Full closures of SR 4 near Cathlamet wrap up ahead of schedule

Drivers planning their schedules around 45-minute full closures of Washington State Route 4 near Cathlamet (milepost 39) can breathe easier today as crews on a rockfall prevention project completed scaling work last night, nearly two weeks ahead of schedule.

Drivers can expect intermittent single lane closures and 15-minute delays for the next three weeks while crews button up final construction activities.

Crews used seven days of 45-minute closures to remove loose rock and debris from the slope above SR 4, helping stabilize the slope and improve safety for 3,400 daily drivers.

HEALTH ADVISORY ISSUED FOR WATER CONTACT AT INDIAN BEACH

A public health advisory was issued Wednesday due to higher-than-normal levels of bacteria in ocean waters at Indian Beach in Clatsop County.

Increased pathogen and fecal bacteria levels in ocean waters can come from both shore and inland sources such as animal waste from seabirds, pets and livestock, storm water runoff, sewer overflows, and failing septic systems.

Water samples indicate higher-than-normal levels of fecal bacteria, which can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes and other illnesses. Direct contact with the water should be avoided until the advisory is lifted, especially for children and the elderly, who may be more vulnerable to waterborne bacteria.

While this advisory is in effect at Indian Beach visitors should avoid
wading in nearby creeks or in discolored water, and stay clear of water runoff flowing into the ocean. Even if there is no advisory in effect, officials recommend avoiding swimming in the ocean within 48 hours after a rainstorm.

Managers re-open parts of Columbia River to salmon fishing

In a fishing season plagued by high flows and cold water temperatures, on Wednesday, Columbia River fishery managers announced a fourth continuation of the popular spring chinook fishery.

Below Bonneville Dam, the river from the Beacon Rock line upstream to the fishing deadline at Bonneville Dam will open to boat fishing on Friday, May 27 through Wednesday, June 15, 2011. Previously, this area has been open to bank fishing only.

Above Bonneville Dam, the river between Bonneville Dam and the Oregon/Washington border will be open from Saturday, May 28 through Thursday, June 2, 2011.

According to Chris Kern, assistant manager of ODFW’s Columbia River Fisheries program, managers estimate there are 2,700 upriver spring chinook remaining in the lower river recreational harvest quota.

Due to poor fishing conditions in the lower river, managers don’t expect the entire harvest quota to be met, Kern said. Therefore, they have assigned some of the available fish to the fisheries above Bonneville, where anglers have already exceeded the original quota for those areas.

Anglers above and below Bonneville will be allowed to retain sockeye, adipose fin-clipped chinook salmon and adipose fin-clipped steelhead. The daily bag limit is two adult salmon or steelhead in combination, and an additional five fin-clipped jack chinook. Downstream of Bonneville Dam, the daily bag limit can only include one adult chinook. Sockeye salmon count towards the adult limit regardless of size.

Open House Scheduled For 17th Street Dock (Astoria) Replacement Design

Photo: courtesy the Daily Astorian








The City of Astoria Public Works staff will host an open house to share information about the design of a new dock to replace the existing 17th Street dock adjacent to the Columbia River Maritime Museum. The open house will be held on Thursday, June 2nd from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Maritime Museum, 1792 Marine Drive in Astoria. There will be a brief project presentation beginning at 5 p.m. followed by a question and answer period.

Work on demolishing and replacing the wooden dock and pilings with steel pilings and concrete decking could begin as early as this fall. The dock is more than 50 years old and needs significant upgrading to support moorage of two Coast Guard cutters as well as the Lightship Columbia and the historic Columbia River Large Navigation Buoy.
The new dock will meet the needs of the Coast Guard for decades to come. Moorage for the lightship and buoy will also be improved. All of the vessels, the buoy, and the recreational floating dock attached to adjacent pilings will be relocated temporarily during construction.

The project is expected to cost about $4.8 million, with $3.8 million of that total provided by a Connect Oregon Grant from the Oregon Department of Transportation. The City will invest approximately $1 million in matching funds.

A consultant team led by BergerABAM, an engineering firm with offices in Portland and Vancouver, Washington, will complete design work this summer and provide management oversight during construction.

For more information, visit the City of Astoria website to view an informational flyer.

Keep bears, people and property safe by not feeding bears

Oregon is home to a healthy population of an estimated 25,000-30,000 black bears. During spring, Oregon’s black bears are coming out of their winter dens.

This year, they may be hungrier than usual due to a poor berry crop in some parts of the state last summer and fall and an unusually cool spring this year.

Bear damage complaints always begin to pick up in May, a time of year when bears should be eating insects and vegetation like grass or skunk cabbage until wild berries ripen in July. But bears will take an easy meal if they can find one by targeting garbage cans, pet food left outside, compost piles with food or fruit scraps, and bird feeders (incl. hummingbird feeders).

A bear that feeds on human food sources becomes a human safety risk if it is aggressive towards people, attacks pets, or if it attempts to enter a structure. Another sign that a bear is becoming a human safety risk is if it is seen repeatedly during daylight hours around residences. Last year, 36 bears were killed in western Oregon because they were considered human safety risks or nuisances.

Steps can be taken to stop bears from feeding on unnatural food sources:

Maintain regular garbage service and keep garbage inside a garage or shed until garbage day. Wash garbage cans to eliminate odor.
Store pet food dishes and feed inside.
Hang bird feeders away from the side of your home or tree trunk so bears can’t reach them. Store birdseed inside and keep the feeder and area underneath clean.
Keep barbecue grills clean.
Only compost non-food items like leaves and grass in areas with bears.
Electric fences are a very effective bear deterrent.

