Clatsop County Public Health Urges Immunization For Community Immunity

Oct. 17, 2012

Clatsop County Public Health Department reminds citizens that immunization provides protection for the entire community.

Oregon is currently experiencing an epidemic of pertussis, or whooping cough, which is a highly contagious respiratory disease. As of mid-September, there have been 17 cases of pertussis in Clatsop County this year, which is too many for any vaccine- preventable disease.

For adults, whooping cough is an annoyance that can linger up to three months. But for newborns who are too young to be vaccinated, pertussis can be deadly. Their tiny bodies have a hard time tolerating the wracking coughs, and infants are the most vulnerable to serious complications. This year in Oregon, 21 infants have been hospitalized for pertussis, all of them too young to be fully immunized.

But these children are not getting the illness from each other, they’re getting it from adults and older siblings. That’s why it’s crucial for adolescents and adults to get the one-time Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap) booster shot to help develop what’s called “community immunity.” Many people don’t realize that immunity weakens over time, so everyone should continue to receive a tetanus and diphtheria (Td) booster every 10 years. The science is clear that flu, Tdap and other vaccines are extremely safe and effective. The more residents vaccinated, the higher the immunity for the entire community and the lower the disease rate.

Another way adults can protect children from serious illness is by getting a seasonal flu shot every year to provide protection throughout flu season, which runs from August until the end of June. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that everyone over the age of 6 months get a flu shot. While in most cases the illness causes only misery and missed work, even healthy people can get the flu and spread it to others, and at its very worst, it can cause serious secondary diseases like pneumonia. Last flu season, 34 children in the United States died from influenza.

To find out more about immunization, for both children and adults, talk to your primary health care provider or call the Clatsop County Public Health Department at (503) 325-8500.

Released by:

Tom Bennett

Community Relations Coordinator

(503) 338-3622

Clatsop County Program Participants Sought For Human Services Connittee

Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012

Are you a resident of south Clatsop County and a social services recipient?

The Clatsop County Human Services Advisory continues to seek diverse participation on this citizen panel.

The committee advises the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners on services for local residents with developmental disabilities, mental illness, and drug or alcohol addictions.

There are two openings – one for an unexpired term ending February 2013, and a second for a full term ending February 2015. The Board of Commissioners will make the appointments.

Applications will be taken through Nov. 1. Application forms are available online at www.co.clatsop.or.us under “Your County-Citizen Involvement,” from the office at 800 Exchange St., Suite 410, or by calling (503) 325-1000.

Released by:

Tom Bennett

Community Relations Coordinator

(503) 338-3622

Student Bullying and Harassment at Astoria Middle School - Anybody have a dog in this hunt?

It is way past time to take this discussion public.
GRP is interested in hearing your story and you can post it "Anonymously" to protect your student's identity in the comment section of this dicussion to get it into the public venue.

FERC Announces Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement On Oregon LNG/Pipeline

FERC Hearing tonight, 6:00 PM, Warrenton Community Center. You want to speak your mind, get your name in the record? Be there, suck it up, speak your mind on LNG Export from our community.

October 5th Discussion Scheduled On Wave Energy Development Off Camp Rilea

Friday, Sept. 28, 2012 Clatsop County is hosting a public discussion on proposed local wave-energy development and its potential impacts on the North Coast on Friday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-noon at the Judge Guy Boyington Building, 857 Commercial St., Astoria. The discussion, facilitated by Board of Commissioners Chair Peter Huhtala, will focus on potential wave-energy installations in the waters off Camp Rilea Armed Forces Training Center, and their possible impacts on commercial fishing. Representatives from crab and groundfish fisheries, economic development professionals and other interested parties are expected to participate. The public is invited to attend. Released by:Tom Bennett Community Relations Coordinator (503) 338-3622

