8
area news
july13
2010
Two Die After Car Chase
By April Bamburg
Two men died in a high speed
chase over the Fourth of July holiday.
Authorities say that the driver, 33-year-
old Brooks Jay Anderson, crashed
after attempting to navigate around
spike strips placed on the roadway. The
crash occurred on Scappoose-Vernonia
Highway, approximately three miles
from the Nehalem River Highway.
On June 4, at approximately 9
p.m., Deputy Ryan Dews observed a
reportedly stolen 1989 Nissan 240SX near
Brinn and Pittsburg Roads in St. Helens.
A vehicle matching that description had
reportedly eluded Scappoose Police on
July 3. As Dews attempted to overtake
the vehicle, speeds reached as high as
80 miles per hour. The chase began at
Sykes and West Kappler Roads, in St.
Helens, and continued on Cater Road,
before moving to Scappoose-Vernonia
Highway. The chase lasted 15 minutes,
traveling 16 miles,
The press release states that
the driver, now identified as Brooks
Jay Anderson, 33, of St. Helens threw
debris from the driver side window to
create obstacles for the pursuing deputy,
including the anti-theft device known
as “The Club,” large fencing staples, a
gasoline can and a pair of pants.
Two officers from the Vernonia
Police Department joined the chase,
using spike strips in an attempt to deflate
one or more of the tires on the Nissan
240SX. As Anderson attempted to avoid
the spike strip, laid by Vernonia officer
Shawn Carnahan, the driver lost control
of the vehicle and it left the roadway
before bursting into flames.
Carnahan and Vernonia Sergeant
Mike Conner were able to pull the
passenger, identified as Robert J. Regan,
37, from the burning vehicle, but were not
able to get to Anderson to pull him out.
Regan was transported via Life Flight to
a Portland area hospital, where he died
from his injuries on July 7, 2010. Police
say he lived at an unknown Columbia
County address, but had previously lived
in Terre Haute, Ind.
Columbia County Sheriff Jeff
Dickerson has said that Dews maintained
a safe following distance behind the
eluding vehicle his actions “were within
policy and under proper authority
pursuing a stolen vehicle on county
roadways.” Dews was hired in a full-time
capacity in Nov. 2009, after several years
as a reserve deputy.
It took several days for authorities
to release the name of the driver, as the
Oregon State Medical Examiner had to
resort to dental records for a positive
identification. Police then notified his
next of kin.
At the request of the Columbia
County Sheriff’s Office, the Oregon
State Police led the investigation into this
incident. An OSP crash reconstructionist
assisted in the investigation.
Series Of Women’s Self-
Defense Classes This Summer
The Columbia County Sheriff’s
Office is pleased to offer a women’s self-
defense class to the public every other
Saturday in July and August this summer.
The classes will be held in the Sheriff’s
Office Training/Conference Room at 901
Port Avenue, in St. Helens. The classes
will begin at 9:00 AM and will conclude
at approximately 3:00 PM
The class will be offered free
of charge to Columbia County residents
and a light lunch will be provided at
no charge. Classes are offered on the
following Saturday dates this summer:
July 17, July 31, August 14 and August
28. Although the classes are free, a
sign-up process is involved. Class
space is limited, so early registration is
encouraged.
The course will be taught by
certified defensive tactics instructors
who received their certification through
the Oregon Department of Public Safety
Standards and Training (DPSST) and
American Council on Criminal Justice
Training (ACCJT). The course is
designed to teach participants skills to
protect themselves in situations that
could result in serious assault or death.
The course will be taught in “hands on”
format. Topics will include personal
safety strategies for the workplace and
travel.
All participants are asked to
bring a bottle of water and to wear
comfortable clothing, socks and tennis
shoes. Participants under the age of 18
are required to have a parent present and
sign a release form in order to participate
in the class. If you plan to send your
child with another adult, please contact
the Sheriff’s Office prior to the class
to ensure the accommodation can be
made. Due to the mature nature of the
information presented, this class is not
appropriate for children 15 years and
younger.
Class space is limited and
individuals interested in participating
must pre-register to attend. Registration
forms are available at the Columbia
County Sheriff’s Office or by going on
line to the sheriff’s web pages at www.
co.columbia.or.us/sheriff. Questions can
also be directed to Timmi Sue at the
Sheriff’s Office at (503) 366-4651.
County Announces Furlough Days
Due to the County’s
budget situation, the County Board
of Commissioners has approved the
implementation of four unpaid furlough
days for County employees with two
exceptions; employees in the Sheriff’s
Office and the Roads/Parks Department
will not be included in the furlough plan
approved at the Wednesday, June 23,
2010, Commission meeting.
This action, along with several
other staff related measures, will save
approximately $125,000 and is just
one of the steps being taken by the
Commissioner’s to balance the coming
year County budget. The furlough days
are effective beginning July 1, 2010
through June 30, 2011.
The designated furlough days
that were approved by the Commission
are:
Friday, July 2, 2010;
Friday, August 20, 2010;
Friday, November 12, 2010;
Thursday, December 23, 2010.
Residents should note that they
will not be able to conduct County
business on the above specified furlough
days, however, State Court Offices will
remain open and operating on those
days from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
County Land Development
Services Office Closed On Fridays
Beginning Friday, July 9, 2010,
the County Land Development Services
office in St. Helens will be closed
on Fridays. The Friday closures are
necessary due to another round of staff
cuts in the Land Development Services
Department.
“Planning
and
Building
Program staff have been reduced to
levels that are inadequate to maintain
the current public counter hours of
Monday through Friday and to complete
necessary development review activity
in a timely fashion. Staff cuts have
resulted from continuing low levels
of permit activity and related permit
revenue which is the primary source
of funding for the Land Development
Services Department”, said Todd
Dugdale, Land Development Services
Director.
“Columbia County, like many
other Oregon cities and counties, is
having to cut both staff and service
hours in response to the impact of the
economic recession on development
activity. However, we will continue
do our best to provide quality and
responsive services to our customers
within the limitations imposed by
budget and staff cuts,” said Director
Dugdale.
The
Land
Development
Services offices will continue to be
open from 8:30 AM to 12 Noon and
1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Monday through
Thursday excepting Holidays and
the staff furlough days scheduled for
Thursday, July 2, 2010, and Thursday,
December 23, 2010.
The Friday closure will not
affect building and on-site wastewater
system inspections. County Building
and On-Site Program inspectors will
continue to perform inspections on
Fridays, even though the main office is
closed.
Building and on-site wastewater
system inspections will also continue to
be received on the County inspection
phone line Monday through Friday and
every effort will be made to perform
these inspections within 24 hours of any
request on a Monday through Friday
schedule.
Residents should note that
Land Development Services will not be
accepting planning, building, and on-
site wastewater applications on Fridays
nor will County planning, building,
solid waste, and code enforcement staff
be available in the office or by phone
during the Friday office closures.
For any questions regarding
the Friday closure, please contact Land
Development Services Director, Todd
Dugdale at 503-397-7207.
A new Nicotine Anonymous, will
be starting on Thursday at 5:30 PM -
6:30 PM at the St. Helens Alano Club
at 215 N. 6th in St. Helens, Oregon.
The meetings started on June 17th
2010. The only requirement for
this meeting is a desire to stop using
nicotine products. Any Questions,
please call Dick at 503-397-6268, or
Cell 503-396-2889.
Nicotine Anonymous
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