Coast Guard rescues four near Westport, Wash

Crewmembers of the fishing vessel Quest abandoned ship as their boat went down 17 miles west of Westport, Washington on June 29, 2012. A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Astoria hoisted the men from the water and took them to Bowerman Airfield in Hoquiam, Wash., where they were left with emergency medical personnel. Coast Guard video by Air Station Astoria.

Coast Guard Sector Columbia River recieved a distress call from the crew of the 52-foot fishing vessel Quest at approximately 11:10 p.m., Thursday, stating the boat was quickly taking on water.  The crew reported they could not dewater the vessel fast enough to keep it afloat and were told to don survival gear and abandon the boat while a 47-foot motor lifeboat crew from Station Grays Harbor in Westport and an MH-60 helicopter crew from Air Station Astoria were sent to assist.
The helicopter crew arrrived on scene at approximately 12 a.m. to find three people in a liferaft and one in the water.  A rescue swimmer was deployed to assist the crewmember in the water and then all four were hoisted into the helicopter.  The crew was taken to Bowerman Airfield in Hoquiam, Wash., to be examined by emergency medical personnel.  There were no reported injuries.
The 47-foot motor lifeboat crew arrived to locate the vessel, assess the risk of pollution and collect the vessel's EPIRB from the water.  The Quest sank with an estimated 250 gallons of diesel fuel on board, but there were no signs of pollution.
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OREGON SETS UP 211 HOTLINE TO REPORT TSUNAMI DEBRIS

The State of Oregon is launching a new one-stop hotline for reporting tsunami debris along the coastline.

Beginning Friday, June 29, citizens can call 211 to report a variety of material related to the March 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami. The 211 hotline is part of an initiative by local and state agencies to respond to the debris as it begins washing up on Oregon beaches.

The hotline will accept calls about hazardous materials, invasive species, derelict vessels and items too large to be easily removed from the beach.

Along with the 211 hotline, collection stations for receiving debris are being set up at 15 state parks along the Oregon Coast. Fort Stevens State Park in Clatsop County will have a designated debris drop box in its south campground area.

The following tips should be followed when encountering beach debris, regardless of its source:

Litter and other typical marine debris: For items such as plastic bottles and Styrofoam, collect the material if practical and dispose of it in the nearest appropriate trash or recycle receptacle. Trash bags are available from state parks offices, including Fort Stevens.

If the items appear to have marine organisms attached to them, throw them in a trash container or landfill or move them above the high-tide line and report them to 211 or by email to beach.debris@state.or.us

Derelict vessels, shipping containers or other large items: Call 911 in an emergency. If the item is a hazard to navigation, call 211 and you will be connected to the U.S. Coast Guard. Do not attempt to move derelict vessels.

Mementos or possessions: If an item can be traced back to an individual or group, or has personal or monetary value, call 211 or send an email to beach.debris@state.or.us so arrangements can be made to return it to Japan.

Potential hazardous materials: In the case of oil or chemical drums, gas cans and propane tanks, stay away from the item and call 211 to be connected to the U.S. Coast Guard, which has jurisdiction for hazardous materials.

More information is available from these websites:

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department - www.oregon.gov/OPRD/PARKS/

National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration – www.marinedebris.noaa.gov/

Oregon reactions to Supreme Court Affordable Care Act Ruling

In a statement, Oregon Governor. John Kitzhaber said: "I am pleased that the Supreme Court has upheld the Affordable Care Act, which will help all Oregonians, including the 600,000 Oregonians who are uninsured, have better access to health coverage. It's a vindication of the Obama Administration's bold approach. Oregon’s health transformation initiative is well underway.
"We’re moving forward with Coordinated Care Organizations that will transform Medicaid for better health and lower cost. And the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange will be a central marketplace where individuals and small businesses can shop for health plans and receive help paying for coverage."

U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley's reaction:“We must now focus on how to best deliver affordable, high-quality health care for every American......"As a result of today’s decision, we have the chance to deliver these important advances for America’s families and business and to implement a vision of affordable, accessible health care for all Americans. No one should go bankrupt if they get sick.
"Everyone should have access to preventive care in order to live healthy, productive lives.  I look forward to working with Gov. Kitzhaber and other Oregon policymakers to put in place these important reforms for all Oregonians."

