A5
THE ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, JULY 5, 2022
OBITUARIES
Dr. Rodney Spexarth Miller
Clatskanie
March 6, 1922 — June 30, 2022
Dave Killen/The Oregonian
The Interstate Bridge between Portland and Vancouver.
Interstate Bridge replacement
design too low, Coast Guard says
ing the design to several local and state
government agencies this month, includ-
ing the cities and ports of Portland and
The U.S. Coast Guard has told project Vancouver and the Metro regional gov-
planners that their proposed design for a ernment. Nine bodies in all must approve
new Interstate Bridge is too low and that the design before it can move to the next
the maritime service would be unlikely to phase, an environmental assessment.
approve the plan in its current form.
The design includes a light rail connec-
A letter from the Coast Guard to bridge tion between Portland and Vancouver, and
planners last month said that a new struc- it adds one auxiliary lane in each direc-
ture needs 178 feet of clearance, or a tion to the existing six lanes. The auxil-
drawbridge, to accommodate vessels nav- iary lanes would directly connect some of
igating the Columbia River, as well as the interchanges near the bridge, easing
products manufactured by several local abrupt merges.
companies.
That’s been a point of contention for
The current design for a new bridge is environmental groups who say adding a
116 feet high with a fi xed span. The exist- lane will encourage more people to drive,
ing bridge is two spans, both of which lift exacerbating climate change.
up to 178 feet.
In light of the
Even under plan-
Coast Guard’s state-
ners’ most optimis-
ment, those activists
‘IF THE COAST
tic timeline, construc-
also urged bridge plan-
GUARD DECIDES, ners to consider taking
tion is unlikely to begin
until 2025 or beyond,
another design into the
AS THEY’VE
after a full environmen-
environmental review
tal review of the bridge
process.
SIGNALED THIS
design. But the Coast
suggesting
WEEK, THAT THEY the “We’re
Guard will fi rst need to
locally preferred
sign off on a permit.
alternative they’re pro-
WON’T APPROVE
Bridge height also
posing, and either a
A 116-FOOT
caused friction during
lift bridge or tunnel to
a last incarnation of the
accommodate the Coast
BRIDGE, WE’LL
project, when Oregon
Guard,” said Chris
and Washington state
Smith, a member of the
HAVE A PLAN B
agreed to pay millions
Just Crossing Alliance,
OR PLAN C.’
of dollars to three com-
a coalition of about two
panies located upriver
dozen local environ-
Khanh Pham | state representative
whose products — drill
mental and transporta-
rigs and other massive
tion advocates.
pieces of equipment —
A second plan would
wouldn’t fi t under the proposed Columbia keep the bridge from being delayed too
River Crossing.
much in case the design doesn’t pass envi-
Disputes over light rail and the Wash- ronmental reviews, Smith said. He sug-
ington Legislature’s decision not to fund gested alternatives could allow the project
the bridge eventually torpedoed that ver- to be completed in phases, allowing local
sion of the project in 2014.
leaders to prioritize other regional projects
Greg Johnson, the director of the Inter- as well.
state Bridge r eplacement program, said in
“This plan will just sweep off all addi-
a written statement that the Coast Guard’s tional funding for a decade,” Smith said of
decision is preliminary and that his team the current design.
had anticipated pushback on the height.
And, he said, a bridge built to 178 feet
He said while he understood the Coast of clearance as the Coast Guard is seek-
Guard is focused on keeping navigation ing would require very steep ramps onto
open on the water, his team’s goals are Hayden Island and into downtown Van-
much broader.
couver that would be especially diffi cult
“The IBR program has a responsibil- for bikers and pedestrians to use.
ity to identify a multimodal solution that
State Rep. Khanh Pham, D-Portland, is
not only addresses the needs of navigation a member of the Just Crossing A lliance, as
but those of all program area users includ- well as the two-state legislative commit-
ing air, transit, freight, vehicle and active tee which will vote on the design in July.
transportation,” he wrote.
