Eastbound lanes of Highway 30 near Goble, Oregon blocked

A Kelso, Washington man received minor injury Monday morning when his pickup collided with a tree and debris that had slid onto the eastbound lane of Highway 30 about two miles east of Goble. ODOT was to remain on scene assisting traffic through the area until a geologist arrived to assess the area.

On February 28, 2011 at approximately 6:05 a.m. a pickup driven by STANLEY WHIPPLE, age 64, was eastbound on Highway 30 near milepost 39 when it collided with a tree, mud and other debris that had slid onto the highway. The pickup received moderate front damage and WHIPPLE had a minor injury that didn't require medical transport.

ODFW to issue one dive bay clam permit

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will award one south coast dive bay clam permit April 22, 2011 at ODFW headquarters in Salem.

“The commercial dive bay clam fishery in Oregon is limited to 15 permits -– ten coast-wide permits and five south coast permits,” said DeAnna Erickson, license service manager for ODFW. “If the number of permits falls below 15 we hold a lottery to bring the number back up. Currently there is one south coast permit available.”

Bay clams are harvested by licensed inter-tidal commercial harvesters and also by permitted sub-tidal divers. Harvest focuses on cockles and gapers, though butter, littlenecks and softshells are also landed.

“Historical landings patterns and species targeted vary depending on market demand, environmental conditions and population abundances,” said Mitch Vance, shellfish project leader for ODFW’s Marine Resources Program. Some restrictions also exist for conservation purposes. “For instance, the season for gapers is closed from January to June when they are spawning.”

To apply for the permit lottery the applicant must be 18-years-old or older and cannot currently hold a dive bay clam permit. Only one application per individual will be accepted. Applications must be received in the Salem office or postmarked no later than April 15, 2011.

Successful applicants will be required to purchase a personal commercial license within 30 days. Individual commercial licenses cost $82 for residents and $292 for nonresidents.

To renew a permit for the next year, the holder must meet minimum landing requirements of five landings of at least 100 pounds each or an annual total of 2,500 pounds with dive gear. If there are no landings, the permit reverts to the state. For more information on applying for a permit please contact ODFW’s licensing services, 3406 Cherry Ave., NE, Salem, OR 97303 or call (503) 947-6101 or (800)720-6339 ext. 76142.

OREGON OSHA INITIATES EMPHASIS ON AMPUTATIONS

The Department of Consumer and Business Services' Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) will begin an "emphasis program" to reduce injuries and workplace risks that result in amputations.

Starting this month, the agency will focus more on inspections of job sites with machinery, equipment, and processes that cause amputations and job sites where amputations have occurred in the past. Industries with significant hazards and high amputation rates include meat packing plants, food processing, pulp and paper mills, sawmills, cabinet manufacturing, sheet metal work, foundries, and commercial printing among others.

"The loss of a finger or limb can be life changing for any worker," said Oregon OSHA Administrator Michael Wood. "This emphasis program will help us identify risks earlier so that employers can prevent amputations."

From 2005 to 2009, Oregon had more than 800 accepted workers' compensation claims for amputations. Machinery was the source of more than half of those claims, and powered hand tools added another 8 percent to the total. Nearly all of the amputations - 97 percent - were fingers.

Inspectors will assess machinery cleaning, jams, and regular operations, along with maintenance procedures. The scope of an inspection may be expanded to address unrelated hazards if they pose a serious danger.

ARE OREGONIANS RECEIVING HIGH-QUALITY CARE? REPORT REVEALS TRENDS AND VARIATIONS ACROSS THE STATE

Oregon's primary care performance exceeds national averages in some areas, shows opportunities for improvement in others

PORTLAND, ORE. (February 23, 2011) - Information about the performance of doctors is crucial to improving health care delivery and meeting the goals of health care reform. A collaboration of Oregon practitioners, insurers, employers, consumers and government officials is working to provide this information through an initiative called Partner for Quality Care. Today, the initiative launched its second statewide report on primary care performance and updated quality "scores" for Oregon doctors' offices and medical groups on www.PartnerForQualityCare.org.

Ten Oregon health plans contributed claims data, representing care given to more than 1.8 million Oregonians, to the Partner for Quality Care initiative. The report, Information for a Healthy Oregon: Statewide Report on Health Care Quality, summarizes primary care performance based on this data for doctors' offices with four or more primary care practitioners.

