BENEFIT FOR HIPFISH MAGAZINE - "HIP AID"

COLUMBIAN THEATER. Sunday, January 23. 4pm to 8pm. A pull-out-all-the-stops music and performance marathon event hosted by Fisher Poet Dave Densmore and Songstress/Activist Alexa Wiley, featuring performances by Michael Hurley, The Swaggers, Ma Barley, Radio Cowboy (Heather Christie), and many more.

VOODOO LOUNGE. (21 and Over) Opens at 5pm with music by Denise Drake and an Open Mic 6pm – 9pm, hosted by KMUN’s Cocktail Nation, Nacho Biz. The Open Mic will be sign-up on site.

The box office of the Columbian Theater will open at 3:30pm the day of the show for wristband purchases. There is a sliding scale admission of $10 - $20.
For more info: www.helphipfish.com

SILENT ART AUCTION. Artists of the Columbia Pacific Region donated art will be on display in galleries Saturday, January 15 – Saturday, January 22. Participating galleries include: RiverSea Gallery, Light Box Photographic Gallery, Lunar Boy Gallery, Old Town Framing Co., and Dots & Doodles. Auction winners will be announced the 23rd. Artists can deliver work before Jan 14 to RiverSea Gallery. Please check www.helphipfish.com for a list of artists. Contact RiverSea for more info: 503.325.1270 or email riverseadirector@hotmail.com

Traffic change ahead on Wilson River Highway

Drivers will soon notice a helpful traffic change at the Devils Lake Fork Bridge on Oregon 6 at milepost 32 in eastern Tillamook County.
Beginning the week of Jan. 17, ODOT’s contractor will reopen the bridge to two-way traffic at night and on weekends. Drivers will still need to watch out for flaggers and alternating one-way traffic on weekdays through February.
Keeping traffic moving during construction is important to ODOT. Because this bridge is subject to snowy and icy winter conditions, ODOT is giving it priority to plow, sand, and deice the highway when needed. Construction crews are well equipped in this isolated area to connect with Emergency Services if necessary.
“We are also coordinating this project with other coastal corridor highway work to ensure that travelers will always have access to and from the coast,” said ODOT spokesman Lou Torres.

STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAM BEGINS JAN. 19 IN ASTORIA

What: Strengthening Families Program 10-14

When: January 19-March 2, 5:30-8:00 p.m.

Where: Astoria Middle School, Astoria



Parents and youth, want a fun way to meet new friends while the weather is rainy? Join the Strengthening Families Program.

Parents, you will learn new ideas on how to work through stressful situations that come up for middle school-aged youth. Youth, this is a chance to make new friends, talk about issues at school and work on ways to handle stressful everyday situations like peer pressure.

The Strengthening Families Program for youth ages 10-14 and their parents/caregivers is a great way to make sure everyone is on track for a successful school year. A delicious dinner and childcare for younger siblings will be provided.

Classes start Wednesday, January 19, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. and will run until March 2. The cost is free. To register and for more information please contact, Julie Soderberg at (503) 325-8673 or Ms. Carson at Astoria Middle School (503) 325-4331.

Boil-water order and system work on water lines east of Astoria

The Burnside, Fernhill, John Day, Olney-Walluski, and Willowdale (which includes Riverpoint) water systems have issued notices of a water shutoff and boil water order effective at 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 due to some scheduled work on their water supply line. Approximately 600 rural residences and businesses along Highway 30 east from the Astoria city limits to the Bear Creek Bridge and along Highway 202 from the Fairgrounds to the Klaskanine Fish Hatchery and including Walluski Loop will be affected. Customers within the City limits who pay their bill directly to the City of Astoria will not be affected.

