A2 • Friday, January 22, 2021 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com
County task force in position for vaccine rollout
By NICOLE BALES
The Astorian
The slow rollout of corona-
virus vaccines has left health
care leaders in the uncomfort-
able position of telling people
at risk from the virus they will
have to wait.
Chris Laman, the direc-
tor of pharmacy and cancer
center services at Columbia
Memorial Hospital in Asto-
ria, who is leading Clatsop
County’s vaccine task force,
said the most common ques-
tions come from seniors with
underlying health conditions
who want to know if they can
get vaccinated.
“Unfortunately, the answer
is just ‘no,’” he said. “As vac-
cines become more available,
we’ll be able to move down
the list and get to you.
“It’s not the task force’s job
to identify who the next group
is,” he said. “We’re going
to use the (Oregon Health
Authority) guidelines to guide
how those decisions are made.
It’s not the task force arbi-
trarily making decisions about
who the next person is to get
the shot.”
Nearly all of the vac-
cines in the county have been
administered — 1,847 as of
Friday — and the county Pub-
lic Health Department, hos-
pitals and other organizations
charged with distribution are
anxiously waiting for more
doses.
Mixed messages from the
federal and state governments
on when new shipments will
arrive — and who will be next
in the priority line — have
caused confusion and some
resentment.
Mark Kujala, the chair-
man of the county Board of
Commissioners, who works
for the Columbia Memo-
rial Hospital Foundation, said
he is frustrated by the lack of
communication.
He said the most import-
Edward Stratton/The Astorian
Chris Laman, the director of pharmacy and cancer center
services at Columbia Memorial Hospital, is leading a county
vaccine task force during the coronavirus pandemic.
ant thing for people to know
is that “once we receive vac-
cines we’ve got a framework
in place to distribute them
effi ciently.”
The county, in partnership
with Columbia Memorial and
Providence Seaside Hospital,
created the vaccine task force
to manage the rollout locally.
The task force was formal-
ized in January, with Laman
in the lead role. He said more
organizations have started
to get involved, including
Coastal Family Health Cen-
ter, local pharmacies and the
Columbia Pacifi c Coordinated
Care Organization, which
oversees the Oregon Health
Plan in Clatsop, Columbia and
Tillamook counties.
Laman said the hospitals
and Coastal Family Health
Center have given their doses
to the Public Health Depart-
ment “so that the task force
can be in complete control
of who’s getting vaccinated,
where the events are hap-
pening and making sure that
everything is coordinated and
rolled out in a good manner.
“Our county is ahead of
many counties in terms of the
fact that we have a task force,”
he said. “We have a way to
register. We’ve got a way to
follow up with people. We
have the plans in place to be
able to roll this out as soon as
we get the vaccine.”
Vaccinations
started
with health care, emergency
response, long-term care and
other care home staff. The
task force will use the remain-
ing vaccines for the more
than 400 people left on the
priority list in the fi rst phase,
which includes in-home care
services, dentist offi ces and
group foster homes.
Some essential county
staff, elected offi cials and
social service agency staffers
have also been vaccinated.
A county spokesman said
some county commissioners
were vaccinated because they
make up the county’s govern-
ing body — an integral part of
keeping the county function-
ing and directing services and
programs. The spokesman
said it was also a way to reas-
sure the public that the vac-
cine is safe.
Columbia Memorial and
Providence Seaside will
receive some second doses
this week for hospital staff.
As vaccines become avail-
able, the task force will notify
the public on Wednesdays,
with information about when
and where the next vaccina-
tion event will take place, who
is eligible and how to register.
The process will look the
same when second doses
become available.
The next phase includes
about 1,200 teachers and other
educators.
After a delay Gov. Kate
Brown blamed on the Trump
administration, seniors are
expected to be placed into four
tiers for vaccination: those
over 80, those over 75, those
over 70 and those over 65.
OBITUARIES
Marion “Frank” Kelley
Suzanne Englund Fleck
Prescott, Arizona
May 12, 1939 — Jan. 4, 2021
Newberg
July 3, 1939 — Jan. 3, 2021
Marion “Frank” Kelley,
81, passed away on Jan. 4,
2021, at the Arizona Pio-
neers’ Home in Prescott,
Arizona. Frank was born
in Prescott to Ira and Mary
(Catron) Kelley.