"Oregon is unique in its collaborative efforts to improve the quality of health care," says Mylia Christensen, executive director of the Oregon Health Care Quality Corporation (Quality Corp), the non-profit organization that manages Partner for Quality Care. "Information for a Healthy Oregon provides an important snapshot of primary care quality in our state and tells the story of how clinicians and other key stakeholders use this information to help create a healthier Oregon."

For the first time, Information for a Healthy Oregon is able to report on trends over time since reporting began in 2007. Although measurable improvements have been made in many areas, the report also reveals substantial variation in the quality of care delivered across the state. Key findings from the report include:

* For some areas of care, particularly diabetes care, Oregon's average scores exceed national averages. The strong performance by these clinics and providers demonstrates that high-quality care is achievable and is happening in Oregon.

* However, there is always room for improvement. Although Oregon's average score for appropriate use of medications for people with asthma is 90 percent, this area of care is one example of where Oregon falls below the national average of 93 percent.

* There are also large differences between the lowest and highest performing clinics in some areas of care. For example, while average Chlamydia screening rates in Oregon have improved, the difference between the lowest and highest performing clinics is nearly 70 percentage points. Chlamydia is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted disease in Oregon.

"Partner for Quality Care data helped us identify system-wide issues and areas where we can improve," says Pete Johnson, CEO of North Bend Medical Group. "Now we have a way to start a conversation with our clinics and see what about the work flow is a barrier to providing better care."

Partner for Quality Care posts quality scores for individual doctors' offices and medical groups across the state on a website for the public. The website aims to help Oregonians learn about the care they should be receiving and find doctors who are providing recommended care.

"We send information to all of our members about the Partner for Quality Care website because we want them to make informed decisions about where they go for their care," says Joan Kapowich, administrator of the Public Employees' Benefit Board and the Oregon Educators Benefit Board.

Quality Corp is part of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q) initiative, a program in 17 communities across the United States. AF4Q is the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's signature effort to lift the overall quality of health care in targeted communities, reduce racial and ethnic disparities, and provide models that will help propel national reform. In 2007, RWJF selected Quality Corp to lead the local AF4Q effort. Quality Corp is also a designated Chartered Value Exchange by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and a member of the Network for Regional Healthcare Improvement as a Regional Health Improvement Collaborative.

Looking to the future, Partner for Quality Care is working to report on both the quality and value of health care in Oregon. The need for objective and independent measurement and reporting will increase dramatically as private and public stakeholders implement a variety of health reform strategies.

For more information about Partner for Quality Care, including a copy of the report, visit www.PartnerForQualityCare.org.

LUBA UPHOLDS CLATSOP COUNTY'S OREGON PIPELINE WITHDRAWAL

The Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals has upheld Clatsop County’s decision to withdraw its earlier approval of the consolidated land-use application from Oregon Pipeline LLC

The ruling, issued Thursday, Feb. 17, rejects a challenge filed by the project developer regarding the deadline for the county board of commissioners’ Jan. 14 decision.

LUBA’s decision clears the way for the scheduled March 9 hearing before the commissioners on its reconsideration of the application.

The board of commissioners originally voted Nov. 8, 2010 to accept a hearings officer’s ruling and grant approval to the consolidated application from Oregon Pipeline to build 41 miles of pipeline to serve a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal in Warrenton. The decision was appealed to LUBA by project opponents Columbia Riverkeeper and NW Property Rights Coalition.

The board, with three new members, voted Jan. 12 to file a notice of withdrawal with LUBA for reconsideration of the November 2010 ruling. Jurisdictions have the authority to withdraw land-use decisions, for the purpose of reconsideration, prior to completing and filing the record of the process with LUBA.

The original filing deadline was Dec. 15, 2010, but the county sought and received from LUBA a 30-day extension to prepare the nearly 12,000-page record, moving the deadline to Jan. 14.

In its filing with LUBA, Oregon Pipeline argued that the county’s filing deadline should have been the original Dec. 15, 2010 date, regardless of the extension. It also argued that the county sought the extension for the purpose of giving the three new commissioners the opportunity to vote on the withdrawal. The new commissioners – Debra Birkby, Peter Huhtala and Scott Lee – were sworn into office Jan. 12.

LUBA rejected both arguments. The LUBA ruling can be viewed on the “Oregon LNG” page at www.co.clatsop.or.us.

The board will hold a limited public hearing at 3:30 p.m. March 9 at the Judge Guy Boyington Building, 857 Commercial St., Astoria to review the existing record and take testimony only from the project applicant and Columbia Riverkeeper. No testimony will be taken from the public, but citizens may submit written arguments by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23. Those submissions may be mailed to Clatsop County Transportation and Development Services, 800 Exchange St. Suite 100, Astoria OR 97103; emailed to comdev@co.clatsop.or.us or faxed to (503) 338-3666.

