A2
THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2021
IN BRIEF
State updates vaccine rollout
against coronavirus
All Oregonians should be eligible to receive coro-
navirus vaccines by July, according to the state.
Gov. Kate Brown on Friday updated the state’s
priority list. After seniors, people 45 to 64 years old
with underlying health conditions will be next in line
by March 29, along with seafood and agriculture
workers, people living in low-income senior hous-
ing, the homeless, people displaced by wildfi res and
wildland fi refi ghters.
By May, the list will expand to more front-line
workers, people living in multigenerational house-
holds and people 16 to 44 with underlying health
conditions. By June, people who are 45 to 64 will be
eligible and, by July, all people 16 and over will be
eligible.
Weather-related disruptions in vaccine delivery to
Clatsop County have set the county’s vaccine task
force behind schedule.
The county is still limiting vaccines to seniors
aged 80 and older. The county will invite people 75
and older as soon as supplies are available.
The county encourages people to fi ll out the vac-
cine survey on its website so the task force can notify
people when they are eligible for a vaccination event.
Safeway pharmacies in Astoria and Seaside
and Costco in Warrenton are offering vaccines by
appointment. People can visit the pharmacies’ web-
site for eligibility requirements and to register.
As of Friday, 6,555 doses have been administered
in the county.
Seaside woman injured
in crash on Highway 101
A Seaside woman was fl own to Oregon Health &
Science University Hospital in Portland with inju-
ries Wednesday afternoon following a crash on U.S.
Highway 101.
Offi cials say a man was heading southbound on
the highway in Seaside when he took his eyes off the
roadway to admire the scenery.
When he looked up again, offi cials say, he saw
a vehicle stopped in the southbound lane waiting to
turn left and rear-ended the vehicle, pushing it into
the northbound lane.
— The Astorian
DEATHS
Feb. 24, 2021
In ELMES,
Brief
Ronald, 83,
of Seaside, died in Sea-
side.
Hughes-Ransom
Deaths
Mortuary is in charge of
the arrangements.
Feb. 23, 2021
DUTTON,
Janet,
94, of Nehalem, died in
Nehalem. Hughes-Ran-
som Mortuary is in charge
of the arrangements.
ON THE RECORD
Strangulation
Burglary
On
the Corey Record
• Matthew
Rul-
• Addisu Getachew,
jancich, 32, of Astoria,
was arraigned Thursday
for strangulation, assault
in the fourth degree,
criminal trespass in the
fi rst degree and contempt
of court.
Assaulting an offi cer
• Jodi Marie Eno, 40,
was arraigned Thurs-
day for assaulting a pub-
lic safety offi cer, resisting
arrest, disorderly conduct
in the second degree and
criminal mischief in the
third degree.
Child neglect
• Jay Christopher
Jamieson, 38, of Astoria,
was arrested Thursday
on Knappa Dock Road
for child neglect in the
fi rst degree, endangering
the welfare of a minor,
unlawful delivery of her-
oin and unlawful delivery
of a controlled substance
to a minor.
44, was arrested Tues-
day at the Astoria River-
walk Inn for burglary in
the second degree, theft
of services and interfer-
ing with a police offi cer.
DUII
• Brian Paul McCa-
rthy, 43, was arrested
Wednesday on Exchange
Street in Astoria for driv-
ing under the infl uence of
intoxicants.
• Hansel Faxon Wolff,
33, of Warrenton, was
arrested Wednesday on
U.S. Highway 101 for
DUII.
• Lavon Lee Sar-
gent, 51, of Warrenton,
was arrested Tuesday on
Hanover Street and W.
Marine Drive in Astoria
for DUII.
• Pavel Borkin, 55,
was arrested Feb. 19 on
U.S. Highway 26 for
DUII.
PUBLIC MEETINGS
MONDAY
Knappa School District Board, 5:30 p.m., work session,
(electronic meeting).
Astoria City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 1095 Duane St.
TUESDAY
Seaside Community Center Commission, 10 a.m., Bob
Chisholm Community Center, 1225 Avenue A.
Clatsop County Board of Commissioners, noon, work
session, (electronic meeting).
Seaside Library Board of Directors, 4:30 p.m., (electronic
meeting).
Seaside Planning Commission, 6 p.m., (electronic meeting).
PUBLIC MEETINGS
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State Senate Republicans stage
walkout over Brown’s virus order
By GARY WARNER
Oregon Capital Bureau
SALEM — A one-day
Republican walkout in the
Oregon Senate on Thursday
was sparked by Gov. Kate
Brown’s announcement that
she will extend the COVID-
19 state of emergency until
May 2.
