Bonamici new First District Congressional Representative

Results late Tuesday in the vote-by-mail contest showed Suzanne Bonamici leading Republican businessman Rob Cornilles 54 percent to 39 percent with 68 percent of precincts reporting. The Associated Press has called the race for Bonamici.

Oregon First District special election ballots due

Ballots are due Tuesday, January 31st for the special election for the new Oregon First District Congressional Representative. It is now too late to mail ballots. Ballots can be dropped off at the following drop box locations:

The Clatsop County Clerk’s Office at 820 Exchange in Astoria. There is also a 24 hour drop box at that location.

In Warrenton, ballots can be dropped at Warrenton City Hall, 225 S. Main Ave.

The Cannon Beach City Hall, at 163 Gower Street and the Gearhart City Hall at 698 Pacific Way,

Seaside City Hall, at 989 Broadway.

Knappa High School, 41535 Old Highway 30.

In Columbia County ballots can be dropped at the Mist-Birkenfeld Fire Hall,
12525 Oregon Highway 202, and Clatskanie Library, at 11 Lillich Street in Clatskanie.

All these locations will receive ballots until 8pm Tuesday night.

ELKS AMERICANISM ESSAY WINNERS

Photo: Left to right: Connor Merrill, Chance Giguiere, Aamiah Trine

Each year Elks offer an essay contest to grade school students. This year the topic was “Why I am Proud to Pledge Allegiance to our Flag”. The contest inspires children to think about our Pledge of Allegiance and their role as American Citizens. Excellent essays were submitted by Cannon Beach Elementary School 5th graders Chance Giguiere, Connor Merrell & Aamiah Trine. The essay submitted by Chance Giguiere was chosen as the winner and he received a $75 award. Second place went to Connor Merrill who received a $25 award. Aamiah Trine received a participation certificate. The students read their essays at a school assembly on Friday, January 27, 2012. They were all presented with a certificate. The winning essays were submitted to the NW District Contest and if chosen as winners at that level, the essays will be submitted to the State competition.

Elks support youth and are grateful for our local educators. For information about Seaside Elks Lodge 1748 please call 503-738-6651 or email to seasideelks@yahoo.com. Visit our site at oregonstateelks.com, elks.org or follow us on Facebook.

Fish and Wildlife Commission meet in Astoria Friday

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider proposed rules for the 2012 Columbia River white sturgeon season when it meets in Astoria on Feb. 3, 2012.

The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites, 204 W Marine Drive, Astoria, Ore. 97103.

The 2012 recreational white sturgeon season for the Columbia River was decided on Jan. 26 at the Columbia River Compact, a joint meeting of Oregon and Washington fishery managers. ODFW staff will ask the Commission to affirm these seasons by adopting the administrative rules necessary to implement them.

The Commission will also be asked to approve administrative rules for new Habitat Conservation Stamp. This is in response to HB 2127 passed by the 2011 Legislative session which allows ODFW to develop a program that will fund habitat conservation projects in accordance with the Oregon Conservation Strategy.

Finally, the Commission will be asked to adopt the schedule of damages used in assessing commercial fishing violations during 2012. Each year, the Commission establishes the average market price per pound for each species of food fish based on the average prices during the previous year as reported by Oregon commercial fish dealers. These values are used to set damages in lawsuits associated with the unlawful taking of food fish.

Meeting materials are available on the ODFW website. Public testimony is held Friday morning immediately following the expenditure report. Persons seeking to testify on issues not on the formal agenda may do so by making arrangements with the ODFW Director’s Office, at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, by calling 800-720-6339 or 503-947-6044.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided as needed for individuals requesting assistive hearing devices, sign language interpreters or large-print materials. Individuals needing these types of accommodations may call the ODFW Director’s Office at 800-720-6339 or 503-947-6044 at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting.

