On August 13^th the Planning Commission approved a Conditional Use Permit application from the City of Columbia City to drill a well in Harvard Park. The City is currently soliciting bids for the drilling, and drilling is expected to begin this fall.

During the September 10^th meeting, the Planning Commission will take public testimony regarding a request by the City to site a 1-million gallon, concrete water storage reservoir at the intersection of Ninth and "K" Streets. The public hearing will be held at the City Hall at 7:00 p.m. Additional information about the proposal is available for public inspection at City Hall during regular business hours.

Volunteers met on Saturday, August 17, to remove rock and woody debris from the north end of the park. They are preparing the area for the installation of an underground sprinkler system and lawn. A small parking area will also be developed with access off of "C" Street.

Welcome to your first monthly utility bill and newsletter! We thought this would be a good time to review our payment regulations. We mail our water and sewer utility bills prior to the last working day of each month, and payment is due by the 10^th of the following month. If a bill is not paid by the 25^th, the customer is charged a $5.00 late fee, and is advised by written notice that service will be discontinued unless the delinquent amount is paid by the 10^th of the following month. If payment is not made by the 10^th, a late fee of $15.00 is charged, and the City delivers a second notice to the premises no less than 12 hours prior to shut-off. If the service is disconnected for non-payment, the delinquent amount must be paid, along with a reconnection fee of $25.00, before service is restored.

Please remember to call us before you get a delinquent notice if you are having difficulty with your bill. You can avoid paying fees and penalties by making timely payments, or by making payment arrangements with us. For your convenience, there is a drop box to the left of the front door at City Hall.

We'd like to thank all of you who have volunteered to help us with making a quilt for the 2003 Celebration. We are still looking for additional volunteers. If you are interested in assisting us with this project, please call (503) 397-4010, or attend the next meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 10th, at 2:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers of the City Hall.

THANK YOU!

Bernadette Albertine, Alice Barchus, Juanita Curry, Laura Flynn, Nell Harrison, Jane Munson, Phyllis Rowley, and Amy West helped with the July utility billings and newsletter.

Two sisters, Doris Bateham and Margaret Parker, share the honors this year as the Grand Marshals of the 2002 Columbia City Celebration on Saturday, September 7, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Doris and Margaret were the youngest of three daughters born to Arthur and Ethel (Caples) Oberg. Their grandparents, Harry and Maude Caples had a dairy ranch on part of the land now used by Coastal St. Helens Chemical. Harry was the eldest son of Hezakiah Caples, and a brother to Dr. Charles Caples who lived in what is now known as the Caples Museum. Hezakiah's father, Joseph Caples, crossed the plains from Missouri in 1843.

Doris was born on Harry and Maude's dairy ranch between Columbia City and Deer Island and Margaret was born in Harry and Maude's home on Second Street in Columbia City where Doris and Margaret now reside.

Doris was two years old and Margaret, seven months, when the family moved to Portland. Both girls attended grade school and high school in Portland, but spent weekends, spring breaks, summers and holidays with their grandparents in Columbia City. Their grandparents were affectionately called Auntie Caples and Uncle Harry by their friends. Columbia City visits became fewer after the girls went to work.

Doris began her working career as a clerk with Standard Insurance and retired as a medical underwriter after 37 years of service. Doris was married a few short months when her husband was killed in Korea. In 1961 she married Harry Bateham and moved to Reno where his job was located. Later wanting to return to Oregon, they moved into her grandparents' home on Second Street in Columbia City.

After graduating from Washington High School in Portland, Margaret began working for Farmers Insurance Company. She married in 1949 and her son, Ronald, was born in 1951. She spent over thirty years working in financial institutions' real estate loan departments. Margaret resided in Portland until 1980 and then moved to Lebanon, Oregon where she spent 11 years. She then returned to her birthplace and lives in a basement apartment in Doris' home.

Doris volunteers regularly every third Wednesday at the St. Helens Senior Center along with others from Bethany Lutheran Church in Warren. She spends one day each week helping make quilts for Lutheran World Relief. The quilts are primarily sent to Third World countries. She also loves other crafts and gardening.

Margaret is a volunteer at Columbia City Grade School in the Foster Grandparent Program, spending 20 hours each week helping children in grades one through three read. She is an avid bookworm and also likes gardening.

