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.