Oath of Enforcement office arrests Page A2 Page A3 Wednesday, .50 January 6, 2021 $1 thechronicleonline.com ecial Repo Serving Columbia County since 1881 Sp rt 2021 A LOOK AHEAD T e he Chronicl Mayors look ahead to 2021 In that vein, he also said one of MONIQUE MERRILL the city’s constant top priorities is [email protected] public safety. “We hope to improve overall Editor’s note: safety by finding funding for a new public safety facility to allow us to This is the first in a series of better meet the safety needs of our special reports you’ll read only in officers and the community,” he The Chronicle in the weeks ahead said. providing insight from members of Two other priorities include com- our community into what we might munication and public engagement. expect in 2021. The city wants to inform the public Our first report focuses on view- about what is happening and how points from city hall at St. Helens staff and elected leaders are working and Scappoose. for them. As the year draws to a close, “We encourage people to reach the mayors of Scappoose and St. out to us and engage,” Scholl said. Helens have taken the time to reflect “We want to hear from you. We are on 2020 and look ahead to the new adapting to increased growth. If you year. have ideas, please reach out to us. Your thoughts are important to us.” St. Helens Scappoose St. Helens Mayor Rick Scholl said there are a lot of things on the In his state of the city address, city’s horizon to look forward to in Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle Enhancement of public walk ways along the Columbia River in 2021 continue to be a top priority for St. Helens Mayor Rick Scholl. Scappoose Mayor Scott Burge said the new year. the city has a few projects in the “Hopefully, we will be able to residents can look ahead to the redevelopment project. upcoming projects, Scholl said, will works for the next year, including transition back to more normalcy,” construction of two park projects. “[The waterfront project] hope- be increasing community support for park projects and multiyear planning he said. Two new city council He said Campbell Park is getting fully will include the start of con- the city’s aging police station. to shape how Scappoose will look members will join the city council new sports courts, additional park- struction on a riverfront boardwalk, “We will be engaging the com- over the next 50 years. starting in January. “With the new ing and improved storm drainage. expansion of Columbia View Park, munity and letting them know about This year, 2021, is the 100 year councilors, I am looking forward McCormick Park will have a new and a street expansion at S First our need for a new building,” he anniversary of the city of Scappoose to new ideas and input on current all-abilities playground installed, Street and Strand Street,” Scholl said. “Our current station is 50 years and the 50th commemoration of city projects. There has been a lot of partially funded through the Moda said. “Site preparation will start at old and very small.” the dedication of the World Peace planning occurring the last several Assist program competition the city the St. Helens Industrial Business Scholl said the police department years and people have joined the won in April. Park to attract new business to the has outgrown the space and a new council.” The new year will also launch area.” facility is needed to help the com- As far as projects go, St. Helens the first phases of the waterfront One of the most important munity as it continues to grow. See 2021 Page A4 Vaccinations begin in Columbia County MONIQUE MERRILL [email protected] In the four weeks since the first COVID-19 vaccine was approved for emergency use in the United States, over 50,000 doses have been Drawing courtesy of the City of St. Helens administered in Oregon. Within This is a conceptual drawing of what the new St. Helens Public Safety Facility could Columbia County, 270 doses have look like. Specific cost estimates have yet to be released by the city and no specific decisions had been made as of Jan. 5 about how the public safety facility would be been administered. funded. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses to be effective. The Pfizer vaccine doses Council to review public need to be administered 21 days apart and the Moderna vaccine doses need to be administered 28 days apart. Nine people in Oregon safety facility plans have received the second doses of and Old Portland Road for the site vaccine as of Monday. Courtesy photo from Oregon Health Sciences University JEREMY C. RUARK of the new facility. The state is scheduled to receive Columbia County is now receiving COVID-19 vaccines. [email protected] St. Helens Assistant City Ad- just over 85,000 doses of both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine this health programs, emergency medi- “This is an all-hands-on-deck ministrator Matt Brown said an as- cal service providers and other first effort, and I have directed OHA The St. Helens City Council is sessment determined that a 21,000 week, though actual numbers may scheduled to receive a key report vary and are subject to change. responders. to partner as widely as possible to square foot facility would best serve Gov. Kate Brown issued a state- ensure we are using all available and recommendation during its the long terms needs of the growing The first group to receive the Jan. 6 public session concerning vaccine in the state’s phased vac- ment late Monday, Jan. 5 about resources to ramp up Oregon’s vac- community. stepping up the vaccination efforts cinations rapidly.” the future of the St. Helens Police “From the size of the building, cine approach includes health care Department. personnel and residents and staff at across the state. as of right now, we can only use “Today, I directed the Oregon On the horizon Over the past few months, a city construction estimates based on long-term care facilities. Long-term ad hoc committee has been review- care facility residents include adults Health Authority (OHA) to achieve square footage,” Brown told The the benchmark of 12,000 vaccina- Vaccines will soon be opened ing proposals to build a new police Chronicle in November. “Those who reside in facilities that provide building that would be a public a range of services, including medi- tions administered in Oregon per up to other care facilities and estimates can range widely because day by the end of the next two health care personnel and residents, safety facility to include the city’s of the type of structure and purpose cal and personal care, to people who police department, municipal court, are unable to live independently, weeks,” Brown said. “That will put hospice programs, mobile crisis of the building. So we are not ready us on track to deploy every vac- care and related services, secure city council chambers, a commu- to put a price on the building at this according to the state’s vaccination nity room and a backup emergency plan. cine we have in our hands each transport and individuals working in time.” week. OHA will be working with correctional settings. These people operations center. The city contracted with The other people eligible to In February, following a review receive vaccinations right now health care providers, pharmacies, are in group two of the first phase of are hospital workers, urgent care and local public health partners to of land for the project, the St. Hel- ens City Council selected property employees, staff at skilled nursing streamline the distribution process at the intersection at Kaster Road See COUNCIL Page A7 and memory care facilities, tribal to achieve that goal. See VACCINE Page A7 Fire and Police ......... A3 Opinion ..................... A4 marketfreshonline.com Poll ............................ A4 Cartoon ..................... A4 Curbside service, with Obituaries ................. A5 same day ordering. Download our app today Classified Ads ......... A6 Legals ....................... A6 Police Reports ..........A7 TV Guide ................... A8 Come check out our Vol. 139, No. 1 NEW Deli Remodel 7 AM - 10 PM EVERY DAY • (503) 397-2288 1111 Columbia Blvd, St Helens, OR 97051 • marketfreshonline.com A2 www.thechronicleonline.com Wednesday, January 6, 2021 County officials take oath of office STAFF REPORT [email protected] Three officials were sworn into office by Judge Ted Grove on Monday. Commissioner Margaret Magruder, reelected for her second term to Posi- tion 1, was first elected in November 2016. A lifelong resident of Clatskanie, she has more than two decades of public service involving Columbia County business, government and nonprofits. As a County Commissioner, Magruder’s primary focus is economic development, natural resources and infra- structure. “It is a privilege to serve the citizens of Columbia County for the next four years,” Magruder said. “I look forward to working to bring improved technology, new jobs, and good health to Columbia County.” Commissioner Casey Courtesy photo from Columbia County Courtesy photo from Columbia County Garrett, elected in No- From left to right, Columbia County Commissioners Casey Garrett, Margaret Magruder, Henry Heimuller at Treasurer MaryAnn Guess holds her certification. vember for his first term the swearing in ceremony. to Position 3, has been the County Fair Board for parent in performing the working for the County raised outside of Scappoose jobs, increasing access to has worked in the Colum- eight years. duties of county treasurer for six years as the direc- in Chapman.