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THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 2019
Mental health agency wins new contract
IN BRIEF
Man with fake handgun
arrested for robbery
Astoria police arrested an Olympia, Washington,
man on Friday after he allegedly tried to rob a gas sta-
tion using a fake handgun.
Nicholas Strange, 21, went into the Small Stop 76
gas station on Marine Drive and hid beer under his
shirt, according to police. He struggled with an atten-
dant when confronted. Another employee called the
police and told them Strange had what appeared to be
a handgun tucked into his pants.
When police arrived, attendants and others had
pinned Strange to the ground. Police determined he
had a pellet gun with the appearance and manufacturer
markings of a Glock handgun. They arrested Strange
for third-degree robbery.
“Though the gun was not utilized by Strange in
the taking of property it turned an already tense situ-
ation into one that was more dangerous for everyone
involved, including Strange”, Deputy Chief Eric Halv-
erson said in a news release. “There was no way for
the employees at the store or our offi cers to know the
gun wasn’t a deadly weapon.”
Fire season approaches
in the Northwest
Fire season in Clatsop County will begin on Monday.
The Oregon Department of Forestry says both public
and private lands face potential fi re hazard.
A countywide burn ban will be in effect. Burn bar-
rels will require a burn permit, which people can get
through the Department of Forestry and some local fi re
departments.
Residents may see fi re information boards on major
roads entering forest areas which display fi re hazard lev-
els from green, being low hazard, to red, being extreme
hazard.
This year, campfi res will be allowed at campsites if
the fi re hazard level is low, but the campfi re ban will go
back into effect if the fi re hazard level reaches moderate.
For more information about fi re season requirements,
call 503-325-7215. To request a burning permit or get
more information, call 503-325-5451.
Treatment for
mental health
and addiction
By DERRICK DePLEDGE
The Astorian
Clatsop
Behavioral
Healthcare has a new two-
year county contract to pro-
vide mental health and
addiction treatment.
The private nonprofi t is
Clatsop County’s longtime
provider, but had to bid for
the contract for the fi rst time
in several years after county
commissioners
invited
competition.
The agency, which has
come under public scrutiny
over the past several months
over management and per-
formance challenges, was
the only bidder.
County commissioners
voted for the contract on
Wednesday night by consent
with no comment.
“We feel that they’re
making a diligent effort to
try and improve that rela-
tionship and improve com-
munications,”
Monica
Steele, the interim county
manager, said afterward. “So
I feel that we’re moving in a
good direction.”
During the interview pro-
cess, county staff said the
agency’s management was
receptive to community
feedback and communicat-
ing more frequently with
the county. The contract
requires weekly briefi ngs
with county staff and quar-
terly presentations to county
commissioners.
“We at CBH love being
part of this community. We
live here. We play here. We
raise our families here. This
is our home, and we care
passionately about the mem-
bers of this community,”
Amy Baker, the executive
director of Clatsop Behav-
ioral Healthcare, said in an
email. “We look forward to
continuing to serve our cli-
ents and community for
years to come.”
Baker has also agreed to
a three-year contract exten-
sion. She was hired in 2016
after management turmoil at
the agency, and survived her
own clash with the agency’s
board earlier this year.
“I am proud of this orga-
nization and the work we
do,” she said. “We have
great community partners
who share our vision and
commitment to serving this
community, and I am look-
ing forward to the next three
years. So much has been
accomplished already, and
I am excited for what the
future has in store.”
The county had also put
a contract for developmen-
tal disabilities out for bid
this year. Clatsop Behavioral
Healthcare, which has held
the contract for years, was
the only bidder.
But county commission-
ers agreed earlier this month
to transfer oversight respon-
sibility for developmen-
tal disabilities to the state
Department of Human Ser-
vices. The state intends to
keep the work with Clatsop
Behavioral Healthcare.
In February, The Astorian
detailed a pattern of incon-
sistent oversight of adult
foster homes in the develop-
mental disabilities program.
Clatsop Behavioral Health-
care has worked with the
state to correct problems and
make improvements.
Coast Guard adds
housing in Astoria
County commissioners
approve new budget
County commissioners on Wednesday night approved
the budget for the fi scal year that starts in July.
The budget is $84.4 million, up from $70.1 million
this fi scal year. Most of the increase is related to the
remodel and construction of a new jail.
County commissioners on Wednesday chose to
increase a contingency in the special projects fund by
$250,000 to show support for a forest conservation proj-
ect in the Arch Cape watershed. The budget committee
had rejected adding money for the project, but commis-
sioners wanted to include the funds.
County celebrates a birthday
Clatsop County turns 175 years old this year. The
county was created in June 1844, 15 years before Ore-
gon became a state, making it one of the oldest counties
in the state.
County commissioners and staff celebrated the mile-
stone before Wednesday’s Board of Commissioners
meeting with cake and a history display.
Astoria became the county seat after an election in
1854.
— The Astorian
DEATH
June 26, 2019
FOLK, Cheri J., 74, of Gearhart, died in Gearhart.
Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary is in charge of the
arrangements.
