Friday, March 19, 2021 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com • A3
Homeless liaisons to lead outreach in county
By NICOLE BALES
The Astorian
Clatsop County will soon
have two liaisons dedicated
to connecting homeless peo-
ple to social services, along
with gathering data and
addressing gaps in outreach.
The positions, funded
by the county and Clatsop
Community Action, grew
out of an Astoria task force
on homelessness. The liai-
sons will work under Clat-
sop Community Action
and the agency is trying to
secure continuous funding
into the future.
The task force envisioned
at least two people serving
the homeless throughout the
county, but limited the posi-
tion to one due to funding
constraints. After securing
additional money, Clatsop
Community Action hired
two people.
During a task force meet-
ing earlier this month , Mat-
thews
announced
that
Cheryl Paul, of Astoria, and
Shannon Turner, of Texas,
will begin in April.
Paul has worked at the
Astoria Warming Center for
the past several years. She
also volunteers at the Bea-
con Clubhouse in Astoria,
which does homeless and
mental health outreach.
Turner has worked in
social services for over four
years, and most recently
served at a coronavirus
recovery shelter.
Paul and Turner will
coordinate
with
law
enforcement and social ser-
vice agencies. Matthews
hopes that in addition to
connecting people to ser-
vices, the work will result in
Hailey Hoff man/The Astorian
Viviana Matthews, right, is the executive director of Clatsop
Community Action. Susan Prettyman is the agency’s social
services program manager.
fewer people visiting hospi-
tal emergency rooms.
Clatsop
Community
Action will reach out to
local government leaders to
be part of an advisory com-
mittee to help oversee the
homeless liaisons’ mission.
Matthews reminded the
task force that the root of
homelessness is the housing
crisis.
“I mean, we’ll do the best
we can, but please remem-
ber, the housing inventory
is extremely low — kind of
nonexistent right now,” she
said.
“Housing is our No. 1
issue.”
Astoria Police Chief
Geoff Spalding, who chairs
the task force and was part
of the hiring process for the
homeless liaisons, called the
two positions a signifi cant
accomplishment. He said the
advisory committee is still a
work in progress.
“In addition to reaching
out to cities and counties, as
we grow this program and
we add new fi nancial part-
ners, too, we will defi nitely
be looking to add individ-
uals to the advisory com-
mittee outside of the gov-
ernment entities,” Spalding
said. “So I look forward to
having more partners in this
on many levels to make sure
that we have as much input
as possible.
“And I think this program
will probably look very dif-
ferent two years from now
than it will today, and we will
learn from this. And also, we
will track our progress and
see how eff ective the pro-
gram is in our community,
which is what I think a lot of
people will be looking for.”
Assistant County Man-
ager Monica Steele, who
also serves on the task force
and was involved in the hir-
ing process, thanked Mat-
thews for securing the addi-
tional funding to hire two
people.
“I think we all knew from
the beginning that there’s
more work than one per-
son can handle,” Steele said.
“And so from a funding per-
spective, Viviana really went
out and tried to fi nd addi-
tional funding so that when
we had two good candidates
come before us, that we were
able to to hire both of them.”
small home video business,
Coastal Video Productions.
Patrick loved the Port-
land Trail Blazers, fi shing,
daily walks on the beach,
crows, hearing from for-
mer students, photography
and watching his daughters
grow up. He was excited
to welcome his fi rst two
grandbabies to the world
this summer.
He was preceded in death
by his parents, Lawrence
and Virginia Morrison.
He is survived by his
wife, Lenore Morrisson, of
Gearhart; daughter, Maria
Morrisson Copolillo and
Chris Copolillo, of Los
Angeles; daughter, Sydney
Morrisson and Troy Dou-
glass, of Portland; brother,
Michael Morrison and
Brenda Morrison, of Santa
Clarita, California; and cat,
“Lucy,” of Gearhart.
Services will be held at a
later date.
In lieu of gifts and fl ow-
ers, the family requests
that donations be made
to the Patrick Morrisson
Memorial Scholarship fund
for Seaside High School
students.
Donations can be made
online at bit.ly/PMorrisson
or contact Lenore Morris-
son for more information.
March 11
the scene of a motor vehicle
accident. Medix on scene.
OBITUARY
Patrick Sidney Morrisson
Gearhart
May 3, 1948 — Feb. 26, 2021
Patrick Sidney Morris-
son, loving father and hus-
band, died on Feb. 26,
2021, at the age of 72. He
bravely fought cancer for
six years before passing
peacefully, at his home in
Gearhart, surrounded by his
family, with the sound of
the mighty Pacifi c Ocean.
Patrick was born in Peo-
ria, Illinois, on May 3, 1948,
to Lawrence and Virginia
Morrison. He was raised in
Sun Valley, California, and
graduated at age 16 from
John H. Francis Polytech-
nic High School.
He was drafted into the
U.S. Army and completed
two tours in Vietnam, but
as a stubborn pacifi st who
never loaded a bullet in his
gun. He was honorably dis-
charged and stayed in Viet-
nam as a civilian with Pan
Am airlines. He then trav-
eled the world, living in
Australia and England.
Patrick returned to Cali-
fornia and attended Ameri-
can River Community Col-
lege and Sacramento State
as an education major. It
was in college that he fell
in love with his wife of 46
years, Lenore, “the most
beautiful woman I had ever
seen,” who happened to be
dating his best friend.
Patrick and Lenore
moved to Cannon Beach in
1979 and married in 1980.
