Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (April 11, 2016)
10A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016 No. 1 Loggers cruise, 9-1 and 10-0 The Daily Astorian Courtesy of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists place a new GPS collar on OR-4, the Imnaha wolf pack’s alpha male, after darting him from a helicopter in March 2012. Wolf pack:µ,WZDVDGLI¿FXOWGHFLVLRQ¶ Continued from Page 1A The decisive action by the department may have marked a somber turning point in the state’s work to restore wolves to the landscape. It comes on the heels of the Wildlife Commission’s decision in November to take gray wolves off the state endan- gered species list, and just as the commission is beginning a review of the Oregon Wolf Plan, the document that governs wolf conservation and management. Oregon Wild, the Port- land-based conservation group with long involvement in the state’s wolf issue, said shooting wolves should be an “absolute last resort.” “While the wolf plan is out of date and under review, we shouldn’t be taking the most drastic action we can take in wolf management,” Executive Director Sean Stevens said in an email. The commission should not have taken wolves off the state endangered species list in the ¿UVW SODFH EXW LW LVQ¶W OLNHO\ WR revisit that decision, Stevens said. The commission should call upon the department to not shoot more wolves until the plan UHYLHZLV¿QLVKHGKHVDLG “But, more importantly, they should recognize that delisting does not mean that we should suddenly swing open the doors to more aggressive manage- ment,” Stevens said. The ongoing wolf plan review, which may take nine months, should include science that wasn’t considered in the delisting decision, and the pub- lic’s will, he said. It also should create more clarity on non-le- thal measures to deter wolves, he said. Both sides Publicly, at least, no one is celebrating the shootings. The Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, long on the oppo- site side of the argument from Oregon Wild, said ODFW’s action was authorized by Phase Eric Mortenson/Capital Press Eric Mortenson/Capital Press Amaroq Weiss, West Coast wolf organizer for the Cen- ter for Biological Diversity, said the March 31 Fish and Wildlife shooting of four Imnaha Pack wolves was a “terrible tragedy.” Wolves were recovering well in the first phase of Oregon’s wolf plan, she said, and the state now needs to carefully re- view what was working. Rob Klavins of Oregon Wild lives in Northeast Oregon’s wolf country. He said the Imnaha Pack’s alpha male, OR-4, one of four wolves shot for livestock attacks, “became a symbol for those who revere wolves as well as for those who hate them and hate the wild.” II of the state’s wolf plan. “The problem needed addressed and ODFW han- dled it correctly,” spokeswoman Kayli Hanley said in an email. “We acknowledge that while this decision was necessary for the sake of species coexistence, LWZDVDGLI¿FXOWGHFLVLRQ´ Michael Finley, chairman of the commission, said the depart- ment handled the situation properly. “I feel that the department acted in total good faith,” Finley said. “They followed the letter and the spirit of the wolf plan.” Another conservation group, Defenders of Wildlife, called the shootings “a very sad day for us” but also said it appeared Fish and Wildlife followed the wolf plan. ³7KH¿QDOSODQLVDFRPSUR- mise, but it is among the best of all the state plans in that it emphasizes the value of wolves on the landscape, and requires landowners to try non-lethal methods of deterring wolves before killing them is ever con- sidered,” the group said in a pre- pared statement. Amaroq Weiss, West Coast wolf organizer for the Center for Biological Diversity, said the Imnaha Pack shootings may lead to more poaching, because killing wolves decreases toler- ance of them and leads to a belief that “you have to kill wolves in order to preserve them.” Weiss agreed that com- ing across a calf or sheep that’s been torn apart and consumed — the skull and hide was all that was left of one calf after the OR-4 group fed on it — must be gut-wrenching for pro- ducers. But she said those ani- mals are raised to be killed and eaten. “They don’t die any more a humane death in a slaughter- house than being killed by a wild animal,” she said. “It’s a KDUG GLVFXVVLRQ WR ¿QG D FRP- mon place of agreement.” She said such losses are the reason Oregon established the compensation program: to pay for livestock losses and to help with the cost of defensive mea- sures that scare wolves away. Rush to Phase II Weiss said Oregon rushed to move to Phase II of its wolf con- servation and management plan in the eastern part of the state, which was prompted by reach- ing a population goal of four breeding pairs for three consec- utive years. That also prompted the Fish and Wildlife Commis- sion to take wolves off the state endangered species list in 