Thank you for your interest in reading The Astorian. Here are a few stories that you might have missed this week:

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Advocates, law enforcement and medical experts on the North Coast say the medical response to sexual assault does not adequately meet the needs of survivors, a critical gap in access that can compound trauma.

One of the reasons is a persistent shortage of sexual assault nurse examiners.

Survivors who seek medical care at local hospitals often have to wait hours for forensic exams. Many are referred to hospitals in Portland.

“For someone who’s already experienced trauma, knowing that you have to take a two-hour trip one way, and then wait for hours at a hospital to have an exam done and then find your way back here, it’s really discouraging,” said Jessica Klein, the deputy director at The Harbor, an advocacy center in Astoria for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Read the report by Abbey McDonald by clicking here.

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Craig Andes, a commercial fisherman based in Tillamook County and an avid beachcomber, made an interesting discovery a few years back in sea caves north of Manzanita.

Andes found timbers he believed were from the 1693 wreck of Santo Cristo de Burgos, a Spanish galleon also known as the Beeswax for the valuable wax that formed part of its cargo.

But Andes was sworn to secrecy by marine archaeologists and other experts who wanted to recover the pieces before the discovery was made public.

When the discovery was finally announced this week — including a story in National Geographic — it was a strange moment for Andes.

“You can’t tell all the treasure hunters in the world about it,” he said, “but you kind of have to because they’re going to find out about it anyway.”

The story was part of a collaboration between The Astorian and Coast Community Radio.

See the story by Katie Frankowicz of KMUN by clicking here.

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Judge Cindee Matyas is stepping down after more than 15 years on the Circuit Court bench.

The former prosecutor has left her mark through treatment court, which seeks to reduce recidivism and divert people from a life in the criminal justice system.

The judge said she will miss helping people as they get married or divorced, adopt kids, settle lawsuits or put a criminal case behind them. “You’re helping people move things along,” she said, “and it feels like really important work to help people resolve their issues.”

Take a look at Erick Bengel’s report by clicking here.

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