12A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016
Alert: System would function like an Amber Alert
Seismic 1etwork ² operated
by the University of Oregon
and University of Washington
² received 670,000 in state
funding to purchase high-qual-
ity sensors.
“We are heading in the
right direction,” Toomey
said. “There is good tracking
at the local, state and federal
level. At the same time, we
are only halfway there.”
Continued from Page 1A
At times, the sensor stations
misplace an earthquake, mis-
calculate the shaking effect or
simply miss an event.
The fully funded system
would function like an Amber
Alert, the noti¿cation system
that uses radio, television, road
signs and wireless technol-
ogy to broadcast information
regarding serious child abduc-
tions to the public. The sys-
tem would send alerts to stop
trains, shut down factories and
get emergency vehicles out of
garages.
“We have a lot of smart
scientists. They are trying to
optimize (the system) to min-
imize mistakes and maximize
speed,” Given said.
Offshore sensors
History of early
warning
Earthquake early warn-
ing systems have been used
around the world for decades.
In the 1960s, Japan began
testing a system for its bul-
let train. 0exico built its ¿rst
public system in the 1980s.
The 8nited 6tates ¿rst started
investing in 2006.
“Early warning has been
around internationally for
quite some time,” Given said.
There are no plans for early
warning systems on the East
Coast. According to the Fed-
eral Emergency Management
Agency, the West Coast has a
77 percent risk of earthquakes,
much higher than the East
Coast.
Between the San Andreas
U.S. Geological Survey/Department of the Interior
Crews work to install the earthquake sensing equipment in California.
Fault and the Cascadia Sub-
duction Zone, Given said, the
focus is on the three states
along the West Coast.
Pilot projects
As the early warning sys-
tem is being developed, the
Geological Survey and four
universities are research-
ing other pilot projects at the
local and state levels.
Doug Toomey, profes-
sor of geophysics at the Uni-
versity of Oregon, said he
is working with the Eugene
Water & Electric Board, Ore-
gon’s largest customer-owned
utility service, to install sen-
sors on its watershed. Toomey
is also forming a partnership
with the state Department of
Transportation to put warning
lights on bridges.
“We are trying to get the
federal funding, but also
approaching local municipal-
ities and the state of Oregon,
as well,” Toomey said. “We
have had great support from
the state.”
The 3aci¿c 1orthwest
While the immediate
focus is on launching the
early warning system along
the West Coast, scientists are
looking ahead at what other
technology could be possible.
The early warning system
is being built onshore. Sci-
entists would like to see off-
shore sensor stations, but the
cost and technical support is
too high.
Offshore sensors are a
goal, Toomey said, especially
with the Cascadia Subduction
Zone that threatens to cause
a magnitude 9 earthquake in
the 3aci¿c 1orthwest.
If the Cascadia event is
a threatening as believed,
Toomey said, it would be wise
to invest in the research. Off-
shore sensors put scientists
closer to the threat, he said.
“If you have a threat, and
you don’t know the magni-
tude of it, that makes it more
dif¿cult to plan for,” Toomey
said. “We would have to go
out and spend billions; but
if we better learn the sys-
tem, we are using the public
money more wisely.”
Judge: McIntosh has raised more than 11,000 for her campaign
Continued from Page 1A
“She is smart, she is analyt-
ical, and she knows the law,”
Brownhill said in an email.
“We should take advantage
of this opportunity to elect a
skilled lawyer who can hit the
ground running.”
Brownhill, who took over
from 1elson as presiding judge
this year, said it has become
increasingly dif¿cult to attract
highly quali¿ed judicial candi-
dates since Oregon judges often
earn less than the lawyers who
appear before them. McIntosh
is pursuing the judgeship even
though it means a pay cut, she
said.
Judge 1elson is regarded
as one of the hardest-work-
ing judges in Ore-
than 6,400 in cash
gon, Brownhill said,
contributions.
since he is always
Some of McIn-
willing to do extra
tosh’s largest con-
work so cases are
tributors
include
heard on time and
Blair
Hennings-
people can get into
gaard, the Asto-
court to resolve their
ria city attorney and
disputes.
Brownhill’s
hus-
“Ms. McIntosh
band, who gave
has a similar work
1,000; the law
David
ethic,” Brownhill
of¿ce of .ristopher
Goldthorpe
said. “This is espe-
.aino, a defense
cially important in Clatsop Cir- attorney and Astoria Municipal
cuit Court, a very busy three- Court judge, which contributed
judge court.”
