Highlights from the Board of Clatsop County Commissioner's meeting on Wednesday, August 24

Board approves Parole and Probation plan, agreement

The board approved the Community Corrections 2011-13 Biennium Plan and an intergovernmental agreement with the State of Oregon for parole and probation services.

The Biennium Plan details the programs and services the county will provide to local offenders on parole, probation and post-prison supervision through its Parole and Probation Division.

The 2011-13 plan includes several changes reflecting the transfer of the Community Corrections Department to the authority of the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office earlier this year. The plan includes a new day-reporting system, increased treatment and misdemeanor services, an enhanced electronic monitoring program, rental of eight additional beds at the Tillamook County Jail, and addition of one parole and probation officer.

The expanded services are to be funded by revenue saved from last spring’s closure of the Transition Center. The Sheriff’s Office will evaluate the service changes over the next year to determine their effectiveness

The intergovernmental agreement authorizes state funding for Parole and Probation programs. Due to state budget cuts, the amount of revenue coming to Clatsop County under the 2011-12 agreement is expected to fall by $133,306. Sheriff Tom Bergin told the board that his department plans to make up the shortfall with targeted reductions and the use of carry-over funds.

The Sheriff’s Office will revisit the plan next year after the Oregon Legislature meets in February to address budgetary issues.



Land-use review process reviewed

The board held a joint work session with the Clatsop County Planning Commission to hear a presentation on local land-use review and approval processes from Tim Ramis of the law firm Jordan Ramis, one of the county’s legal counsels for planning issues. Ramis walked the participants through the history of Oregon zoning laws and the basics of application reviews, quasi-judicial hearings, conditions of approval, conflict of interest and other issues.



Resource-sharing pact renewed

The board voted to renew an intergovernmental agreement that enables the Clatsop County Roads Division and various other public agencies to share resources during emergencies. The agreement extends for five years the county’s involvement with the program, which it first joined in 2001. A total of 217 agencies in Oregon participate.

The agreement allows agencies to use equipment, personnel and materials of other agencies, and sets up a process for reimbursement and liability. It does not, however, obligate Clatsop County or any other participating entity to provide assistance.



Other Business

In other business the board:

-Approved a letter of support for a grant application to the Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission for a Clatsop Plains land-use study.

-Approved a $38,772 contract with Bergeron Construction for repairs to the Lewis and Clark Bridge.

FEDERAL GRANT TO FUND WESTPORT OR. FERRY LANDING PROJECT

Clatsop County has received a $1.88 million federal transportation grant for construction of an improved landing at Westport for the Wahkiakum Ferry.

The new, expanded landing will accommodate the larger vessel that Wahkiakum County, which operates the service, plans to put into operation in 2014.

The grant comes from the Ferry Boat Discretionary program, a special funding category of the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. Clatsop County will cover the remaining cost of the landing project, which has a total estimated price tag of $2.35 million.

The project will also alleviate a chronic problem at the existing 30-year-old landing, which has been plagued by siltation that hampers operations at low tides and at times has caused damage to the loading ramp. The new ramp will extend into deeper water.

Construction is expected to begin in Fall 2012.

The Wahkiakum Ferry, operating between Puget Island, Wash. and Westport, carries 11 vehicles. According to the Wahkiakum County Public Works Department, the new vessel will carry up to 23 vehicles, and will be designed to handle tour buses and chip trucks. Wahkiakum County learned last week that it will receive a $2.8 million federal grant to fund construction of the new ferry.

The ferry carried 50,763 vehicles in 2010.

(photo: courtesy Rivermile39.com)

Pacific County Primary Election Results

Fire District #5 PROPOSITION NO. 1 Yes 170 74.89%
No 57 25.11%


City Of South Bend
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER #01

Lisa Olsen 137 40.53%
Ed Hensley 118 34.91%
Patricia (Pat) Neve 70 20.71%
Richard M. Glover 13 3.85%


Port Comm Dist 2 W
PORT COMMISSIONER 2

Tim Bond 250 40.85%
Frank P Porembski 228 37.25%
Jerry D. Moran 134 21.9%

Structure Fire displaces families

Two families were displaced by a duplex fire Saturday night at 1129 Niagara Avenue in Astoria. The fire was reported to 911 at 8:54pm. One of the tenants of the duplex reported hearing a loud noise and discovered smoke coming from the attached apartment. Firefighters arrived on scene to find smoke coming from the eaves of the building. Bystanders reported that there could possibly be someone in the residence. Firefighters searched the residence, but they were unable to locate anyone. The fire was quickly extinguished and brought under control by 9:19pm. While fire personnel searched the apartment they discovered some hazardous materials that may be of some concern within the apartment. Astoria Fire & Rescue, Astoria Police Department, Oregon State Police and the Oregon State Fire Marshal personnel will be investigating.

Fire and smoke damaged the apartment and its contents. The American Red Cross was notified however both families were able to arrange housing for the night.

