$3.2 million Whale improvements at Watching Gable Road Week Page A2 Page A3 Wednesday, March 18, 2020 $1 TheThe ChronicleChronicle thechronicleonline.com Serving Columbia County since 1881 Coronavirus Reality 65 Cases 1 Death As of March 17, 2020 Business Impact Social Distancing Cities Impact Medical Impact CHRISTINE MENGES JEREMY C. RUARK JEREMY C. RUARK CHRISTINE MENGES [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] JEREMY C. RUARK [email protected] Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, In an effort to slow the spread of Rates of novel coronavirus, or the Centers for Disease Control and coronavirus, major cities across Co- COVID-19 have now topped greater On Monday, March 16, Gov. Prevention (CDC) has recommended lumbia County have declared State of than 4,500 cases in the United Brown set forth a new set of guide- social distancing to slow the spread of Emergencies. States, according to research by the lines for bars and restaurants, man- infection. On Thursday, March 12, St. Helens Center for Systems Science and En- dating they close for seated dining That will impact people in Columbia Mayor Rick Scholl declared a state of gineering at Johns Hopkins Univer- and on-site consumption of food and County and across the state, and our ev- emergency in the City of St. Helens, sity, with 65 cases in Oregon as of beverages, but still allowing takeout eryday culture, according to University which will remain in effect until Thurs- Monday, March 16, according to the and delivery. The orders took place of Portland sociology and social work day, April 9. Oregon Health Authority. Tuesday, March 17 and are to stay in associate professor Alice Gates. While there had been no reported With the virus spreading, the place for at least four weeks. “It is kind of alarming,” Gates said. cases of the virus in Columbia County Center for Disease Control and “My goal is to protect the health “And it may be difficult to preserve as of Tuesday morning, March 17, the Prevention (CDC) and state public and safety of Oregon families.,” some sense of security. There is a lot of statewide cases now number 65 and health agencies such as the Oregon one person has died in the state from Brown said. “Every step we are tak- distress and anxiety from the uncertain- Health Authority are urging people ties.” the virus. Due to the health crisis, Gov. across the United States to take ing is being made with community Brown ordered all K-12 schools to close input and careful consideration of Gates said she is hopeful that while drastic measures to slow the spread this is a scary and uncertain time, “it until April 1. Read more about Oregon of the disease, including minimiz- its impacts. I know that while these Gov. Brown’s latest orders to deal with ing their contact with other people See BUSINESS Page A9 See DISTANCING Page A6 See CITIES Page A4 See MEDICAL Page A5 Robotics teaching life skills (503) 232-7292 HEAT AND COOL UP TO 1000 SQFT. INSTALLED FOR AS LITTLE AS $2800 AFTER REBATES AND INCENTIVES RX18NMVJU/FTX18NMVJU Contact The Chronicle Phone: 503-397-0116 chroniclenews@ countrymedia.net Opinion: ...................A4 Poll: ...........................A4 Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle Cartoon: ...................A4 Each club member works on specific parts of the robot during class time. the students and their instructor confidence, their ability to solve and that they still stay connected to Obituaries: ...............A5 JEREMY C. RUARK just before Gov. Brown ordered all tough problems quickly and effi- us,” she said. “We have a couple of Classified Ads: .........A6 [email protected] K-12 schools closed to slow the ciently and work under deadlines,” mentors who are graduates of this spread of the virus. We wanted to she said. “We are here long hours, program, so this builds us up as Legals: .......................A7 The St. Helens High School share their passion of the class and often they have to build and rebuild better people and that is rewarding Blotters: ....................A7 Robotic and Engineering Club, or what they are learning. when it doesn’t work the first time, to see these students’ connections SHREC, was all ready for regional St. Helens High School instruc- so that perseverance and not giving and that we become a family.” TV Guide: ................A8 competition this month in Wilson- tor Sharon Shiel said she hopes up, working together and support- St. Helens High School sopho- ville, but due to the coronavirus each of the 22 students has a posi- ing each other and making friends more and robotics club member Garden Plots: ...........A9 health crisis and classes postponed, tive experience from the class this is important.” Skyler Carlson agreed with Shield