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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (May 6, 2015)
142nd YEAR, No. 221 WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 ONE DOLLAR HOME TO STAY? ‘Shanghaied’ aims to stay put A living, breathing oil slick &RDVW*XDUG responds to µRLOVSLOOV¶¿QGV MHOO\¿VKLQVWHDG By KATIE WILSON EO Media Group PACIFIC OCEAN — The bil- OLRQVRIVPDOOMHOO\¿VKOLNHFUHDWXUHV known as “by-the-wind sailors” washing up on West Coast beach- es this spring look like pieces of plastic bleaching on the sand. But as they ride the tide toward those same beaches, mariners are mistak- ing them for something much more alarming. Since March, the U.S. Coast *XDUG 6HFWRU &ROXPELD 5LYHU KDV responded to nine reports of large oil spills off the Oregon and Wash- ington coasts. Some of the slicks stretched for several hundred yards while another was a mile long. With each report, responders hus- tled to the area and scanned the wa- ter for sunken vessels and people in need of rescue. See JELLYFISH, Page 11A JOSHUA BESSEX — The Daily Astorian Judith Niland, volunteer coordinator with the Astor Street Opry Co., shows the ticket office, which also doubles as a storage area and is the only access point to the lighting control room. The ticket office is one of many changes that the theater group is trying to make. Astor Street Opry asks for ‘Pennies for Potties,’ to keep group growing By KYLE SPURR The Daily Astorian W hen the Astor Street Opry Co. relocated to its location on Bond Street in the Uniontown district of Astoria in 2007, it was the group’s fourth move since forming in 1984. The Opry Co. began in an Ea- gles Club in Astoria, moved into the lobby of the Astor Hotel, then into the Finnish Meat Market, be- IRUH¿QGLQJWKHROG5R\¶V0D\WDJ building at 129 W. Bond St. After leasing for three years, the Opry Co. purchased the Bond Street location in 2010 with hopes of making it a permanent home. Judith Niland, Astor Street’s volunteer coordinator, said having the stable space has helped develop and hold to an annual schedule of HYHQWVLQFOXGLQJWKHJURXS¶VÀDJ ship performance of “Shanghaied in Astoria.” 7KH QRQSUR¿W RUJDQL]DWLRQ KDV grown from one production each year to three original musical melo- dramas, children’s and teen theater, live stage dramas, comedies and other events. “We know it was the moving that kept breaking down our orga- QL]DWLRQ´ 1LODQG VDLG ³:H QHYHU could expand our programs.” Shrimp spray to go away Sudden reversal followed surge in protests EO Media staff report JOSHUA BESSEX — The Daily Astorian Volunteer Coordinator Judith Niland of the Astor Street Opry Co. points out some of the areas that need upgrading in the theater. Phase 3, which they playfully call “Pennies for Potties,” because it fo- cuses on fundraising for an indoor EDWKURRPDORQJZLWKDWLFNHWRI¿FH and rehearsal space. To complete the indoor bath- URRP DQG RI¿FH VSDFH 1LODQG said, the estimated cost is about ‘Pennies for Potties’ $280,000. The Opry Co. is seeking Niland, a volunteer with the grants from places such as the Ford Opry Co. since it began, considers Family Foundation and Meyer the purchase of the Bond Street lo- Memorial Trust, which previous- cation Phase 1 in the group’s effort ly helped the group purchase its to make the space a mainstay com- building. munity theater. Basic remodeling Most grantors require matching RYHUWKHSDVW¿YH\HDUVZDV3KDVH funds, Niland said, so the theater 2, she said. group is actively fundraising to Now, Astor Street is entering FROOHFW DW OHDVW 5DLVLQJ matching funds shows grantors the community is serious about the project, she said. So far, Astor Street has raised about $30,000 in cash donations and $30,000 from in-kind dona- tions to total about $60,000. There is no time line for the fundraising, Niland said, because many of the grantors accept applications year- round. The project’s cost did cause some sticker shock, Niland said, but the work is extensive and nec- essary for the theater. The additions will be earthquake-proofed and the original theater space will be struc- WXUDOO\UHWUR¿WWHG HOW TO HELP To donate to the Astor Street Opry Co., visit www.astorstree- toprycompany.com, click on the donation button, or mail donations to ASOC, P. O. Box 743, Astoria, OR. 97103. For questions or more informa- tion, contact ASOC Fundraising Chairman Chuck Meyer at 503-325-7969 or chuck555sara@ gmail.com A new indoor bathroom would replace the porta-potties outside the theater. The indoor bathroom would be cleaner, warmer and allow more use during intermis- sions. See OPRY, Page 12A OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Wash- ington State Department of Ecol- RJ\ DQG WKH :LOODSD*UD\V +DU ERU 2\VWHU *URZHUV $VVRFLDWLRQ :*+2*$ RQ 6XQGD\ GHFLGHG WR cancel a recently issued permit to use imidacloprid to control a burgeoning native burrowing shrimp population following public outcry. “One of our agency’s goals is to reduce toxics in our environment,” Ecology Director Maia Bellon said in a statement Sunday. “We’ve heard loud and clear from people across Washington that this permit didn’t meet their expectations, and we re- spect the growers’ response.” See SPRAY, Page 12A coast weekend THURSDAY Indigenous artists House passes police body cam legislation Companion bill FODUL¿HVULJKWWR record police endorsed the idea, but equip- ping the larger Portland police force would be more costly. Locally, the Astoria budget committee tentatively backed funds for body and vehicle By PETER WONG cameras for police. Capital Bureau “We know this technolo- J\ LV QHZ´ VDLG 5HS -HQQL SALEM — The Oregon fer Williamson, D-Portland, +RXVH KDV WDNHQ WKH ¿UVW VWHS WKH ELOO¶V ÀRRU PDQDJHU ³6R toward regulating how police I think this is a solid start. I use body cameras to record their look forward to seeing the interactions with the public. policies that agencies develop A House vote of 50-9 on in their communities.” Tuesday sent House Bill 2975 However, the bill does not to the Senate. require police to use them. The Columbia County 8QGHUWKHELOORI¿FHUVFDQ sheriff and Hermiston police activate cameras “continuous- have decided to equip their ly” upon reasonable suspicion RI¿FHUV ZLWK ERG\ FDPHUDV or probable cause that a crime and Portland is considering or violation is being commit- it. Mayor Charlie Hales has ted. The camera can be turned EO Media Group file The Hermiston Police Department has issued lapel-mount- ed body cameras to all its patrol officers. The Oregon House has passed legislation regulating their use. RIIRQFHDQRI¿FHU¶VSDUWLFLSD tion ends. 2I¿FHUV PXVW DQQRXQFH a body camera is in use, but agencies can make exceptions based on privacy, public safe- ty or “exigent circumstanc- HV´ VXFK DV ZKHQ DQ RI¿FHU attempts to thwart someone from committing a crime or interviews a vulnerable wit- ness. Although the bill would shield most police video from disclosure — similar to video shot from cameras mounted in patrol cars — it does provide an exception if public interest in disclosure outweighs the need to withhold it. “I am not sure who is go- ing to determine that,” said 5HS &DUO :LOVRQ 5*UDQWV Pass, a broadcaster who voted against the bill. See BODY CAMS, Page 11A