The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current, August 27, 2019, Image 7

Historic Oregon Newspapers

The daily Astorian., August 27, 2019, Page 7, Image 7

Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR

About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 27, 2019)

Prev Page of 18 Next Prev Issue Next Text PDF JP2 (1.4 MB) Clip/Print Image

Return to Top

Prev Page of 18 Next Prev Issue Next

Newspaper Page TextA7 THE ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019 OBITUARIES Aliisa Diane Wirkkala Naselle, Washington May 17, 1956 — Aug. 16, 2019 Sue Ogrocki/AP Photo Judge Thad Balkman announces his decision in the opioid lawsuit In Norman, Okla., Monday. Balkman found Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries helped fuel the state’s opioid drug crisis and ordered the consumer products giant to pay $572 million to help abate the problem in the coming years. Oklahoma judge rules against drugmaker, orders $572 million payment By SEAN MURPHY Associated Press NORMAN, Okla. — An Oklahoma judge on Monday found Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries helped fuel the state’s opioid cri- sis and ordered the consumer products giant to pay $572 million, more than twice the amount another drug manufacturer agreed to pay in a settlement. Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman’s ruling followed the ﬁ rst state opi- oid case to make it to trial and could help shape negotiations over roughly 1,500 simi- lar lawsuits ﬁ led by state, local and tribal gov- ernments consolidated before a federal judge in Ohio. “The opioid crisis has ravaged the state of Oklahoma,” Balkman said before announc- ing the judgment. “It must be abated immediately.” An attorney for the companies said they plan to appeal the ruling to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Before Oklahoma’s trial began May 28, the state reached settlements with two other defendant groups — a $270 million deal with OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma and an $85 million settlement with Israeli-owned Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Oklahoma argued the companies and their subsidiaries created a public nuisance by launching an aggressive and misleading mar- keting campaign that overstated how effec- tive the drugs were for treating chronic pain and understated the risk of addiction. Okla- homa Attorney General Mike Hunter says opioid overdoses killed 4,653 people in the state from 2007 to 2017. Hunter called Johnson & Johnson a ”king- pin” company that was motivated by greed. He speciﬁ cally pointed to two former John- son & Johnson subsidiaries, Noramco and Tasmanian Alkaloids, which produced much of the raw opium used by other manufactur- ers to produce the drugs. On Monday, Hunter said the Oklahoma case could provide a “road map” for other states to follow in holding drugmakers responsible for the opioid crisis. “That’s the message to other states: We did it in Oklahoma. You can do it elsewhere,” Hunter said. “Johnson & Johnson will ﬁ nally be held accountable for thousands of deaths and addictions caused by their activities.” Among those seated in the courtroom on Monday were Craig and Gail Box, whose son Austin was a 22-year-old standout linebacker for the Oklahoma Sooners when he died of a prescription drug overdose in 2011. One of the attorneys for the state, Reg- gie Whitten, said he also lost a son to opioid abuse. “I feel like my boy is looking down,” Sue Ogrocki/AP Photo Sabrina Strong, an attorney for Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries, answers a question during a news conference. Whitten said after the judge’s ruling, his voice cracking with emotion. Oklahoma pursued the case under the state’s public nuisance statute and presented the judge with a plan to abate the crisis that would cost between $12.6 billion for 20 years and $17.5 billion over 30 years. Attorneys for Johnson & Johnson have said that estimate is wildly inﬂ ated. The judge’s award would cover the costs of one year of the state’s abate- ment plan, funding things like opioid use pre- vention and addiction treatment. Attorneys for the company have main- tained they were part of a lawful and heav- ily regulated industry subject to strict federal oversight, including the U.S. Drug Enforce- ment Agency and the Food and Drug