July 10, 2020
T he C olumbia P ress
Bicyclist hit by train in Kelso, Wash.
A bicyclist who was rid-
ing on or crossing railroad
tracks was struck and pinned
by a southbound Burlington
Northern Santa Fe train in
Kelso, Wash., late Tuesday
night.
The man, whose name had
not been released, was taken
to St. John Medical Center in
critical condition.
Train operators called in
the accident shortly before
11 p.m. When police and
rescue personnel arrived at
the crash site between Allen
Street and Cowlitz Way, they
found a bicycle and, a few
minutes later, the male vic-
tim pinned under the train,
still conscious, but severely
injured.
With assistance from the
rail company, 80 feet of train
was uncoupled and a coordi-
5
Patiots demonstration
Medics work
to stabilize a
bicyclist that
was hit by a
train in Kelso
and pinned
underneath.
He survived
the accident,
but was in
critical condi-
tion.
Courtesy
Cowlitz Fire
nated slow move was made
over the top of the victim
while medics worked to sta-
bilize the man, said Lt. Dan
Cothren of Cowlitz County
Fire & Rescue.
A trauma team was activat-
ed and, when the patient was
freed about 11:30 p.m., he
was immediately treated and
rushed to the hospital.
“While
pedestrian/train
accidents are rare, they are
almost always preventable,”
Cothren wrote. “No one
should ever travel on a rail-
way or cross railways oth-
er than at approved cross-
ings. There is a crossing in
the area of the incident, but
none where the victim was
struck.”
administrative staff also were
online, fielding parents’ ques-
tions.
One parent asked how the
district will handle siblings.
Will they have the same off/
on days.
“In the event we do move
to the model presented, we
would be working to ensure
siblings attended school on
the same days,” responded
Ian O’Brien, high school vice
principal. “As a parent myself
of grades PK, K and eighth,
this will be important.”
Another parent wrote in
asking whether consideration
would be made for students
with working parents.
“Yes, this is at the forefront
of our minds … and how it will
impact families, both single
parents who work and fami-
lies with both parents work-
ing, especially if we are un-
able to attend school daily,”
O’Brien wrote.
Students in athletics and
music programs could see
some big changes, but details
haven’t been worked out yet.
Staffing is another unknown.
“If our commitment is what
it should be – to provide
the best for every student –
we’re going to need all hands
on deck,” Rogozinski said.
“We’re really pushing to get
this as right as possible … Re-
lationships matter. They are
central.”
Clatsop County Patriots held an “Open Carry Indepen-
dence Day Flag Wave” in front of the post office on July 4.
Participants were urged to bring flags, food, folding chairs
and “your favorite open-carry firearms.” Warrenton and
Oregon State Police had a heavy presence nearby. The
group plans a second demonstration on Sunday, July 12,
as well as a hot dog roast the following day in support of
Officer Robert Wirt, who is on administrative leave.
Schools: Developing next-year’s plan is tricky
Continued from Page 1
Fortunately, initial guidance
from the state will not require
students to wear masks.
Bus drivers, cafeteria work-
ers and staff members who
regularly get within 6 feet of
students or other staff will
be required to wear them.
Language pathologists and
front-office staff will be pro-
tected by plastic face shields
or barriers.
Parents also were uncom-
fortable – 77 percent -- with
scheduled-only restroom ac-
cess and no physical educa-
tion or recess. Meals in the
classroom, however, was ac-
ceptable to most parents.
Rogozinski also gave the re-
sults of a survey of teachers.
When asked how their stu-
dents did during distance
learning, almost 90 percent
said less or much less. Teach-
ers also weren’t keen on most-
ly distance learning in the
coming school year.
Members of the district’s
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The pandemic has changed many things. For one,
it’s made our commitment to safe, high-quality,
personalized medical care even stronger. We are all
Safer Together when we each do our part.
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