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Landslide disrupts Highway 30 north of Clatskanie Courtesy photo from ODOT
The landslide occurred Nov. 29 along Highway 30 north of Clatskanie and closed the roadway for several days. JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.
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he Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) reopened a portion of U.S. Highway 30 between 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 4 for nights only while crews continued removing hazardous rock from a massive landslide that closed the highway north of Clatskanie Nov. 29. As of early Tuesday, Dec. 6, ODOT did not have an estimated time for reopening the highway dur-
ing the day or reopening more than one lane. The Repair This week crews were working down the cliff side to remove large sections of loose rock left by the landslide. This hazardous rock scaling work must be done during daylight and coordinated with cleanup at the highway surface to keep crews safe, according to ODOT Maintenance District 1 Manager Mark Buffington. “It is too dangerous and compli-
cated to run traffic during the day,” Buffington said. ODOT was attempting to bring in another team of scalers Tuesday, Dec. 6, hoping to double the repair and cleanup efforts. Drivers are urged to slow to an extra cautious speed when entering the slide area, watch for flaggers and expect a delay at the work site. For daytime travel between Portland and the coast, ODOT recommended U.S. Highway 26. Don’t use less developed roads you may find on your GPS device because these routes are dangerous,
especially in wintry weather, ODOT cautioned in a release. ODOT said heavy rainfall is a suspected cause of the landslide that occurred Tuesday night, Nov. 29. At least 10 truckloads of rock and mud slid onto both lanes of the highway about 10:30 p.m. Material still was sliding down from the hillside as of Thursday, Dec. 1. “This section of US Highway 30 crosses an area where landslides have long been part of the geology, often triggered by heavy rainfall,” the ODOT release states. “So, this part of the road has long had land-
slide warning signs.” The event The slide started about 10:30-11 p.m. Tuesday about 100 feet above the roadway, likely due to rain and strong winds on trees with roots deep in rocky hillside, ODOT stated. The slide is about 110 feet wide and sent at least 1,800 cubic yards of mostly rock onto the highway.
See LANDSLIDE Page A2
Federal judge makes ruling on ballot Measure 114 WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
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nder the weight of three lawsuits and protests from local law enforcement, Sunday, Dec. 4 Oregon’s Department of Justice (DOJ) asked a federal judge in Portland to postpone implementing part of Measure 114. Tuesday, Dec. 6, Federal Judge Karen Immergut granted a onemonth stay on the permit process and denied the motion for a preliminary injunction against the measure. Immergut ruled that the plaintiffs had not proved the case’s merits and failed to make a case on limiting large-capacity (more than ten rounds) magazines. However, according to Portland media outlets, Immergut did say that the plaintiffs could return
with further information and request another hearing to reconsider the injunction. In partial accordance with the DOJ’s request, the postponement will prevent the requirement of a permit to purchase a firearm from coming into effect for 30 days to give local law enforcement time to establish infrastructure and processes to enact the full measure. Background The Oregon Association Chiefs of Police (OACP) issued its concerns about the impact of the measure in a statement Dec. 5. “We, and our 125 member agencies, are committed to following the rule of law and are doing everything we can to meet the requirements set forth in this measure,” the statement
reads in part. “It is a challenge. BM 114 is scheduled to take effect on December 8, yet the infrastructure, processes and resources necessary to make that happen do not exist.” The OACP also expressed concerns about proper safety training needed under the measure. “We are not aware of any current training program that meets the requirements of Measure 114,” the statement reads. “OACP believes that every person wishing to obtain a permit, including our law enforcement officers, will first have to complete training that does not yet exist.” The DOJ requested postponement will prevent the requirement of a permit to purchase a firearm from coming into effect for two months to give local law enforcement time to establish infrastructure and processes to enact the full measure.
Measure 114 Measure 114, which seeks to make sweeping gun control regulations, narrowly passed in Oregon by a 50.7% majority. The measure would require a permitting process to purchase a weapon; ban the sale, manufacturing, and transfer of magazines holding more than ten rounds; and background checks that must be completed before a gun may be sold or transferred. Part of the permit process would require safety training and a demonstration in the presence of a police chief or sheriff. Three legal suits seek to challenge Measure 114. The suits were brought against the state by NRA’s Oregon Affiliate, the Oregon State Shooting Association, Mazama Sporting Goods, Former State Representatives Katrina Eyre and Tim
Freeman, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation. The suits assert the permit process is unconstitutional and obstructs Oregonian’s Second Amendment rights. They also believe that the measure violates the right to due process. In a letter to U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, who will handle all three challenges to the measure, DOJ stated that it would provide a “limited window” where Oregonians can purchase firearms without a permit. DOJ made this concession after local law enforcement officials made it clear they would need more time to be prepared to execute parts of the measure by the effective date
See MEASURE 114 Page A9
Community comes together to help unattended teens WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
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he holidays are a time for giving and also a time to give back to the community. This year, the Kiwanis Daybreakers are reigniting their Teen Support Program to aid ‘unassisted’ teens in the St. Helens School District. Since 2015, Monica Cade and Kiwanis Daybreakers have
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teamed up with the school district and other partners in the community to help teens in need within the St. Helens area. Unattended teen is a term that refers to students who are not in the physical care and custody of a parent or guardian. Some of these students “couch surf,” and live with friends or families that can host them. Some live in tents. Others live in shelters within the district.
It really touches my heart and amazes me, year after year, the support out there in the community. ~ Monica Cade
From left to right, Linda Bolen, Jennifer Bartocci, Beth Paschall, Peggy Howell, Amy Trull and Monica Cade together at John L. Scott Realty in Scappoose to support the unattended teens project.
Through the McKinnieVento Homelessness Act of 1987, resources are available to help underprivileged students in the St. Helens District. The program serves about 100 or so students in St. Helens a year. Some 21 students in St. Helens are what McKinnie-Vento refers to as unattended teens. To help these students, Monica Cade began an initiative around the holidays in 2015 that assists these kids in
meeting basic needs year-round. “Daybreakers Kiwanis is committed to providing support whenever possible, to help these kids to help them graduate and just so they don’t have to struggle with their basic needs,” Cade said. “We like to send them positive messages; we want them to know that the community cares about them, and regardless of the circumstances that have led them to where they are in life, there are people that care.” Cade began the initiative in 2015 when she saw her son’s
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friends deal with the challenges of living through adolescence without a guardian. In the first year, Cade had the idea of giving the teens “Fab-packs.” These were personal care items so the teens could help feel their best. The program has grown enough to provide items to teens before the long breaks from school in the winter, spring, and summer. Cade’s program acts as Santa around the holidays and is also involved with helping sponsor kids at prom and graduation as well. The donations that are col-
lected now are helpful year-round. “Just because your family has dire circumstances, you should still get to participate in some of these wonderful events that we all remember,” Cade said. While unaccompanied teens can get support from the Community Action Team and the district for housing, Cade and the Daybreakers are trying to meet the other needs the students may have. Through donations from
See DAYBREAKERS Page A8