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici's office released her statement, saying:   “Today the Supreme Court rightly upheld the Affordable Care Act. Since 2010, the ACA has provided Americans with better health care coverage and lower costs.
"Thanks to the law, 17 million children across the country with preexisting conditions are no longer denied coverage, and 6.6 million young adults have been able to stay on their parents' insurance plans until they turn 26 years old. In Oregon, more than one million people have received low-cost preventive care." 

From Jan Meekcoms, Oregon state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, which was the named plaintiff in the landmark decision in NFIB v. Sebelius.  "While very disappointed, we respect today's SCOTUS decision to uphold the individual mandate.  This decision creates tax increases and mandates that stand in the way of job creation and make high health-care costs an impediment to growing Oregon's economy.  We feel the PPACA is the wrong path and the wrong direction for true health care reform.  We will continue to fight for our members in the regulatory and legislative arenas."

LOG TRUCK INCIDENT CLOSES HIGHWAY 101 IN NEHALEM OVER 3 HOURS

Highway 101 in Nehalem was closed over 3 hours Wednesday morning when a loaded log trailer partially broke apart causing the logs to fall onto the road. No citations were issued following an Oregon State Police trooper's investigation.

According to Trooper Jace Hall, on June 27, 2012 at approximately 6:25 a.m. a 2003 Kenworth truck pulling a loaded log trailer driven by JAC STOCKER, age not available, from Astoria, was turning left onto Highway 101 from "H" Street when the rear part of the trailer snapped loose. The back half of the trailer broke free and the load of logs partially fell onto the road.

OSP was assisted at the scene by ODOT, Manzanita Department of Public Safety, and Nehalem Bay Fire & Rescue District.

Photograph - Oregon State Police

Bonamici Introduces First Major Legislation

Oregon Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici has introduced her first piece of major legislation since taking office in February.  H.R. 5975, the Workforce Infrastructure for Skilled Employees Investment Act, would establish a pilot program to provide grants to eligible workforce investment boards, community colleges, and other vocational institutions to hire local business liaisons.  

A statement release by Bonamici’s office states the local business liaisons funded by the grants will identify employment opportunities that are difficult to fill, areas of growth and decline among industries, and the skills of unemployed or underemployed individuals. The findings of the assessment will then inform a strategic skills gap action plan.  

Congresswoman Bonamici consulted with a number of representatives from local businesses, community colleges, and workforce investment boards across Oregon’s First District throughout her first few months in office. Their concerns and feedback inspired the bill

Coast Guard responds to boat fire 20 miles NW of Grays Harbor

The Coast Guard responded to a boat fire on a the 52-foot recreational vessel Miss Kelly located approximately 20 miles northwest of Grays Harbor, Wash., Thursday.

The three boaters on board were rescued by the crew of the nearby fishing vessel Peer Pressure, which remained on location until the Coast Guard arrived on scene.
The Coast Guard diverted an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and launched a 47-foot motor lifeboat crew to assist. The Coast Guard Cutter Henry Blake based in Everett, Wash., also diverted to assist.
At 3:08 p.m. the motor lifeboat crew arrived on scene and transferred the three boaters on board. The members were transported to Coast Guard Station Grays Harbor located in Westport, Wash. No injuries were reported.
At 4:27 p.m. the Miss Kelly sank with approximately 600 gallons of diesel on board. Three fuel tanks remain floating on the surface. A light sheen is also visible on the surface where the vessel sank. Coast Guard pollution investigators contacted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for an air plume model to assess potential air pollution headed to shore.
Coast Guard Sector Columbia River located in Warrenton, Ore., will continue to monitor the situation.
For additional information contact the Coast Guard Public Affairs office at (206) 220-7237. 

DUI BOATER AND DRUG ARRESTS

An investigation conducted by the Clatsop County Interagency Narcotic Team with the assistance of the United States Coast Guard has resulted in the arrest of five subjects on drug related charges early Tuesday and one subject for Boating Under the Influence on Wednesday. 

