Free CERT Training in Pacific County, Washington

The Pacific County Emergency Management Agency (PCEMA) is offering a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) course in Raymond. Training is scheduled as follows:
 

Saturday, January 17, 2015 · 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, January 18, 2015 · 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 24, 2015 · 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, January 25, 2015 · 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

The course will be held at the Riverview Education Center (600 Washington Avenue, Raymond, WA 98586). Pre-registration is required and is limited to 24 participants. 

The CERT program is an all-risk, all-hazard training. The course is designed to help citizens protect themselves, family, neighbors, and neighborhoods in an emergency situation. CERT members receive 20 hours of initial training provided free of charge. The course is taught with classroom instruction for the first two days and practical exercises during the third day, the fourth day will be devoted to more advanced training and is optional. Participants under the age of 18 must have parent/guardian permission to attend.

To register or for more information, contact Scott McDougall at (360) 875-9338 or email smcdougall@co.pacific.wa.us. 

CLATSOP COUNTY OFFERS HEALTH COVERAGE ENROLLMENT EVENT JAN. 5-6

Oregon residents looking to enroll or re-enroll for health insurance through a certified community partner or agent are invited to attend an event Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 5-6 in Astoria or Seaside.

Assistance will be available for those applying or re-applying for coverage under the Oregon Health Plan or seeking a plan under the federal health coverage marketplace.

The event runs from 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. on Monday and 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on Tuesday. The event will be held at both Columbia Memorial Hospital, 2021 Marine Drive in Astoria, and Providence Seaside Hospital, 725 S. Wahanna Road, Seaside.

You may choose either location, and no appointment is necessary.

Participants are asked to bring the following information:

·   Birth dates for all applying for coverage

·   Employer and income information

·   Any self-employment deductions

·   Policy number(s) and plan name(s) for any current health insurance

·   Information about health coverage available through an employer

·   Social Security Number (or Alien Resident Number) for everyone applying

Come prepared with an email account if possible.

ASTORIA MAYOR TO HOLD COMMUNITY MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

Astoria Mayor Arline LaMear will hold “Meet the Mayor” community meetings on the first Wednesday of each month in 2015. All meetings will be from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. at Astoria City Hall, 2nd Floor, Walldorf Conference Room, 1095 Duane Street. The first meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 7th where the public is invited to share comments, questions or concerns with the Mayor. 

Subsequent meetings will be held:
February 4
March 4 
April 1
May 6
June 3
July 1
August 5
September 2
November 4
December 2 

ASTORIA CHRISTMAS DEATH INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

Investigation into the Christmas morning death of Steven Lynn Russell, age 63, of Astoria continues. An autopsy was conducted by the Oregon State Medical Examiners office on Friday, December 26th. The Autopsy revealed that the cause of death was a single gunshot. The investigation into the manner of death continues.
Russell’s death was reported early Christmas morning.  At 12:10 AM, on December 25,  Astoria police responded to a report of the death of a 63-year-old Astoria man. He was found deceased in his Astoria home. There was at least one person in the home with him at the time of his death but that person, while cooperative, was unable to provide details about his death.
The Clatsop County Major Crime Team (Comprised in this case of Astoria Police Department, Oregon State Police, Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office, Seaside Police Department, Cannon Beach Police Department, Clatsop County District Attorney's office, and the Clatsop County District Medical Examiner) was assisted in the search of the residence by the Oregon State Police Crime Lab.
People with information about Russell or his death should contact Detective Sergeant Eric Halverson at (503) 325-4411 or ehalverson@astoria.or.us.

Oregon Cultural Trust seeks to exceed last year's total -- Give by Dec. 31!

Oregon Cultural Trust is seeking the public's help in meeting or exceeding the $4.2 million donated last year.

Tax credits are available for donations -  up to $500 for an individual, $1,000 for a couple, $2,500 for a corporationa 

The trust has an online quiz that helps people test their Oregon cultural IQ.

There is still time to support culture AND qualify for a 2014 tax credit. Anyone who has made a gift to one of 1400 qualifying cultural nonprofits qualifies for a 100 percent tax credit* if they give a matching gift to the Oregon Cultural Trust by Dec. 31.

CLATSOP COUNTY COMMISSIONER ACCUSED OF ACTIONS OUTSIDE SCOPE OF AUTHORITY

    A copy of a letter accusing Clatsop County Commissioner Dirk Rohne of improper behavior was distributed from Clatsop County to local media outlets Wednesday morning.     The letter, dated December 18th, was sent by Commission Chair Scott Lee to Rohne, his fellow commissioners and commissioners-elect.  In it, Lee said Rohne had acted outside of the scope of his authority by contacting labor law attorney Akin Blitz with concerns about the behavior of the county manager and another county employee toward subordinates.  Lee said Rohne’s actions “violated open meetings law and subjected yourself and other commissioners to liability”

    Commissioner Rohne responded to Coast Community Radio this morning, saying that in effect, Chairman Lee did what he was accusing Rohne of doing, by contacting county staff or an attorney.   Rohne said  “I think an attorney wrote the letter, and he (Lee) signed it, without consulting the board”.  
    The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners met in executive session on Tuesday.   Rohne was not present.  The next Clatsop Board of Commissioners meeting is scheduled for January 14th.     

SEASIDE POLICE SEEK ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE DEATH OF TWO YEAR OLD EVANGELINA WING

Seaside Police Chief David Ham announced Wednesday morning that the Clatsop County District Attorney's Office had filed an Information accusing Randy Lee Roden, 26, of Seaside of Aggravated Murder in the death of 2-year-old Evangelina Wing.

An autopsy performed on Sunday December 21st determined Evangelina to be the victim of a homicide and that the cause of death was blunt force trauma. Other injuries were noted, but not determined to be the cause of death.

He will be arraignedat 11:30 a.m. on December 24th in Clatsop County Circuit Court and the case will likely be set for arraignment if the grand jury returns an indictment next week. Roden has been held on an un-related post-prison detainer since Saturday.

Wing's body was discovered by Seaside emergency personnel responding to a residence at 1250 s. Wahanna Road, Seaside after the local 911 center received a callat 5:24 a.m. Saturday morning.

Emergency personnel arrived and determined Evangelina was dead, Seaside Police arrived simultaneously and called in child protection workers from the state Department of Human Services, who placed two other children, boys aged 2 and 5 in protective custody. Both children were determined to have suffered an undetermined number of injuries and are being treated at Portland-area hospitals. The children's mother, Dorothy Wing, has spoken to police but has not been charged with a crime at this point. Roden was living with her at the time of her daughter's death.