LATEST NEWS
Q&A: Columbia County commission candidates on the issues
With the May 21 election looming, there may be a change on the Columbia County Board of Commissioners. Ballots will be mailed May 1 ahead of the election featuring incumbent Margaret Magruder and challengers Alex Tardif and Brian Brust vying for Position 1 on the board. Magruder is in the last year of her second term on the commission. Tardif has taken on numerous roles in Columbia County, including his...
Diamond Dynamos: Last week's outstanding Westside baseball & softball performances (April 22-26)
Below are the outstanding performances from the Washington and Columbia County high school baseball and softball diamonds this past week. Baseball • Kruz Schoolcraft of Sunset went 2-for-3 with a home run, RBI and run-scored, while allowing one earned run and striking out 10 in a win over Jesuit • Zach Jaeger of Tigard went...
Former Columbia River Fire & Rescue Chief passes away
The emergency services community of Columbia County has been in mourning following the loss of Westport Fire and Rescue Division Chief Dave Coombs, who passed away earlier this month. A news release from Westport Fire and Rescue announced the passing of Coombs, saying he passed away at his home on April 2, at the early age of 53. Coombs’ career spanned over three decades, and his passion for the medical field began in early high school. ...
Developing: Fire claims life of one in Rainier
A structure fire in Rainier claimed the life of one on the night of Apr. 25, and the cause of the fire is under investigation, according to CRFR Interim Fire Chief Eric Smythe. At approximately 8:37 p.m. Apr. 25, the district received a report of smoke and a possible structure fire in the 75000 block of Fern Hill Road in Rainier, according to Smythe. "The crews initially found smoke throughout...
Kiwanis Parade in St. Helens will lift spirits, entertain young and old June 15
Finishing touches are underway for the 2024 Kiwanis Parade in St. Helens. Just ask Judy Thompson, who is a parade committee member, and she’ll tell you a lot goes into the planning of the annual event, which this year starts at noon Saturday, June 15. The parade begins at the Chamber of Commerce building on Columbia Boulevard, just off Highway 30. It runs down Columbia and turns right on South...
Upcoming Event: Clatskanie Farmer Collective’s spring market
Spring is in full swing, and to celebrate the season and support local vendors, the Clatskanie Farmer Collective (CFC) will be holding a Spring Market in collaboration with the Clatskanie Garden Club. The event will be held May 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will be located at 80 NE Art Steele Street, adjacent to the Clatskanie Food Hub. The event will feature early-season produce, plant starts, hot food, warm tea, and live music. ...
Letter: What I like about St. Helens
Sometimes it is worth while taking a moment to count our blessings and realize how fortunate we are. We are not perfect, but here are somethings that I like about living in St. Helens. We are a small city and we are still able to maintain rural atmosphere. We are a safe place to live. We have very little in the way of violent crime. We have a well trained and professional police department, that is willing to serve the public on an “around the...
"Cow-culated Rescue": Stuck in the mud no more!
Emergency responders helped a family avoid a cow-tastrophe over the weekend, saving a cow who got stuck in a bog and was unable to escape. According to a Facebook post from Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire Protection District (RFPD), the owners of a cow named Ruby called on volunteers to help when Ruby got stuck in a marshy area of their property on April 21. The problem required a “cow-culated technical rescue.” ...
Garden Plots: Using fertilizers, germinating soil, and pepper preparation
Events: April 27 The Columbia County Master Gardeners™ Spring Fair will be Saturday, April 27 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. There will 3,000+ tomato plants, 700+ pepper plants, and garden related items from other vendors including Means Nursery! It will be at the Fairgrounds again this year. May 2 Columbia County Beekeepers Monthly meeting. Thursday, May 2 at 7 p.m. Master Beekeeper Charlie VanDenHeuvel will be the speaker He will be...
Principal in St. Helens honored as 2024 Middle School Principal of the Year
The principal of St. Helens Middle School has been selected the 2024 Oregon Middle School Principal of the Year by the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators (COSA). Cris Gwilliam, who learned of the honor during a recent staff meeting, was nominated by St. Helens School District Superintendent Scot Stockwell for his “outstanding leadership, collaboration and innovation” in leading St. Helens Middle School through significant transitions over the last year. In...
Rainier man faces drug charges associated with illegal western Lane County marijuana grow
WESTLAKE, Ore. --The average household uses around 1,000 kilowatts of power every month, but one home in in the unincorporated western Lane County community of Westlake tipped off authorities to an illegal marijuana grow that was racking up an average of 50,000 kilowatts a month. Court records show that Chanh...
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