Admin- istration, during every step of the supply chain. Lawyers for the company said the judgment was a misapplication of public nui- sance law. Sabrina Strong, an attorney for Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries, said the compa- nies have sympathy for those who suffer from substance abuse but called the judge’s deci- sion “ﬂ awed.” “You can’t sue your way out of the opioid abuse crisis,” Strong said. “Litigation is not the answer.” Attorneys for the plaintiffs in the cases consolidated before a federal judge in Ohio called the Oklahoma judgment “a milestone amid the mounting evidence against the opi- oid pharmaceutical industry.” “While public nuisance laws differ in every state, this decision is a critical step for- ward for the more than 2,000 cities, coun- ties, and towns we represent in the consoli- dation of federal opioid cases,” they said in a statement. Also on Monday, the Kentucky Supreme Court declined to review an earlier ruling, making previously secret testimony from former Purdue Pharma President Richard Sackler and other documents public. The court record was sealed in 2015 as part of a $24 million settlement between Purdue and Kentucky. SEVENDAY FORECAST FOR ASTORIA TODAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Aliisa Diane Wirkkala (known to all in Seaside, Oregon, Naselle Rock, and as “Nana”), 63, went to be with the Lord recently retired from TLC/Fi ber Federal on Aug. 16, 2019, at 7:05 a.m. in Port- C redit U nion in Astoria and Seaside, Ore- gon. She impacted many lives land, Oregon, at Legacy Eman- during her careers, and devel- uel Hospital. oped many close relationships Aliisa was born May 17, with clients and co-workers. 1956, to Lawrence C. Wallin, She was a member of the of Portland, Oregon, and Bar- Naselle Assembly of God bara A. (Christensen) Wallin, of Church for 45 years. During Ilwaco, Washington. this time, she was involved with She is survived by her father, the w omen’s m inistries, served Lawrence; mother, Barbara; as Sunday s chool superinten- brother, Jeffery C. Wallin and dent and teacher, vacation Bible his wife, Candy; sister, Wendy Aliisa Wirkkala school organizer and kitchen S. Wallin and her husband, Arne queen for many church events. L. Wirkkala; daughter, Elsa Wirkkala and her husband, Brian Wis- She supported countless Christian minis- dom; son, Mitchell Wirkkala and his wife, tries and overseas children’s programs. Aliisa was a beautiful woma n of strong Kristian Penttila; and son, Neil Wirkkala and his wife, Chanel Ruch, of Naselle, faith who cared deeply for and loved her family, children, grandchildren and Washington. Grandchildren are Madison Reber friends, as well as her family in Christ. She Wirkkala, 22, Brianna Wirkkala, 19, Brice had a great impact on our community, and Wirkkala, 17, Tucker Wisdom, 7, Mason in many lives. She was an amazing, lov- Wisdom, 3, Eva Wirkkala, 15, Kayli Wirk- ing wife, daughter, sister, mother, grand- kala, 13, and Joey Wirkkala, 7. She is also mother, auntie and great friend to many. survived by several nieces, nephews, She was an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on and a mighty prayer warrior. cousins and in-laws. One thing I ask of the Lord, this only Aliisa grew up in Ilwaco, Washington, and graduated from high school in 1974. do I seek: that I may dwell in the house Growing up, she enjoyed being on her of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze grandmother’s farm on Baker’s Bay riding upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek horses. She was involved in the local Rain- him in his temple. For in the day of trou- bow chapter, enjoyed playing guitar and ble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; piano, was a cheerleader at Ilwaco High he will hide me in the shelter of his tab- School, and was also a Sunday school ernacle and set me high upon a rock. — teacher for the Chinook Lutheran Church. Psalm 27:4-5 A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Her ﬁ rst job was as a cook at the Big Z drive-in in Long Beach, Washington, on Aug. 31, 2019, at Naselle Assembly which is where she met her soon-to-be of God Church, located at 278 Knappton husband of 45 years, Arne Wirkkala, of Road in Naselle. A graveside procession Naselle. They were married June 8, 1974, follows at Peaceful Hill Cemetery on and went on to have