Help Shape The Future Of Transit In Columbia County (Photo) -07/03/25

CC Rider Seeks New Members for Transit Advisory Committee

 

ST. HELENS, Ore. July 3, 2025 — Columbia County Rider (CC Rider) is looking for two new members to serve on its Transit Advisory Committee (TAC), a group that helps guide public transit service in our communities.

 

TAC members provide valuable input on proposed transportation projects, funding priorities, and the unique needs of local riders—including veterans, seniors, commuters, students, and people with disabilities. This is a great opportunity to make a real impact by helping shape accessible, efficient, and inclusive transportation across Columbia County.

 

To qualify, applicants must live or work in Columbia County and have a general knowledge of public transportation needs in the area. The committee reflects the diversity of our region, with members representing seniors, people with disabilities, low-income individuals, employers, and service providers. The application is available online at: https://columbiacounty.info/CCRboard.

 

Can’t join the committee but still want to stay informed? Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public. Anyone interested is welcome to attend—either in person or virtually.

 

Meeting Information:

The committee meets monthly, on the third Tuesday, at the Columbia County Transit Center in St. Helens. You may also join virtually via Microsoft Teams: https://tinyurl.com/5fyu95zh.

Meeting ID: 267 012 334 333 4               Passcode: bR3Di2yR

 

For questions or more information, email: ccriderinfo@columbiacountyor.gov.

 

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About CC Rider

CC Rider is Columbia County’s public transit service, providing fixed-route and dial-a-ride service for local residents. The program connects communities within the county and the surrounding region to employment, education, healthcare, and essential services. Learn more at https://nwconnector.org.

County Offices To Close On Designated Days As Cost-Saving Measure (Photo) -07/01/25

Furlough days scheduled to reduce expenses while protecting jobs and essential services

 

ST. HELENS, Ore. [Jul 1, 2025] — Columbia County will implement scheduled furlough days during Fiscal Year 2025–2026 (July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026) as part of a broader effort to address financial challenges while preserving jobs and continuing essential services.

 

More than half of Oregon’s counties are facing similar shortfalls, with many scaling back programs, reducing staff, or adjusting operations to stay on stable footing. Across the country, rural counties have been especially affected by steep declines in federal funding—particularly from sources like forest payments. Columbia County remains committed to managing these impacts responsibly while continuing to serve the community.

 

Furloughs have been used successfully in the past to help the County navigate economic uncertainty. From 2009 to 2015, Columbia County implemented furlough days each year—ranging from 4 to 26 days annually—allowing the County to reduce costs while maintaining core services. Those experiences helped shape today’s approach: acting early and thoughtfully to protect long-term service delivery.

 

Most County offices—including those in the Courthouse, Annex, and John Gumm buildings—will be closed on the following designated furlough days:

August 29, 2025	January 2, 2026	April 10, 2026
November 26, 2025	February 13, 2026	May 22, 2026
December 26, 2025	March 27, 2026	June 22, 2026

 

While these closures will impact many County departments, essential services will continue without interruption. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Public Works Department, and CC Rider transit services will remain fully operational throughout the furlough period.

 

For non-emergency law enforcement assistance, call the Sheriff’s Office at 503-397-1521. For road-related services, contact Public Works at 503-397-5090. For CC Rider route or service questions, call 503-366-0159. In an emergency, always dial 9-1-1.

 

“This difficult decision is intended to preserve services and avoid layoffs, while keeping Columbia County financially stable,” said Commissioner Margaret Magruder, who also serves as the Board’s Budget Officer. “We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as we navigate this challenging time.”

 

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Watch Your Phone: County To Send Residents Text Invites To FlashVote Surveys (Photo) -06/17/25

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ore. [June 17, 2025] — Starting Monday, June 23, Columbia County residents may receive a text message inviting them to sign up for FlashVote, a quick and easy way to share feedback with the County through one-minute surveys.

FlashVote helps local leaders make better decisions by gathering real input from the community. Surveys take less than a minute to complete, and participants can choose to receive them by text, email, or phone. All responses are anonymous, and personal or demographic information is never shared with the County.

If you get a text from FlashVote, we encourage you to sign up. You can also register anytime at www.flashvote.com/colcoor or by calling 775-235-2240 to participate via phone or text only.

“FlashVote gives us a simple, secure way to hear directly from the people we serve,” said Commissioner Margaret Magruder. “These quick surveys will help us make better decisions for Columbia County.”

Watch for a text invitation starting June 23—and take a moment to make your voice heard. Your opinion matters, and it only takes a minute.

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Public Health Expands Drug-Free Youth Prevention Events Across Columbia County (Photo) -06/16/25

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ore. [June 16, 2025] – Columbia County Public Health, in collaboration with Columbia Health Services and multiple community partners, recently completed a spring series of Bridges & Beyond: Youth Prevention Fair and Family Night events across local school districts.

 

The expanded series reached students and families in Rainier, Clatskanie, St. Helens, Scappoose, and Vernonia, offering substance use prevention education and cessation support. The expansion of these events was developed with input and guidance from Youth Era’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC), ensuring that programming reflects a youth-led approach to prevention. Events featured guest speakers, engaging activities, and information about local resources.

 

“This year’s events provided students and families with valuable prevention and cessation tools,” said Haley Schimmel, Health Promotion Specialist for Columbia County Public Health. “We’re grateful for the many partners who helped make these expanded events possible.”

 

“This year's prevention fair was a great community collaboration. The Bridges & Beyond event gave voice to youth SUD prevention for parents and students,” said Leyla Duechle, Community Health Worker for Columbia Health Services. “As a community, we are more aware of youths’ needs around prevention and support. I am excited for next year’s events.”

 

In addition to Columbia County, prevention events were also held in Jewell, located in Clatsop County, where Columbia Health Services operates a school-based health center. Clatsop County Public Health and other local agencies assisted with these outreach efforts.

 

Community partners supporting this year’s prevention events included Columbia Health Services, Youth Era, Columbia Community Mental Health, The New Drug Talk Oregon, Clatsop County Public Health, and others.

 

The final event of the season was held on May 21 at Vernonia Schools, concluding this year’s multi-week series.

 

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Images:

1. Community partners together at Rainier's Youth Prevention Fair.
2. Students participate by adding to the "I AM ONE" banner, describing their “one choice” to be drug-free at Vernonia's Youth Prevention Fair.
3. Community partners together at St. Helens' Family Night Event.

Photography Credit: Leyla Duechle, Columbia Health Services