January 19, 2018 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com • 3A
False tsunami warning startles residents, visitors
Residents urged to
be prepared
By Brenna Visser
Seaside Signal
CITY OF SEASIDE
Tsunami safety is at issue after a false
warning in early January.
Residents and tourists were
left confused and startled Wednes-
day, Jan. 3, after hearing a tsunami
warning alert instead of the regular
monthly test siren.
A malfunction in the system re-
placed what was supposed to be a
test message with an alert that ad-
vised a tsunami was approaching in
four hours.
“For years, the city has been
running monthly tests of the sys-
tem on the first Wednesday of the
month,” said Jon Rahl, the city’s
public information officer. “While
evaluating the system in December,
the server that runs these warnings
crashed. Early morning testing to-
day led us to believe the system was
back online and would operate cor-
rectly.”
The usual procedure was fol-
lowed when conducting the test,
Rahl said, but reports indicate that
one of the pre-recorded messages
the city has to warn of an actual
emergency pre-empted the usual
“this is only a test” message.
“We regret the error,” Rahl said,
“but it’s also a reminder of why we
do these tests and run them through-
out the year. Tests give us the op-
portunity to evaluate what’s work-
ing, and in this case what’s not.”
About 15 minutes after the
alarm, the Seaside Police Depart-
ment sent email and text notifica-
tions explaining and correcting the
error.
But Rich Trucke, owner of
Trucke’s 1-Stop, said panic had
already set in for some of his cus-
tomers.
“‘It’s 11 a.m. on a Wednesday,’
I assured the panic-stricken tourists.
‘They test regularly,’” he wrote in a
letter to The Daily Astorian.
A moment later, he wrote, some-
one hastily drove up, demanding
gas to leave town. They told Trucke
the system warned that a wave was
coming in four hours. Another per-
son told Trucke it was a mistake, but
when he called the Seaside police
non-emergency line, he was faced
with a busy signal and no answers
for all of the customers calling ask-
ing him questions.
“We never heard another report
from the public warning system
saying, ‘This is just a test,’ or any
follow-up at all. Now I am an-
swering phones and calming visi-
tors. One customer had me dial his
95-year-old mother to let her know
not to worry anymore, since he had
called her earlier to have her pack
her things for evacuation,” Trucke
wrote. “Reaching only her answer-
ing machine, he left quickly. Were
this an actual tsunami, how many
would fail to get the true message?”
City management and the Sea-
side Police Department are working
together to continually improve the
system, Rahl said.
The city encourages residents
and visitors to use this, and every
monthly warning, as a reminder that
emergencies can strike at any time
and not just in the form of a natural
disaster, Rahl said.
To sign up for tsunami text up-
dates, along with information about
road closures and safety warn-
ings.,send the zip code, 97138, by
text, to phone number 888777 or
register for email and phone up-
dates by visiting nixle.com.
Near-misses
prompt Gearhart
speed reduction
By R.J. Marx
Seaside Signal
Golfers in a hurry to get
to the course?
It’s understandable in a
city where golf is a tradition,
the mayor is a PGA profes-
sional and the Gearhart Golf
Links is the oldest in the
Northwest.
At their December meet-
ing, city councilors lowered
the speed limit from 35 mph
to 25 mph on Gearhart Lane
between U.S. Highway 101
and Marion.
“Nothing against golfers,
but there are some people
who come out of Marion like
a bat out of hell to Pacific
Way,” City Councilor Kerry
Smith said in support of the
lower limit. “It’s a residen-
tial community. Twenty-five
mph, period, from the get-go
when you enter Gearhart.”
The request came after
Daniel Lane, chairman of
the Clubhouse Condomini-
um Association, submitted a
petition in September signed
by 33 nearby property own-
ers as a result of cars “whip-
ping around the blind curve
right at our entrance.”
“Seems like as soon as
drivers hit that 35 mph zone
they accelerate through that
curve,” Lane wrote. “I have
had a few close calls my-
self.”
FIRE HEROES
R.J. MARX/SEASIDE SIGNAL
Firefighters Dan Mullery, Chris Dugan, Doug Roberts, Roy Dague and Mike Smith as Katie Bulletset is among those
recognized.
Mayor Jay Barber joined Fire Chief
Joey Daniels at the City Council meet-
ing Jan. 8 in recognition of members of
Seaside Fire and Rescue who battled
fires in 2017 both near and far.
“I do appreciate the council support
and the citizen support,” Daniels said.
“Our volunteers do a great job and so
do our career staff. This just adds to ev-
erything we do.”
As partners in the Clatsop Coun-
ty strike team, Seaside sent two fire-
fighters to the Millie Fire near Sisters
in mid-August. When dry weather and
High-angle rescue, water
rescue and continuing educa-
tion will be elements of focus
in 2018, Chief Joey Daniels said
after the meeting.
Retirements — including that
of 24-year department veteran
Tom Hecox — will be offset by
new volunteers. “That’s going to
be a big loss to us,” Daniels said.
“We’re picking up new guys,
but we’re losing some valuable
senior firefighters.”
work. Thank you again, chief, for all
their work.”
Valerie Lynne Winstanley
Warrenton
Jan. 11, 1955 — Jan. 8, 2018
Valerie was born in Port Angeles, Washing- right on her little spot in Surf Pines.
ton, on Jan. 11, 1955. She was taken from us
She was also an amazing cook! She was so
by a massive stroke Jan. 9, 2018, at the age happy to have her three grandsons so close by,
of 62, in Astoria, Oregon, surrounded by her to cook with and to take on hikes. She will be
family.
remembered as a wonderful wife,
She was the fifth child of Clifford
mother, grandmother, sister, aunt,
Raymond and Evelyn Viola Block
and friend.
