Astoria Police Issue Merchant Alert for Forged Checks

Identity theft suspects/ forged checks for cash, goods or services.
On Novermber 27th the Astoria Police Department was contacted by the Washington State Patrol, who advised that they had taken a male and female into custody.  The suspects were in possession of numerous checks, a check printer and several identifications in different names.  Checks listing addresses in multiple states and multiple cities were discovered.  Several checks listing addresses in Astoria Oregon and Warrenton Oregon were also recovered.  At this time it is unknown whether the subjects were successful in obtaining, cash, goods or services in Clatsop County.  Checks may have been uttered in the name of Kyle Dove, Jaymi L. Smith and Jaymi Lynn Smith.  If you believe you are a victim of fraud related to these individuals, please contact your local police department.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WARNS OF COLD AIR, HEAVY PRECIP COMING

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WARNS OF TRICKY TRAVEL OVER THE CASCADE PASSES SUNDAY NIGHT FOLLOWED BY VERY COLD AIR MUCH OF NEXT WEEK...
THOSE TRAVELING HOME FROM THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND MAY WANT TO CONSIDER TRAVEL BY TOMORROW (SATURDAY)...AS WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO RAPIDLY DETERIORATE ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST SUNDAY.

A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE WEATHER PATTERN IS EXPECTED SUNDAY AS A VERY STRONG COLD FRONT MOVES INTO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING SNOW TO THE CASCADE PASSES...WITH PLENTY OF RAIN EXPECTED FOR THE LOWLANDS.

Seaside Police Aprehend Suspected Burglar

On October 26, 2013, John Andreas Owens, 44 from Independence Oregon, was taken into custody and charged with the burglary in the first degree in connection with the burglary of McKeown’s Restaurant that occurred on October 18, 2013. Owen had been a suspect in the McKeown’s burglary as well as a number of other commercial burglaries between Warrenton & Seaside.

ASTORIA REAFFIRMS EXCESS PROPERTY SALES PROCESS

Recently some Astoria homeowners were surprised to learn some city-owned properties near theirs were being put up for sale.  Letters to adjacent property owners were generated as part of a change in the way the city disposes of property.  Prior to this year, city owned properties were typically sold only when a member of the public approached the city with an offer to buy.  In May of this year, the city council adopted the sale of excess city property as one of 13 goals for the fiscal year 2013/2014.
 

At this week’s City Council meeting, City Manager Paul Benoit said the city owns some 1300 properties, of those, 37 were selected as the first to be offered for sale under the new process.  Although offers have been written on some of the properties, Benoit said no sale can be completed without a public hearing.

DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION APPROVES PROPERTY TRANSFER TO COLUMBIA RIVER MARITIME MUSEUM

Changes of ownership of several downtown Astoria properties moved a step forward Monday night when the Astoria Downtown Development Commission approved transfer of a small, approximately 118 by 116 square foot parcel of land to the Columbia River Maritime Museum.  As part of the transfer, the City of Astoria will retain utilities and access easement to the property, located just east of the Museum’s Barbey Maritime Center, also known as the former Train Depot.  

FREE PARKING FOR ASTORIA DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY SHOPPERS

As part of what has become an annual tradition, the Astoria City Council has waived overtime parking fees in the city’s downtown area for holiday shoppers. Astoria Downtown Historic District Association President Dulcye Taylor and Executive Director Alana (ah-LANE-ah) Garner asked the council to assure shoppers free parking while patronizing downtown businesses.  After the Council agreed, Garner extended an invitation to further holiday festivities:
 

“ Also I would like to invite you and the City Council, as well as all of Astoria to join us downtown Saturday, November 30^th.  There’s going to be a bunch of great deals downtown.  All the downtown businesses are offering deals starting November 30^th through December 24^th.  There will also be free movies at the Liberty Theater, starting at 3 o’clock and then we will be doing a street lighting at around 5 o’clock.”

Garner thanked the council for extending the tradition another year and added children can also look forward to meeting Santa Claus in downtown Astoria on Saturday, November 30^th, at 3pm.

Astoria Police Arrest Suspect in Credit Card Scam Police Looking for Additional Victims

On November 10^th, 2013 Astoria Police had been called by T&C home furniture about suspicious charges by Matthew Dunn, Age 28 who had purchased a laptop then returned to purchase more but when asked about the cards he was using became evasive and left. Dunn had photo ID from California and the cards bore his name. While the charges had gone through, the managers at T&C reported it because it caused them to be suspicious. Those suspicions turned out to be well founded.

On November 14, 2013 at 2:48 PM Astoria Police received a call from the Cannery Pier Hotel. They learned that a subject who identified himself as Matthew Dunn, age 28, had been staying there. After his check out, they learned that the prepaid charge cards that he used were returned as fraudulent. They also learned that there was a woman who was staying with him who had signed a charge at the spa and had to cross out her name and sign another name.

