OSAA Gov. revises Brown’s sports budget seasons Page A3 Page A9 Wednesday, .50 December 9, 2020 $1 TheThe ChronicleChronicle thechronicleonline.com Serving Columbia County since 1881 COVID-19 vaccines on the way MONIQUE MERRILL [email protected] MAX KIRKENDALL [email protected] Columbia County set a new COVID-19 record Saturday, Dec. 5, with 25 new cases and two deaths reported. Despite surging numbers in Co- lumbia County, and across the state, Gov. Kate Brown said “hope is on the way,” as the state is expecting its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines this month. Oregon’s statewide, two-week freeze ended last week for most of the state, and the new ‘Risk and Safe- ty’ framework was launched. The Photo courtesy of Metro Creative Connections framework showed the majority of Oregon Health officials said they expect to receive shipments of two new COVID-19 the state has moved into the extreme vaccines before the end of December. risk level, which means the virus is As of Monday, Columbia shipment of the Pfizer vaccine is still widespread across 25 counties County’s total case count is 597 with expected Dec. 22, with 40,950 who remain under tight restrictions, a death toll of six. Across the state, doses. Oregon anticipates having including Columbia County. the total case count is 85,788 and a 127,000 first doses of both vaccines “We are not out of this crisis yet. death toll of 1,045. in December and expects an addi- I know it’s hard to imagine, but in “Every death represents and tional 48,750 of Pfizer’s and 31,700 fact, our hardest days still lie ahead,” empty seat at a holiday dinner, a Moderna’s vaccine by Dec. 29 to Brown said during a press conference warm hug that’s missed, a winter provide a second dose to patients Photo courtesy of Metro Creative Connections Friday, Dec. 4. “Oregon hospitals morning walk that cannot happen … who received the first dose. These Volunteers in Scappoose and St. Helens have scheduled neighborhood Christ- are filling up and many are reducing and we mourn every one of them,” numbers are subject to change. mas Parades which are scheduled to include Santa Claus. elective surgeries.” OHA Director Pat Allen said. The Western States Scientific From Nov. 25 to Dec. 3, there Safety Review Workgroup will be were three new COVID-19 hospi- Vaccine rollout reviewing and confirming each FDA Christmas parades planned talizations in Columbia County, ac- approval starting next week. cording to data from the local public Although the OHA modeling “It’s remarkable that scientific to boost spirit, hope health department. In that same time for the coming weeks looks grim, strides have enabled us to get a vac- window there were 89 new cases in Brown announced that two vaccines cine in just mere months into this congregate but to watch the parade the county, and 56 people considered are currently awaiting final United historic pandemic,” Brown said. JEREMY C. RUARK from the safety of their homes in currently infectious (meaning it’s [email protected] States Food and Drug Administration “Rigorous clinical trials have not an effort to follow social distanc- been 10 or less days from the onset (FDA) approval. The two vaccines only worked to ensure the vaccines ing guidelines,” she said. of symptoms). Those figures don’t from pharmaceutical companies are safe, but that they are safe for our Angela Wayman is working to The City of St. Helens Commu- include the record-breaking case spread the spirit of Christmas. Pfizer and Moderna, are expected to vulnerable and diverse communities.” nication Officer, Crystal King, said count from Saturday; from Friday to be shipped to Oregon on Dec. 15. Health official said the Pfizer The Scappoose resident has due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Monday, Dec. 4-7, an additional 52 teamed up with other local volun- Brown said they expect to receive city has not approved any public cases were reported in the county, 35,000 doses from Pfizer Dec. 15, teers, calling themselves Com- assembly or parade permits this according to data from the Oregon munity Members of Columbia followed by over 70,000 doses from year. The permits are normally Health Authority (OHA). Moderna on Dec. 22. A second See VACCINES Page A6 County, to put on a holiday parade required for events that are held in Scappoose and in St. Helens this in the public right-of-way or with weekend. over 50 people present. According “Because of the pandemic ev- to King, The city is not assisting eryone is losing their hope,” Way- with traffic control or other back- man told The Chronicle. “We want ground support for this parade. kids to have Santa. There is not a “We understand that this year lot of Santa going