“We had to get their atten-
tion,” said state Sen. Tim
Knopp, R-Bend, one of the
lawmakers who was not pres-
ent for Thursday’s scheduled
session.
The Republicans sent a
letter to Brown protesting
her decision and other virus
restrictions and calling on her
to support reopening the Cap-
itol, which has been closed
since March .
“We need an open process
for our constituents to engage
in testimony on bills,” said
Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena.
“We want transparency so
people can have a voice in
what is going on.”
Hansell said he was tak-
ing part in virtual commit-
tee hearings on Thursday and
will continue until the next
scheduled Senate fl oor ses-
sion on Wednesday .
“I plan to be there,”
Hansell said.
The emergency declara-
tion extended Thursday gives
the governor the legal power
to issue executive orders on
health and safety, including
restrictions on businesses,
schools, meetings and activ-
ities. It also now covers vac-
cine distribution.
Oregon has the sec-
ond-lowest rate of infection
in the nation, which Brown
and Oregon Health Author-
ity leaders have credited to
strong measures to cut off
the spread of the virus. While
trends in the past month
have shown a steep drop in
COVID-19 cases, the health
authority says the virus is
still a major threat and spikes
have been caused by earlier
moves to loosen the rules to
allow more social and busi-
ness interaction.
“When I issued my fi rst
state of emergency declara-
tion last March, there were
14 known cases of COVID-
19 in Oregon,” Brown said.
“Today, we have now seen
more than 150,000 cases
across the state, and, sadly,
2,194 deaths.”
The walkout caught sena-
tors who arrived at the Cap-
itol by surprise, with 18
Democrats gathering on the
Senate fl oor, an activity that
some lawmakers have wor-
ried could expose them to
infection. All lawmakers
were wearing face coverings
on Thursday.
Senate President Peter
Courtney, D-Salem, the Leg-
islature’s
longest-serving
member, came to the podium
after the roll call showed no
Republicans had come to the
fl oor.
“I did not know they
would do this,” Courtney
told the senators. “Yes, there
are hard feelings here and
there, but nothing of this
magnitude.”
in 2019 and 2020 over cap-
and-trade legislation that
Democrats said they had
enough votes to pass in both
chambers. House Repub-
licans joined in the 2020
walkout.
Knopp and then-Rep.
Cheri Helt, R-Bend, did not
join the 2020 walkout. Both
lawmakers were locked in
tight re election campaigns
in increasingly Democratic
districts. Knopp narrowly
won his district, while Helt
was defeated by Rep. Jason
Kropf, D-Bend.
Republicans
attended
three special sessions last
year to deal with emer-
gency legislation addressing
the COVID-19 pandemic,
its associated economic
upheaval, wildfi re recovery
and police reforms.
‘SENATE REPUBLICANS CONTINUE
TO SABOTAGE OREGON’S
DEMOCRACY AND UNDERMINE
THE WILL OF VOTERS.’
Senate Democratic Leader Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego
Courtney called the
Republican action “game
playing” and said he wouldn’t
take part, opting instead to
adjourn until Wednesday.
“They need to be here and
do what they need to do to
show their opposition on the
fl oor and allow us to move
forward,” Courtney said.
The Republicans’ move
meant fi ve bills that could
have been moved into posi-
tion for votes next week are
now delayed. The 18 Demo-
crats could not move ahead
without some GOP help.
“We need two more to sat-
isfy our constitution to have
a quorum to do the peoples’
business — all the people’s
business, not just our own, ”
he said.
He asked the Republicans
to return to the fl oor for the
session next week. He then
gaveled the chamber into
adjournment.
“Very regrettable,” a glum
Courtney said.
Previous walkouts
Republicans walked out
Knopp and Hansell con-
fi rmed the letter to Brown
also called on her to open
schools, open businesses and
not redirect shipments of vac-
cine away from rural counties
that have met priority vac-
cination goals and want to
move onto other groups.
“The governor contin-
ues to keep schools closed,
continues to keep businesses
closed, despite science that
shows they can open safely
with appropriate health mea-
sures,” Knopp said. “We
hope this will open a dia-
logue about what is import-
ant to all Oregonians, not just
the advocates who got them
elected.”
Hansell said the edicts
from Brown and the Ore-
gon Health Authority have
his constituents confused and
angry.
