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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 31, 2017)
144TH YEAR, NO. 196 ONE DOLLAR WEEKEND EDITION // FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017 ‘We’re just trying to help people to survive’ Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian Crews from Big River Construction Inc. continue storm damage repairs along the Astoria Riverwalk near the Columbia River Maritime Museum Thursday. Riverwalk recovers from storm s, at last Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian Astoria Warming Center Board President Allison Coffinbarger, left, and Shelter Coordinator Cheryl Paul reflect on another season of the warming center on Thursday at First United Methodist Church in Astoria. Astoria Warming Center closes for the season By ERICK BENGEL The Daily Astorian T he Astoria Warming Center, an overnight shelter for the homeless , served more than 200 people during the recent cold months, according to the nonprof- it’s operational report. Between Nov. 15 and Feb. 28, the center — run in the First United Methodist Church basement on Franklin Avenue — took in 148 men and 64 women. These fi gures include six people under 18, a dozen between 18 and 24, 43 senior citi- zens 55 and older, and 23 veterans. On average, 30 people slept at the warming center per night; the maximum allowed was 35. All told, the shelter had 3,126 overnight stays. When the center was founded in 2014, it opened only during foul-weather nights or when temperatures were expected to dip below 40 degrees. But a grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust enabled the organization to open every night during that 3 1/2-month stretch. “It would be best if we didn’t have to be here, but it’s life and death for a lot of people,” Alison Coffi nbarger, the board president, said. Without the daily chore of fi nd- ing a place to sleep, people could spend their days improving their situation. “We had a number of people fi nd work in the time they were there. We had some senior citizens who had Social Security who were able to save up enough, rather than blowing their money on a hotel room, and move into housing,” Coffi nbarger said. “So we had some success stories.” According to center stats, 23 people reported moving into a more stable housing situation; 11 reported fi nding employment while staying at the center; three reported return- ing to school; and three said they began participating in drug-and-al- cohol treatment (not counting Alco- holics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous). “We’re just trying to help people to survive. That’s why we’re here,” Coffi nbarger said. See CENTER, Page 7A • Operated Nov. 15 through Feb. 28 • Total number of volunteer hours: 2,620 (This number represents volunteer hours to staff basic shelter coverage, including two weeks of all-volunteer staffing, and does not include volunteer hours related to organi- zational work or work outside of operating hours.) • Men: 2,282 • Women: 844 • Average number served per night: 30 Men: 22 Fifteen months after strong winter storms pum- meled the Astoria water- front, repairs along the eroded banks of the Colum- bia River are essentially complete . Big River Construc- tion Inc. fi nished armoring deteriorated areas along the Astoria Riverwalk with new rock . The contractor also removed trees and is stabi- lizing a portion of waterfront owned by the Columbia River Maritime Museum. City Engineer Jeff Har- rington said the city had about 20 small spots along the Riverwalk that needed to be rearmed with large rocks to protect against coastal erosion. The city estimated $82,000 to com- plete the repairs, he said, but Big River, based in Asto- ria, came in with a bid of $44,400. Harrington said 75 per- cent of the project will be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency , with a 25 percent See RIVERWALK, Page 6A Women: 8 • Total number of people served (unduplicated count): 212 • Men: 148 (70 percent) • Women: 64 (30 percent) • Veterans: 23 • Age distribution of guests: Children (under 18): 6 (3 percent) Transition age youth (18-24): 12 (6 percent) Adults age 25 to 54: 143 (67 percent) Senior citizens (55 and over): 43 (20 percent) Unknown: 8 (4 percent) • Length of stay: Average: 15 days One week or less: 135 (64 percent) One month (31 days) or less: 44 (21 percent) Over one month (32 to 105 days): 33 (15 percent) • Previous sleeping arrangement: 13 guests (6 percent) declined to divulge where they slept prior to the warming center. 102 guests (48 percent) reported sleeping in places intended for habitation, including other shelters, friends’ houses, motels and jail. • Positive outcomes: Housing: 23 guests reported moving into a more stable housing situation. Employment: 11 reported finding employ- ment while staying at the center. School: 3 reported returning to school while staying at the center. Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian WARMING CENTER 97 guests (46 percent) reported sleeping in places not meant for habitation prior to checking in at the warming center. Such places included vehicles, dugouts, tents and beneath bridges. People eat while belongings sit next to their beds at the warming center at First United Methodist Church in 2015 . Cleanup from 2015 damage was delayed Drug/alcohol treatment: 3 reported they began participating in drug-and-alcohol treatment (not counting Alcoholics Anon- ymous and Narcotics Anonymous) while staying at the center. Tenant protection bill heads to House No-cause evictions, rent control at stake An amendment by Rep. Mark Meek, D- Clackamas County, a landlord and real estate inves- tor, reduced the amount of relocation assistance land- By PARIS ACHEN lords are required to pay when Capital Bureau asking a tenant to leave to sell the property, remodel or for SALEM — A tenant pro- other allowable reasons. The tection bill that lifts the state- amount is now one month rent wide ban on rent instead of three months. control and out- The change laws no-cause also exempts units evictions is headed less than fi ve years to the House fl oor old from any rent after the Human control measures Services and approved by local Housing Com- governments and mittee made sev- exempts landlords eral revisions with fewer than Thursday. fi ve units from “Some people Rep. having to pay relo- think a good pol- Chris Gorsek, cation fees if an icy is one where D-Troutdale eviction is for cer- no one is happy, which makes this a great pol- tain no-fault reasons such as icy,” said state Rep. Chris moving into the property or Gorsek, D-Troutdale, a com- selling it. The committee voted mittee member. The committee heard 5-to-4 to approve the revised hours of impassioned testi- bill, with all Republicans on mony from landlords and ten- the committee against the ants affected by the state’s measure. The legislation now goes housing shortage before com- to the House fl oor for a vote. ing to the compromise. Oregon’s storied ‘Tall Firs’ were planted in Astoria Five on the inaugural 1939 champion team were from here By GARY HENLEY The Daily Astorian T he Oregon Ducks will be playing in their fi rst Final Four in 78 years. The Ducks will take on North Carolina in one semifi - nal Saturday, while Gonzaga and South Carolina square off in the other half of the bracket . And no doubt we will hear — more than once — this week- end about the “Tall Firs,” Ore- gon’s n ational c hampionship team of 1939 . What you likely won’t hear, though, is that fi ve of the Web- foots were from Astoria. So — for us locals, any- way — when announcers start talking about the Tall Firs, Astorians can go ahead and claim a little credit for the fi rst n ational c hampionship ever won. Changes over time Basketball has certainly changed over the past 78 years, and so, too , has recruiting. The roster for the 1938-39 Oregon men’s basketball team included players from towns in Oregon and Washington state, and one reserve from Vancou- ver, British Columbia. And that was it. No Californians, no Tex- ans, no Floridians … no one from outside the upper corner of the Pacifi c Northwest. See ‘TALL FIRS’, Page 7A University of Oregon Astoria’s Wally Johansen, left, and Bobby Anet were fea- tured in the 1939 edition of ‘Oregana,’ the yearbook for the University of Oregon.