SPORTS: SOFTBALLERS OFF AND RUNNING, IN THE RAIN
DailyAstorian.com // TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
143RD YEAR, NO. 184
» 7A
ONE DOLLAR
At least 31 dead in Brussels bombings
The Islamic State claims responsibility for attacks
By LORNE COOK and
JOHN-THOR DAHLBURG
Associated Press
Ralph Usbeck via AP
An unidentified traveler lies on the ground in a smoke
filled terminal at Brussels Airport, in Brussels, after explo-
sions Tuesday.
BRUSSELS — Bombs exploded
Tuesday at the Brussels airport and in
the city’s subway, killing at least 31 peo-
ple and wounding dozens, as a European
capital was again locked down amid
heightened security threats. The Islamic
State group claimed responsibility for
the attacks.
The two airport blasts, at least one
of them blamed on a suicide bomber,
left behind a chaotic scene of splattered
blood in the departure lounge as win-
dows were blown out, ceilings collapsed
and travelers streamed out of the smoky
building.
About an hour later, another bomb
exploded on a rush-hour subway train
near the European Union headquarters.
7HUUL¿HG SDVVHQJHUV KDG WR HYDFXDWH
through darkened tunnels to safety.
“What we feared has happened,” Bel-
gian Prime Minister Charles Michel told
RIVER SQUATTER
Bulk carrier full of fuel, diesel idles on river after running aground
reporters. “In this time of tragedy, this
black moment for our country, I appeal
to everyone to remain calm but also to
show solidarity.”
Belgium raised its terror alert to the
highest level, diverting planes and trains
and ordering people to stay where they
were for most of the workday. Airports
across Europe immediately tightened
security.
See BOMBINGS, Page 10A
School
is out for
now in CB
Lack of money, students
cancel district approval
By LYRA FONTAINE
EO Media Group
CANNON BEACH — Parents seeking
an elementary school alternative were sty-
mied as the Seaside School District revoked
its conditional approval for Cannon Beach
Academy.
The academy had been slated to open this
fall , but failed to meet the three conditions set
by the district in October: funding, adequate
enrollment and a state-approved English lan-
guage learners program .
“Since Cannon Beach has failed the estab-
lished conditions, the district revokes its con-
ditional approval for (the academy) to operate
as a charter school operating in the district,”
Superintendent Doug Dougherty and Superin-
tendent-elect Sheila Roley said in a co-signed
letter Thursday to Cannon Beach Academy
interim Executive Director Ryan Hull.
The letter stated the district was “commit-
ted” to seeing the charter school up and run-
ning and that Cannon Beach Academy could
begin operating in fall 2017, if it meets the
conditions.
Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian
The Sparna bulk carrier was fully loaded and heading west along the Columbia River when it ran aground Monday.
The Daily Astorian
C
ATHLAMET, Wash. — The bulk carrier
Sparna, which ran aground in the Columbia
River Monday near Cathlamet , is at anchor
while U.S. Coast Guard incident responders
¿JXUHRXWZKHUHWKHJURXQGLQJRFFXUUHGDQGZKDWWKH
damage is.
3HWW\2I¿FHUVW&ODVV/HYL5HDGVDLGWKHYHVVHO¶V
grounding was brief, after which the vessel laid anchor
nearby in 43 feet of water. The Coast Guard is trying
to determine where exactly the grounding took place.
“It’s in the vicinity, but we can’t say it’s right where
it’s at (anchor) right now,” Read said.
'LYHUV¿QLVKHGDGDPDJHDVVHVVPHQWWKLVPRUQLQJ
he said, and the Sparna is not leaking fuel. The vessel
was outbound, fully loaded with grain and more than
250,000 gallons of high-sulfur fuel and marine die-
sel fuel. It is anchored next to the Julia Butler Hansen
National Wildlife Refuge, halfway between Cathlamet
and Skamokawa .
The Maritime Fire & Safety Association and
Clean Rivers Cooperative deployed response vessels,
Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian
ERRPV DQG SHUVRQQHO 7KH WXJV 3- %UL[ DQG 3DFL¿F
Escort are on scene to keep the Sparna stabilized. The Morning Camilla cargo vessel passes the Sparna across from the Julia Butler
Hansen National Wildlife Refuge for the Columbian white-tailed deer on Monday.
The Coast Guard has not closed the river channel.
Conditions unmet
The conditions, which were to be met by
this month, were intended to ensure that the
DFDGHP\ ZRXOG EH ³¿QDQFLDOO\ VWUXFWXUDOO\
and academically ready” to open in the fall.
Hull had asked the district for a time
extension or to “simply remove” the three
requirements.
The district refused an extension or to
modify or eliminate the conditions.
One condition required the school have
“all the money they need for the 2016-17
school year” in the bank, as well as a 10-per-
cent contingency, amounting to a little more
than $450,000.
The academy had $145,798 by March 1,
falling more than $300,000 short.
Although the district would have helped
Cannon Beach Academy with operational
costs, the charter school needed up front funds
because the district relies on Clatsop County
property tax payments, most of which come
in November, Dougherty and Roley wrote.
The charter school also fell short on enroll-
ment. The district required a minimum of 22
enrolled students in both kindergarten and
¿UVWJUDGHFODVVHV
See SCHOOL, Page 10A
Astoria, Verizon will work out tower deal
City Council
had rejected new
monopole at
Shively Park
By DERRICK DePLEDGE
The Daily Astorian
The Astoria City Council took steps
Monday night to save a deal between
the city and Verizon Wireless to move
an aging communications tower away
from the Astoria Column on Coxcomb
Hill.
With the council’s backing, the
city and Verizon will negotiate lease
arrangements for a new tower at Reser-
voir Ridge, east of Coxcomb Hill, that
will improve the city’s emergency com-
munications. Verizon will serve wire-
less customers through the new tower,
equipment atop the Astor Hotel build-
ing and another new tower outside city
limits.
A deal had appeared to crumble
in February when the City Council
rejected Verizon’s plans to install a 150-
foot monopole in Shively Park.
Verizon needed the Shively Park
location to serve customers on the
South Slope and other neighborhoods
once the tower at Coxcomb Hill comes
down.
Yogi Sandstrom, a Verizon repre-
sentative, told the City Council Mon-
GD\QLJKWWKDWWKHFRPSDQ\ZRXOG¿QGD
new site outside the city.
Daily Astorian/File Photo
See TOWER, Page 10A
The city wants to move an aging communications tower off Coxcomb Hill.