The initial investigation began with reports of possible drug trafficking involving multiple fishing vessels based out of the Warrenton Marina.  Information provided by the United States Coast Guard and the Oregon State Police indicated the involved fishing vessel to be the "Silver Girl", operated by Raymond Dean Graves, 37, of  Warrenton.  Coast Guard personnel also identified fishing vessels "Dorby S" and "Michelle D" as possibly associated with illegal drug activity.

A subsequent investigation led to the execution of a "high risk" vehicle stop, with the assistance of the Seaside Police Department and the Gearhart Police Department, on Highway 101 at the north end of Gearhart.  The vehicle involved was driven by Todd Leslie Norman, 45, of the South County area.  Norman was arrested on the charges of Conspiracy and Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine.  Graves, a passenger in the vehicle, was found to be in possession of Methamphetamine and was arrested on the charges of Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine and Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine.  Dina Raye Bianchi, 44, of the South County area was also a passenger in the vehicle.  Bianchi was wanted on an outstanding warrant and was also found to be in possession of Methamphetamine. Bianchi was arrested on the warrant and the charge of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine. 

Detectives, with the assistance of the Clatsop County Sheriff's Deputies, the Warrenton Police Department and the Oregon State Police, executed a search warrant at Grave's residence, 91949 Highway 104, Warrenton, Oregon.  Jason Gene Karna, 41, of Warrenton, was apprehended as he attempted to escape through a window at the rear of the residence.  Karna was arrested on an outstanding warrant and the charge of Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine.     

A second vehicle associated with the investigation, owned and operated by Timothy John Esposito, 32, of the Taylorville area, was located by an Oregon State Police Trooper at the Bradley State Park.  Esposito was arrested on the charges of Conspiracy and Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine.  

On Wednesday afternoon Detectives and a team of Coast Guard personnel boarded and executed a search of the fishing vessels "Silver Girl", "Michelle D" and "Dorby S".  The "Dorby S", operated by Robert Edward Graves, 42, of Warrenton had just gone under way and was escorted back by Coast Guard personnel.  Coast Guard personnel arrested Graves on the charge of Boating Under the Influence.  A small amount of marijuana was also located on the "Dorby S".

MONEY SMART WORKSHOP IN SEASIDE OFFERED TUESDAY JUNE 26

Have trouble finding money for those unexpected bills?

Not really sure how to make your money work for you?

Find answers at the Money Smart Workshop, Tuesday, June 26, 6:30-8 p.m. at Clatsop Community College South County Campus, 1455 N. Roosevelt Dr., Seaside.

Get help with basic budgeting, saving for emergencies, planning for the future and how to work smarter not harder. Childcare will be available

The program is sponsored by North Coast Parenting and Clatsop Community College.

For more information and to register please contact, North Coast Parenting, 503-325-8673 ext. 4

Clatsop Cty Commissioners meet Wed 6p

Clatsop County Commissioners will officially appoint new County Manager Scott Somers.  Also on the agenda: an improvement project contract approval for the Westport ferry landing, other contract approvals for a Megler-Rilea microwave link and the 4-H Leaders Association lease renewal.

Also the first reading for the County Code of Regulations ordinance, the second reading for amendment of the County Comprehensive Plan zoning map, plan text and approval of three property line adjustments and two subdivisions.

A public hearing will be held for the Hood to Coast Road event.

Other business includes adoption of the County and several subordinate budgets.

AGATE BEACH DERELICT DOCK UPDATE

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department took six bids to remove the derelict dock at Agate Beach, and intends to award the bid to Ballard Diving and Salvage from Vancouver, WA. The contract will result in the dock being dismantled on shore and removed in pieces by land, and will cost the department approximately $84,155.

Two options for removal were considered: either removing the dock intact by sea and taking it to the Port of Newport in Yaquina Bay, or dismantling. The department was advised by state marine biology experts from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife that allowing the dock to enter Yaquina Bay posed a high risk of introducing potentially invasive species.

A team from the ODFW Marine Resources Program removed more than two tons of plants and animals June 7-8, 2012 from the sides, top and portions of the interior of the dock. State park crews buried the organisms away from salt water under 8' of sand. Among the species removed were two known potential invaders: the northern Pacific sea star (Asterias amurensis, http://tinyurl.com/n-pacific-sea-star), and a marine alga, wakame (Undaria pinnatifida, http://undaria.nisbase.org/). Both of these organisms are included on the global list of 100 worst invasive species.

