Public Comments and questions are invited on a proposed action by the Nehalem Bay Health District to remediate environmental hazard issues at the old Wheeler hospital located at 278 Rowe Street in Wheeler, Oregon.
The hospital, owned by the Health District, was constructed in the early 1950’s and operated as the Rinehart Memorial Hospital until its closure in 1989. Until recently portions of the building were used by tenants as office space, as well as the Health District’s office and storage. All tenants and theDistrict office vacated the building as of October 31, 2025.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Nehalem Bay Health District are accepting public comments or questions related to the proposed remediation work.
The comment period for both entities remains open until February 2, 2026As the DEQ announcement says:
“Hazardous building materials were identified during a survey in 2023 and include several asbestos containing materials, lead-based paint, and electrical equipment and fixtures suspected to contain polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, and mercury. DEQ is proposing a mitigation option to address the hazardous building materials, which includes proper removal of these materials to prepare the building for demolition and eventual redevelopment.”
Further information is available at: www.oregon.gov/deq/getinvolved
Key details:
• The Health District plans to retain Apex Environmental, an experienced firm with a Portland office, to manage the remediation work.
• The Health District, pending the public comment period, expects to secure a remediation grant from Business Oregon to finance the work.
• All of the remediation work will be done inside the building.
• When the work commences it is not expected to impact traffic or other typical activities in the neighborhood.
• The District at its regular board meeting at 5:30 pm on January 21, 2026 will accept public comment on the proposed work. Information about the meeting is available at the District website: www.nehalembayhd.org
• Comments or questions can also be directed to: info@nehalembayhd.org
“The Fall of Minneapolis, is widely considered a highly biased documentary, presenting a perspective critical of the city’s response to George Floyd’s murder, focusing on police issues and business destruction, while even some officials find its claims about police training excessive, according to reports and reviews of its content.
Key Points on Bias:
Content Focus: The film emphasizes the chaos, crime, and business damage in Minneapolis post-Floyd, suggesting police abandoned areas, as alleged by suing business owners.
Police Training Claims: It scrutinizes police actions, but even figures like Police Chief O’Hara found its attempts to justify or misrepresent police training (like kneeling on necks) as “ridiculous” and “going too far,” even while acknowledging some valid points.
Criticism: Critics argue it selectively uses evidence, ignores broader contexts, and promotes a narrative that downplays systemic issues while exaggerating claims about city governance failure and police misconduct.
In essence, The Fall of Minneapolis offers a specific, often controversial, lens on events, emphasizing conservative concerns about law & order and city mismanagement, rather than a neutral overview.”
We have military operations happening within our own country—not against foreign invasion,
but largely against our own people. Federal agents cloaked in masks, void of personal
identifiers, breaking entry into homes without judicial warrants. Too many reports of American
citizens being abducted. Assaulted physically. Assaulted emotionally. Too many children and
families being utterly terrorized. Property and rights violated, and as far as I can see, largely
because the person in the White House does not care for his political opposition. Vengeance.
Retaliation.
What the just happened, and where does it de-escalate?
As if that were not enough, we are now talking about launching military threats against
longtime friends and allies such as Greenland and Denmark. With that will come an alienation
of ourselves from the rest of the world. I am having a difficult time seeing where history will nod
at any of this.
Has the entire world—and our country—really gone off the rails so badly that there is only one
man who notices and holds the prescription and ability to right all the perceived wrongs?
We have citizens being slain in broad daylight, on and off camera, by federal agents. Within
hours of these incidents, our leadership issues press releases removing any wrongdoing by the
agent involved, before any form of actual investigation can occur.
How did we get here?
And it still isn’t enough. His supporters seem to blindly cheer him on as a brave leader, a
president of “peace.”
Yeah… well, where is the peace? I see little to no evidence of it.
What I do see is a setup. One where, if enough backlash occurs, the situation could be used as
justification to launch martial law on our nation. He’s already talking about it in relative detail.
If that’s not enough, he openly jokes and taunts cities in the United States that did not vote for
him, floating the idea of using those cities as training grounds for our military. You know—to get
them accustomed to attacking their own brothers and sisters and children.
Such acts do not happen suddenly. They must be conditioned. Normalized first.
All of this comes from the hands of a man who claims our government is corrupt and in need of
fixing. Is this really the way to fix corruption in the ways it actually exists?
Is this what the framers of our Constitution had in mind when they cautioned against tyrannical
government, while ensuring that citizens and militias would retain the ability to correct course
when necessary?
Is this the corrective measure they had in mind, or does it more closely resemble the destructive transformation they warned us about?
Every one of our founding fathers was a protester—criminals under the law of the Crown,
charged with treason and carrying legal bounties on their heads. History did not remember
them as criminals because morality does not originate in law.
When compliance comes at the expense of moral character, liberty is already lost.
Slavery was legal.
Segregation was legal.
The internment of Japanese Americans was legal.
Apartheid was legal.
In every case, obedience was lawful—and protest was criminal.
Freedoms are not maintained by governments or by written laws. Laws follow conscience; they
do not create it. Liberty survives through protest, civil disobedience, and defiance—through the
willingness to sacrifice comfort, reputation, and sometimes one’s own safety so others may
remain free.