Twenty-one fire personnel and four engines were committed to this fire. Two engines from Astoria Fire and Rescue along with one engine each from Lewis & Clark and Olney Walluski were initially dispatched. Community Emergency Response Team members assisted with the fire and Medix Ambulance personnel were on scene to provide any medical assistance. Astoria Police Department, Clatsop County Sheriff Department, and Astoria Port Security provided traffic control and secured the scene.

Astoria Fire & Rescue would like to remind everyone to check their smoke alarms monthly. Smoke alarms are great and they can alert the occupants of a fire in the residence, but residential fire sprinkler systems can extinguish a fire. Residential Fire Sprinkler systems provide a safer environment for families, protection of their investment and irreplaceable family possessions, and may even lower insurance rates.

WEEKEND TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR NORTH OREGON COAST

Oregon State Police, Clatsop County Sheriff's Office, local police departments and highway officials urge travelers to plan ahead and give your self plenty of time this weekend if you are coming to the north Oregon coast area. Police and ODOT anticipate several community events August 12 - 14 will lead to a significant increase in area traffic as well as congestion in the Seaside and Astoria areas.

Among the events being held in the Clatsop County area this weekend are:

* Astoria Regatta Festival
* Seaside Beach Volleyball Tournament (billed as the world's largest amateur volleyball tournament)
* Reba McEntire concert
* BirkFest 2011 in the community of Birkenfeld

VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR PROPERTY TAX APPEAL BOARD IN CLATSOP COUNTY

The Clatsop County Board of Commissions is seeking applications from individuals interested in serving on the County Board of Property Tax Appeals for the 2011–12 term.

The Board of Property Tax Appeals hears petitions from taxpayers seeking to decrease their real market or assessed property values. The board also considers requests to excuse penalties or late filings of real or personal property returns.

Applicants must be residents of Clatsop County, but cannot be employees of the county or of any tax district within the County. The Board of Commissioners makes appointments to a pool, from which the County Clerk selects three people to serve on the Board of Property Tax Appeals. Training is provided. The committee holds several daytime meetings beginning the first Monday in February to hear petitions. The committee adjourns no later than April 15, 2012, with the term ending June 20, 2012.

Application forms for the appointments are available online at www.co.clatsop.or.us (go to “Hot Topics”) or contact the Clatsop County Manager’s Office, 800 Exchange St., Suite 410, Astoria, OR, (503) 325-1000.

Applications must be completed and turned in by 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011 to be considered.

ROAD CLOSURES NEAR GARIBALDI AIM TO HELP WATERSHEDS AND SALMON

The Tillamook Bay Watershed Council is partnering with the Oregon Department of Forestry to complete a watershed enhancement project to help increase salmon populations on the Miami River in Tillamook County. The project will be implemented throughout August and September 2011 and aims to enhance over four miles of in-stream habitat, and close over two miles of road that impact the floodplain of the North Fork of the Miami River.

Oregon Department of Forestry has identified key watershed issues and management actions for the Upper Miami River watershed. The central limiting factor for salmon production is poor quality winter rearing habitat. These are places in the stream which provide safe places for small juvenile salmon to retreat to when waters run high during the winter. These habitats are created by pools that are formed by large wood or off stream alcoves or channels. Future large wood recruitment and fine sediment input from roads are additional limiting factors.

Together, ODF and the Tillamook Bay Watershed Council chose to secure funding to begin addressing these limiting factors within the watershed. Grants for the project have been provided by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and US Fish and Wildlife Service for over $100,000.

The project will place about 120 logs and 50 boulders in the upper Miami River and will close 2.15 miles of upper Miami River Road.

The work will be completed through a service contract and at the direction of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Biologist and ODF Road Specialists.

Residents and recreationalists will be unable to access some roads within the Miami River watershed due to the project activities. Fire Break #3 Road will be closed from August 8 through August 24 due to operations near the road. Parts of Upper Miami River Road will be closed from August 8 until September 15, 2011.

For more information about the project or to learn more about the road closures, please contact Denise Lofman, Tillamook Bay Watershed Council Director at 503.322.0002.

TWO NEW E. COLI CASES REPORTED TO CLATSOP COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Two additional cases of E. coli infection possibly linked to tainted strawberries have been discovered in Clatsop County.

The Oregon Department of Health issued a warning Monday after 16 people in northwest Oregon, including four in Clatsop County, were sickened with the E. coli O157:H7 bacteria strain believed to have come from strawberries from a Newberg-area farm. One of the people infected, a woman in Washington County, died.

The two new suspected cases were reported to the Clatsop County Public Health Department on Wednesday. At least one of the people is known to have eaten strawberries traced to Jaquith Strawberry Farms, the source of the tainted berries. Specimens from the two people have been sent to a laboratory for confirmation.

Both people have been treated at a local clinic and did not require hospitalization. The four other local cases were also relatively mild.

E. coli is a common inhabitant of the gastrointestinal tract and is usually harmless, but E. coli O157:H7, a strain carried by some animals, often produces toxins that can cause mild to severe intestinal illness, including severe cramps and diarrhea. Severe cases can include complications such as kidney damage.

