YOUTH & THE INTERNET CLASS OFFERED IN ASTORIA APRIL 2

Find out what kids already know about the Internet in a free one-day training program offered by the Clatsop County Juvenile Department Monday, April 2.

The class runs 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Clatsop Community College’s Columbia Hall, Room 219 at the Astoria campus.

“Looking Behind the Curtain of the World Wide Web” provides a comprehensive view of Internet use, including social media, cyber-bullying, texting, “sexting,” on-line gaming, cell phones and scams. Instructor is Michael Buttice, juvenile counselor from Washington County.

A two-hour version of the program will be offered that evening, 6-8 p.m., at the same location.

For more information, including registration, contact Laura Parker, Clatsop County Juvenile Department, (503) 325-8601.

Clatsop Jail Expansion to be discussed at community meetings

Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin will talk about the ballot measure for the Clatsop Jail Expansion at the following community meetings:


Astoria City Council at the old Yacht Club Building, April 2nd at 7pm.
Gearhart City Council at Gearhart City Hall, April 4th at 7pm.
Seaside Kiwanis, April 5th at the Seaside Pig and Pancake at noon.
Cannon Beach City Council, April 10th at Cannon Beach City Hall at 5:30pm.
Seaside Rotary, April 26th, at the Seaside Shilo Inn Hotel at noon.

Sheriff Bergin will also present information on the Tree Bill, (Dangerous trees along the right-of-way), signed into law by Governor Kitzhaber last week.

If you would like a presentation for your community group, call Sheriff Bergin at 503-791-0072.

PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED ON PROPOSED CAPE LOOKOUT STATE PARK PLAN

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is conducting a public hearing in Netarts on April 10 to accept comments on the draft Cape Lookout State Park Comprehensive Plan. Cape Lookout is 12 miles southwest of Tillamook, and serves 132,000 day visitors and 108,000 campers a year with world-famous trails, camping, beach play and picnicking. The plan addresses public needs for recreation on the ocean shore while dealing with natural resource issues such as increased coastal erosion.

The hearing will be held April 10, 2012 in the Netarts-Oceanside RFD Community Hall, 1235 Fifth Street Loop, Netarts, OR at 6 p.m. The hearing marks the start of a 30-day comment period ending May 10, 2012, leading to proposed adoption of the plan under Oregon Administrative Rule 736-018-0045.

The comprehensive plan for the park provides direction on future development and management of facilities and resources. The plan does not include a schedule for making changes or identify funding for park development; it describes the desired future condition of the park.

The plan is available online.

The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission approved the draft Cape Lookout State Park Comprehensive Plan in November 2011 after a year of public outreach and comments.

The public comment period closes 5 p.m. May 10, 2012. Public comments will be taken at the April 10 hearing, or may be made in writing to Ron Campbell, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, 725 Summer Street N.E. Suite C, Salem, Oregon 97301-1271, ron.campbell@state.or.us.

The rule will then be finalized based on comments received, signed by Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Director Tim Wood, and entered into the state rule.

Accommodations for persons with disabilities are available upon advance request by calling (503) 986-0733.

NW Oregon employment figures essentially unchanged in February

Oregon’s employment statistics for February show little change from January’s figures. According to Erik Knoder, Regional Economist at the Employment Department, Clatsop County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.5 percent in February, Tillamook County’s seasonally adjusted rate was 7.8 percent, and Columbia County’s rate was 9.4, all essentially the same as the previous month. Columbia County’s number of unemployed tops the region with 2,656 listed as unable to find work.

Merkley Cosponsors Bill Supporting Wind Power

Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley this week cosponsored the bipartisan American Energy and Job Promotion Act, a bill that will extend the Wind Production Tax Credit for two years. Without an extension, the tax credit will expire at the end of this year.

“This tax credit has helped companies create thousands of jobs in Oregon and plenty of clean energy,” Merkley said. “Companies that are making investment decisions right now are already cutting back in fear this tax credit will lapse. We need those manufacturing and construction jobs and we need clean energy, so we need to extend this tax credit without delay.”

The Wind Production Tax Credit provides 2.2 cent per kilowatt hour credit for power produced by qualifying renewable energy sources. The tax credit has existed since 1992, but expired on several occasions - in 2000, 2002, and 2004. In each of those years, there was a dramatic decline in installed wind capacity in the United States. If the tax credit expires, the American Wind Energy Association, an endorser of the bill, concludes 37,000 manufacturing jobs will be lost.

Volunteers need for Earth Day clean up in Oregon

Earth Day's SOLVE IT on Saturday, April 21st from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. is seeking volunteers throughout Oregon.

Efforts will include planting trees, pulling invasive plants and removing trash that litters wildlands, roadsides and beaches in Oregon.

To sign up as an individual or group, go to www.solv.org, find a project near you (dates and times may vary), and click on "register."

OREGON STATE LANDS INFORMATIONAL MEETING SCHEDULED

The Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) will hold a meeting to inform the public of two programs at DSL concerning wetlands and waterways:

Tuesday, April 3
5:00 --- 7:00 p.m.
Judge Guy Boyington Building
857 Commercial Street
Astoria

Representatives from the department's land management and removal-fill programs will discuss the basics of both programs, as well as bills passed in the 2011 legislature and how they will affect each program. An hour is set aside for discussion after the presentations.

Senate Bill 600 added additional waterway leasing exemptions and enabled the department to issue a general permit facilitating drainage in agricultural land. Other legislation made changes to statutes governing general permits (SB 518); surface water withdrawal (House Bill 2189); linear removal-fill projects (HB 2700); and the Economic Recovery Review Council (HB 766).

Draft administrative rules will be available May 1, 2012. A public rule hearing is scheduled for Astoria on June 5, 2012 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Judge Guy Boyington Building, 857 Commercial Street, Astoria.