He worked most of his
life as a bartender, gaining
quite the reputation for his
skills and sense of humor
wherever he worked. Even
if he hadn’t seen you in
years, and might not have
remembered your name, he
would have remembered
your beverage choice.
He loved both the beach
and the desert, fi nding
his spiritual grounding in
whichever was nearer to
him.
Frank was proud of the
fact that he had come full
circle, living the last years
of his life in the same city
he was born in.
Frank is survived by
his wife of 57 years, Patri-
cia; sisters, Rita Wuehr-
mann, Victoria Whited and
Christina Vickers; brother,
David Kelley; daughters,
Shannon Hostetler and
Mary Kerleé; granddaugh-
ter, Brianna Hostetler; and
grandsons, Michael and
Mason Hall.
Suzanne “Suzie” Englund
Fleck, 81, of Coquille,
passed away on Jan. 3, 2021.
A family graveside service
was held Jan. 9, and a cele-
bration of life gathering will
be planned for later this year.
She was born in Astoria
on July 3, 1939. Suzie grad-
uated from Astoria High
School in 1957. She then
attended the University of
Oregon, where in 1961 she
received a bachelor’s degree
in health/physical educa-
tion and recreation, and was
a member of the Tri Delta
sorority.
She was married to James
Franklin Fleck on Jan. 21,
1961.
Suzie held many posi-
tions in her career, work-
ing with youth, adults and
the elderly, centering around
activities and recreation. She
retired from her fi nal posi-
PUBLIC SAFETY LOG
SEASIDE POLICE DEPT.
PUBLIC SAFETY LOG
standing in the street with
his underwear pulled down is
cited for disorderly conduct.
Jan. 12
Jan. 8
10:44 a.m., 1100 block N. Roo-
sevelt: Caller advises a baby
has been left unattended in a
parked car. On arrival, police
see the baby is being watched
by an 11-year-old child. The
caller is advised.
4:33 p.m. 300 block S. Roos-
evelt: Subjects are trespassed
from a business.
Jan. 9
3:17 a.m., 900 block Avenue
S: A person is arrested on a
warrant.
4:08 a.m., Public Parking: A
subject sleeping in the garage
is advised to move along.
12:08 p.m., Police headquar-
ters: A person came in to
register as a sex off ender.
12:26 p.m., 1200 block Avenue
A: A disturbance is reported.
Jan. 10
12:35 p.m., 900 block S. Holla-
day: Police receive a call from a
business regarding a customer
refusing to wear a mask. The
situation is resolved prior to
police arrival.
2:45 p.m., Avenue K and
Prom: A person is arrested on
a warrant.
Jan. 11
8:38 a.m., 1300 block N.
Holladay: Property crimes are
reported.
9:10 a.m., 500 block S. Roo-
sevelt: Property crimes are
reported.
7:51 a.m., 300 block S. Co-
lumbia: Property crimes are
reported.
9:16 a.m., 2100 block S. Frank-
lin: Caller reports unknown
man knocking on her door
two days in a row. The man
declined to identify himself.
Police canvassed the area with
negative results.
9:25 a.m., Cove: Caller reports
man parked on the grass by
the Sailor’s Grave. The car is
gone prior to police arrival.
Jan. 12
3:06 p.m., 1900 block N. Holla-
day: Fire alarm.
9:09 p.m., 900 block Avenue G:
Emergency medical response.
10:15 p.m., 1000 block Avenue
I: Emergency medical re-
sponse.
10:37 p.m., 1900 block N.
Holladay: Emergency medical
response.
Jan. 13
4:06 p.m., 400 block S. Roos-
evelt: Caller reports shoplifter
in Safeway. The subject left
the premises prior to police
arrival. It is not known what, if
anything, was stolen. The sub-
ject is located soon after and is
trespassed from the store.
4:21 p.m., 900 block Avenue H:
Emergency medical response.
Jan. 14
3:13 a.m., 600 block E. Sixth
Street: Structure fi re.
9:31 p.m. Turnaround: Caller
reports motorcycles racing
around the Turnaround area.
Police are unable to locate.
10:30 p.m., 300 block S. Wah-
anna: Sex crimes are reported.
12:57 a.m., Ocean Way re-
strooms: Emergency medical
response.
3:20 p.m., 1400 block S.
Roosevelt: Emergency medical
response.