Hearings Officer Revises Ruling On Sunset RV Park

Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012 A Clatsop County hearings officer whose ruling against an RV and mobile home park owner was challenged at the state level has prepared a revised order. The order, issued Sept. 21 by Hearings Office Paul Elsner, will allow the owner, Ken Hick and Resources Northwest, to maintain up to 75 permanent and short-term spaces on the roughly 4.4-acre site at Sunset Lake. In December 2011 Elsner upheld a citation issued earlier that year against Hick by the county Community Development Department. The citation listed numerous code violations on the property, including too many dwelling sites for both manufactured homes and recreational vehicles, sites located too close together and too close to adjacent Sunset Lake, and RVs used as permanent dwellings without lawful hook-ups to electrical, water and sewer service. Gray water was also being released into the lake from some sites, according to the citation. Clatsop County began enforcement action against the property in 2010 in response to a petition signed by 60 neighboring property owners. Information indicated that the park contained 90 or more mobile home and RV units. Hick appealed the county citation on the grounds that the level of use at the park predated current zoning regulations and was “grandfathered in” as a pre-existing use. Following a hearing, Elsner upheld the citation and ordered Hick to reduce the number of dwellings at the park to 16 mobile homes and 27 RVs, bring all remaining units up to code, and pay a $4,200 fine. In January the county Board of Commissioners unanimously upheld Elsner’s ruling. Hick appealed the hearings officer order to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals, which in May remanded the case back to the county, ruling that Elsner had not provided sufficient findings for his order limiting the number of units on the property. Elsner’s revised order allows the park up to 18 mobile home and 25 recreational vehicle spaces for use as permanent dwellings, plus 38 spaces for temporary stays, which are limited to no more than 30 consecutive days in a 60-day period. All permanent dwellings, whether mobile homes or RVs, are required to have approved utility and sewer hook-ups. The owner has until Dec. 1 to bring the property into compliance. Released by: Tom Bennett Community Relations Coordinator (503) 338-3622

Northwest Oregon Housing Authority Board Seeking Applicants

Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012 Applicants are being sought for an open seat on the Northwest Oregon Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. The position is for a full term ending June 30, 2016. The Northwest Oregon Housing Authority owns and manages housing for low- and moderate-income people and administers various federal housing assistance programs in Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties. The board normally meets once a month, the location rotates among the counties. The deadline to apply is Oct. 12 To apply, obtain an application form and return it to the Clatsop County Manager’s Office at 800 Exchange St., Suite 410, Astoria OR 97103, (503) 325-1000. Forms are available from the County Manager’s Office or can be downloaded from the county website www.co.clatsop.or.us at “Your County-Citizen Involvement.” Released by: Tom Bennett Community Relations Coordinator (503) 338-3622

3 Vie For Two Astoria City Council Seats In General Election

Two incumbent Astoria City Councilors will run for re-election in the 2012 general election with one facing competition for the seat.

Ward 2 incumbent, Peter Roscoe, is running to keep his seat against Drew Herzig.

Russ Warr, sitting Councilor for Ward 4 is running unoppoed
 

Daily Astorian: 28 Astoria High Football Players Face Discipline For Substance Violations

Posted: Wednesday, September 5, 2012 9:05 pm | Updated: 5:59 am, Thu Sep 6, 2012.

The Daily Astorian

Astoria School District officials announced Wednesday night that “because of alcohol and marijuana use during a team sleepover on Aug. 27 at John Warren Field, up to 28 members of the Astoria High School football team will receive disciplinary action,” to include forfeiture of the next three varsity football games, community service, mandatory drug and alcohol education, and forfeiture of the opportunity to win the Cowapa League title this season.Additional consequences may result from a drug and alcohol investigation begun by the Astoria School District, said Superintendent Craig Hoppes. Hoppes also said he has notified local police, who have begun their own investigation.

Read Full Daily Astorian Report

Oregon LNG(Warrenton) Versus Clatsop County Board Of Commissioners Goes To Court Of Appeals

Friday, August 31, 2012 at 02:08 PM PT

BY: Tom Henderson - Daily Journal Of Commerce

A company trying to build a liquefied natural-gas pipeline is taking its fight against Clatsop County to the next level.The Oregon Court of Appeals has agreed to hear arguments from Oregon Pipeline Co. (Oregon LNG) against Clatsop County commissioners for allegedly flip-flopping, illegally, on a decision to permit the pipeline.

