St. Helens
St. Helens is the Columbia County seat and the county’s largest city, on the Columbia River where Multnomah Channel joins it, along U.S. Highway 30. It was named by 1850 for its view of Mount St. Helens.
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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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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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Stop throwing batteries in the trash. The county will take them free.
Columbia County accepts household, rechargeable, lithium and phone batteries at no charge at the St. Helens transfer station. Vehicle batteries are $2.70. The county says batteries in garbage trucks start…
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BMO is closing its St. Helens branch Oct. 31
The bank formerly known as Bank of the West is shutting its Columbia River Highway branch at the end of the month, according to a Port of Columbia County staff…
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Five ways to get your hands dirty for Scappoose Bay this fall
The council has five public events through Nov. 14 and is starting construction on a South Scappoose Creek restoration at Chief Concomly Park. Its fish passage work has opened more…
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Best coho fishing on the lower Columbia right now is our stretch
ODFW’s Oct. 17 creel count found the best coho fishing on the lower Columbia in the Warrior Rock to Longview stretch, with 69 boats and 50 coho kept. Chinook must…
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What Measure 5-312 would cost St. Helens homeowners and what it buys
Measure 5-312 would raise $9.2 million over five years to keep St. Helens police at current staffing. Supporters say the force drops from 19 officers to nine without it. Opponents…
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County football playoff picture: who’s in, who hosts, when it starts
With one week left before the OSAA rankings freeze, Scappoose, St. Helens and Clatskanie are projected into the state football playoffs. Rainier, at 5-2, is on the outside. First-round games…
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Three things St. Helens School District wants families to know this week
The first of four St. Helens School District listening sessions is 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23, in the district boardroom. The district also launched a weekend backpack food program and…
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Who’s on the ballot in Columbia County? The full Nov. 3 list
Every candidate on Columbia County’s Nov. 3 ballot, from governor to the McNulty Water PUD, with what each told voters in the official pamphlets, plus the four local measures and…
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Seven months later, St. Helens library reopens on Thursdays
The library has been closed Thursdays since April and Wednesdays from July to September after furloughs and staff departures. Three new part-time hires let it reopen Thursdays from 2 to…