A5
THE ASTORIAN • SATuRdAy, AuguST 21, 2021
OBITUARIES
Biden nominates Oregon tribal
leader for park service director
By GARY WARNER
and ANTONIO SIERRA
Oregon Capital Bureau
and East Oregonian
President Joe Biden nom-
inated Chuck Sams, a long-
time tribal leader from Ore-
gon, as director of the
National Park Service.
Sams, 50, a former
administrator of the Con-
federated Tribes of Uma-
tilla Indian Reservation, is
the president’s choice to run
the service, which oversees a
system that attracts 318 mil-
lion visitors each year.
If approved by the U.S.
Senate, Sams would be
the first Native American
to serve as director of the
National Park Service. He
is an enrolled member of
the Cayuse and Walla Walla
tribes, which are part of the
Confederated Tribes of the
Umatilla Indian Reservation
in northeastern Oregon. He
and his wife, Lori Sams, and
their four children live there.
Sams would be the park
service’s first full-time direc-
tor since the Obama admin-
istration. Former President
Donald Trump nominated a
candidate, but he was never
confirmed by the Senate, and
the agency has been over-
seen by a series of acting
directors for the past four
years.
The National Park Ser-
vice, established in 1916,
includes 63 National Parks,
such as Crater Lake, Yosem-
ite, Yellowstone and Grand
Canyon.
In all, the park service
administers 85 million acres
at 423 sites in all 50 states,
plus the District of Colum-
bia, Puerto Rico, the U.S.
Virgin Islands, Guam and
American Samoa.
The park service has over
12,000 employees. Biden’s
proposed budget calls for
$3.5 billion for the National
Park Service.
Sams will report to Inte-
rior Secretary Deb Haaland,
a former New Mexico con-
Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian
President Joe Biden has nominated Chuck Sams to be director
of the National Park Service.
gresswoman and the first
Native American to hold the
position.
Gov. Kate Brown praised
the selection, saying Sams
would be an excellent stew-
ard of the gems of America’s
natural beauty.
“Today is a proud day
for Oregon. Chuck Sams
is among Oregon’s finest,
and I can’t think of a bet-
ter person for the important
role of National Park Ser-
vice director,” Brown said.
“I have worked closely with
Chuck for many years, and
have witnessed firsthand his
unparalleled devotion and
service to his tribe, our state,
and our nation.”
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, an
Oregon Democrat, had also
endorsed Sams and said he
was happy that Biden would
submit Sams’ nomination.
“I called my friend Chuck
Sams today to congratulate
him for earning this historic
nomination for tribal com-
munities,” Wyden said. “I
very much look forward to
working with him in his new
role to help the National Park
Service here in Oregon and
throughout our country.”
SEVENDAY FORECAST FOR ASTORIA
TODAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
The Trust for Public
Land, a conservation group,
said Sams would be a good
steward of the nation’s prime
properties.
“Chuck Sams is a vision-
ary conservation leader with
a deep demonstrated com-
mitment to natural and cul-
tural resources and the com-
munities that depend on
them,” said Diane Regas, the
group’s CEO. “His positive
focus on land restoration,
species protection, youth
programs, and access —
give him a uniquely valuable
perspective on America’s
irreplaceable public lands.”
Sams was chosen earlier
this year by Brown as one
of Oregon’s two representa-
tives to the Northwest Power
and Conservation Council.
He previously held positions
with the Confederated Tribes
of the Umatilla Indian Res-
ervation, including execu-
tive and deputy executive
director,
communications
director and environmental
health and safety officer and
planner. He’s a veteran of the
U.S. Navy.
Sams holds a bachelor’s
degree in business adminis-
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
tration from Concordia Uni-
versity and a master of legal
studies in Indigenous peo-
ples law from the University
of Oklahoma. He’s taught
at Georgetown University
and Whitman College. He
sit on the boards of the Ore-
gon Cultural Trust and envi-
ronmentally-oriented Gray
Family Foundation.
