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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 6, 2016)
COAST WEEKEND: NEIL SIMON’S ‘BAREFOOT IN THE PARK’ INSIDE DailyAstorian.com // THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 144TH YEAR, NO. 70 ‘ FOCUS ADVANCE ASTORIA’ ON ECONOMIC GROWTH ONE DOLLAR Christian J. Wilkins Adeena M. Copell Couple charged in death of man Newport victim found off Hwy. 30 near Astoria By KYLE SPURR The Daily Astorian Photos by Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian Kevin Leahy, executive director of Clatsop Economic Development Resources, moderates a panel discussion during the “Ad- vance Astoria” economic development strategy panel on Wednesday at Fort George Brewery’s Lovell Showroom in Astoria. Business leaders kick off development strategy By ERICK BENGEL The Daily Astorian S everal years from now, what will Astoria’s busi- ness culture look like? What concerns and prin- ciples will have shaped the city’s economic identity? As the city begins work on a ive-year economic develop- ment strategy — “Advance Asto- ria” — a panel of business own- ers and community leaders met in Fort George’s Lovell Showroom Wednesday to kick off the brain- storming phase. Their charge: to think big about Astoria’s economic future. Moderated by Kevin Leahy, executive director of Clatsop Eco- nomic Development Resources, the discussion featured Jim Knight, executive director of the Port of Astoria; Chris Breitmeyer, president of Clatsop Community College; Jeremy Towsey-French, owner of Reveille Ciderworks; Adam Zimmerman, president and CEO of Craft3, a nonproit lend- ing institution; and Shawn Busse, CEO of Kinesis, a Portland-based marketing irm. See COUPLE, Page 10A ABOVE: Panelists were charged to think big about Astoria’s economic future during an economic development strategy panel Wednesday. LEFT: Jeremy Towsey- French, owner of Reveille Ciderworks, speaks on a panel at the economic de- velopment strategy forum at Fort George Brewery. By DERRICK DePLEDGE The Daily Astorian WARRENTON — The Ski- panon Water Control District did not respond to Warrenton’s demand that it surrender ownership claims to the Eighth Street Dam by a Tuesday deadline. Tessa Scheller, the chairwoman of the water district, said she did not consider the city’s ultimatum worthy of an emergency meeting of the dis- trict’s board. The water district wants to remove the dam as a hazard and to improve ish passage on the Skipanon River. Backer hinted at cargo service at Tongue Point By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian The standoff is driven by philo- sophical differences over the value and control of the dam, yet practical considerations might inluence how the dispute is resolved. Scheller said she is waiting to hear to what extent the Special Dis- tricts Association of Oregon, which represents the water district in legal matters, will mount a defense against the city. Some on the water district’s board have said in the past that the district should transfer the dam to the city for $1 to be free from any liability, a tempting idea in the face of an expen- sive legal ight over ownership. Scheller said she has looked into See DAM, Page 5A See TONGUE POINT, Page 5A Eighth Street Dam deadline passes Scheller characterized the city’s actions as an “absurd land grab” and “bullying.” The water district’s board will meet later this month to weigh options. Akin Blitz, a Portland attorney for the city, sent a letter to the water dis- trict last week warning of a potential lawsuit to settle title or the city’s sei- zure of the dam. Blitz argues that the city owns the dam because the water district has removed the tide gates, which he believes invalidates an easement the water district was granted by the city in 1962 to operate the structure for lood control. Blitz said he would wait until he can talk again with the City Com- mission before announcing the city’s next move. Another Port deal hits a wall Yet another idea to develop North Tongue Point appears dead. The proposal by retired attorney and entrepreneur Rece Bly to develop a bulk ter- minal at the Port of Astoria’s leased dock space has stalled, with the two sides unable to reach an agreement. The Port and Bly have been negotiating for months on a contract that would compen- sate him for bringing an unspeciied cargo to North Tongue Point, a long-underutilized for- mer U.S. Navy base coveted for its access to both rail and a chan- nel of the Columbia River. Much of the dis- cussion has been out of the public view. Bly attended a coniden- Jim tial executive session Knight Tuesday with the Port Commission to discuss the proposal but said the two parties are still far apart. “I wouldn’t say I’m done dealing with the Port,” Bly said. “There’s nothing for me to do at this point. I signed an agreement, gave it to them. It’s not acceptable.” Jim Knight, the Port’s executive director, said his and the Port Commission’s impres- sion is that discussions are over. See ECONOMY, Page 10A Water district weighs options A Clatsop County couple is accused of killing a Newport man and stealing his motor home and car before leeing to Arizona. Christian J. Wilkins, 37, and Adeena M. Copell, 40, are charged with murder for allegedly killing 71-year-old Howard Dan- iel Vinge, whose body was found Friday wrapped in material off U.S. Highway 30, about 3 miles east of Astoria. Vinge apparently died from blunt force trauma to the back of his head. After the alleged murder on Sept. 27, Wilkins and Copell reportedly stole Vinge’s white 1993 Allegro Bay motor home with a dark maroon 1991 Lincoln Continental attached on a trailer. The motor home was discovered aban- doned about 12 miles east of Seaside at the intersection of U.S. Highway 26 and U.S. Highway 53. Wilkins and Copell were found Tues- day near Flagstaff, Arizona, driving the Lin- coln Continental they allegedly stole from Vinge. Arizona troopers stopped the car and arrested the couple for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Practical considerations
