April 30 is the deadline to register to vote in the May primary election. It’s also the deadline to register with a political party ahead of the closed primaries. Voters can register or update their registration online at OregonVotes.gov until 11:59 p.m. on April 30. The Republican and Democratic parties have chosen to hold closed primaries, which means only registered members of the party will be able to vote in those primaries. All voters, regardless of party affiliation, will receive ballots with nonpartisan contests and...

When I was an intern for Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield, I had a front row seat to see just how important it is for our state’s priorities and values to be represented on the powerful Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for funding the federal government. Now, as chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior and Environment, I’m working hard to continue Senator Hatfield’s legacy and ensure that Oregon has a strong voice in the nation’s spending decisions – including investing in vital projects that meet our state’s diverse needs, from building wildfire resiliency to boosting affordable housing. ...

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...

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...

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. ...

Veterans Affairs (VA) is looking for significant feedback from veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors for a Federal Advisory Committee on the proliferation of benefits. The VA is seeking people willing to speak in 3-minute public comment slots both in person and virtually, or willing to provide written statements for a more in-depth analysis. Topics on the docket for this meeting include the Survivors’ Assistance and Memorial Support Program, Veterans Health Administration, the Office of Survivor Assistance, and the Veterans Benefits Administration. Anyone with feedback...

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. ...

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.” ...

Substantial progress has been made in the John Gumm Renovation and Improvement Project. In preparation for a fall move, Columbia County hosted a media briefing to provide an update. The event on April 17 was held at the John Gumm building, 251 St. Helens Street, in St. Helens. Featured speakers included Columbia County Commissioner Casey Garrett, St. Helens Mayor Rick Scholl, Paul Vogel, Executive Director of the Columbia Economic Team, and Brandon Sundeen, Vice President of the Columbia County Museum Association Board of Directors. ...

The police blotter relates to the public record of incidents as reported by law enforcement agencies. All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Information printed is preliminary and subject to change. For specific details about cases listed, contact the appropriate law enforcement agency. Rainier Police Department April 9 ...

The spring sports season is rolling along, and student-athletes playing baseball and softball at St. Helens and Clatskanie are competing to be the best in their respective leagues. Let’s catch up with how St. Helens High School (SHHS) and Clatskanie Middle/High School (CMHS) have been plotting the base paths, and how their seasons have been going so far. St. Helens High School ...

The City of Clatskanie is halfway to its funding goal for a new sewer plant after receiving $3 million in federal funding through the Congressional Directed Funding program. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden recently secured funding for 139 Oregon community-initiated projects in fiscal year 2024, including $3 million in funding for the Clatskanie Wastewater Treatment Plant. The funding request for the city started about a year ago when the...

Options for a late night snack or refreshment in St. Helens are pretty limited, but after years of development, a new market has opened and it aims to serve the community at all hours. American Market, located at 115 N 18th St. in St. Helens, opened April 24 and will be open 24 hours a day. Once the home of an arcade, the space will now feature one of the only all-day operations in St. Helens. ...

To support a hunger-relief program that is vital to Columbia County, InRoads Credit Union will host a food drive from Monday, April 22 - Friday, May 3, across its three branches in Scappoose, St. Helens and Rainier. The food drive will benefit the Columbia Pacific Food Bank (CPFB), a food pantry whose mission is to empower the community and nourish those who lack access to essential resources. In addition to food donations, InRoads will accept cash donations that the credit union will match up to...

How Cottage Grove and cities across Oregon and the national handle homelessness could be determined by the U.S. Supreme Court. A majority of U.S Supreme Court justices Monday, April 22, seemed inclined to side with an Oregon town’s law that bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, in a case that could have broad implications for local ordinances related to homelessness across the country. During oral arguments in City of Grants...

Members of the Oregon Congressional delegation are calling for a renewed long-term commitment to the Western Oregon Operating Plan (WOOP). Set to expire June 30 of this year, the WOOP serves as the agreement that governs fire response for BLM, the Oregon Department of Forestry, and Forest Protective Associations all over western Oregon. Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Val Hoyle today led U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and...

Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) and BuildUp Oregon have announced the launch of the OHCS Co-location Fund aimed at expanding access to early childhood education and affordable housing across Oregon. “Families face a pile of cost burdens that limit their access to afford housing, and one of these burdens is the high cost of early childcare," OHCS Director Andrea Bell said. "These investments set out to change the trajectory for Oregon families, allowing for increased stability and a better quality of life.” ...

The Georgia-Pacific mill in Wauna will be seeing substantial investment, as the company recently announced an investment of more than $150 million to rebuild a paper machine at that location. This investment will rebuild a 1965-vintage paper machine into a “world-class machine” to make paper for Angel Soft® and strategic private-label bath tissue. The Chronicle & Chief reached out to Georgia-Pacific to understand the scale of the investment and what...

Already underway, the Columbia County Chapter of Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Oregon is holding its annual Joe Schwab Memorial Fishing Derby on the Columbia River, Willamette River and Multnomah Channel. The two-month long salmon derby ends Saturday, May 11. “This derby not only recognizes Joe’s legacy as an Oregon State Trooper, but it provides a friendly competition with some impressive prizes,” derby director Mindy Sass said. First prize is $2,000...