Read DJC Article

Breaking News From Daily Astorian: Astoria DUII Battle Takes A Surprise Turn

By CHELSEA GORROW - The Daily Astorian

There’s a surprising new twist in the case for control of the driving under the influence of intoxicants cases in the city of Astoria.City Attorney Blair Henningsgaard has said he is forwarding all of the criminal cases to the district attorney Josh Marquis in an “all-or-nothing” approach to a judge’s ruling Aug. 20, that gave Marquis control of DUIIs, but in Municipal Court.

Read Full Daily Astorian Article

Have You Seen This Mead, Washington Girl?

Read Full Missing Child Report

Clatsop County Sheriff's Office Honors 20-Year Service Of Rick Irish And Teresa Korhonen

Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin recently recognized department staff members Rick Irish and Teresa Korhonen for 20 years of service to the department.

The two senior deputies both work for the department’s corrections division, Irish as work crew leader and Korhonen as field training officer.

Irish joined the animal control office in 1992, just before the county was rocked by the notorious case of animal collector Vikki Kittles. In 2001 he moved to the Sheriff’s Office corrections division, and five years later took over the work crew program.

The work crew was initiated in the 1990s to provide alternate sanctions to the overcrowded county jail. It performs maintenance work at county facilities and cuts firewood for distribution to low-income residents, and performs groundskeeping and other tasks for several local entities including the City of Astoria, Port of Astoria, Fort Stevens State Park and two local cemeteries.

Leading the work crew means he spends more time with local offenders than most any other Sheriff’s Office personnel, Irish said. It’s satisfying to see crew members appreciate the value of the work they do, he said.

Korhonen did custodial work for the county building and grounds crew, including work in the Sheriff’s Office facilities, and decided law enforcement was the field for her. She joined the corrections division fulltime in 1992.

Her assignments have included work crew and jail inspection, and currently she leads the department’s field training program, making sure staff members keep current on the growing training requirements and know how to stay safe at their jobs.

“I touch on everything with all the staff,” she said. “My goal is that each and every one goes home safe the night after their shift.”

She credited former Sheriff John Raichl with providing her regular encouragement to pursue her career. “He told me to keep striving,” she said.

Released by:Tom Bennett
Community Relations Coordinator
(503) 338-3622

LNG Factions Clash Over Oregon Pipeline/LNG

TYLER GRAF - Daily Astorian/OPB

Aug. 13, 2012 12:26 p.m. Discuss

SALEM — The debate over a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal and pipeline in Clatsop County went before the Oregon Court of Appeals Friday.The state’s appellate court heard oral arguments in a review of a Clatsop County Board of Commissioners’ vote in early 2011 that denied granting an initial land-use permit to construct a natural gas pipeline through the county and called for a new decision to be made. At the time, the county’s vote essentially reversed a decision made in 2010 by a board that included three different members, all of whom were in favor of the project........

Read Full Daily Astorian Article From OPB

Cougar Siting In Astoria!

Cougar sighted in Astoria
Astoria Police received a report tonight of a cougar in the area of 6th and Irving.

They did not locate the animal.

Astoria Police encourage enhanced vigilance in this area.

The following tips come from the Oregon Department of Wildlife website....
Learn your neighborhood.
Be aware of any wildlife corridors or places where deer or elk concentrate.
Walk pets during the day and keep them on a leash.
Keep pets indoors at dawn and dusk. Shelter them for the night.
Feed pets indoors.
Don't leave food and garbage outside.
Use animal-proof garbage cans if necessary.
Remove heavy brush from near the house and play areas.
Install motion-activated light outdoors along walkways and driveways.
Be more cautious at dawn and dusk when cougars are most active.
Do not feed any wildlife. By attracting other wildlife, you may attract a cougar.
Keep areas around bird feeders clean.
Deer-proof your garden and yard with nets, lights, fencing.
Fence and shelter livestock. Move them to sheds or barns at night.
Cougars often will retreat if given the opportunity. Leave the animal a way to escape.
Stay calm and stand your ground.
Maintain direct eye contact.
Pick up children, but do so without bending down or turning your back on the cougar.
Back away slowly.
Do not run. Running triggers a chase response in cougars, which could lead to an attack.
Raise your voice and speak firmly.
If the cougar seems aggressive, raise your arms to make yourself look larger and clap your hands.
If in the very unusual event that a cougar attacks you, fight back with rocks, sticks, tools or any items available

Clatsop County Clerk, Maeve Grimes Departs For San Luis Obispo Clerks Office; Interim Plan Announced

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Clatsop County Manager Scott Somers on Wednesday announced the departure of County Clerk Maeve Kennedy Grimes and her interim replacements.

