ASTORIA WATER, SEWER RATES TO RISE

City of Astoria water and sewer rates are going up.  Monday night the City Council voted for a 2% rise in water rates, a 2% rise in sewer rates and a 4% rise in the CSO or Combined Sewer Overflow surcharge.  

City Manager Paul Benoit explained the surcharge increase

“Relative to the CSO surcharge, that adjustment is specifically tied to debt service payments that we have to make on funds borrowed to do this work, as is the example: the work that’s underway right now is a $7million project.  We are not obligated to pay on the funds borrowed for that until the project is completed, so in the next fiscal year we will be proposing another adjustment to pay that debt” 

Paving planned on U.S. 101 Business in Warrenton

Oregon Department of Transportation maintenance crews will be paving on U.S. 101 Business between U.S. 101 and Main Street in Warrenton all day on Wednesday and Thursday, June 19-20. Once the paving starts, it should be completed in a couple of days. The project is weather dependent.
There will be a partial closure from U.S. 101 to Ensign Street, otherwise at least one lane of traffic will remain open at all times with traffic controlled by flaggers. Motorists can expect delays up to 20 minutes.

LINCOLN INTERAGENCY NARCOTICS TEAM ARRESTS TWO AT NEWPORT MOTEL RELATED TO METHAMPHETAMINE INVESTIGATION

Two people were arrested last Thursday by the Lincoln Interagency Narcotics Team (LINT), with the assistance of Newport Police Department and Oregon State Police, during the execution of a narcotics-related search warrant at a Newport-area motel.

LINT began the investigation after learning the suspects were staying at the Inn at Yaquina Bay in Newport and selling methamphetamine from the motel. On June 13, 2013, LINT served a search warrant on multiple rooms at the business and a vehicle associated with the suspects. Officers located methamphetamine, packaging materials, digital scales and other evidence of drug use and sales.

Partners for the PAC Community Forum in Astoria Wed June 26

Partners for the PAC will hold a public meeting Wed. June 26, at 6:30 pm (with refreshments at 6:00) at Columbia Memorial Hospital Community Center in the Coho Room on the second floor of the Duncan Law Building at 2021 Marine Drive. The purpose of the meeting is to hear feedback from Kathi Jaworski who facilitated a public meeting in March to plan for the future of  the Clatsop Community College Performing Arts Center and how to maintain the PAC as a community asset. 

Senators Introduce Tsunami Marine Debris Clean-Up Legislation

 Oregon  Senators Jeff Merkley,  Ron Wyden and California Senator Dianne Feinstein have introduced the Tsunami Debris Cleanup Reimbursement Act.   The act would give the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) the authority to reimburse states for cleanup efforts that occurred before NOAA received funding from Japan.

In a statement, Senator Merkley said " This is common sense legislation that will help the coastal communities in Oregon who are dealing with debris from the devastating tsunami in 2011.".   

Last year, Japan announce that it would gift $5 million to the United State for clean up of Japanese tsunami marine debris that washed up along the West Coast.  The money was given to NOAA to administer,  but NOAA does not currently have the legal authority to reimburse states for debris cleanup that occurred before the gifted money was received.

Bonamici Makes the Case for Tsunami Debris Cleanup Bills to Key House Panel

Oregon Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici testified today (Thurs) to a key U.S. House panel about two bills she introduced earlier this year to assist coastal communities with tsunami debris cleanup efforts. The hearing before the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs signals that the legislation is likely to move forward this year. In a statement, Bonamici said she has broad bipartisan support for the bills. 

TRAFFIC DISRUPTIONS ON IRVING AVENUE IN ASTORIA

In Astoria, crews will continue work on Irving Avenue on Monday (June 17), collecting test borings for approximately three days.  Motorists should expect a one-lane closure during daytime hours where the work is taking place.  The work is related to the Irving Avenue Bridge replacement project.  

Construction of the new bridge is scheduled for summer 2014.  

CITY OF ASTORIA TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM PLAN NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS

The City of Astoria will hold one more neighborhood meeting for the Astoria Transportation System Plan (TSP) Update for citizen information and input for improvements to specific neighborhoods.

The downtown and Uniontown, West Marine and Bond Street meetings were held last night – tonight  the Niagara, 7th Street and Olney Avenue neighborhood meeting will be held from 5:30-7pm, at the City Hall Council Chambers, 1095 Duane St.  Proposed traffic alterations in this neighborhood include reduction in lane widths, installation of pedestrian improvements on Niagara Avenue and 7th Street and reconfiguration of traffic on Olney Avenue. 

Clatsop County Board of Commissioners June 12 Meeting Highlights

Tsunami maps presented

The board heard a presentation from Peter Ovington of the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries on the agency’s new tsunami evacuation maps. The maps, developed with new data on the destructive earthquake-generated ocean waves, show areas of the county subject to potential flooding by tsunamis originating both locally and in distant locations, and identify evacuation routes and assembly areas.

The maps are slated to be officially released June 18.  Four community rallies are scheduled to increase to distribute maps and raise awareness of tsunami preparation: June 20 in Warrenton, June 22 in Astoria, June 27 in Seaside and June 29 in Arch Cape.