2015, although they remain on the fed- eral endangered list in the West- ern two-thirds of the state. Like others, Weiss believes the state should have held off RQVXFKFKDQJHVXQWLOLW¿QLVKHG the mandated review of the wolf plan. “Under Phase I, Oregon was the state we could all point to” for successfully managing wolves, Weiss said. “I would hope they look at what parts of the wolf plan are working, and look at the parts that are not working.” Politics and policy aside, the shooting of OR-4 gave people pause. He was a bigger-than-life character; he’d evaded a previ- ous state kill order and had to be re-collared a couple times as he somehow shook off the state’s effort to track him. Pack history OR-4’s Imnaha Pack was the state’s second oldest, designated in 2009, and it produced gener- ations of successful dispersers. OR-4’s many progeny included Oregon’s best-known wanderer, OR-7, who left the Imnaha Pack in 2011 and zig-zagged his way southwest into California before settling in the Southern Oregon Cascades. OR-25, which killed a calf in Klamath County and now is in Northern California, dis- persed from the Imnaha Pack. The alpha female of the Shasta 3DFN &DOLIRUQLD¶V ¿UVW LV IURP the Imnaha Pack as well. Rob Klavins, who lives in Wallowa County and is Oregon :LOG¶V¿HOGUHSUHVHQWDWLYHLQWKH area, ran across OR-4’s tracks a couple times and saw him once. Despite his fearsome repu- tation, the wolf tucked his tail between his legs, ran behind a nearby tree and barked at Klavins and his hiking group until they left. “Killing animals four or ¿YHWLPHV\RXUVL]HLVDWRXJK way to make a living,” Klavins said. “Some people appreciate OR-4 as a symbol of the tenac- ity of wolves, even a lot of folks who dislike wolves have sort of a begrudging respect for him.” Brown: ‘We will go forwards, not backwards’ PRQWK RYHU DQ LQÀXHQFHSHG- GOLQJVFDQGDOLQYROYLQJKLV¿DQ- ³, WKLQN WKDW WKHVH ¿UVWHYHU cée, Cylvia Hayes. Brown said she has since achievements over the past 14 months would have made Gov. strived to enhance government McCall very proud,” Brown said. transparency. She cited new policies that She also committed to pro- posing a transportation plan require lobbyists to disclose during the 2017 legislative ses- whom they represent within sion. That echoed a promise three days of hiring, and changes VKH PDGH LQ KHU ¿UVW 6WDWH RI to ethics laws that increase pen- the State address in April 2015 alties for knowingly using pub- to make transportation one of OLFRI¿FHIRUSULYDWHJDLQ However, the Pamplin her top priorities, but she later Media/EO Media Group Cap- delayed that plan. She called her ascension ital Bureau recently reported from secretary of state to the that meaningful public records VWDWH¶V KLJKHVW RI¿FH LQ )HEUX- reform, such as deadlines and ary 2015 “unexpected.” As sec- fee limits for responding to pub- retary of state, she automatically lic record, has failed to progress succeeded Gov. John Kitzhaber VLQFH %URZQ WRRN RI¿FH 6KH when he resigned that same also failed to follow through on Continued from Page 1A a plan to create a public records advocate to help the public with public record denials, but she repeated her plan to propose leg- islation to create that position in 2017. Brown described other accomplishments as investing $70 million in addressing the state’s housing shortage, boost- ing funding for higher educa- tion and early childhood edu- cation and subsidizing college tuition with the Oregon Oppor- tunity Grant. 6KHRIIHUHGIHZVSHFL¿FVRQ policy proposals for the com- ing year. In addition to offer- ing a transportation package, she repeated her commitment to improve the state’s graduation rate — one of the worst in the nation. She recently created a new position of education inno- YDWLRQRI¿FHUWRGHYHORSDVWUDW- egy to accomplish that goal and plans to hire for the position in the next couple of weeks. Before the 2017 session, Brown will face one of four Republicans in the Novem- ber 2016 election to complete Kitzhaber’s term. Looking forward, she prom- ised to continue to lead Ore- gon’s policy trailblazing. “We will go forwards, not backwards,” Brown said. “We will protect what makes Oregon great. We will be good stew- ards for future generations. We will be who we are: Oregonians — the blazers of new trails, the ones who get things done.” Keating: He still has family on the North Coast Continued from Page 1A who represented Keating and Moss, told The Dallas Morn- ing News. “There are cable networks that don’t have the viewers that these guys do.” Keating recalls discover- ing YouTube while he was in the Navy. When he was med- ically discharged in 2007, he KDG D KDUG WLPH ¿QGLQJ ZRUN and started to invest in the vid- eo-sharing website. He recently launched his own production company out of Chicago called New Millennial. As Keating pursues his career and investments, he said, it all started for him back in Astoria. He still has family on the North