the students are now waiting for year. “My reward is watching these their next opportunity. “As mentors, all of us hope the students graduate and going off to The Chronicle spent time with students build their skills, their OSU and PSU and other colleges See ROBOTICS Page A10 Fresh Alaskan Halibut Vol. 138, No. 12 Seafood Tent Sale POSTPONED 1111 Columbia Blvd, St Helens, OR 97051 • 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. • (503) 397-2288 A2 www.thechronicleonline.com Wednesday, March 18, 2020 $3.2 million improvements at Gable Road Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle Crews are completing a sidewalk and curb improvement project along Gable Road in St. Helens. This is a finished portion of the new sidewalk along Gable Road as part of the $3.2 million improvement project. Columbia Blvd. in St Helens. placed 18” off the edge of of drainage and the County improved the drainage issues. Helens and Columbia County JEREMY C. RUARK “This is to improve access the roadway made walking and City wanted to address According to Wood, the both contributing heavily to [email protected] to the high school from the and passage to and from the that during this project and Gable Road Improvement the project through System area neighborhoods, adding school for students a safety not make it worse,” he said. Project should wrap up Development Charges from This spring, work crews sidewalks and bike lanes hazard,” Wood said. “Most of the project has been in June with final paving, area developments to build have been busy completing along the roadway,” he said. Adding curbs, sidewalks improving and adding drain- weather dependent, and tree the project. Scappoose-based a $3.2 million project along Wood said the project and bike lanes increased the age to the area.” planting will need to be done TFT Construction is the con- Gable Road in St. Helens. process began in 2010 roadway surface, according Wood said that work this fall. tractor for the project. Columbia County as- after transportation officials to Wood, and because of that meant a lot of excavation The 3.2 million is funded “Everyone in the neigh- sistant public works direc- looked at walkway issues for drainage along the route had through rock to get lowered through a combination of borhood has been so patient tor Tristan Wood said the residents along Gable Road. to be improved. drain lines, adding catch Oregon Department of Trans- and good to the contractors, project is designed for safety “A resident parking his “During engineering we basins and also adding drain portation enhance funding the flaggers and the workers improvements along Gable trailer along the roadway heard from a lot of neighbors lines for property owners grants, Safe Route to School and I just really appreciate Road from Highway 30 to and a communication pole about flooding issues, lack along the project, which has funds, and the City of St. it,” Wood said. Elks Teen of the Month St. Helens High School is pleased to announce that Ar- thur Jerome is the Elks Teen of the Month for February. “I am extremely humbled to be selected,” Author said, which is a tribute to his personality and demeanor, according to school admin- istrators. According to a release from the high school, Arthur is a hard-working senior at school who cares about the quality of the work he does. He participates in class discussions and is not afraid to voice his opinion, even if it is not the popular opinion in the room. Arthur has strong values and all of these values point to compassion for his fellow man. Arthur is also someone who contributes to society in general. At a recent school board meeting, Arthur had no trouble grabbing a com- ment card and offering his Courtesy photo opinion to the board on what Arthur Jerome. he sees are areas of need in the school district. He just land State to work towards wants a better world and is Arthur has strong a bachelor in mechanical not afraid to ask for it. values and all of these engineering. His hope is to The main activity that values point to compas- work at Michael Curry De- Arthur is involved in is Ro- sion for his fellow man. sign or work in the prosthet- botics. He is the captain of ics field because it combines the robotics team and is in ethic, and a unique perspec- robotics with helping people charge of the robot, manag- tive into the classroom,” St. in need. ing the other students, and Helens High School teacher Arthur said his best at- developing strategy at robot- Jared Phillips said. “He tributes are being supportive The Oregon Employment Department reports 79,919 people were unemployed in February, while 2,021,373 ics competitions. The robots is very respectful to both and compassionate to his were employed across the state.