Both sisters enjoy traveling and have been on cruises and tours to Alaska, the Caribbean, Hawaii, and Europe. Australia and New Zealand rank highest thus far. They have also traveled to U.S. sites such as the Grand Canyon, Mt. Rushmore, and Carlsbad Caverns. This fall Doris and Margaret, along with their sister, Ruth, will spend 18 days traveling to the Panama Canal, Cabo San Lucas, Costa Rica, Acapulco, the Cayman Islands, Cozmel, Mexico and Columbia, South America. The New England States are also on their future "wish" list.

While Doris and Margaret are very close, they do have differences. Margaret is a "morning" person. Doris is more of a "night owl." Margaret is even-tempered, quiet, and sometimes giggles. Doris admits to speaking and laughing louder and likes entertaining more than Margaret. Margaret loves housework, but Doris is not fond of it. Margaret likes to watch television, but Doris doesn't. Both like yard work, but Doris drives the lawnmower. They can't agree on which one is the better cook.

Doris and Margaret share the same view of Columbia City, however. It is a "quiet, peaceful, and restful place to live." They are proud of their ancestry and the opportunity to live in their grandparents' home built during World War I. They echo their concern that Columbia City is growing too much, but accept the reality of necessary growth. They also join many others who look forward to finding a successful water source to supplement the City's needs.

The sisters and their memories are featured in one chapter of the forthcoming History of Columbia City that is being compiled by Ann Jennings and Shari Ouillette. Preliminary copies are available at City Hall.

CELEBRATION T-SHIRTS

Teresa Knight has designed a very unique and colorful T-shirt for the Columbia City Celebration this year using nautical flags. The nautical flags spell out "Columbia City 2002." Because the design includes five colors (red, white, blue, yellow and black) it shows best on white or gray items.

The design is available in heat transfer or embroidery. Unfortunately, we will not have a T-shirt vendor at the Celebration this year, but you can obtain your Columbia City 2002 Celebration shirts as follows:

Embroidered items: A sample of an embroidered T-shirt is on display at City Hall. You may purchase embroidered items directly from the Embroidery Hutch, (503) 397-1352. Embroidered T-shirts sell for $28.00 and sweatshirts range from $47.00 to $49.00. You may also take your own garment in and have it embroidered for a cost of $25.00.

Heat transfers: You may pre-order a Columbia City 2002 heat transfer T-shirt by contacting the City Hall. Heat transfer T-shirts sell for $16.00, and the T-shirts are a 50/50 blend. The price may vary for children's sizes and double XX or larger sizes - please call City Hall for pricing information about these sizes. If the order is received soon enough, your T-shirt may be ready before or during The Celebration. Otherwise, you will be contacted after The Celebration when your order is ready.

20 WAYS TO PREVENT WATER WASTE

1. Check your toilets for leaks. Put a few drops of food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately.

2. Stop using the toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket. Every time you flush a cigarette butt, facial tissue, or other small bit of trash, you waste five to seven gallons of water.

3. Put plastic bottles in your toilet tank. Fill two plastic bottles with water and put them in your toilet tank, safely away from operating mechanisms. In an average home, the bottles may displace and save ten of more gallons of water a day.

4. Take shorter showers. Long, hot showers can waste five to ten gallons every minute.

5. Install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors. Your local hardware or plumbing supply store stocks inexpensive water-saving shower heads or restrictors that are easy to install.

6. Take baths. A bath in a partially filled tub uses less water than even the shortest of showers.

7. Turn off the water after you wet your toothbrush. Set a glass of water aside for rinsing your mouth after brushing.

8. Rinse your razor in the sink. Fill the bottom of the sink with a few inches of warm water. This will rinse your blade just as well as running water.

9. Check faucets and pipes for leaks. Even the smallest drip from a worn washer can waste 20 or more gallons a day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds.

10. Use your automatic dishwasher only for full loads.

11. Use your automatic washing machine only for full loads.

12. If you wash dishes by hand, don’t leave the water running for rinsing. If you have two sinks, fill one with soapy water and the other with rinse water. If you have only one sink, gather washed dishes in a dish rack and wash them with a spray device or a pan full of hot water.

13. Don’t let the faucet run while you clean vegetables. Rinse them in a stoppered sink or pan of clean water.

14. Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. Running water until it is cool is wasteful.

15. Water your lawn only when it needs it. To check to see if your lawn needs water, step on it. If it springs back up after you move, it doesn’t need water. If it stays flat, fetch the hose.

16. Deep-soak your lawn. Water your lawn long enough for the water to soak down to the roots. A light sprinkling can evaporate quickly and tend to encourage a shallow root system.