“Bear problems are predictable in that they almost always involve bears eating things people don’t want them to eat,” says Brian Wolfer, ODFW district biologist in Springfield. “Bears will return to eating natural forage if unnatural items are not available.”

“Neighbors should work together to make sure everyone is doing what they can to not attract bears,” he added.

For more information about living with black bears, see the ODFW website at www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/living_with/black_bears.asp

While bear sightings are not unusual, attacks on humans are rare. If you encounter a bear:

Give the bear a way to escape.
Stay calm, do not run or make sudden movements.
Face the bear and back away slowly.
Avoid direct eye contact with the bear.
Talk to the bear in a firm voice to let it know you are a human.
Fight back if attacked. Shout, use rocks, sticks and hands to fend off an attack.

TEN PARCELS OFFERED AT CLATSOP COUNTY LAND AUCTION JUNE 6

Clatsop County will offer 10 parcels of land at a public auction Monday June 6.

The auction will be held in the Judge Guy Boyington Building, 857 Commercial St., Astoria. Bidder registration begins at 9 a.m. The auction will start at 10 a.m.

One parcel is located in Birkenfeld near Fishhawk Lake, one parcel contains a house built in 1964 south of Seaside and some parcels are offered in the Warrenton area. Another parcel is in the Elsie area and two more on a hillside off Hwy 202 in the Williamsport area south east of Astoria.

Minimum bids range from $500 to $127,000. All properties will be sold as is and for cash. Payment is due in full by 5 p.m. the day of the auction, except for one parcel which has a non-refundable deposit of 10% of the minimum bid due by 5 p.m. on day of sale, closing to take place on or before 30 days from the date of sale (July 6).

Auction packets are available for $4.50 at the Assessment & Taxation office, and an open house will be held one time only at the house south of Seaside. For more information, contact Property Specialist Sirpa Duoos at 820 Exchange St., Suite 230, Astoria or call (503) 325-8674.

CLATSOP COUNTY EXTENDS APPLICATION PERIOD FOR PLANNING COMMISSION

Clatsop County is extending the period to accept applications for vacancies on the county Planning Commission.

On March 23 the county board of commissioners voted to vacate all seven seats on the panel and invite the current members and new applicants to apply for the vacated positions.

The planning commission advises the board of commissioners on land-use planning, conducts land-use hearings and implements the county’s zoning and comprehensive plan. The panel normally meets once a month.

To apply, obtain an application form and return it to the Clatsop County Manager’s Office at 800 Exchange St., Suite 410, Astoria OR 97103, (503) 325-1000. Forms are available from the County Manager’s Office or can be downloaded from the county website www.co.clatsop.or.us at “Documents” under “County Manager.”

Planning commission membership rules require that panel members be residents of various geographic areas of the county, and that no more than two members reside in incorporated cities. In addition, no more than two members may be engaged in the buying, selling or developing of real estate, and no more than two members may be engaged in the same occupation.

Appointments to the planning commission are normally for four years, but appointees to these vacancies will serve the remainder of the current terms, which expire at various dates. Two positions have terms that expire June 30, 2012; three positions’ terms expire June 30, 2014; and the remaining two positions’ terms expire June 30, 2015.

The board of commissioners will make the appointments.

To see the ordinance and bylaws governing the planning commission, go to “Land Use Planning” on the Clatsop County website, www.co.clatsop.or.us and click on “Planning Commission.”

Area Election Results

In Clatsop County, Bill Hunsinger retains his seat on the Port of Astoria commission, with nearly 54 % of the vote. The latest figures from the county elections department show Hunsinger with 2,909 votes, ahead of challenger Tim Liddiard’s 2,461.

In Seaside, the bond measure that would have added 7 police vehicles failed with 555 votes against, and 474 in favor of the measure.

In the Warrenton School District Position 5, Mark Carlson is the winner, with 68% of the vote. He defeated incumbent Linda Dugan.

In the Knappa School District Position 1, Candi Vanderburg is the winner with 70% of the vote, over Katherine Patterson’s 30%.

In the Jewell School District Position 2, Sheri Marlow won with 54% of the vote against Jim Hedford’s 46%.

In the Jewell School district Position 8, Jennifer Balanchard won with 67% of the vote over Ken Culp’s 33%.

In the Clatskanie Fire District, James Gibson got 11 votes over John Moore’s 9, for position 1.

For the Wickiup Water District Commission, position 2, Carl Gifford Jr, is the winner, with 192 votes over Daryl Gardner’s 103 and Signe Warner-Condon’s 43 votes.

In the Youngs River Lewis and Clark Water District Position 4, Kenneth Kauppi won with 190 votes over Randy Trevillian’s 171.

Current figures for Clastsop County show that 6, 513 total votes cast out of 20, 430 registered voters. and a nearly 32% turnout.

In Tillamook County, there was a nearly 40% voter turnout, with 5,749 votes cast from 14,457 registered voters.

Tillamook County, Emergency Communications District 911, Mike Sheldon won with 2,294 votes over Patti Tippett’s 1,422 and Denis Bolson’s 633.

In the Tillamook County Transportation District, Marty Holm is the winner with 1,782 votes over 1,599 for Everett Brown.

Measure 29-123, The Tillamook fire District Bond Authorization to fund purchase of a new Heavy Rescue and Off-Road Rescue for emergency response. has gone down 1,108 no over 989 yes.