Water is anticipated to be turned back on at 5:00 a.m. on January 12, 2011, however it may be several hours longer before water service is fully restored. The City will be sending water samples to a State-certified water testing laboratory to confirm complete disinfection and the five outlying water systems will be doing the same. Due to the length of time that water quality laboratories require to process and analyze the samples, Gary McLauchlin, Astoria’s Water Quality Supervisor estimated the earliest the boil water order would be lifted would be noon, Friday, January 14. Affected customers will be informed when the tests show no bacteria and they no longer need to boil their water. Customers who are in the affected area and have questions regarding the shutdown and boil water order are urged to direct them to their water supplier. Questions can also be directed to Astoria Public Works Operations at (503) 325-3524.

Jaime Herrera Beutler’s office opens for business Thursday in Vancouver

Southwest Washington Congresswoman-elect Jaime Herrera Beutler’s office in Vancouver, Washington will open tomorrow (Thursday). Beutler will be sworn into office today. Beutler's district office in Vancouver will be run by Shari Hildreth, who previously worked as deputy director to former Republican Senator Slade Gorton and Ryan Hart, former chairman of the Clark County Republican Party.
The office, previously occupied by Brian Baird, is located at O.O. Howard House, 750 Anderson Street, Suite B, Vancouver. The phone number is 360-695-6292. In Washington DC, the office number is 202-225-3536, the same as former Congressman Baird's.

REWARD OFFERED TO HELP SOLVE ELK POACHING INCIDENT NEAR NEHALEM

Oregon State Police (OSP) Fish & Wildlife Division troopers are asking for the public's help for information to identify the suspects responsible for an unlawful taking and waste of a three x three bull elk in late November near Nehalem. This branched bull was unlawfully taken during the 2nd Coast Rifle Spike Elk Season. A $1,000 reward is offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case.

According to Trooper Clint Galusha, on November 22, 2010 OSP Fish & Wildlife troopers investigated a three x three bull elk left to waste off of Lost Creek Road near Nehalem. Troopers were not able to salvage the meat from the branched bull elk left at the bottom of a clear cut. Galusha believes the suspects are four Hispanic male adults associated with a dark blue full-sized Hummer and a newer model gray or silver Ford three-quarter ton crew cab pickup. Both vehicles are believed to be from the Portland area.

OSP urges anyone with information concerning this poaching incident to call the OSP Turn in Poacher (TIP) line at 1-800-452-7888, or Trooper Galusha at (503) 815-3314.

The Oregon Hunter's Association in is offering a $1,000.00 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for this crime.

Photograph Source: Oregon State Police

HWY 26 TUNNEL PROJECTS BEGINS THIS MONTH; NIGHTLY CLOSURES PLANNED

The Oregon Department of Transportation’s improvement project on the Dennis Edwards Tunnel on U.S. Highway 26, which includes nighttime tunnel closures, begins this month.

ODOT plans to install new lining, improve drainage and replace lighting on the tunnel, located west of the Oregon Highway 47/Vernonia junction. A bicycle warning system to improve cyclist safety will also be fitted. General contractor on the project is Johnson Western Gunnite Company.

To accommodate the work, the highway will be closed at the tunnel from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Thursday nights and from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday nights. The roadway will be open every day during daytime, as well as nights during weekends, holidays, and Oregon Spring Break. The closures are expected to take place for 12 weeks.

A signed detour route has been identified on Highway 47 and Timber Road. The detour adds approximately 15 miles and 25 extra minutes of travel time for Highway 26 motorists. ODOT will maintain the entire detour route, including plowing during periods of snow.

Full nighttime closures are scheduled to end prior to the Memorial Day weekend, May 28. The entire project is due to be completed by summer.

ODOT is hosting two open houses on the project to provide information and introduce the contractor and project manager:

· Wednesday, Jan. 12, 4:30-6:30 p.m. ? Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce, 207 N. Spruce St., Cannon Beach

· Thursday, Jan. 13, 4:30-6:30 p.m. ? Banks Christian Academy, 22785 NW Fisher Rd., Buxton

To get the latest information on the project, go to the project website, www.DennisEdwardsTunnel.org, or call the ODOT highway information hotline at 5-1-1.