SUNSET EMPIRE TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT CHANGES TO NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETINGS

Sunset Empire Transportation District (SETD) Board of Commissioners announces that due to the Holiday Season, they will be combining their regularly scheduled Board Meetings for November and December to one meeting on December 12, 2013 at 9:00 AM at the Astoria Transit Center. A copy of the meeting agenda or board pack will be available at the Astoria Transit Center on December 6th or on the SETD website at www.ridethebus.org.

ASTORIA CITY COUNCIL MEMBER DREW HERZIG AND POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The Astoria City Council conducted some internal housekeeping during their Monday night meeting.  Council member Drew Herzig was asked by Mayor Willis Van Dusen to speak to possible conflicts of interest regarding council member service.  First: regarding Herzig and the Friends of the Astoria Armory,  then regarding communications regarding Russ Warr and the local business: Astoria Granite Works.  The mayor also addressed etiquette or protocol in the running of council meetings.  

 

Drew Herzig addressed the council about his dealings with the Armory and the Friends of the Armory group.

Herzig:  “I’m going to have to go into a lot of detail so I ask your patience on this – thank you.  Early in October, 2013, I was invited to attend a meeting on Friday, October 11^th.  The purpose of the meeting was to form a board of directors for The Friends of the Astoria Armory, then organizing as a 501 c.  Prior to this meeting there was no board of directors.  The meeting took place at Craft 3 offices in Astoria.  There were no City of Astoria staff present at this part of the meeting.  At the meeting I was invited to be on the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Astoria Armory. 

ASTORIA DRAFT TRANSPORTATION PLAN

Over the past two years, City of Astoria staff and an appointed Transportation Advisory Committee have been working on a draft 20 year transportation plan.  On Monday night the Astoria City Council heard a presentation on the plan from Chris Maciejewski (Mah-JESS-key)  of DKS Associates, a Portland transportation planning and engineering firm hired by the city. 

In his presentation, he identified top concerns planners and Astorians identified in a series of community meetings.  With an Astoria bypass (connecting Oregon Highway 20 and 101 business with U.S. Highway 30.), not likely to be funded in the next 20 years, one alternative citizens and planners are considering is whether some downtown streets should be changed from their one-way designations.  Other considerations are how to improve cross town traffic flow and improve pedestrian safety and traffic flow on Marine Drive west of the downtown center and in the downtown core. The area of Commercial and 8th Streets has been identified as having the most congestion and traffic accidents. 

ASTORIA SURPLUS PROPERTY SALES

The City of Astoria has begun the process of surplus property sales.  City officials say 150 parcels are targeted for sale in the next year.  Hundreds of properties could eventually be sold, adding to the tax base and generating revenue.  Astoria real estate firm Area Properties is representing the city in the sales.  So far offers have been made on several properties.  But as citizens and adjacent property owners become aware of the sales, concerns are being raised.  As City Manager Paul Benoit told the council, complaints from adjacent property owners have resulted in changes to the sales process. 

 

Benoit: “One example is when we did the first advertisement to adjacent property owners there was a lot of concern because the letter that went out gave what citizens felt to be a very short response time.  We acknowledged it was a short response time and we’re working to expand that.  I think all the property owners in the first round have been notified they have more time, and if the council continues with this process we’ll send a letter out that again, you can review before we sent it out, but it will give several weeks for people to respond.” 

Traffic Impacts: City of Astoria 11th St CSO Separation project.

PROJECT UPDATE

8^th St was paved last week with the first lift from Kensington to Niagara. The final lift of asphalt will be installed in the next two weeks, weather permitting. Tapani will continue working on curbs, sidewalk and intersection corner ramps on 8^th St between Franklin and Niagara. Some of the street striping work was completed last week and the final striping effort will be done when weather allows.

Final project work and cleanup activities have begun with the expectation that the project will be complete by early December.

COLUMBIA COUNTY CCRIDER TRANSIT CENTER OPENS ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2013

The CCRider Transit Center Park n Ride will open on Monday, November 18th.for riders.  There are changes to the St. Helens to Portland Schedule, PCC-Rockcreek/willow Creek/Hillsboro Schedule and the South Flex Route Schedule.

Downloadable file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2013-11/1528/68870/2013_New_Flex_Schedule.pdf (South Flex brochure)

Downloadable file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2013-11/1528/68870/Col_Co_Rider_Portland_Brochure.pdf (St. Helens to Portland)

Downloadable file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2013-11/1528/68870/4_12_13Col_Co_Rider_PCC_Brochure_10-16-_13.pdf (PCC -Willow Creek Schedule)

Downloadable file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2013-11/1528/68870/St._Helens_Transit_Center_Park_n_Ride_opening.pdf (St.Helen Transit Center Park n Ride Opening)