A7
THE ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2019
‘Irregularities’ found at
jail where Epstein died
OBITUARIES
John Elmer Piukkula
Tigard
Dec. 11, 1920 — Aug. 8, 2019
John Elmer Piukkula passed away early grandfather, who made it clear that his fam-
Thursday, Aug. 8, having spent his fi nal day ily was of utmost importance. In the late
surrounded by family, including each grand- 1980s, after leaving his 2-year-old grandson,
child and both great-grandchildren.
Kyle, at his day care, and seeing
John was born in Astoria, to
Kyle cry as he left, John told his
Finnish parents John and Maria
daughter, Lisa, “never again.”
Piukkula, on Dec. 11, 1920. He
He meant it. John volunteered
absolutely loved the town of Asto-
to commute between Astoria and
ria, and quite possibly was one of
Beaverton to care for Kyle. The
the last “Uniontown Finns.”
two enjoyed days of solving puz-
John was incredibly proud of
zles and having lunches together.
being a Uniontown Finn, hold-
After Meeri retired, they relo-
ing close ties to the Finnish com-
cated to Beaverton, continuing to
munity. He frequently spoke of
care for all the grandchildren, and
John Piukkala
wishing to return to Astoria, but
building more precious memories.
remained in the Beaverton area to
It would be remiss to not
be near his family.
include another of John’s greatest loves in
John, who was best known in Astoria by this message. One of John’s constant com-
his middle name, Elmer, married Meeri Pau- panions while living in Astoria was his beau-
lina Tarkiainen on Sept. 5, 1953, in Asto- tiful collie, Keegan. To see them together
ria. After 51 years of marriage, Meeri unex- was to know the bond they shared was
pectedly passed in January 2005. It brings extraordinary.
the family great solace knowing the two are
John is survived by his daughters, Pauline
together, forevermore.
Aursland and Lisa Hibbert (Mark), of Bea-
John received his schooling in Astoria, verton; grandchildren, Kyle Hibbert (Ash-
and served in the Coast Guard.
ley), of Hillsboro, Lindsey Sullivan (Aaron),
Among his accomplishments, John held of Beaverton, Anja Aursland Meeuwsen
an over 40-year career working for U.S. (Jaron), of Newberg, and Erika Maija Hib-
National Bank in Astoria and Warrenton. He bert, of Portland; great-grandson, Axel
thoroughly enjoyed working with fi nances, Meeuwsen, and great-granddaughter, Ella
also holding the position of fi nancial secre- Meeri Meeuwsen.
tary for the Finnish Brotherhood (UFKB&S)
John is also survived by his brother-in-
for a signifi cant span of time. When he relin- law, Reino Tarkiainen (Marilyn), of Sher-
quished the position, he was only the second wood; cousin, Sirkka Kalevala (Eero), of
person who had held it since the inception of Finland; and numerous nephews and nieces
UFKB&S in Astoria.
in Oregon and Finland.
John had also been a member of the
A graveside service will be held for John
American Legion, American Cancer Society on Thursday, Aug. 15, at 2 p.m., at Ocean
and Peace Lutheran Church. John’s daugh- View Cemetery in Warrenton.
ters believe he felt his fi nest achievement
Memorial gifts may be made to Clatsop
was his involvement in the conception of Care and Rehabilitation Center, in care of
Clatsop Care and Rehabilitation Center, and Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary, which is
being elected to the founding board of the in charge of the arrangements. Please sign
center.
their online guest book at www.caldwells-
John was a dedicated husband, father and mortuary.com
Martine Lucille Starr
Gearhart
March 7, 1935 — Aug. 6, 2019
Martine Lucille Starr passed away on the she thought no one was listening.
morning of Aug. 6, 2019, at the age of 84.
Martine was well-traveled and got to see
Martine was born March 7, 1935, in Chi- and enjoy much of the world with her hus-
cago, Illinois. She was the daugh-
band and children. She was very
ter of Lucille B. (Vig) and Dr.
giving and kind, with a sharp wit
Lars Gulbrandsen of Viroqua,
and a wonderful sense of humor.
Wisconsin, and the eldest of her
She will be greatly missed by all
siblings, Mary Larson and Carl
who knew her, and would want to
Gulbrandsen.
thank all those she had the privi-
Martine was raised in Viroqua,
lege of knowing in her life.
and graduated Phi Beta Kappa
Martine is survived by her
from the University of Wisconsin
husband, Dr. Charles Starr, her
nursing program.
sons, Peter and Christopher Starr,
She will be remembered as a
Peter’s wife, Debbie Starr, and her
loving mother and great friend to
Martine Starr
son, Alex Lange.
all of those who were blessed to
At her request, there will be
be in her life. Martine enjoyed skiing when no service held. Please send any correspon-
she was younger, playing tennis when she dence to the family at P.O. Box 2604, Gear-
was able and golfi ng (with the exception of hart, OR., 97138.
couples best ball). She was an accomplished
Any gifts on her behalf may be made to
pianist and enjoyed playing, especially when any Alzheimer’s foundation.
use of cameras to monitor areas where pris-
oners are likely to be undressed unless those
cameras are monitored only by staff mem-
bers of the same gender as the inmates. As a
NEW YORK — Attorney General Wil- practical matter, that means most federal jails
liam Barr said Monday that there were “seri- nationwide focus cameras on common areas,
ous irregularities” at the federal jail where rather than cell bunks.
