A2 • Friday, December 25, 2020 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com
Transit agency wants essential status from state
By EDWARD STRATTON
The Astorian
The
Sunset
Empire
Transportation District has
installed plexiglass barriers
around drivers, blocked for-
ward seats to separate them
from passengers and sani-
tized buses every four hours.
So far, the measures have
avoided any coronavirus
cases among the agency’s 26
drivers.
But Jeff Hazen, the tran-
sit district’s executive direc-
tor, and other transit offi cials
around Oregon are asking
that front-line staff be some
of the fi rst essential workers
to receive vaccines after peo-
ple in health care and nursing
homes.
Since the early days of
the pandemic, public trans-
portation has played a criti-
cal role in transporting essen-
tial front-line workers to
their jobs in health care, edu-
cation, utilities and at gro-
cery stores,” Hazen wrote
to the Clatsop County Pub-
lic Health Department. “At
(Sunset Empire), our employ-
ees have been heroes moving
heroes. Public transit workers
have worked throughout the
pandemic to move our com-
munity and to help our econ-
omy recover.”
Michael McNickle, the
county’s public health direc-
tor, said local public health
offi cials follow the recom-
mendations passed down
from the federal Centers for
Disease Control and Preven-
tion to the Oregon Health
Authority. Local public health
offi cials are still waiting to
hear from the state on who to
vaccinate fi rst, he said.
“There’s an astounding
amount of silence from OHA
on that piece,” McNickle
said.
Front-line health care
workers are fi rst in line for
vaccines, along with resi-
dents and staff at long-term
care facilities. A commit-
tee advising the CDC rec-
ommended that people older
than 75 and front-line essen-
tial workers be next in line.
The committee included
emergency responders, cor-
rections offi cers, postal work-
ers, farmers, grocery store
workers and transit workers
as essential.
“Several states desig-
nated transit workers as
essential early on in the out-
break, but Oregon did not
make the same designation,”
Hazen wrote to his board of
directors.
Andi Howell, the presi-
dent of the Oregon Transit
Association’s board and the
transit director for Sandy, sent
a similar letter to Gov. Kate
Brown imploring the state to
follow national guidelines.
“I and my peers who man-
age transit operations have
seen on a daily basis the anx-
iety and fear experienced by
our transit employees as so
many have tested positive at
a rate much higher than the
general population,” How-
ell wrote. “This is a result of
being continuously exposed
to large groups of transit-de-
pendent riders in close prox-
imity within a confi ned space.
“In addition, they have
also had to deal with the
added stress of being forced
to assume the role of ‘mask
police’ and have been on the
receiving end of hostile com-
ments from those who see
mask wearing as government
overreach.”
Colin Murphey/The Astorian
Who gets vaccinated when
will ultimately depend on
how quickly vaccines can be
distributed, McNickle said.
“If we don’t get enough,
they’re going to have to repri-
oritize within those priorities
again,” he said. “I’m hoping
there will be enough vaccine
that they won’t have to con-
tinue refi ning their priorities.”
MEMORIAL
Dec. 18, 2020
HURNER, Christine
Ann, 67, of Warrenton,
died in Warrenton. Ocean
View Funeral & Cre-
mation Service of Asto-
ria is in charge of the
arrangements.
PUBLIC SAFETY LOG
SEASIDE POLICE DEPT.
PUBLIC SAFETY LOG
Dec. 6
1:24 p.m., Turnaround:
Intoxicated males creating a
disturbance decline to identify
themselves. They left the area.
11:56 p.m., 12th and Prom: A
person is warned of overnight
camping.
Dec. 7
7:50 p.m., 900 block Avenue J:
An argument reported between
a woman and her brother was
verbal in nature only.
the road at the Gearhart merge.
Police locate the subject vehicle
and learn the complaint is
mutual. The subject is advised
to follow less closely.
10:01 p.m., U.S. Highway 101
and Sixth Avenue: Caller reports
man yelling in the roadway.
Police intercept subject who is
known to have mental health is-
sues. He said he was yelling and
running away from the caller
who has an aggressive dog.
Dec. 12
5:04 a.m., 900 block Broadway:
A transient is warned of unlaw-
ful lodging.
9:50 a.m., 900 block Third Ave-
nue: A dog bite is reported.
9:14 p.m., 1200 block S. Roos-
evelt: A woman reported two
transients she said made her un-
easy as she was entering a store;
police talk to the transients who
say they will move along.
10:45 a.m., 10th and Necani-
cum: A person is arrested on a
warrant.
Dec. 8
5:25 p.m., 300 block Broadway:
Property crimes are reported.
7:46 a.m., Alpine Street, Alder-
crest: A person sleeping under
a tree on private property is
advised he is trespassed.
Dec. 9
1:58 a.m., 500 block S. Edge-
wood: Transients in the area
reported trespassing on private
property are advised of the
complaint and told to stay off
private property.
4:28 a.m., Avenue A: A transient
reported sleeping in a parking
structure is checked on. They
say they will move on.