She urged the project planners to heed the
Johnson said in the statement that while warning and come up with another poten-
planners hope to avoid a lift-span bridge, tial solution.
which would likely add considerable cost,
“If the Coast Guard decides, as they’ve
they will continue to discuss it with the signaled this week, that they won’t approve
Coast Guard.
a 116-foot bridge, we’ll have a Plan B or
The bridge planning team is present- Plan C,” she said.
By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN
The Oregonian
SEVENDAY FORECAST FOR ASTORIA
TODAY
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
Dr. Rodney Spexarth Miller, a retired tain the church. Rod was a life member
dentist, passed away on June 30, at the of the American Dental Association, Clat-
age of 100, in Clatskanie. He celebrated sop County Historical Society, Columbia
River Maritime Museum and the
his 100th birthday on March 6,
Community Concert Association
with a party surrounded by fam-
in Astoria.
ily and friends at Sapphire at The
Rod enjoyed spending time
Amber a ssisted l iving facility in
with family, camping, walk-
Clatskanie.
ing, drinking coff ee and home
Rod was born on March 6,
do-it-yourself projects. He also
1922, to Ira Scoville Miller and
enjoyed traveling, especially
May Spexarth Miller, in Astoria.
trips to Hawaii and the Holy
Rod’s older brother, Myron, was
Land.
lost during World War II in 1945.
Rod is survived by his son,
His sister, Marcia Beber, passed
Dr. Rodney Miller
Murray Miller (Mary), of Asto-
away in 2019.
ria; daughters, Lani Armstrong
Rod graduated from Astoria
High School in 1940. He attended the Uni- Bidgood (Duane), of Surprise, Arizona,
versity of Oregon, Willamette University and Sheryl Miller Barron (Tony), of Klam-
and Baltimore College of Dental Surgery ath Falls; and a daughter-in-law, Jan Arm-
in Maryland. He graduated from the Uni- strong, of Hood River.
Rod is also survived by eight grand-
versity of Oregon Dental School in 1947.
Rod practiced dentistry in Astoria from children, Lisa Hamilton (Bill), Daniel
1947 until his retirement in 1992. He was Armstrong, Tana Lerma (Pat), Ron King
involved in a program to introduce fl uoride (Sandy), Chelsea Miles, Joshua Miller
into the water system in Astoria to help (Cori), Molly Wing (Brandon) and Heather
Hensley (Marc); numerous great-grand-
prevent tooth decay.
Rod married Naomi O’Neal in Astoria children; Frances’ children, Janet Owens
in 1948. Together they had one son, Mur- (Ted), Jay Dietrichs (Matt), Celia Rum-
ray Myron Miller. Naomi passed away in mell (Brian) and Alan Dietrichs; and spe-
cial friends, Dr. Philip Bales and his wife,
January 1964.
Rod married Donna Armstrong on Oct. Ann.
The family would like to thank his per-
31, 1964, adding three more children to the
family, Lani Armstrong Bidgood, Sheryl sonal caregivers, Judie Malinen, Echo
Miller Barron and the late Danny Arm- Cruse, Belinda Steinman, Aja Victorine
Vance and Vanessa Ramirez, and all of the
strong. Donna passed away in 1992.
In 1995, Rod married Frances Diet- wonderful staff at Sapphire at The Amber
richs. Rod welcomed Frances’ four chil- a ssisted l iving facility in Clatskanie.
Contributions may be made to the Clat-
dren, Jay Dietrichs, Janet Dietrichs Owens,
Celia Dietrichs Rummell and Alan Diet- sop County Historical Society or Lower
richs, into the family. Frances passed away Columbia Hospice in Rod’s name.
A graveside service will be at Ocean
in November 2020.
Rod was a member and elder at the First View Cemetery in Warrenton at 1 p.m. on
Presbyterian Church in Astoria. He was Friday.
Arrangements are through Caldwell’s
also a member of the “Medicare Boys,”
which was a group that helped to main- Luce-Layton Mortuary in Astoria.