17. Water during the cool parts of the day. Early morning watering is recommended.

18. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks.

19. Plant drought-resistant trees and plants.

20. Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants. Mulch will slow evaporation of moisture and discourage weed growth.

Annual Columbia City Celebration 2002

REGISTRATION: 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. at the corner of Second and "F" Streets. Pre-registration is encouraged. Forms are available at City Hall.

ROUTE: Parade will begin at the corner of Second and "F" Streets, travel south on Second Street, and end at "J" Street.

SPECIAL CATEGORY: Lawn Mower Contest - the best decorated push and/or riding mowers win a prize!

Open to children of all ages. Simple carnival games including fishing pond, bean bag toss, darts, cakewalk, and more, at $0.25 per game or 5 games for $1.00. Everyone's a winner with treats and prizes! Free balloons, face, painting, and a huge bouncy play house.

Both auctions will be held in the Community Hall, 1850 Second Street. Auction items will include a wide variety of gift certificates and items donated by many different businesses, organizations and individuals who contribute towards our community celebration. Highest bids for the Silent Auction will be announced at noon, and the Public Auction will start after Silent Auction announcements are made.

The outdoor market will feature a variety of food, crafts and other items! Exhibits, crafts, food booths, and/or game booths will be located on Second Street between City Hall and the Grade School. Spaces are available for $10.00, or $15.00 with electricity. Booths and/or outdoor covers are not provided.

Don't miss the Library's annual book sale! The book sale will take place at the Columbia City Grade School, 2000 Second Street.

Built in 1870 by Dr. Charles Green Caples, the family lived here until 1959. The museum complex occupies an entire block, overlooking the river with a view of Mt. St. Helens. The house contains a parlor, doctor's office, old-fashioned kitchen and pantry, and three upstairs bedrooms, all fully furnished with antiques. A wash house, tool shed, historic orchard and doll museum are some of the other on-site features. The entire facility will be open to the public at no charge, but donations are gladly accepted. The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) owns and operates libraries, schools and museums such as the Caples House Museum. They also give scholarships, mark historical sites, copy genealogical and historical records, sponsor essay contests for youth and children, and undertake numerous other worthwhile projects. The Caples Country Store will be open, featuring country crafts, jams and jellies, fresh apples from the historic orchard, and Caples House/DAR memorabillia.

The raffle drawing will take place upon completion of the Public Auction. Raffle winners need not be present to win. Raffle Tickets are for sale at City Hall now! They may be purchased for $1.00 each, or 6 for $5.00.

05/26 Trespassing. Five subjects warned for being on Trestle Beach after hours.

05/30 Attempt to locate a dog reported loose on Second Street near the school. Unable to locate.

05/30 Citizen assisted with information regarding a sex offender.

05/30 DUII on Highway 30. Unable to locate.

05/30 Traffic complaint in the 400 block of "A" Street.

06/01 Parking complaint behind City Hall.

06/01 911 hang-up call at the payphone at the Community Hall. No one found.

06/04 Parking complaint in the 600 block of Pacific Street.

06/06 ATM card stolen. Complaint not pursued.

06/07 Suspicious vehicle. Checked okay at the Grade School.

06/08 Noise complaint in the 1600 block of Fourth Street.

06/08 Traffic complaint involving a white Ford truck.

06/08 Attempted mail and paper theft.

06/08 Trespassing. Five subjects warned for being at Trestle Beach.

06/10 Suspicious vehicle. Highway 30 and "E" Street. Checked okay.

06/10 Welfare check on Tahoma Street.

06/10 Welfare check in the 1200 block of Second Street.

06/10 Vandalism on Tahoma Street.

06/10 Vandalism on Pacific Street.

06/12 Noise complaint. Teenagers being loud.

06/12 Noise complaint at Pixie Park. Unable to locate.

06/12 Dog complaint near Sixth and Pacific Streets. Unable to locate.

06/13 Traffic complaint on Second Street near the school.

06/13 Prowler in the area of 1700 block of Sixth Street. Nothing found.

06/14 Suspicious vehicle near Metlako Way.

06/15 Suspicious person near Trestle Beach.

06/16 Trespassing on Trestle Beach.

06/17 Theft report taken from a subject who’s wallet was stolen from the Racquetball Club.

06/20 Speeding trucks reported in the 2100 block of Third Street.

06/20 Vandalism. Tissue paper strewn around the house and yard.