In the Nehalem Bay Fire and Rescue District Position 3, Sue Remy is the winner with 764 votes over Don Dillard’s 582, for Position 4, Jack Allen is the winner with 788 votes over James Welsh’s 548, For position 5, Bob Forster is the winner with 820 votes over 534 for Jeff Schlip.

In the Tillamook Fire District, position 2, Tim Hamburger defeated William Brown, 1010 over 571.

For the Port of Tillamook, position 2, Carolyn Hodgdon Decker is the winner with 1216 votes over Jerry Dove’s 790. For position 3, Bob Olsen is the winner with 1068 votes over John Ficher’s 569.

For the Tillamook North County Recreation District, Julie Chick is the winner for position 1, with 907 votes over Angela Hanke’s 426. For position 2, Marie Ziemecki is the winner, with 858 votes over Darrrell Winegar’s 424.

All Oregon DMV offices will be closed Friday

Customers advised to avoid lines on days just before and after the furlough and holiday weekends

The Oregon DMV headquarters and all local DMV field offices will be closed Friday, May 20. The closure is the last of 10 statewide mandatory unpaid “furlough” days for employees scheduled for the two-year state budget period that will end June 30.
Customer waiting times tend to be longer on the days just before and after office closures, so DMV suggests that customers try to do business by mail or online, if possible, or plan their visits to DMV before Thursday, May 19, or after Monday, May 23.

DMV also will be closed Monday, May 30, for the Memorial Day holiday, so people should keep that in mind when planning visits to DMV offices.
Online DMV services include most passenger vehicle registration renewals, changes of address, and notice of vehicle sale. To access DMV’s online services go to www.OregonDMV.com/online.
DMV offices will reopen on their regularly scheduled days and times after the furlough day. For a complete list of DMV offices and their business hours, go to www.OregonDMV.com.

For more information about the statewide mandatory furloughs, visit the Department of Administrative Services’ website at www.Oregon.gov/DAS. For a complete list of state agency closures, visit http://oregon.gov/furlough_closures.shtml

LOCAL VOLUNTEERS’ WORK FEATURED FOR AMERICORPS WEEK

To honor National AmeriCorps week, May 14 through the 21, your local AmeriCorps members, Donna Leinus, Jen O’Neal, Blaire Buergler, Derek Partridge and Jessica Johnson want to share with you their experience with national service in Clatsop County.
AmeriCorps is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, an independent federal agency whose mission is to improve lives and strengthen communities. AmeriCorps is made up of three programs: AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps VISTA, and AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC).
Locally AmeriCorps members fill needed gaps in our community.
Donna is a second year AmeriCorps member with the Marine Education and Volunteer Coordinator with the City of Cannon Beach's Haystack Rock Awareness Program. She serves as a Rocky Shore Interpreter on the beach during low tides for the general public and visiting school groups. She coordinates visiting school groups and visits local school classrooms to share information before their field trip.
Last year, her main project was creating a short educational film that targeted visiting school groups that the program could not visit in person, to give students some information before heading to the beach. She also works to increase the volunteer base for the program, plan community events, train new volunteers, and support the ongoing education of current volunteers.
In her first year with AmeriCorps, Jen O’Neal is our local American Red Cross Emergency Preparedness Specialist. She teaches Red Cross Health and Safety classes, which include the CPR/AED, First Aid, and Babysitter training. She also teaches the ALERT (Awareness Learning & Emergency Response Training) programs to area youth. On top of this, she gives free emergency preparedness presentations to community groups and works at many of the local blood drives.
Blaire Buergler serves as the downtown coordinator for the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association (ADHDA), a non-profit organization that is part of the Oregon Main Street Program. She is part of the RARE Program (Resource Assistance for Rural Environments), an AmeriCorps program that is administered through the University of Oregon’s Community Service Center.
Blaire is focusing on building ADHDA’s capacity and is working to facilitate the Main Street Program’s proven comprehensive approach to revitalizing commercial historic districts. Specifically, she is inventorying all downtown properties in the area, developing a comprehensive database of organization stakeholders, coordinating and facilitating downtown promotional events, researching sustainable funding models, and populating a website for the organization. Blaire is a graduate of Virginia Tech and moved to Astoria from Arlington, Virginia.
AmeriCorps member Derek Partridge is funded by the Warrenton Trails Association (WTA) and the City of Warrenton through the University of Oregon’s Community Service Center. He is part of the Resource Assistance for Rural Environments program, and is placed for the year in Warrenton. He is coordinating parks and trails projects with the City’s Public Works Department, WTA, and Parks Advisory Board. Currently, Partridge is leading an effort to revitalize the Warrenton City Park, including construction of a new restroom facility, with help from the National Guard, community volunteers, and City leaders.
Seaside High School alumna Jessica Johnson is in her second year with the AmeriCorps HOPE (Healthy Options through Prevention and Education) program serving Clatsop County through the Clatsop County Juvenile Department’s Substance Abuse Prevention Programs. Her position, matched locally by the Commission on Children and Families, United Way, OSU Extension and Kiwanis, takes her to many of the county’s school districts as the Friendly PEERsuasion and Allies in Action afterschool program instructor. She also helps to co-facilitate the Strengthening Families Program 10-14, Safe Dates curriculum in partnership with Women’s Resource Center and works with groups of local youth to take action to reduce underage drinking and drug use.
AmeriCorps is the chance to make a difference in your own life and in the lives of those around you. Members who complete their entire term of service are awarded the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to pay for college, graduate school, or to pay back qualified student loans. To search for a national service opportunity that fits your desired location and interests, visit www.americorps.gov.

