The Columbia Press
May 27, 2022
Eagle Scout honored for his volunteerism
Joshua Lewis, an Eagle
Scout in Boy Scout Troop
509 of Warrenton, was hon-
ored Monday for his volun-
teer work.
Some of his scout activi-
ties include painting hand-
icap spots at the Warren-
ton Post Office, repainting a
church’s parking lot, collect-
ing food for the needy with
local firefighters, putting me-
morial flags and wreaths out
at the cemetery on special oc-
casions, and helping the local
VFW with its buddy poppy
program.
Josh also passes out
hand-crafted ornaments at
Christmas and serves as a
leader and mentor for the
younger scouts.
He’s also a volunteer at the
local food bank, plays music
at his church, and runs the
sound system at the church.
He has maintained his Na-
tional Honor Society sta-
tus with a 4.07 grade-point
average this year and is a
member of the Warrenton
Cross-Country team.
Those honoring him during
a meeting at the local Mason-
ic Lodge were VFW Senior
Vice Cmdr. Allen Anderson,
Judge Advocate Dale Pack,
Regional Scouting Chair Carl
Anderson, Post 10580 Scout
Chairman Bert Little, Ma-
sonic Gateway Lodge 175’s
Senior Warden Brad Horn,
and Warrenton City Com-
missioner Mark Baldwin (not
pictured).
Vaccines, surveys, tests and more COVID news
Clatsop County Public Health
released a brief anonymous
online COVID-19 community
survey in English and Spanish
earlier this month.
“It’s been more than two years
since the pandemic started and
we want to get a pulse on how
our community feels about
COVID-19, vaccines and boost-
ers,” said Margo Lalich, interim
public health director.
Lalich encourages each family
member to separately take the
survey, which will take three to
five minutes to complete.
The last day to complete the
survey is Monday, May 30. Sur-
vey results will be shared with
the community.
Electronic vaccine cards
The state is offering free elec-
tronic vaccine cards, which
include the same information
that’s on the paper cards many
already keep in their wallets.
Having an electronic card is
optional and the state has no
plans to make it mandatory.
The card is available in 13
languages. More information
is available at myelectronicvac-
cinecard.oregon.gov.
Home test kits
A second round of COVID at-
home test kits are available.
Every household in the Unit-
ed States is eligible for eight
more free kits, which will be de-
livered by the U.S. Postal Ser-
vice in two separate packages.
Request them at COVID.gov/
tests.
Oral therapies available
Oral COVID-19 antiviral ther-
apeutics Paxlovid and Mol-
nupiravir are available for at-
risk residents who test positive
and experience mild to moder-
ate symptoms.
Both therapies have been
shown to reduce the risk of
hospitalization. Paxlovid is
available to those 12 and old-
er; Molnupiravir is for those 18
and older.
Both therapies are available
at Columbia Memorial Hospi-
tal pharmacies in Astoria and
Seaside; Rite-Aid pharmacy
in Warrenton carries the Mol-
nupiravir therapy.
The therapies are only avail-
able by prescription. Those
without a primary care provid-
er or medical care home should
contact their local urgent care
clinic.
Boosters
Drive-through clinics for
those seeking their COVID-19
booster shots will be held from
1 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and
Fridays at Camp Rilea south of
Warrenton.
Moderna and Pfizer first or
second boosters only will be al-
lowed and the shots are by ap-
pointment only.
To sign up, call 503-325-
8500.
Each person in the vehicle
must have an appointment.
3
County hires new health director
degree from Shang-
Clatsop County has
hai Second Medical
a new public health
University in China
director,
Jiancheng
in 1987, and a mas-
Huang.
ter’s degree from Har-
Huang brings more
vard School of Public
than 20 years of expe-
Health in 1993.
rience in public health
Previously
he
work and administra-
worked as a clinical
tion, most recently as
Huang
research
specialist
director of the Oswe-
with the Scheie Eye
go County Health De-
Institute at the University
partment in New York.
Huang is expected to as- of Pennsylvania, as an epi-
demiologist with the Maine
sume the post in early July.
“I am honored to be cho- Bureau of Health, and as di-
sen as the next Public Health rector of the Maine Immuni-
director of Clatsop County,” zation Program.
“We are so fortunate to have
Huang said. “When I came
for the job interview, I was someone as experienced and
moved by the county depart- knowledgeable as Dr. Huang
ment heads’ and department come in and lead the Clatsop
staff’s energy and passion for County Public Health team,”
their professions. I was im- Board of Commissioners
pressed by the community’s Chair Mark Kujala said. “His
enthusiastic involvement in background in public health
is impressive and his passion
local public health.”
He replaces Margo Lalich, undeniable.”
The department has a staff
who has served as interim
public health director since of 20 and an annual bud-
March 2021. Lalich, who’d get of $4.9 million. Services
directed the department pri- include maternal and child
or to 2013, stepped into the health, immunizations, re-
top post last year following productive health, health
the departure of former di- promotion, communicable
disease response and envi-
rector Mike McNickle.
Huang obtained his medical ronmental health.