Clatsop County Board of Commissioners Meeting Highlights for Wednesday January 25

Utility district discussed

The board held a work session on the potential for establishing a people’s utility district in the county. Representatives from Bonneville Power Administration, PacifiCorp, the Citizens Utility Board and regional PUDs answered questions from commissioners about utility districts, power sources and related issues.

The county’s draft Strategic Plan, due to go before the board at a future date, includes a people’s utility district as a proposed long-term project for the county to pursue.

Manager search approved

The board authorized staff to seek a consultant to assist with the search for a new county manager to replace Duane Cole, who announced earlier this month that he is retiring June 1. A tentative schedule calls for soliciting county manager applicants in March and early April, conducting interviews in May and making a selection by the end of May.

Other Business

In other business the board:

-Approved a letter to the regional office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency seeking a further extension of the agency’s deadline for ruling on the proposed listing of Astoria Marine Construction Company on the federal Superfund pollution clean-up list. The letter refers to recent correspondence from the Progressive insurance company stating it would cover the expenses of Astoria Marine’s defense.

-Approved its 2012-13 budget policies, which guide the drafting of the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The policies follow those of previous years in calling for no new staff or programs without specific board approval, no increase in materials and services spending, budget savings not be spent in other areas, and no “back-filling” of cuts in state or federal funding for local programs. The policies also contain a Resource Reduction Strategy that priorities spending areas as: 1-Public Safety and Justice; 2-Health and Human Services; 3-General Government Direct Services; 4-Community Development, Land Use, Transportation and Housing; 5-Culture and Recreation.

-Made appointments to the Southwest Coastal Citizens Advisory Committee, the design-review land-use panel for the community of Arch Cape. All seven positions on the committee were opened after the board approved new bylaws for the panel in September. Appointees are: Virginia Birkby, Richard Donofrio, Bill George, Tod Lundy, Michael Manzulli, John Mersereau and Dan Seifer.

-Were presented with the audited financial statements from the county’s auditor, Boldt, Carlisle and Smith, for the 2010-11 fiscal year for the county, 4-H and Extension Service District, Road District 1, Rural Law Enforcement District and Westport Sewer Service District. The statements received an unqualified opinion from the auditor, indicating they present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the county in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

-Approved the vacation of two undeveloped roads near Labiske Lane south of Astoria.

-Awarded a plaque to Glenn Ahrens, Oregon State University Extension Service Staff Chair, in recognition of his more than 10 years of service with the agency’s Clatsop County office.

CLATSTOP COMMISSIONERS UPHOLD COUNTY CITATION AGAINST MOBILE HOME PARK

The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday upheld a citation issued against the owner of a mobile home park for multiple county code violations.

The board voted unanimously to deny an appeal by Ken Hick and Resources Northwest Inc., owners of the Sunset Lake Resort and RV Park, filed against an order issued in December by a county hearings officer regarding number and location of dwelling units on the property.

The county Planning Division began enforcement action against the park in 2010 in response to a petition signed by 60 neighboring residents. Following investigations by planning and building codes staff, the office issued a citation in June 2011 for numerous violations, 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.

As many as 90 mobile home and RV units have been located at the park.

Hick appealed the citation on the grounds that the current use at the park predates current zoning regulations and is “grandfathered in” as a pre-existing use.

Hick’s appeal was heard by Hearings Officer Paul Elsner in October. In December Elsner rejected Hick’s argument and upheld the county order, and ruled that the park is allowed a maximum of 16 mobile home and 27 RV sites. Hick was fined $100 for each unit in excess of the allowed maximum, or $4,200, and required to bring the remaining sites up to code and pay all necessary permit fees by Feb. 1.

On Wednesday the board had the option of conducting its own hearing on Hick’s appeal. Instead it voted to uphold the hearings officer ruling based on the existing record, which totaled more than 800 pages.

Commissioner Patricia Roberts, whose district includes Sunset Lake, told the board Wednesday that the RV park has been a source of “constant complaints” from citizens and that the issue had had a “fair and thorough review.” She asked that residents displaced from the park be referred to Clatsop Community Action, the Clatsop County Housing Authority and Northwest Housing Authority for assistance finding new housing opportunities.

