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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 2015)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 Long two years D id you watch the President of the U.S. (POTUS) State of Union address? He seems to have a really high opinion of himself, and is living in some fantasy world when it comes to the economy and employment numbers. He takes credit for the lower prices on gas when he’s done every- thing in his power to drive the costs up. He wants all kinds of new taxes on the “rich” and more government freebies for all, including free medi- cal leave, day care and free commu- nity college, but he doesn’t say how he’ll pay for it. He talked about infrastructure, but forgets when he was elected president in 2008 that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed that cost the taxpayers $830 billion — which was supposed to address some of it, then. Where did that massive cash cow go, instead? To every government program and agency imaginable, and we still don’t have any better roads and bridges. As if road and bridges would turn the whole econ- omy around, anyway. He claims foreign policy victo- ries worldwide, when it’s the worst situation we’ve been in seen since before the start of World War II. He claims to have made the world a better place with his en- vironmental policies, when all it’s done is cost taxpayers billions. He sees the dollar signs for all of his green energy cronies, and lectures us about doomsday global warm- ing, when it’s a myth that has been debunked over and over again. He calls for bipartisan coopera- tion and then threatens four differ- ent times he’d veto legislation that addresses Obamacare, amnesty and his other bad policies. But the most memorial line from his long-winded deception of an ego trip was when he taunts the Republicans with this statement: “I have no more campaigns to run. (A few Republicans applaud in the au- dience.) I know, because I won both of them.” That statement in summary ex- plains Obama, and what he thinks about himself or any bipartisan co- operation. He isn’t going to consent to any change in his failed policies. It’s going to be a long two years. JEFF JACQUES Astoria POW/MIA tributes I n 1971, I met a former U.S. Army sergeant major, a member of the Army Special Forces. His name was Norman (Norm) Doney. He was very involved in trying to bring home Prisoners of War (POWs) and having many of those Killed in Ac- tion (KIA) returned to their loved ones. He was spending many hours, and much of his own funds in this work. He is highly regarded by vet- erans in Clatsop County for his hon- est and compassionate assistance to those veterans in need. FRIDAY EXCHANGE 5A Port of Astoria’s potential A s a concerned citizen and commercial fisher- man, I have watched the Port of Astoria’s long painful slide into disrepair through micromanage- ment and lack of vision for diversity on the part of the port commissioners. I’ve seen other ports up and down the coast flourish, while ours, which should be the showboat of the West Coast, slowly turn to ruin, both financially and physically. The Central Waterfront Master plan which was adopted in June 2001, still in place in 2010, has been totally disregarded. Obviously something needs to change. When invited to sit in on the meetings of the Committee to Rebuild, Revitalize and Restore the Port of Astoria (CR3PA), chang- ing the way the port commissioners were selected, I accepted. It was the mayors of the cities of South Coun- ty who started formulating the petition. They felt though their cities contributed a large amount of the Port’s tax base, they were not being represent- ed. The CR3PA initiative is not intended to take away the vote of the people, but merely to change the way the commissioners are selected. From a popularity vote (who has the most signs wins), to selecting people with skills in management and un- derstanding of representing the interests of all of Clatsop County. There is a tremendous amount of talent in Clat- He passed away in February 2013, and is buried at the Fort Ste- vens Military Cemetery. My reason for mentioning him is two-fold. I want him and his work not forgot- ten. They both need to be honored. His work was not just local. It was nationwide. His belief in the POW/ Missing in Action (MIA) pro- gram was very strong. His month- ly newsletter went out to many around the world. In working with him, and learn- ing the method he used in paying physical tribute to the POWs/ MIAs to honor all military