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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 3, 2015)
NORTII COAST THE DAILYASTORIAN • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2015 3A City Council rebuffs apartment project Embezzling Councilors want broader strategy on affordable housing By DERRICK DePLEDGE The Daily Astorian Astoria may have an afford able housing problem, but the City Council is not particularly eager to approve new projects. The council voted unani mously Monday night to reject an offer by Diana Kirk, of Tid al Properties LLC in Portland, to purchase a vacant city lot so she could expand her property and develop four, two-bed- room apartments on Second Street near Commercial Street. Her request not only prompted a bidding war for the city lot and neighborhood concerns about building on a steep hill, it revived a council debate over the appraisals of city property and the best use Zetty Nemlowill Drew Herzig of vacant land. “This is an affordable hous ing project from beginning to end,” said Kirk, who bought a house and land at 258 Second Street earlier this year as a rent al property. “And that would be our full intention in this par ticular neighborhood.” Kirk approached the city about buying a 4,000-square- foot city lot next to her prop erty so she could develop four apartment units. The city lot is considered substandard — be cause it falls below the mini mum 5,000 square feet for a buildable lot — and can only be sold to an adjacent property owner. An appraiser valued the city lot at $14,000. Matt and Lynn McGrath, who recently bought rental property nearby on Commer cial Street, submitted a coun teroffer of $15,000. The cou ple suggested they might use the city lot as a garden for their tenants. Two other neighboring property owners told the City Council Monday night that they, too, would be interested in buying the city lot. The appraisal of city land was called into question last year when critics complained that a 12,326-square-foot city parcel near tony Coxcomb Drive was valued at $15,000. The City Council approved the sale of the city parcel to Dr. William Annington, who wanted additional yard space and to protect his views. City Councilor Drew Her- zig pointed out Monday night that the same appraiser, Ste ven Weed, valued the city lot at Second Street at $14,000. “I really think we need to get a different appraiser,” Herzig said. Just before hearing Kirk’s request, the City Council had agreed to move forward with an affordable housing strategy that includes a vacant house registry, stricter code enforce ment, more infill and rede velopment in neighborhoods, smaller lot sizes, accessory dwelling units in garages, and a possible crackdown on vaca tion rentals. Yet councilors were appre hensive about selling the city lot to Kirk for an affordable housing project. “I think it’s premature to sell this property given that we just approved an affordable housing strategy that includes an overhaul of the develop ment code, including down sizing lots to make them build- able,” City Councilor Zetty Nemlowill said. Mayor Arline LaMear said afterward that there appears to be consensus on the City Council to wait for the vacant house registry and potential policy changes before selling city land for affordable hous ing projects like Kirk’s. “It was unfortunate that this happened to this gal because I think she came in good faith with this proposition,” LaMear said. Astoria man pleads not guilty to role in heroin OD By KYLE SPURR The Daily Astorian The Astoria man arrested last week for delivery of her oin in connection to an over dose death of a Warrenton man pleaded not guilty Monday in Clatsop County Circuit Court. Sean Anthony Hill, 26, pleaded not guilty to five counts. The charges are un lawful delivery of heroin, unlawful delivery of metham- phetamine, unlawful posses sion of heroin and two counts of unlawful possession of methamphetamine. Hill is accused of being the one who allegedly provided heroin to Matthew Norris, 24, who was found dead from an apparent heroin overdose at a residence on the 4600 block of Cedar Street in Astoria. The exact cause of Norris’ death is pending toxicology results from the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office. Upon his arrest, Hill was ditional informa tion re garding the case. People with in fo r m a - tion are asked to Sean Anthony contact Hill Detec tive Nicole Riley at 503-298- 2533 or by email at nriley@ astoria.or.us. also found to be in possession of methamphetamine, leading to the related charges. According to the Clatsop County District Attorney’s Of fice, Hill will not be charged with homicide or manslaugh ter, but can still face prison time for the drug charges. Hill remains in custody on $50,000 bail. His next court hearing is an early resolution conference later this month. The Astoria Police De partment is still seeking ad- Death of suspect in shootout with police ruled a suicide Associated Press PORTLAND —The death of a fugitive involved in a chase that ended in a shootout with police along Highway 26 has been ruled a suicide. The Oregonian reports the state medical examiner’s of fice said Monday that 36-year- old Andrew DeHart died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head. Initial reports in dicated that he had been killed by police gunfire during the Wednesday incident. Providence Seaside offers pain education Dr. Larry Lewman, who conducted the autopsy, says the officers’ bullets never struck DeHart, who was want ed