Volunteer firefighters in Warrenton have had a change of heart. A month ago, city officials feared that most of them would resign rather than be forced to get vaccinated. Today the situation is very different. KMUN’s Jacob Lewin reports: [Scroll down to listen] The city of Warrenton has 20 volunteer firefighters, three paid staff, and…
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Administrators from Clatsop County school districts weighed in at a press conference Wednesday about what seems to be a successful school year so far, as COVID-19 continues to define how adults and children interact outside of home. Joanne Rideout reports. [Scroll down to listen] “I think the community needs to understand the details that we…
Now that fall is here, the Oregon Health Authority wants Oregonians to know we could be headed into a bad flu season. The season for flu generally starts around October and can continue into the spring. The pandemic had a large impact on last year’s flu season. We were staying physically distant, wearing masks and staying home…
ODOT has started installing containment equipment on the bridge to prepare for the upcoming painting and repairs. During construction, plan for a single lane traffic with flaggers and up to 20 minute delays on weekdays. Single lane closures will be allowed: Daily, Monday through Thursday, between 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Daily, Friday, between 6 a.m. to 5…
CLATSOP COUNTY HOSTS PUBLIC FORUMS ON DISTRICT BOUNDARY PROCESS The public is invited to offer input on the process to redraw the boundaries of the five Clatsop County Board of Commissioners districts. The county is required, under its charter, to review the boundaries every 10 years following the release of population data from the federal…
Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler will be hosting a live telephone town hall on Tuesday, October 12 @ 5:30PM Pacific Standard Time. All residents of Southwest Washington’s third congressional district are invited to join Representative Herrera Beutler as she gives an update on her work in Congress for Southwest Washington. Residents will also be invited to…
The Astoria School District has launched a COVID-19 data dashboard on its website that will allow the public to monitor the status of coronavirus cases in district schools. The district announced the dashboard in a press release Thursday, saying part of its purpose is to maintain transparency. The COVID dashboard will be updated on school…
Clatsop County Public Health announces that it is expanding its COVID-19 drive-thru testing program thanks to the availability of more testing supplies. Public Health, in partnership with Columbia Memorial Hospital and Providence Seaside Hospital, last month began offering regular testing at Camp Rilea in Warrenton. Testing is available by appointment Monday through Friday from 9…
The superintendents of schools in Clatsop County are all giving an upbeat assessment of the start of the school year despite the increase in COVID cases. Meanwhile new data show Clatsop with the state’s lowest COVID infection rate among kids. KMUN’s Jacob Lewin has details: [Scroll down to listen]: Despite fears that an upsurge in COVID…
US Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, who represents Oregon District 1, announced that fire departments in Clatsop County will receive $1,3 million through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. This funding provides firefighters with improved tools and equipment. “Our firefighters and first responders work hard day in and day out to…
Health officials in Clatsop County held a press conference Wednesday, to give an update on the status of the pandemic locally. Here’s that story. On hand for the zoom meeting were Margo Lalich, Clatsop County Interim Health Director, Julie Geiger, Vice President of Patient Services at Columbia Memorial in Astoria, and Jason Plamonden, Chief Nursing…
Officials at both Columbia Memorial Hospital and Providence Seaside are worried about the impact of a state requirement that requires all health care workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The requirement takes effect next month. KMUN’s Jacob Lewin has details: [Scroll down to listen] At Columbia Memorial, vice president for patient services Judy Geiger says…
Since the delta variant hit Clatsop County and deaths have increased, there’s been an understandable rise in anxiety among residents. Something that comes up frequently on social media locally when COVID deaths are announced is a sense of frustration that there isn’t more information available about a person who has died: particularly vaccination status and…
The Oregon Health Authority today reported 10 COVID-related deaths among Clatsop County residents. They include six women ranging in age from 67 to 95. Five died at home, and one died at a local hospital. The four men ranged in age from 44 to 95. One man died at a local hospital, two died at…
By Joanne Rideout. The Hood to Coast Relay Race will proceed this weekend, bringing thousands of runners to Seaside, during a time when COVID-19 cases are rising again and rural hospitals risk being overwhelmed. Rebecca Coplin is interim chief executive at Providence Seaside Hospital. “I would say that in many ways this is a typical…
by Jacob Lewin. Columbia Memorial Hospital says several patients have died there because they could not be transferred to larger, more specialized hospitals. These are not covid deaths, although it is overcrowding due to covid that kept them from getting treatment. In a brief statement made to the Astorian, Columbia Memorial’s CEO—Erik Thorson– says that…
Clatsop County Public Health learned Friday of the COVID-related death of a county resident. The individual is a 52-year-old male who died at Emmanuel Hospital in Portland. No other information was available. Clatsop County has recorded a total of 12 COVID-related deaths.
