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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 2015)
Loggers outdo the Pirates Northwest twist on Southern dish WEEKEND EDITION SPORTS • 7A WHAT’S COOKING • 3C FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015 142nd YEAR, No. 168 ONE DOLLAR Former staffers sue Port ¡Ť ¤¡ª Defendants allege retaliation; seek millions in damages By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian Anne Foster, the attorney for re- FHQWO\¿UHG3RUWRI$VWRULDHPSOR\ ees Colleen Browne and Tami Her- PDQKDV¿OHGDVXLWIRUHDFKDJDLQVW their former employer in federal court. The suits were ¿OHG 7XHVGD\ and the Port was served Thursday. The defen- dants listed in both cases include the Mike Weston Port; Michael Weston, former interim executive director and current director of business development and operations; and up to 10 more people XQLGHQWL¿HG GHIHQGDQWV XQNQRZQ WR the plaintiffs, Browne and Herman. See PORT, Page 8A Photos by JOSHUA BESSEX — The Daily Astorian TOP: Pygmy Boats kayak-building instructor Chuck Bollong tightens a wire stitch on the hull of Amy Hatton’s kayak during a session Tuesday. ABOVE: Phil Hatton and Amy Hatton, of Boise, Idaho, work on the hulls of their Pinguino 145-4PD kayaks during a weeklong kayak-building class at the Barbey Maritime Center Tuesday. Enthusiasts learn to build their own kayaks By KYLE SPURR The Daily Astorian hil and Amy Hatton drove nine hours from Boise, Idaho, to take a weeklong kayak-building class at the Barbey Maritime Center in Astoria. The Hattons said their trip was worth it to partake in the class, held Monday through Sunday by Pyg- my Boats Inc., a Port Townsend- based wooden kayak and canoe kits company. “We were looking for some places to build kayaks,” Phil Hat- ton said. “The other options were a different kind of kayak or too far to take it back. We wanted to build some kayaks and there are not a lot of places.” The kayak building class, which FRVWV SHU VWXGHQW LV WKH ¿UVW of its kind in Astoria. It is hosted by the Columbia River Maritime Museum. Museum Executive Director Sam Johnson said a passer-by came to the museum last year and sug- JOSHUA BESSEX — The Daily Astorian Phil Hatton uses an orbital sander to smooth out the deck of his kayak while Amy Hatton, left, watches. gested a partnership with Pygmy Boats, which recently expanded its kayak building classes to Florida, Maine, Ohio and Oregon. Johnson, who wanted to start offering full-size boat building, reached out to Pygmy Boats. The simple design and con- struction in the classes is similar to historic boat-building processes, Johnson said, although the materi- als used are modern plywood and ¿EHUJODVV “Because they use modern ma- terials in their construction many would say they are not traditional,” Johnson said. “But traditional or not, they help preserve the process of boat building.” The Maritime Museum is hosting two more kayak building classes April 6 to 12 and June 1 to 7. Both classes are sold out. Only four participants can enroll in each class, so the instructor has time and room to work with each person. If people are interested, Johnson said, the museum is planning to of- fer more classes. Those interested are encouraged to contact the mu- seum at 503-325-2323. “These are very straightfor- ward boats to build,” Johnson said. “For people to be able to start with a boat like this, it’s fun and it’s a challenge.” Kayak building The Hattons spent this week each building their own Pinguino 145-4PD kayak, a 14-foot kayak known for being more stable than other touring boats. See CLASS, Page 8A Eye on the capital New newsletter covers Oregon government and debuts today Oregon Capital Insider, an elec- tronic newsletter covering Oregon government, begins distribution to- day. Oregon Capital Insider provides specialized news for individuals and businesses that require a deeper under- standing of the trends, issues and personali- ties in state gov- ernment. The newsletter will provide timely intelligence and in-depth report- ing delivered to subscribers Friday mornings, and at other times breaking news demands. Based in Salem, the newsletter is a collaboration between two fam- ily-owned media companies: EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. A team of veteran journalists pro- duce Oregon Capital Insider. See INSIDER, Page 8A Warrenton voters may hold sway in land deals Amendment would restrict land swaps, such as Tansy Point By DERRICK DePLEDGE The Daily Astorian WARRENTON — Resi- dents who objected last year to a potential land swap be- tween the city and Warren- ton Fiber at Tansy Point are behind a ballot initiative that could severely restrict city land transfers. The Warrenton Property Protection Committee, led by Ken Yuill, has offered a char- ter amendment that on the Warrenton would require double Planning Commis- majority voter ap- sion and has run un- proval before the city successfully for the transfers or disposes City Commission. of assets valued at Yuill and Gil more than $100,000. Gramson, a former The threshold, Warrenton mayor which would re- and city manager, quire that a majori- were involved with Gil Gramson ty of eligible voters a coalition against participate in an the land swap at election and that a majority ap- Tansy Point that included a prove the asset transfer, would descendant of the Carruthers EHGLI¿FXOWIRUWKHFLW\WRPHHW family, which once owned the <XLOO¶V FRPPLWWHH ¿OHG riverfront property. a petition with the city this Warrenton Fiber, which month to qualify the initiative leases 43 acres from the city for the September ballot. at Tansy Point for its forest “It just gives the voters products operation, had want- more say in their government,” ed to acquire the property in said Yuill, a senior utility tech- exchange for 20 acres off nician in Astoria who serves Dolphin Avenue and a pledge Daily Astorian file A proposed swap involving this 43-acre piece of land at Tansy Point, occupied by Warrenton Fiber, prompted a bal- lot initiative by Warrenton Property Protection Committee. to build the city a new Public Works center. The Tansy Point land was appraised at $3.8 million in late 2013. Warrenton Fiber has a lease through 2035. See WARRENTON, Page 8A