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 N E From Manzanita to Willapa Bay,  the beautiful scenery, engaging stories and fascinating history that tells why visiting Our Coast is special. This year’s edition celebrates ten years of feature-packed magazines with a special keepsake pull-out poster of Our Coast covers. Here’s to a great first year, and to many more! • 1,500+ New patients • 6,700+ Clinic visits • 15 New family-wage jobs CMH Medical Group-Seaside 1111 N. Roosevelt Dr. #210 Seaside, OR 97138 503-738-3002 Secure your advertising space today   email sales@dailyastorian.com, or call 971-704-1555