Grimes is leaving Clatsop County for a position with the clerk’s office in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Her last day with the county will be Aug. 3.

Assistant County Manager Nicole Williams will be appointed county clerk on an interim basis while the county conducts a search for a permanent replacement. In addition, former county employee Karen Barnum will step in as chief deputy county clerk on a part-time basis.

Grimes was hired as county clerk in August 2011. She formerly worked in the Clatsop County District Attorney’s Office as trial assistant and victims services coordinator.

Williams joined the clerk’s office in 1999 and served as county clerk from 2005 until her appointment as assistant county manager in 2007.

Barnum served with the county clerk’s office as elections assistant and specialist from 1998 to 2003. She retired earlier this year after eight years with the Multnomah County Elections Division.

Barnum will work part-time for the county until the November general election, when she will transition to fulltime, if a permanent replacement has not be selected by that time.

The county clerk is the record-keeper for the county and administers public records, archives, legal recordings, passports and marriage licenses. The office also oversees elections and voter registration, and coordinates property tax appeals.

Released by:Tom Bennett
Community Relations Coordinator
(503) 338-3622

Auditors Say Port Of Astoria Has Approached Insolvency!!!

Auditors say Port of Astoria has approached insolvency

Fri Jul 20, 2012.
By EDWARD STRATTON - The Daily AstorianDaily Astorian

After years of paying for major deferred maintenance and considerable litigation, investing in acquisitions and dealing with a down economy, the Port of Astoria has approached insolvency.

In financial statements for fiscal years 2009-10 and 2010-11, accepted by the Port Commission at its June 19 meeting, auditors attached “NOTE 18 – Going Concern.” That is accounting parlance for whether a business is able to pay its bills and continue operating.

The fiscal years run from July 1 to June 30 each year.
Read Full Daily Astorian Article

Clatsop County Officials Sign Agreement For Wauna Tax Settlement

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Clatsop County officials on Thursday signed documents for a loan covering a settlement payment in the Georgia-Pacific tax appeal case.

The loan, from Bank of America, will cover a $2.5 million payment from the county and 60 other taxing districts to the owner of the Wauna pulp and paper mill.

The payment was agreed to under a settlement reached last May between Clatsop County and Georgia-Pacific over the company’s appeal of a tax penalty and tax assessments on part of the facility.

The county was able to secure an interest rate on the loan of 2.18 percent – below the 3 percent originally envisioned. Annual payments on the 10-year loan will total $283,251.30 and will be covered by all taxing districts in the county – the funds will be deducted from the districts’ yearly property tax disbursements, under the terms of an intergovernmental agreement that was signed by all the districts in 2009 in anticipation of a refund payment.

The case dates to 2004, when Georgia-Pacific was granted tax exemptions under the Lower Columbia Maritime Enterprise Zone for construction of its new No. 6 paper-making machine. Under the exemption, property taxes assessed on the new machine were to be waived for five years.

In 2007 the company was disqualified from the exemption program for failing to maintain a minimum required number of employees at the mill site. As a result of the disqualification, the company had to repay the exempted taxes, totaling approximately $4.1 million. That money was distributed among the 60 taxing districts.

Georgia-Pacific filed an appeal in Oregon Tax Court challenging not only the exemption penalty but also the assessed valuation of the entire mill for three tax years. The appeal claimed that the assessment, on which Wauna’s annual property tax bill is calculated, overvalued the mill by approximately $154 million.

Along with the payment, the settlement establishes the real market value for the mill at $291 million. Georgia-Pacific cannot challenge that assessment for five years.

Under Georgia-Pacific’s claim, Clatsop County and the other districts could have been required to refund more than $11 million if the company had prevailed on all appeals at trial.

State statute mandates that all of the 60 taxing districts in Clatsop County are liable for a portion of the settlement, regardless of whether Wauna Mill lies within their boundaries.

