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New St. Helens city administrator plans a hard look at city contracts
Erik Finch, who started Oct. 13, told residents his first priority is the city’s finances, including a review of contracts and recurring costs.
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Rain moves in Sunday after a bone-dry October
Portland’s airport had just 0.11 inch of rain in October through the 23rd. About an inch is forecast across Columbia County this week, Vernonia hits freezing, and Halloween looks dry.
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Deer Island fertilizer plant could share in $100M federal upgrade
USDA picked a $200 million fertilizer upgrade naming St. Helens as a site and proposed about $100 million for it. The money isn’t guaranteed yet. Records tie the project to…
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Mail your ballot by Tuesday, or use a drop box
Tuesday, Oct. 27, is the state’s last recommended day to mail a ballot. After that, use one of Columbia County’s six drop boxes, open 24 hours until 8 p.m. Nov.…
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Ol Pastime’s 19th chili cook-off lets the crowd pick the charity
Bring a crockpot or just an appetite: Ol Pastime Tavern’s 19th annual chili cook-off in Rainier runs on donations, and tasters vote on which local nonprofit gets the money.
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Kiwanis has kept Halloween free for St. Helens kids for 34 years
Ring toss, Plinko, a hayride and dancing witches at McBride Elementary on Halloween morning, and the Kiwanis Day Breakers pick up the tab. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 31.
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Warren man pleads not guilty to 11 counts; trial set for Dec. 15
Andrew James Hanson, 24, pleaded not guilty Thursday to burglary, criminal mischief, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, coercion, assault and more; his release was revoked and security…
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Logger airlifted after equipment rolls down hill near Vernonia
Vernonia Rural Fire and Metro West Ambulance crews carried the injured logger 300 yards to an ambulance Oct. 14 before a Life Flight helicopter took the worker to a trauma…
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A check from the state treasurer may be in your mailbox this month. It is real.
Oregon Treasury is mailing about $7 million in unclaimed property to 13,000 people this month without requiring a claim. Checks run $50 to $10,000. Everyone else can search their name…
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How Columbia County’s five school districts scored on the 2025-26 state tests
ODE’s 2025-26 results for all five Columbia County districts: St. Helens at 30.8 percent in English and 19.9 in math; Scappoose at 51.4 and 39.6 but with 54.5 percent participation;…
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St. Helens School Board takes up a fixer-upper, a pension bond and cameras
The Oct. 21 packet includes a resolution to buy a residential property for the district’s student renovation program, a 4.75 percent rate on a pension obligation bond set Oct. 7,…
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Golden Ticket: free admission to Scappoose school events for anyone 60 and up
Scappoose School District admits adults 60 and older to its athletic events at no charge, except OSAA playoffs, per the district newsletter.