College Moneyball:
The big winners
Warriors fall;
OPINION • 6A
SPORTS • 4A
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015
142nd YEAR, No. 141
ONE DOLLAR
‘WELLVILLE’ JOURNEY BEGINS
True
blue or
review?
Columbia Bank,
historic landmark
group are at
odds over roof
By DERRICK DEPLEDGE
The Daily Astorian
JOSHUA BESSEX — The Daily Astorian
Friction between corporate
branding and historic protection
has Columbia Bank’s new two-sto-
ry branch downtown caught up in a
dispute over a blue, standing seam
metal pyramid roof.
The Tacoma, Wash.-based bank
wants the architectural feature on
the new Duane Street branch for cor-
porate branding that is common to
other branches. The city’s Historic
Landmarks Commission approved
the project in November, but reject-
ed the proposed roof as incompatible
with the downtown historic district.
Columbia Bank has appealed, so
the City Council will decide next
week whether the blue metal seam
roof stays in the project or not.
Esther Dyson, the founder of the Health Initiative Coordinating Council (HICCUP), speaks to the crowd at Seaside High School during the
official beginning of “The Way to Wellville.”
See ROOF, Page 10A
Crowd gathers to kickoff 5-year, $5 million health challenge
By KYLE SPURR
The Daily Astorian
WAY TO WELLVILLE STRATEGIC ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS
S
EASIDE — A wide range
of more than 50 community
members gathered inside the
Seaside High School library Tues-
challenge to promote health across
the county.
New York City-based venture
capitalist Esther Dyson, the found-
er of the Health Initiative Coordi-
nating Council (HICCUP), which
sponsors the Way to Wellville,
introduced herself to the crowd.
She encouraged the community to
focus on itself and on how it can
become the healthiest county in the
nation.
Clatsop County was chosen in
• Steven Blakesley — Clatsop County Public Health District;
• Justin Cutler — Sunset Empire Parks & Recreation;
• Dan Gaffney — Clatsop Kinder Ready, pre-K-grade 3 alignment coordinator;
• Jeff Hazen — Sunset Empire Transportation District;
• Chris Holden — Baked Alaska owner;
• Nancy Knopf — Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) coordinator;
• Mark Kujala — Warrenton mayor;
• Paula Mills — NW Regional Educational Service District;
• Debbie Morrow — Columbia Pacific CCO board member;
• Jill Quackenbush — Clatsop County Juvenile Department;
• Bonnie Thompson — Providence Seaside Hospital;
• Nicole Williams — Clatsop Care Health District.
FOR MORE INFO
Website: www.hiccup.co
Twittter: @WayToWellville
The group will host another
kickoff event at the Warrenton
High School library from 5:30 to 7
tonight.
The Strategic Advisory Coun-
cil will lead the community over
nationwide to compete in the na-
tionwide challenge.
“We are facilitating. We are not
coming here from the East Coast to
tell you how to live,” Dyson said.
“We want to work with you and
with the four other Wellville com-
munities.”
Although only one Wellville
community will be awarded $5
million at the end of the challenge,
the public’s input on health-related
ideas and partnering with other lo-
cal agencies and organizations. The
public can contact any member of
the council with ideas.
Bonnie Thompson, chief oper-
JOSHUA BESSEX — The Daily Astorian
through connections with inves-
tors and overall improvements to
health-related programs.
“The truth is nothing we are do-
ing is new. There is no magic, but
you have to do it,” Dyson said.
An idea board kept track of common themes the group discussed
when it came to what health means.
Hospital and member of the Strategic
Advisory Council, said the town hall
Members of the newly formed
Way to Wellville Strategic Ad-
visory Council — made up of 12
local people in business, preven-
nity for the community to share their
thoughts on health in Clatsop County.
tion, social services and education
— hosted the kickoff event along
with HICCUP CEO Rick Brush
and Dyson.
See WELLVILLE:, Page 7A
Homeless Connect offers help in Clatsop County
One-day, one-stop event
brings many services to
area’s homeless
See HOMELESS, Page 10A
Warrenton leader
more than a year
By DERRICK DEPLEDGE
The Daily Astorian
WARRENTON — Mark Kuja-
la has been mayor for three of the
past four years. But when he took
Hall, it was different.
The 44-year-old owner of Ski-
panon Brand Seafood became the
four-year term by voters in Novem-
ber. In the past, the City Commis-
sion chose a fellow commissioner to
serve as mayor for a one-year term.
“Obviously, we’re all account-
able as city commissioners,” Kujala
said afterward. “But, I think, this one
makes you accountable directly to
the public in that position.
“I like that change. And I think
it’s a healthy one for a growing com-
munity.”
Rick Newton, the owner of
NAPA Auto Parts in Warrenton, was
also sworn in as a new commissioner
after winning in November.
See KUJALA, Page 10A
coast
weekend
By KYLE SPURR
The Daily Astorian
For the sixth consecutive year,
the Clatsop County’s homeless and
near-homeless population are invited
to an event at the Seaside Civic and
Convention Center to receive services
ranging from free haircuts to housing
assistance.
The sixth annual Project Homeless
Connect Jessica Maclay Memorial will
be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 29
at the convention center.
Project Homeless Connect, or-
ganized by the Clatsop Community
Kujala
now 1st
elected
mayor
Daily Astorian file
Yellow-shirted volunteers help guide participants at 2014’s Project Home-
less Connect to different services covering health, education, housing,
employment, food and more.
THURSDAY
Working on the railroad