The suspect berries were sold at a variety of farmers markets and road-side stands throughout northwest Oregon and southwest Washington prior to Jul 29, when Jaquith farm ended its strawberry harvest.

Local and state health officials urge anyone who may have purchased strawberries from one of these vendors to dispose of the fruit, including berries stored in the freezer. Freezing does not kill the E. coli O157:H7 bacteria.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture Food Safety Division has posted a listing of all the known outlets where berries from Jaquith farm were sold. To see the list go to www.oregon.gov/ODA/FSD/strawberries.shtml

The department notes that the list is not all-inclusive – Jaquith berries may have been sold by other vendors. As a result, consumers are still advised to dispose of any berries they purchased prior to July 29 at any farmers market or road-side stand.

Strawberries purchased after Aug. 1 or at supermarkets, or other types of berries, have not been implicated in the outbreak.

(photo courtesy: Capital Press)

Astoria Social Security Office to Begin Closing at 3:30 pm Daily

Congressional Budget Cuts Force Reduced Public Hours

Effective August 15, 2011, the Astoria Social Security office will be open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – a reduction of 30 minutes each weekday.

While agency employees will continue to work their regular hours, this shorter public window will allow them to complete face-to-face service with the visiting public without incurring the cost of overtime. Congress provided Social Security with nearly $1 billion less than the President requested for the budget this fiscal year, which makes it impossible for the agency to provide the amount of overtime needed to handle service to the public as we have in the past.

Most Social Security services do not require a visit to an office. For example, anyone wishing to apply for benefits, sign up for direct deposit, replace a Medicare card, obtain a proof of income letter or inform us of a change of address or telephone number may do so at www.socialsecurity.gov or by dialing our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213. People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call our TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.

In Tillamook County, the Watseco Barview Water District has announced that system water is contaminated with fecal coliform or E. coli.

A BOIL WATER ALERT has been isssued for users of the Watseco Barview Water District.
Fecal coliform [or E. coli] bacteria were found in the water supply today. (Thursday, August 11). These bacteria can make you sick, and are a particular concern for people with weakened immune systems. Again, users of water from the Watseco Barview Water District are warned not to drink the water without boiling it first.

The water district will be draining the reservoir and flushing and disinfecting the system. Users will be informed when tests show no bacteria, and the boil water order will be lifted. The district anticipates resolving the problem within 72 hours.

For more information, please contact Larry Clifton at (503) 812-0574

Astoria Police Announce Street Closures for Parade

The Astoria Police Department is issuing a reminder that the Astoria Regatta Association Grand Land Parade begins at 12:00 P.M. on Saturday August 13th 2011. Traffic will be disrupted through the downtown core beginning at about 8:00 A.M.

At 8:00 A.M. Exchange Street will be closed between 23rd and 16th. The Hospital, it’s urgent care and the Park Medical Building will be accessible from Marine Drive at 20th, 21st, and 23rd.

Exchange and Duane between 17th and 9th will have no on street parking on Saturday until the parade ends. The no parking areas will be signed and any vehicle parked at those locations will be removed by a tow truck. The owner will be responsible for the tow fees.

At about 10:00 a.m. all streets that travel north or south (the number streets) will be closed between Commercial Street and Franklin Street between 17th and 8th.

These traffic disruptions will last until the parade had ended and the street has been swept.

Highway 30 will remain unaffected by the parade this year. Traffic needing to get to or from the South slope of Astoria should use unaffected, alternate routes.

Sergeant Eric Halverson said, “We appreciate the community’s patience in dealing with the traffic disruptions that occur during the parade each year. We hope that the new route will limit some of those disruptions and make the parade more accessible to those who wish to see it.”

Astoria Police can also be found at www.facebook.com/AstoriaPolice and on Twitter @AstoriaPD
(photo courtesy The Daily Astorian)

THIRTY-NINE PEOPLE COMPLETE LOCAL ATV SAFETY COURSE AT CLATSOP FAIR

The Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce the successful completion of five days of Public ATV Safety Training held in conjunction with the Clatsop County Fair, Aug. 2-6.

Over the five days, 39 ATV enthusiasts received ATV safety training under two separate programs, one developed by the ATV Safety Institute, and a brand new ATV Youth Evaluation Program developed by Oregon State University and 4H. The ATV Safety Institute training is a 4-hour session and is available to youth and adults. The OSU/4H program takes two hours to complete and is available to youth under age 16 only.

Of the 39 completing the training, 26 were youth under age 16. These youth are now in compliance with a new Oregon law that becomes effective January 1, 2012 requiring youth under 16 operating an ATV on public lands in Oregon to have completed a Hands-on ATV training.

The Sheriff’s Office will continue to offer these ATV Safety Training opportunities periodically as the new laws approach and become effective.