in connection with an as sault near Vancouver. Sheriff’s Sgt. Bob Ray says DeHart shot at patrol cars, dis abling one of them, as he fled from police on the highway. The chase, which started in Seaside, ended after officers fired on DeHart’s truck as he exited a tunnel. The shooting continues to be investigated. DailyAstorian.com A woman who embezzled more than $250,000 over three years while working as a book keeper for a small residential treatment facility in Seaside was sentenced Monday to three years in prison for violating her probation. Karen Anne Noel Saber, 55, of Astoria, was originally sen tenced last year to five years probation. She was ordered to pay back $30,000 within a year by liquidating her property. After a year, she was required to pay $500 a month until the $250,000 was paid in full. Since being placed on pro bation last year, Saber has only paid $622.50. Judge Paula Brownhill re voked Saber’s probation Mon day since she failed to pay the minimum of $30,000. Saber was arrested last month on a warrant, and appeared in court Monday for the probation viola tion hearing. In addition, Saber violated her probation by failing to report a new address to her probation officer. She pleaded guilty in July 2014 to embezzling the money from the prior owners of Awak enings by the Sea in Seaside. She pleaded guilty to 36 counts of first-de- gree theft during the second day of a trial in Clatsop Karen Anne County Noel Saber Circuit Court. The Seaside-based residen tial facility opened in 2007. It is now operated by different own ers for women-only addiction treatment. Saber was hired in 2009 after being recommended. She suggested the company begin using direct deposit for em ployee payroll. From 2009 to 2012, Saber is believed to have pocketed thousands of dollars by putting state and federal payroll tax payments into her own accounts instead of sub mitting them to the Internal Revenue Service. When threatening letters be gan showing up in the spring and summer of 2012 from the IRS, the president of the facility hired a certified public accoun tant to go over the bookkeeping. The information was then turned over to the Seaside Police Department. E. coli in Northwest marks Chipotle’s third this year Associated Press SEATTLE — Chipotle closed 43 of its Pacific North west locations after the chain’s third foodbome illness this year sickened about two dozen people — prompting renewed scrutiny of a company that touts its use of fresh ingredi ents and farm-sourced fare. Cases of the bacterial illness were traced to six of the casu al Mexican food restaurants, but the company voluntarily closed down all of its locations in Washington state and the Portland area as a precaution as an investigation continues. Three people in the Portland area and 19 people in western Washington have gotten sick with E. coli as of Friday. Sev enteen of them had eaten at a Chipotle restaurant during the past few weeks. Eight people have been hospitalized but no deaths have been reported. Celebration & Open House ' obdbb WANTED SEASIDE — A pain educa tion class, “Understanding pain : With Knowledge Comes Pow er,” is 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 13 in Education Center A (low er level) at Providence Seaside Hospital, 725 S. Wahanna Road. The class is designed to help understand how pain works in the body and brain. Those at tending will learn about what pain really is, and how much one’s own actions and thoughts can improve pain. There is no charge for the class, but registration is required. To register, go to www.providence.org/classes or call 800-562-8964. By KYLE SPURR The Daily Astorian 30th Anniversary Visit us online at The Daily Astorian bookkeeper gets three years Please join us Friday, Nov. 6 • 12-4 pm Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber Northwest Hardwoods • Longview, WA in the old Owl Drug building near Contact: Steve Axtell • 360-430-0885 or John Anderson • 360-269-2500 Columbia Memorial Hospital Guess what day it is! 2230 Exchange Street, Astoria It’» Huwjj’d Dm)!!! Hors d 'oeuvres and door prizes! AT HUMP'S RESTAURAKT Ma m&walum, pime. SWBRY W EDNiSDAY 4-8 PM 14 OUNCE NEW YORK STEAK & BAKED POTATO $ 9.95 M Yo-ti Can Eat Ckicfeew & DuwpKwgi- Jkmiiujt, 4-8 put $6.95 Ptuiie Rit Ftutafs- sUuilt at 5pm $9.95 Just 15 min. from the Lewis & Clark Bridge on Hwy. 30 Hump’s Restaurant- 50 W. Columbia River Highway L Clatskanie, OR. 503.728.2626 NOW OPEN Friday & Saturday 6am-10pm I rr- I North Coast Home Care IIOM E OX Y C i EN • M El) I CAL EQI 1 PM ENT I 2230 Exchange Street Astoria, Oregon 97103 (503) 325-9906 (888) 271-8078 toll-free www.NCHC.net ‘Providing quality service for your home medical equipment needs since 1985” Voted one of the COOLEST Stores in America! j) M,., y enCeuib Winners in a Nationwide Contest Jdii Li the time- yeaA LoPiesi toe sie^lect an o-uA ¿utei and o-uA by InStore Magazine Sale There are many that list something they are thankful for each day in November on social media. now in progress PANDORA Starter Bracelet..... $20 off Select Bridal.......Half Price Estate Jewelry... Half Price also Citizen Watches Downton Abbey Jewelry ewelers 675 SE Marlin Ave, Suite 1 Warrenton, OR 97146 and more... 503-861-1481 www.gbjewelers.com There is a 20 word maximum for each submission. This allows more people to participate. How to participate: email your “I am thankful” to- hlarkins@dailyastorian.com or mail to- The Daily Astorian, P.O. Box 210, Astoria, OR 97103, Attn: Holly Larkins Deadline: November 20th at 5pm.