• Avoid over watering. Grass needs water when it is pale green and it stays flat after it has been stepped on.

• Water slowly until the lawn is soggy. Use a hose; sprinklers allow the water to evaporate before the soil can absorb it. If you must use a sprinkler, use one that makes large drops of water.

• Water in the morning. Sun and wind can evaporate much of the water before it reaches the soil.

• Let the grass grow higher in dry weather – it saves burning and saves water.

• Before planting, add compost or a mulch to the garden. Compost absorbs water and fertilizes plants. Mulches also absorb water and prevent the spread of weeds.

• Toilets are the single biggest water consumer, accounting for 40-45% of all household use. Leaks in the toilet can double or even triple over-all water consumption wasting thousands of gallons a month. Often leaks are silent and go undetected.

• Toilet leaks usually occur in the toilet tank where water either drains down the overflow pipe or drains past the plunger ball.

• Overflow pipe leaks can be detected by visual inspection and will occur in two forms. First, the water level in the tank may be too high and water is overflowing down the pipe. Second, the small tube running from the ball cock assembly to the overflow pipe may have a continuous stream of water coming from it.

• Plunger ball leaks can be detected by adding food coloring to the toilet tank. If after a period of 30 minutes food color appears in the bowl, the plunger ball is leaking.

• If you experience an abnormally high water bill and suspect the usage may be accounted to a leak, a good place to start your search is with your toilet.

We’d like to extend a special thank you to the following volunteers:

• Bernie Albertine, Marian Calnon, Gloria Chinell, Nell Harrison, Sheila Jackson, Barbara Jones and Phyllis Rowley for helping with the May utility bills and newsletter.

• Marian Calnon for continuing to care for the flowerbeds at City Hall.

• Nell Harrison, Izzy Wooden, Jim Shinkle and Marian Calnon for their efforts and hard work in sprucing up Harvard and Jim Bundy Memorial Park.

• Marian Calnon, Nell Harrison, Claudia Yoes and Tricia for removing morning glories from Harvard Park.

• Norm Jones for his continued efforts in keeping Datis Park’s grass mowed.

• Shelia Jackson, Jack & Molly Hruska, Tom Villoni, Cathy Parks, Sally Jones, Ali Womack, Jeff & John for their hard work during the Spring Clean Up event.

• Steven and Tyra Schroeder, Marian Calnon, Jim Shinkle, Stan Hopkins, John Burdett, Harvard Anderson, and Barbara Jones for assisting us with the Riverside Clean-Up project.

The Rose Festival Fleet Week is June 8 - 12. Ships from the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers and the Royal Canadian Navy will be sailing up the River for Rose Festival. The ships usually sail by Columbia City the first two days of that week, but there are no specific times for their arrival.

On May 12th the St. Helens Garden Club, in conjunction with Columbia City Parks Committee Members, held a dedication ceremony in remembrance of Carole Hopkins. An area was planted in Jim Bundy Memorial Park and was dedicated to Carole in honor of her participation in the St. Helens Garden Club.

POLICE REPORT

03/17/05 Suspicious circumstance reported and checked in 3300 block of Tahoma Street.

03/17/05 Assisted Sheriff’s Office with restraining order in the 1500 block of Sixth Street.

03/18/05 Follow-up completed on a pending nuisance violation case.

03/19/05 Officer took information on possible drug activity which was referred to the Columbia Enforcement Narcotics Team.

03/21/05 Follow-up and registered letter sent on City ordinance violation.

03/21/05 Traffic hazard reported near the intersection of "F" and Second Streets. Vehicle removed by owner.

03/22/05 Officer investigated theft of trees - juveniles were cutting down trees to make a raft on property owned by the Port of St. Helens.

03/22/05 Assist Sheriff’s Office on an injury accident in the area of Smith and Robinette Road.

03/25/05 Officer investigated City ordinance violation in the 1800 block of First Street.

03/25/05 Possible drunk driver reported on Fifth Street.

03/25/05 Officer confirmed City arrest warrant.

03/26/05 Brown bulldog reported loose on "G" Street.

03/26/05 Additional report received on brown bulldog on Sixth Street.

03/28/05 Officer contacts resident regarding the arrest of a suspicious person near "A" and Belle Streets.

03/29/05 Officer responds to call of a resident concerned about threats made to her mother.

03/29/05 Follow-up completed and detective from Vancouver Police contacted regarding a sex abuse that occurred in Columbia City.

03/29/05 Traffic hazard – trees removed from roadway near intersection of "E" and Second Streets.

03/29/05 Assisted Columbia City Public Works Department.

03/30/05 Follow-up on sex abuse involving a child.

03/30/05 Alarm checked and was unfounded at Dixieline Lumber.

03/30/05 Citizen assist – motorist ran out of fuel in area of Highway 30 and "A" Street.

03/30/05 Traffic hazard - removed several rocks in the roadway near Highway 30 and "A" Street.