Members of the public have an opportunity to become volunteer ATV Youth Evaluators under the 4H/OSU program. Interested persons may contact Deputy Michael Nelson at the Sheriff’s Office or by phone at (503) 791-4978 for further information and a volunteer evaluator application.

The Sheriff’s Office thanks the Clatsop County Fair Board and Fair Manager Gary Friedman for their commitment to this program, without which these opportunities may not have been offered. Also thanks to Sean Duncan, a local youth and ATV Ridercourse graduate who volunteered his time all five days of training to assist and demonstrate key skills for the students.

Congratulations to all those who completed the training and are taking a proactive approach to safe, fun, and sensible ATV riding.

Clatsop County Fair Yields Educational Opportunity for Five Drawing Winners

Clatsop Community College congratulates the winners of its daily drawing at the Clatsop County Fair. Each winner will receive a tuition voucher for a 3-credit CCC class, currently valued at $255. CCC received 125 entries over the five days of the Fair. Thank you to all who participated.

Tuition voucher recipients are:

· Patricia Falls

· Amy Chadney

· Mollie Schmidt

· Jean Dominey

· Henry Balensifer

CCC welcomes students of all ages to its degree and certificate programs, workforce training and education for life opportunities.

Please direct inquiries to: Amy Magnussen, Recruitment Coordinator, 503-338-2417.

Clatsop Community College is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution.

Plan for delays during SR 105 bridge work, Aug. 10

Drivers on State Route 105 west of Raymond have been using a temporary detour to get around bridge work at Norris Slough since May. This week they’ll encounter 10-minute closures of the detour route while crews set girders for the new Norris Slough bridge.

Starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10, crews will close the temporary detour while a crane lifts six concrete girders into place on the new bridge. Drivers can expect closures and delays to last until 1 p.m.

After the girders are set in place, crews will install mats made of reinforcing steel and start pouring concrete to form the bridge deck.

The SR 105 Norris Slough Bridge Replacement project replaces an undersized culvert with a new 87-foot-long, 34-foot-wide concrete bridge. The bridge will help enhance driver safety on SR 105 and improve fish passage to and from Willapa Bay.

The $2.3 million project is funded through federal and state highway improvement funds, and scheduled for completion this fall.

TROLLY FOLLIES TO BATTLE POLIO RETURNS TO ASTORIA

the popular and fun annual Trolley Follies returns Thursday, August 25. A limited number of tickets are available for purchase at the Astoria Bicentennial Celebration Office located at 101 ­ 15th Street docks on the River Walk. The cost is $20 per ticket to be part of this festive summer fundraiser benefitting Rotary’s END POLIO NOW campaign. The fun begins at 6:15 pm with participants boarding at either Baked Alaska (12th Street Docks) or at 6:30 at Columbia River Maritime Museum. Folly goers planning to begin their evening at Baked Alaska can park at the Astoria Bicentennial Celebration office located at 101 ­ 15th Street Docks (old Englund Marine building), which is just a short walk to the first trolley stop.


The Trolley Follies has a strong fan base that purchases their tickets early for an evening of club-hopping along the Trolley route. This year the evening ends at Fort George Brewery and Public House where an auction and games take place in their newly refurbished tasting room and brewing facility. “Our goal is to raise $2,000 for the END POLIO NOW campaign,” explained Dan Bartlett, Astoria Rotary Chair of PolioPlus Program.


Originally produced by Astoria’s chapter of America Red Cross, the event has been adopted by Astoria Rotary to meet its annual fundraising goal that supports eradication of Polio world-wide. Rotary clubs here and around the world are determined to do whatever it takes to achieve a world free of the crippling disease polio. A major part of that effort is to raise $200 million in response to a challenge grant of $355 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. That may seem a daunting task, but Rotary’s track record shows it can be done with perseverance and hard work. Since launching its landmark PolioPlus Program in 1985, the volunteer service organization already has contributed more than $800 million to the cause, not to mention countless volunteer hours logged by Rotary members.


2011 Sponsors of the Astoria Rotary Trolley Follies are: Fort George Brewery and Public House, Baked Alaska Restaurant, Rogue Ales Public House, Hazel’s, Wet Dog Cafe, Columbia River Maritime Museum and Astoria Bicentennial Celebration.


TROLLEY FOLLIES SCHEDULE
Thursday, August 25


Participants can choose one of two tours when purchasing tickets:
Group Polio Tour
6:15 pm Baked Alaska Restaurant
7:15 Ride Trolley to Rogue Ales
8:30 Load Trolley
8:45 Ride Trolley to 14th Street Shelter
8:55 Walk to Fort George


Group Plus Tour
6:30 pm Columbia River Maritime Museum
6:40 Ride Trolley to Wed Dog
7:45 Ride Trolley to 14th Street Shelter
7:50 Walk to Hazel’s
8:50 Walk to Fort George

FOUR IN CLATSOP COUNTY SICKENED BY STRAWBERRY-LINKED E COLI OUTBREAK

Oregon Public Health officials have identified fresh strawberries from a Newberg farm as the source of a cluster of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections that sickened at least 10 people last month, including one person who died.