“I get emails from teach-
ers saying ‘please open the
schools,’ from parents who
say ‘please open the schools,
this is driving our child to
depression,’ from seniors who
can’t understand why they
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‘Sabotage’
Senate
Democratic
Leader Rob Wagner, D-Lake
Oswego,
slammed
the
Republicans for using the
walkout again as a tactic,
especially amid a pandemic.
“Senate Republicans con-
tinue to sabotage Oregon’s
democracy and undermine
the will of voters,” he said.
“They have abdicated the
oaths of offi ce many of them
took just weeks ago.”
Democrats have intro-
duced legislation to lower the
quorum required to a majority
and force any member who
misses 10 calls to the fl oor
without permission of the
presiding offi cer to be pun-
ished by forfeiting their abil-
ity to run for re election. Both
would need voter approval to
amend the constitution.
The slow pace nationwide
of distribution of vaccines has
extended the arguments over
health and economic policy
that began last spring.
Supplies of the two vac-
cines available have been
slow to arrive in states.
Since December, Oregon has
administered about 860,000
shots. Both vaccines require
two shots. Oregon has an
estimated 2.8 million adults,
which would require 5.6 mil-
lion shots.
Medical workers, plus res-
idents and staff in nursing
homes, were the top priorities
for vaccination. Brown opted
to move 153,000 educators,
staff and day care workers in
front of vaccinating older res-
idents. A court order required
vaccinating about 13,000
inmates and staff at correc-
tional institutions.
On Monday, the last of
the age-related groups will
become eligible, with all
those 65 and over approved
to receive inoculations. How-
ever, availability has proven
elusive for many residents
despite eligibility. The health
authority has said its goal is
for 75% of seniors to receive
fi rst doses by April, with sec-
ond shots by May.
The Oregon Capital
Bureau is a collaboration
between EO Media Group
and Pamplin Media Group.
Riverwalk: Growing momentum of development
Continued from Page A1
for people with disabilities.
New wayfi nding and inter-
pretive signs will explain
the history of Astoria and
natural environments of the
Columbia River.
“And then also, there
will be signs that help peo-
ple like, say, through the
Uniontown area kind of
understand what amenities
are nearby in the neighbor-
hood,” Dart-McLean said.
The new Portland Loo-
style bathroom will replace
two port-a-potties at the east-
ern edge of Peoples Park,
where the Astoria Scandina-
vian Heritage Association is
fundraising to build the new
Nordic Heritage Park.
Dart-McLean said the
city doesn’t yet know when
the funds will be released.
“It will be … certainly not
for a few months until we
make much headway, and
then I would imagine con-
struction activities wouldn’t
be at least until late summer,
early fall, at the very earli-
est,” he said.
Sarah Lu Heath, the exec-
utive director of the down-
town association, said the
grant application came
about in part because of the
need for more public bath-
rooms downtown. Several
indoor bathrooms, such as
at City Hall and the Astoria
Aquatic Center, have been
unavailable during the coro-
navirus pandemic.
Edward Stratton/The Astorian
Astoria was awarded a state grant for a host of lighting,
signage and safety improvements along the Riverwalk.
“The state had listed sev-
eral goals that aligned with
what we were trying to do,
including creating transpor-
tation corridors that aren’t
on streets, and activities
for seniors and low-barrier
activities,” she said. “And
even bathrooms were called
out as a need across the
state.”
The grant continues a
growing momentum of
development along the Riv-
erwalk between downtown
and Uniontown. The Bow-
line Hotel is being built out
of a former sardine cannery
on Eighth Street. Across the
Riverwalk from the hotel,
Pilot House Distilling is
remodeling a former ware-
house into its new head-
quarters. Farther west, Fort
George Brewery is rede-
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veloping the former Asto-
ria Warehousing complex
into a new brewery and dis-
tribution center, with plans
for a new taproom along the
Riverwalk.
The city applied for
another grant to expand bol-
lard-style lighting along
the Riverwalk between the
Columbia River Maritime
Museum and Pier 39. The
Oregon Community Paths
program, including a mix
of state and possibly federal
transportation funds, would
fund the $941,000 project.
If federal transportation
funds were included, the
match would cost less than
$67,000 from the city’s Pro-
mote Astoria lodging tax
fund and $30,000 in-kind
through city parks man-
agement of the program.
With only state funds, the
match balloons to more than
$282,000 from the Promote
Astoria fund.
Dart-McLean said the
Oregon Community Paths
application will be reviewed
in May.
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