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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 23, 2016)
10A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 Barn: Smith intends to ile a response to city’s motion Continued from Page 1A The city says the merits of the case aren’t worth disputing and they’re entitled to summary judgment before reaching trial. The city won a temporary injunc- tion to prohibit events in the barn ear- lier this year, and “now we’re going for a permanent injunction,” City Administrator Chad Sweet said. “Basically the city has no evidence or facts to make this claim,” Smith countered. “This will be dismissed accordingly.” Smith successfully argued before Gearhart Municipal Court that her R.J. Marx/Seaside Signal Neacoxie Creek Barn was the site of a wedding this month. The city of Gearhart seeks to prohibit future events until the owner acquires a conditional use permit for the property. Security: Talks will continue after Roden trial concludes Continued from Page 1A Marquis acknowledges that Circuit Court judges have authority over secu- rity in their courtrooms, and he agrees the strict security measures are needed for the death penalty trial. After the Roden trial, however, Marquis plans to continue the discussion with the court. “Presumably, when the trial is over we will have a long conversation about this,” Marquis said. Stafing concerns The Sheriff’s Ofice is in charge of security at the courthouse. Before this week, usually one deputy roamed the building. The new security plan requires four to ive deputies on duty while the courthouse is open. At least two dep- uties are stationed at the metal detector inside the one secure entrance. Bergin said his ofice received state funds to cover the labor costs during the death penalty trial, which could last two months. After the trial, Bergin said, he sim- ply does not have the budget to keep multiple deputies at the courthouse. More court- house deputies would put a strain on other responsibil- ities in the Sheriff’s Ofice. “As far as a permanent lockdown, I’m not in favor of that nor will I until we have the appropriate amount of personnel,” Bergin said. Bergin hopes to keep an open dialogue with the court. His deputies were surprised when they heard about the plan late last week. “The way it was addressed and approved this time was a little bit hurried,” Bergin said. Shared responsibility Although the Circuit Court houses state business, the building is owned and maintained by the county. “The courts are instru- ments of the state, but they operate in a county facil- ity,” County Manager Cam- eron Moore said. “My understanding is judges have a great deal of author- ity and discretion in terms of security in their speciic courtrooms, but the court- house security is a shared responsibility.” Moore, who was hired ear- lier this year, said he was not aware of a security change, since it was never brought up at recent court security advi- sory committee meetings. He is concerned there was never any public outreach, and no outreach to his ofice. “The question becomes is this the best decision for the public, as well as those that work there that want to be safe.” Moore said. “We may revisit this decision. We may ind out it makes perfect sense.” wedding business was not a prohib- ited use under the city code, and as a result, penalties against her for zone code violations were dismissed. With the passage of a zoning amendment in August, the city sought to close that loophole. “If a use is not listed as a permitted use, it may be held to be a similar unlisted use,” reads the amended code, which goes into effect in October. Smith had an event Saturday, but no violations were issued. “It was not in the barn, it was on her property,” Sweet said. “Short-term rentals were not allowed in the zone code either,” Sweet said. “Previously Gearhart has chosen to allow them by not address- ing the issue, so Shannon used that same loophole to say she is allowed to hold her future events in residen- tially zoned property. As of the irst week of October, she won’t be able to hold those events.” Since a wedding is not a permitted use inside or outside the barn, Sweet said, under the new zoning Smith would be required to obtain a condi- tional use permit. The certiicate of occupancy is required for using the barn. Smith said she intends to ile a response to the city’s