Commissioner Dirk Rohne said while he felt bad for the park’s residents, he pointed to a letter from Warrenton Fire Chief Ted Ames pointing to the fire danger in the park’s overcrowded spaces.

Neah Kah Nie Water District Pirates Spring tests positive for E. coli, but no boil-water order

DRINKING WATER NOTICE

NeahKahNie Water District Pirates Spring Tested Positive for E. coli and Does Not Meet Treatment Requirements

Pirate Spring untreated water recently tested positive for E. coli, a fecal indicator (see definition below). As our customers, (the residences north of and outside Manzanita city limits) you have a right to know what happened and what we are doing to correct this situation. On Friday January 20th, we collected our monthly untreated (raw water) sample from this spring. The sample tested positive for E. coli. The spring water is treated with chlorine before it is served, however this does not meet the required level of treatment for viruses.

What This Means
This is not an emergency but we are required to provide this notice. The water does not need to be boiled prior to consumption. In fact it is unknown whether any of this water entered the distribution system as Pirates Spring is normally on standby mode as a backup source. If it had been an emergency, you would have been notified within 24 hours. All chlorine-treated water samples collected at Pirates Spring have tested absent for E. coli and other bacteria. However, until we consistently provide the required level of treatment or are able to identify the contaminant entry point and correct it, if we were to continue utilizing this source, there would be an increased chance that disease-causing organisms could contaminate the water distribution system.

Fecal indicators are microbes whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term health effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms.

The symptoms above can be caused by reasons other than organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.

You may drink the water. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.

If you have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant, are pregnant, or are elderly, you may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your health care providers about drinking this water. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Steps We Are Taking
The last time water was pumped from Pirates Spring was on January 18th and at that time only a small amount was transferred in order to test and exercise the pumping system. Pirates Spring was taken off line (isolated) from the distribution system on Monday January 23, 2012 as soon as we learned of the positive test results and this spring will remain isolated until that time when the county and state authorities agree it is once again safe.

For more information, please contact Richard Felley of NeahKahNie Water District at 503-368-7309 or at 9155 Nehalem Road, NeahKahNie Beach during normal working hours.

This notice is being provided by NeahKahNie Water District. State Water System ID# 41-00506.

Ilwaco State of the City Address

Last (Monday) night Ilwaco City Mayor Mike Cassinelli gave his state of the city address. He recognized new members of the city council and planning commission, and reported that the city is responding to the citizen concerns of maintaining city roads and sidewalks and improving storm drainage. To achieve those goals the Stormwater Utility Fee will now apply to all city parcels. The Mayor said that grant funding paid for significant improvements to city streets and sidewalks, and also paid for chip sealing the Port of Ilwaco parking lots.
The Mayor added that an important goal during the past year was to address the issue of water rates and water quality. A lower base rate was implemented for all water customers and all consumption is now billed at a commodity rate. Beginning this March, residential customers will be receiving water/sewer bills on a monthly basis, and 97% of residential customers now have radio read water meters. State funded low interest rate loans will fund construction of new reservoirs and system improvements.

MAJOR LAND PURCHASE IN COLUMBIA ESTUARY BY THE COLUMBIA LAND TRUST

The Columbia Land Trust, Bonneville Power Administration and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have announced the largest purchase of riverside habitat in the Columbia River estuary in nearly 40 years. On Monday, The Columbia Land Trust completed the purchase of the 920-acre Columbia Stock Ranch on the south shore of the Columbia River near Goble, Ore., with $5.3 million in Bonneville Power Administration funding. The purchase sets the stage for the Corps of Engineers to restore hundreds of acres of historic wetlands in the next few years to provide food and shelter for salmon migrating to and from the ocean.