ON THE RECORD
DUII
• Tamara Lou Gun-
derson, 60, of Asto-
ria, was arrested on
Wednesday for driving
under the influence of
intoxicants. Her blood
alcohol content was
0.22%.
• Sara Poirier, 36, of
Warrenton, was arrested
on Wednesday for DUII.
PUBLIC MEETINGS
MONDAY
Astoria City Council, 7 p.m.,
City Hall, 1095 Duane St.
TUESDAY
Seaside Community Cen-
ter Commission, 10 a.m.,
Bob Chisholm Community
Center, 1225 Avenue A.
Port of Astoria Commis-
sion, 4 p.m., Port offi ces, 10
Pier 1 Suite 209.
Established July 1, 1873
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97103 Telephone 503-325-3211,
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
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DailyAstorian.com
Clatsop Care Health Dis-
trict Board, 5 p.m., Clatsop
Care Health and Rehabilita-
tion, 646 16th St.
Miles Crossing Sanitary
Sewer District Board,
6 p.m., 34583 U.S. Highway
101 Business.
Seaside Planning Commis-
sion, 7 p.m., City Hall, 989
Broadway.
Coast Guard
Twelve new housing units have been added to Culp Court, bringing the Triumph housing complex on the South Slope of Astoria
to 126 units.
The Astorian
The
Coast
Guard
recently opened 12 new
units of housing on Culp
Court in Astoria.
The completion brings
the total number of units in
the Triumph housing com-
plex on the South Slope to
126, with areas for future
construction. The fi rst two
phases of housing cost
more than $19 million.
“These new homes
show just how dedicated
we are to being a part of
Astoria and the surround-
ing communities,” Capt.
Gretchen Bailey, deputy
commander at Coast Guard
Sector Columbia River,
said in a statement. “These
houses will give our Coast
Guard men and women,
and their families, a place
Coast Guard
A maintenance and operations building will provide support
for Coast Guard families throughout Washington state and
Oregon and could be used as a contingency operations center
in a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and tsunami.
to call home while serving
this community.”
The fi rst phase of hous-
ing achieved a platinum
rating from Leadership in
Energy and Environmental
Design for environmental
sustainability. The second
phase is on track to achieve
the same certifi cation.
An operations and main-
tenance building near the
homes will allow Coast
Guard maintenance crews
to provide year-round sup-
port for Coast Guard fam-
ilies throughout Sector
Columbia River and is
being considered as a con-
tingency operations site
outside the tsunami inun-
dation zone.
State seeks comment on South Tongue Point sale
The Astorian
The Department of State
Lands seeks comment on
the potential sale of the
southern two-thirds of
South Tongue Point to the
Columbia Land Trust.
The land trust has raised
more than $1.4 million to
buy the former dredge spoil
deposit on the eastern edge
of Astoria, restore the prop-
erty into fi sh and wildlife
habitat and transfer it to
Clatsop Community Col-
lege. The group still needs
to raise $141,000 to fund
the purchase.
The college recently
closed on the northern third
of South Tongue Point,
where it runs the Mari-
Doug Gorsline/Columbia Land Trust
The State Land Board will likely decide in August or October
whether to sell the southern two-thirds of South Tongue Point
to the Columbia Land Trust.
time and Environmen-
tal Research and Training
Station, a career-techni-
cal campus, and hopes to
begin an environmental
science program using the
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2019 by The Astorian.
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Pick of the Week
The family of Milford Blaine “Steve”
Stevens, would like to offer their warm
thanks for Flowers; Contributions
to the Clatsop Community College
Foundation; As well as the many letters
of condolences, thoughts & prayers.
Moe
1 1/2 year old Great
Pyrenees/German
Shepherd Blend
Ready for destinations
near & far, for favorite
haunts & trails less
traveled.
On Behalf of my Husband, I wish a
thoughtful thank you to everyone.
-Delpha F. Stevens
(Read about Moe on Facebook )
Out of County Rates available at 800-781-3214
DIGITAL
EZpay (per month) .................................................................................................................$8.00
land trust’s gift as a living
laboratory.
The state will take pub-
lic comment until July 26
on the land sale. The State
Land Board, comprised of
the governor, secretary of
state and the state treasurer,
will likely decide in August
or October whether to sell
the land.
Email comments or
questions to the Depart-
ment of State Lands Real
Property Program at real-
property@dsl.state.or.us,
or contact the Real Prop-
erty Program in writing
at: Oregon Department of
State Lands Real Property
Program, 1645 NE Forbes
Rd., Suite 112, Bend, OR.,
97701.
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explicit prior approval.
“These homes look
great and fi t well with the
surrounding community,”
said Astoria Mayor Bruce
Jones, a former commander
of Sector Columbia River.
“Astoria is very pleased
to be home to more of our
local Coast Guard enlisted
men and women. Given
concerns about the rising
cost of housing in Astoria,
the addition of these new
residential units has the
added benefi t of taking a
bit of pressure off the local
supply- demand curve.”
A housing market sur-
vey analysis found there
will be a defi cit of more
than 80 homes for Coast
Guard personnel over
the next fi ve years, given
the projected growth in
the agency and the North
Coast.
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