Columbia County Staff Recognized By FBI Portland For Public Safety Collaboration (Photo) - 05/29/26

County employees honored for interagency leadership and partnership efforts

ST. HELENS, Ore., May 29, 2026 — Several Columbia County employees and partner agencies were recognized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Portland Field Office during its 4th Annual Community Awards Ceremony for their collaboration and leadership in public safety efforts.

The FBI presented its Law Enforcement Leadership Award to the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office in collaboration with the Columbia County Department of Community Justice and the Oregon Youth Authority.

Columbia County honorees included:

• Joshua Pond, District Attorney
• Cody Coughlin, Deputy District Attorney
• Stacia Tyacke, Assistant Director, Department of Community Justice
• Liz Ring, Juvenile Probation Officer, Department of Community Justice Juvenile Division

Also recognized were Sarika Kathuria, Assistant Attorney General with the Washington State Office of the Attorney General, and Molly Matherly, Juvenile Parole/Probation Officer with the Oregon Youth Authority.

Columbia County Commissioners formally recognized the employees and partner agencies during the Board of County Commissioners public meeting on May 27, 2026.

“This recognition reflects the professionalism and dedication of the people serving our community every day,” said Kellie Smith, Chair of the Columbia County Board of Commissioners. “Strong partnerships between local, state, and federal agencies play an important role in supporting public safety efforts across our region, and we are proud of the Columbia County employees who were recognized for their work.”

According to the FBI, the award recognizes agencies and personnel who demonstrated exceptional leadership and collaboration in support of public safety and community protection efforts. The FBI Portland Field Office presented the awards during a ceremony held May 21, 2026, at FBI headquarters in Portland. Additional information about the ceremony and award recipients is available at: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/portland/news/fbi-portland-hosts-4th-annual-community-awards-ceremony

The County values strong partnerships between law enforcement, community justice professionals, prosecutors, and public safety agencies working together to serve and protect Columbia County residents.

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Photo captions

Photo 1 (Community_Awards_2026_FBI): Left to right: Liz Ring, Juvenile Probation Officer, Columbia County Department of Community Justice; Cody Coughlin, Deputy District Attorney; Joshua Pond, Columbia County District Attorney; and Stacia Tyacke, Assistant Director, Columbia County Department of Community Justice, receive the Law Enforcement Leadership Award during the FBI Portland Community Awards Ceremony on May 21, 2026.

Photo 2 (Community_Awards_2026_CC): Left to right: Casey Garrett, Columbia County Commissioner; Margaret Magruder, Columbia County Commissioner; Stacia Tyacke, Assistant Director, Columbia County Department of Community Justice; Joshua Pond, Columbia County District Attorney; Cody Coughlin, Deputy District Attorney; and Kellie Smith, Chair, Columbia County Board of Commissioners, during recognition of the FBI Law Enforcement Leadership Award recipients at the Columbia County Board of Commissioners meeting on May 27, 2026.

Columbia County Launches Battery Recycling Drop-off Program (Photo) - 05/15/26

New year-round drop-off program makes battery recycling easier and helps prevent fires

ST. HELENS, Ore., May 15, 2026 — Columbia County residents can now recycle most household batteries for free through a new year-round drop-off program at the Columbia County Transfer Station.

The new program gives residents a safer and easier way to dispose of household batteries while helping reduce fire risks at waste facilities and in garbage trucks.

Batteries thrown in the trash or recycling can catch fire if they become damaged or crushed during collection or processing. Lithium-ion batteries are one of the biggest concerns because they can overheat and ignite.

“This program gives residents a safe and convenient way to recycle batteries while helping protect drivers, workers, and facilities from fires,” said Tatum Flowers, Solid Waste Coordinator.

Residents can bring accepted batteries to the scale house at the Columbia County Transfer Station at 1601 Railroad Ave. in St. Helens.

The new program expands battery recycling access beyond household hazardous waste collection events and gives residents a more convenient year-round option.

Collected batteries are stored in special containers designed to safely hold damaged or overheating batteries before they are recycled.

Accepted items include:

• Household batteries
• Rechargeable batteries
• Lithium-ion batteries
• Button and coin cell batteries
• Cellphones
• Power tool batteries
• Laptop batteries
• Small sealed lead-acid batteries under 25 pounds

Vehicle lead-acid batteries are accepted for a fee.

The following items are not accepted:

• Electric vehicle batteries
• Large battery storage systems
• Batteries that cannot be removed from products (except cellphones)

Additional information is available at:
https://www.columbiacountyor.gov/departments/SolidWaste/batteries

ABOUT COLUMBIA COUNTY’S SOLID WASTE PROGRAM

Columbia County’s Solid Waste Program plans, organizes, and supports recycling, reuse, waste reduction, and household hazardous waste management programs throughout Columbia County. The program also operates the Columbia County Transfer Station in St. Helens and administers solid waste collection services within unincorporated areas of the county.

Columbia County Parks Switching To New Online Reservation System On Wednesday - 05/12/26

ST. HELENS, Ore., May 12, 2026 — Columbia County Parks will begin switching to a new online reservation system, Firefly, on Wednesday to provide campers and park visitors with an easier way to book campsites online.

As part of the transition, online camping reservations will be unavailable for approximately three days while the new system is set up. Parks staff are working closely with both providers to help ensure a smooth transition and reduce disruptions for visitors.

The new Firefly system is designed to make it easier for visitors to search for campsites, make reservations, and manage their stays online.
“We know online reservations are an important part of planning camping trips, and we appreciate everyone’s patience while we make this change,” said Riley Baker, General Services Director. “Our goal is to make the process simpler and easier to use moving forward.”

Visitors with immediate reservation needs are encouraged to complete their reservations before Wednesday.

Columbia County Parks will continue sharing updates and information through its website and social media channels during the transition.

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