Management and restoration plans for the property will be developed with public input. The restored habitat will benefit coho, chinook and chum salmon; steelhead; and cutthroat trout, as well as terrestrial wildlife such as black bear, elk and river otter

Poll of Oregon’s First Congressional District: 'Down to the wire'

The campaign to replace David Wu in Oregon’s First Congressional District is going right down to the wire. In a Moore Information poll of 300 likely voters in the district, conducted January 11-12, Cornilles was supported by 42%, Bonamici by 46%, while 10% were undecided and 2% said they wouldn’t vote for either candidate. Bonamici led in the Multnomah County portion of the district, but the race was tied elsewhere.

As ballots begin arriving in voters’ mailboxes, Cornilles appears to be surging.
Cornilles is benefiting from a political environment that is more negative for Democrats than it was during the 2010 election. Currently, more than six-in-ten district voters believe things in the country are off on the wrong track and just 48% approve of Barack Obama’s performance as president, while 48% disapprove. By contrast in October 2010, Obama’s performance was 53/44% approve.

Both Cornilles and Bonamici still enjoy positive images. Despite nearly a million dollars spent in negative advertising against him, Cornilles is rated favorably by 42%, unfavorably by 36%, while the remaining 22% have no opinion or have never heard of the Republican. Bonamici’s image is 48% favorable, 33% unfavorable and 19% no opinion/never heard.


This poll was conducted for the Cornilles campaign, by telephone, using live interviewers, January 11-12, 2012, among a representative sample of 300 likely voters in the district. Cell phone only households were included as part of the sample. Forty eight percent of the sample are registered Democrats, 35% Republicans and the remainder are non-affiliated/Independent/others. The potential sampling error is plus or minus 6% at the 95% confidence level. Photo courtesy: news.opb.org

Oregon and Washington agree to reduce sturgeon catch by 38% on the lower Columbia River

For the third straight year, fish and wildlife directors from Washington and Oregon have agreed to reduce the catch of white sturgeon on the lower Columbia River, where the species has declined in abundance in recent years.

Under the new agreement, the total allowable harvest of white sturgeon below Bonneville Dam will be reduced from 22.5 percent of the “legal-size” fish to 16 percent in 2012.

The new harvest rate will hold the combined catch by sport and commercial fisheries to 9,600 sturgeon measuring 38 to 54 inches long. Last year’s guideline for those waters was 15,640 fish, although only 14,488 were actually harvested.

This year’s agreement will reduce the sturgeon harvest in the lower Columbia River by 38 percent, following a 30 percent reduction in 2011 and a 40 percent reduction the previous year.

The abundance of legal-size sturgeon has declined nearly 50 percent since 2007, according to surveys by both states. Factors often cited for the decline include increased predation by sea lions and a drop in the abundance of smelt and lamprey, which contribute to sturgeons’ diet.

Concerned by these trends, the fish and wildlife commissions charged with setting policy for each state called for significant catch reductions in 2012 during separate meetings last week. The responsibility for negotiating a common catch rate fell to the fish and wildlife directors of each state.

“This was not a difficult negotiation,” said Phil Anderson, director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. “Both directors came into this discussion with serious concerns about the status of the resource and a commitment to make a significant reduction in the 2012 harvest level. I also heard stakeholders’ concerns about the decline in the sturgeon resource and their support for taking a more conservative approach in our harvest management.”

Roy Elicker, director of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, agreed, noting that the discussion quickly turned to how to best manage the 2012 fishery under the reduced harvest level.

“It’s clear that recent trends in sturgeon populations warrant a more precautionary approach,” Elicker said. “For 2012, the plan is to maintain the season and catch-allocation structure that has been in place for several years, but with shorter fishing periods.”

Under the 16 percent harvest rate, the portion of the catch available to recreational fisheries will be allocated as follows: 4,160 fish in the estuary, 2,080 above Wauna and between 1,768 and 2,022 in the Willamette River.

The directors agreed to some flexibility in the portion of the catch assigned to the Willamette River. This flexibility may be necessary to meet Oregon’s goal of four sturgeon retention days on the Willamette, Elicker said.

