BEACH LIFE IN PROPERTY LINES INSIDE
144TH YEAR, NO. 171
ONE DOLLAR
WEEKEND EDITION // FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017
Highs,
lows
on the
coast
Economy examined
at Columbia Forum
By EDWARD STRATTON
The Daily Astorian
Photos by Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian
Seaside Jazz Festival kick off party at the Elks Lodge
Patricia Raine and Jim Cavanaugh dance on Thursday during the
in Seaside.
During
Thursday’s
Columbia Forum, r egional
economists Erik Knoder
and Josh Lehner explained
why the North Coast’s
beauty and proximity to
Portland can be both a
charm and a challenge Erik Knoder
economically.
Lehner works for the
Oregon Offi ce of Economic
Analysis, providing an out-
look for the state govern-
ment. Knoder provides
regional economic data for
Clatsop, Columbia, Tilla- Josh Lehner
mook and Lincoln counties.
“There’s only so much
coastline in America,” Lehner said. “And so
if you want to live on the ocean, you better
go to one of these places that have it. And so,
the prices get bid up.”
See FORUM, Page 7A
JAZZ
FESTIVAL
SWINGS
INTO TOWN
Astoria
will miss
two city
stalwarts
By R.J. MARX
The Daily Astorian
EASIDE — The audience for Dave
Bennett and the Speed Kings at the
Seaside Elks Lodge Thursday night
was ready to dance. As soon as the
group launched into their rockabilly
jazz set, the crowd erupted and fl ocked to the
fl oor.
Bennett brought the dancers to a frenzy
with Chuck Berry’s “Roll Over Beethoven, ”
before heading into the Jerry Lee Lewis hit
“High School Confi dential ” and “Crazy
Arms” by Ray Price.
This was just another Seaside Jazz Festi-
val night, an annual event featuring 14 bands
through Sunday at venues throughout town.
Yuill, Williams retire
from administrative posts
By ERICK BENGEL
The Daily Astorian
Opening night
Drummer Hal Smith from Searcy , Arkan-
sas, and Gino Meregillano from San Diego,
California, joined leader Bennett and bassist
Joe Jazdzewski onstage for the Seaside festi-
val’s debut night.
See FESTIVAL, Page 7A
Jazz enthusiasts take to the dance floor Thursday at the Seasid
e Jazz Festival at the
Elks Lodge in Seaside.
Astoria will lose two longtime employees
to retirement next week: Julie Yuill, execu-
tive assistant to the city manager; and Sherri
Williams, administrative assistant to the
community development department.
Yuill, a native-born Astorian who lives
in Warrenton, joined the city more than 31
years ago, a period that spans three mayors
and six city managers. And Williams, hired
in 1993, has worked under four community
development directors.
See EMPLOYEES, Page 7A
Q&A
Real estate, psychology in Miss Oregon’s future
Mather returned
to Astoria High
By EDWARD STRATTON
The Daily Astorian
In July, Alexis Mather
became the fi rst Miss Oregon
from Astoria High School and
the fi rst from Clatsop County
since Knappa’s Margie Huhta
in 1969.
Mather’s reign ends July 1,
when she will crown the next
Miss Oregon at the Seaside
Civic and Convention Center.
Now 21 years old and a
junior at Portland State Uni-
versity, Mather returned to her
alma mater Thursday to speak
about her experiences, receive
awards and snap photos with
students and staff.
Q: How does it feel coming
back to Astoria High School
as the fi rst alumni to win?
It feels surreal, because I
remember sitting in the seats
and just watching people
come back, and thinking about
maybe being there one day. So
now to fi nally be here, it’s just
incredible.
Q: How did you get into
pageants?
My mother took me to go
watch Miss Oregon when I
was 10, and I just remember
being in awe and amazed by it.
I always kind of remembered
that. When I turned 13, I was
interested in doing it and gave
it a shot and fell in love with it.
Q: What was the journey
like, getting to Miss Oregon?
I started at age 13 as a teen,
and then I had my fi rst title as
Miss Clatsop County at 18
years old. Then I was Miss
Mount Hood, and I was Miss
Clatsop County again. Then I
was Miss Portland, and here I
am as Miss Oregon. It defi nitely
took a few tries, but I think that
See MISS OREGON, Page 7A
Alexis Mather, the
only Miss Oregon
from Astoria High
School, returned
to her alma mater
Thursday, where
she spoke about
her experience,
took pictures
with students and
received an Ore-
gon-shaped wood-
en plaque engraved
with her tiara.
Edward Stratton
The Daily Astorian