three children of their South Valley Road. Food and fellowship are provided after the graveside proceed- own. Aliisa babysat and provided day care ings at Naselle Assembly of God. Penttila’s Chapel by the Sea is in for many local families in Naselle, worked at the Bank of the Paciﬁ c in Naselle for charge of the arrangements. If anyone so several years, and went on to gradu- wishes, viewing will be open Friday, Aug. ate from beauty college in Astoria, Ore- 30, at Penttila’s Chapel by the Sea in Long gon, and had her own nail salon at the Beach, Washington. Her guest book is available at pentti- Hair Villa in Naselle for several years. She went on to work for Jones New York laschapel.com OBITUARY POLICY The Astorian publishes paid obituaries. The obituary can include a small photo and, for veterans, a ﬂ ag symbol at no charge. The deadline for all obituaries is 9 a.m. the business day prior. Obituaries may be edited for spelling, proper punctuation and style. Death notices and upcoming services will be published at no charge. Notices must be submitted by 9 a.m. the day of publication. Obituaries and notices may be submitted online at DailyAstorian.com/forms/obits, by email at ewilson@dailyastorian.com, placed via the funeral home or in person at The Astorian ofﬁ ce, 949 Exchange St. in Astoria. For more information, call 503-325-3211, ext. 257. APPLIANCE PACKAGE DEALS APPLIANCE AND HOME FURNISHINGS 529 SE MARLIN, WARRENTON 503-861-0929 Over 30 RS IN YEA TSOP C LA NTY C OU SUNDAY Mattresses, Furniture & More! MONDAY REGIONAL FORECAST Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. Seattle 84 56 75 58 71 59 Sunny and very Sunny and nice warm A shower 71 57 70 56 Partly sunny Sun and clouds and nice 68 57 71 56 Partly sunny Clouds and sun Aberdeen Olympia 85/58 84/62 Wenatchee Tacoma Moses Lake UNDER THE SKY TODAY'S TIDES Astoria through Sunday Tonight’s Sky: Sunset now before 8:00 p.m. PDT. Astoria / Port Docks Temperatures High/low ................................ 69/52 Normal high/low .................. 69/53 Record high .................. 91 in 2016 Record low .................... 43 in 1992 Precipitation Sunday ..................................... Trace Month to date ........................ 0.90” Normal month to date ......... 0.84” Year to date .......................... 25.61” Normal year to date ........... 37.78” Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2019 Time High (ft.) Time Low (ft.) 12:11 p.m. 6.2 5:47 a.m. -0.6 11:22 p.m. 8.1 5:34 p.m. 2.5 Cape Disappointment 11:48 a.m. 5.8 4:53 a.m. -0.9 11:01 p.m. 7.9 4:44 p.m. 2.5 Source: Jim Todd, OMSI Hammond SUN AND MOON Sunrise today .................. 6:29 a.m. Sunset tonight ............... 8:04 p.m. Moonrise today .............. 2:46 a.m. Moonset today .............. 6:39 p.m. New First Full Last 12:00 p.m. 6.3 5:15 a.m. -0.9 11:12 p.m. 8.4 5:08 p.m. 2.5 Warrenton 12:06 p.m. 6.6 5:31 a.m. -0.5 11:17 p.m. 8.5 5:18 p.m. 2.6 Knappa 12:48 p.m. 6.5 6:48 a.m. -0.5 11:59 p.m. 8.4 6:35 p.m. 2.2 Depoe Bay Aug 30 Sep 5 Sep 13 Sep 21 11:04 a.m. 6.4 4:24 a.m. -0.7 10:13 p.m. 8.6 4:13 p.m. 3.0 City Atlanta Boston Chicago Dallas Denver Honolulu Houston Los Angeles Miami New York City Phoenix San Francisco Wash., DC Wed. Hi/Lo/W 86/72/t 76/61/pc 79/60/pc 87/72/pc 79/52/pc 91/77/s 97/77/pc 87/67/pc 91/77/t 76/67/pc 111/88/s 80/62/pc 79/71/c 90/68/t 80/66/pc 75/57/pc 85/73/t 90/59/s 91/76/pc 94/77/pc 85/66/pc 90/77/t 82/68/t 110/86/s 79/63/pc 85/68/t Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow fl urries, sn-snow, i-ice. 85/52 Kennewick Walla Walla 92/62 Lewiston 92/54 91/58 Hermiston The Dalles 93/55 Enterprise Pendleton 84/51 90/58 94/60 La Grande 87/51 99/59 NATIONAL CITIES Today Hi/Lo/W Pullman 89/55 90/56 Salem 84/57 Yakima 90/56 Longview 84/56 Portland 96/63 Spokane 87/63 85/55 87/55 Astoria ALMANAC HOURS OPEN: MON-FRI 8-6 * SATURDAY * SUNDAY 10-4 We Service What We Sell Corvallis 98/58 Albany 98/58 John Day Eugene Bend 99/58 89/54 91/58 Ontario 92/51 Caldwell Burns 90/45 90/50 Medford 106/68 Klamath Falls 94/52 City Baker City Brookings Ilwaco Newberg Newport Today Hi/Lo/W 89/45/s 69/54/s 78/60/s 96/59/s 76/52/s Wed. Hi/Lo/W 98/54/s 68/58/pc 73/59/s 95/60/s 69/56/s City North Bend Roseburg Seaside Springfi eld Vancouver Today Hi/Lo/W 75/55/s 103/64/s 84/59/s 98/58/s 94/60/s Wed. Hi/Lo/W 69/57/pc 98/63/s 76/58/s 95/57/s 94/62/s