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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 2015)
OPINION 6A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015 T HE D AILY A STORIAN The Mouth of the Columbia is back Founded in 1873 STEPHEN A. FORRESTER, Editor & Publisher LAURA SELLERS, Managing Editor BETTY SMITH, Advertising Manager CARL EARL, Systems Manager JOHN D. BRUIJN, Production Manager DEBRA BLOOM, Business Manager SAMANTHA MCLAREN, Circulation Manager Water under the bridge Compiled by Bob Duke From the pages of Astoria’s daily newspapers 10 years ago this week — 2005 Usually by now the Columbia River’s spring chinook salmon are heading up- stream over fish ladders in the tens of thousands to spawn. But not this year. “It’s a never-before-seen scarcity,” said Charles Hudson of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. “We’re way behind, even compared to the histori- cally low years of 1994-1995.” Calpine Corp. has applied to the Warrenton Planning Department for a code interpretation to determine if a liquefied natural gas termi- nal would fit with the city’s zoning rules. The city’s zoning administra- tor will determine if the project falls into the “marine cargo transfer facility” category, which is allowed under the city’s Water-Dependent Industrial Shorelands (1-2) district. In its application, Calpine said the facility would consist of a dock for an LNG tanker, a pier with pipelines connecting the dock to the shore, LNG tanks on land, a gasification system to convert the LNG to the natural gas that’s put into distribution pipelines, and a combined cycle cogeneration system to generate heat. SEASIDE – Take the best track athletes you can find in a 40-mile radius of As- toria, and presto! — you’ve got the annual Daily Astorian Invitational track meet. Throw in a little rain, hail and a wind-chill of around 30 degrees, and the meet looks the same as does every year. Seaside High School hosted the annual invitational meet Monday, and despite the dramatic weather, the athletes didn’t disappoint. House Republicans made clear their support late Tuesday for re- inforcing the federal government’s final authority over the siting of liquefied natural gas import terminals – even if states or local com- munities object. The news came as officials considered four possible LNG terminals on the Columbia River, including two sites in Warrenton. 50 years ago — 1965 An estimated 5,000 to 6,000 more people will move into the Sunset Empire as result of the $74 million additional development at Wauna announced Friday by Crown-Zellerbach in Portland, Gov. Mark O. Hatfield told a luncheon group of some of Oregon’s top industrial leaders in Portland. Crown-Zellerbach was host at the luncheon, in the Benson hotel, to make its historic announcement of the biggest individual development in Oregon history, and the biggest in Crown-Zellerbach history. Dan Allen, chairman of the governor’s committee on natural re- sources, urged Astoria’s chamber of commerce to “get in the race” for Gov. Mark Hatfield’s city beautification trophy. “I hope to see Astoria challenge Seaside and win the trophy,” Allen said. Seaside won the 1964 award in its initial effort for its campaign of city beautification. “We must prepare to serve our new neighbors at Wauna with the full advantage of our community, including housing, schools, culture, recreation and a total welcome.” This was the comment of Deskin O. Bergey, Astoria chamber of commerce president, Monday on the announcement by Crown-Zeller- bach Corporation of a $90 million Wauna project that will bring per- haps 6,000 new people into the lower Columbia area. The Oregon House of Representatives late Thursday approved a memoran- dum to Congress urging inclusion of lower U.S. Highway 30, from Portland to Astoria, in the federal interstate highway system, Rep. William Holmstrom told The Daily Astorian. 75 years ago — 1940 “A Song in the Kitchen” will be the theme song of the cooking school which the Astorian-Budget will conduct for the housewives of Astoria next week. Miss Barbara Miller, the noted home economist who will conduct the cooking school says, “This isn’t going to be just another cooking school, no indeed! There will, of course, be many new and unusual ideas for planning menus, entertaining and home management, but primarily we want to find the way to put song and laughter in the kitchen. With the help of the Astoria housewives, we will hunt out and drive away all the old drudgery and bugaboos that have haunted the kitchen for years. “What if you do have to cook three meals a day — for 365 days a year — and, for oh innumerable years. Well, what of it? If you have to do it, let’s get together and plan ways to make