Clatsop County September 5 News: Holiday Gas Prices, Office Closures, and Wildlife Aid

If you’re packing the car for one of the last summer getaways, you’ll notice the pump numbers are a little… startling. The AAA reports the nation’s average price for regular gasoline is steady at $4.10 per gallon, but up here in Oregon the figure nudged up to $4.89 – the highest we’ve seen for Labor Day.

Washington isn’t far behind either; the two‑state average sits at $5.37. The jump is mainly because summer‑blend fuel is running low and the switch to winter blend is already in progress. In Astoria you’ll find Safeway and the Shell/Mini‑Mart tagging $5.09 a gallon, while Joe’s Mobil was a shade cheaper at $4.97 on Friday.

And, as you might expect, a lot of places are hitting the pause button for the holiday. All federal, state, county and city offices – think Astoria, Warrenton, Gearhart, Seaside and Cannon Beach city halls – will be closed on Monday. The same goes for every U.S. post office; no mail delivery, no nothing.

School districts aren’t exempt either. Astoria, Jewell, Knappa, Warrenton/Hammond and Seaside (including Cannon Beach and Gearhart) schools, plus Clatsop Community College, will stay shut. The public libraries – Astoria, Seaside and Warrenton – are also taking the day off.

Port services? The Port of Astoria’s offices are closed, but don’t worry about trash: Recology Western Oregon’s collection routes and the city of Warrenton’s garbage pickup are still running, and the transfer station stays open.

Recreation sites are a mixed bag. The Sunset Pool in Seaside and the Astoria Aquatic Center are both closed for the holiday. However, the Clatsop County Heritage Museum, Oregon Film Museum, Flavel House & Carriage House will welcome visitors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (the Uppertown Firefighters’ Museum stays shut). Fort Clatsop opens 9 a.m.‑6 p.m., and the Columbia River Maritime Museum runs 9:30 a.m.‑5 p.m.

Public transportation keeps rolling, too – Sunset Empire Transportation (“The Bus”) is on schedule, and the local Astorian newspaper office is closed.

In other news, Clatsop County is teaming up with USDA’s Wildlife Services to help residents deal with critters that sometimes overstep their bounds. Cougars, coyotes, bears, beavers… you name it. The county approved a cooperative services agreement in August and is pitching in up to $40,000 for the 2026‑27 fiscal year. Federal and state grants add another $13,776.59, bringing the total program budget to $53,776.59. A shared wildlife‑services specialist will serve both Clatsop and neighboring Columbia counties. If you need help, dial 971‑495‑1482.

Finally, a quick heads‑up on road work slated for the week of September 7. Crews plan to strip‑paint roads, mow, brush the Westport area and ditch around Westport and Elsie – weather permitting. Drivers should be extra careful on Del Ray Beach and Sunset Beach; the sand gets dangerously soft in windy, dry conditions. Low‑profile and two‑wheel‑drive vehicles are especially at risk, and even four‑wheel‑drive rigs can get stuck. Signage is posted at the entrances.

Walluski Loop remains reduced to a single lane with temporary traffic signals after last month’s landslide, and Pipeline Road stays closed to motorized traffic (except logging trucks) until fire season eases. Pedestrians and cyclists, however, can still use the route.