03/30/05 Suspicious vehicle with possible switched plates checked in the 300 block of Sixth Street.

03/31/05 Citizen assist in the area of Highway 30 and "A" Street.

04/01/05 Traffic hazard - removed section of pipe in roadway on Highway 30 near "L" Street.

04/01/05 Citizen assist at the Mini Mart.

04/01/05 Trespass and eviction related call responded to by officer.

04/02/05 Suspicious circumstances reported in the 300 block area of "A" Street.

04/02/05 Citizen complaint reported at City Hall. Complainant was gone upon arrival.

04/03/05 Assisted outside agency with a person reported as a felon attempting to elude police.

04/03/05 Assisted outside agency with attempted felony warrant service.

04/04/05 Assisted the Law Enforcement Data System with information.

04/04/05 Follow-up on child abuse case.

04/04/05 Assisted citizen in area of Fifth Street and Skookum Court.

04/05/05 Citizen assisted with concerns about drug activity.

04/05/05 Assisted citizen with emergency transportation to location in Columbia City.

04/07/05 Assist Sheriff’s Office with an out of control subject with a felony arrest warrant.

04/08/05 Citizen complaint of tall grass - City ordinance violation in area of "E" Street and The Strand.

04/08/05 Officer responded to an alarm at Dixieline Lumber.

04/09/05 Found property - red bicycle in area of 1600 block of Third Street.

04/09/05 Assisted Sheriff’s Office in the area of Highway 30 and Trestle Beach.

04/09/05 Possible drunk driver reported on Highway 30.

04/12/05 Officer investigated City ordinance violation.

04/13/05 Follow-up on child sex abuse case.

04/13/05 Incomplete 911 call checked in the 3300 block of Tahoma Street.

04/15/05 Vehicle impounded and citations issued on a suspended driver after a traffic stop on Highway 30 near "A" Street.

04/16/05 Domestic dispute investigated in the 300 block of "L" Street.

04/16/05 Assisted a citizen with a water related problem in the 1800 block of Third Street.

04/17/05 Officer confirmed outstanding Columbia City warrant.

04/17/05 Officer assisted Sheriff’s Office with fatal traffic accident on Canaan Road near Signs Drive.

04/18/05 Officer conducted death investigation in 300 block of "L" Street.

04/18/05 Loose dog reported in area of City Hall.

04/20/05 Animal complaint reported in the 2300 block of Sixth Street.

04/20/05 Traffic complaint reported - speeding vehicle in area of 1800 block of Fourth Street.

04/21/05 Citizen assist in area of "I" and Fourth Street.

04/23/05 Citizen assist in 2300 block of Sixth Street.

04/23/05 Citizen assist in 2200 block of First Street.

04/23/05 Citizen assist in 1800 block of Front Place.

04/23/05 Citizen assist in 1300 block of Second Street.

04/23/05 Citizen assist in 1400 block of Fourth Place.

04/23/05 Citizen asssit in 600 block of "A" Street.

04/23/05 Suspicious vehicle in area of Sixth and "I" Streets.

04/23/05 Loose dog reported in area of Fifth and Penn Streets.

04/24/05 Attempt to locate reported drunk driver on Highway 30. Unable to locate.

04/25/05 Citizen reported concern for abandoned fish in pond. Referred to County Animal Control.

04/25/05 Report of kids switching plates on vehicle in area of Highway 30 near Mile Post 32.

04/25/05 Citizen assist in area of "I" and Fourth Streets.

04/25/05 Citizen assist in 2300 block of Sixth Street.

04/25/05 Citizen assist in 2200 block of First Street.

04/25/05 Citizen assist in 1800 block of Front Place.

04/25/05 Citizen assist in 1300 block of Second Street.

04/25/05 Citizen assist in 1400 block of Fourth Place.

04/25/05 Citizen asssit in 600 block of "A" Street.

04/25/05 Suspicious vehicle in area of Sixth and "I" Streets.

04/27/05 Animal complaint investigated.

04/27/05 Noise complaint reported.

04/27/05 Follow-up on citizen assist.

04/27/05 Follow-up on child abuse.

04/27/05 Citizen reported concern over threats received from party located out of state.

04/27/05 Citizen reported concerns about crime on path.

MONTHLY MEETING AND EVENT CALENDAR

June 2nd 7:30 PM Regular City Council Meeting at City Hall

June 7th 7:00 PM Budget Committee Meeting at City Hall

June 9th 7:30 PM Municipal Court at City Hall

June 14th 7:00 PM Regular Planning Commission Meeting at City Hall CANCELED

June 16th 7:30 PM Regular City Council Meeting at City Hall

June 20th 7:00 PM Friends of the Library Meeting at the Library

June 23rd 7:30 PM Municipal Court at City Hall

June 30th 7:30 PM Special City Council Meeting at City Hall

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