A5
THE ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021
State could lose many fi refi ghters
over Brown’s vaccine mandate
By SIERRA DAWN
McCLAIN
Capital Press
AURORA — Oregon’s
pool of fi rst responders may
shrink substantially this fall.
In the wake of Gov. Kate
Brown’s mandate that fi rst
responders must receive the
COVID-19 vaccine, fi re and
rescue departments across
Oregon expect to lose many
paid staff and volunteers
who choose not to get vacci-
nated by Oct. 18, the vacci-
nation deadline.
Aurora Fire District, for
example, serves about 6,000
Marion County residents.
Aurora’s team — eight staff
and 17 volunteers — answer
about 1,300 emergency calls
annually. Due to the man-
date, the district’s leaders
project they will lose 25%
to 50% of their team, which
could halve the number of
emergencies the department
can respond to.
“For various reasons, I
have people that have cho-
sen to get vaccines and some
who have chosen not to,”
said Aurora’s Fire Chief
Sierra Dawn McClain/Capital Press
From left, members of the Aurora Rural Fire District, Timothy
Gloy, Mike Corless, Tanner Burke and Alan Schwabauer.
Joshua Williams. “The vac-
cine mandate is potentially
going to cause some serious
issues.”
Brown issued the man-
date requiring vaccines for
emergency medical services
providers (EMS provid-
ers), including fi refi ghters
licensed as EMS provid-
ers, after a spike in Oregon
COVID cases between July
and September, when hospi-
talizations increased nearly
1,000%.
“People are dying right
now when we have safe,
eff ective, and free vac-
cines readily available,”
said Brown’s spokesman,
Charles Boyle. Unvacci-
nated people in the work-
place, Boyle said, “put them-
selves and everyone around
them at risk for COVID-19.”
Critics, however, are
concerned the mandate
may have unintended con-
sequences — including
the potential to push fi rst
responders to resign.
No one knows for sure
how many fi rst respond-
ers the state will lose. Each
emergency
department
the Capital Press talked to
off ered a diff erent predic-
tion: 10%, 25%, 50%.
Genoa Ingram, executive
director of Oregon Volunteer
Firefi ghters
Association,
said that while no one knows
fi nal numbers yet, impacts
will likely be far-reaching.
“Nearly every district or
department I’ve talked to
has indicated there will be
some shortage because not
everyone is willing or can be
vaccinated,” said Ingram.
The fallout does not
appear disproportionately
concentrated in rural areas,
Ingram said; one large urban
district is at risk of losing 80
responders.
“It isn’t regional,” said
Ingram. “I would’ve thought
it would be urban versus
rural, but it’s not. Some
urban departments are los-
ing large percentages of fi rst
responders. And then I’ve
had some very rural depart-
ments in Eastern Oregon
saying basically everyone is
vaxxed.”
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OBITUARIES
Mary Johanna Oja
Astoria
Feb. 21, 1933 — Aug. 22, 2021
Mary Johanna Oja, 88, and a few cats.
lifelong Astoria resident,
Her love of fl owers led
passed away at her family her to design bridal bouquets
home on Aug. 22, 2021.
and fl oral creations for fam-
Mary was born Feb. 21, ily and friends’ weddings,
1933, in Astoria, the young- never considering it work,
est child of Milison and always fun and an honor.
Ester Johnson Wullger. She
A gifted artist, she
lived her entire life in the enjoyed drawing, water-
Youngs River Valley, an colors and tole painting.
area her ancestors
She took pottery
immigrated to in
classes and yoga
the mid-1850s.
before it was cool.
She attended
She also helped
the one-room Bat-
family and neigh-
tle Creek School
bors wallpaper and
in Youngs River,
paint their homes.
walking to school
In 1984, Mary
each day. She was
and Bob started
a 1951 graduate
Oja’s Christmas
of Astoria High
Tree Farm. She
Mary Oja
School.
enjoyed
seeing
After gradua-
the land produce
tion, Mary worked at First the trees, and how much joy
National Bank and Knutsen everyone had when they’d
Insurance until she began choose their tree each year.
raising her family. On June She was involved in running
1, 1957, she married the love the farm until her passing.
of her life, Robert M. Oja.
Mary is survived by her
He passed away on Dec. 24, son, Bart (Mary); daugh-
2019.
ter, Mary Louise (Paul);
In 1975, Mary began four grandchildren, Chris
working at Clatsop Com- Oja (Melissa), Caitlin Oja,
munity College, and worked Andrea Phillips and Eddie
there until retiring in 1995. Phillips; great-grandsons,
Mary made many lasting Sawyer and Easton Oja; as
friendships at the college. well as beloved nieces and
Mary also worked with Bob nephews.
at their business, Columbia
Her brother, David M.
River Engine Co.
Wullger, sister, Carolyn
Mary devoted her time to Wolfgram, and daughter-in-
her family, was an excellent law, Kathie Oja, preceded
cook, and no one ever went her in death.
away hungry.