Projections indicate that 65,000 white sturgeon between 38 and 54 will be present below Bonneville Dam this year.

Fishery managers from Washington and Oregon will meet Jan. 26 in Portland to set this year’s fishing seasons for sturgeon and spring chinook salmon on the lower Columbia River. Later in the year, the states plan to begin a public process involving fishermen to fully review current sturgeon management strategies on the Columbia and Willamette rivers prior to the 2013 fishing season.

photo courtesy: thecolumbiariverfishingguide.com

FREE EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI PUBLIC FORUM

Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup (CREW)is hosting a public forum, which will be simultaneous broadcast as a webinar for the public. Discussion will include what Oregon has learned from the earthquake in Japan (Tohoku) and the subsequent tsunami and how that knowledge can help with the survival and recovery of our coastal communities and state.

The forum will be held at the White Stag Building 70 NW Couch St. Portland, OR from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on January 25, 2012. The simultaneous broadcast as a webinar will be at http://pdx.uoregon.edu.index.php?p=webcast for anyone who is interested.

Three of Oregon’s top experts in the field will be speaking: Dr. Chris Goldfinger, Professor of marine Geology at Oregon State University, Kent Yu, PhD, PE, SE, Principal and Branch Manager for Degenkolb Engineers in Portland Oregon and current Chairman of the Oregon Seismic Safety Policy Advisory Commission and Dr. Althea Rizzo, Geologic Hazards Program Coordinator for the Oregon Office of Emergency Management (OEM).

"This webinar will benefit families and the entire community," said Dr. Rizzo. "Understanding that an earthquake of this type is inevitable, Oregonians can better understand their risk and enhance their survivability."

NOTE: March has been proclaimed by the Governor as Earthquake and Tsunami Awareness Month. This differs from the past when April was the declared month.

CLATSOP COUNTY MANAGER DUANE COLE ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

Clatsop County Manager Duane Cole announced his retirement to the county board of commissioners Wednesday, Jan. 11.
Cole's last day with the county will be May 31.
"I have been fortunate to have professionally served 35 years in local government - a field to which I have dedicated my entire career," Cole said in a letter to the board. "For me it is now time to be with my family, pursue other interests, and explore the next phase of life."
Cole joined Clatsop County in May 2009 from the city of Walla Walla, Wash., where he served as city manager.
The board of commissioners will detail its process for recruiting Cole's replacement in the near future.
“Duane Cole brought professionalism, competency, and integrity to government in Clatsop County. He engaged fully to make Clatsop County government more effective and more efficient. His organizational talent has brought many positive changes and has made Clatsop County a leader in many areas. His legacy to us is a solid foundation on which we can build success. He will always be welcome here. He will be missed,” Chair Rohne stated today.
Cole said he is providing the board with more than the 90 days' notice of departure required in his contract in order to allow the commissioners adequate time to select a replacement before his retirement.
Born in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and raised in Milton-Freewater, Ore., Cole received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Oregon.
His career in public administration began in 1977 at the age of 23 when he was hired as city administrator of Pilot Rock, Ore. He subsequently served with the city of Pendleton as finance director, assistant city manager and city manager pro tem, and as city administrator for Susanville, Calif. He was city administrator for Newberg for 12 years until 2002, when he took the top administrative job with Walla Walla.
Under Cole's tenure, Clatsop County revived a proposal to expand the county jail that will go before the board of commissioners soon for a decision whether to seek voter approval for the project. The county has also led a collaborative effort with local cities, the Port of Astoria and Oregon Highway Department to find a solution to the chronic flooding problem on U.S. Highway 101 south of Seaside that appears likely to go forward this year.
The county also leased the historic county jail building to the Clatsop County Historical Society for development of the Oregon Film Museum; negotiated a sale of the former Darigold Building in downtown Astoria to Coastal Family Health Center for its planned new clinic; completed the update of the North Coast Business Park Master Plan charting future development at the county-owned space in Warrenton; and launched an examination of planning issues covering the county's near-shore ocean zone.
One of Cole's biggest accomplishments is the development of a Strategic Plan. The document, due to go before the board of commissioners for adoption in the near future, identifies more than 40 major capital, infrastructure and planning projects as well as projected timelines and funding sources for each.
Cole expressed thanks to the county's commissioners and staff.
"To each of you I extend my sincere appreciation for the excellent opportunities for professional and personal development that you have provided me at Clatsop County," he wrote. "Your respect and encouragement has been welcomed and valued."