Four of those people affected are from Clatsop County. None required hospitalization.

The strawberries were produced last month by Jaquith Strawberry Farm located in Newberg. Jaquith finished its strawberry season in late July, and its strawberries are no longer on the market. Jaquith sold its strawberries to buyers who then resold them at roadside stands and farmers’ markets.

Jaquith has recalled its products and is cooperating fully with the investigation.

Health officials are urging consumers who may have purchased strawberries grown on this farm to throw them out. Strawberries that have been frozen or made into uncooked jam are of particular concern.

“If you have any strawberries from this producer — frozen, in uncooked jam or any uncooked form — throw them out,” says Paul Cieslak, M.D., from Oregon Public Health Division. He says people who have eaten the strawberries, but remain well need take no action. The incubation period for E. coli O157:H7 is typically two to seven days.

None of the following have been implicated in this outbreak:

• Berries other than strawberries;

• Strawberries sold since Aug. 1;

• Strawberries sold south of Benton County or east of Multnomah County;

• Strawberries sold in supermarkets;

• Strawberries picked at Jaquith Strawberry Farm’s U-pick field.

Ten people have confirmed an E. coli O157:H7 infection caused by a single strain. These individuals include residents of Washington, Clatsop, and Multnomah counties. Six other people in northwest Oregon also have recently developed an E. coli O157:H7 infection and appear to be part of this outbreak.

Of the confirmed cases, four have been hospitalized, and one elderly woman in Washington County died from kidney failure associated with E. coli O157:H7 infection. There were 12 females and four males among the cases, and their ages ranged from 4 to 85. They fell ill between July 10 and July 29.

The Clatsop County Public Health Department recorded three local confirmed cases of E.Coli O157:H7 and one presumed case believed to be linked to strawberries from Jaquith Farms. All the local cases were relatively mild, and all four people recovered without hospitalization.

Cieslak, manager of the Oregon Public Health’s communicable disease section, said his team has been working with county public health officials and the Oregon Department of Agriculture on tracking the infection cases. When a potential outbreak is investigated, public health officials ask a slate of questions of those who have been sickened, family members and health care providers. The questions are to find common exposures and “trace back” to the source.

“If someone gets sick, we ask questions about everything from what they’ve eaten, to whether they’ve been to common gatherings, to whether they’ve been swimming in a particular place, and then out of this we try to find commonalities,” he said. “The commonality among these cases has been strawberries at roadside stands and farmers’ markets supplied by this one farm last month.”

E. coli is a common inhabitant of the gastrointestinal tract and is usually harmless. But E. coli O157:H7 is a strain of the bacterium carried by some animals, that can contaminate food and water, and that produces toxins that can cause mild to severe intestinal illness, including severe cramps and diarrhea that is often bloody.

Some patients develop complications that require hospitalization. Approximately 5 percent of infected persons, especially young children and the elderly, suffer serious and potentially fatal kidney damage.

Antibiotics are not recommended for treatment of an E. coli O157:H7 infection, and they may actually make kidney failure more likely. People infected with E. coli O157 should rest and drink plenty of fluids to reduce fatigue and dehydration.

Clatsop County Public Health has confirmed that berries from Jaquith Farms were sold from at least two local sites during the month of July, including the farmers market in Ilwaco, Wash. and a temporary produce stand in Warrenton. But, due to the fact that local berries can pass through multiple suppliers before reaching the consumer, it is possible that Jaquith berries were sold by other local vendors, and local and state health officials are recommending that the public dispose of any remaining berries they purchased from any farmers markets or stands prior to July 29, including berries they have frozen. Freezing does not kill the e coli bacteria.

Public health officials emphasize that fruits and vegetables are still important to a healthy diet; at least five servings per day are recommended. However, people need to take the following precautions with any uncooked produce:

1. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating them.

2. Keep fruits and vegetables separated from raw animal products and away from cooked foods.

3. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap after handling raw foods, as well as before eating, after using the toilet, and after changing diapers.

(photo courtesy Capital Press)

KRISTEN HANTHORN APPOINTED HEAD OF CLATSOP PAROLE AND PROBATION DIVISION

Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin announced Thursday the appointment of Kristen Hanthorn as lieutenant in charge of the Sheriff’s Office Parole and Probation Division.

“Kristen is a true leader who has the skills and abilities to handle this division,” Bergin said. “She has been a dedicated employee who has come up through the ranks and understands where we need to go as an organization, but more importantly, understands the importance of relationships within our criminal justice system.”

Hanthorn joined the Sheriff’s Office in 1996 as a deputy and has served as a criminal detective. She was promoted to sergeant in 2007.

The former Community Corrections Department was placed within the Sheriff’s Office earlier this year as part of a reorganization plan that saw the closure of the Transition Center residential facility in Warrenton. Last month Bergin reported to the county board of commissioners that the merger has already resulted in improved communications and increased efficiency between the two offices.

