. low developments at thechronicle- VID-19 safety guidelines continue a show this year or not,” King said. “With hosting the display from According to King, over the last online.com and in the Wednesday to change. She said the city council “Further event details will be made Sand Island this year, we anticipate several years, the city council has print editions of The Chronicle. False kidnapping alert issued gency dispatch at 503-397-1521.” recover money sent that way. JEREMY C. RUARK Law enforcement officials urge The FTC said the FBI calls this [email protected] local residents to be watchful for the scam virtual kidnapping. Scammers St. Helens Police have issued an ongoing fraud attempts and to notify scour the internet and social media alert following what officials call a police officers or sheriff’s deputies sites, grabbing information about disturbing phone call reported by if you believe you have received where people live, work, or travel, area residents. such a scam call. and names of friends and family. On Thursday, March 4, St. Hel- The cons use the details to pick a ens Police received multiple reports Federal alert target and make their calls sound of a male calling from an interna- credible. tional telephone number claiming to According to the Federal Trade The FTC and law enforcement have kidnapped the person’s child. Commission Consumer Information officials urge people to limit per- In a release, investigators said website, the telephone calls are part sonal information posted on social that according to the people receiv- of an increasing range of coercion media sites. ing the telephone message, the caller schemes designed to frighten and “If you get a call like this, re- Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle threatens to harm the child and then St. Helens Police said they have investigated each of the suspicious calls, which have extort money from families. The member that it’s fake, no matter how a child comes on the phone and begs proven to be false. callers claim to have kidnapped a scary it sounds,” the FTC warning for help. The caller demands money child, brother, sister or other rela- states. “Even if it feels really real, in exchange for the person’s child to child is where they are supposed to bia County. Someone has spoofed tive and in order for the victim to never wire money or pay by prepaid be returned. be. CCSO’s mainline number of 503- be released safely and unharmed, a card to anyone who asks you to. If The St. Helens Police officials If you have a difficult time con- 366-4611 and is calling people ad- ransom must be paid immediately. you’re worried about the call, get off said they have fully investigated all tacting your child, call the St. Helens vising them they have a warrant for “To stop you from checking out the phone and get in touch with the of the reported phone calls and said Police non-emergency dispatch at their arrest if they don’t pay money the story, scammers order you to relative or friend in question – just each call has proven to be false. All 503-397-1521 to speak with a St. or give personal information to the stay on the phone until the money to reassure yourself. And then notify children have been verified as safe. Helens officer. caller,” the sheriff’s office Facebook is sent,” the FTC warning reads. the Federal Trade Commission and St. Helen Police advise that if The Columbia County Sheriff’s post reads. “Please understand we “There’s pressure to pay quickly, local law enforcement.” you receive a phone call claiming Office has also released details of will never call you and request and the caller says not to contact that your child has been kidnapped another fraud attempt. payment or personal information anyone. The scammers demand To report a false kidnapping call hang up the phone and verify “We wanted everyone to be to avoid an arrest warrant. When in payment by wire transfer or prepaid to the FTC, visit reportfraud.ftc. through a trusted source that your aware of a scam occurring in Colum- doubt, hang up and call non emer- cards because it’s difficult to trace or gov/#/ New riverfront development details surface The St. Helens City Council Additional work STAFF REPORT has approved a personal services [email protected] agreement for a firm to draft de- In addition to street and utility The City of St. Helens has taken sign documents, obtain required extensions, the personal services another major step to open river- permits, and create construction agreement with Otak includes design front property for development. documents for road and utility ex- work for the intersections at South 1st tensions for South 1st and Strand and Cowlitz Streets and Strand and Streets. Cowlitz Streets to improve pedestrian The agreement is part of the safety, function, and aesthetics. Opinion ..................... A4 city’s ongoing efforts to open The personal services agreement a large expanse of riverfront also includes permitting assistance for Poll ............................ A4 property that was formerly private the construction projects. Obituaries ................. A5 industrial land fenced off from Otak will spend 2021 creating community access. preliminary and final designs for the Classified Ads ......... A6 With the city’s purchase of the street and utility extensions, securing Legals ....................... A7 property in 2015, major planning necessary permits, and creating a bid- and design work has taken place ding package for the work. Construc- Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle Garden Plots ............ A7 to reclaim the waterfront to serve The city hopes to extend South 1st Street from Cowlitz Street to Plymouth Street as tion is anticipated to take 18 months the community in new ways, ac- part of the riverfront development. to complete and is targeted to begin in TV Guide ................... A8 cording to a release from the city. March 2022. Blotter ....................... A9 1st Street from Cowlitz Street to Strand Street is targeted to be City officials are working with Paying homage Plymouth Street.