COUNTY HOSTS HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION DAY

Are hidden dangers lurking in your home?
Cleansers, pesticides and other chemicals make our lives more convenient, but they can also pose health risks.
To help local residents get rid of unused or unneeded hazardous waste products in their homes, Clatsop County is hosting a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day, Saturday, June 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 2320 SE 12th Place, Warrenton, at Western Oregon Waste’s administrative office near the Astoria Airport.
County residents can bring in a variety of toxic, flammable and other materials for disposal at no charge at what organizers say will become an annual event.
The following items are examples of what will be accepted:
• Bug, weed, pest killers
• Poisons, cleaners, batteries,
• Paints, stains, thinners, solvents, wood preservatives
• Car and boat fluids, gas, antifreeze
• Mercury-containing thermometers, fluorescent light tubes, compact fluorescent bulbs
• Home arts, photography, hobby supplies and more

Items NOT accepted:
• Medical waste, including syringes and other “sharps”
• Medications
• Explosives
• Radioactive waste
• Business waste*
*A collection time for businesses that generate less than 220 pounds of hazardous waste a year, designated as Conditionally Exempt Generators, will be held June 10 by appointment only, no drop-ins will be accepted. For CEG registration call Clean Harbors Environmental Services at (503) 305-2158 or email ranf.alan@cleanharbors.com
The Collection Event is the product of the Clatsop County Household Hazardous Waste Program, a collaborative project between the county, cities, Western Oregon Waste and other stakeholders to develop a comprehensive strategy for reducing and properly disposing of residential hazardous waste.
Initial plans envisioned the construction of a permanent local facility dedicated to handling hazardous materials. The program’s short term goals are to hold regular collection events alternating between north and south county locations. The longer-term vision of a hazardous waste collection center will be assessed at a later time.
The program is funded by a small surcharge on all the solid waste going through WOW’s Transfer Station in Astoria.
According to Maureen Taylor, Household Hazardous Waste Program Coordinator, “our mission is to provide a safe, easy way for residents to dispose of toxic dangerous products accumulating around their home. We know this will decrease accidental poisoning and injuries to our children and pets, prevent unnecessary exposure to our waste haulers and fire fighter that come into contact with hazardous chemicals on the job, and decrease environmental damages that occur when people improperly discard hazardous wastes into the sewer, storm drains or on the ground.”
“I encourage residents to use the next couple of weeks to do a spring clean out of hazardous products they have not used in the last year,” she said. “Keep them in their original containers, secure with lids, place them in boxes out of reach of children and pets in readiness for the collection day. Bring them to the event any time from 9 a.m. to 3 pm. We can all start the summer with a new focus on using less hazardous, green products for our collective health and safety.
Suggestions to keep the amount of hazardous materials in your home to a minimum:
• Buy non-toxic alternatives whenever possible
• Buy only what you need
• Store products in a safe place and keep in original containers, closed securely
• Use up entire product or give away unused product to someone who will use it

Clean Harbors, a large national Hazardous Waste Management Company, is contracted by the county to safely collect, transport and legally dispose of all materials collected at the Clatsop County event. Disposal methods vary depending on the item: oil, fuel and oil-based paints are burned as fuel; car batteries, latex paint and antifreeze are recycled; and pesticides and poisons are destroyed by incineration.
For more information, call Clatsop County Public Health at (503) 325-8500.

Astoria's Bicentennial Celebration begins this Saturday

Saturday, May 21st, the Astoria Bicentennial Celebration begins with an Opening Ceremony event commemorating the founding of Astoria 200 years ago. At 10:20 AM there will be a trade re-enactment involving sailing ships and canoes from the Chinook and Grand Ronde Nations, in the Columbia River off of 20th Street. A Chinese Lion Dancer’s Parade will move along the Riverwalk from 9th to the Maritime Museum at 12:15 PM.

The Opening Ceremony will be held on the Plaza of the Columbia River Maritime Museum beginning at 1:00 PM. Visiting dignitaries will arrive on the tall ships, Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain. The Lady Washington will be open for dockside tours later in the day. The opening ceremony events include the posting of the US and Oregon Flags by a USCG Color Guard, presentation of historical US flags by the American Legion, the singing of the National Anthem, a fly over by 2 USCG Helicopters and brief remarks by Astoria Mayor Willis Van Dusen, Governor John Kitzhaber, Senators and others. The opening ceremonies will last about one hour.

After the opening ceremony the Chinook Nation will stage an exhibition Canoe Race in the river. The race will start at the 17th Street Dock and proceed downriver to abreast of Heritage Square on 10th Street, then turn around and finish in front of the Maritime Museum. The Coast Guard will conduct a helicopter water rescue demonstration at 3:30 PM at the Maritime Museum.

A Heritage Fair will be operating throughout the day at the Transit Center Plaza, between 9th and 10th Streets off of Marine Drive. The fair will have 50 booths, featuring food, entertainment, history, arts and crafts.

Parking near the Opening Ceremonies event and the Heritage Fair is limited, so attendees are encouraged to park in other areas and walk to the events or make use of a shuttle bus that will be provided. Parking in the Maritime Museum parking lot will be by permit only for 100 VIP guests until 12:30 PM, after which time the parking lot will be opened to the general public. Access to, and exit from, the CRMM parking lot will be limited to the 20th Street entrance only. The access/exit driveways at 17th and 18th will be closed during the event. Control of the access and exit points of the CRMM parking lot allows for a smoother and more continuous flow of traffic on Marine Drive. Traffic control personnel will be on hand to assist pedestrians crossing the highway at 17th and Marine Drive.