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REGIONAL FORECAST
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
Seattle
66 56
A couple of
showers
67 55
69 54
67 55
69 57
73 55
Cloudy with a
Mostly cloudy
Rain and drizzle Partial sunshine Clouds and sun
shower
70 55
Partly sunny
Aberdeen
Olympia
70/56
76/58
Wenatchee
Tacoma
Moses
Lake
77/55
ALMANAC
UNDER THE SKY
TODAY'S TIDES
Astoria through Sunday
Tonight’s Sky: Earth at Aphelion
(farthest from sun). The sun-Earth
distance is 1.02 AU.
Astoria / Port Docks
Temperatures
High/low ................................ 65/55
Normal high/low .................. 66/53
Record high .................. 88 in 1906
Record low .................... 41 in 1949
Precipitation
Sunday ..................................... 0.00”
Month to date ........................ Trace
Normal month to date ......... 0.11”
Year to date .......................... 42.57”
Normal year to date ........... 37.28”
Forecasts and graphics provided by
AccuWeather, Inc. ©2022
Time
High (ft.) Time Low (ft.)
5:25 a.m.
6:47 p.m.
6.6 12:09 p.m. 0.2
6.9
none
Cape Disappointment
5:07 a.m.
6:34 p.m.
Source: Jim Todd, OMSI
Hammond
SUN AND MOON
Sunrise today .................. 5:31 a.m.
Sunset tonight ............... 9:09 p.m.
Moonrise today ........... 12:02 p.m.
Moonset today ............ 12:30 a.m.
First
Full
Last
New
5:18 a.m.
6:42 p.m.
Warrenton
5:20 a.m.
6:42 p.m.
Knappa
6:02 a.m.
7:24 p.m.
Depoe Bay
July 6 July 13 July 20 July 28
4:17 a.m.
5:50 p.m.
6.3 11:35 a.m. 0.4
6.7
none
6.8 11:50 a.m. 0.4
7.2
none
7.0 11:53 a.m. 0.3
7.3
none
6.8 12:59 a.m. 2.2
7.2 1:10 p.m. 0.2
6.4 11:00 a.m. 0.2
6.8 11:50 p.m. 2.7
City
Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Honolulu
Houston
Los Angeles
Miami
New York City
Phoenix
San Francisco
Wash., DC
90/76/t
84/68/pc
95/69/t
102/81/s
91/63/c
86/74/sh
97/78/s
79/63/pc
89/79/sh
84/72/t
104/84/pc
73/60/c
89/78/t
Wed.
Hi/Lo/W
93/76/t
79/64/pc
83/70/t
102/81/s
87/60/t
88/75/pc
95/79/pc
80/61/pc
87/79/t
87/68/pc
105/83/pc
72/58/pc
91/72/t
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy,
c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms,
r-rain, sf-snow fl urries, sn-snow, i-ice.
84/62
Hermiston
The Dalles 88/62
Enterprise
Pendleton 77/53
84/59
86/66
La Grande
80/55
78/61
NATIONAL CITIES
Today
Hi/Lo/W
77/55
Kennewick Walla Walla
83/62 Lewiston
88/62
75/59
Salem
Pullman
84/62
Longview
66/56 Portland
78/62
79/60
Yakima 85/63
75/55
Astoria
Spokane
81/63
Corvallis
74/58
Albany
77/59
John Day
Eugene
Bend
75/59
76/54
83/53
Ontario
92/64
Caldwell
Burns
83/50
91/61
Medford
78/62
Klamath Falls
75/45
City
Baker City
Brookings
Ilwaco
Newberg
Newport
Today
Hi/Lo/W
80/51/pc
61/55/pc
66/57/c
77/59/sh
61/56/pc
Wed.
Hi/Lo/W
83/53/pc
61/52/r
66/57/r
74/57/r
62/52/r
City
North Bend
Roseburg
Seaside
Springfi eld
Vancouver
Today
Hi/Lo/W
64/57/c
74/61/pc
67/57/sh
76/59/pc
78/62/sh
Wed.
Hi/Lo/W
65/53/r
76/60/sh
67/56/r
73/57/c
76/61/pc