SAFETY CONCERNS PROMPT CUTTING OF GIANT SITKA SPRUCE

The Klootchy Creek Giant is a bit shorter. But its saga continues.

On Friday, Feb. 11 the Clatsop County Parks Department had the upper section of the once-giant Sitka Spruce cut off to protect visitors from loose, decayed wood in its broken trunk.

The tree, the central attraction of Klootchy Creek County Park on U.S. Highway 26 east of Seaside, was broken in half in the December 2007 coastal windstorm. The rot that caused its fall three years ago left the top portion of the remaining trunk unstable and posed a potential risk to people standing at the base of the tree, according to Clatsop County Natural Resources Steve Meshke.

The spruce, once more than 200 feet tall and estimated to be as much as 750 years old, was the first honoree inducted into the Oregon Heritage Tree program, which recognizes trees of special significance. Before the 2007 storm the tree was believed to be the largest, and oldest, in the state.

Even in its reduced form, the tree, with a circumference of 56 feet at the ground, is still an impressive sight. That’s why the department wanted to make the area safe so visitors could continue to see the tree close-up and, over time, experience its full life cycle as its fallen sections become nurse logs and provide nutrients to a new generation of giants.

“It still has a story to tell,” Meshke said.

Historically located on private timber land ? story has it the tree escaped the axe because it contained too many limbs ? the giant spruce and surrounding acreage was acquired by Clatsop County in 1988. Nine years later it became part of the new Heritage Tree program.

A windstorm in 2006 opened up a gash along an old lightning scar, causing chunks of decayed wood to come lose and prompting the parks department to fence off the area immediately around the tree for safety reasons. A year later, a storm with hurricane-force winds broke off the trunk about 80 feet from the ground.

Even after the tree toppled, there was still a large amount of loose, rotten wood high up in the trunk, leading to concerns that visitors could be at risk from falling debris, Meshke said. For that reason it was decided to remove the top half.

On Friday, David Kurns of Kurns Tree Service scaled the giant and sawed through trunk. After some additional cutting by Richard Vetricek of Quality Tree Removal, a truck equipped with a cable pulled the upper section down.

The downed portion of the tree, more than 10 feet in diameter, will be left where it fell, allowing visitors to appreciate the sheer girth of the giant ? and giving someone with the time and patience the opportunity to determine the tree’s true age by counting the hundreds of rings. photo courtesy: Clatsop County

Coast Guard rescues swamped boaters near Clatskanie, Ore.

The Coast Guard rescued two people stranded on small island on the Columbia River, approximately one mile north of Clatskanie, Ore., Monday evening.

At approximately 5:30 p.m., the tug Liberty contacted Coast Guard Sector Columbia River reporting flashing distress lights coming from the island at mile-marker 51.

A crew from Coast Guard Station, Portland, Ore., launched a 25-foot response boat at Willow Grove in Longview, Wash., and arrived at the island at approximately 8:00 p.m.

The crew found two persons stranded on the island who indicated their skiff had become swamped.

Both persons were transported to shore where they were evaluated by local EMS. One was released and the other is being treated for minor injuries.

Having a visual distress signal is one of many ways to alert nearby mariners that you are in distress and is a key requirement to being a safe boater. As the spring approaches and the weather begins to get warmer, more boaters will begin to recreate in the Pacific Northwest waters. The Coast Guard reminds all boaters to prepare for a safe season by adhering to the boating safety messages at http://www.uscgboating.org/ or contacting your local Coast Guard Auxiliary for safe boating courses.

WA Hwy 401 re-opens north of Astoria Megler Bridge

Washington State Route 401 (SR 401) between the Astoria-Megler Bridge and Naselle has been re-opened, two weeks earlier than expected.

Tapani Underground Inc. of Battle Ground, has been working seven days a week, excavating more than 2,000 dump-truck loads of debris.

Flaggers will direct single-lane traffic from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily while road crews complete complete the excavation.

Both lanes of SR 401 will be open nightly from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. The work is expected to be finished by the end of February.
photo courtesy: WSDOT

OREGON GOV. KITZHABER REQUESTS FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARATION FOR JANUARY WINTER STORM

SALEM, Ore—Gov. John Kitzhaber today asked President Obama to declare a federal disaster in six Oregon Counties due to facility damage and emergency response costs resulting from winter storm that occurred from January 11 through 14. The Governor is asking for a public assistance declaration for government infrastructure only. Oregon did not meet the criteria for an individual assistance declaration for primary homes.