4:08 p.m., 1300 block Stillwa-
ter Court: Property crimes are
reported.
6:16 p.m., Outlet Mall: A tran-
sient camping in a doorway is
trespassed and advised to move
along.
8:08 p.m., 200 block Broadway:
Police respond to a report of a
teen not wearing a mask and
refusing to leave when asked.
It’s determined the teen has
a medical issue and does not
wear a mask.
9:14 p.m., 1100 block Avenue A:
A disturbance is reported.
Dec. 13
7:59 a.m., 900 block N. Wahan-
na: Subjects reported suspicious
seem surprised when informed
of the complaint because they
don’t think they’re doing any-
thing odd.
1:15 p.m., N. Holladay: Subjects
who showed up intoxicated at a
hotel are advised they are at the
wrong hotel. Police off er them
a courtesy ride to their correct
accommodation.
11:12 a.m., 1800 block S. Roos-
evelt: Offi cers assist relaunching
into fl ight a seagull stunned by
a car.
4:13 p.m., Avenue N and Beach:
A transient setting up camp is
advised of local ordinances and
agrees to pack up and move on.
1:39 p.m., Police headquarters:
A person came in to register as a
sex off ender.
5:12 p.m., Avenue K and Dunes:
Subjects reported having a
campfi re too close to beach
grass agree to move their fi re.
3:18 p.m., 900 block S. Holla-
day: A caller reported trespass-
ing a subject trying to pick up
his wife’s fi nal paycheck. Police
arrived to facilitate the transfer
of the check and the subject
and former employee were
trespassed indefi nitely.
Dec. 10
9:27 a.m., 700 block S. Wahan-
na: Caller reports angry person
in the parking lot. Offi cers
contact subject and the issue is
resolved.
9:28 a.m., 1900 block Lewis and
Clark Road: Emergency medical
response.
3:47 p.m., 1200 block Beach
Drive: Caller reports woman
going from house to house,
entering unlocked doors and
insisting her mother was inside.
Police are unable to locate.
4:47 p.m., Mill Ponds: A
disturbance is reported. Parties
involved agree to leave each
other alone.
Dec. 11
10:18 a.m., 400 block S. Roos-
evelt: A transient is trespassed
from a local business.
1:53 p.m., Beach and Avenue N:
A person is warned of unlawful
lodging.
5:16 p.m., Forest Drive: Property
crimes are reported.
5:41 p.m., Third and Downing:
A man reported intoxicated and
lying on the ground is found by
police in an empty lot. Police
request assistance from Medix
and the man is transported to
the hospital.
5:56 p.m., Pocket Park: Tran-
sients are reported possibly
setting up camp.
8:18 p.m., Highway 101: Caller
reports another driver tailgating
and nearly running them off
6:42 p.m., Cove and Sunset
Boulevard: A subject reporting
allowing their dog to roam
loose in the neighborhood
collected their dog and left the
area prior to police arrival.
6:47 p.m., 800 block Fourth
Avenue: A person reported
sleeping in an alleyway tells
police they don’t need help and
requests they be left alone.
7:43 p.m., Avenue A: A missing
person is reported.
Dec. 14
4:31 a.m., 1200 block S. Roo-
sevelt: While on patrol, police
noticed a parked car running
in a parking lot. The driver was
asleep inside. The person said
they were fi ne, didn’t need
medical assistance. No further
action was taken.
8:26 a.m., 900 block Avenue S:
A report was made for a broken
door of a business.
11:44 a.m., S. Lincoln: Police
responding to a report of a
disturbance are given no assis-
tance or information relating to
the event by one of the involved
parties; the other party left the
area prior to police arrival.
3:12 p.m., 400 block Broadway:
An iPhone found by a good
citizen is turned into police for
safekeeping.
5:37 p.m., Ocean Way restroom:
An intoxicated person report-
ed in the men’s restroom left
before police arrived.
10:24 p.m., 200 block S.
Holladay: Property crimes are
reported.
Dec. 15
10:27 a.m., Cove: Property
crimes are reported in the
wooded area.
3:18 p.m., 400 block S.
Roosevelt: Police contact the
operator of a commercial trailer
parked on the street for too
long. The driver is advised he
needs to get a permit.
8:44 p.m., 1900 block N.
Holladay: A missing person is
reported.
10:12 p.m., 1900 block N.
Holladay: Caller reports elk in
the roadway. Offi cers on arrival
see no elk.
Dec. 16
5:25 p.m., Avenue A: A caller
requests a transient subject be
trespassed from a resort prop-
erty. Police locate the described
individual and advise him of
trespass.
10:33 p.m., 900 block Irvine
Place: Police check on a subject
reported “acting strange.” The
subject declines to interact with
police and indicates no help is
needed.
medical response.
1:50 p.m., 1300 block S. Roos-
evelt: Fire investigation.
Dec. 14
9:16 p.m., 400 block S. Hol-
laday: Emergency medical
response.