Patrick loved his family
more than anything; he was
a wonderful father who nur-
tured his daughters’ inter-
ests and showered them
with love.
The family was involved
with local community the-
ater, having many fond
memories of perform-
ing in Coaster Theatre
productions.
Patrick’s career in edu-
cation began as a teacher
at Seaside Heights Elemen-
tary School. His students
remember his kindness, love
of learning and teachings of
peace. He then worked for
Clatsop Community Col-
lege as a guidance coun-
selor. He and Lenore ran a
PUBLIC SAFETY LOG
SEASIDE POLICE DEPT.
PUBLIC SAFETY LOG
While Under the Infl uence of
Intoxicants.
7:49 a.m., U.S. Highway 101
and Avenue U: Motor vehicle
accident.
March 1
March 4
2:37 p.m., Necanicum River and
4th: A person in a kayak setting
off fi reworks is issued a warning
about illegal fi reworks.
4:46 a.m., Woods behind Safe-
way: A disturbance is reported.
11:39 p.m., 2300 block S. Roo-
sevelt: A person is ticketed for
exceeding the speed limit.
March 2
8:05 a.m., Police headquarters:
A person came in to report they
lost their wallet.
1:06 p.m., Sewer plant: A
citizen found a wallet which
was turned in to police who
contacted the wallet’s owner
and returned it to them via the
United States Postal Service.
2:44 p.m., Broadway Park: Drug
paraphernalia found in the re-
strooms is disposed of by police.
3:19 p.m., U.S. Highway 101
and Highlands Lane: A woman
reported taking selfi es on her
phone while driving is located
and stopped. She is warned of
the complaint.
5:52 p.m., 2100 block S. Frank-
lin: A neighbor reported an
intoxicated neighbor causing
a disturbance in the laundry
area. The intoxicated person is
warned of disorderly conduct.
March 3
12:37 a.m., N. Holladay: A
person is arrested for Driving
6:34 a.m., Mill Ponds: Police
assist fi refi ghters at a transient
camp fi re.
10:29 a.m., 1800 block S. Roo-
sevelt: A driver got his vehicle
high centered on a boulder
with his front end teetering in
the river. On police arrival, the
person had already called for
tow.
11:26 a.m., Mill Ponds: A distur-
bance is reported.
March 5
7:44 a.m., 600 block Broadway:
Police take information regard-
ing a property crime.
March 6
7:25 a.m., 1000 block 12th
Avenue: Subjects are warned of
unlawful lodging.
1:27 p.m., Gearhart: Another
agency is assisted.
10:46 p.m., Safeway: A person
is charged with driving while
under the infl uence of intoxi-
cants.
March 7
3:59 a.m., 2300 block S. Roos-
evelt: An assault is reported.
9:52 a.m., 600 block Broad-
way: A person is trespassed
from a business.
2:16 p.m., 200 block Broad-
way: A person is arrested on
a warrant.
10:36 a.m., Broadway and
Wahanna: A person is cited for
speeding.
9:15 p.m., 1100 block S. Holl-
aday: Caller reports someone
diving in a dumpster for
thirty minutes; the subject
left prior to police arrival.
March 8
11:03 a.m., Wahanna Ball
Field: A person is cited for
exceeding the speed limit.
6:19 a.m., 400 block S.
Holladay: A couple arguing
in their room about their
relationship is advised their
loud voices are disturbing
other hotel patrons.
3:11 p.m., Avenue G and Hi-
Tide: A found wallet is turned
in for safekeeping.
9:01 a.m., 800 block Eighth
Avenue: A lost pup is reunit-
ed with its owner.
10:17 a.m., 500 block S.
Edgewood: A caller report-
ed her neighbor is stalking
her. Officers contacted both
parties and advised them to
leave each other alone.
3:42 p.m., 800 block 11th
Avenue: A person is arrested
for being in violation of their
release agreement.
11:54 p.m., 1200 block S.
Wahanna: A disturbance is
reported.
11:34 a.m., Holladay and Vil-
lage Terrace: A person is cited
for speeding.
9:40 p.m., 33000 Beerman
Creek Road: Emergency medi-
cal response.
March 1
11:26 p.m., 900 block Holl-
aday Drive: A disturbance is
reported.
1:38 p.m., 900 block Broad-
way: A person is arrested on
a warrant.
3:29 p.m., 600 block S. Edge-
wood: Emergency medical
response.
5:13 p.m., 13th and Beach:
Fire investigation.
PUBLIC SAFETY
LOG
7:11 p.m., Avenue G: Police
are notifi ed of a death at
home.
March 2
March 3
SEASIDE FIRE & RESCUE
16:01 p.m., Oregon and
Holladay: A loose Chihuahua
reported at large is unable to
be located.
4:05 p.m., Gower Avenue:
Structure fi re.
March 4
2:03 a.m., 600 block S. Edge-
wood: Emergency medical
response. Assist another
agency.
12:26 a.m., 1200 block S.
Wahanna: Emergency medical
response.
10:25 a.m., 700 block 12th
Avenue: Police and emer-
gency personnel assist at
1:34 a.m., 1300 block Stillwa-
ter Court: Emergency medical
response.
COMING IN MAY
March 9
1:35 p.m., Mill Ponds: An
assault is reported.
4:53 p.m., Chamber Rest
Rooms: Transient males
reported occupying the
bathrooms are warned and
advised to move along.
6:48 p.m., 1300 block 12th
Avenue: A caller reported a
prowler on the property at-
tempting to open their front
door. Police looked for the
person with negative results.
March 10
M
A
G
A
Z
I
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E
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