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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (June 22, 2018)
T he C olumbia P ress 1 50 ¢ C latsop C ounty ’ s I ndependent W eekly n eWspaper www.thecolumbiapress.com June 22, 2018 Body of missing fisherman found Vol. 2, Issue 25 Summertime and school cafeterias keep on cooking The Columbia Press The body of Scappoose man who disappeared while fishing on the coast was found June 16 in Fort Stevens State Park. Bret Allen Yates, 52, had been reported missing June 13 when he failed to return from a fishing trip. The area was searched Wednesday and the Coast Guard issues multiple alerts throughout the day, Yates asking boaters to be on the lookout for him. His body washed ashore at Social Security Beach, on the river side of Fort Stevens. Foul play is not suspected and there was nothing suspicious related to the death, according to the Clatsop Coun- ty Sheriff’s Department. Yates left his home about 7:45 p.m. June 12 and planned to fish from the beach near South Jetty. He’d texted his wife, Mechelle, at 9:45 p.m. to let her know he’d arrived at Fort Stevens. Mechelle Yates reported her husband missing Wednesday morning after he failed to return home as planned. When school lets out for the summer, thousands of Oregon children lose ac- cess to breakfast, lunch and after-school meals that are available during the regu- lar school year. Many children and families rely on school meals to supplement what’s avail- able at home. The Summer Food Service Program helps fill the gap by providing free nutritious meals to children and teens over the summer months. Programs are offered throughout Clat- sop County and the state. Free meals and enrichment activities are offered at participating summer sites, including many schools, parks and other nonprofit organizations. Above: Making healthy The program is underutilized, program choices is the theme of organizers say, with many families un- school lunches these aware of the free meals and activities in days. Salads, fruit, veg- their communities. etables and grain-filled Nationally, only one in six children desserts are on the menu. who receive free or reduced-price meals Left: A typical school-year during the school year continue to receive breakfast selection of fruit, meals during the summer. yogurt and granola. Increasing awareness of and access to these programs can have a significant im- Photos courtesy Oregon pact by helping to provide food for those Department of Education See ‘Lunches’ on Page 4 Plans for expanded community center may find a home B y C indy y ingst The Columbia Press Turning hopes into reality can be difficult, but dreams seldom come true without a game plan. The board of Warrenton Senior Cit- izens Inc. hopes to develop a winning strategy for an expansion of Warren- ton Community Center. “It’s a vision of some of our board members to provide a five-day-a- week experience,” said Don Mellison, one of four people on a task force for development of a senior center in Warrenton. His group offers reduced-price meals for seniors on Mondays and Thursdays at the community center, which is owned by the city of War- renton. But that’s about it for senior activities. A designated space for seniors – whether a stand-alone senior center or an expansion of the city’s facility – could offer daily meals and serve as a drop-in center for socializing, games, classes and lectures. “A number of us have gotten togeth- er and said we want a senior center added on to the existing community center,” said Gil Gramson, a former city manager, mayor and current task force member. “We’re just getting the ball rolling,” he said. “The main thing is that there’s going to be more and more seniors. Warrenton Community Center could They need that place to go for social- be expanded to include an area See ‘Senior center’ on Page 6 solely for senior citizens.