Parole and Probation Division, with a staff of seven parole and probation officers, supervises adult criminal offenders sentenced to probation by a court or released to post-prison supervision from incarceration. The division supervises approximately 400 clients through home and office visits, administers treatment, cognitive and social skills programs and alternative sanctions including house arrest and community service, and works with the local Drug Court, Family Drug Court and Treatment Court programs.

Parole and probation services are funded primarily through state revenue. Closure of the Transition Center has made available funding that will be redirected toward additional treatment programs and rental of additional jail beds in Tillamook County.

(Photo: ALEX PAJUNAS - The Daily Astorian)

CCC Welding Students Rebuild 4-H Animal Pens

4-H participants eagerly await the annual Clatsop County Fair and the opportunity to showcase their accomplishments and their animals. The animal pens in the Arena are checked annually to see if they need repairs after years of use. Typically, metal is rusted through and weakened in many areas creating hazardous conditions for animals and visitors alike.

To help make the pens safe for all 4-H participants and their animals, CCC welding instructor Jesse Fulton and his students took on the challenge of repairing the pens in time for this year’s Fair. This labor-intensive process involved removing and replacing rusted sections with new metal tubes welded onto the existing structure. The result is a safe and sturdy pen that will protect animals and visitors alike and serve the 4-H program participants for years to come.


“The students found the project to be both challenging and educational; learning how each step of the repair process affects the quality of the final project. This is a great partnership between CCC and the Fair Grounds that we hope will continue,” says welding instructor Fulton.

Fishers off Columbia River may keep two chinook

Anglers may now keep two chinook as part of their two-salmon bag limit when fishing north of Cape Falcon.

Effective Sunday, Aug. 7, fishery managers increased the daily bag limit in the recreational ocean salmon fishery from Cape Falcon to Leadbetter Point, Wash., to allow up to two chinook salmon. The daily bag limit will now be two salmon per day, and all retained coho must have a healed adipose fin clip.

“When the regulations were set earlier this spring, anglers were limited to only one chinook per day,” said Eric Schindler, ocean salmon project leader for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. “This was to ensure enough chinook were available for the full season. Catch and effort estimates through July 31 indicated that the one chinook bag limit restriction can be lifted with little risk of having to close early. Chinook catch was at 15 percent of the guideline of 7,400 chinook for the Columbia River Ocean Salmon Area.”

Anglers should look for fin clips on coho before netting them. Survival rates of native fish are much higher if they are released before they are netted.

The Columbia River Ocean Salmon Area general ocean salmon season opened June 26 and runs through the earlier of Sept. 30 or attainment of either the 33,600 adipose fin-clipped coho quota or the overall US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon chinook quota is reached.

A synopsis of the sport salmon regulations is available at www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/salmon/docs/2011_Ocean_Sport_Season_Regulation_Summary.pdf

ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN KROGER ANNOUNCES PLEA AND SENTENCING IN SIZEMORE CASE

Oregon Attorney General John Kroger has announced the guilty plea and sentencing of Bill Sizemore on felony tax evasion charges. Sizemore was indicted by a grand jury in October of 2009 for failing to file state income tax returns for 2006, 2007 and 2008.

"Everybody has to pay their taxes," said Attorney General Kroger. "There are no exceptions."

William Lee Sizemore (DOB: 6/2/51) pleaded guilty before Judge Claudia Burton in Marion County Circuit Court to three counts of Oregon Personal Income Tax Evasion, a Class C Felony. Sizemore received a presumptive sentence under Oregon Sentencing Guidelines of 36 months of supervised probation. As part of his probation, Sizemore must immediately serve 30 days in Marion County Jail and will not be eligible for early release.

Under a plea agreement, Sizemore must also adhere to a number of additional probationary terms. Specifically, he must:

· Complete 100 hours of community service following his release from jail;
· Repay the state for his court-appointed attorney’s fees;
· Adhere to a battery of conditions that mandate expedient compliance and candor with the Oregon Department of Revenue;
· Within 120 days, file tax returns for the years 2006, 2007 and 2008;
· File all future income tax returns on time;
· Comply with all laws, including tax laws; and
· Complete his three-year probationary term without any violations, in which case the Department of Justice will make a good faith consideration as to whether his convictions should be converted to misdemeanors. This is a routine provision in plea agreements offered to all eligible defendants.

Evidence in support of the charges against Bill Sizemore was uncovered during a civil lawsuit against several entities that he controlled. That lawsuit established that Sizemore set up a sham charity to hide political contributions to various ballot measure campaigns with which he was associated. As a result of that case, Sizemore was banned from managing any charity pursuant to a 2009 court order.

The Oregon Department of Justice's Charitable Activities Section, which handled the civil lawsuit, subsequently referred the criminal charges to the Department of Justice's Criminal Justice Division for further investigation.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Andrew Campbell prosecuted the case for the Oregon Department of Justice.

Attorney General John Kroger leads the Oregon Department of Justice.