service units at one time, including the Merchant Marine, I set up a pro- gram that will always be available to any group or organization that wishes to display and honor their memory. The program includes the lighting of the candles and the salute by each of the military ser- vices. Under ORS 187.220,2013, the law reads: A public body shall dis- play the National League of Fami- lies POW/MIA flag with the United States flag upon or near the prin- cipal building of the public body on the following days: (a) Armed Forces Day on the third Saturday in May, (b) Memorial Day on the last Monday in May, (c) Flag Day June 14, (d) Independence Day July 4, (e) National POW/MIA Recogni- tion Day, (f) Veterans Day on No- vember 11. Gov. Kitzhaber proclaimed Sept. 19 to be POW/MIA Rec- ognition Day in Oregon. Lest we forget. These figures may have come down a bit, but summary statistics of unaccounted for from past conflicts stand at: World War II 73,515; Korean War 7,860; Cold War 126; Vietnam War 1,636; and sop County, but there has to be a benign and colle- giate workplace to attract them. The voters select their city and county commissioners, and may also recommend to any sitting council or commission member anyone they feel is qualified to stand for port commissioner. It would be the job of the city and county com- missioners to then vet the nominees for qualifica- tions; nominees must be Clatsop County residents. The names are then sent to the governor’s office for final selection, which would be the governor’s only involvement. Although there is a recall peti- tion being proposed, it is not from this group. No port commissioner now sitting is threatened; this is merely a way to select more qualified, professional commissioners in the future. I was put off by any involvement by the gover- nor, as Oregon voters have been slapped in the face by him too many times, but as I studied the propos- al I realized we will still have full control through our city and county commissioners. If they have the clear-sightedness to ask the right questions, all prospects will simply have the well-being of our port and the development of all its facets as their sole agenda. The potential of our port is huge, the dereliction, mind boggling. DAVE DENSMORE Astoria Iraq and other conflicts 6; bringing the total to over 83,000. There are many other people and many organizations and frater- nal groups that display the POW/ MIA tribute at special events. If you have an opportunity to attend this special honor, please do so. It is something you will not forget. It was men like Norm Doney who helped increase the knowledge and awareness of our unaccounted for. As long as I can, I will help display and pay tribute to those not back home. I am available most anytime and have all the materials required to display. MEL JASMIN Warrenton 6DIHW\¿UVW T here is a recent proposal from Brim Aviation via Kyle For- tune to allow Brim Aviation/Air Rescue Systems (ARS) to become the Fixed Base Operator (FOB) at the Port of Astoria. Yet all safety and historic information about this outfit has not been clearly outlined. Safety should come first, not promoting existing businesses with multiple issues, including two separate fatalities on the business watch of Burl Brim Jr. Jon Suhr was dropped to his death by Brim Aviation/ARS two years ago, in Childress,Texas. Brim Excavation also had a fatality, when the back- up sounding horn did not work properly. Burl Brim was fined for that. On Dec. 3, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed a $220,000 fine against Brim Avi- ation/ARS for being reckless and breaching safety requirements (http://tinyurl.com/brimavia1). There is also a current lawsuit against Brim/ARS in California for an incident at the Siskiyou Coun- ty Airport, wherein crops were al- legedly destroyed (Rex Houghton v. Brim Aviation). Craig Morrison, Brim’s pilot, had his license sus- pended for “endangering the lives of others” as ruled by the Nation- al Transportation Safety Board (NTSB Order No. EA-5619) re- garding flying and filming on the Rogue River. The list goes on. Working in a dangerous field of business is one thing, negligence and scofflaw be- havior are another. Fortune claims the MD Heli- copters Inc. (MDHI) helicopter is temporarily parked at the airport. How do we know that they are not being used for training and person- al financial gain? The laws are for everyone, equally. The valid and factual list of concerns goes on. Hiring “staff” is not the answer, nor disqualify- ing the