FEBRUARY 2006

A unique campaign is gaining a lot of momentum recently. Since the London bombing tragedy, cell phone users are being urged to program in a new number, and label that number with the letters ICE. That stands for "In Case of Emergency."

If you become unconscious, rescuers could scroll through your phone and know exactly who to call, gleaning information that could potentially save your life.

LEASH LAW REMINDER

City ordinances state it is unlawful to intentionally, negligently or recklessly permit any animal to run at large upon any public street, highway, public place or private property owned by someone other than the owner or keeper of the animal. All animals are to be kept under complete control by the owner or such person by adequate leash.

We'd like to extend a very special thank you to:

• Gloria Chinell, Joe Detloff, Waynne Frank, Ruth Godfrey, Nell Harrison, Shelia Jackson, Dee Loyd, Phyllis Moss and Phyllis Rowley for helping with newsletters and utility bills in January.

• The Columbia River PUD for putting up and taking down the holiday lights on the Community Hall.

• Phyllis Moss for sharing her homemade chocolate candies.

• Waynne Frank for bringing in chocolate covered macadamia nuts.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25^TH

Come dance the night away Mardi Gras style and support the St. Helens Fireworks Fund. This event will be Saturday, February 25^th, 2006, from 5:00 p.m. to midnight at the St. Helens Armory located at 474 South 7^th in St. Helens. Get your tickets at the door. $10 for ages 13 and over, 12 and under are $3. Cajun food and beverages will also be sold.

Activities include:

• Zydeco Dance lessons by Portland State University instructors Roland and Janine Jemerson - 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

• Mardi Gras Parade - 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

• Live music provided by Dexter Ardoin and the Creole Zydeco Ramblers Band from Louisiana - 8:00 p.m. - midnight.

The St. Helens Fireworks Committee will be meeting on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. at the Kozy Korner. Volunteers are needed - please contact Shelia Jackson at (503) 366-5300 for more information.

If romance is what you’re in the mood for, might I suggest trying a book from one of our most circulated authors, Debbie Macomber. Debbie writes stories that are heartwarming and wholesome about love and commitment. Several of her novels have become made-for-TV-movies. Many of her novels are set in the Pacific Northwest where she resides.

Dying to read a mystery? Just in, the latest novel in the Kinsey Milhone Mystery series by Sue Grafton, "S" is for Silence. Also known as the Alphabet series. Although this is Kinsey Milhone’s nineteenth book of "suspense and misadventure," it is said "Sue Grafton takes a new approach to telling the tale." You can find more books in the series (K through R) here at the library.

Perhaps all you’re looking for is a good book. With tens of thousands of books being published each year, a novel worthy of an award is definitely a flag for me. One of my favorite awards is the Newbery award. The Newbery is the most prestigious award given to writers of children’s literature. But these books are not just for children. Adults, you would be missing some of the finest stories. They are tales of courage, perseverance, tolerance and friendship. Enjoy them in all genes and different literary forms, like poetry.

Please email your reading suggestions to the library at cclibrary@opusnet.com, with READERS REVIEW in the subject line. Or, mail your READERS REVIEW to the Columbia City Community Library, PO Box 189, Columbia City, OR 97018. We’d love to hear from you!

For the convenience of our patrons and the customers of United Koffee Shoppe, we provide both wired and wireless high-speed Internet access. United Koffee Shoppe welcomes you to use their seating in the lobby.

CERT training (about 20 hours) covers basic skills that are invaluable when emergency services are not available. By applying the basic response and organizational skills learned during training, CERT members can help save and sustain lives until help arrives. CERT trainers are provided by the St. Helens Police Department and the Columbia River Fire and Rescue, and courses are free to the public.

CERT teaches participants to:

• Take steps to prepare themselves for a disaster.

• Identify and reduce potential hazards likely to affect their homes and communities.

• Work with emergency service providers in search and rescue situations.

• Perform as a team to safely utilize emergency resources.

• Assess emergency medical needs and employ basic treatments.

CERT courses include:

• Emergency Preparedness

• Fire Suppression

• Disaster First Aid and Triage

• Light Search and Rescue

• Disaster Psychology

• Team Organization

For CERT class schedule information, contact Vicky Vose, Program Coordinator. You can reach her by calling (503) 397-3333 or email her at vickyv@ci.st-helens.or.us. These CERT courses are sponsored by the St. Helens Police Department.

Child safety seats, boosters and safety belts have saved many lives and prevented even more serious injuries - in Oregon and nationwide.

Child passenger risks in Oregon:

• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and injury among children.

• Last year crashes in Oregon injured 1,297 child passengers under age ten and killed fourteen.

• Over 60% of those injured or killed were not using child restraints. This means they were either using ill-fitting adult lap and shoulder belt systems or no restraints at all!

• Potential of child restraints to prevent injury in crashes is estimated at 71% for infants, 54% for toddlers in child safety seats, and 59% for children riding in boosters.

• In Oregon last year, 85% of child safety seats and 51% of booster seats inspected were installed incorrectly.

• Booster seats reduce the risk of injury by 59% compared to safety belts used alone.

• It is estimated that only 34% of Oregon's booster age children are riding in booster seats.

The latest research by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has found:

• 57% of crashes occurred 10 minutes or less from home.

• More than half of crashes occurred on roadways with posted speed limits of less than 45 m.p.h.

