Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 22, 2015)
NORTH COAST THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015 3A Saving lives is top priority should bridges collapse Tsunami threat prompts bridge replacement By DANI PALMER EO Media Group CANNON BEACH — Bent over maps during a work session last week, Cannon Beach Emergency Prepared- ness Committee members and Public Works Director Dan Grassick considered the best options for a safe crossing at the north end of town in case of an earthquake and tsunami. Because of the likelihood of a bridge collapse over Eco- la Creek, the city’s evacuation map guides residents and vis- itors south, toward midtown. This is a longer route that could eat up valuable time, committee Vice-Chairman Les Wierson said. OBEC Consulting En- gineers conducted a bridge study in 2011, warning the Fir Street bridge at Ecola Creek is “vulnerable to failure” even in a “relatively small earth- quake” because of its age and construction. “Saving lives is my top priority,” committee Chair- woman Karolyn Adamson said. least 10-feet wide with 1,000 people crossing it. Potential bond measure Different options The group studied options WRUHSODFLQJWKHWUDI¿FEULGJH or building a pedestrian bridge in the same location or elsewhere. Whatever the commit- tee decides, Grassick said, 75-foot-deep pilings would likely be needed because of sand liquefaction during a quake. The committee focused on the most affordable pedestri- an alternatives, particularly a bridge over Ecola Creek near NeCus’ Park. The plan calls for two separate bridges to meet on a small island in the creek, providing solid ground to build on. A second option at that loca- tion would require more cost- O\ SHUPLWV WR ÀRDW HTXLSPHQW down the creek, Grassick said. Submitted Photo/Cannon Beach History Center A bridge went out during the 1964 tsunami. Officials fear an earthquake or tsunami could wreak havoc with the city’s current system. The third pedestrian option would lead people up Second Street before hitting a yet-to- be-built trail connecting to U.S. Highway 101. According to the 2011 study, replacement of the ex- isting bridge would cost $4.8 million, while a 6-foot-wide pedestrian bridge could cost up to $1.6 million. If Cannon Beach does go with a pedestrian bridge, Grassick said, options are suspension or truss bridge construction. The latter would more likely survive, he added, as cables can break with sus- Coast Guard helps grounded vessel The Daily Astorian TOKELAND, Wash. — U.S. Coast Guard crews aided two mariners aboard a 41-foot sailing vessel that ran aground Wednesday morning at the entrance to Willapa Bay near Tokeland, Washington. The vessel reportedly ex- perienced electrical issues and lost its GPS and radar while sailing up the coast from Coos Bay. 6HFWRU &ROXPELD 5LYHU watchstanders received a dis- tress call around 6:07 a.m. Wednesday from the owner of WKHVDLOLQJYHVVHO5RQDQDIWHU it had gone aground near the Willapa Bay entrance. An MH-60 Jayhawk he- licopter from Air Station Astoria and a 47-foot motor lifeboat from Station Grays Harbor, Washington, launched in response. Photo courtesy of Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Goodman Petty Officer 1st Class Bradford Simmons, left, an aviation survival technical from Coast Guard Air Station Astoria, escorted two mariners to shore from their vessel after it grounded near the entrance to Willapa Bay in Washington state Wednesday. The aircrew was unable to hoist the two people on board because of the vessel’s position and unpredictable motions. A rescue swimmer was lowered onto the nearby beach, where he escorted the two mariners from the vessel to the shore. “As unstable conditions grew, the crew of the sailing vessel had the proper surviv- al suits and life jackets to don when it came time to abandon ship,” said Senior Chief Petty 2I¿FHU -RVHSK 'DOLGD FRP- PDQG GXW\ RI¿FHU DW 6HFWRU &ROXPELD 5LYHU LQ D &RDVW Guard release Wednesday. “The last place you want to be ZKHQ \RX ¿QG RXW \RX GRQ¶W have the proper safety equip- ment is in an emergency.” The Coast Guard is con- sulting with the owner to determine the best course of action regarding the ground- HG YHVVHO 3HWW\ 2I¿FHU UG Class Amanda Norcross said WKH RZQHU ZLOO WU\ WR ÀRDW the boat at the next high tide, around 9 p.m. today. If unable, she said, the Coast Guard will have the fuel re- moved from the vessel, as there is inclement weather approaching. &RDVW*XDUGVHDUFKHVIRURYHUGXH¿VKHUPDQ An MH-60 Jayhawk crew ¿VKLQJ IRU DOEDFRUH DERXW The Coast Guard asks any- from Astoria is also searching. miles northwest of Grays Har- one with information to call The U.S. Coast Guard is A Navy Lockheed P-3 bor, Washington, Oct. 15. 