A Shuttle Bus will be operating between the hours of 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with a second bus added between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Parking with shuttle bus service will be available at Astoria High School, the US Bank and City of Astoria parking lots at 9th and Exchange, Daily Astorian at 9th and Exchange, Clatsop County at 8th and Duane, at the State Office Building at 4th and Marine and State Office parking lot at 2nd and Marine. Additional parking areas are available at former Lum’s Auto on Exchange at 16th, Columbia Memorial Hospital east parking area at 20th and Exchange, and CMH Pavilion at 22nd and Exchange. Attendees using these lots or that find parking closer to the event venues may choose to walk. Estimated time for a round trip of the shuttle bus is approximately 40 minutes.

Designated Shuttle Bus Stops

West Bound East Bound

East End Basin – Foot of 36th Astoria High School – 1001 West Marine
CRMM – 17th and Marine 9th at Exchange – for City, County, US Bank
Heritage Fair – 9th and Marine and Daily Astorian parking lots
2nd and Marine – (State Office Building) East End Basin - Foot of 36th
Holiday Inn – Marine Drive and Columbia

REDISTRICTING BOARD PICKS PROPOSED NEW COMMISSIONER BOUNDARIES

The Clatsop County Redistricting Board has settled on proposed new boundaries for the County Board of Commissioners districts.

At a meeting Monday the 10-member board chose a boundary scenario that makes relatively few changes to the existing commissioner districts.

The plan next goes to the board of commissioners for review and final adoption. The board must adopt new boundaries by Sept. 13.

Legislative boundaries must be redrawn every 10 years to account for shifts in population revealed in the U.S. Census. The Clatsop County Clerk’s Office convened the Redistricting Board to review the data from the 2010 Census and agree on new boundaries.

From input from the panel, county staff developed six different boundary scenarios. On Monday the board voted 8-2 to select Scenario D, which shifts a handful of voter precincts between districts to maintain similar population totals, but largely leaves the existing districts in their current configuration.

“The process went smoothly,” County Clerk Cathie Garber said. “The board was very forward-thinking, trying to do what’s best for Clatsop County now and in the future.”

The board made one change to Scenario D, shifting the “Cove” area of south Seaside from District 5 to District 2.

To see a map of Scenario D, go to “Redistricting process” at the Clatsop County website, www.co.clatsop.or.us. Note that the map does not show the shift of the Seaside area.

The Redistricting Board was charged with drawing boundaries that met the following criteria:

· Be contiguous

· Be of equal population

· Utilize existing geographical or political boundaries

· Not divide communities of common interest

· Be connected by transportation links

The new boundaries also had to reflect a change in the method of counting the population. The current districts are based on the number of registered voters, while the new districts are to be based on total population. For that reason, the new proposed boundaries follow census blocks, while the current boundaries are based on voter precincts.

As a result, some areas ? in Astoria, Seaside, Warrenton and the Olney area ? have been shifted to another district under the board’s preferred Scenario D.

Road work on Knappa Dock Road

Next week (Week of May 23rd) Clatsop County road crews will continue working on re-constructing Knappa Dock Road. This will include adding cement to the existing base and grading to specifications. During working hours access is limited to local residents only.

CLATSOP BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS APPROVES LETTER TO STATE ON CLATSOP FOREST PLAN

The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners will send a letter to the Oregon Department of Forestry urging the agency to use the “best available science” to balance timber harvesting, habitat protection and recreational uses on the Clatsop State Forest.
The board took public testimony from more than 50 citizens Wednesday before settling on wording for the letter, which constitutes the board’s input on the proposed Implementation Plan for state forestry’s Astoria District. The board changed the time of its meeting to accommodate public comments.
Commissioners Debra Birkby, Peter Huhtala, Scott Lee and Chair Dirk Rohne voted for the letter. Commissioner Patricia Roberts abstained, saying she would send her own comments to the state.
The proposed Implementation Plan spells out how the goals and performance measures of the revised Northwest Oregon Forest Management Plan will be carried out on the 150,000-acre Astoria District, which covers the Clatsop State Forest. The new Management Plan, adopted in 2010 by the Oregon Board of Forestry, revised some of the goals of the original 2001 plan in order to increase revenue to local schools, governments and taxing districts by 5 to 15 percent in the next ten years.
The Management Plan achieves that goal by reducing the long-term target for “complex forest structures” ? stands managed to develop the features of older forests ? from 40-60 percent of the forest to 30-50 percent. The Implementation Plan sets the Astoria District goal at 30 percent, which allows for a modest increase in projected annual harvest levels from 67.5 million board feet to 73 million board feet, or 8 percent higher.
The Implementation Plan also incorporates the Management Plan’s replacement of the former Habitat Conservation Plan with a new Species of Concern preservation model to guide the department’s measures for protecting wildlife habitat. The Species of Concern is intended to provide more site-specific protection strategies for fish and wildlife and their habitat.
State forestry is taking public comment on the Implementation Plan through May 25.
The letter points out that “forestry is a fundamental part of Clatsop County residents’ culture.”
“The forest provides family wage jobs. These jobs create the traditions, social structures and the profound sense of stewardship our residents feel for these lands,” it states.
On the change to the Species of Concern strategy, the board’s letter “supports efforts by the Board of Forestry to make sure that the (Species of Concern) approach meets the intent of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife conservation strategies. The use of locally developed strategies that comply with the Federal Endangered Species Act appears to be more specific and targeted.”
The letter also makes reference to an independent scientific study conducted by the Institute for Natural Resources that pointed to shortcomings in some of the research behind the Species of Concern habitat strategy, and states “we expect the Board of Forestry to use the best available science.”
Oregon Department of Forestry welcomes comments on the Implementation Plan through May 25. To view the plan and to find out how to comment, go to the ODF website, www.oregon.gov/ODF.