Jan. 14
1:18 a.m., 1000 block S. Holla-
day: Fire alarm.
6:50 a.m., N. Prom: Emergency
medical response.
OREGON STATE
POLICE
PUBLIC SAFETY LOG
SEASIDE FIRE & RESCUE
Rollover accident
PUBLIC SAFETY
LOG
Troopers went to U.S. Highway
26 and Wunsch Road Jan. 6
at 11:48 a.m. for a report of a
rollover crash. On arrival they
saw a blue Volkswagen Tiguan
resting on its top; the driver
wasn’t injured and refused
medical transport. As she
appeared impaired she was
arrested for driving while un-
der the infl uence of intoxicants
and reckless driving. Susan
Ella Myers, 64 of Long Beach,
Washington, was taken to Sea-
side police headquarters for
processing. She was released
on her own recognizance and
returns to court March 9.
Jan. 7
9:16 a.m., Fifth and Prom:
Caller reports graffi ti on bench.
Graffi ti is also reported on a
bench at Fifth and Columbia.
Jan. 8
7:11 a.m., N. Wahanna Road:
Fire alarm.
3:48 p.m., Forest Drive: Fire
personnel assist another
agency.
Jan. 9
12:07 a.m., 900 block Second
Avenue: Sex crimes are report-
ed.
8:05 a.m., Avenue G Bridge:
Water rescue.
3:56 a.m., 200 block S.
Roosevelt: A man reported
urinating in a drive-through is
trespassed from the business.
1:09 a.m., 400 block S.
Downing: Emergency medical
response.
5:08 p.m., 400 block N. Hol-
laday Drive: A man reported
8:04 p.m., 200 block Broad-
way: Emergency medical
response. Another agency is
assisted.
1:24 p.m., 700 block 12th Av-
enue: Caller reports a subject
in a moving van attempting
to enter his gated property.
The driver left prior to police
arrival. Police searched the area
looking for the described van
with negative results.
9:16 a.m., Saltline Hotel: Prop-
erty crimes are reported.
9:54 a.m., 300 block S. Colum-
bia: A person is arrested on a
warrant.
1:53 p.m., 8300 block S. Wah-
anna: Assist another agency.
Jan. 10
1:23 p.m., 2600 block Sunset
Blvd.: Fire investigation.
Lost control
Police responded to a crash
Jan. 7 at 4:35 p.m. on U.S.
Highway 101 southbound by
Perkins Lane.
tion as activities director at
Heritage Place assisted liv-
ing in Bandon in 2005.
She was a member of
the Girl Scouts, 4-H club,
PEO, Coquille Valley Hos-
pital Auxiliary and Faith
Lutheran Church. Suzie was
very active in her commu-
nity, supporting projects
such as the Coquille pool
and carousel.
She had a passion for
swimming, singing, fi sh-
ing, traveling, playing her
accordion, dancing, fam-
ily, friends, playing dress-up
with grandkids and was an
avid University of Oregon
Ducks football fan.
She is survived by her
brother, Jon Englund, and
his wife, Mary-Jean, of
Astoria; children, Dean
Fleck, and his wife, Andrea,
of Newport, Jean Trendell,
and her husband, Bryan, of
Coos Bay, and Mark Fleck,
of Coos Bay; eight grand-
children, Devin, Dana,
Amity, Jennifer, Natalie,
Elyse, Rylee and Sydney;
and four great-grandchil-
dren, Mia, Shane, Jaylen
and Porter.
She is preceded in death
by her father, Axel Englund;
mother, Freda Englund; and
husband, James Fleck.
No one had more fun
than she did. She was our
sunshine.
OBITUARY POLICY
The Seaside Signal publishes paid obituaries. The obituary can include a
small photo and, for veterans, a fl ag symbol at no charge. The deadline for
all obituaries is 9 a.m. the business day prior.
Obituaries may be edited for spelling, proper punctuation and style.
Death notices and upcoming services will be published at no charge. No-
tices must be submitted by 9 a.m. the day of publication.
Obituaries and notices may be submitted online at www.dailyastorian.
com/forms/obits, by email at ewilson@dailyastorian.com, placed via the
funeral home or in person at The Daily Astorian offi ce, 949 Exchange St. in
Astoria. For more information, cal 503-325-3211, ext. 257.