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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 15, 2017)
T he C olumbia P ress December 15, 2017 Church donates bears to fire department The Columbia Press We all need something to cling to in times of tragedy. That’s why local police and fire departments carry stuffed animals and other toys. They’re meant to com- fort a child whose family is facing difficulties, such as a house fire or domestic dis- turbance. Warrenton United Meth- odist Church women de- livered 192 stuffed bears to Warrenton Fire Department on Wednesday. “It’s something they decid- ed we needed in the com- munity,” the church’s new minister, the Rev. Kathy Matthews, said of her con- gregation. “We’re a small church, but this is some- thing we can handle.” The church has been pur- chasing the bears, ensuring the fire department nev- er runs out, for about four years. “It’s needed,” member Nettie Blair said. “We get donations from members and the bazaar we hold ev- ery year.” The bears are one of sev- Cindy Yingst/The Columbia Press Fire Capt. Willie Nyberg accepts stuffed bears donated by United Methodist Church. Making the delivery are, left to right, the Rev. Kathy Matthews, Nettie Blair and Margaret Thompson. eral programs the fire depart- ment manages or does for the community, Fire Capt. Willie Nyberg said. Next week, firefighters and volunteers will put Christmas food and gift baskets together for 100 needy families. They’ll cordon off part of Main Ave- nue in front of the station for families who will pick them up Wednesday. The Fire Department is working in conjunction with Warrenton-Hammond Schools’ Healthy Kids chari- ty, which is running another program called Warrenton Wishes. There’s still time to adopt a needy family for Christ- mas. Kind-hearted souls are urged to contact the school’s office at 503-861-3376. They’ll be given information about children who need clothes and other items for the holidays. State delays Dungeness crab opening yet again The commercial Dungeness crab season has been delayed a second time this year -- un- til at least Dec. 31 -- along the entire Oregon coast. Testing shows crabs still are too low in meat yield. While the season is tar- geted to open Dec. 1, it can be delayed to ensure a high- er-quality product for con- sumers and to avoid wasting the resource. Crab quality testing in late November and early this month showed half the region still didn’t meet the criteria for an opening. The delayed opening will allow for crabs to “beef up,” so to speak. Commercial Dungeness crab is Oregon’s most valu- able fishery. Last year’s sea- son opening also was delayed, but still brought in the record high ex-vessel value of $62.7 million, with 20.4 million pounds landed (about 22 per- cent above average). Testing will continue to de- termine whether the season should open Dec. 31, be fur- ther delayed, or be split into two areas with different open- ing dates. In conjunction with the delayed ocean commercial season, commercial harvest of Dungeness crab in Oregon bays has closed for the re- mainder of the year. Oregon Department of Ag- riculture monitors domoic acid levels in crab, and crab- bing south of the Coquille River remains closed for do- moic acid levels. For more on health clo- sures, call 800-448-2474. 3 Residents appointed to city boards; more spots open The City Commission filled several open and expiring seats on various city commit- tees this week. • Planning Commission -- Chris Hayward, who owns Ocean Crest Chevrolet, was reappointed. He has served on the commission for 18 years and his term was to ex- pire Dec. 31. • Community Center Board -- Ron LeChurch, a retired mechanical engi- neer, was appointed to the Warrenton Community Cen- ter Board. Earlier this year, LeChurch ran for an open seat on the City Commission, which was created when Mark Kujala stepped down as mayor and Mayor Pro Tem Henry Balensifer was select- ed to fill the mayor’s post. There are two vacant spots remaining. • Parks Advisory Board – Carol Snell, former direc- tor of the Northwest Oregon Housing Authority, was re- appointed. Her term was to expire Dec. 31. There are two additional vacant spots on the board. • Warrenton Budget Committee – Paul Mitchell, community outreach man- ager at Columbia Memorial Hospital, and Flint Carlson, retired assistant fire chief, whose seats were set to ex- pire Dec. 31, were reappoint- ed. Dan Jackson, a facilities manager who also serves on the school board, was ap- pointed to a third open posi- tion. • Warrenton Business Association – Roxanne Williams-Morinville, gen- eral manager of Warrenton Kia, and Mike Moha, busi- ness manager for the school district, whose seats were set to expire Dec. 31, were reap- pointed. A third open spot will be filled by Lois Perdue, Hamp- ton Lumber Mill manager. One vacant seat remains. h oW to get involved Residents are urged to ap- ply for any vacant seat. For information, contact City Re- corder Dawne Shaw at 503- 861-2233.