Seaside Safety Fair & National Safe Kids Week

The community is invited to a FREE Child Safety Fair this Saturday, May 14th from 10am to 2pm at Seaside Fire Department to recognize National Safe Kids Week.

This Safety Fair will offer nine safety stations for the children to learn about fire safety, water safety, poison safety, helmet safety, pedestrian safety, ambulance safety, emergency preparedness, CHIP: Childhood Identification Program, and North Coast Parenting. Once each child has visited each safety station they can enter a drawing to win a new bike or safety prize. Children are encouraged to bring their bikes to participate in the bike rodeo and have fun maneuvering their bike through an obstacle course. Seaside Fire Department will be teaching children about fire safety and children will be able to look and sit in a fire engine. Sunset Empire Parks and Recreation will be on hand to teach the community about water safety and the importance about wearing a life jacket. There will be a Car Seat Clinic and child passenger safety technicians will be inspecting child safety seats for recalls, defects, and for correct installation.

Drivers will encounter multiple delays on Washington State Route 4 east of Cathlamet beginning on Monday.

The closures will be for 45-minute durations between 8:15 a.m. and 5 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays. Crews will open the highway for 15 minutes at the top of every hour to allow drivers safe passage through the work zone. The closures are expected to continue through early June.
Crews will remove loose rock, unstable soil, trees and other debris from the slope above the highway. After scaling work is complete, crews will work during intermittent lane closures to finish activities in the project area.
"Rockfall projects are a reality of maintaining a scenic route like SR 4," said WSDOT Project Engineer Denys Tak. "We can't guarantee that every slope on this section of highway will be slide-free, but we are continuing to proactively address the slopes we have identified as priorities"
With the propensity for rockslides in the area, this 21-mile stretch of SR 4 between Longview and Cathlamet consistently ranks high on WSDOT's priority list for stabilization projects.

SPECIAL DISTRICT ELECTION BALLOTS DUE BACK MAY 17

Time is running out to return ballots for the May 17 special district election.

Ballots for the election must be returned by 8 p.m. Tuesday in order to be counted. To ensure their ballots arrive on time, voters are advised to bring completed ballots to one of the approved drop sites. Ballots placed in the mail before the deadline but not delivered until after will not be counted.

Completed ballots can be dropped at the following sites:

· Clatsop County Clerk’s Office, Public Services Building, 820 Exchange St., Astoria -or- 24-hour drop box in front of office.

· Cannon Beach City Hall, 163 Gower St., Cannon Beach

· Gearhart City Hall, 698 Pacific Way, Gearhart

· Seaside City Hall, 989 Broadway, Seaside

· Warrenton City Hall, 225 S. Main Ave., Warrenton

· Knappa High School, 41535 Old Highway 30, Knappa

· Mist-Birkenfeld Fire Hall, 12525 Oregon Highway 202

· Clatskanie Library, 11 Lillich St., Clatskanie

For more information contact the Clerk and Elections Office at (503) 325-8511 or go to the Clatsop County website, www.co.clatsop.or.us and click on “May 17, 2011 Special District Election.”

CEDR AND SBDC ANNOUNCE

Clatsop Economic Development Resources (CEDR) and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) are presenting a retail workshop, “Tune-up Your Retail Business,” featuring Kevin Leahy. The workshop will be held in Seaside, Cannon Beach and Astoria, though participants may attend any session that best suits their schedule.

“CEDR has focused much of its economic development efforts on manufacturing and industrial sectors. A large majority of the businesses in Clatsop County are retail oriented, however, so it makes complete sense for us to devote services to that segment of the local economy as well,” said CEDR Executive Director Dick Powell.

The 2-hour sessions will provide participants with tools and ideas they can put to use immediately, maximizing the return on their retail businesses, Powell explained. “We are also very excited to have Kevin Leahy presenting these sessions,” he added. “Kevin grew up in the area, then left for a long and successful career in retail, rising to the level of vice-president with Meier and Frank. He has also run his own retail and consulting companies and through it all has developed quite a repertoire of knowledge in retail and small business development.”

Kevin will speak on several topics, including:

* How you can best market your business without breaking the bank

* How you can capture your share of sales on the internet

* How to encourage your community to shop local as theirfirst choice

* How to take customer service to the next level, and distinguish your business from the competition

* How you can objectively evaluate your business

* How you can energize your staff

Participants will also have the opportunity to schedule a private, one-on-one consultation with Kevin, who is serving as the temporary business counselor at CEDR’s Small Business Development Center until a permanent counselor is named to the position. There is never a charge for initial or ongoing consultations at the Small Business Development Center.

“Tune-up Your Retail Business” sessions will be held in Seaside, May 18 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the CEDR office; in Cannon Beach, May 24 from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at City Hall; and in Astoria, May 25 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Holiday Inn Express. Participants may register online at http://clatsoped.com/newsletter/calendar/calendar.html or by phone at 503.338.2402.

Astoria Port Commission Candidates Broadcast, Thursday, May 12th

On Thursday, Coast Community Radio aired an interview with the candidates for position 3 on the Port of Astoria Commission.