motion. Cormorants: Nearly 2,400 killed this year Audubon case Continued from Page 1A Battaglia wrote that there was no connection between San Diego and the actions giv- ing rise to the animal welfare group’s lawsuit. Steve Hindi, executive director of Showing Animals Respect and Kind- ness, which is based in Illi- nois, said the case was iled in San Diego because the group has a lawyer there working pro bono. Hindi said having the case moved to Portland will put an undue strain on the inan- cially limited group. In his rul- ing, Battaglia wrote that if the group could send a boat to Ore- gon to document the shoot- ing of cormorants, having the case there would not be unduly burdensome. Documenting shooting In mid-April, the animal welfare group sent a Kodiak skiff called the Bob and Nancy — funded by celebrity couple and animal welfare activists Bob Barker and Nancy Bur- net and equipped with a drone — to the Port of Astoria’s West Mooring Basin. Activists spent three weeks trying to docu- ment the shooting of cormo- rants from boats moored next to East Sand Island near Chinook, Washington. The Army Corps of Engi- neers contracted last year with agents with the U.S. Depart- ment of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services to thin a colony of cor- morants on East Sand Island from 13,000 to 5,600 over a four-year period, as well as oil their nests, to reduce their pre- dation on federally endangered salmon headed downstream. The Corps has estimated the island holds 98 percent of the breeding population in the Columbia estuary, and that the colony has eaten about 12 mil- lion salmon. So far this year, Wild- Roy Western/For EO Media Group A cormorant grooms itself, an important process that fa- cilitates its ability to dive in pursuit of small fish. life Service agents have killed nearly 2,400 cormorants and oiled nearly 1,100 nests. Last year, the Corps shot more than 1,700 birds and oiled more than 5,000 nests. In April, the Coast Guard created a 500-yard exclusion- ary zone around the shooting on behalf of Wildlife Services. Several days later, the animal welfare group iled suit to gain a temporary restraining order from the exclusionary zone, a request later turned down. The Coast Guard has claimed the exclusionary zone was about the safety of nearby mariners. The animal welfare group has claimed the zone violated their First Amend- ment rights to collect footage of the shooting, and that ofi- cers with Wildlife Services lied to the Coast Guard about the Bob and Nancy causing wakes around the agents shooting the cormorants. In mid-May, activists released a video showing the killing of cormorants. The cull- ing was suspended around the same time, after independent observers noticed the cormo- rants on East Sand Island had abandoned their nests, the eggs falling prey to eagles, crows and seagulls. Many of the cor- morants later turned up nesting on the Astoria Bridge. In April, the Audubon Society of Portland iled suit against the Corps, along with the Center for Biologi- cal Diversity, Animal Defense Fund, Friends of Animals and Wildlife Center of the North Coast, a coastal bird and mam- mal shelter based in the Lewis and Clark neighborhood. The groups sought a preliminary injunction to stop the shoot- ing and hazing of cormorants. U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Simon in Port- land ruled last month that the Corps’ cormorant-cull- ing program could continue “because it provides some beneit to salmonids that are listed as endangered or threat- ened under the Endangered Species Act,” while cormo- rants are not listed. Simon did ind that the Corps violated the National Environmental Policy Act by not considering alternatives, such as changing the amount of water released from dams, before culling cormorants. Hindi said his group’s law- suit would continue, and that he hopes the Audubon Soci- ety is ultimately successful in stopping the culling program. He said the dams are the main problem facing salmon, and that the Corps is unfairly scapegoating cormorants. “The judge should stop the program because it’s abso- lutely wanton killing,” Hindi said. Hospice Volunteers Needed In the absence of a cure, care makes all the difference Coming October 2016 Assistance League the Columbia Pacif of ic PROGRAM OVERV IEW Operation School Bell: OSB is the signature program of Assistan League; providing new clothes for children ce