on right now, so and the ongoing restrictions have we are trying to bring the spirit of been difficult for everyone,” King Christmas to our community the told The Chronicle. “People want best way we can.” to celebrate the holidays in a way After Wayman and the other that creates a sense of normalcy volunteers brainstormed for what during a typically joyous time of events that could conduct under the the year. One of the things that pandemic health and safety guide- makes our city such a wonderful lines, a Christmas parade came to place to live is our community the top of their list. members. We are made up of a The Scappoose Christmas Pa- community that cares about its rade is set for 5 p.m. Dec. 12 start- neighbors and steps in when they ing at the northwest side of town, see a need.” moving across area neighborhoods King said the parade organiz- and ending at Scappoose Middle ers contacted the city to ensure School. the event will be conducted in a The St. Helens parade is set for way that complies with physical Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle 5 p.m. Dec. 13 on the west side of distancing safety measures. A health worker conducts one of the Columbia County Public Health COVID-19 tests during the drive-by event at St. Helens High School. the city, traveling though adjacent “We encourage anyone who neighborhoods and ending at St. The county provides free COVID-19 testing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays Dec. 9, 16 and 30 at St. Helens High School. Register does participate in the event to online at www.doineedacovid19test.com. Helens High School. watch the parade from the safety Wayman said so far there are six of their home or yard and follow trainers scheduled that will include regular mask wearing and physical Public health launches free COVID-19 testing Santa Claus, a performing music distancing guidelines,” King said. Health workers dressed in blue three to five days through emails. group and a sleigh-designed trailer “Cases in Columbia County are JEREMY C. RUARK featuring the Columbia Pacific robes, blue gloves and face cover- The results will also be reported to currently increasing at a high rate. [email protected] ings carefully handed each driver the local health department. Food Bank. Local Boy Scouts, We all need to do our part to pro- wearing gloves for protection, will a packet with a nasal swab to be “Those being tested will also re- tect our most vulnerable commu- Columbia County Public used for the self-administered test. ceive an after-testing guide with in- be picking up non-perishable food nity members and reduce our risk Health’s free COVID-19 drive-by donations Wayman hopes commu- The drivers used the swab for the structions of what to do if they test level so that our local businesses testing began on Wednesday, Dec, test and handed it back to the health positive or negative and how they nity members will place in bags in can function normally again.” 2, with several vehicles lined along front of their homes on the nights worker. The health worker carefully should inform other people who Scappoose interim City Man- the driveway of St. Helens High placed each swab in single sterile they may have had contact with if of the parade. ager Alexandra Rains said while School. Wayman and her group has sent tube which was placed in a bio- they do test positive,” he said. the city would normally support Members of the Columbia hazard bag and sealed. Paul said county health is ask- out flyers publishing the parades such public events, this is a time of County Emergency Response Team and encouraging the non-perish- The bags are collected and sent ing anyone who tests positive for (CERT) directed drivers to the to a medical lab for testing. able food donations. She is also drive-thru testing site located at the stressing safety. Columbia County Health Direc- front of the high school along Gable “We are asking people not to See CHRISTMAS Page A2 tor Michael Paul said test results Road. would likely be available within See TESTING Page A4 Opinion: ......................A4 Poll: ..............................A4 Cartoon: ......................A4 Christmas Holiday Meal Deal Garden Plot: ...............A4 Obituaries: ..................A5 Save 6-8LBS LONGHORN SPIRAL SLICED HAM Classified Ads: ............A6 43% OFF REG $ BETTY CROCKER SCALLOPED POTATOES 4.70Z Legals: ..........................A7 RETAIL 39.99 RUSSET POTATOES - 5LB BAG TV Guide: ...................A8 Sports: .........................A9 LARGE OLIVES FOOD CLUB – 6OZ 2 CANS FOOD CLUB VEGETABLES – 14.5-15.25OZ ROLLS WHITE OR WHEAT THAW AND SERVE - 12 CT FOOD CLUB BUTTER – 1LB CYRUS O LEARY 8” APPLE PIE Gift certificates Vol. 138, No.