it a gay and happy job.” The impact of Germany’s thrust into Denmark and Norway was felt along the Pacific Coast today in what threatened to be the severest disruption of shipping since the World War. Swedish ships were ordered held in ports here; American shipping officials ex- pressed concern over ships now in Europe; insurance companies shifted war-risk rates to meet the changing condition, and California cargoes estimated to be worth millions of dollars — originally consigned to Scandinavia — filled docks while shippers awaited clarification of the situation. Telephone calls to vessels at sea around Astoria and the Colum- bia and Willamette rivers are expected to be possible as the result of LVVXDQFHWRGD\LQ:DVKLQJWRQE\WKH)&&RISHUPLWVWRWKH3DFL¿F Telephone and Telegraph Co. to erect two coastal harbor radio sta- tions. The more powerful of the two stations will be at the Columbia Riv- er mouth near Fort Stevens. The other is to be built in Portland. One near tragedy, a flock of piscatorial triumphs, one maritime casualty and some lesser successes marked opening of the 1940 sports angling season in Clat- sop County last weekend. T HE BIG EVENT IN Thursday’s paper is the return of the Mouth of the Columbia column. Introducing himself, the new Mouth gives context for how he will pursue the task of reviewing restaurants in our region and writing about food in general. Rich Fencsak established this column some 20 years ago. After his untimely death, there have been five or six Mouths. The verbiage in tomorrow’s Mouth column is quite rem- iniscent of how Fencsak ap- proached the business of re- viewing restaurants. Much as performers and chefs might profess to loathe critics, the attention of a critic is a good thing. Fencsak’s informed criticism of the local food scene had something to do with the explosion of restau- rants we have observed over the past 10-15 years. źźź ‘The time has come,’ the Walrus said, ‘To talk of many things; Of shoes — and ships — and sealing wax — Of cabbages —and kings —’ Through the Looking-glass of Cabbages and Kings JOSHUA BESSEX — The Daily Astorian Ernie Atkinson speaks during the Lady Liberty Award Luncheon in the McTavish Room of the Liberty Theater Thursday. I suspect there weren’t many WHEN THE DROPOUT dry eyes as we heard Sheila Ro- rate in Oregon schools is report- ley talk about young dancers or ed, Salem policymakers often Ernie Atkinson talk about the conjure new programs. Faraway children of Astor School. theorists forget an essential re- Both of our children had the lationship: Kids good fortune to at- stay in school tend Astor School Judy because someone during those years. wants them to. It Ernie Atkinson de- might be a parent Bigby was scribed how Big- or grandparent, it by seemed to be essential might be a teach- everywhere — on er or principal, it to bringing the playground, in might be a coach. the classroom, at school That truism the bus stop, in the came to mind as I halls. watched the lun- children to During her ser- cheon festivities the Liberty vice on the Liber- honoring Jeanne ty Theater board, Maddox Peterson Bigby was essen- Theater. and Judy Maddox tial to bringing the Bigby. Peterson has operated region’s schoolchildren to the the Maddox Dance Studio for theater for live performances. 40 years. Bigby was principal This is one of the most valuable of John Jacob Astor Elementary things the theater accomplish- School. es. Assuredly, this is the first Both of these women have time that all but a few of these had extensive impact on gener- children will have seen live en- ations of children. One of Peter- tertainment in a theater. If the son’s alumna told the luncheon arts hope to have an audience crowd that the dance teacher decades from now, it must start instilled valuable habits in her with children finding their way young charges. Those traits have into a theater. served a legion of women and a few men well through life. źźź It is truly phenomenal that the Maddox dancers have pro- SOMEONE AT YAHOO duced a full-length production said this about Major League of The Nutcracker annually for Baseball’s opening day: It’s the decades. best day of the year, and then we get statistics. My wife and I have resumed our enthusiasm in following the fortunes of the Giants, Mariners, Athletics and Royals. This is the best time of the year to watch baseball in the comfort of one’s home. Ball- parks in the northern latitudes are shaking off winter. When June rolls around, we will find our way to a Hillsboro Hops day game. The food at the Ron Tonkin Stadium is assured- ly the best minor league ballpark fare. And the baseball from the college player aspirants is al- ways fun to watch. — S.A.F. The Iran deal: What we’ve given up nuclear