St. Helens City Administrator Vanishes Into Columbia River; Search Continues
St. Helens city administrator John Walsh disappeared Saturday after entering the Columbia River near the city docks. A multi‑agency search continued through the night and into Sunday with no recovery yet. The city declared an emergency and appointed Finance Director Gloria Butsch as interim administrator for two weeks while officials seek a long‑term replacement; city offices were closed as a precaution. Walsh, who began leading the city in 2012, had previously served as Myrtle Point city manager. The incident comes amid other weekend drownings in the region.