Sams climbed the ladder
in tribal government after
returning home in 2012, cul-
minating in a second stint as
interim executive director in
late 2020. Despite the oppor-
tunity, Sams told the board
he did not want to be consid-
ered as the permanent person
in the position.
Sams said he was already
starting to think about other
opportunities outside tribal
government prior to his
appointment to the North-
west Power and Conserva-
tion Council. Sams is the
only enrolled tribal mem-
ber on the power council
and only the second Native
American in the council’s
30-year-history.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merk-
ley, an Oregon Democrat,
also endorsed Sams’ nom-
ination. Biden had not yet
taken office in January when
Brown wrote him suggesting
Sams for the National Park
Service position.
“During your administra-
tion, I envision students —
both young and old, tribal
and nontribal alike — vis-
iting Yellowstone, Arches,
Mesa Verde or Oregon’s Cra-
ter Lake, and hearing the sto-
ries of our past and present,
including the important sto-
ries of the tribal peoples who
have inhabited these special
places,” the governor wrote
to the president. “Chuck is
a consummate storyteller,
and has the skillset and pas-
sion to inspire the dedicated
staff of the NPS to tell those
stories, and to find new and
innovative ways to make our
parks accessible to all Amer-
icans, while conserving and
preserving those lands.”
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Donna Cooper-Searle
Dallas, Oregon
Nov. 24, 1944 — Aug. 5, 2021
It is with great sorrow Westerlund and Pam
that we inform the com- Edwards, and two sons,
munity of the passing of Chuck Smith, and Daniel
Donna Coo-
(Cheryl) Smith.
per-Searle,
Donna is also
who
passed
succeeded by 11
away on Aug.
grandchildren,
5, 2021, at the
Ryan and Alex
age of 76.
(Dana) Fritsch,
Michelle West-
Donna was
erlund,
Rylie
born on Nov.
Edwards, Sammi
24, 1944, in
Smith, Eli Smith,
Pittsburgh,
Abigail
Smith,
Pennsylva-
nia, to Kenneth
Donna Cooper-
Rachel
Smith,
Searle
and Kay Coo-
Jonah
Smith,
per. The family
Joshua Smith and
then moved to California, Taylor Smith.
Donna was preceded
where she received her
education, and she gradu- in death by her parents,
ated from Lakewood High Kenneth and Kay Cooper,
School.
and her older brother, Ken
After
graduation, Cooper.
Donna Cooper-Sear-
Donna made a name for
herself as a secretary, leav- le’s memorial service
ing a lasting impact on var- will be held on Aug. 28 at
ious companies and sev- 1 p.m. at the Lighthouse
eral churches. She moved Christian Church, 88786
to Seaside in the early Dellmoor Loop Road, in
1970s, and lived there for Warrenton. The officiat-
many years before marry- ing pastor will be Den-
ing Bob Searle in 2011.
nis Sawyer, and the recep-
Despite already having tion will take place in the
several children from pre- church, immediately fol-
vious marriages, Donna lowing the service.
embraced Bob’s family
The graveside ser-
like it was her own, and vice will be held on Aug.
28 at Ocean View Ceme-
the two families united.
Donna is succeeded tery at 4 p.m. The family
by her husband, Bob welcomes all people who
Searle; four children, two wish to pay their respects
daughters, Ann (Doug) to Donna’s memory.
OBITUARY POLICY
The Astorian publishes paid obituaries. The obituary
can include a small photo and, for veterans, a flag sym-
bol at no charge. The deadline for all obituaries is 9 a.m.
the business day prior.
Obituaries may be edited for spelling, proper punctua-
tion 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 Dai-
lyAstorian.com/forms/obits, by email at ewilson@dai-
lyastorian.com, placed via the funeral home or in person at
The Astorian office, 949 Exchange St. in Astoria.
For more information, call 503-325-3211, ext. 257.