While the lion's share of the species have been removed from the dock, some algae and animals may still be present on both the bottom and inaccessible portions of the interior, and there is no sure way to remove them completely. The department is not certain enough that invasives have been completely removed to ask Yaquina Bay to take the risk.

Department staff and executives tried their utmost to recover the dock intact and find some way of returning it to use. The Port of Newport indicated it did not have room for the structure, and that it was unsure how much repair and modification work was needed to put it to use.

Portions of the dock will be retained for use in a local memorial. A schedule for removal will be announced after negotiating final terms with the contractor. Timing is important because conditions on the beach, such as the amount of sand naturally piling up around the dock, could change without notice.

CANNON BEACH SURFERS RESCUED

 photo courtesy:  yayyuh.blogspot.com

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued two surfers in distress near Cannon Beach Monday.  The two surfers became trapped in a small cove at the north end of Indian Beach at Ecola State Park, just north of Cannon Beach.  Cannon Beach Fire and Rescue alerted the Coast Guard at approximately 1:35 p.m, then an already airborne MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew was diverted to the scene. The helicopter crew arrived at approximately 1:45 p.m. and located the surfers on a rocky outcropping on the north side of the cove. It lowered a rescue swimmer from a hover approximately 125 feet above the rock and successfully hoisted both surfers to safety.

PLANNED ELECTRICITY OUTAGE TO AFFECT SEASIDE WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUNE 20

An estimated 67 Pacific Power customers in Seaside are expected to be without electricity for about four hours tomorrow (Wed) morning while Pacific Power crews perform maintenance work.

The planned time for the outage will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  If the outage time changes, affected customers will be notified.

The outage will affect customers along Sunset Boulevard down Highland Drive and over to Evergreen Drive; power will be out along these streets and also the streets in between. No traffic lights will be affected.

Fatal Crash Thursday on OR Hwy 30 east of Astoria

Oregon State Police (OSP) is continuing the investigation into Thursday morning's fatal head-on traffic crash involving a passenger car and commercial vehicle that resulted in the death of a Longview, Washington woman along Highway 30 east of Astoria. The highway will re-open about 4:30 p.m. A detour has been in place for all vehicles while responders clear the scene and complete clean up a large fuel and oil spill.

On June 14, 2012 at approximately 9:05 a.m. a 1997 Toyota Camry driven by CAROL LORRAINE HOWARD, age 53, from Longview, Washington, was eastbound on Highway 30 near milepost 85 when it veered into the westbound lane and crashed head-on into a 2007 Kenworth truck pulling an empty chip trailer. The truck's driver, RANDY L. DAVIES, age 44, from Bay City, Oregon tried to avoid impact. No evidence of braking was seen from the car prior to impact. It was heavily damaged, ejecting HOWARD outside where she was pronounced deceased at the scene.

OSP troopers, Clatsop County sheriff deputies, and firefighters from Knappa Fire & Rescue found a car seat at the scene and conducted an extensive area search to see if a child was involved. No child was found and the investigation confirmed there was no child passenger in the car with the victim.

OSP also confirmed HOWARD was reported as a missing person to Cowlitz County, Washington Sheriff's Office on June 13 at about 7:00 p.m. Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office assisted OSP with next of kin notifications. She was believed to not be using safety restraints.

DAVIES was transported by ambulance to Columbia Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. DAVIES was driving for Don Averill Trucking out of Tillamook. He was using safety restraints.

OSP troopers from the Astoria Area Command office are continuing the investigation. Senior Trooper James Pierce is the lead investigator.

OSP was assisted at the scene by Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Knappa Fire & Rescue, ODOT, and Northwest Firefighters (NWFF) Environmental company. An unknown amount of fuel and diesel spilled from the truck.

Photograph - Oregon State Police

Clatsop County Board of Commissioners Highlights of theWednesday, June 13, 2012 regular meeting

Somers contract approved

The board approved a contract with new County Manager Scott Somers. Somers, who will join the county July 16, replaces former County Manager Duane Cole, who retired May 31.

Under the contract Somers will earn a $112,000 annual salary plus benefits.