503-861-6211. ORRNLQJ IRU D ¿VKHUPDQ DIWHU Orion from Naval Air Station receiving a report from his Whidbey Island, Washing- Astor Street Opry Company wife Wednesday saying he ton, found a vessel matching presents was overdue from a weeklong the description 182 miles ¿VKLQJWULSRIIRI:DVKLQJWRQ offshore of Tillamook Head state. Wednesday while conducting The Coast Guard diverted radar searches. the cutter Wahoo, an 87-foot 3HWW\ 2I¿FHU UG &ODVV coastal patrol boat homeport- Amanda Norcross said ed in Port Angeles, Washing- Thursday morning the Alert ton, and the cutter Alert from was still en route to the last Astoria to search for his 59- known location of the vessel. IRRW YHVVHO WKH 3DFL¿F 5LP 7KH ¿VKHUPDQ ZDV ODVW VHHQ The Daily Astorian BY S AM S H EP A R D D IREC T ED BY M ARK U S B RO W N O cto b er 23 rd 1 PM o r 6 PM CON CEAL CONCEAL CARRY CARRY PERM IT PERMIT CLASS CLASS Oregon – O rego n 34 - U States tah Utah - Valid Valid 35 States Drawing board The Daily Astorian Residents offered the city feedback Wednesday on the potential redevelopment of Heritage Square at a daylong open house at the Fort George Brewery and Public House’s Lovell Showroom. The displays included three concept de- sign options for a mixed-use project with a new library and worforce housing. City staff also heard concerns about the existing library on 10th Street. “I think there’s some com- monality,” Kevin Cronin, the city’s community development director, said. “We don’t want any more vacant buildings in downtown. So if we move the library, we need to keep that old library building activated, somehow.” W A NTED Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber N orth w es t H a rdw oods • Lon gview , W A Contact: Steve Axtell • 360-430-0885 or John Anderson • 360-269-2500 Now thru October 31st Schedule a M anicure & Pedicure Get $20 OFF ! $85 value priced at $65 h Schedule a Pedi cure Get $10 OFF ! $50 value priced at $40 Published with permission from Samuel French Publishing House O C T O BER 9-24 F R ID AY S & S AT UR D AY S 7P M (d oors op en 6:30p m ) 1370 Commercial Street, Astoria Call Jeanne at 503-791-8373 or 503-325-7671 O ne Sunday m atinee at 2p m on O c t. 1 8 (doors op en 1 :30p m ) Best W estern : 5 5 5 Ha m b urg Ave, Asto ria O OR/Utah–valid R/U ta h— va lid in in WA W A $80 $80 or o r Oregon O reg o n only o n ly $4 5 $45 | Firea rm Tra in in gN W @ gm a il.com w w shauncurtain.com w .Firea rm Tra in in gN W .com ~ shauncurtain@gmail.com 36 0-921-2071 360-921-2071 YOU’RE INVITED In a world with so many questions, only one matters: DO YOU BELIEVE? This is the most important question of your life. Tickets $8-$15 | Online at AstorStreetOpryCompany.com or by calling 503-325-6104 129 W BOND ST (behind the Chamber of Commerce) UNIONTOWN ASTORIA THANK YOU SO MUCH! Assistance League of the Columbia Pacific ® recently completed their 8 th Annual Home and Chef Tour major fundraiser and it was a huge success. We would like to thank again, everyone who made this event possible. Event sponsor: ASSISTA N CE L E AGUE CP .O R G This Friday night, we invite you to the movies presentation of Do You Believe? This movie will challenge you to examine what you know to be true. 725 Niagara Avenue Astoria, Oregon 503-325-4477 pension bridges. Wierson suggested taking a closer look at Washington County’s bridge standards, because they are designed to withstand earthquakes. “The structural aspect is big,” Grassick said. He added the bridge would need to be at An Oregon State Universi- ty engineering professor made computer models of potential evacuation routes in the city in 2011, estimating at least 1,080 people would head toward the bridge on a typical summer day after an earthquake. Grassick said there are a number of ways to fund the bridge, including grants such as a predisaster mitigation grant, sharing costs with the Federal Emergency Manage- ment Agency and a Connect Oregon grant. Committee members agreed they would seek a bond measure if grants don’t provide the money needed. “To do this project, to get a ¿QDOGHVLJQDQLQGHSWKJHR- tech study needs to be done,” Grassick added. The committee will have to go through the City Coun- cil before taking any further steps. The topic could be re- viewed this month. Friday night, 7:00 pm at the Hilltop Church (A Church of the Nazarene) Home owners: Mary Kinney Estate, Pope Home, Inman Home, House Home, Bergerson Home, and Special Event at Brim’s Farm & Garden Home sponsors: Providence Seaside Hospital, Folk/Kaiser, Dr. and Mrs. Miller, Columbia Bar Pilots, Columbia Bank, and Bigby Tree Service Restaurants: Fulio’s, Baked Alaska, Astoria Coffeehouse & Bistro, Blue Scorcher, Drake Radditz Guide Service, and Beach Burrito Florists: Bloomin Crazy Floral, Astoria Safeway Floral Dept and Erikson Floral Program, Posters and Tickets: Buckelew Graphic Communications. Photographs: Sarah von Colditz A special thank you to all of the ALCP volunteers for the support they have given to make this event happen. We do it for the children and so do all of you!