(photo from billsizemore.net)

Governor Signs Rep. Witt’s Bill to Close Market for Shark Fins

Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber has signed HB 2838, chief sponsored by Representative Brad Witt (D-Clatskanie), which outlaws the marketing of shark fins in Oregon. Shark fins are an expensive, in-demand item used in shark fin soup.

“All too often shark fins are obtained by means of a barbaric practice commonly referred to as finning. This involves the taking of sharks solely for the purpose of harvesting their fins, while the rest of the fish is usually wasted,” said Rep. Witt. “Worse yet, sharks are often finned alive, only to die an agonizing death of starvation, drowning or bleeding.”

Some estimates show that internationally approximately 73 million sharks are finned and killed each year. Oregon fisheries regulations conform to federal requirements prohibiting the removal of shark fins or tail at sea. However, there is no Oregon law that bans the possession, sale, trade or distribution of shark fins in state. HB 2838 changes that.

In the wake of Oregon action on this issue, similar legislation is now being considered in California and Canada. Washington State and Hawaii have enacted similar laws.

Oregon jumps in new national rankings, showing strong headway in terms of entrepreneurship

Oregon jumped from the bottom of the pack to the top 5 in a new national comparison of entrepreneurs, and the findings help to show that Oregon innovators and investors are coming together, said State Treasurer Ted Wheeler.

The national index considers several factors including per-capita startup growth, and was developed by economists at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The study can be found at http://bbr.unl.edu/documents/State_Entrepreneurship_Index_July2011.pdf

Oregon was the biggest positive mover in the rankings, jumping from 45th among states to 5th. The top five states are New York, Washington, Massachusetts, new jersey and Oregon.

“Helping entrepreneurs to establish and grow businesses in Oregon is an important part of our long term economic development strategy,” said Treasurer Wheeler, who is the chairman of the Oregon Growth Account Board and sits on the board of Oregon Inc. “More investors are looking at Oregon because good ideas are growing here, from border to border.”

The study looked at the growth in ventures per capita, business formation rate, patents per 1,000 residents, and per-capita gross receipts of sole proprietorships and partnerships.

Wheeler said the improved ranking is good news, but Oregonians can’t be complacent in their business development efforts.

The Oregon Growth Account is one of the state’s strategic economic development tools, and invests a share of Oregon Lottery proceeds to help kick-start emerging companies. Returns from successful in-state investments go to help Oregon schools through the Education Stability Fund.

A March 2010 study by the Kauffman Foundation of Entrepreneurship showed that small startup companies are responsible for disproportionate job creation in the United States. Oregon was 14th in a ranking of “New Economy States” produced by the Kauffman Foundation in November 2010.

DB Cooper's grave?

Author Geoffrey Gray has just published a new book on the hunt for the real D.B. Cooper. Gray sees some resemblance between the police sketch of the folklore legend and a Polaroid snapshot of a central Oregon man named Lynn Doyle Cooper.

The picture and the suspect's name come from Cooper's niece, Marla. But author Gray questions the timeline of the niece's story and the plausibility of some of her memories from when she was eight years old. The niece tells interviewers she remembers her uncle coming home to Sisters, Oregon bloodied and bruised the morning after the hijacking.

Marla Cooper tells CNN that she herself doubts the FBI can conclusively prove her suspicions due to a lack of surviving physical evidence.

Veterans Administration records show the uncle, Lynn D Cooper, died in 1999 at the age of 67. He's buried in Pilot Butte Cemetery in Bend, Oregon.

CITY OF ASTORIA BOND STREET WATERLINE REPLACMENT PROJECT

M & M Earthworks, contractor for the City of Astoria Bond Street Waterline Replacement Project will begin work during the first week of August.

In order to minimize possible daytime traffic congestion and delays on Marine Drive, work at this location will be performed between the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. through September 2, 2011.

For additional details contact The City of Astoria Public Works Engineering Division at 503-338-5173. (photo courtesy: Hipfish)

DAVID WU STATEMENT UPON RESIGNATION FROM U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Congressman David Wu released the following statement after notifying Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber and House Speaker John Boehner of his resignation effective today, August 3,2011 at 11:59 p.m.:

“Serving as a U.S. Congressman has been the greatest honor of my life. There is no other job where you get up each day and ask, ‘How can I try to make the world a better place today?’

“Particularly meaningful to me has been working for more and better investments in science and education. Also, I believe that my support for people who struggle for human rights and civil liberties will ultimately bear fruit in a world that is more just and peaceful.

“However great the honor and engaging the work, there comes a time to hand on the privilege of elected office—and that time has come.”

CLATSOP COUNTY CAMPSITE STABBING SUSPECT IN CUSTODY

The suspect sought in connection with Saturday morning's stabbing at a remote camping site in Clatsop County was arrested by Oregon State Police (OSP) Monday evening. The suspect, SCOTT ROBERT BRANDON, age 26, from southwest Portland, contacted OSP following media reports regarding the investigation and made arrangements to turn himself in.

