Hybrid More hiring court event action Page A11 Page A2 Wednesday, .50 August 25, 2021 $1 thechronicleonline.com Serving Columbia County since 1881 “We the People’ protesting mandates JEREMY C. RUARK [email protected] Locals not happy with the pandemic related health and safety mandates are speaking up. Wednesday, Aug. 25, at 10 a.m. the Columbia County Board of Commissioners are expected to meet in regular session and could hear from citizens concerned about the latest pandemic health and safety requirements. A Facebook event post, said to Sheriff Brian Pixley be hosted by Tiffany Galloway and Sarah Heppner, is encouraging such ‘People of Columbia participation. “Have concerns about the state’s County want our county mandates? Tired of the endless lockdowns and requirements to back,’ Sheriff says participate in society? Join us at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 25 for JEREMY C. RUARK the County Commissioners weekly [email protected] meeting and let’s tell them We The People know whats best for our Columbia County Sheriff families, our businesses and our Brian Pixley has posted a letter to community. Signs are welcome, Gov. Kate Brown on the Colum- just keep them clean as children bia County Sheriff’s Facebook will be present,” the Facebook post page stating he will not enforce reads. Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle the state’s latest COVID-19 The Columbia County Board of Commissioners are scheduled to meet virtually at the Columbia County Courthouse at 10 health and safety requirements. The Chronicle’s questions a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25. Pixley also chargers that Brown’s latest pandemic related As Columbia County navigates frustrated, worried, concerned, and The following is the response OSHA to be the enforcement arm mandates are unconstitutional. through the latest COVID-19 case uneasy about the current mandates to The Chronicle’s questions, sent for the mask mandate, imposing The following is Pixley’s let- surge and state health and safety and what the pandemic may bring to us by Columbia County Public fines of up to $500 per day per ter to Gov. Brown. requirements, The Chronicle is next? Information Officer Mark Pacheco. occurrence. County agencies and “I write to you today on monitoring how local and county -What would you have those “The Governor’s decision to employees have been instructed to behalf of the citizens of Colum- governments are working in the best who are concerned about the enact another state-wide mask complying with the directives of the bia County in hopes of opening interests of our community. mandates do to help them navigate mandate has created a stressful mandate while we continue to work a dialogue. As Sheriff, it is my We have mailed the following through the pandemic? situation for all of us in Columbia with the Governor and her staff on responsibility to provide for questions to the Columbia County -What specifically has the Co- County. The order to wear masks in behalf of the residents of Columbia the peace and safety of those in Board of Commissioners, Margaret lumbia County Board of Commis- indoor public places was issued at County. Columbia County. I believe it is Magruder, Henry Heimuller and sioners done and will do in the days the state level, bypassing the author- “The county has recently ex- in the best interest of Columbia Casey Garrett. and weeks ahead to help guide our ity of the county’s elected officials perienced a spike in the number of County, and all other counties -First, what is your message to communities as we all attempt to to determine what is best for our throughout Oregon, to retain lo- Columbia County residents and move ahead through the uncertain- community. cal control over decisions affect- business operators who may be ties of the pandemic? “The Governor has appointed See PROTEST Page A6 ing the public health and safety and to protect the individual choice of those we represent. K12 school staff, health care I, and other elected leaders in Columbia County, have the right workers must be vaccinated to do what is in the best interest for our community. Let us do so. ~ Brian Pixley, Columbia County SNAP to see Sheriff largest, permanent benefit increase “The people of Columbia County want our county back. The citizens have endured “two JEREMY C. RUARK weeks to flatten the curve,” [email protected] unemployment and the loss of This fall, individuals and families several of our small businesses in Columbia County, across Or- over the last year and a half and egon and the nation who depend on we have had enough!” food stamp assistance will see what “You have once again initi- the Biden Administration calls a ated what many consider to be an significant and permanent increase in unconstitutional mandate by re- benefits. quiring our children and citizens It is reportedly the largest single to wear masks and by requiring