Wauna payment financing approved

The board approved a financing agreement covering payment of a $2.5 million settlement with Georgia-Pacific over the corporation’s tax appeal on its Wauna paper mill.

Under the agreement the settlement will be paid with a loan repaid over 10 years at an interest rate estimated at below 3 percent. All 60 taxing districts in the county will contribute to the payment.

In 2007 Georgia-Pacific was disqualified from a property tax-exemption program and required to pay more than $4 million to local taxing entities. The company appealed the disqualification and the assessment on the Wauna property to Oregon Tax Court. Both sides reached a settlement in May.

Three zone changes approved

The board approved three separate land-use applications:

-Michael Benesch, Warrenton Fiber, Waldo Veelle, Martin Nygaard and Mardi Nygaard – The applicants requested to rezone approximately 13 acres of property on Dolphin Road near Warrenton from Residential Agriculture-5 to Light-Industrial (eight acres) and Natural Uplands (five acres). The application also sought a cluster partition, and creation of two “density credits,” one for use on the subject property and another for future use.

-Gloria Edler – The applicant requested to downzone and partition approximately 10 acres of property on McCormick Garden Road near Gearhart from Residential Agriculture-1 to Open Space, Parks and Recreation. The rezone creates five density credits, two of which will be transferred to a development planned by Russ Earl, and the other three “banked” for future use.

-Russ Earl and Osburn-Olson LLC – The applicants requested approval for two cluster subdivisions located east of Surf Pines – the 18-lot West Dunes developed by Earl and the nine-lot Clatsop Estates by Osburn-Olson. The application also includes a downzone of three other properties, two owned by the National Park Service and another by William Fackerell, from residential to Open Space, Parks and Recreation and the transfer of the resulting 13 density credits to the two subdivisions. Two additional density credits would also come from downzoned property owned by Gloria Edler.

In exchange for the density credits the National Park Service receives protection for eight acres of property along Neacoxie Creek within the subdivisions.

Planning Commission members appointed

The board re-appointed current members Kay Foetisch-Robb and Michael Tiedeman to the Clatsop County Planning Commission.

Housing Authority members appointed

The board appointed Kenneth Culp and Robert Stang to two vacant seats on the Clatsop County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.

Budget hearings held

The board held public hearings on the 2012-13 Clatsop County budget and budgets for the 4-H and Extension Service, Road District #1, Rural Law Enforcement District and Westport Sewer Service District. Adoption of the budgets is scheduled for June 27.

SCOTT SOMERS SELECTED AS NEW CLATSOP COUNTY MANAGER

The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners has offered the job of county manager to Scott Somers.

Somers, 44, currently the city manager of Reedsport, is expected to start with the county July 16. He replaces former county manager Duane Cole, who retired May 31 after three years with the county.

The board is scheduled to approve an employment contract with Somers at its June 13 meeting. His starting salary will be $112,000 a year plus benefits.

“I think this is going to be a great fit,” he said.

Somers’ selection followed a thorough recruitment process, assisted by consultant Greg Prothman, that included a public reception and interviews with six finalists May 29 and 30.

Clatsop County Board of Commissioners Chair Peter Huhtala said that after a search that brought in applications from around the country, “we were fortunate to find Scott right here on the Oregon Coast.

“He is intelligent, energetic and aware of Clatsop County’s challenges and opportunities,” he said. “I very much look forward to working with Scott – I believe that he can look forward to a long and successful tenure.”

Somers was born in Tucson, Ariz. and raised in Arizona and central Oregon. He earned a bachelor of social work degree from Arizona State University and master of public administration degree from the University of Arizona. His career in public administration began in 2004 at White Bear Lake, Minnesota where he served as assistant to the city manager. In 2006 he was hired as assistant city manager for Savage, Minnesota.

Somers joined Reedsport, a city of 4,300 on the central Oregon Coast, in January 2009. The city has a staff of 33 and a $14 million annual budget.

Among the city’s accomplishments during his tenure are completing a $12 million wastewater treatment plant; brokering a partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and Army Corps of Engineers on levee certification; pursuing downtown revitalization efforts; and developing a strategic plan.

Somers said one of his top goals in Reedsport has been building relationships – with city council and staff, citizens and civic groups, neighboring districts, lawmakers and state and federal agencies. “I am very open to work with – people recognized that,” he said. “We may not always agree, but we can respect each other’s opinion.”