Coast and visits when he can. “My heart is always with you guys,” he said. — Kyle Spurr KNAPPA — Eight games into the season, and the .QDSSD /RJJHUV ¿QG WKHP- selves in a familiar place — undefeated and at the top of the Class 2A rankings. It’s where they’ve been for the last year and a half, as the Loggers posted their latest wins Friday at home, 9-1 and 10-0 over Gaston. Knappa held leads of 8-0 after three innings of Game 1, and 5-0 after two innings in the second game, helping starters Michal Goodman and Mason Hoover on their way to complete-game wins. Goodman tossed a three-hitter over seven innings in the opener, with eight strikeouts and two walks; while Hoover gave up just two hits with four strikeouts and walk in Game 2. Reuben Cruz had two doubles and three RBIs in Game 1, with two more hits in the nightcap, including a triple and two RBIs. Cruz is now 12-for-17 (.706) on the season, with four doubles, a triple and a home run, with 10 walks. “We’re the healthiest we’ve been since the Reed- sport games,” said Knappa coach Jeff Miller. “The guys at the top of the order are doing what they’re sup- posed to, and the players in the middle part of the lineup are starting to hit now, too.” Hitters in the top half of the order are all hitting .400 or better, while No. 1 pitcher Dale Takalo had the week off from pitching. “He was available, if we needed him,” Miller said. The Loggers have given up just six runs, lowest in the state at any level. No. 1-ranked Knappa sits atop the league standings at 6-0. Knappa’s next nine league games will be against Delphian (0-7), Nestucca (1-8) and Faith Bible (0-8). Monroe sweeps at Warrenton Monroe … you’re going to get thumped.” Warrenton gradu- WARRENTON — Mon- roe scored runs in nine of ate Dan Wolfe made his their 12 at-bats Saturday, in return to Huddleston Field, a 16-4, 13-4 doubleheader as an assistant coach with sweep over Warrenton at Monroe. Monroe freshman catcher Huddleston Field. The Warriors helped, Mason Crowson had three committing 10 errors and doubles on the day, while Joe ZDONLQJLQWKH¿UVWJDPH Little and Gavon McFadden while the Dragons limited each had a double in Game 1, Warrenton to just eight total McFadden’s double coming hits. RQ WKH ¿UVW SLWFK LQ WKH ERW- “And almost all the WRPRIWKH¿UVW errors (in Game1) were on The Warriors scored four routine plays,” said War- RIWKHLUHLJKWUXQVLQWKH¿UVW renton coach Lennie Wolfe. inning, as they held leads of “Ten errors and walking 3-0 and 1-0 in both games. 10 will hurt against aver- Warrenton plays a non- age competition, and when league game at Naselle it comes against a team like Tuesday. The Daily Astorian Seaside sweeps Fort Vancouver The Daily Astorian SEASIDE — Seaside’s Jake Bassett and Scott Plampin both threw com- plete games, and the Gulls swept a nonleague double- header with Fort Vancou- ver Saturday at Broadway Field, 11-1 and 10-0. Bassett allowed only three hits with seven strikeouts and four walks in Game 1, while Otto Hoekstre was 2-for-3 at the plate. Astor Landwehr added a two-run double and Michael Lewis was 2-for-4 and drove in two runs for Seaside. Plampin tossed a two- hit, six-inning shutout in Game 2, striking out nine with two walks. Freshman Payton Westerholm led the offense by going 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored, and Carson Schulte (tri- ple, four RBIs) and Dun- can Thompson also had big games at the plate. The Gulls, who fin- ished the game with an all-freshmen infield, resume league play Tues- day at Tillamook. Warriors slay the Dragons the game-winner on a passed ball. WARRENTON — The Landree Miethe had three Warrenton softball team gave of Warrenton’s eight hits in up 23 runs in two games Sat- the opener, and also had the urday — but scored 29 of complete-game win in the their own, in a 17-12, 12-11 circle, allowing eight hits doubleheader sweep over with four strikeouts and three Monroe on the Warriors’ walks. KRPH¿HOG The Warriors committed Warrenton snapped a ¿YH HUURUV EXW WRRN DGYDQ- nine-game losing skid by tage of 12 walks and three racking up 19 hits in the hit batters by three Monroe twin-bill win. pitchers. The Warriors rallied from Warrenton built a 14-5 DQ GH¿FLW DIWHU ¿YH lead through three innings innings of Game 1 with two of Game 2. Two Monroe runs in the sixth and three in pitchers walked 12 more the seventh. batters and hit four, while In the bottom of the sev- Miethe tossed another com- enth, Warrenton’s Dani Bue plete game, allowing 10 hits reached on an error, Heidi and seven walks with seven Erland drew a walk, and both strikeouts and four hit batters. runners advanced on a sacri- Miethe also had another ¿FHE\5DFKHO'\HU three hits, with a double, tri- %XH VFRUHG RQ DQ LQ¿HOG SOH ¿YH 5%,V DQG WZR UXQV single by Tyla Little and scored, while Bue was 2-for-2 Erland scored on the throw. with two RBIs and two runs Little stole third and scored scored. The Daily Astorian
