GRANTS FUND NEW TRAIL BRIDGES ON THE TILLAMOOK STATE FOREST

Off-road enthusiasts and stream habitat alike will benefit from new Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) bridges in the Tillamook State Forest, thanks to grant funds.

ODF recently completed construction of two new off-highway vehicle (OHV) trail bridges on the Elliott Creek and Military OHV trails. The project was initiated to replace failing and poorly located bridges, and to enhance and restore stream habitat through trail and bridge relocation. 

Both trails cross the Devil's Lake Fork of the Wilson River, which is an important salmon stream in the northern Coast Range near mile marker 33 on State Highway 6.

The new 114 foot-long bridge on the Elliott Creek Trail replaced four bridges that were located within the stream channel and floodplain. One was failing, and all risked damage during a major flood or storm.   

APPLICANTS SOUGHT FOR ARCH CAPE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE

  Clatsop County is seeking applications for two open seats on the Southwest Coastal Citizens Advisory Committee.

The committee evaluates all construction design review applications for the Arch Cape community submitted to the county Community Development Department. Members must be property owners or residents of Arch Cape. The committee generally meets once a month.

The term for the positions is January 2014 to January 2018. The county Board of Commissioners will make the appointments.

Deadline for applications is Monday, Dec. 16. To apply, obtain an application form and return it to the Clatsop County Manager’s Office at 800 Exchange St., Suite 410, Astoria OR 97103, (503) 325-1000. Forms are available from the County Manager’s Office or can be downloaded from the county website www.co.clatsop.or.us at “Your County-Citizen Involvement.”

JOHNSON – BOONE TOWN HALL MEETING IN TILLAMOOK SATURDAY

Oregon State Senator Betsy Johnson and State Representative Deborah Boone will hold a Tillamook Town Hall Meeting on Saturday (Nov 2) from 12:00pm to 1:30pm at the Port of Tillamook Bay Officers Mess Hall, 6825 Officers Row in Tillamook.  

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Warrenton's Ensign Lane Extension Ribbon Cutting Friday

A Ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Ensign Lane extension in Warrenton will take place Friday, November 1st, 10am, at SE Ensign Lane and SE 19th Steet in Warrenton (that’s the intersection southeast of Coscto)

FMI – 503-325-8631

NEW CASCADIA EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI SCENARIO RELEASED

Report issued just days before the Great Oregon Shakeout, a statewide earthquake drill this Thursday 

On January 26, 1700 an estimated M9 earthquake unzipped the 700+ mile Cascadia Subduction Zone fault from northern California, USA to southern British Columbia, Canada, much like recent events in 2011 in Japan and 2010 in Chile. The newly released "Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquakes: A Magnitude 9.0 Earthquake Scenario" examines how the Pacific Northwest may fare after the next great 'megathrust' earthquake and tsunami. "The new report conveys the most current scientific and emergency planning information accessible to a wide variety of audiences." said Tamra Biasco of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, one of the lead authors.

Columbia Memorial Hospital Celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness Month

On Friday, Columbia Memorial Hospital, the City of Astoria and Friends of the Astoria Column (CMH) will host a community “Pink Out” at the base of the Astoria Column. The event will include brief speeches by breast cancer survivors, The column will be lit by pink lights, and participants can launch small gliders from the top of the column in hope or memory of loved ones.   Complimentary gliders can be picked up this week from the CMH Primary Care Clinic in Warrenton, the west lobby of the hospital or the information desk of the CMH Health & Wellness Pavilion.   The event will take place on Friday (Oct 18) at 6pm.  October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Oregon residents cautioned about burning this week

Cool, crisp fall days entice local landowners to clean up outside in preparation for winter.  Clean up usually includes burning yard debris and logging slash.  The local Oregon Department of Forestry office is reminding citizens to not burn during periods of east winds.    The local weather forecast predicts an east wind event throughout this week.   East winds prevent smoke dispersing away from the ground level, causing smoky conditions for neighborhoods and local roadways.  Once typical wet weather patterns return, residents can resume burning with little risk to neighbors and adjacent forestlands.

Clatsop County residents can call the Oregon Department of Forestry at 503-325-5451 for more information.

Equine Emergency Care Workshop through Clatsop Community College in Astoria

Stephanie Ramsey DVM will present a practical workshop on Equine Emergency Care through the Clatsop Community College Community Education Program. This course includes a classroom presentation, Tuesday, October 22, 6-9pm on the CCC main campus, and a live demonstration of procedures on Saturday, October 26, 9-11am at the Youngs River Ranch. Cost for this two-session class is $39. Register at www.clatsopcc.edu/schedule or call 503-338-2408.

Dr. Ramsey will address measuring basic vital signs, identification of colic and its causes, basic procedures such as oral/intramuscular medications and leg wraps, contents of an equine emergency kit, and knowing when to call the vet.

Please direct inquiries to:  Mary Kemhus-Fryling, 503-338-2408; mfryling@clatsopcc.edu.

BOARD OF CLATSOP COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REJECTS NATURAL GAS PIPELINE LAND-USE APPLICATION

The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners voted Wednesday to reject a land-use application for construction of a natural gas pipeline to serve a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal.

Following a public hearing the board, by a 5-0 vote, found that the consolidated application from Oregon Pipeline LLC did not meet several criteria among the county’s land-use standards.

The vote brings to an end a review process that was put on hold for almost two and a half years by the applicant’s legal challenge to the board’s jurisdiction.

Testimony in Wednesday’s hearing was allowed only from representatives of Oregon Pipeline and project opponent Columbia Riverkeeper, but the board also reviewed written comments submitted by citizens and other parties prior to the hearing.

