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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (March 11, 2022)
The Columbia Press Celebrating our 100th year • 1922-2022 1 50 ¢ 503-861-3331 COVID rules change Saturday at schools, jobs The Columbia Press New protocols for dealing with COVID begin in local school districts, businesses, and other indoor places throughout the state after today. Last week, the Oregon Health Au- thority and the Oregon Department of Education announced that manda- tory masking will be lifted at the end of day March 11. Requirements for schools to contact trace and quaran- tine close contacts of positive cases also comes to an end. Warrenton-Hammond School Dis- trict polled employees and parents on Feb. 28, asking them whether they preferred to continue with a mask mandate or to make masks optional. More than 79 percent or parents and 67 percent of staff preferred to make masks optional, according to the dis- trict. “As such, starting Monday, March 14, it will be optional for students, staff, volunteers, and visitors to wear masks in district schools and offices and on district school buses. Contact See ‘Rules’ on Page 5 March 11, 2022 Vol. 6, Issue 10 Redefining the district of Hammond Left: The large sign that will stand at the entrance to downtown Hammond. Below: The grassy strip that separates Pacific Drive from Sixth Street and defines the downtown area, looking east from Lake Drive. By Cindy Yingst The Columbia Press Hammond is a distinct place with a history worth preserving, most would agree. Others, particularly those who live there, would like the city of Warrenton to do more to help it prosper. “I love Hammond. It’s just a very small, quaint town,” said Cindy Yingst The Columbia Press Cheryl Hitchman, who was Ham- mond’s final mayor before the small city dissolved and became a part of War- renton in 1991. “When I was mayor was when it was probably the craziest time because of the merge and they were also looking at putting in a resort (at the marina) and nobody wanted that.” Hammond was incorporated as New Astoria in 1899 and, in 1915, residents voted to change the name to Hammond to align with the name of its railroad station and post office. Andrew Hammond was a Montana businessman who platted the town and expanded the railroad from Portland to the area in 1898. But 85 years later, it became clear that the small town could no longer support itself. “The merge was a good thing for Ham- mond. We couldn’t afford the billings any- more,” Hitchman said. “The biggest concern at the merge was that Hammond would lose its identity and Warrenton promised to take See ‘Hammond’ on Page 4