Lindsay Hayes, a nationally recog-
Jeffrey Epstein took his own life as he
awaited trial on charges he sexually abused nized expert on suicide prevention behind
bars, said that cameras are often ineffective
underage girls.
The 66-year-old fi nancier was found Sat- because they require a staff member to be
urday morning in his cell at the chronically dedicated full-time to monitoring the video
short-staffed Metropolitan Correctional Cen- feed 24 hours a day.
“It only takes three to fi ve minutes for
ter, in a unit known for holding notorious
someone to hang themselves,” said Hayes,
prisoners under extremely tight security.
“I was appalled, and indeed the whole a project director for the National Center
department was, and frankly angry to learn on Institutions and Alternatives. “If no one
of the MCC’s failure to adequately secure is watching the screen, then the camera is
useless. There are a
this prisoner,” Barr
lot of suicides that
said at a police con-
ference in New ‘ANY CO-CONSPIRATORS just end up being
recorded.”
Orleans. “We are
On the morning
now learning of seri- SHOULD NOT REST EASY.
ous
irregularities
THE VICTIMS DESERVE of Epstein’s apparent
suicide, guards on
at this facility that
JUSTICE AND THEY
his unit were work-
are deeply concern-
ing overtime shifts
ing and demand a
WILL GET IT.’
to make up for staff-
thorough investiga-
ing shortages. One
tion. The FBI and
Attorney General William Barr
guard was working
the offi ce of inspec-
a fi fth straight day of
tor general are doing
overtime and another was working manda-
just that.”
He added: “We will get to the bot- tory overtime.
Epstein’s death cut short a prosecution
tom of what happened and there will be
that could have pulled back the curtain on his
accountability.”
The manner in which Epstein killed him- activities and his connections to celebrities
self has not been announced. An autopsy and presidents, though Barr vowed Monday
was performed Sunday, but New York City that the case will continue “against anyone
Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Barbara Samp- who was complicit with Epstein.”
“Any co-conspirators should not rest easy.
son said investigators were awaiting further
The victims deserve justice and they will get
information.
A private pathologist, Dr. Michael Baden, it,” he said.
Epstein had a team of recruiters and
observed the autopsy at the request of
Epstein’s lawyers. Baden was the city’s chief employees who lined up underage girls for
medical examiner in the late 1970s and has him, according to police reports.
In a court fi ling Monday, Epstein’s accus-
been called as an expert witness in high-pro-
fi le cases, including O.J. Simpson’s 1995 ers said that an agreement he negotiated with
federal prosecutors in Florida over a decade
murder trial.
Epstein had been placed on suicide watch ago to grant immunity to his possible accom-
after he was found in his cell a little over two plices should be thrown out now that he is
weeks ago with bruises on his neck. But he dead. Under that 2008 agreement, Epstein
had been taken off the suicide watch at the pleaded guilty to prostitution-related state
charges and served 13 months behind bars.
end of July.
At the time of his death, Epstein was
Inmates on suicide watch are subjected
to 24 hours per day of “direct, continuous being held without bail and faced up to 45
observation,” according to U.S. Bureau of years in prison on federal sex traffi cking and
Prisons policy. They are also issued tear-re- conspiracy charges unsealed last month.
Epstein’s death is the latest black eye for
sistant clothing to thwart attempts to fash-
ion nooses and are placed in cells that are the Bureau of Prisons, which was already was
stripped of furniture or fi xtures they could under fi re over the October beating death of
Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger at a
use to kill themselves.
After he was taken off suicide watch and federal prison in West Virginia. The bureau is
returned to the jail’s special housing unit, part of the Justice Department and falls under
Epstein was supposed to have been checked the attorney general’s supervision.
Taken together, the two deaths underscore
on by a guard about every 30 minutes. But
investigators have learned those checks “serious issues surrounding a lack of leader-
weren’t done for several hours before Epstein ship” within the bureau, said Cameron Lind-
say, a former warden who ran three federal
was found unresponsive.
The jail does have a video surveillance lockups, including the Metropolitan Deten-
system, but federal standards don’t allow the tion Center in Brooklyn.
By JIM MUSTIAN, MICHAEL R. SISAK
and MICHAEL BALSAMO
Associated Press
APPLIANCE
SPORTS
PACKAGE DEALS
Seahawks: Lineman Fant has a second-degree
ankle sprain, aims to be back by season opener
Continued from Page A8
a perfect, legal hit along the sideline later
in the fourth quarter and added a tackle for
loss.