10:16 p.m., N. Holladay: Emer-
gency medical response.
Dec. 16
8:55 a.m., Arcadia Beach: Water
rescue.
Dec. 18
9:04 p.m., 300 block Fourth
Avenue: Emergency medical
response.
11:22 p.m., 400 block S.
Downing: Emergency medical
response.
OREGON STATE
POLICE
8:53 p.m., 2400 block U.S.
Highway 101: Police respond to
a report of a woman screaming;
the woman says she doesn’t
need help and is just venting.
SEASIDE FIRE & RESCUE
PUBLIC SAFETY
LOG
Dec. 3
12:18 p.m., U.S. Highway 101
and North Y: Motor accident
with injuries reported.
Icy roads result in
rollovers
State troopers responded to
a rollover accident on U.S.
Highway 26 at milepost 5 Dec.
12 at 7:47 a.m. A 52-year-old
man driving a Chevy pickup lost
control on ice and crashed into
a ditch. He was uninjured and
the truck removed by Classic
Towing.
On Dec. 12 at 8:15 a.m., another
driver met with ice and lost
control on U.S Highway 26
at milepost 2, landing in the
westbound ditch. The 54-year-
old Seaside man driving was
not injured and called for his
own tow.
PUBLIC SAFETY LOG
Dec. 18
8:29 a.m., Beach and Shilo Inn:
Police and emergency person-
nel respond to a report of two
kids playing in the water/report
of a need for water rescue. They
are unable to locate anyone in
the ocean or of that description.
Highway 26 at mile post 6, east-
bound, they saw the car. The
driver and sole occupant ap-
peared extremely intoxicated.
Carolyn Elizabeth Chauncey, 66,
was arrested and charged with
driving under the infl uence of
intoxicants. She was trans-
ported to Clatsop County Jail
where she willingly provided
a .19% blood alcohol content
three hours after the report was
made. Her car was towed by
Gary’s Towing.
Driving under the
infl uence
Police responded Dec. 14 at
7 p.m., to a report of a car
slid off the roadway. On U.S.
Two-car crash
Police responded Dec. 15 to a
crash on U.S. Highway 101 and
Glenwood Village Lane. One
driver traveling southbound
turned from U.S. Highway 101
immediately in front of another
driver traveling northbound.
The driver of the fi rst car, a
78-year-old-woman from
Seaside, was injured and taken
to Providence Seaside Hospital.
Aff ordable Towing removed
both cars from the scene.
Crashed
A single car crash happened
Dec. 17 at 6:46 p.m. on U.S.
Highway 101 near milepost
17. Police say a white Ford SUV
traveling southbound unex-
pectedly left the highway and
crashed into a tree. The driver, a
67-year-old man from Seaside,
was transported by Medix to
Providence Seaside Hospital
for evaluation. Classic Towing
towed the SUV.
Disabled truck
A 39-year-old man who told
troopers he felt suicidal was
transported to Providence
Seaside Hospital Dec. 17 at
9:58 p.m. after troopers re-
sponded to a report of a vehicle
stuck in sand on Sunset Beach.
Sons of Beaches recovered his
disabled truck and secured it at
the beach entry.
Thank you for bringing
Christmas cheer
home for the
holidays!
Your generosity helped
raise over $83,000 to
expand cardiac services
on the north coast.
5:20 p.m., 800 block First
Avenue: Emergency medical
response.
Dec. 4
1:59 p.m., 800 block S. Hol-
laday: Emergency medical
response.
3:36 p.m., Social Security Beach:
Water rescue.
Dec. 5
12:51 p.m., Avenue A: Emer-
gency medical response.
Special thanks to our sponsors
Dec. 7
6 a.m., 2300 block Mill Creek
Lane: Emergency medical
response.
12:31 p.m., 1100 block N. Roos-
evelt: Fire alarm.
12:28 p.m., Haystack Rock,
Cannon Beach: Water rescue.
Dec. 8
11:24 a.m., 1300 block Kyla
Lane: Emergency medical
response.
2:07 p.m., 900 block N. Holladay
Drive: Emergency medical
response.
Dec. 9
Gregg & Laura
Freedman
Nicolle
Landwehr, CFP
Bob & Honey
Perkel
10:42 p.m. 1100 block Broad-
way: Fire and police are on
scene for a gas/smoke/chemical
situation reported in a building.
Dec. 10
12:47 p.m., 1500 block N. Roos-
evelt: Fire alarm.
5:35 p.m., 2100 block Beach
Drive: Emergency medical
response.
Dec. 11
2:01 a.m., 800 block Avenue M:
Emergency medical response.
11:48 a.m., S. Wahanna: Emer-
gency medical response.
2:02 p.m., S. Lincoln: Emergen-
cy medical response.
Dec. 13
10:18 a.m., 1700 block Thomp-
son Falls Road: Emergency
To view the trees or donate, go to
ProvidenceFoundations.org/seasidegala.