Pray for Those in Authority: Columbia County

Rainier Church, Columbia County, OR

When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. Isaiah 59:19

Columbia County was created in 1854. Being in the upper western part of the state, it lies along the Columbia River so saw explorers early in its history, including Captain Grey and his ship in 1792, and Lewis and Clark who camped along the river in Columbia County. The town of St. Helens is the county seat, and the county has a population of around 50,000. At 657 square miles it is the third smallest county in the state.

It’s a very rural place, home to farmers and loggers, and with some lovely scenery.

The county seat, St. Helens, is on the Columbia River. Roughly thirty miles due west, in the south-west section of the county, is the small town of Vernonia. Before 1924 it was a farming community in the Nehalem River Valley with around 150 people. The Nehalem River bisects the town and Highway 47, known as the Nehalem Highway along that stretch, also goes through it. In 1924 it’s population more than doubled when the Oregon-American Lumber Company opened a state-of-the-art sawmill there. The company was in operation until 1958. In 1960 they deeded their company houses to the town.

With the Nehalem River going right through town, the community – now about 2500 population – has seen numerous floods. Serious ones: In 1996 floodwaters were five feet deep in the downtown. In 2007 the middle school and high school were destroyed by floodwaters. It cost 35 million dollars to rebuild the schools, and many residents were affected by the loss of their homes.

Columbia County, OR

Nevertheless, the river and hills around Vernonia make beautiful film backgrounds. In 1961 the movie Ring of Fire was filmed there and later Twilight (2008) and episodes of Ax Men were as well.

Churches in the area include Vernonia Christian Church, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and Grace Family Fellowship.

In November Sheriff Brian Pixley was elected for a second term as the county sheriff and was sworn in earlier this month. He has twenty years in law enforcement and is committed to serving the Columbia County community.

The county is managed by a three-person Board of Commissioners. They include Casey Garrett, Margaret Magruder, and newly-elected Kelly Jo Smith. Kelly was sworn in along with Sheriff Pixley earlier this month. This is her first term as commissioner, but she has more than a decade in public service locally. She’s the third generation of her family in the county, owns a business, has been a school board member and was once a reserve deputy sheriff. Her focus will be on building connections in the various county communities as well as economic growth and public safety.  

 Brian Stout, the new Republican state representative from district 31, which includes Columbia County, has been accused of sexual assault by a former campaign aid. He lives in the county, in Columbia City. While this issue is investigated, he has been placed under a restraining order and has been removed from all committee assignments in the legislature, but not removed as a representative. Pray for truth to be revealed in this case, and that the legislature be able to function without drama and distractions.

Would not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart. Psalm 44:21

Pray for protection from further flooding for Vernonia, and for the churches in the area.

Pray for the County Commissioners and for the County Sheriff and his office.

Pray for Brian Stout and the representation of district 31.