OPRD TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS ON OCEAN SHORES RULES

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) will seek public comments on Oregon administrative rule changes affecting Oregon’s ocean shore. OPRD is responsible for the management of the ocean shore state recreation area under OAR 736-021-0060.

These rules were last revised in 1996. Since then, the numbers of visitors and kinds of recreation have grown and changed, as have natural resource protection activities. The current draft rule changes, as well as historical and cultural sites, on the ocean shore, and make it easier for visitors to understand and locate all rules pertinent to ocean shore management.

The proposed changes cover a range of safety and resource protection issues, such as clarifying limits on personal and commercial removal of natural products, and rules related to signs, campfires, and wildlife disturbance. The proposed changes do not add a new requirement for activity permits, but do explain traditional management better: events which block public access or could harm natural or cultural resources need a permit. Proposed changes are available online at www.oregon.gov/OPRD/RULES/notices.shtml

The meeting schedule follows:

January 24: Salem 3:30 pm-5:30 pm OPRD Headquarters, 725 Summer St. NE, Suite C, Salem OR 97301

January 26: North Bend 3 pm-5 pm North Bend Library, 1800 Sherman Ave., North Bend OR

January 27: Gold Beach 3 pm-5 pm Gold Beach City Hall, 29592 Ellensburg Ave, Gold Beach OR

January 30: Newport 7 pm-9 pm Newport Recreation Center (Rm 105), 225 Avery Street, Newport OR

January 31: Cannon Beach 7 pm-9 pm Cannon Beach City Hall (Council Chambers), 163 E. Gower Street, Cannon Beach OR

The deadline for accepting comments is February 6, 2012, and may be submitted to vanessa.demoe@state.or.us. Those wishing to comment during a public meeting must register with the hearings officer in the first 45 minutes of the meeting. Accommodations for persons with disabilities are available if requested in advance by calling (503) 986-0719.

Today last day for Oregonians to register to vote in Jan 31st election.

Today is the deadline for Oregonians to register to vote for the special election coming up on January 31st. Oregon District one voters will be deciding on their new congressional representative.

Voter registration can be done at any county elections office or online.

CLICK HERE FOR OREGON VOTER REGISTRATION LINK.

Clatsop County Deputies assist in self inflicted shooting

On January 6th 2012 Deputy Justin Dimmick responded to the Williamsport Mainline per report of garbage dumping. While enroute, he came upon a vehicle traveling towards him with three individuals. The vehicle came to a sudden stop and one of the passengers exited claiming his friend had been shot.
Upon surveying the situation, Deputy Dimmick was able to verify that one of the subjects David Raymond Lithieser 02-03 88 was suffering from a gunshot wound to his right leg. His friends had attempted to stop the bleeding with a belt however the wound was serious and needed immediate attention.
Deputy Dimmick and now Deputy Hoover who had just showed up on scene, applied first aid and summoned Medical. All Clatsop County Deputies two weeks earlier had just gone through a class and were issued tourniquets for their patrol vehicles. The Deputies applied the tourniquet and were able to stop the bleeding until Astoria Fire and Medixarrived on scene for transport.
The subjects advised they had been target shooting and Lithieserwent to draw his pistol from his holster and accidentally shot himself in the leg prior to leveling the gun to the target.
This new item in the patrol units has already paid off and fortunately the injury will be recoverable.
.

