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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 10, 2021)
The Columbia Press September 10, 2021 3 County’s COVID deaths climb to 24 The Columbia Press The number of deaths in Clatsop County attributed to COVID-19 has climbed to 24. The latest deaths – three reported on Wednesday – in- clude an 83-year-old woman who died Sept. 2 at her home, an 87-year-old man who died Aug. 26 at a local hospital, and a 49-year-old man who died Sept. 3 at a hospital in Portland. Just prior to the Labor Day weekend, the state attributed 10 deaths from throughout the month of August to Clat- sop. Those who died ranged in age from a 44-year-old man to a 97-year-old woman and all but three died in their homes. Reporting delays may be related to how death certif- icates are processed by the state, county health officials said. There was some good news to report in the local battle against the pandemic. Clatsop County finally hit the 60 percent mark for vac- cinated residents. “As of Aug. 31, 23,745 coun- ty residents had received at least one dose of vaccine,” county health officials an- nounced. Clatsop County’s vaccina- tion rate places it 10th among the state’s 36 counties, which have rates ranging from 67 percent to 33 percent. The overall statewide vaccination rate is 61.2 percent. Breaking down the num- bers further, 68 percent of the local eligible population age 12 and over is vaccinated, according to the county. The reality, however, is that every third person one passes in the local grocery store aisle is likely to be unvaccinated. With the surge of COVID-19 cases linked to the Delta vari- ant, local vaccination rates have seen a modest rebound, climbing from less than 200 people per week in July to more than 400 the week end- ing Aug. 27. Local vaccination rates are highest among senior resi- dents – 85 percent of county residents age 60 and older have been vaccinated. The lowest rate is among youth ages 12 to 17, who did not become eligible for vac- cination until the Pfizer vac- cine was approved for minors in May. Clatsop County’s rate for vaccinated 12- to 17-year- olds is 43 percent, well below the state average of 56 per- cent. Biodigester proposed in county Some of the $7.8 million headed to Clatsop County in the third round of funding from the American Rescue Plan Act could be used to conduct a study for the feasi- bility of building an anerobic biodigester – a big machine that would break down or- ganic matter from things like septic tanks and food waste. The biodigester would ad- dress the ongoing issue of high-strength organic materi- al that’s posing a strain on ex- isting wastewater treatment facilities. Warrenton’s system has been one of the few to ac- cept the waste, but has had to turn away septic haulers and others as its treatment plant runs out of space. County commissioners on Wednesday reviewed a list of items for which staff and a stakeholder group propose using the money. The digest- er study would get an addi- tional $25,000. Other funding propos- als: child care initiatives, $70,000; mental health crisis response, $120,000; mental health services at the county jail, $350,000 over the next four years; rural health care in Jewell/Mist, $225,000 over the next four years; $150,000 for afford- able housing grants. Bruce Dustin Juanantonio Salcedo, Ryker Thornton and Chelsea Anderson are filling three new teaching positions at Warrenton Middle School. Teachers: All are WHS alums Continued from Page 1 and technology. His inspira- tion to teach and coach is Ian O’Brien. Salcedo emphasized the im- portance of the Antonio in his first name. “He was my grandfather,” he said. “He was always root- ing for me, wishing the best for me. He’ll be looking over my shoulder.” Antonio Avelar died last year from complications of the coronavirus. Welcome back Ryker, Chel- sea, and Juanantonio. The 2021-22 school year be- gan Tuesday.