If the declaration is approved, FEMA grants defray 75 per cent of eligible damages and costs. Preliminary state and federal damage assessments found an estimated $7 million in eligible damage across the state from a series of "freezing rain, rain and snow" according to the governor.

Kitzhaber further explained that "the series of weather-related events triggered by the storms of mid-January left damage to our state's infrastructure, especially to roads and utilities. In addition, state and local agencies incurred extraordinary costs to pay for emergency actions to protect critical infrastructure."

The governor's request seeks federal disaster aid Clackamas, Clatsop, Crook, Douglas, Lincoln and Tillamook Counties.

"Because state emergency management and federal emergency officials have worked in close partnership on this request, I am confident it will receive prompt and thorough consideration by President Obama and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)," said B.G. Mike Caldwell, interim director of Oregon Emergency Management (OEM).

CLATSOP COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGREE TO LIMITED HEARING ON OREGON PIPELINE APPLICATION

The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners will hold a limited hearing next month as part of its reconsideration of the land-use application from Oregon Pipeline LLC.

Following a public hearing Wednesday, the board voted to limit its review to the existing record and allow testimony only from the applicant, Oregon Pipeline LLC, and project opponent Columbia Riverkeeper when it revisits the issue at a hearing March 9. The meeting will begin at 3:30 p.m. at the Judge Guy Boyington Building, 857 Commercial St., Astoria.

Citizens and other parties who have participated in the process, however, will be able to submit written arguments to the board two weeks prior to the hearing.

The board is reconsidering last year’s decision by the county to grant approval to Oregon Pipeline LLC’s land-use application for the installation of 41 miles of pipeline to serve the company’s proposed liquefied natural gas terminal in Warrenton. Wednesday’s public hearing was held to determine the scope of the March 9 hearing.

The board of commissioners voted Nov. 8, 2010 to accept a hearings officer’s ruling granting approval to the consolidated application. The decision was appealed to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) by project opponents.

The board, with three new members, voted Jan. 12 to file a notice of withdrawal with LUBA for reconsideration of the November 2010 ruling. Jurisdictions have the authority to withdraw, re-examine and potentially reverse land-use decisions prior to completing and filing the record of the process with LUBA.

Written arguments from the public must be received by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23. Those submissions may be mailed to Clatsop County Transportation and Development Services, 800 Exchange St. Suite 100, Astoria OR 97103; emailed to comdev@co.clatsop.or.us or faxed to (503) 338-3666.

MANDATORY BOATING CLASS HELPS BOATERS GET BOATER EDUCATION CARD

The About Boating Safely Course, a mandatory boating course that leads to a Boater
Education Card will be taught on two Saturday’s, February 19, 2011 and February 26, 2011 from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm in the 2nd Floor Conference room at Englund Marine & Industrial Supply located at 95 Hamburg, Astoria, Oregon. The cost for the class will be $ 30.00, which includes the course manual.

The course will cover safe boating operations, boating terms, required boating equipment, rules for boating safely, aids to navigation and survival techniques in cold water. Also, a session on ‘Local Knowledge’ describing boating hazards on the Lower Columbia and the Columbia River Bar will be shared.

Mandatory boater education is now the law! Every Oregon boater should carry a Boater Education Card when operating or supervising youth operating a boat greater than 10 horsepower. Youth ages 12 to 15 operating a boat up to 10 hp and all Personal Watercraft (PWC) Operators need a card. You can be cited a hefty fine for not having a card.
The state of Washington will issue a card to Washington residents completing this course. Their law states that all boat operators 35 years and younger must have a card beginning in 2011. The Boater Education Card will also save money on boat insurance.
The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) approves this course. The course will be taught by experienced boaters and qualified instructors from the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Buoy 10 Flotilla 64 in Astoria.

Researchers found that those who have never taken a safe boating course were involved in over 75% of all boating accidents, which led to the greatest number of deaths. Operators taking the About Boating Safely Course were involved in less than 4% of boating accidents. To pre-register for the course or obtain further information, contact Matthew Carter at (503) 481-6648. You may also register on the day of the class.