VIDEO EXPLORES MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS RELATED TO OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS

One year ago, Rainier Police Chief Ralph Painter lost his life in the line of duty. Early Thursday morning, six police officers were shot, one fatally, during a deadly shooting with a suspect in Ogden, Utah. These tragic incidents are a reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face each day when responding to a call.

Sometimes, these encounters end when an officer is involved in a shooting. Such an incident occurred Thursday, January 5th, in Medford, Oregon. After an officer-involved shooting incident, a law enforcement officer’s decisions made in split seconds will be reviewed and reported on often without having all the facts.

To provide educational outreach to local communities, Lane County District Attorney Alex Gardner with the assistance of Eugene Police Department, local law enforcement, and national and regional experts, produced a 17-minute video that provides important details regarding officer-involved shootings and the process used to investigate them.

Hollywood vs Reality Officer-Involved Shootings, includes a series of segments designed to explore common myths and misconceptions, most of which are addressed by national and regional experts including Dr. Bill Lewinski of Force Science Institute; Dr. Alexis Artwohl; Eugene Police Officer Joe Kidd; Oregon State Police Sergeant Alan Gilbert; and, District Attorney Gardner.

Since the video’s release in September 2011, the Lane County District Attorney’s office has had approximately 1,200 requests for it from around the world and United States. The video provides useful background for reporters and the public, and can be viewed on this link: http://bit.ly/q0V69v

2012 WINTER, SPRING, & SUMMER SELECT AREA FISHERIES Informational Meeting

DATE: Thursday January 12, 2012
TIME: 7:00-8:00 PM
LOCATION: The Holiday Inn Express
204 W Marine Dr
Astoria, Oregon
PURPOSE: To present spring Chinook run size expectations for Select Areas and to solicit public involvement in the 2012 commercial and recreational winter, spring, and summer Select Area fishery planning process.
AGENDA:
1. Update on Select Area Fisheries project
2. Review of 2011 Select Area commercial fisheries
• Fall season harvest
• Winter, spring, and summer seasons and harvest
3. Discuss expected 2012 spring Chinook returns
4. Discuss management of 2012 winter/spring/summer Select Area fisheries
• Season/harvest management considerations
• Staff recommendations
Youngs Bay
Blind Slough/Knappa Slough
Deep River
Tongue Point/South Channel
• Season setting process
5. Other topics
• Recreational fisheries
• General discussion

John North (971) 673-6029 ODFW
Patrick Hulett (360) 577-0197 WDFW
Steve Meshke (503) 325-6452 CCF

First Razor Clam Digs for the New Year

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced tentative dates for evening razor clam digs during the next two months at Washington’s ocean beaches. (WDFW) emphasized that final approval of all openings will depend on results of marine toxin tests that show the clams are safe to eat.

The first dig is scheduled Jan. 20-21 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks on evening tides. The second is planned during President’s Day weekend, Feb. 18-19, at Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks.

No digging will be allowed at any beach before noon.

Additional digs through spring will be announced once a catch assessment is completed for the season through February, said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager.

Kalaloch Beach will remain closed until April, due to a low abundance of razor clams. The National Park Service, which manages that beach in cooperation with WDFW, has announced plans to open Kalaloch for a razor clam dig April 7-9.

The dates, beaches and evening low tides for the digs scheduled in January and February are:

Jan. 20, Friday, 4:28 p.m. (-0.5 feet); Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks

Jan. 21, Saturday, 5:17 p.m. (-0.8 feet); Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks

Feb.18, Saturday, 4:13 p.m. (0.0 feet) Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks

Feb.19, Sunday, 5 p.m. (-0.2 feet) Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks

Oregon Senator Wyden Schedules Town Hall in Tillamook County on January 7th

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will host a town hall in Tillamook county on January 7th. Senator Wyden has been holding town halls in every Oregon county every year since 1996.

Tillamook County Town Hall Meeting

Date: Saturday, January 7, 2012

Time: 1 p.m.

