Two worthwhile events happening in Columbia County this Saturday:
First, the St. Helens Daybreaker Kiwanis annual Children's Fair at St. Helens High School from 10:00AM - 3:00 PM, is the largest single event of its kind in the Northwest. There will be 6000 or more people from all over Columbia County there. Please be sure to read the detailed announcements on Sthelensupdate. If you think that this is something just for kids then you are mistaken...it's fascinating for us "groan-ups" as well. There are no commercial ventures there, no money being made or generated, just displays and events of interest to kids.
Also, a quick shout out for Rainier Together’s 2nd Annual Red Ribbon Run & Walk happening this Saturday, October 29th, beginning at 10am at the Rainier High School Football Field. Events include a 1k & 5k run, and a 3k walk with runners and walkers of all ages and abilities welcome. If you’re interested, you can register on Saturday for $8 with all money raised to help fund alcohol and other drug prevention efforts in the Rainier area. (For more information, please contact Penny Blahm of Rainier Together Coalition at 503-556-9269 or Len Robison at Rainier High School at 503-556-4215)
Rainier Together is a local coalition formed to prevent substance abuse in youth and adults, and to promote activities that give youth and families the opportunity to make healthy lifestyle choices. The coalition has funded an After School Program for Middle School students in Rainier, a Prevention Specialist in the Elementary School to provide Prevention Education, a Parent Education Class, OSSOM student attendance to Conferences, MIP Diversion and Smoking Cessation Classes, and has sponsored and provided Substance Abuse Prevention Education and Training in the town of Rainier.
Sadly my friends, I haven’t had the opportunity to spend much time here in St Helens over the past few months, but when I have been here, I seem to always be talking with people about the levy dedicated to law enforcement for the Nov. 8th election. With a focus on fighting methamphetamine and related-crimes, the levy will raise an estimated $6.3 million over five years, (dedicated exclusively to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Department for 10 patrol deputes and two patrol sergeants - tripling the current patrol force and allowing for 24 hour-coverage of the rural areas of the county.) The levy will cost property owners 39.49 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation (about $39 per year on a house valued at $100,000), and will also provide for one civil deputy position, and two support positions within the Columbia County Jail, as well as patrol cars and bullet-proof vests for the new patrol deputies. The local option law enforcement levy is the only county-wide measure on the ballot. City of Scappoose voters have a city ordinance to vote on as well, but nothing else is on the ballot in Columbia County.
If you ask me, the Sheriff's Levy is a no-brainer.
Be sure to fill out those ballots you'll get in the mail this week.
-Tom
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