Apply Now for Oregon Conservation Strategy Implementation Grants

Applications for Oregon Conservation Strategy Implementation Grants will be accepted by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife from February 8, 2011 through March 21, 2011. To be eligible for a grant, proposed projects must focus on actions that benefit species and habitats as outlined in the Oregon Conservation Strategy.

Approximately $800,000 is available through the federal State Wildlife Grants (SWG) program. Individual grants will be awarded in amounts between $10,000 and $100,000. Private non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and state and local agencies may apply. Federal agencies are not eligible as the primary or sole applicant.

Application materials are available on the Conservation Strategy section of the ODFW website. For information on the grant application process, contact Peter Moore, (503) 947-6316, Art Martin, (503) 947-6082, or Karen Buell, (503) 947-6306.

About the Oregon Conservation Strategy

The Oregon Conservation Strategy creates a vision for long-term conservation of Oregon’s native fish and wildlife. It identifies how all Oregonians can become involved through a non-regulatory, proactive, statewide approach to conservation. With ODFW’s leadership, the Conservation Strategy is currently being implemented by a wide range of landowners, agencies, organizations, hunters, anglers and other conservationists. For information on the Oregon Conservation Strategy, visit the ODFW website, www.dfw.state.or.us/conservationstrategy/.

NOMINATIONS FOR OREGON STATE RECREATION TRAILS AWARD ACCEPTED

Trail advocates have a chance to recognize the accomplishments of fellow non-motorized trail builders and stewards by submitting nominations for the annual Doug Newman Recreation Trails Achievement Award.

Presented annually by the Oregon Recreation Trails Advisory Council (ORTAC), the award honors individuals and groups for significant contributions to trail development and maintenance in the previous year. Southern Oregon trail adopters Karen and John Poole were the 2009 award recipients.

Nominations must be submitted in a letter or e-mail to State Recreation Trails Coordinator Rocky Houston of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department by April 15, 2011. Nominators should briefly describe how the 2010 accomplishments of their nominees:

1) Benefit a large number of diverse trail users;

2) Contribute to the planning, design, development, or maintenance of recreation trails,

3) Inspire other contributors.

The general public as well as government agencies and members of outdoor recreation organizations are welcome to submit nominations. More information can be obtained from Houston at 503-986-0750, or by e-mail at Rocky.Houston@state.or.us.

The award, first presented n 1993, is named in memory of former ORTAC member Doug Newman of Eugene. Newman was an avid outdoor recreation advocate and an outdoors reporter for The Register-Guard.

ORTAC is seven-member council of volunteer representatives appointed by the Oregon Park and Recreation Commission. The council advises OPRD on opportunities to develop and promote non-motorized recreation trails.

Pacific County Sherif's Office new Tip Line

The Pacific County Sheriff’s Office now has a 24 hour tip line. This tip line is an alternative means by which citizens can relay valuable information to Sheriff’s Office deputies. The tip line is voluntary and anonymous. When a citizen calls the tip line, the caller will be asked to leave a message – name and phone number only need to be included if the caller would like contact.

Any information citizens provide is appreciated. Even “small” bits of information can at times provide deputies the “missing link” that allows them to take action. All information will remain confidential.

To leave a tip, citizens should call:

360-875-9300 x2TIP (2847) – North County

360-642-9300 x2TIP (2847) – South County

A complete list of Sheriff’s Office phone numbers and extensions can be found by visiting our website at www.co.pacific.wa.us/sheriff and clicking on “Telephone Numbers”.

FILING FOR POSITIONS IN MAY 17 ELECTION BEGINS MONDAY

Interested in serving your community in Clatsop County?

Positions on the boards of more than three dozen service districts around Clatsop County are up for election on the May 17, 2011 ballot. The filing period for the election opens Monday, Feb. 7 and continues through March 17.

Seats are up for election on the boards of countywide districts including the Port of Astoria, Clatsop Community College and Sunset Empire Transportation District, as well as area school districts, rural fire districts, water and sewer districts and other entities.

Candidates can file to run by fee or petition.

For a complete list of all seats up for election, the requirements for each office and other information, go to the “Clerk/Elections” page on the Clatsop County website, www.co.clatsop.or.us

The last day to register to vote in the May 17 election is April 26; more voter registration information is also available on the Clerk/Elections page of the county website.

FALSE RUMOR REGARDING ARREST OF SUSPECT DAVID DURHAM

The following news release is being distributed at the request of Lincoln City Police Department:

A rumor surfaced within the media that David Durham, wanted for the shooting of Lincoln City Police Officer Steve Dodds on January 23, 2011, had turned himself in to Salem Police Department. That rumor is verified as false and the suspect's whereabouts is still unknown.