During his tenure Reedsport actively promoted itself to regional and state economic development entities, Somers said. Like communities in Clatsop County, it has faced the challenge of diversifying its economy in an area historically dependent on fishing and logging.

Somers believes the transition from city to county government won’t be difficult. He has not overseen public health programs in his city jobs, but said his background in social work – he was a case worker as a college undergraduate – gives him some insight into services provided through the county Public Health Department.

As part of the selection process the county and consultant Prothman arranged for Somers and the other five finalists to be interviewed by three separate panels: the board of commissioners; county department heads and labor representatives; and a community stakeholders panel that included city officials, Clatsop Community College President Larry Galizio, Circuit Court Judge Cindee Matyas, three citizens and state lawmakers Betsy Johnson and Deborah Boone. Following the interviews all three groups assembled to share their input.

“Elected officials, department heads and several community leaders helped the board with the interview and selection process,” Huhtala said. “We very much appreciate the participation of each of these individuals.”

Wahkiakum County to receive funds for transfer of state forestlands off-limits to timber harvests

 The Washinton State Board of Natural Resources has approved the transfer of 67 acres of State Forest Trust land in Wahkiakum County to conservation status. It is the first transaction under a legislatively funded program created in 2009 to replace certain state-owned working forestlands encumbered by federal endangered species restrictions. The program targets small, economically stressed rural counties that depend heavily on timber revenue to support public services.

“This is the first of several land transfers that will provide small, timber-dependent counties like Wahkiakum with needed dollars,” said Peter Goldmark, Commissioner of Public Lands. “These transactions help counties weather the financial impacts of important federal wildlife protections.”

An appropriation by the 2011 Legislature provides $640,000, based on the value of timber on the 67-acre parcel north of Cathlamet. Wahkiakum County will get $505,000 with most of the remainder going to reimburse the state forest land management account for costs already incurred in the stewardship of these lands. The parcel is among the several thousand acres of forestland that the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages to support Wahkiakum County services.

“Our county relies on timber revenues from State Forest Trust lands, but it is clear that this parcel will not be harvested anytime soon,” said Dan Cothren, Wahkiakum County Commissioner. “The funding this transfer will provide is huge for Wahkiakum County because our budgets have been hit hard by low timber prices in recent years.”

Following the transfer of the parcel into conservation status, DNR will use $27,000 of the legislative appropriation – reflecting the parcel’s land value – to purchase replacement working forestland elsewhere in Wahkiakum County.

DNR will manage the 67-acre parcel as a Natural Resources Conservation Area (NRCA). The parcel was determined to be occupied by marbled murrelets, a threatened sea bird that nests inland in old trees.
The Board today also welcomed its newest member, Lewis County Commissioner Lee Grose, who will represent the counties with state forest trust lands managed by the DNR State forest replacement lands program.


The 2009 Legislature created a program to help relieve the impact of long-term, endangered, species-related habitat conservation restrictions on State Forest Trust lands. The program is targeted to small timber-dependent counties, namely Klickitat, Pacific, Skamania and Wahkiakum. An appropriation by the 2011 Legislature provides funding to create the NRCA and pay the county for the timber on that parcel.
NRCAs are conservation areas that protect outstanding examples of native ecosystems, scenic landscapes, and habitat for endangered, threatened and sensitive plants and animals. Low impact public uses, such as hiking, are allowed in NRCAs if they do not impair the protected resource.
DNR manages State Forest Trust landsDNR manages just over a half million acres of state forestlands for the benefit of 20 counties, mostly in western Washington. Much of the acreage was deeded by the counties to the state’s care in the early 20th Century after the lands were heavily logged and abandoned by private owners.

Commercial fishing vessel examiners see increase in non-CG approved equipment

 Coast Guard commercial fishing vessel dockside examiners are starting to see an increasing number of inflatable survival craft installed on some commercial fishing vessels that are not Coast Guard-approved.