competitive bid process, or rushing the procedure for FBO. Safety should come first. The Port has a lot of concerns and ques- tions facing it just now. It would be prudent to listen and proceed cau- tiously. LINDA LEWIS Ashland Library risk W hile I don’t have deeply po- larized opinions about the expansion of the Astoria Library into the Merwyn space, I have a few questions that should come up at a planning commission meeting. Apparently Astoria still issues building permits to private parties to build in earthquake and tsunami risky locations, and I presume the city requires the private parties to hold the city harmless for their up- coming loss and possible death. When it comes to expanding a public building within a risky loca- tion do the rules of liability change? Does one use the library at one’s own risk? The existing library was completed in 1967 (48 years ago). Was it built on piling? Apparently it was not built on fill over estuary, so enhanced movement may not be an issue, but a tsunami is. Since dense building materials are prone to greater damage than lighter building materials in an earthquake, shouldn’t a geotech- nical engineer estimate the sus- ceptibility of both buildings to a 9.0 event? If the seismic risk is high, then perhaps a new building of safer construction at a less risky location would be a better invest- ment? My personal opinion is the Merwyn facade is more attractive than the existing library’s exterior, which reminds me of a concrete block with a door, or a World War II pill box. My dad designed the Coos Bay library of 1965, and it has timeless beauty. Is it likely that future office space will be needed for the city administration in the future? The existing library could become the convenient office annex. Just issue the employees hard hats and run- ning shoes. DAVID FITCH Astoria Lights missing R ecently my wife, our dog and I were almost hit in the cross- walk by Safeway. This is my third close call. I mean close — all three vehicles were within reach as they sped through a left-hand turn. I was wearing my high visibility safety yellow jacket. I was wearing a 120-lumen headlight, pointed at the driver. Last month I witnessed a four-point buck get hit in the op- posite crosswalk. While all three of these inci- dents had their specifics, they all share one common aggravating factor noticed by my co-worker: The intersection is unlighted. There are streetlights on all the blocks in every direction. The traf- fic poles are designed to be capped with streetlights, there are two very heavily used bus stops, and zero streetlights at this intersection. The cynic in me wonders who bargained away the requirement for one of the busiest crosswalks of east Astoria, or, conversely what lack of planning oversight allowed this to occur? Now, having almost been killed for the third time in two years — all three times wear- ing high visibility clothing and a headlight. The city is aware of the prob- lem, and has this project slated for August, pending funding. ROGER LINDSLEY Astoria TO ATTE N D : F or M em bers: D in n er & L ecture:$30 ea . L ecture on ly: n o ch a rge F or Non -M em bers: D in n er & L ecture: $40 ea . L ecture on ly: $15 ea . Conserving the Natural Heritage of the Columbia River February 12th Glen Lamb Appetizers w ill be a va ila ble a t 6 p.m . D in n er w ill be served a t 6:30 p.m . T h e spea ker w ill begin a fter th e din n er service is com plete a n d n on - din n er m em bers a n d guests of th e a udien ce ta ke th eir sea ts. F orum to be h eld a t th e CM H Com m un ity Cen ter a t 2021 E xch a n ge St., Astoria . LIM ITE SEATIN D G RE SE R VE SPACE TO Y D O U R AY ! FOR RESERVATION OR TO JOIN COLUMBIA FORUM CONTACT: H olly L a rk in s a t 503.325.3211 ext. 227 or foru m @ d a ilya storia n .com by F eb.9th, 2015 FREE Screening Event: Oregon Experience’s Astoria Starting as a fur trade center, Astoria was the foot in the door for the U.S. to claim the Oregon Territory. Over time, the town grew into a thriving timber community, an international port and the salmon-canning capital of the world. Now, Oregon Experience explores this active corner of Oregon. TONIGHT, 7 p . m . Columbia Forum is sponsored by: The D a ily Asto ria n • Cra ft3 • O SU Sea fo o d L a b o ra to ry • K M U N -F M Ca n n ery Pier H o tel & Sp a (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) Columbia River Maritime Museum, 1792 Marine Drive, Astoria Columbia River Maritime Museum Photo courtesy of Clatsop County Historical Society Columbia Fo r um