SEASIDE TO TEST TSUNAMI WARNING SYSTEM

The City of Seaside will be testing its Tsunami Warning System on Wednesday, October 5th, beginning at 11:00 a.m. This test will be to monitor and assess the notification system and will not be used as a public information trial alert. The warning will begin with three beeps and consist of a voice message stating, "This is a test. This is a test of the emergency warning system. This is only a test." The message will be broadcast in English and Spanish.

2011 OREGON RECREATION TRAILS GRANTS APPLICATION CYCLE OPENS

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is opening the 2012 Recreational Trails Grant (RTP) cycle. The grant program helps fund trail projects, including new trail construction, trail restoration, development, rehabilitation of trailhead facilities, and acquisition.

The mandatory letter of intent to apply is due October 28, 2011. The letters must be sent to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department at

OPRD: RTP
725 Summer Street NE, Suite C
Salem, OR 97301.

Non-profit organizations as well as government agencies are invited to apply. The grant applications will be due January 13, 2012.

OPRD has scheduled two workshop webinars to assist potential applicants in understanding the grant program, the application process, and to answer questions. The webinars will be held:

9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 22, 2011
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 29, 2011

The grant manual, application, workshop information and program schedule are available online at: http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/GRANTS/trails.shtml

To register and receive login information for a workshop webinar please contact Mark Cowan at 503-986-0591 or mark.cowan@state.or.us.

photo courtesy: NW Trails Alliance

CRITICAL INJURY TRAFFIC CRASH - HIGHWAY 26 EAST OF ELSIE

Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers are continuing the investigation into Monday afternoon's single vehicle critical injury traffic crash along Highway 26 about eight miles east of Elsie. The crash injured one person and his name will be released Tuesday.

According to Trooper Dennis Thomas, on October 3, 2011 at approximately 2:00 p.m. a passing motorist called to report observing a vehicle drive off the westbound shoulder of Highway 26 near milepost 27. The two-door car traveled about ten feet down embankment where it came to a stop with the driver trapped inside. An off-duty paramedic arrived on scene about five minutes later, stopped and began rendering medical aid.

OSP troopers, Elsie Fire Department and ODOT personnel responded to the scene. Firefighters extricated the 18-year old Vancouver male from the vehicle and he was transported by ground ambulance to the rest area at milepost 28. LifeFlight responded and transported the critically injured male to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland.

Preliminary investigation indicates the vehicle was westbound on Highway 26. For an unknown reason, it traveled off the highway crashing into a tree.

Highway traffic was partially affected for about two hours.

OSP troopers from the Astoria Area Command office are continuing the investigation into the cause.

Photograph Source: Oregon State Police

This weekend, a camp for grownups who live to sing......

Sunnycamp, a camp for people who like to sing all genres of songs, will be the weekend of October 7, 8 & 9, at Camp Morehead in Nahcotta, 277th and Sandridge Way on the Long Beach Peninsula.

Wayne Palsson will lead a workshop on Maritime Songs. Another possible workshop topic is ‘Songs of the Northwest’.

Sunnycamp is very inexpensive, only $55 for the entire weekend, which includes food, lodging, and admission. There are reduced rates for those who come in for the day, or want to stay in the motel next door instead of Camp Morehead's cabins.

For more information, see this year's website, or contact Mary Garvey at 360-642-8049

First Razor Clam Digs scheduled for late October

The first razor clam dig of the season is tentatively scheduled to begin in late October on four ocean beaches, with additional digs planned through late December.

Final approval of the openings will depend on results of marine toxin tests that show the clams are safe to eat.

The first opening of the fall season is tentatively scheduled Oct. 28-29 on evening tides at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks.

Most other digging opportunities through December are set at Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks, because those beaches have the highest number of clams available for harvest.

No digging will be allowed before noon on any of the five razor-clam beaches until the tides change next spring.



The schedule of proposed razor-clam digs, along with evening low tides:

• Oct. 28, Friday — 8:28 p.m. (-1.8 ft.); Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

• Oct. 29, Saturday — 9:17 p.m. (-1.5 ft.); Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

• Nov. 11, Friday — 6:48 p.m. (-0.4 ft.); Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Nov. 12, Saturday — 7:23 p.m. (-0.4 ft.); Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Nov. 25, Friday — 6:27 p.m. (-1.9 ft.); Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

• Nov. 26, Saturday — 7:14 p.m. (-1.8 ft.); Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Dec. 10, Saturday — 6:30 p.m. (-0.5 ft.); Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Dec. 22, Thursday — 4:40 p.m. (-0.9 ft.); Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Dec. 23, Friday — 5:29 p.m. (-1.4); Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

CLATSOP COUNTY APPLICANTS SOUGHT FOR AMBULANCE SERVICE AREA ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Clatsop County is seeking applicants for open seats on the Ambulance Service Area Advisory Committee.

The committee provides input to the county Board of Commissioners on the ambulance service plan and ambulance service franchisee. The committee will review the service plan as part of mandated update of the document and recommend possible changes to the board.

The openings are for members who have no association with the emergency medical system. The county board of commissioners will make the appointments.

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 “Committee application forms” under “Administration/Board of Commissioners.”

PIKEMINNOW SEASON EXTENDED

Anglers participating in the pikeminnow sport-reward fishery program get 16 more days of fishing.

The pikeminnow season was slated to end Sept. 30 but will now stay open until Sunday, Oct. 16.

The program pays registered anglers $4 to $8 per fish, nine inches or longer. The more fish an angler catches, the more each pikeminnow they hook is worth. Last year the top fisherman in the program earned more than $80,000 in just five-months of fishing.

Northern pikeminnow are voracious eaters, consuming millions of young salmon and steelhead each year. Research shows reducing pikeminnow numbers helps to increase salmon and steelhead populations.

Since 1990, anglers paid through the program, have removed nearly 4 million pikeminnow from the Columbia and Snake Rivers reducing predation on young salmon and steelhead by 40 percent.

The program is administered by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission and is funded by the Bonneville Power Administration.

For more information about the program call 800-858-9015 or visit http://www.pikeminnow.org/