SHOP Small History made LOCAL at Oregon COLUMBIA COUNTY Business Trail Lanes Saturday Page A9 SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY www.thechronicleonline.com NOVEMBER 28, 2020 A PUBLICATION OF The Chronicle Wednesday, .50 November 25, 2020 $1 TheThe ChronicleChronicle thechronicleonline.com Serving Columbia County since 1881 COVID-19 cases surge, area health centers offer testing Courtesy photo The Oregon Health Authority recom- mends that all people with new symp- toms constant with COVID-19, regardless of the severity, get tested. MONIQUE MERRILL Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle [email protected] Using his utility vehicle’s basket, Columbia River PUD employee Chuck Long lifts a large holiday decoration into place along Columbia Boulevard in St. Helens. COVID-19 cases are continuing to surge around the county, state and country. Sunday, Nov. 22, marked the fourth day in a row that the state Christmas: ‘Tis the season reported a record-breaking high number of new daily cases, at 1,517. ing, Nov. 23. tions Manager Kurt Nasshahn. mas season for at least the past 20 On Monday, another 1,174 were JEREMY C. RUARK From his utility company truck, “It is part of our public service,” years. He estimated that about 30 of reported, bringing the total to 66,333. [email protected] Long was installing the City of St. he said. “We hang the Christmas the large decorations will be placed Columbia County reported its Helens’ large Christmas decorations lights and decorations during the in St. Helens this holiday. own record-breaking high new num- You may have seen Columbia on light posts along the street. It’s holidays and event banners other The PUD also places Christmas ber of daily cases on Friday, Nov. 20, River PUD employee Chuck Long part of a cooperative agreement be- times of the year.” decorations in Columbia City. That at 20 cases, and on Saturday reported perched above Columbia Boulevard tween the PUD and the city, accord- Nasshahn said the PUD has been project is scheduled for next Mon- a third death. in St. Helens early Monday morn- ing to Columbia River PUD Opera- placing the decorations each Christ- day, Nov. 30. A 75-year-old woman who tested positive on Oct. 23 died on Nov. 19 at Legacy Medical Center, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported on Saturday. The woman Revenue forecast shows encouragement had underlying conditions. As of Monday, Nov. 23, there tine Drazan said the revenue forecast JEREMY C. RUARK shows that the state economy is were 440 cases reported in the coun- [email protected] ty since the onset of the pandemic. In stable. “But this is not a reflection of the two-week period from Nov. 9-23, While the COVID-19 pandemic reality for most Oregonians who there were 133 cases reported in the has caused deep economic impacts have been impacted by these shut- county, indicating a rapid spread of across the state, the latest Oregon downs,” Drazan said. “The most the disease through the community. Revenue Forecast is suggesting an recent ‘freeze’ will hurt Oregonians “We have substantial community improving outlook. and business owners, and make an spread by all measures in Columbia “Corporate excise tax collections, already tenuous recovery even harder County,” said Michael Paul, county lottery sales and taxes on investment for families. Now more than ever we public health director at a briefing on forms of income have shown the must protect jobs, support business Friday. “The virus is not in Wiscon- strongest recoveries, according to the growth, manage our reserves and con- sin, China, New York— it’s here in Oregon Revenue Forecast executive trol spending to ensure a long-term Columbia County. We have substan- summary. “While those sources stand Congress to put aside their partisan owned and operated businesses,” recovery for all of Oregon.” tial spread.” out, all major forms of revenue have differences and deliver on a coro- Brown said. “I also remain committed Rainier Mayor Jerry Cole said the The test-positivity rate in the bounced back, including labor-related navirus relief package, including to making prudent financial decisions revenue forecast is encouraging. county has also increased, Paul said. income taxes.” another round of Federal Pandemic and to position our state to manage “The anticipation of a positive Test positivity rates are calculated by Gov. Kate Brown said the forecast Unemployment Compensation and an unforeseen economic challenges that recovery is great news for the City of dividing the total number of people projects relatively stable state rev- extension of the Pandemic Unem- may come our way.” Rainier, it’s business and citizens,” who test positive for COVID-19 by enues. ployment Assistance program and the Cole said. “Oregonians are strong and the total number people who have “While this provides some sense Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Reaction I have no doubts in a positive outcome been tested. of relief in uncertain times, we know Compensation