Commercial fisherman and former Longshoreman Bill Hunsinger is the incumbent. His challenger is a newcomer to politics: Tim Liddiard. He has a degree in Mathematics and has worked as a general contractor. Patrick Webb from the Daily Astorian moderated the discussion. LISTEN

TWO PULLED ALIVE FROM COLUMBIA RIVER AFTER CANOE CAPSIZES

A Columbia County Sheriff's deputy--with the help of a Rainier Police officer--rescued two adult males from the Columbia River late Tuesday night after the men's canoe capsized near Prescott Beach.

Columbia 911 Dispatch received a call from residents in Prescott who said they heard screams for help coming from the river. There were no deputies on duty at the time of the call, but a marine patrol deputy was called in to attempt the rescue. The deputy obtained the help of a Rainier Police Officer and the two launched a sheriff's boat from Rainier. Less than half an hour after receiving the call, the deputy and police officer hauled two men from the river in a semi-conscious state.

Both men were suffering from hyporthermia and were nearly unconscious. Paramedics at the scene estimated that only a few minutes more in the cold water and the two would have lost consciousness completely.

"This is a case of quick action by our deputy who was off-duty when he got the call and a team effort with our dispatch center, the Rainier Police Department and Columbia River Fire and Rescue," said Columbia County Sheriff Jeff Dickerson. "Thanks to an agreement with Columbia River Fire, we have a boat stored in the Rainier area that allowed us to get on the water quickly. It was the difference between life and death tonight," the sheriff said.

Both men entered the canoe from their camping spot at Prescott Beach--not wearing lifejackets. At some point the canoe capsized and sent them floating downstream, clinging to the overturned canoe. They were in the water close to an hour and drifted downstream in the cold water for over a mile.

"You saved us," one of the men said to the deputy and Rainier officer as they pulled them out of the water.

The two men were transported by Columbia River Fire and Rescue to Saint John Hospital in Longview and treated for exposure. They were later identified as Justin Wood, 22, and Ronald Bedio, 22, both of Rainier. Bendio was also later determined to have a warrant for his arrest in Columbia County, and authorities in Longview were alerted to his status.

CLATSOP YOUTH AWARD NOMINATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED

Clatsop County Commission on Children and Families is accepting nominations until May 11 for its 24th Annual Youth Recognition Awards.

Adults may nominate youth ages 12 through 20 who have either overcome personal challenges to achieve success or significantly enhanced the quality of life in the community through some form of service.

In addition, youth can nominate adults who have made a significant positive impact on their lives for the Adult “Asset Builder” Award.

Instructions on how to nominate a youth and forms are available from Alice Beck at (503) 325-8156 or on the Clatsop County website at www.co.clatsop.or.us. Information on how youth can nominate adults will be posted in local middle and high schools. Nominations will be reviewed and final candidates selected by commission members.

The awards will be presented at the 24th Annual Youth Recognition Awards, Wednesday night, May 18 at the Holiday Inn Express in Astoria from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Many local businesses are donating desserts for the event.

VANCOUVER WA POLICE DEPARTMENT HIRING

The Vancouver, Washington Police Department is currently accepting applications to fill ten vacant police officer positions. Testing will be conducted by Public Safety Testing (www.publicsafetytesting.com). Testing dates and locations are available on the Public Safety Testing website.

Two informational meetings have been scheduled at the Water Resource Education Center (4600 Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA 98663) which will provide information for applicants that have little or no experience with the police testing process.

May 20, 2011 at 7pm
June 17, 2011 at 7pm

For information on the Vancouver Police Department visit us on line at www.vanpolice.org. Contact the VPD Backgrounds Unit or a VPD recruiter with any questions:

Sgt. D. Libbey (360) 487-7465
Sgt. G. Raquer (360) 487-7454
Det. R. Rich (360) 487-7481
Sgt. T. Price (360) 487-7463

States re-open salmon season above Bonneville

Columbia River anglers between Bonneville Dam and the Oregon/Washington border will have at least an additional four days to catch spring chinook under a re-opened season adopted by fishery managers from Oregon and Washington.

Under the extension, the spring season will re-open from Saturday, May 7 through Tuesday, May 10 above Bonneville dam.

The extension was approved based on harvest estimates that projected a harvest of about 450 spring chinook through May 1, compared to a harvest guideline of 1,000 fish available prior to a run size update.

“We’ve had good dam counts recently that give us some comfort that the run is on the way as forecast,” said Chris Kern, assistant fisheries manager of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Columbia River Program. “If counts continue to remain strong, a formal run update is likely to occur sometime next week.”

The daily bag limit in this area is two adipose fin-clipped adult salmon or steelhead in combination, and up to five adipose fin-clipped jack salmon per day.

Angling for salmon and steelhead from a boat between Bonneville Dam and the Tower Island power lines, approximately six miles down stream from The Dalles Dam, is prohibited. However, bank angling is allowed in this area.

Nearly 60,000 Oregonians Face Pending 22% Regence Rate Hike

Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon has filed for a 22.1% average premium increase effective August 1, 2011. This impacts 59,447 Oregon consumers and families with individual policies, not employer-sponsored coverage.

While the average increase is 22.1%, consumers could see actual increases as low as 16.7% and as high as 34.1%. Today’s filing comes after five straight years of double-digit rate increases: 16.4% in 2010, 17.1% in 2009, 24.1% in 2008, and 17.6% in 2007.

On June 2nd from 4:30-7:00pm the Oregon Insurance Division will hold a public hearing on this pending rate increase.

OSPIRG Foundation’s Health Insurance Rate Watch project will analyze Regence’s proposed rate increase, submit an official comment to the Insurance Division and post it on the OSPIRG website. The Insurance Division has also asked OSPIRG to testify on its findings at the June 2nd hearing.

