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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (April 5, 2017)
KNAPPA HIGH SCHOOL SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW PAGE 11A Junior Dale Takalo 144TH YEAR, NO. 199 Man Cave passes insurance muster Questions raised about alcohol liability By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian Port of Astoria Property Manager Shane Jensen confi rmed Tuesday that the Port’s insurers do not preclude coverage because of possible alcohol use. Jensen was responding to the concerns of Port ONE DOLLAR DailyAstorian.com // WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 2017 C ommissioners Stephen Fulton and Bill Hunsinger over liability for alcohol use on the agency’s property at the Astoria Regional Airport. Fulton has accused fellow C ommis- sioner James Campbell, his opponent in the May special district election, of condoning a private club — known as the Man Cave — with a bar in a private hangar at the a irport. He later called the See MAN CAVE, Page 10A Mushen stricken at Port meeting Taken to hospital for treatment By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian The entrance to Philip Bales’ Man Cave at the Astoria Regional Air- port is marked by a collection of conservative stickers. MORE INSIDE A contentious Port of Astoria Commission meeting Tuesday night was cut short when Commission President Robert Mushen had an apparent medical emergency. During a heated discussion between com- missioners and Port counsel Eileen Eakins Stormwater, labor law fines get Port scrutiny on Pages 2A and 3A See MUSHEN, Page 10A Port of Call works to change its rep Robert Mushen Gearhart group looks to repeal, replace rules Measure would redo short-term rental regs By R.J. MARX The Daily Astorian Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian A car travels down Commercial Street in front of Port of Call Bistro and Bar as dusk approaches on Monday in Astoria. New bosses mindful of over-serving By JACK HEFFERNAN The Daily Astorian A state snapshot of drunken driving cases over the past two years suggests a pat- tern of Port of Call patrons drinking at the downtown bar and later getting arrested. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission gathers drunken driving statistics based on police reports provided by local law enforce- ment agencies . When a police report includes the establishment where the driver said they had been drinking, that detail is often added to the compilation . Out of 47 recorded examples in Clatsop County in 2015 and 2016, the state found, Port of Call appeared in 12 . The second high- est number , from Annie’s Saloon, was four. The examples only represent a fraction of the 250 to 300 DUII cases fi led annually in the county, but they reinforce a perception of hard drinking at Port of Call. “We did have a less-than-stellar reputa- tion in the community,” said Taz Davis, who took over as Port of Call’s general manager earlier this year. Indicator The state report is based solely on testi- mony from drivers who have been arrested for DUII . Law enforcement a gencies are only required to report the statistics if some- one they arrest records a blood alcohol con- tent of 0.20 percent or higher or if they are involved in a crash. Some agencies report more than the minimum, while others do not. Because complete data would be impos- sible to fully track, the reports are not intended to be used as a basis for imposing sanctions on bars. But the Oregon Liquor Control Commission does utilize the fi nd- ings to determine which establishments may be in need of instruction on how to avoid over-serving customers. “We use the DUII report as an indica- tor of potential problems,” Christie Scott, a liquor commission spokeswoman, said. Florida-based owner, hired Davis, who began working six weeks ago, to shore up the Commercial Street bar and bistro’s orga- nizational structure. One part of that organi- zation was ensuring the new manager would be able to prevent over-serving, Sawyer said. “In coming up with new management and new leadership and organization, it was very important to have someone that shares my values and has a very strict no tolerance policy against over-serving,” Sawyer said. Staff at Port of Call has participated in on-site training from the liquor commis- sion in the past few years on how to avoid over-serving, investigator Marc Warren said. But bartenders and security person- nel have had issues with serving high-alco- hol drinks in glasses meant for beer and not checking for or being afraid to question cus- tomers who show strong signs of intoxica- tion, Davis said. “Interaction with our guests is the biggest piece of it,” Davis said. “It’s a big focus for us to realize how to spot that.” New leadership Marvin James Sawyer, Port of Call’s GEARHART — Opponents to Gearhart’s short-term rental rules have borrowed from a national political playbook in a new challenge . Local residents have fi led a petition initia- tive to “repeal and replace” the rules enacted last fall. “Both my husband and I would really like to see a more reason- able approach,” said Joy Sigler, who with Brian Sigler and Sarah Nebeker are the chief petitioners. “That’s why we were moti- vated to sign it. As is, it’s not good for local people. And we’re local. You can’t get any more local than us.” Joy Sigler County Commis- sioner Nebeker rep- resents District 2, which covers Gearhart and the Clatsop Plains and portions of Seaside and Warrenton. Sigler, owner of the Pacifi c Crest Cottage, said the city’s rules would limit options for her children and hurt Sarah Nebeker her business, based in Gearhart. “Not only have you taken away the choice that my children should have to rent this short term, you’ve also eliminated a lot of guests to the community, which is my customer base,” Sigler said. “You’ve hurt me on two levels. And there are a lot of local people who are going to feel the very same way.” Seeking new rules The city’s rules, enacted last October, reg- ulate occupancy limits, parking and prop- erty management contact information, among other measures. Vacation rental permits are transferable only by inheritance. See PORT OF CALL, Page 5A See GEARHART, Page 10A Slow sign-ups could stall Cannon Beach charter school the school would not be allowed to open in the fall. As of Monday , only 12 kindergar- ten students and eight fi rst- and sec- By BRENNA VISSER ond-graders have signed up. The Daily Astorian “When we started this pro- cess many years back, a lot of fam- CANNON BEACH — With a ilies applied,” Phil Simmons, the building lease and recent grant award director of start up operations for the in hand, plans to open the Cannon academy, said. “But in that time, Beach Academy this fall are starting families have moved, so it will be a Phil to fall into place. challenge to get the minimum Simmons But a few aspects are still up in required.” the air. One, most notably, is that not Simmons is still optimistic about enough students are enrolled. reaching the goal. As a charter school, any child For the academy to open its doors, a provi- in the region can enroll. Marketing materials sion in the contract between the academy and have been circulated at Seaside Heights and the Seaside School District requires at least 17 Gearhart elementary schools, helping spread kindergarten students and 17 students combined the word. in fi rst and second grades to be enrolled by May See ACADEMY, Page 5A 1. If that threshold is not reached, it is possible Fall opening could be up in the air R.J. Marx/The Daily Astorian The site of the new Cannon Beach Academy is at 171 Sun- set Blvd. The charter school is set to be opened this fall.