The Columbia Press
1
Clatsop County’s Independent Weekly
www.thecolumbiapress.com
September 25, 2020
Vol. 4, Issue 39
Oath of office makes fire chief’s job ‘official’
Lynn Alsbury, former
chief of the Tongue
Point Fire Depart-
ment, affixes a pin
on the collar of his
son, Warrenton Fire
Chief Brian Alsbury,
during the oath of
office ceremony
Tuesday night.
Below: Capt. Chris
Penno, Firefighter
Lenard Hansen and
Division Chief Scott
Watson talked about
their experiences
working the West’s
massive fires.
The Columbia Press
Fire Chief Brian Alsbury was
sworn in Tuesday night during one
of the city’s first celebratory events
since the pandemic hit.
Alsbury, 40, was appointed chief
nine months ago to replace Tim
Demers, who resigned amid con-
troversy over departmental safety
violations.
“Brian’s been on the job for nine
months,” City Manager Linda Eng-
bretson said. “The city of Warren-
ton has a nine-month probation pe-
riod (for department heads). I’m so
happy to have Brian as part of the
team. He’s doing a great job. He’s a
great leader.”
Warrenton Volunteer Firefighters
Association organized a party with
cake for Alsbury’s family, the de-
partment, and the public after the
ceremony.
Since many firefighters were in
the room, several spoke about their
experiences helping other agencies
fight the massive wildfires through-
out the West.
“I’ve been doing this for 13 years
and I’ve never seen such devasta-
tion,” said Capt. Chris Penno, who
was sent to the Beachie Creek Fire.
Cindy Yingst
The Columbia Press
See ‘Oath’ on Page 8
County dealing with four COVID workplace outbreaks
The Columbia Press
Clatsop County has four work-
place outbreaks, including a sec-
ond outbreak at Pacific Seafoods in
Warrenton, Public Health Director
Mike McNickle told county officials
Wednesday evening.
“It’s been a very fast-moving week,”
he said. “We’re waiting for test results
of 30 that we took Monday” and 157
more tests were conducted on em-
ployees at Pacific Seafoods.
In addition, the county is monitor-
ing 50 people through contact trac-
ing.
An alarming 27 new cases of
COVID-19 were reported by Clat-
sop County Public Health in the past
week that ended Wednesday.
The cases were from all areas of
the county and encompassed a wide
range of ages.
The new cases prompted school offi-
cials to send letters to parents, warn-
50 ¢
ing them the district may be required
to return to distance learning for all
students.
“As you know, our ability to offer
in-person instruction this school year
is dependent on the COVID metrics
published by the Oregon Health Au-
thority each week,” wrote Tom Ro-
gozinski, superintendent of the War-
renton-Hammond School District.
“The data published yesterday
See ‘Virus’ on Page 4
County to get tough
on unsanctioned
use of its property
By Cindy Yingst
The Columbia Press
Clatsop County officials are taking a
closer look at those who sell firewood
and other items on county rights of
way.
During a work session Wednesday
evening, county commissioners talk-
ed about placing a moratorium on
any activity that encroaches on coun-
ty-maintained rights of way, includ-
ing Ridge Road, where at least two
people are selling firewood on public
property.
“It’s becoming pretty busy along
Ridge Road,” Commissioner Mark
Kujala said. “We’ve got a lot more
traffic these days that leads to the
KOA, Fort Stevens and the marina.”
The two firewood stands are open
all hours of the day and those who
operate them use chain saws and ma-
chinery that are bothering the neigh-
bors, he said.
“In some circumstances, they’ve
cleared brush along the county right
of way,” Kujala said. “It seems a little
bit odd to me that they’re allowed to
just trim the buffer between the road
and homes.”
One of those operations is run by
Mitch Simonsen on county right of
way adjacent to the property of Allen
Berry, who is running for a seat on
the Warrenton City Commission.
Berry, in an interview two weeks
ago, said the county is harassing him
at the behest of neighbors who don’t
like him.
“It’s a neighborhood problem and
the county stuck their nose in it,” Ber-
ry said.
He gave Simonsen permission to
use the property as a way for the
See ‘County’ on Page 4