1,000; the law of¿ce of Joe
DiBartolomeo, which donated
Campaign contributions 1,000; and Mary Ann Murk,
McIntosh has raised more a defense attorney who gave
than 11,000 for her cam- 500.
Goldthorpe has collected
paign, state campaign-¿nance
records show, including more more than ,000 for his cam-
Gardner: Fire¿ghter led
effort to get a brush truck
Continued from Page 1A
“In my short time here,
Matt was absolutely criti-
cal to making my transition
easy,” interim Fire Chief Jim
Stearns said.
Other than the chief,
Gardner was the depart-
ment’s only paid, full-time
staff member.
“The department is very
supportive of Matt and we
wish him the absolute best
in his future effort,” Stearns
said. “He left on very good
terms. We would welcome
him back.”
Stearns said Gardner was
knowledgeable and familiar
with the district, personnel,
policies and procedures. “He
was my resource, my go-to
guy for everything.” Stea-
rns said. “He will truly be
missed.”
After starting as a volun-
teer, Gardner became a train-
ing of¿cer in 2010, providing
training for ¿re¿ghters, com-
munity emergency response
ELECTION TODAY
Gardner’s departure came just prior to a vote to oust three
directors of the Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District
Board, Sharon Clyde, Garry Smith and Linda Beck-Sweeney.
Ballots must be submitted by 8 p.m. at any Clatsop County
Elections site.
If Clyde, Smith and Beck-Sweeney prevail in the recall
election, they will retain their positions as directors.
Should the vote call for a recall, the remaining board mem-
bers would appoint new directors.
and surf rescue teams.
Gardner spearheaded a
2014 effort to obtain a brush
truck so the Cannon Beach
Rural Fire Protection District
could ¿ght wild¿res more
effectively.
In 2014, Gardner and
Police Chief Jason Schermer-
horn were ¿rst at the hotel
crime scene where a toddler
lay dead and a second child
savagely attacked. Their
mother, Jessica Smith, was
later charged with the crime.
Gardner took on daily
operational tasks to help ¿ll
the void left when Balzer was
¿red in October.
In February, Gardner was
given the Clatsop County’s
High Angle Rescue Team
Member of the Year award.
Schermerhorn said he was
“very saddened” by Gard-
ner’s resignation. “Capt.
Gardner was a great partner
between the Fire Department
and the Police Department,”
he said in a statement. “We
consider him part of our law
enforcement family. Matt
helped me on so many dif-
ferent projects and is such
a great asset for Cannon
Beach. He was a very ded-
icated and self-sacrificing
employee.”
paign, campaign-¿-
nance reports show.
Woltjer, who is mar-
ried to Judge Matyas,
has not reported any
donations.
three applied for and
were hired as dep-
uty district attor-
neys. Marquis points
to Goldthorpe’s abil-
ity as a skilled trial
lawyer, his assis-
tance in child sup-
Goldthorpe’s
port enforcement
support
and his leadership
Marquis has put
in the District Attor-
his support behind
Ronald
ney’s Of¿ce partici-
Goldthorpe.
Woltjer
pation in Judge 1el-
The district attor-
ney has a unique view of all son’s drug court.
Goldthorpe exhibits com-
three candidates, since all
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Continued from Page 1A
The pinwheels are meant
to remind the community of
happy childhood days and to
encourage positive parenting.
The garden will be planted
each week during April in
various locations around the
county, including the court-
house this week, the traf¿c
median near 15th Street in
Astoria next week, the inter-
section of Harbor Drive and
Main Avenue the third week
and in the yard in front of the
Sunset Empire Park and Rec-
reation District the last week
of April.
1orthwest Parenting will
walk in partnership with
the advocates and The Har-
bor at 4 p.m. April 28 in rec-
ognition of Sexual Assault
and Child Abuse Prevention
month. The walk begins at
the Barbey Maritime Center,
marches through the streets
of Astoria and ends at the
courthouse.
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Pinwheels: They’re meant to
encourage positive parenting
passion, fairness, commit-
ment to equal justice and deci-
siveness, Marquis said in an
endorsement letter.
Goldthorpe has also secured
the endorsements of Clatsop
County Sheriff Tom Bergin,
Clatsop County Board of Com-
missioners Chairman Scott Lee
and Warrenton Mayor Mark
.ujala.
Judges run for election
every six years on a nonparti-
san basis.
The primary election is May 17.
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