The head of the Clatsop County Health Department held a news conference today with head nursing staff from hospitals in Astoria and Seaside, to talk about the renewed and escalating pandemic in the county, fueled by the delta variant. She called the rebounding crisis a “wildfire” that is beyond containment. Joanne Rideout reports. Scroll down…
Wahkiakum County Health and Human Services (WHHS) has received positive test result notifications for 4 additional COVID-19 cases in Wahkiakum County residents. This brings Wahkiakum to a cumulative total of 195 cases with 23 of those potentially active and 5 fatalities. Health and Human Services is working to identify anyone who may have an exposure…
The Cedar Butte Fire continues to burn approximately 18 miles east of Tillamook off Highway 6 near Cedar Butte Road. The fire has grown from 50 to approximately 60 acres. The fire is burning largely in slash in a recent harvest unit on State Forest land and does not pose a threat to any structures. …
In response to the new surge in coronavirus infections, demand for COVID-19 testing is outstripping the capacity of local health providers. As a result, the Clatsop County Public Health Department will provide testing to the public by appointment only beginning this coming Wednesday, Aug. 18. The change is necessary to allow Public Health to focus its resources…
The City of Astoria is reporting that an individual associated with public safety functions at the Public Safety Building, has tested positive for COVID-19. The City Manager was notified that the last time this individual was in the Public Safety Building on August 4. Staff is working with Clatsop County Public Health Department to notify…
Astoria, OR – With COVID-19 cases on the unfortunate upswing both nationally and statewide, Columbia Memorial Hospital is canceling elective surgeries and converting more rooms to negative pressure environments to help ensure beds are available for those who need care. Cases in Oregon are rapidly rising, and data released by OHSU predicts that by Labor…
Oregon Health Authority yesterday reported 2,387 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19, a record number of cases per day. Nine people died. The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 670, which is five more than yesterday. There are 177 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is five more…
The Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19 Weekly Report, released yesterday, showed continued steep increases in daily cases and hospitalizations. OHA reported 8,304 new daily cases of COVID-19 during the week of Monday, Aug. 2, through Sunday, Aug. 8. That represents a 40 percent increase over the previous week. There were 322 new COVID-19 hospitalizations, up from 256…
A wildfire burning in the Tillamook State Forest is visible from Highway 6, according to state officials. KATU in Portland reported yesterday that the Cedar Butte Fire, as it’s now called, is currently about 25 to 30 acres in scope. It’s located 18 miles east of Tillamook and north of Highway 6. Both helicopters and…
For years, Fort George Brewery blew a work whistle at its downtown brewery every day, audible in and near downtown Astoria. For some, it was a kind of connection during the pandemic. The whistle was moved earlier this year, but that’s not the end of the story. KMUN’s Jacob Lewin reports: Ever since Fort George…
With 18 new cases a day, some of the covid-19 spread we’re now seeing in Clatsop County is coming from people who have been vaccinated. KMUN’s Jacob Lewin spoke with County Public Health Director Margo Lalich and has this report: While the large majority of new covid cases involve the unvaccinated, locally about 15-percent of…
By Austin Jenkins, Northwest News Service. With COVID-19 cases once again surging and vaccination rates lagging in many parts of the state, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday ordered most state employees, as well as workers in private health care, long-term care and congregate settings to get fully vaccinated by October 18…
(Whistle Will Return). Reporter: Jacob Lewin For years, Fort George Brewery blew a work whistle at its downtown brewery every day, audible in and near downtown Astoria. For some, it was a kind of connection during the pandemic. The whistle was moved earlier this year, but that’s not the end of the story. Ever since…