The Columbia Press 4 College hopes to boost enrollment with free class If the cost of higher educa- tion has you balking, Clatsop Community College suggests starting out with a free aca- demic class during the sum- mer term. People may take an aca- demic class, up to 5 credits, for free, including fees and textbook costs. To take advantage of the offer, potential new students must register at CCC as ei- ther a degree- seeking or a non-degree seeking student and take the class for aca- demic credit. Auditing is not allowed. The free class is made pos- sible by federal Higher Ed- ucation Emergency Relief Funding designated for as- sisting students with tuition and related expenses such as fees and textbooks. CCC offered a similar op- portunity during the 2021 summer term, but only to juniors and seniors in high school who did not have the opportunity to do duel en- rollment while in high school due to COVID restrictions. This year, the college want- CCC photo Students sign up for classes during a prior registration. ed to open it up to a broader audience. The summer term is eight weeks from July 5 to Aug. 25, which is two weeks shorter than fall, winter, and spring terms, although it covers the same amount of content. Students must be prepared for a faster pace, which may require additional study time. Class and grade received will go on an official CCC col- lege transcript. Classes are transferrable. To view summer class options, visit clatsopcc. edu/academic-planning/ class-schedule. For help selecting or reg- istering for a class, contact Student Services in Columbia Hall 116. Drivers: Innovative local program to roll out statewide Continued from Page 1 blog posted on a trans- portation website. “I’m a visionary guy, but I would have never thought about this,” Ha- zen said. He talked with Castillo, and then with just about everyone he could think of. He set up a meeting with the local Department of Correc- tions, the Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Department. Everyone got on board. After receiving referrals from the Sheriff’s Office, two drivers were hired. “Unfortunately, they didn’t work out, but that’s to be ex- pected,” Hazen said Wednes- day. “Not everyone’s going to be successful.” Last week, he spoke before the Governor’s Re-Entry Council, which was chaired by the direc- tor of Oregon State Corrections. She loved the idea. Baker Technical Institute, which has conducted training programs for Oregon Youth Au- thority, has agreed to take on the training portion within the state prison system. Baker has six driving simulators and this year will take the program to Powder River Correctional Facility in Baker, Two Rivers Correctional Institute in Umatilla, and the women’s prison at Coffee Creek in Wilsonville. The DMV has agreed to accept the knowledge or written portion of the driver’s test from within the facility as well. The Department of Corrections will allow inmates participating in the program to step outside the walls for field training. Sunset Empire has donated one bus for field training and TriMet is con- sidering a donation. Another component in the works is remote interviews for inmates with transit districts across the state. “What this means is that when the individuals are released from prison, they will have a CDL (commercial driver’s license) in their hands,” Hazen said. “I nev- er dreamed that would happen.” June 10, 2022 Suspected drunk driver hits Seaside police car A driver on Highway 101 caused a three-car crash when she struck the back of a stopped Seaside police car. Ginnette Marberry, 43, of Manzanita was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of intoxicants. She was booked at Clatsop County Jail. A Seaside police officer had pulled over a 1999 Toy- ota Camry on Highway 101, just south of Beerman Creek Road, about 11:15 p.m. Sun- day, June 5. The patrol car’s emergency lights were flashing and the officer was speaking with the Camry driver. Marberry was headed south when her 2005 Hyun- dai Tucson ran into the rear of the patrol car, pushing it into the back of the stopped Camry, according to Sea- side Police. The Hyundai rolled onto its side. The officer immediate- ly requested medical help. Incarcerated individuals who participate in vocational and educational training were more than 30 percent more likely to be employed and 40 percent less likely to be rearrested within the first year of being released, ac- cording to the National Associa- tion of Workforce Boards. Still, not everyone will qualify for the program. “There are certain offenses we have to take a hard line on,” Ha- zen said. “We won’t have sex of- fenders. We won’t have very vi- olent offenders. There’s a whole lot of cameras on our buses and we’re able to monitor anything that happens.” It used to be that anyone with a record was automatically re- jected. Not anymore. “We’re not looking for a piece of paper. We’re looking for a person,” Hazen said. “The whole goal of this is to increase the pool of potential employees and The damaged Dodge Char- ger police cruiser. Seaside Fire and Rescue, as well as Medix Ambulance, responded to the crash scene. The Hyundai driver was extricated by Seaside Fire and Rescue, checked by medical personnel and cleared of any injury. Neither the officer nor the Camry driver were injured. also reduce the recidivism rate. But also to make life better for them.” When he first proposed the idea to his transit board at the end of last year, he found mem- bers highly supportive. “It’s easy to do something when you’re young and dumb and have it held against you forever,” SETD Commissioner Charles Withers said after hear- ing the idea in December. “We are a nation of second chances. What happened to that?” While the idea was spawned by the transit director in Iowa, Ha- zen’s passion and enthusiasm will see it span the nation. Next week, he’s presenting the idea to transit leaders in the state of Arkansas. “Oregon is going to be the first state in the nation to roll out the training,” he said. “Oregon’s go- ing to be No. 1 and everybody loves that.”