NW NATURAL TO ISSUE $8.5 MILLION CREDIT TO OREGON CUSTOMERS ON JUNE BILLS

 Northwest Natural Gas Company, dba NW Natural (NYSE:NWN), will issue an Interstate Storage credit to its Oregon customers on their June bills.

The credit is for approximately $8.5 million and will equate to about $9.18 for the average residential customer in Oregon or nearly $44 for the average commercial customer.

The company says the credit is being given because of efficient pipeline capacity management and effective use of the company's underground natural gas storage facility in Mist, Oregon.

In the last 12 years, savings provided back to customers from the company's Mist gas storage operations have totaled more than $80.6 million.

Heceta Head Lighthouse Re-opens

One of the most photographed lighthouses in the country is back open after two years of extensive restorations. Heceta Head Lighthouse on the Central Oregon Coast reopened to the public Saturday, June 8, 2013.

The nearly $1.6 million project helped bring the light back to the same way it would have looked when the then five-wick kerosene lantern was first lit in 1894. 

CLATSOP COUNTY HEALTHY KIDS, YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION HOST JAMBOREE JUNE 22

Clatsop County’s Healthy Kids program, with the Lower Columbia Youth Soccer Association, is hosting the Healthy Kids Soccer Jamboree with Community Health and Resource Fair on Saturday, June 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Warrenton Soccer Complex.

The purpose of this fair is to increase the number of insured children and teens in our county, increase the soccer association’s membership, and provide much-needed health and resource information to the community at large.

Judi Mahoney, Healthy Kids Outreach and Enrollment Worker for Clatsop County, invites all children and adults to come to the fair. “There will be prizes, fun and educational activities and multiple community resources available at the fair,” she said.

Coast Guard terminates voyage of unlicensed fishing vessel near Newport, OR

The Coast Guard terminated the voyage of a fishing vessel out of Newport, Ore., Friday.

Coast Guard Cutter Orcas boarding team members discovered the 50-foot fishing vessel Way to Go II was not licensed for commercial fishing and did not have required life-saving immersion suits on board during a routine boarding approximately two miles west of Newport.
Coast Guard Cutter Orcas then escorted the vessel to Yaquina Bay in Newport.
A Captain of the Port Order has been placed on the vessel requiring that it remain in port until the violations have been corrected.

CITY OF ASTORIA TO HOLD TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM PLAN NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS

The City of Astoria will hold three neighborhood meetings for the Astoria Transportations System Plan (TSP) Update for citizen information and input for improvements to specific neighborhoods.
 
The Uniontown, West Marine and Bond Street meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 12th 5 – 6:30PM at the Liberty Theater McTavish Room, 1203 Commercial St.  Proposed alterations include lane reconfiguration on West Marine and the return of Bond Street to two way traffic.

The downtown neighborhood meeting will be held on the same day - Wednesday, June 12th 7-8:30pm, also at the Liberty Theater McTavish Room, 1203 Commercial St.  Proposed alternations include conversion of one-way to two-way streets in the downtown area.

For the Niagara, 7th Street and Olney Avenue neighborhoods, the meeting will be held on Thursday, June 13th, from 5:30-7pm, at the City Hall Council Chambers, 1095 Duane St.  Proposed alterations include reduction in lane widths, installation of pedestrian improvements on Niagara Avenue and 7th Street and reconfiguration of traffic on Olney Avenue.

Starter Emergency Supply Kits for Pacific County, WA Low Income Families

The Pacific County Emergency Management Agency will be hosting an event to distribute starter emergency supply kits to low income families of Pacific County. Participants will learn how to respond personally to a disaster as well as how to use the supplies in their kits. Everyone is encouraged to attend this training; however, kits are limited and will be distributed on a first come first serve basis.

The event will be held at Pacific County Fire District 1 (26110 Ridge Avenue in Ocean Park) on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.  Pre-registration is required to attend this event.
Contact Kirsten Harvill at 360-875-9409

Major Fire at Pacific Coast Seafoods in Warrenton

Multiple agencies responded to a structure fire Tuesday, June 4, in Warrenton at Pacific Coast Seafoods. 

According to witnesses, the fire started at approximately 10:30am Tuesday morning, quickly becoming a two-alarm blaze according to the Astoria Fire Department.  Both Pacific Coast Seafoods and neighboring Hampton Lumber were evacuated.  Pacific Coast Seafoods plant general manager Michael Brown said everyone got out safely. 

Officials on the scene declined to speak to the cause of the fire.  Eyewitness  Sharon Clyde, affiliated with the Cannon Beach Fire Department spoke to a family member of a Pacific Coast Seafood employee:

Clyde.wav (:18): "Her brother works there and she talked to him and he said it started in Freezer1.  That there was an expolosion in Freezer 1.  They couldn't get it out with fire extinguishers, so they just got everyone out of the building.  Everyone is out and fine"

Multiple agencies responded to the fire, including crews from Seaside, Lewis and Clark, Astoria and Gearhart.  The Coast Guard also assisted.  Witnesses reported a wall collapse at 1pm..  Pacific Coast Seafoods is a major employer in Warrenton, with more than 130 employees.