Location: Tillamook County Library, 1716 3rd Street, Tillamook

CLATSOP COUNTY SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR BUDGET COMMITTEES

Clatsop County is currently inviting citizens to serve on local budget committees.

These citizen committees review the proposed budgets and make recommendations to the county commissioners. Each committee is made up of five county commissioners and five other local residents they appoint. The committees generally meet in May to review the proposed budgets.

Seats are available on the following committees:

Clatsop County Budget Committee: A full, three-year term representing District 1 is open on this committee, which reviews the county’s overall operating budget. Applicants must live in District 1, which includes western Astoria as well as Warrenton and Hammond.

Road District 1 Budget Committee: Four full three-year terms ending Feb. 28, 2015 and one un-expired term ending February 28, 2013 are available. The committee reviews the district’s budget for roadwork such as cutting brush, patching pot holes, cleaning and replacing culverts, maintaining road shoulders and drainage ditches, grading and re-basing 220 miles of county roads. Applicants must live in the unincorporated areas of the county.

Westport Sewer Service District Budget Committee: Two full terms ending June 30, 2015, two unexpired terms ending June 30, 2014 and one unexpired term ending June 30, 2013 are available to residents of the sewer district, which serves about 95 connections in the unincorporated community of Westport.

The Board of Commissioners will make the appointments. Applications will be taken through Jan. 31. Application forms are available online at www.co.clatsop.or.us under “Quick Links-Citizen Involvement,” from the office at 800 Exchange St., Suite 410, or by calling (503) 325-1000.

Tsunami Debris: Treasure or Trash?

The Pacific County Emergency Management Agency has arranged three public presentations to discuss the marine debris generated by the March 2011 Japanese tsunami and its potential to impact the Pacific County coastline.

Presentations are scheduled for:

January 17, 2012, 6:00 p.m. at the Peninsula Church Center, Seaview, WA

January 18, 2012, 10:00 a.m. at the Ocean Park Firehall, Ocean Park, WA

January 18, 2012, 5:30 p.m. at the Shoalwater Bay Tribal Center, Tokeland, WA

The Regional Coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program will lead the presentation. In addition, representatives from the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, Washington State Department of Ecology, Washington State Emergency Management Division, and Washington State Department of Health have been invited to answer questions that might arise specific to their areas of expertise.

The public and local agencies and organizations are welcome to attend any of the presentations, which are intended to be of an informational nature. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

photo courtesy newslincolncounty.com

MERKLEY TO HOLD COASTAL TOWN HALLS IN LINCOLN, TILLAMOOK AND CLATSOP COUNTIES

Town Halls are Wednesday, January 11th and Thursday, January 12th in Toledo, Bay City and Cannon Beach, Oregon

Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley will hold town halls in Lincoln, Tillamook and Clatsop Counties next week.
He will update constituents on his work in Washington, DC and answer their questions and invite their suggestions about how to tackle the challenges facing Oregon and America.
“Fighting for Oregonians is my number one priority. Traveling to every county lets me hear directly how we can work together to make our state stronger,” Merkley said. “I urge all residents of Lincoln, Tillamook and Clatsop Counties to come and discuss how we can create a brighter future for Oregon.”
In 2008, Merkley pledged to hold town halls in each of Oregon’s 36 counties every year. He upheld his pledge in the previous three years and is continuing that commitment in 2012.
What: Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley holds town hall in Lincoln County.
When: Wednesday, January 11, 2012, 5:00 pm
Where: Toledo Fire Department, 285 NE Burgess Rd, Toledo, OR 97391
What: Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley holds town hall in Tillamook County.
When: Thursday, January 12, 2012, 1:00 pm
Where: Bay City Arts Center, 5680 A Street, Bay City, OR 97107
What: Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley holds town hall in Clatsop County.
When: Thursday, January 12, 2012, 4:00 pm
Where: Cannon Beach Community Hall, 207 N. Spruce St., Cannon Beach, OR 97110