06/21 Theft report taken.

06/24 Welfare check. Highway 30 and Chimes Crest - female staggering in the roadway. Taken to St. Helens.

06/24 Vandalism in the 500 block of Pacific Street.

06/24 Citizen assist in the 500 block of Pacific Street.

06/25 Car prowl in the 700 block of "A" Street. Found to be a dome light on.

06/27 Suspicious vehicle found to be okay near "K" and Second Streets.

06/27 Parking complaint on Second Street near the Four Square Church. Vehicle moved.

06/27 Ordinance violation handled with a warning. Problems resolved.

06/27 Ordinance violation. Alley blocked in the 1600 block of Fourth Street. Problem resolved.

06/28 Motor vehicle accident near Highway 30 and "E" Street.

06/28 Parking violation near Second and "I" Streets.

06/29 Welfare check. Person transported by wife.

06/29 Complaint of skateboarders in the development near Sixth Street.

06/29 Suspicious vehicle at Trestle Beach. Vehicle tagged for tow.

07/01 Complaint of vehicles running stop signs near Sixth and "I" Streets.

07/01 Abandoned vehicle in Chimes Crest. Found to be disabled.

07/01 Vehicle blocking the roadway in the 1700 block of Fourth Street. Vehicle moved by owner.

07/02 Suspicious person near Sixth and "E" Streets. Unable to locate.

07/02 Citizen complaint/ordinance violation. Vehicles for sale on Pacific Street.

07/02 Citizen complaint of a boat in the roadway.

07/04 Arrest for driving while suspended.

07/05 Citizen complaint. Semi parked in the roadway near Pacific and Park Streets.

07/05 Suspicious vehicle checked at Trestle Beach.

07/06 Motor vehicle accident with no injuries.

07/07 Vehicle impounded after a traffic stop.

07/11 Possible city ordinance violation near 1600 block of Fourth Street.

07/11 Vehicle blocking the bike path on Fourth Street. Vehicle removed by owner.

07/12 Traffic complaint. Red car almost hit a woman in a wheel chair on the bike path.

07/12 Stolen vehicle taken from a residence in the 1400 block of Fourth Street. The vehicle was later returned to the owner.

07/12 Harassment on Metlako Way.

07/15 Suspicious vehicle checked okay near Sixth and "E" Streets.

07/15 Report of shots fired on Trestle Beach. Unable to locate the source.

07/18 Noise complaint involving remote control cars.

07/18 Noise complaint. Motorcycle too loud in the 1400 block of Fourth Street.

07/27 Vehicle impounded after a traffic stop.

07/27 Warrant arrest near Highway 30 and the Trestle.

07/19 Fraud report taken.

07/20 Suspicious vehicle checked at Trestle Beach.

07/20 Audible alarm checked at the Foursquare Church.

07/21 Vandalism reported.

07/22 Attempted suicide by overdosing on medication.

07/25 Parking complaint in the 1600 block of Fourth Street.

07/29 Suspicious persons in the new development. Kids playing around.

07/29 Welfare check of a female walking north on the highway. Checked okay.

08/01 Telephonic harassment call taken.

08/02 Dog complaint near Second Street and Spinnaker Way.

08/02 Audible alarm at the Foursquare Church.

08/02 Suspicious vehicle at the Forestry Department.

08/05 Littering complaint near Fifth and "I" Streets.

08/05 Telephonic harassment call taken.

08/05 Vandalism reported in the new development.

08/06 Open door checked in the 300 block of Tahoma Street.

08/08 Vandalism to a vehicle reported.

08/09 Burglary and vandalism reported.

08/09 Suspicious vehicle near Fifth and "I" Streets.

08/09 Traffic complaint - white and black Blazer traveling south on Highway 30.

08/12 Open containers in a vehicle at the Mini Mart.

08/15 Parking complaint checked on in the 3200 block of Park Drive.

08/15 Dog complaint in the 2700 block of Sixth Street. Unable to locate.

08/15 Motor vehicle accident with minor damage.

08/15 Parking complaint near Sixth and Pacific Streets. Vehicle moved by owner.

08/15 Traffic complaint of a possible drunk driver near Highway 30 and milepost 31.

08/15 Unwanted person at a residence in the 600 block of "I" Street.

08/16 Parking complaint on Pacific Street.

08/17 Vandalism call on Metlako Way.

08/17 Noise complaint. Barking dog near Second and "M" Streets.

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