Lincoln City Police Department and the Lincoln County Major Crime Team continue to pursue all leads and tips. Anyone with information that could help in locating Durham is asked to call their local 9-1-1 center or Lincoln City Police at (541) 994-3636.

FEBRUARY: CHANCE TO SIGN UP CHILDREN FOR HEALTH COVERAGE

Oregon families that want to sign up children under age 19 for an individual health insurance policy ­ or change a child's coverage ­ can do so this month. The month of February is one of two annual "open enrollment" periods in Oregon; the next opportunity is August.

As a result of federal health reform, children can no longer be turned down for insurance coverage for health reasons. However, many insurers limit enrollment to certain times of year so that parents do not wait until a child becomes sick to buy coverage, raising the costs of insurance for everyone.

"This makes it more important than ever for families to purchase coverage before a youngster becomes ill," said Teresa Miller, administrator of the Insurance Division of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services.

The new enrollment periods do not affect employer-based plans. Even before federal reform, employer group plans were prohibited from denying coverage to children and adults based on health. Health reform extends this right to children who do not receive insurance through a parent's job and seek an individual policy directly from an insurance company. The new enrollment periods apply to all children seeking an individual policy, not just those with pre-existing conditions.

Even with the new enrollment periods, some circumstances allow children to obtain coverage at any time of the year. These include birth or adoption, exceeding a policy's lifetime limit on benefits, or loss of other coverage due to separation, divorce, death, or end-of-dependent status.

Also, insurers may choose to cover children outside open enrollment periods as long as they do not deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. Check with each insurance company to see if this option is available.

"Clearly, families have the most insurance choices in February and August," Miller said.

Not all Oregon insurers offer child-only policies. However, all of Oregon's largest health insurers continue to offer family plans in the individual market and will add children under 19 to these policies during open enrollment periods.

People with questions about these new enrollment periods may call Oregon insurance consumer advocates at 1-888-877-4894 or, in Salem, 503-947-7984.

In January 2014, insurers must also accept adults regardless of health and most people must purchase health insurance.

PUBLIC INVITED TO VIEW WARRENTON BUSINESS PARK PLAN UPDATE FEB. 7

The public is invited to view the draft master plan update for the North Coast Business Park and offer input on the document at an open house Monday, Feb. 7 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Warrenton City Hall, 225 S. Main Ave.

The master plan, first developed in 2000, lays out proposed development for the 270-acre county-owned tract in Warrenton.

The county completed the first phase of the original master plan in 2009 with the sale of 75 acres along U.S. Highway 101 to a private development company, North Coast Retail LLC, for commercial development centered on the new Costco outlet. The $8.6 million proceeds from the sale were placed in a revolving fund to support development in the rest of the park.

The draft plan update, prepared by Cardno WRG consultants and presented to the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners at a work session in January, addresses the remaining 195 acres and identifies property proposed for various types of development along with streets and infrastructure, as well as land to be set aside for preservation of wetlands.

The plan identifies approximately 92 acres of land, divided into as many as 19 lots, to be designated General Industrial to accommodate light industrial and manufacturing uses. Another 13 acres are proposed for an office park. The plan stresses flexibility, with the option combing lots together to offer larger developable sites.

The plan also sets aside space for a potential new county jail, as well as a proposed multi-agency public works facility. Almost 80 acres of identified wetlands are proposed for preservation.

Following the open house a final version of the plan update will be completed and sent to the board of commissioners at a future date for adoption.

FBI OFFERS $10,000 REWARD FOR FUGITIVE DURHAM; FEDERAL FUGITIVE WARRANT ISSUED

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the location and arrest of David Anthony Durham, age 43. In addition, the FBI has obtained a federal fugitive warrant for Durham, who is wanted in connection with the shooting of Lincoln City Police Officer Steven Dodds on Sunday, January 23, 2011. A federal fugitive warrant can be obtained when there is a reasonable belief that a suspect may have crossed state lines. In this instance, investigators cited the fact that Durham has expressed a desire to travel or is believed to have traveled to California, the Caribbean and Thailand in the past in order to obtain the warrant.

Durham's description:

White man
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 160-185 pounds
Hair: Long, brown
Eyes: Blue
Clothing: Last seen wearing full green camouflage clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, pants and tan or dark-colored boots. He was also seen wearing a dark-colored beret.

Anyone with information concerning Durham's location should contact 9-1-1.