He played 36 defensive snaps, the most
of any player in Seattle’s secondary.
“Some plays I was getting lined up
wrong, my technique sometimes. I’m just
working on it and getting better,” Blair
said.
NOTES: Carroll said T/TE George Fant
has a second-degree ankle sprain and will
be aiming to try and get back for the sea-
son opener. Fant was injured when he was
rolled up from behind on Thursday and was
in a walking boot at practice Sunday. Fant
has regularly been used as an extra tight
end. ... QB Geno Smith underwent surgery
to remove a cyst from his knee and was a
spectator at practice on Sunday. Carroll said
Smith is hopeful he’ll be ready to play next
Sunday against Minnesota, but said it could
be a stretch to expect that. Smith’s uncer-
tainty was why Seattle signed J.T. Barrett
to add another arm for training camp.
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MONDAY
REGIONAL FORECAST
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
Seattle
73 58
72 58
70 59
69 59
70 58
A shower in the Considerable
Clouds breaking Partly sunny Clouds and sun
area
clouds
70 57
Partly sunny
70 58
Mostly sunny
Aberdeen
Olympia
74/57
79/60
Wenatchee
Tacoma
Moses
Lake
UNDER THE SKY
TODAY'S TIDES
Astoria through Sunday
Tonight’s Sky: The peak of the
Perseid meteor shower this year
will be tempered by the waning
gibbous moon.
Astoria / Port Docks
Temperatures
High/low ................................ 70/54
Normal high/low .................. 69/54
Record high .................. 85 in 1977
Record low .................... 47 in 1966
Precipitation
Sunday ..................................... 0.00”
Month to date ........................ 0.32”
Normal month to date ......... 0.29”
Year to date .......................... 25.03”
Normal year to date ........... 37.23”
Forecasts and graphics provided by
AccuWeather, Inc. ©2019
Source: Jim Todd, OMSI
Sunrise today .................. 6:12 a.m.
Sunset tonight ............... 8:28 p.m.
Moonrise today ............. 7:52 p.m.
Moonset today ............... 4:11 a.m.
Last
New
High (ft.) Time Low (ft.)
1:25 p.m.
none
First
1:18 p.m.
none
1:25 p.m.
none
Warrenton
1:20 p.m.
none
6.1 6:28 a.m. -0.8
6:15 p.m. 2.5
6.7 6:42 a.m. -0.9
6:36 p.m. 2.5
7.1 6:54 a.m. -0.7
6:41 p.m. 2.4
Knappa
12:35 a.m. 8.1 8:11 a.m. -0.7
2:02 p.m. 7.0 7:58 p.m. 2.0
Depoe Bay
Aug 15 Aug 23 Aug 30 Sep 5
6.7 7:10 a.m. -0.8
6:57 p.m. 2.3
Cape Disappointment
Hammond
SUN AND MOON
Full
Time
12:32 p.m. 6.7 5:55 a.m. -0.6
11:38 p.m. 8.2 5:46 p.m. 3.1
City
Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Honolulu
Houston
Los Angeles
Miami
New York City
Phoenix
San Francisco
Wash., DC
Wed.
Hi/Lo/W
96/79/pc
83/67/r
81/66/c
101/77/s
88/57/s
90/75/pc
101/80/s
87/67/pc
90/80/t
81/70/t
109/84/s
78/58/pc
90/73/t
93/75/t
74/63/pc
76/63/c
95/77/pc
88/60/s
89/77/pc
96/79/t
90/66/s
92/78/t
80/66/pc
112/86/s
82/59/pc
87/73/pc
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy,
c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms,
r-rain, sf-snow fl urries, sn-snow, i-ice.
83/53
Kennewick Walla Walla
89/63 Lewiston
90/61
89/62
Hermiston
The Dalles 90/62
Enterprise
Pendleton 81/50
88/59
90/60
La Grande
85/54
87/57
NATIONAL CITIES
Today
Hi/Lo/W
Pullman
87/58
82/57
Salem
82/58
Yakima 88/58
Longview
73/58 Portland
86/62
Spokane
86/62
81/56
82/56
Astoria
ALMANAC
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Corvallis
86/57
Albany
86/55
John Day
Eugene
Bend
88/57
84/50
88/52
Ontario
91/59
Caldwell
Burns
86/48
90/57
Medford
91/59
Klamath Falls
85/49
City
Baker City
Brookings
Ilwaco
Newberg
Newport
Today
Hi/Lo/W
88/48/s
71/55/pc
70/59/pc
85/55/s
68/54/pc
Wed.
Hi/Lo/W
87/48/s
75/58/pc
68/59/pc
84/53/pc
67/56/pc
City
North Bend
Roseburg
Seaside
Springfi eld
Vancouver
Today
Hi/Lo/W
71/57/pc
89/60/s
72/58/pc
88/55/s
84/58/s
Wed.
Hi/Lo/W
72/57/pc
90/59/pc
70/58/pc
88/54/pc
82/56/pc