The Columbia Press
Clatsop County’s Independent Weekly
www.thecolumbiapress.com
February 12, 2021
Lunch Buddy Program calls it quits
A nonprofit group whose mission
was to prevent Clatsop County stu-
dents from dropping out of school
has decided to cease operating.
The Lunch Buddy Mentoring Pro-
gram board of directors made the
decision after a two-year review of
funding and the demands needed to
keep the program viable, according to
a statement released by the board.
Lunch buddies have been a presence
in eight elementary and three middle
schools in the Warrenton, Astoria,
Seaside and Knappa school districts.
The mentors have met with about 50
students once a week for lunch.
The group was founded in the
1990s as North Coast Community in
Schools, a chapter of the larger na-
tional dropout prevention program
Communities in Schools Inc.
The program operated two pro-
grams, the Lunch Buddy Mentor-
ing Program and the School Supply
Backpack Program, a partnership
with Costco that provided approxi-
mately 500 backpacks to primary-age
students throughout the county each
year.
In 2009, the group dropped its af-
filiation with the national group and
School district Business Manager
Mike Moha was recognized for his
significant volunteer contributions in
the Warrenton community.
He was given the Richard Ford Dis-
tinguished Service Award by the As-
toria-Warrenton Area Chamber of
Commerce during its annual banquet
Jan. 30.
The award was established by the
family of Richard Ford, a communi-
50 ¢
Vol. 5, Issue 7
Dangerous curve ahead
See ‘Lunch Buddy’ on Page 6
Volunteer Mike Moha honored for
work on behalf of the community
The Columbia Press
1
ty volunteer who worked for the city
of Warrenton as a building inspector
and fire chief.
“I was a little surprised,” Moha said.
“I like helping out, but there are a lot
of people locally who do a lot of stuff.”
He was not aware he’d won the
award until it was announced at the
event.
“(Moha) was described as someone
who never says no to a job that needs
doing and whose undying support of
See ‘Awards’ on Page 4
Courtesy Kalee Spivey
Rescue personnel work to remove the car that crashed into Derek and
Kalee Spivey’s bedroom on Dec. 7.
City, state working to resolve safety issues on
route between Warrenton and Hammond
By Cindy Yingst
The Columbia Press
Derek and Kalee Spivey were
asleep Dec. 7, their two dogs snooz-
ing peacefully nearby, when their
world changed.
A drunken driver failed to make
the curve where Northwest War-
renton Drive turns into Pacific Av-
enue in Hammond and plowed into
their house.
“The wall and car landed on both
of us,” Kalee Spivey said. “It’s hor-
rible. We have pretty bad trauma
from it.”
The Spiveys and their pets walked
See ‘Curve’ on Page 5