Chittim. She lived in Port Angeles
Valerie is survived by her husband
until she was 6, then moved with
of 45 years, Mark Winstanley; her
her family to Fairbanks, Alaska. In
daughter, Melissa Bilyeu (Jeffrey)
1963, the family moved to Seaside
of Warrenton, Oregon; son Mitchell
Oregon, where Valerie spent all her
Winstanley of Monmouth, Oregon;
school years at Seaside’s Central
three grandsons, Adam, Alexander,
School, Broadway Middle School,
and Zachary Bilyeu of Warrenton,
and graduated from Seaside High
Oregon; sisters InaRae Ussack (Bill)
Valerie Winstanley of Sequim, Washington, Carol Anne
School in 1973.
She married Mark Winstanley on
Gates (John) of Warrenton, Oregon,
Aug. 18, 1973, and they moved to
and LeeEllen Brown of Seaside, Or-
Corvallis, Oregon. In 1985, they moved back egon; brother Gene Lewis Chittim of Portland,
to Seaside, and resided in the area ever since. Oregon; as well as many nieces, nephews and
Both of her children, Melissa and Mitchell cousins who loved her dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
grew up in Seaside.
Valerie was a fun, loving person. Clamming,
As per her wishes, there will be no service.
walking on the beach and picking mushrooms In lieu of flowers, her family requests dona-
and berries were a few of her favorite things to tions be made in her name to: Reading Out-
do. She was always excited for a good thunder- reach for Clatsop County (ROCC); or the Sea-
storm, and never wanted to live anywhere but side Library, Seaside, Oregon.
BRENNA VISSER/SEASIDE SIGNAL
American Legion Auxiliary member Marilyn Falker helps
guests at the Christmas dinner choose a knitted hat.
to 4 p.m. each day and Jan.
27, from 9 a.m. to noon.
A veteran service officer
will be available to assist
WHERE STYLE MEETS SUSTAINABILITY
Schedule your
FREE In-Home Consultation today!
area veterans with claims
or other veteran benefit re-
lated questions during these
times.
ECO-FRIENDLY WINDOW TREATMENTS
FREE CORDLESS
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FOUR FREE LESSONS
Seaside Signal
Turkey, the olive ridley
sea turtle found stranded on
Washington’s Benson Beach,
died Jan. 8.
According to the Oregon
Coast Aquarium in Newport,
which treated the dehydrated
and hypothermic turtle since
her arrival on Thanksgiv-
ing Day. Sea turtles are not
found on local beaches unless
stranded.
Military veterans in and
around this region are in-
vited for a special service
session at the Seaside Amer-
ican Legion Post 99 located
at 1315 Broadway Street in
Seaside. National and state
teams along with local post
members from The Ameri-
can Legion will be in town
to discuss veterans’ bene-
fits and service and kick off
this community and veteran
service campaign within the
community.
Veterans are invited to
Post 99 to learn more about
the American Legion and
veteran benefits. Member-
ship and veteran information
staff will be available on Jan.
25 and Jan. 26, from 9 a.m.
Sa
LEARN BRIDGE
Police Chief Jeff Bowman
had no issue with the change,
Sweet said, and speed re-
duction was consistent with
city transportation plan goals
to increase safety for cars,
pedestrians and bicyclists.
Signs, flagging and postings
would “probably be under
$1,000” and could be paid for
from the current budget.
After discussion, Mayor
Matt Brown and councilors
unanimously supported the
reduction.
“When you come into
Gearhart, you kind of go,
‘ahhh,’” Councilor Paulina
Cockrum said. “It’s a relax-
ing feeling. That kind of goes
along with the 25 mph. It’s not
a place you need to speed.”
American Legion Post 99 to help community
le
‘Turkey’ the
turtle dies
after infection
Gearhart City Councilor
Kerry Smith
ts
Seaside Signal
Looking ahead
‘…THERE ARE
SOME PEOPLE
WHO COME
OUT OF MARION
LIKE A BAT OUT
OF HELL TO
PACIFIC WAY.’
an
By R.J. Marx
high winds fanned flames at the Chet-
co Bar Fire in Brookings, three Seaside
firefighters joined the task force — a
period when the department had Hood
to Coast and Labor Day coverage to
maintain.
In September, four Seaside fire-
fighters joined crews to fight the Eagle
Creek Fire near Hood River. In Octo-
ber, five Seaside firefighters battled
the Santa Rosa, California, blaze. And
before year ended, Seaside firefighters
headed to Ventura County for more
than two weeks in December to aid
crews there.
“When a person becomes a fire-
fighter, their greatest act of bravery
has been accomplished,” Barber said.
“What comes after is all in the line of
H NO
s C IR W
on IN
su G
lt
Firefighters honored
Golfers crossing Gearhart
Lane from the first green to
the second tee of Gearhart
Golf Links have also report-
ed near misses, City Admin-
istrator Chad Sweet said.
MONDAYS 10 AM -12 NOON
Starting Monday, January 22nd
OR
SUNDAYS 2-4 PM
EASY
FUN
FRIENDS
FOOD
FREE!
Starting Sunday, January 28th
(To be followed by ongoing Mini-Lessons
and Supervised Play sessions)
Woven wood shades with custom drapes
Come play in the delightful Mary Blake Playhouse
in the Seaside Library grounds; park at the Bob
Chisholm Community Center, 1225 Ave A, Seaside
Call - Sue Kroning: (503)738-7817 Cell: (503)739-0264
email:skroning@centurylink.net to register (or just come along)
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