grades K-12. The in need, schools identify the students and we supply 2 pairs of pants, 2 shirts, sweatshirt, jacket, underwear, socks and shoes to each child! Last year we helped clothe over 600 kids! Wish you could see their smiling faces! Assistance Leagu e of the Columbia Pacifi c P.O. Box 596 Astoria, Cinderella’s Closet: Assistance League of over 280 fancy dresses! the Columbia Pacific owns During Homecoming Prom season we and set up a boutique and the school girls come “shopping” for somethin high to the ‘ball’. We hope g to wear to make them all feel like princesses! Athletic Particip ation Scholarships: This program provides funds for sports fees appropriate gear; and giving students an opportunity to become involved in sports. This in turn allows fostering friendsh ips and building confiden children to receive all the benefits of being part of a ce. The goal is to team, promote the desire to stay in school. Duffle Bags: The Duffle Bag Program ensures that every system is given a Clatsop County child being duffle placed into the Foster toiletries. This offers bag filled with comfort items such Care as pjs, a blanket, the child a bit of a stuffed animal, comfort in an uncertai a book and n time in their lives. FUNDRAISING • Direct Mail Campaig n SEPTEMBER: Look in your mail – You might have a flyer waiting for you. • Home & Chef Tour OCTOBER: Showcasi ng outstanding homes County & chefs througho ut Clatsop • Fabulous Fun Night MARCH 5, 2016, Please join us for a tremendous night our local children. as we celebrate Save the Date & Look for Details • Golf Ball Drop May 7, 2016: A Fun Event for all ages at Astoria Golf & Country Club. OR 97103 Mission Statem ent: Assistance League of the Columbia Pacific is a non-profit organization whose volunteer efforts raise funds to assist children in our Clatsop County Communities. Vision: To be an effective resource in the community respondi ng to services, delivery gaps and emerging needs through volunteer efforts and collabora tive partnerships. Values: • Commitment • Leadership • Ethics • Accountability • Respect CONTACT INFORM ATION President: Jane Cartwrigh t jjjkcart@msn.com Membership: Shelby Mogenson shelbym@charter.ne t Web Site: www.assistancelea guecp.com SPONSORED BY: Autio Company GIVING BACK 2015-16 • 5 We are proud to present the 2nd annual edition of Giving Back Giving Back is designed to give our community nonprofits and corporations that support them a platform for exposing their mission and their fundraising needs to the business community. Giving Back is a resource designed to offer companies and individuals a wealth of information to assist them in their charitable giving plans. We’ve dedicated a full page to each nonprofit detailing their mission statements, goals, service ar ea, board members, events and giving/volunteering opportunities plus a full page to their sponsor. Thank you to our generous business community for all that you do to support our local nonprofit organizations To reserve you r spa ce con ta ct: Betty Sm ith A dvertisin g Director Lisa Ca don a u - A storia 503-325-3211 Ext. 238 • 503-791-7307 Cell lca don a u @ da ilya storia n .com bsm ith@ da ilya storia n .com Holly La rk in s Bra n dy Stew a rt - Sea side a n d Ca n n on Bea ch 503-325-3211 Ext. 227 • 503-791-2779 Cell hla rk in s@ da ilya storia n .com 503-738-5561 • 503-791-7769 Cell bstew a rt@ da ilya storia n .com A n n a Sta m per A n drew Ren w ick - Lon g Bea ch 503-325-3211, Ext. 229 • 703-919-5584 Cell a sta m per@ da ilya storia n .com 360-642-6703, Ext. 229 • 503-791-2780 Cell a ren w ick @ chin ook observer.com 503-325-3211, Ext. 273 • 503-791-0415 Cell P UBL ISH E S OCTOBE R 3 1, 2016 In serted in the Da ily A storia n Make a Difference Volunteers hold a special place in the hearts of our patients and their families. Volunteers serve hospice patients in a variety of ways including respite care, companionship, listening to concerns and other loving acts. Apply by Sept. 23 to be a hospice volunteer. Participation in a 20-hour training program (Oct. 3-7, 2016) is required. Call our Volunteer Coordinator at 503-325-4321 for more information and an application. Lower Columbia Hospice serves patients and families in Clatsop County. D E AD L IN E : OCTOBE R 14 , 2016 For Spa ce Reserva tion 2111 Exchange St., Astoria, Oregon • 503-325-4321 www.columbiamemorial.org • A Planetree-Designated Hospital