program. as we move forward.” “That’s with approximately the that the sacrifices Oregon’s businesses “There is no time to waste,” Brown Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek Rainier City Administrator Scott same number of residents being are making right now to prevent the said. “We urgently need congressional is calling for Brown to declare a Jorgensen said he is hopeful that the tested each week,” Paul said. This rapid community spread of CO- action to provide direct help to local catastrophic disaster and convene a next economic recovery is driven by indicates that there is a high rate of VID-19 will not be reflected until the governments, businesses, and families special session. pent-up consumer demand for prod- spread through the community, as next revenue forecast is released in so that we can all continue to provide “The COVID-19 pandemic is ucts and services. evidenced by the growing number of January,” Brown said. “We continue critical services to Oregonians during raging like never before in Oregon,” “It’s important that our policy- cases reported week-to-week. to face uncertainty about Oregon’s this crisis.” Kotek said. “Our economic recovery makers be mindful that small busi- As the virus continues to spread economy moving forward.” According to Brown, wildfires that is fully dependent on getting this virus nesses and workers are able to make through the community, below the Brown added Oregon—like so burned over 4,000 homes and struc- under control. As the state’s budget it through this time until the public Chronicle has compiled a guide to many other states across the coun- tures in communities across Oregon situation has stabilized and since Con- health crisis is at a point of reasonable testing for residents who may have try—needs another round of federal in September have caused the state to gress is unlikely to pass another relief containment, he said. “Businesses been exposed or are experiencing stimulus money. face significant costs in the work to package this year, I urge the governor are adapting the best they can to the symptoms. “This is a worldwide public health remove debris and rebuild wildfire- to declare a catastrophic disaster, so changing conditions and circumstanc- crisis, and it demands a coordinated, impacted communities. Brown said the legislature can convene a remote es. Government agencies, including Who should be tested national response,” she said. “And we Oregon cannot recover from the fires special session in December.” the City of Rainier, have also had to simply cannot wait until Congress alone and that the state will need Kotek said a portion of the state’s make adjustments in how staff inter- The OHA recommends that all convenes in January. Our workers substantial federal support. reserves should be used as soon as acts with the public. But we will get people with new symptoms constant who are facing unemployment and “I remain committed to explor- possible to help struggling Orego- through this together.” with COVID-19, regardless of the the discontinuation of federal benefits ing additional state-level solutions to nians and small businesses through The following is the Executive severity, get tested. The virus doesn’t programs at the end of the year—and assist Oregonians and Oregon’s busi- the winter months. She is suggesting Summary of the Oregon Revenue always present the same way but the employers who have had to close nesses, especially those that have been that the state spend $100 million to Forecast prepared by the Oregon symptoms to watch for include: fever businesses for the betterment of pub- hard hit by the pandemic, including keep Oregonians housed and stabilize lic health—need help. And they need the hospitality industry, small busi- the rental market as the pandemic it right now.” nesses, and women, Black, Indig- continues into 2021. See Page A8 See COVID-19 Page A2 Brown We’resaid she is calling on OPENenous, People of Color, and Tribal- House Republican Leader Chris- REVENUE Opinion: ......................A4 Poll: ..............................A4 Cartoon: ......................A4 Garden Plots: ..............A5 Obituaries: ..................A5 Classified Ads: ............A6 Legals: ......................A6-8 TV Guide: ...................A8 Sports: .........................A9 We’reWe’re OPENOPEN ThanksgivingThanksgiving Day,Day, 77 amam -3-3 pmpm Vol. 138, No. 49 7 AM - 10 PM EVERY DAY • (503) 397-2288 1111 Columbia Blvd, St Helens, OR 97051 • marketfreshonline.com A2 www.thechronicleonline.com Wednesday, November 25, 2020 Missing woman found ens. Deputies responded and Choose your Medicare STAFF REPORT located Craven and the two [email protected] dogs alive. Medics transported Craven to the hospital as a coverage for 2021! Norma Craven, missing precaution. since November 20, has been “I am so thankful for a found alive, according to a community that comes togeth- October 15 - December 7 release from the Columbia er to help others,” Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.