• 45% of crashes were frontal impact.

• As children age, their risk of being injured in a crash rises. Head and face injuries were the most common.

When is it safe for my child to ride in a vehicle without a booster seat? It's not time until they are 4'9". Boost them until they are big enough. Children over 40 pounds should ride in the back seat in their booster seat using the lap and shoulder safety belt until they fit correctly in the adult safety belt, usually 4'9".

When can my child move from their seat with a harness to a booster seat? Forward facing toddlers should ride in the back seat in their seat with a harness until they are 40 pounds, unless the seat allows them to use the harness straps longer.

How long does my infant need to ride rear facing? Infants should ride rear facing in the back seat from birth to at least one year of age and at least 20 pounds, longer if possible.

Where is the safest place in the vehicle for my child to ride? Passengers 12 years old and younger are safest riding in the back seat of the vehicle in the appropriate child safety seat, booster seat or lap and shoulder belt.

What is Oregon's law? A child who is under four years of age and weighs 40 pounds or less must be properly secured with a child safety seat designed for children weighing 40 pounds or less. A child over age four but under age six or a child weighing over 40 pounds but under 60 pounds must be properly restrained in a child safety system which elevates them so that lap and shoulder belt systems fit correctly. A child who is at least six year of age and weighs 60 pounds or more must be properly secured with a safety belt or safety harness.

Where do I call to get information on child safety seats and boosters? The Child Safety Seat Resource Center is Oregon's central source of information and assistance for child passenger safety education and training. Working with child passenger safety technicians and advocates, the CSSRC provides education on the correct installation of child safety and booster seats. Child safety seats are very effective in saving lives but for many families they are too expensive. The CSSRC Child Safety Seat Distribution Program helps assist these families. For more information call 503-656-7207 or 1-800-772-1315 or visit www.childsafetyseat.org.

Information reprinted with permission from the Traffic Safety Connections newsletter.

The bridge reconstruction project is progressing on schedule. The new water and sewer mains were recently installed at the "L" Street bridge. Our apologies to our customers that were without water service for a few hours during that process. Portland & Western Railroad crews will begin removing the bridge on January 30th. The new bridge slabs are scheduled for placement in mid April, and the new bridge should be completed on June 2, 2006.

The City received nearly $1.2 million in Federal funding under the Local Highway Bridge Replacement project to help pay for this project.

12/16/05 Assisted Columbia River Fire and Rescue on a spill on Highway 30 near "E" Street.

12/17/05 Report of wood theft from the construction site at Highway 30 and "L" Street.

12/17/05 Report of suspicious person selling alarm systems in the 300 block of Tahoma Court.

12/23/05 Request to locate reported drunk driver on Highway 30 heading northbound from Warren.

12/26/05 Assisted citizen locked out of vehicle.

12/27/05 Ordinance violation reported of solicitors without a permit in the 3300 block of Tahoma.

12/27/05 Parking complaint of a van in the 3300 block of Tahoma Street.

12/27/05 Welfare check requested in the 2300 block of Sixth Street.

12/29/05 Abandoned vehicle checked near Second and "I" Streets.

12/29/05 Complaint of loose dogs checked.

12/29/05 Barking dog complaint in the 1800 block of Seventh Street.

12/29/05 Complaint of barking dogs in the 1600 block of Sixth Street.

12/29/05 Report taken on theft of building materials from McBride Meadows.

12/31/05 Possible drunk driver reported on Highway 30 heading southbound near Morse Brothers.

01/03/06 Animal complaint reported in the 600 block of "A" Street.

01/03/06 Animal complaint taken. Dog taken to shelter.

01/04/06 Assisted citizen locked out of vehicle near Second and "G" Streets.

01/04/06 Suspicious person checked near Highway 30 and "I" Street.

01/04/06 Dog complaint reported near Pacific and Sixth Streets.

01/04/06 Assault on school bus reported. Referred to St. Helens Police School District Resource Officer.

01/04/06 Loose dog taken to shelter.

01/05/06 Barking dog complaint reported on Skookum Court

01/05/06 Barking dog reported in the 1600 block of Sixth Street.

01/05/06 Littering complaint taken near Fifth and "E" Streets.

01/05/06 Loose dog reported in the 1700 block of Seventh Street.

01/05/06 Suspicious vehicle checked near "H" and Sixth Streets.

01/06/06 Animal complaint in the 1600 block of Sixth Street.

01/07/06 Motorist assisted near Pacific Street and Highway 30 with a disabled motor home.

01/07/06 Juvenile related problem in the 300 block of "L" Street.

01/11/06 Suspended driver’s vehicle impounded near Fifth and Pacific Streets.

01/11/06 Parking complaint reported in the 1800 block of Fourth Street.

February 2 7:30 p.m. Regular City Council Meeting at City Hall

February 7 7:00 p.m. Parks Committee Meeting at City Hall

February 9 7:30 p.m. Municipal Court at City Hall

February 14 7:00 p.m. Planning Commission Meeting at City Hall cancelled

February 16 7:30 p.m. Regular City Council Meeting at City Hall

February 18 10:00 a.m. Friends of the Library Book Sale in the Community Hall

February 20 CLOSED City Hall is closed on President's Day

February 21 7:00 p.m. Friends of the Library Meeting in the Library

February 23 7:30 p.m. Municipal Court at City Hall

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