Order without conscience is not peace.
It is control.
It is tyranny.
What would this world look like if we broke trust and treaty by invading Greenland? What
would happen to NATO? Who would our allies be? Would it make this country more sovereign
and safe, or would we be thrust into some form of isolation?
Normally our neighbors—Mexico and Canada—would support our interests. But I don’t see
that being the case when military threats and invasions have already been cast in their direction
as well.
President of peace?
I’m trying so very hard to see where I’m overlooking it. I don’t see peace anywhere. What I see instead is a man—and those who idolize him—simply getting what they want. A spoiled schoolyard bully without cause.
I try hard not to feed into reaction. I try hard to see where what he’s doing could possibly be right or end anywhere positive. But there is so little balance of power left. His words and actions largely go unchallenged by the balancing mechanisms built into our Constitution.
We have one man getting his way at every strike. Anyone who opposes him is labeled a traitor.
A disgusting human. Often stripped of duty, privilege, and even retirement promises the
moment they step out of his shadow.
“Lick the boot or get the boot” seems to be the reality.
I still search for the part I’m missing. I still ask myself where I might be seeing only one side.
Where could the benefit of any of this possibly reveal itself?
Where could the lives of the people of our nation—and of the world—find betterment in an atmosphere of such hostility and authority?
Even if he were completely factual in everything he flags as a problem, is this really the way to
solve it? Through order enforced by force?
How does that encourage confidence?
How does that encourage peace?
Without confidence, there can be no peace.
Without peace, there can be no confidence.
As if all of this were not enough, he now goes further, stating that anyone who opposes him
should lose their citizenship or naturalization, regardless of where they were born. Stand up
against what is happening, and that alone is enough to be banished from the only land you
have ever known.
No laws need to be broken, apparently—at least not in the mind of the man who says such things. Simply disagree. Simply resist. In his mind, that is enough to label you a traitor. Maybe even a domestic terrorist.
To me, it seems the only people guilty of those charges are the ones saying it.
It amazes me that the party of God, conservatism, and limited government is the very party
cheering this on—doing so in an air of obnoxious obtuseness.
It seems that our government, in general, has largely forgotten where it gains its privileges of
authority.
Silence will not keep anyone safe.
“There are many who don’t know they are fascist but will find out when the time comes.”
— attribution disputed; commonly misattributed to Ernest Hemingway
$25
Manzanita
503-812-8325
Karen Olson
If you just want to know the truth of things – you need to watch this documentary – it really affects all of us. I came across this by accident one day while on my laptop – unfortunately I was never able to find it again until someone recently sent me the link.
3 different sizes.
Upper left photo shows all 3 next to a common sharpie so you can get scale.
The smallest and the largest are set in silver. Both can also be worn on a chain as a necklace. The medium size one I believe is set in gold and does not have a necklace clasp on back. They could all use a polish on the metal. They are all antiques.
If you have a special someone who might like a timeless piece of jewelry for their coat, scarf, shirt or as a necklace reach out and you can come see them. Price ranges from $25 – $65
Blessings, K
Text: 360:904-3899
Coach Char:
PNWCoast Paddling Club
Artist Reception: For The Love of Birds
Thursday, February 5th • 5–7 pm
Light refreshments will be served
Blue Water Fine Art Gallery
119 S Miller St., Rockaway Beach, OR 97136
Join us for a warm and welcoming evening with Lydia as we celebrate her newest body of work. This reception offers a relaxed opportunity to meet the artist, explore her mixed‑media pieces up close, and enjoy an evening of art, conversation, and community connection.
We look forward to celebrating Lydia’s work — and the birds that inspire it — with you.
THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO ALL
NEHALEM BAY TIDERUNNERS PNWCOASTPADDLINGCLUB.COM
PNW Coast Paddling Club is actively recruiting for the 2026 season. We are a group of powerful, competitive paddlers of all ages who race and train together on the beautiful Nehalem Bay.
WE SHARE the water with the bald eagles, herons, seals, and other wildlife.
WE COMPETE in local, national and international races.
WE ARE FRIENDS who enjoy camaraderie on and off the water.
WE ARE INVITING YOU to join us for a fun workout and a great adventure!
CONTACT COACH CHAR, TEXT 360-904-3899
Dress in layers as the wind is very cold, hats, gloves, scarves and double socks and coats will make this task more comfortable. Bring a chair as that really helps. You don’t need to stay the whole time but stay as long as you can.
Thank you so much to all of you who came last week to honor Renee Good.
Patty
THE MALM BEDFRAME W/ STORAGE IS IN VERY NICE CONDITION. IKEA. WE USED IT WITH A QUEEN MATTRESS, EVEN THO ITS BUILT FOR A DOUBLE.
BEST REASONABLE OFFER
Maranne in Wheeler
Text 503-812-5768
The pair has been cared for in a loving home and both are happy and healthy, but sadly their owner must relocate and cannot bring these beauties.
We are seeking a special family that can nurture these beauties in a safe and patient environment. A forever family would be ideal, but a long-term foster situation will also be a life-saver.
To learn more please send and email to unitedpawshelp@gmail.com or visit unitedpaws.org.