Mary was a member
Mary was a Cub Scout of the First Presbyterian
den mother, a room mother Church, Clatsop County
at Lewis and Clark Con- Historical Society and a past
solidated School and a 4-H member of the Alpha lota
leader, teaching her kids sorority. She was also one of
the value and joy of grow- the last remaining members
ing your own vegetables and of the Youngs River Mead-
fl owers. She also found the ows Club.
patience to raise numerous
A private graveside ser-
black Labrador retrievers vice is planned.
SEVENDAY FORECAST FOR ASTORIA
TODAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
Although we do some
ASTORIA A: Absolutely!
manual adjustments, we also have
CHIROPRACTIC
Mary’s wishes were that
memorial contributions may
be made to: First Presby-
terian Church, 1103 Grand
Ave. Astoria, OR., 97103;
the Columbia River Mari-
time Museum, 1792 Marine
Drive, Astoria, OR., 97103;
or the Clatsop County
Historical Society, 714
Exchange St., Astoria, OR.,
97103.
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A:
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1414 MARINE DRIVE,
ASTORIA
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SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
REGIONAL FORECAST
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
Seattle
59 43
Mostly sunny
58 48
59 51
58 43
Cloudy with a Cloudy, showers A couple of
shower
around
showers
55 41
58 43
57 46
Showers
possible
Sunny to partly
cloudy
Showers
possible
Aberdeen
Olympia
60/41
58/45
Wenatchee
Tacoma
Moses
Lake
58/40
ALMANAC
UNDER THE SKY
TODAY'S TIDES
Astoria through Tuesday
Tonight’s Sky: New moon (4:06
a.m.)
Astoria / Port Docks
Temperatures
High/low ................................ 60/49
Normal high/low .................. 64/47
Record high .................. 81 in 2015
Record low .................... 34 in 1992
Precipitation
Tuesday ................................... 0.13”
Month to date ........................ 0.24”
Normal month to date ......... 0.76”
Year to date .......................... 43.22”
Normal year to date ........... 42.55”
Forecasts and graphics provided by
AccuWeather, Inc. ©2021
Time
High (ft.) Time Low (ft.)
2:21 a.m.
2:26 p.m.
7.8 8:30 a.m. 0.2
8.6 9:06 p.m. -0.9
Cape Disappointment
1:55 a.m.
2:03 p.m.
Source: Jim Todd, OMSI
Hammond
SUN AND MOON
Sunrise today .................. 7:22 a.m.
Sunset tonight ............... 6:44 p.m.
Moonrise today .............. 8:47 a.m.
Moonset today .............. 7:39 p.m.
New
First
Full
Last
2:07 a.m.
2:14 p.m.
Warrenton
2:16 a.m.
2:21 p.m.
Knappa
2:58 a.m.
3:03 p.m.
Depoe Bay
Oct 6 Oct 12 Oct 20 Oct 28
1:07 a.m.
1:14 p.m.
7.8 7:38 a.m. 0.3
8.6 8:11 p.m. -1.0
8.1 7:59 a.m. 0.2
8.9 8:33 p.m. -1.1
8.2 8:14 a.m. 0.3
9.0 8:50 p.m. -0.8
8.0 9:31 a.m. 0.2
8.8 10:07 p.m. -0.8
8.2 7:05 a.m. 0.5
9.1 7:41 p.m. -0.8
City
Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Honolulu
Houston
Los Angeles
Miami
New York City
Phoenix
San Francisco
Wash., DC
Fri.
Hi/Lo/W
77/68/r
73/58/s
71/63/r
91/69/s
77/51/s
87/75/pc
88/64/s
69/60/c
89/79/pc
74/63/pc
91/69/pc
66/56/pc
77/65/c
77/64/pc
69/57/s
73/61/c
93/67/s
78/52/c
86/74/sh
88/65/s
66/54/sh
87/77/t
76/62/pc
89/67/c
66/54/c
77/65/c
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy,
c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms,
r-rain, sf-snow fl urries, sn-snow, i-ice.
63/39
Hermiston
The Dalles 65/34
Enterprise
Pendleton 57/28
62/35
68/41
La Grande
59/27
64/40
NATIONAL CITIES
Today
Hi/Lo/W
58/35
Kennewick Walla Walla
62/39 Lewiston
66/35
58/40
Salem
Pullman
63/32
Longview
59/43 Portland
63/44
58/35
Yakima 62/33
59/39
Astoria
Spokane
61/39
Corvallis
63/37
Albany
61/36
John Day
Eugene
Bend
63/39
61/32
62/35
Ontario
67/43
Caldwell
Burns
61/32
65/44
Medford
68/40
Klamath Falls
63/31
City
Baker City
Brookings
Ilwaco
Newberg
Newport
Today
Hi/Lo/W
59/29/c
63/46/s
58/45/pc
61/38/s
57/42/s
Fri.
Hi/Lo/W
63/28/pc
59/48/c
57/52/c
61/41/pc
56/46/c
City
North Bend
Roseburg
Seaside
Springfi eld
Vancouver
Today
Hi/Lo/W
62/44/s
62/41/pc
59/43/s
62/38/s
60/41/pc
Fri.
Hi/Lo/W
60/47/c
63/44/c
57/47/c
63/44/pc
59/48/pc