OREGON WOMEN REACH FIRST FINAL FOUR PAGE 9A
146TH YEAR, NO. 195
DailyAstorian.com // MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2019
ONE DOLLAR
Mental health
agency sole
bidder for
contracts
Some interest, but
no other formal bids
By DERRICK DePLEDGE
The Daily Astorian
Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian
Jetties may be damaged after an earthquake and tsunami.
SEVEN MINUTES
New study highlights
what boaters should
do after the Big One
By BRENNA VISSER
The Daily Astorian
B
Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare was
the sole bidder for the county’s behav-
ioral health and developmental disability
contracts.
The county put the two contracts out
for bid in February, the first time in several
years the county invited competition to its
longtime partner.
But no other providers attended a man-
datory preproposal conference in early
March or submitted requests for proposals
by Friday’s deadline.
“Responding to this RFP has been an
opportunity for us to reflect on how far
we’ve come and what we hope to do in
the future to serve this community,” Amy
Baker, the executive director of Clatsop
Behavioral Healthcare, said in an email.
“Whether we were the only bidder or
not, this in no way influenced how we
approached the process.
“We look forward to the county’s
response.”
Monica Steele, the interim county man-
ager, said the county will score the bids
and call Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare for
an interview. County commissioners have
the final say over the contracts, which start
in July.
The county had been in discussions for
several months about putting the contracts
out for bid, but the public announcement in
See Agency, Page A5
oaters in the Columbia River Estuary
have about seven minutes to decide
Former district
attorney defends
controversial
opinion column
how to evacuate during a tsunami.
The estimate comes
from a study, published by
the Oregon Department of
Geology and Mineral Indus-
tries, exploring how a tsu-
nami would impact mari-
time traffic.
For the most part, the
study was aimed at provid-
ing guidance to the Port of
Astoria and the Coast Guard
on what to expect and how
to prepare, said Jonathan
Allan, a coastal geomor-
phologist who wrote the
paper.
But unlike other studies
the organization has done
for ports along the Oregon
Coast, researchers decided
to ask a different question: If
aCascadia Subduction Zone
earthquake and tsunami
were to happen, what are the
options for boats that may
be all the way up to Tongue
Point? Do they have time to
respond? Where do they go?
“The original model-
ing we did (for the Colum-
bia River) didn’t incorporate
friction. It was very ori-
ented toward life safety with
evacuation on land,” Allan
said. “The thinking with the
Columbia River work was,
‘We need to incorporate
more realistic, real-world
conditions that mariners in
particular would need to
know and be aware of.’”
The study found boaters
on the river would have lim-
ited, but realistic, options.
Now the task is educat-
ing people — especially vis-
itors — to make the most of
their seven minutes.
“With anything tsuna-
mi-related, this is all about
preparing for an event
before it happens,” Allan
said. “And that’s quite a
challenge to make people
aware of information and to
read about it.”
Marquis compared
inappropriate touching
to home burglary
By BRENNA VISSER
The Daily Astorian
High ground
The answer to the study’s
first general question: Yes,
boaters could have time to
get to safety, if they react
correctly and quickly.
The study shows the
peak of the wave is antici-
pated to hit the mouth of the
Columbia River in roughly
24 minutes, with subsequent
See Study, Page A7
Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries
Guidance from the state Department of Geology and Mineral
Industries on how far vessels need to evacuate when a
tsunami strikes.
Former District Attor-
ney Josh Marquis stands
behind an opinion col-
umn that contrasted inap-
propriate touching at the
state Capitol with home
burglary, a comparison
several lawmakers and
some prosecutors found
offensive.
The column, which
appeared in the Port-
land Tribune in Febru-
ary, said lawmakers are
“obsessed with the lin-
gering hugs and sugges-
tive comments” but dis-
miss the fear of property
crime victims.
Josh Marquis
Sara Gelser
See Marquis, Page A7
Warrenton chiropractor follows calling
James sees treatment
as an important option
By KATIE FRANKOWICZ
The Daily Astorian
WARRENTON — Robert
James took up golf two years ago
for the usual reasons: To get out-
side, to socialize and to under-
stand the sport’s unique injuries.
The Warrenton-based chiro-
practor believes hands-on expe-
rience is the best way to get at
a problem — and golf presents
some interesting problems to the
human body.
“No other sport requires you
to repeatedly put your body in a
position that’s completely unnatu-
ral,” James said.
Playing the sport has given
him a better understanding of the
way golf contorts and stresses the
body. He now treats golf-related
injuries and rehabilitates injured
players in a different way than he
did before.
Besides, he just really likes
playing. It’s a strategy game, and
he enjoys that.
So, how’s his game?
“Oh,” he said with a sudden
laugh. “I am not good. Not good.”
In February, James, who was
raised in Virginia, was singled
out in a report from the Oregon
Employment Department that
looked at African Americans in
the state’s workforce.
Residents who identify as
black or African American make
up only 3% of Oregon’s popula-
tion, but they are a growing pres-
ence in the state’s workforce.
Self-employment, however, is
less common, state workforce
analyst Shawna Sykes noted in
the report.
James, however, has been
self-employed for many years.
He counts himself lucky to have
found work he is passionate
Katie Frankowicz/The Daily Astorian
See James, Page A7
Robert James runs his chiropractic practice
out of an office in Warrenton.