T he C olumbia P ress
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C latsop C ounty ’ s I ndependent W eekly
www.thecolumbiapress.com
May 22, 2020
Vol. 4, Issue 21
Saying thanks during tough times
B y c indy y ingst
The Columbia Press
So many to thank and
not enough ways to say it.
Last week was National
Law Enforcement/Police
Appreciation week.
This week highlights
Emergency Medical Ser-
vices.
Next week begins with
Memorial Day, an oppor-
tunity to reflect on those
who gave the ultimate sac-
rifice so we could be free.
We often remember
those in the military when
we think of people who
regularly put their lives in
harm’s way. But peace offi-
cers, firefighters and those
working on road crews
have dangerous jobs as
well.
During the COVID-19
pandemic, health care
workers tending to sick
people in hospitals and
convalescent centers de-
serve huge doses of appre-
ciation and we should re-
member to thank anyone
working with the public in
grocery stores, for delivery
companies, retail outlets,
and post offices. Our heart
aches for those who have
lost jobs or income.
In Clatsop County, sev-
eral peace officers have
died in the line of duty:
Sheriff Jack W. Williams
and Deputy James Lamers
were shot and killed Dec.
30, 1898; Oregon Police
Sgt. James Shepherd was
shot by an assailant in
May 1980 while on patrol;
Warrenton Reserve Officer
Robert “Bernie” McMaster
died in a traffic accident
in March 1996 while re-
sponding to an alarm call;
and Seaside Police Sgt. Ja-
son Goodding was shot by
an assailant in February
2016.
Fallen firefighters in-
clude Gearhart volun-
teer firefighter Robert
Chisholm, who lost his
life in 1997 while trying to
rescue a swimmer in the
ocean.
In the past decade, an
average of 1,750 police of-
See ‘Thanks’ on Page 3
Calandra Hollaway
Warrenton Police officers Aaron Berndt (left), Madyson
Hanna, and Al Fontana smile while reading a thank you
card and getting cookies from a grateful resident.
State, county slowly come alive after pandemic closure
The Columbia Press
and news services
Restaurants, bars and some person-
al services are back in business after
the governor approved Clatsop Coun-
ty’s plan for a phased-in approach to
reopening.
Gyms, retail stores, barber shops,
salons, spas and tattoo parlors are
allowed to partially reopen. Local
restaurants and bars may offer sit-
down dining. And gatherings of up to
25 people are now allowed.
All reopened business are required
to follow state guidelines on numbers
of customers, physical distancing,
cleaning and other measures to help
prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The guidelines can be found on the
county’s website and include requir-
ing all businesses to provide masks to
employees and ensuring that they’re
worn. Public transit operators must
require all riders to wear face cover-
ings.
Under the state’s strategy, Clatsop
and other counties will be eligible for
further opening of business, gather-
ings and public spaces June 5, as long
as the counties continue to meet the
mandated health goals.
The reopening action doesn’t negate
orders approved by Clatsop County
and local cities restricting hotels and
vacation rentals. Most local orders
maintain these restrictions at least
through the end of May.
A ctive cAses
Clatsop County has had a total of
42 coronavirus cases since March 23.
Nearly half – 19 -- have recovered and
none has been hospitalized.
Three new cases were reported
Tuesday. All are women living in
north county, one in her 20s, one in
her 30s, and one in her 50s. A new
case reported Wednesday involved a
north county man in his 50s.
Last weekend, a north county man
in his 30s was reported with the ill-
See ‘Pandemic’ on Page 4
Toyooka, Bangs
win seats on
county board
B y c indy y ingst
The Columbia Press
Clatsop County Commission will
have two new board members in
January after newcomers
John Toyooka and Court-
ney Bangs beat incum-
bents Sarah Nebeker and
Kathleen Sullivan.
A five-year tax levy for
the Clatsop County Fair- Bangs
grounds also was ap-
proved.
Toyooka, 59, manag-
er of Lum’s Auto Center,
took 60 percent of the
vote from Nebeker in the
District 2 race.
Toyooka
What resonated with
voters?
“Hopefully it was the message that I
wanted to unify, to take partisan pol-
itics out of the mix and work toward
the benefit of everyone,” Toyooka
said. “That’s the goal: to make us all
one county.”
He called Nebeker “a wonderful
person” and thanked her for her eight
years of service on the commission.
Nebeker, who has been on the com-
mission since 2012 and was last year’s
chair, serves on the Clatsop County
Arts Council, the Columbia River Es-
tuary Task Force and the Human Ser-
vices Advisory Council.
Bangs, 41, who helps run her fami-
ly’s tree farm in Knappa, received 63
percent of the vote against Kathleen
Sullivan for the District 4 seat.
“What I feel like has been a trend
in political forums across the state is
that voters want to be heard,” Bangs
said. “This last year, … so many deci-
sions were being made that we really
didn’t want to be made.”
See ‘Election’ on Page 8