REGIONAL FORECAST
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
Seattle
68 55
66 52
67 51
Clouds breaking Mostly sunny
Mostly sunny
68 52
69 54
68 54
Partly sunny Clouds and sun Partly sunny
68 55
Variable
cloudiness
Aberdeen
Olympia
68/57
70/55
Wenatchee
Tacoma
Moses
Lake
71/53
ALMANAC
UNDER THE SKY
TODAY'S TIDES
Astoria through Thursday
Tonight’s Sky: Waxing gibbous
moon and Saturn are just 3.4
degrees apart. A must see!
Astoria / Port Docks
Temperatures
High/low ................................ 62/57
Normal high/low .................. 69/54
Record high .................. 98 in 2016
Record low .................... 39 in 1973
Precipitation
Thursday ................................. 0.04”
Month to date ........................ 0.38”
Normal month to date ......... 0.56”
Year to date .......................... 37.87”
Normal year to date ........... 38.56”
Forecasts and graphics provided by
AccuWeather, Inc. ©2021
Time
High (ft.) Time Low (ft.)
12:23 a.m. 8.4 7:35 a.m. -1.4
1:50 p.m. 7.0 7:28 p.m. 1.8
Cape Disappointment
1:33 p.m.
none
Source: Jim Todd, OMSI
Hammond
SUN AND MOON
Sunrise today .................. 6:22 a.m.
Sunset tonight ............... 8:14 p.m.
Moonrise today ............. 8:26 p.m.
Moonset today ............... 5:00 a.m.
Full
Last
New
6.9 6:43 a.m. -1.5
6:37 p.m. 2.2
First
12:13 a.m. 8.7 7:01 a.m. -1.8
1:43 p.m. 7.2 7:01 p.m. 1.8
Warrenton
12:18 a.m. 8.8 7:19 a.m. -1.3
1:45 p.m. 7.4 7:12 p.m. 1.9
Knappa
1:00 a.m.
2:27 p.m.
Depoe Bay
Aug 22 Aug 29 Sep 6 Sep 13
8.6 8:36 a.m. -1.2
7.3 8:29 p.m. 1.5
12:46 p.m. 7.2 6:12 a.m. -1.6
none
6:08 p.m. 2.3
City
Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Honolulu
Houston
Los Angeles
Miami
New York City
Phoenix
San Francisco
Wash., DC
Sun.
Hi/Lo/W
85/72/t
84/69/pc
86/68/t
95/77/s
85/61/pc
88/76/pc
96/76/s
76/65/pc
91/81/pc
82/72/t
100/79/s
69/57/pc
85/73/t
88/73/t
75/68/r
84/65/s
96/76/s
93/59/s
88/76/r
97/75/s
77/63/s
91/82/t
82/73/sh
104/80/s
69/55/s
89/73/c
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy,
c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms,
r-rain, sf-snow fl urries, sn-snow, i-ice.
74/57
Hermiston
The Dalles 79/60
Enterprise
Pendleton 62/45
74/55
79/59
La Grande
70/50
77/55
NATIONAL CITIES
Today
Hi/Lo/W
66/52
Kennewick Walla Walla
73/57 Lewiston
79/58
70/56
Salem
Pullman
76/52
Longview
68/55 Portland
75/59
64/53
Yakima 76/53
71/54
Astoria
Spokane
73/57
Corvallis
75/52
Albany
76/53
John Day
Eugene
Bend
77/52
72/44
74/47
Ontario
79/52
Caldwell
Burns
75/38
76/52
Medford
81/53
Klamath Falls
76/39
City
Baker City
Brookings
Ilwaco
Newberg
Newport
Today
Hi/Lo/W
70/40/sh
67/51/s
65/56/pc
75/54/pc
63/52/pc
Sun.
Hi/Lo/W
81/41/s
68/52/s
65/57/s
74/45/s
63/47/pc
City
North Bend
Roseburg
Seaside
Springfi eld
Vancouver
Today
Hi/Lo/W
69/54/pc
78/53/pc
66/54/pc
78/51/pc
72/58/pc
Sun.
Hi/Lo/W
68/51/pc
82/51/s
67/52/s
79/48/s
73/49/s