Page 16
The INDEPENDENT, December 1, 2005
Move/slow down for emergency vehicles
ColumbiaChorale to perform Messiah
Police, fire, and ambulance
personnel in Columbia County
are concerned that drivers may
be unaware of a new law
passed during the 2003 legisla-
tive session to protect emer-
gency responders working on
the side of the highway.
“Many emergency respon-
ders in this area have noted
that drivers are not slowing
down or changing lanes as they
drive by when responders are
working on the side of the high-
way,” said Sergeant Larry Lu-
cas, from the Oregon State Po-
lice St. Helens office. “It will be
a matter of time before a police
officer, firefighter, or paramedic
is struck by a passing vehicle
because the driver didn’t do
what they are supposed to do.”
The St. Helens-based co-
lumbia Chorale will be perform-
ing G.F. Handel’s perennial
Christmas favorite, “Messiah,”
on Sunday, December 4, at
3:00 p.m., at St. Helens High
School’s Olmscheid Auditorium.
Under the direction of Artistic
Director Ryan J. Heller, “Messi-
ah” promises to be among the
most popular performances of
the season.
In the first of several appear-
ances, the chorale will be
joined by the Rose City Cham-
ber Orchestra. Also joining the
chorale will be new and return-
Since 2001, thirty-three po-
lice officers around the country
have been killed by motor vehi-
cles or struck while standing
along the side of the roadway
during a traffic stop. Two of
those deaths were an OSP
Trooper and Albany Police Offi-
cer assisting a disabled vehicle
northbound on I-5 north of Al-
bany. A third officer, OSP
Sergeant John Burright, was
seriously injured during the
same incident and has retired
from the department due to his
injuries.
The new law, Oregon Re-
vised Statute (ORS) 811.147,
requires drivers to do the fol-
lowing if they approach any
emergency vehicle or ambu-
lance that is stopped and is dis-
playing required warning lights:
• Change lanes to a lane not
adjacent to that of the emer-
gency vehicle or ambulance, or
reduce speed if changing lanes
is unsafe, on a highway having
two or more lanes for traffic in a
single direction.
• Reduce speed on a two di-
rectional, two-lane highway.
Violation of ORS 811.147 is
a Class B traffic violation. The
scheduled state bail is listed as
$237.00
ing soloists.
Ticket prices at the door are
$12 for adults, and $8 for chil-
dren and seniors. Advance
adult tickets are $10, and can
be purchased by calling 503-
397-2098.
For more information, call
Nancy Federici at 503-397-
2098 or visit <columbiachor
ale.org>.
There will also be a Portland
performance of the “Messiah,”
on Saturday, December 3 at
7:30 p.m., at Central Lutheran
Church, 1820 NE 21st St.
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