According to OSP Detective Aaron Jackson, BRANDON was arrested August 1st at the OSP Portland Area Command office and lodged in the Clackamas County Jail for Assault in the Second Degree. Arrangements will be made to transfer BRANDON to Clatsop County pending an appearance in Clatsop County Circuit Court.

Previously released information indicated on July 30, 2011 at approximately 8:00 a.m. the suspect, BRANDON, and the 30-year old male victim, Jeremy Daniel Peat from Gresham, were part of a large group of about 50 people camping off Wolf Creek Road about five miles north of Highway 26 in Clatsop County. The suspect and victim became involved in a verbal argument during which the suspect allegedly sprayed the victim's face with a chemical agent similar to mace. As the victim tried to defend himself, the suspect stabbed the victim once in the abdomen with a knife described as a bayonet.

Others present at the scene overpowered the suspect and disarmed him. The suspect then fled on foot into the woods. A search that evening by troopers and deputies failed to find him.

The victim was taken to St. Vincent's Hospital in Beaverton by two people at the camp site. OSP was notified by hospital staff and started an investigation led by Detective Jackson. Peat is still being treated at the hospital but his injury is believed non-life threatening.

OSP, with the assistance of the Clatsop County District Attorney's Office and Clatsop County Sheriff's Office, is continuing the investigation. Questions regarding an arraignment should be directed to the Clatsop County District Attorney's Office.

Anglers can help shape 2012 sport halibut season

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking Pacific halibut anglers for their comments and preferences on the 2012 sport halibut season.

Interested anglers can comment by phone, e-mail or at one of three public meetings to be held in Newport, Tillamook and North Bend.

“These meetings are an opportunity for anglers to provide input on what the 2012 Oregon Pacific halibut season will look like,” said Lynn Mattes, sport halibut project leader for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

“At these meetings, we will discuss some of the constraints on the sport halibut fishery, such as biological factors, allocation issues and catch sharing. And we’ll be asking anglers how they want the season structured in terms of days open and season timing,” she said.

The meetings will consider all three sub-areas off Oregon (Columbia River, Central Coast and South Coast).

Dates and location for the meeting are:

Newport--Tuesday, Aug. 9 at 7 p.m., at the Holiday Inn Express (south of the bridge), 135 SE 32nd.

Tillamook—Monday, Aug. 15 at 7 p.m., at the Tillamook ODFW office conference room, 4907 Third Street.

North Bend—Wednesday, Aug 17 at 7 p.m. at the North Bend Public Library, 1800 Sherman Ave.

“While the final Pacific halibut season will be set by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council in November, we’ll share the comments from these meetings with the Council for it to consider as it develops a preliminary proposed season in September,” Mattes said.

There will be additional opportunities for public comment as the season-setting process continues, she added.


Those who cannot attend a meeting can still comment by calling or e-mailing Mattes (Lynn.Mattes@state.or.us) or Patrick Mirick (Patrick.p.mirick@state.or.us) at 541-867-4741 before Wednesday, Aug. 17.

Image courtesy of the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

DARIGOLD PAINT-REMOVAL PROJECT TO RESUME WITH ALTERED HOURS

The contractor removing paint from the exterior of the Darigold Building in downtown Astoria will resume sand-blasting Tuesday, Aug. 2, but will conduct the work after business hours.

The sandblasting will take place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The contractor, Rose City Contracting, expects to complete the work on Wednesday, Aug. 3. The City of Astoria granted a temporary waiver of rules that prohibit construction activity after 6 p.m.

The project – removing asbestos-laden paint from the structure in preparation for its demolition – began last week but was suspended after city officials informed Clatsop County, the property owner, of noise complaints. The county and contractor voluntarily halted the work Thursday in order to pursue other removal methods.

After discussions with the contractor, the county has elected to proceed with sandblasting the north and west walls of the building, due to the fact that scaffolding, sheeting and other material is already in place and the work is expected to be finished in just two days, during the evening.

For the south and east walls of the building, the contractor will employ power-washing instead of sand-blasting in order to reduce potential noise problems. That phase of the project is expected to begin the week of Aug. 8.

The Darigold Building is being demolished to make way for a complex housing a clinic for Coastal Family Health Center and offices for local social service providers.

Columbia River fishery managers set six commercial fishing seasons during a meeting Friday.

Gillnetters will be allowed to work the river below Bonneville Dam from 9 p.m. Aug. 4- 6 a.m.

Five other seasons will be restricted to the waters between Bonneville Dam and near the mouth of the Lewis River: Aug. 5 at 9 p.m. to Aug. 16 at 6 a.m.; Aug. 17 at 9 p.m. to Aug. 18 at 6 a.m.; Aug. 19 at 9 p.m. to Aug. 21 at 6 a.m.; Aug. 22 at 9 p.m. to Aug. 23 at 6 a.m.; Aug. 24 at 9 p.m. to Aug. 25 at 6 a.m.

Photo courtesy of Columbia Riverkeeper