Read Regence’s proposal and post a comment of your own. The deadline for public comments is June 2nd, the same day as the public hearing.

Background on Oregon’s health insurance rate review program:

In response to soaring health insurance costs, Oregon strengthened the standards that health insurance companies must meet before raising premium rates for small businesses and people who buy individual coverage. Insurers must justify rate hikes, showing that they are not excessive. The Oregon Insurance Division evaluates these justifications, which include information about the insurer’s administrative expenses, financial position, and what the insurer is doing to reduce costs in ways that improve quality for patients. All health insurance rate filings are public information, available online, and open to public comment. The Insurance Division is required to take public input into consideration when considering a rate proposal. More information.

OSPIRG Foundation staff served on the advisory committee on the development of these rate review rules, and OSPIRG Foundation’s Health Insurance Rate Watch project is funded in part by a grant from the Insurance Division to provide analysis and comments of health insurance rate filings from a consumer perspective. The project’s advisory committee includes small business and consumer experts including AARP-Oregon and Consumers Union.

PACIFIC CTY SHERIFF SCOTT JOHNSON TO BE AWARDED MEDAL OF HONOR

The Washington State Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 6, 2011, commencing at 1 p.m. The ceremony will be held at the Law Enforcement Memorial on the Capitol Campus, located on the north side of the Temple of Justice in Olympia Washington. Retired Washington State Patrol Trooper and current Sheriff of Pacific County, Scott Johnson, will be receiving this prestigious honor. Anyone is allowed to attend and are encouraged to do so.

In 1994, the Washington State Legislature established the Law Enforcement Medal of Honor. This honor is reserved for police officers who have been killed in the line of duty, or who have distinguished themselves by exceptional meritorious conduct.

Since 1855, more than 240 law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty in the State of Washington.

It is only befitting that these medal recipients not be forgotten. We honor them for their compassion, their steadfast commitment in the line of fire, their sacrifices, and their exceptional service to the citizens of the State of Washington. And most importantly, we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice, giving up their lives.

CLATSOP COUNTY WILL AUCTION SURPLUS ITEMS

Clatsop County will auction off a variety of items from the old Darigold Building in downtown Astoria in preparation for its demolition. Some of the more unusual items include a bio-hazard refrigerator and an antique toilet roll holder.
The building has served as storage space for the county for several years, and has accumulated a variety of used office equipment and furniture such as desks and filing cabinets that the county is offering for sale to the public.
The sale runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. next Thursday, May 12th, at the Darigold Building at Ninth and Duane in Astoria. Sales are for cash only or checks from established businesses.
A complete list of all 200-plus items for sale is available on the Clatsop County website.

OREGON UNEMPLOYMENT EXTENSION ATTRACTS RECORD NUMBERS

The Oregon Legislature passed the Oregon Emergency Benefits program (OEB3) and it became effective on March 24, 2011. The program provides up to $30 million in state unemployment insurance benefits to eligible applicants. At the time, it was thought that as much as six weeks of benefits could be provided before the funding ran out.

The Employment Department sent letters to those who had completely exhausted all other benefit programs and were potentially eligible for OEB3. It was thought that approximately 17,000 would qualify. In fact, slightly more than 22,000 qualified for the program as of Friday, April 29, 2011. The first OEB3 benefits payments went out last week totaling nearly $6 million. This means the entire $30 million may be spent as early as the week of May 14, 2011.

The Department is searching its list of available jobs in an effort to match each of the 22,000 eligible claimants with a job. Claimants are also encouraged to visit their local WorkSource Oregon office for help with their job search and to learn about training opportunities.

The Department will post notices on its website and send letters to those in the program once all of the available funds have been paid out in benefits.

WA SR 105 Traffic Delays west of Raymond

Drivers on Washington State Route 105 will encounter a detour this spring and summer as the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) builds a new bridge to improve driver safety and fish passage at Norris Slough.

Starting May 3, traffic will be shifted onto a temporary, one-lane bridge just south of the existing highway. The speed limit will be reduced to 25 mph and an automated traffic signal will alternate traffic until the new bridge opens this fall. Drivers can expect up to 20-minute delays.

The traffic shift is weather-dependent and may be delayed if rain prevents crews from painting new lane stripes on SR 105 today and Tuesday.

Currently, a small, narrow culvert connecting Norris Slough to Willapa Bay blocks fish from swimming upstream. Ocean tides also constantly erode soil under the culvert and the embankment supporting SR 105, threatening the stability of the highway.

More pictures of the Norris Slough culvert and temporary bridge.

The new 87-foot-long, 34-foot-wide concrete bridge will enhance driver safety on SR 105 west of Raymond and improve fish passage to and from Willapa Bay.

CLATSOP REDISTRICTING BOARD SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT

The Clatsop County Redistricting Board invites public comment on the process of redrawing the boundaries of the county board of commissioner districts.

The nine-member board will hold a series of meeting May 5, May 9 and May 20. All meetings will begin at 4 p.m. at the Judge Guy Boyington Building, 857 Commercial St., Astoria. Public comments will be accepted at the beginning of each meeting.

The panel is charged with drawing new boundaries for the five commissioner districts to conform to new population data from the 2010 U.S. Census. The board’s plan must be presented to the county commissioners by July 30.

New districts must adhere to the following criteria established by the Oregon Legislature:

· Be contiguous

· Be of equal population

· Utilize existing geographical or political boundaries

· Not divide communities of common interest

· Be connected by transportation links

For more information on redistricting, go to “Redistricting Process” on the Clatsop County website.