Non-Coast Guard approved life rafts may pose a danger to commercial fishing vessel operators and their crews during emergencies at sea.
These life rafts are not acceptable for survival craft required to meet commercial fishing vessel safety regulations. Commercial fishermen may be purchasing these inflatable survival craft thinking they meet the requirements. 
“The survival craft we are seeing are less expensive than the Coast Guard-approved versions, often built by the same manufacturers but not to the same standards”, said Mike Rudolph with the Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Program in Portland, Oregon. “The regulations specifically state that all survival craft required aboard commercial fishing vessels be Coast Guard approved.”
Vessel owners and operators will want to make sure they have only approved safety equipment on board their vessels. When purchasing a survival craft for your vessel, make sure it is a Coast Guard-approved piece of equipment. The device will have a Coast Guard approval number on it. 
If you have any questions or you would like to get a free courtesy dockside safety check to ensure your vessel has the required safety equipment, please contact Mr. Dan Hardin, Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Coordinator for the Thirteenth Coast Guard District, in Seattle, at (206) 220-7226 or daniel.e.hardin@uscg.mil.

Derelict dock washes ashore near Agate Beach north of Newport

Dock washed ashore near Agate Beach

On June 4, 2012, ocean shore visitors reported seeing a loose dock floating offshore near Agate Beach one mile north of Newport. The object has since washed ashore and is sitting at the high tide line.

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department staff responded to the site. The origin of the object is not known, but there is no obvious evidence it crossed the ocean. The dock itself is very large and heavy: 7' tall, 19' wide and 66' long. It is made primarily of concrete and metal, but is clearly designed to float. Because of its size and the chance it could continue to settle or be moved by wave action, state park staff are posting warning tape and signs instructing the public to stay off the structure.

A metal placard bearing Japanese writing was found attached to the dock  The placard (see photo), has been forwarded to the Japanese consulate in Portland, Oregon, for their review. The origin of the dock has not yet been confirmed.

The dock  is covered with marine organisms. Some are native, but others are specific to the waters of Japan. As a precaution against possible invasive species, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is coordinating a group of volunteers to remove the organisms from the dock starting Thursday morning, The salt water-dependent organisms will be removed from the beach. Among the exotic species are different kinds of mussels, barnacles and marine algaes. One invasive marine algae in particular -- Undaria pinnatifida, commonly called wakame -- is present on the structure.

Shortly after the dock made landfall, it was checked for radiation and was found to be negative.

OPRD is still developing disposal options. Two possibilities are salvage or demolition; both are being evaluated.

Agate Beach remains open ... just stay off the dock.

Tillamook Estuaries Partnership seeks public input

Tillamook Estuaries Partnership (TEP) has launched a strategic planning process and is seeking community input in assessing their role in meeting community needs for conservation, habitat restoration, water quality and education.   

To participate in the conversation, go to: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YBT3M3F to take a brief survey, or contact Executive Director, Lisa Phipps at (503) 322-2222 or lphipps@tbnep.org .  Comments will be taken through Friday, June 8th.

Arrest in Astoria After Fatal Crash

An arrest has been made after Friday night’s fatal traffic crash on Hwy 30 at Hume and West Marine Drive in Astoria.  

On Saturday, (June 2) at about 4:00 PM David Shane Gutman, age 31 turned himself in at the Astoria Police Department. Astoria Police had identified him as the driver in the fatal traffic crash the night before and had been searching for him since shortly after the crash. Gutman has been lodged at the Clatsop County Jail on charges including Manslaughter 1, DUII and Hit and run.  James Carpenter, age 29 of Hammond was passenger in the car.  He died at the scene of injuries sustained in the crash, a second passenger sustained only minor injuries, and has not been charged with any crimes.

Astoria police are still interested in any witnesses that may have seen Gutman or Carpenter on the night of June 1.  Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the Astoria Police Department.  Information can also be submitted online at astoria dispatch dot com. 

Astoria Police still seeking missing teen

Astoria Police are asking for the public's help in locating Savannah Henderson, age 17 of Astoria.  Henderson was reported missing by her mother on Monday, May 14th.  Savannah was last seen leaving for school.  She is 6 feet tall and weighs 140 pounds.  She has blue eyes and brown hair.

Savannah is not believed to be in danger but is listed as a runaway.  Astoria Police would like to know the whereabouts of Savannah to ensure she is safe.  They have received information that she may in the Portland area.  Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Officer Ken Hansen at 503-325-4411