SEARCHING FOR ARMED SERIAL BANK ROBBER

The FBI and Springfield Police Department are asking the public's help in identifying and locating a man who appeared to be armed during a robbery Tuesday morning at the US Bank branch located at 1620 Mohawk Boulevard. The man walked in, holding what appeared to be a long gun wrapped in a blanket. He approached the tellers' desk, demanded cash, received cash, and left on foot.

The man involved in Tuesday's robbery is believed to be the same person involved in a similar robbery on September 5, 2013, at a Bank of the West branch in Tualatin. The suspect is believed to be wearing the same hooded jacket in both robberies, and the physical descriptions are almost identical. For more information from the Tualatin Police Department on the earlier robbery, please refer to:  http://www.tualatinoregon.gov/police/tualatin-police-looking-bank-robbery-suspect

Traffic Impacts this week during the City of Astoria 11th St CSO Separation project.

PROJECT UPDATE

Tapani will be working on pipe installation and grading on 8^th St between Irving and Niagara this coming week. Work on curbs, sidewalk and intersection corner ramps will continue between Franklin and Kensington.

Construction on 9^th St will continue between Franklin and Harrison. Waterline connections are scheduled to occur this week. Tapani will be working on intersection corner ramps and final road grades.

Paving on parts of 8^th St and all of 9^th St is tentatively scheduled for the week of October 14^th, weather permitting.

SOLVE Beach Cleanups Rescheduled for Saturday, October 12th and 26th

Most of the SOLVE beach cleanups that were postponed due to severe weather, have been rescheduled for Saturday, October 12th and 26th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

"Beach cleanup coordinators have been working tirelessly over the past few days to make sure these cleanups still take place," said Joy Irby, SOLVE Program Coordinator. "Oregon volunteers are resilient - an early storm won't stop us from ensuring the health of our coastlines."

Oregon State Senator Betsy Johnson and State Representative Debby Boone will hold Town Hall Meetings

Senator Betsy Johnson and Representative Debby Boone will speak with constituents in legislative and special session updates:

Sunday, October 13, 2013

10am – 11:30am Tillamook Town Hall

@ Tillamook PUD meeting room

1115 Pacific Avenue

Tillamook, OR  97141

1pm – 2:30pm Seaside Town Hall

@ Seaside Public Library

1131 Broadway Street

Seaside, OR  97138

4:00pm – 5:30pm Banks Town Hall

@ Banks City Hall Council Chambers

13690 NW Main Street

Banks, OR   97106

Power out on the Peninsula

There is a widespread power outage this morning (Thursday, Oct 3) on the Longbeach peninsula.   The pacific county PUD says the outage originated with Bonneville Power Administration transmission lines. No information was available on when power is expected to be restored. 

Washington Healthplanfinder Unveils Consumer Enrollment Website; Launches Enrollment Tour New Online Marketplace Connects Washingtonians with New Health Plans and Financial Help Starting Oct. 1

Washington Healthplanfinder, the new online marketplace that connects Washingtonians to new health insurance plans and financial help, was unveiled on the eve of the health insurance open enrollment period. Beginning Oct. 1, individuals, families and small businesses will be able to find, compare and enroll in the health plan that fits their needs and budget at www.wahealthplanfinder.org. People can also reach the Washington Healthplanfinder Customer Support Center by calling toll-free 1-855-WA-FINDER (1-855-923-4633). Assistance is available in up to 175 languages and trained representatives are available weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Most Activities on BLM Oregon & Washington Managed lands to be Suspended due to Federal Government Shutdown

As a result of the Federal government shutdown, essentially all services provided by
the Bureau of Land Management will be suspended, with the exception of law enforcement and
emergency response functions. Approximately 4,000 recreation facilities, including visitor centers,
facilities, campgrounds, boat ramps and other recreation sites will be closed.

The BLM manages 245 million acres – more than any of the nation’s major natural resource agencies.

The BLM will maintain the minimum staffing levels required to ensure continued safe management of the nation’s energy resources,but issuing new oil and gas leases and permits will cease.
Limited work will continue to ensure safe operations of domestic energy supplies, including inspection
and enforcement activities for more than 190 oil and gas leases in Oregon and Washington, covering
over 320,000 acres.

Oregon State Senator Betsy Johnson Receives Hatfield Award

The League of Oregon Cities’ (LOC) prestigious Mark O. Hatfield Statesmanship Award was presented to Senator Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose) during the League’s 88^th Annual Conference, held September 26-28 at the Red Lion on the River. 

Astoria to host Downtown Revitalization Conference Set for October 2-4, 2013

 Oregon Main Street’s Annual Conference showcasing best practices for downtown revitalization will take place October 2-4, 2013 in downtown Astoria.  Astoria, which exemplifies the conference theme, "Cool Cities: Old Buildings. New Attitudes," will showcase its historic buildings, numerous shopping and dining opportunities, and variety of activities to the 200+ conference attendees.

LOCAL AGENTS TO HELP CLATSOP COUNTY RESIDENTS FIND HEALTH INSURANCE

Cover Oregon, the new health insurance marketplace, kicks off in October and Clatsop County citizens will have a local agent to help them navigate the new program.

Cover Oregon is the state’s new online marketplace where Oregonians can shop for health insurance, choose from different health insurance companies  to find plans that will fit their needs and budget, and access savings to help pay for coverage. Open enrollment starts in October, and more Oregonians can now get health insurance even if they already have a health condition.

To help Oregon individuals and families enroll in health insurance through Cover Oregon, the Oregon Health Authority awarded grants to local governments and community organizations. The Clatsop County Public Health Department received a grant and is certified to help county resident enroll in coverage.