increase in the food stamp system’s vaccinations for state employees, history, which now operates as the healthcare workers and teach- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance ing staff. We have had enough of Program (SNAP). your overreaching mandates and bullying threats. In short, Co- Impact in Oregon lumbia County Sheriff’s Office will not be enforcing vaccination Oregon Department of Human requirements or mask mandates. Services (ODHS) Press Secretary “The citizens of Columbia Jake Sunderland said The Biden Ad- County will choose to wear a ministration made the announcement mask or chose not to wear a Monday, Aug. 16, and his depart- mask. We will choose to get ment is still analyzing the changes vaccinated or choose not to get Metro Creative Connection / The Chronicle and what they will mean to SNAP in Gov. Brown and state and local health officials continue to stress that the best way to stop the current pandemic surge is for those Oregon. who are not vaccinated, to get vaccinated. “According to federal govern- ment, this change will increase See PIXLEY Page A5 tive. Health care workers will be to our kids. Our kids need to be pro- SNAP benefits distributed in Oregon JEREMY C. RUARK required to be fully vaccinated by tected and they need to be in school. [email protected] by $337 million,” Sunderland said. October 18 or six weeks after full That’s why I am willing to take the “For SNAP households this change Opinion ..................... A4 Gov. Kate Brown has announced FDA approval, whichever is later. heat for this decision.” on average will be about $36 more Cartoon ..................... A4 two new vaccination measures to • All teachers, educators, sup- Brown made the announcement in money to buy food per person – or port staff, and volunteers in K-12 during a Thursday, Aug. 19 media about $1.20 per day.” Obituaries ................. A6 address Oregon’s hospital crisis, caused by the Delta variant surge. schools will be required to be fully briefing. The change in benefits takes ef- TV Guide ................... A7 Brown said the measures will vaccinated by October 18 or six fect Oct. 1. weeks after full FDA approval, By the numbers Classified Ads ......... A8 help keep Oregon students safe Currently, due to the COVID-19 in the upcoming school year and whichever is later. pandemic, most SNAP house- Legals .................. A8-10 minimize disruptions to in-person “Our kids need to be in the “With over 845 Oregonians holds are temporarily receiving the Crossword .............. A10 instruction. classroom full time, five days a hospitalized from COVID-19 maximum benefit amount for their week,” Brown said.” “We have to Police Report ......... A11 • Oregon’s vaccination require- ment for health care workers will do everything we can to make that no longer have a testing alterna- happen. COVID-19 poses a threat See MANDATE Page A2 See SNAP Page A3 Vol. 139, No. 34 ColumbiaCountyOR.Gov/Vaccine | 503-397-7247 A2 www.thechronicleonline.com Wednesday, August 25, 2021 Surging cases in Columbia County, whats’s next? continue to see low vaccina- Once the FDA and ACIP JEREMY C. RUARK tion rates at various points complete their reviews, the [email protected] across Columbia County. Western States Scientific Columbia County re- Why is that? Safety Review Workgroup corded 80 new confirmed and will assess the recommen- presumptive COVID-19 cases Michael Paul: Com- dation. Last, the OHA will between Friday, Aug. 20 and munity members have establish state guidance for Sunday, Aug. 22, according likely heard a wide variety of booster shots in Oregon. to the Oregon Health Author- information (both accurate ity (OHA), which reported and inaccurate) regarding The Chronicle: What is 4,701 cases statewide during the COVID-19 vaccine over it that you believe is most that same period, bringing the the course of this pandemic important for our commu- state total to 257,644. so we can’t point to a single nity to understand about this The OHA also reported reason, and it is detrimental health crisis? the state’s COVID-19 death to make assumptions about toll at 3,036 following 24 new the factors people are using Paul: Thank you for the COVID-19 related deaths in to make health decisions. opportunity to respond to Oregon between Friday and The reality is that nuanced this question. I ask people Sunday. and thoughtful conversations to consider why the govern- between patients and health mental response has been COVID-19 care providers are the most different for SARS-CoV-2. hospitalizations effective tool right now. The It’s certainly not the case traditional health care setting that public health officials As of Monday, Aug. 23, is designed to create privacy Metro Creative Connection / The Chronicle think suicide, heart dis- for patients and providers The Oregon Health Authority reported 80 new cases of COVID-19 in Columbia County between Friday, Aug.