weapons at will would take months — af- and without delay. ter which there is no guar- And then there’s cheat- antee that China and Rus- ing. Not to worry, says VLD ZLOO UDWLI\ WKH ¿QGLQJ “Negotiations ... to prevent an Obama. We have guaran- anyway. Iranian capability to develop a nu- tees of compliance: “un- As for the “snapback” sanctions — our last re- clear arsenal are ending with an precedented inspections” maining bit of pressure — agreement that concedes this very and “snapback” sanctions. they are equally fantastic. capability ...” The inspection promis- There’s no way sanctions — Henry Kissinger and George es are a farce. We haven’t will be re-imposed once Shultz, The Wall Street Journal, even held the Iranians to Charles they have been lifted. It April 8 their current obligation to Krauthammer took a decade to weave ASHINGTON — It was come clean with the Inter- national Atomic Energy Agency on China, Russia and the Europeans but a year and a half ago their previous nuclear activities. The into the current sanctions infrastruc- that Barack Obama endorsed the IAEA charges Iran with stonewall- ture. Once gone, it doesn’t snap back. None will pull their companies out objective of abolition when he ing on 11 of 12 issues. of a thriving, post-sanctions Iran. As As veteran nuclear expert David VDLGWKDW,UDQ¶VKHDYLO\IRUWL¿HG Albright points out, that makes fu- Kissinger and Shultz point out, we Fordow nuclear facility, its plu- WXUH YHUL¿FDWLRQ LPSRVVLEOH ² KRZ will be fought every step of the way, tonium-producing heavy-water can you determine what’s been ille- leaving the U.S., not Iran, isolated. Obama imagines that this deal will reactor and its advanced centri- gally changed or added if you have bring Iran in from the cold, tempering no baseline? Worse, there’s been fuges were all unnecessary for a QR PHQWLRQ RI WKH RQO\ YHUL¿FDWLRQ its territorial ambitions and ideologi- civilian nuclear program. regime with real teeth — at-will, FDO UDGLFDOLVP %XW WKLV GH¿HV ORJLF The logic was clear: Since Iran unannounced visits to any facility, With sanctions lifted, its economy was claiming to be pursuing an ex- declared or undeclared. The joint booming and tens of billions injected clusively civilian program, these European-Iranian statement spoke into its treasury, why would Iran curb only of “enhanced access through rather than expand its relentless drive would have to go. agreed procedures,” which doesn’t for regional dominance? Yet under the deal Obama is remotely suggest spot inspections. An overriding objective of these now trying to sell, not one of these And on Thursday, Iran’s supreme negotiations, as Obama has said, is is to be dismantled. leader ruled out any to prevent the inevitable prolifera- Indeed, Iran’s entire “extraordinary super- tion — Egypt, Turkey, the Gulf states — that would occur if Iran went nu- nuclear infrastructure vision measures.” The is kept intact, just The IAEA hasn’t clear. Yet the prospective agreement frozen or repurposed inspection been allowed to see is so clearly a pathway to an Iranian for the length of the the Parchin weapon- bomb that the Saudis are signaling promises deal (about a decade). ization facility in 10 thatthe deal itselfwould impel them Thus Fordow’s centri- are a farce. years. And the mas- to go nuclear. You set out to prevent prolifera- fuges will keep spin- sive Fordow complex ning. They will now was disclosed not by tion and you trigger it. You set out to prevent an Iranian nuclear capa- be fed xenon, zinc and germanium the IAEA but by Iranian dissidents. instead of uranium. But that means Yet even if violations are found, bility and you legitimize it. You set they remain ready at any time to re- what then? First, they have to be out to constrain the world’s greatest vert from the world’s most heavily FHUWL¿HG E\ WKH ,$($ :KLFK WKHQ exporter of terror threatening every LQGHHGFRPLFDOO\IRUWL¿HGPHGLFDO reports to the United Nations, where one of our allies in the Middle East isotope facility to a bomb-making Iran has the right to challenge the and you’re on the verge of making factory. charge. Which then has to be consid- it the region’s economic and military And upon the expiration of the ered, argued and adjudicated. Which hegemon. What is the alternative, asks the deal, conceded Obama Monday on then presumably goes to the Secu- NPR, Iran’s breakout time to a nu- rity Council where China, Russia president? He’s repeatedly answered clear bomb will be “almost down to and sundry anti-Western countries the question himself: No deal is bet- zero,” i.e., it will be able to produce will act as Iran’s lawyers. Which all ter than a bad deal. By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER Washington Post Writers Group W