Wauna pays a total of $3,410,536 a year in property taxes to taxing entities in Clatsop County, making it by far the county’s biggest single taxpayer.

Released by:Tom Bennett
Community Relations Coordinator
(503) 338-3622

5:00 PM Executive Session Precedes Regular July 25, 2012 CCBofC Regular Meeting

Read Full July 25, 2012 Agenda Packet

Astoria School Superintendent Hoppes Announces Future Of Warren Field Development

FROM: CRAIG HOPPES, SUPERINTENDENT

RE: WARREN FIELD DEVELOPMENT

DATE: JULY 18, 2012

Background

During the past year, the Astoria School District has consulted with Columbia Memorial Hospital on developing the Warren Field property. The hospital wishes to obtain Warren Field and use it for future hospital expansion.

In a meeting earlier this year, the hospital’s management team offered to provide a modern sports facility within the City of Astoria at no cost to the school district—a facility that will benefit all the kids in our community—in return for Warren Field. The Astoria School District recommends accepting this mutually beneficial offer.

* Note: Under the proposed agreement, the school district would not give up using Warren Field until after the new sports facility is finished, tentatively scheduled to be complete in the fall of 2013.

*Note: The hospital’s offer has never included a cash payment for Warren Field. The offer is to provide a new multi-sport facility at the hospital’s expense, with no cost to the Astoria School District.

Site for the new sports facility

While discussions about Warren Field were under way between Columbia Memorial Hospital and the school district, the City of Astoria talked about starting the process of “capping” the old city landfill facility. “Capping” means taking steps to convert the landfill to a clean, safe facility that is desirable for other uses. Numerous communities throughout the nation have used this technique successfully to convert landfills to healthy recreational assets. The following are just a few examples:

* Warrenton, Oregon: The City of Warrenton capped a landfill, located on Ridge Road, more than twenty years ago. The area was cultivated into a fine soccer complex and is now home to Lower Columbia Youth Soccer Association.

* Danville, Indiana: The capped landfill at the Twin Bridges site has a golf course, soccer complex, softball fields, archery range, trails and firing range.

*Northbrook, Illinois: This community used clean soil from a construction project to convert a landfill into a nine-hole golf course and pro-shop.

* Wilmington, North Carolina: The Cape Fear Youth Soccer Association converted the Flemington Landfill into a soccer complex with 16 fields, trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, concessions stands and bleachers. Other communities in North Carolina have undertaken such projects, including two landfills converted to municipal golf courses in Charlotte.

* Virginia Beach, Virginia: The community converted Mount Trashmore, a former 165-acre landfill, to a full-blown municipal park. Park facilities include picnic shelters, playground areas, a basketball court, volleyball areas, parking, a walking trail, and restrooms. The park also features two lakes for fishing.

The management team of Columbia Memorial Hospital reached an agreement with the city to use the rehabilitated landfill site for a new multi-sport facility.

Benefits to the community

The long-term public benefits of the proposed agreements among Columbia Memorial Hospital, the Astoria School District and the City of Astoria would be substantial:

*Columbia Memorial Hospital would be able to provide excellent health care facilities for this community over the next 75-100 years. The hospital would utilize the Warren Field property either for a new hospital or expansion of the present hospital to meet Astoria’s ever-growing health care needs.

* The Astoria School District would be able to provide safe, clean and accessible athletic facilities to the children of our community for many years. Our chief concern, as always, is the safety and wellbeing of our students, and we believe that this new facility will provide the means to achieve and maintain a high standard of physical fitness and healthy sports competition in our schools.

This is a true community collaboration that has tremendous benefits for all the parties involved.

The next steps

The Astoria School District Board of Directors will invite public comment on the Warren Field proposal at its meeting on August 8. Members of the public will have an opportunity to offer their views and ask questions. The Board will use this public input in evaluating the proposal and assessing the impacts on the district.

Ask questions

Large-scale public projects like this one often generate rumors and give rise to incorrect information. I strongly urge you to contact me if you have questions or concerns. I will share with you exactly what I know about this plan and all its ramifications.

Thank you for your time.