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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (April 12, 2017)
DailyAstorian.com // WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017 144TH YEAR, NO. 204 ONE DOLLAR Port director, commissioners trade barbs Letters reveal war of words By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian A fl urry of letters has underscored the acrimony at the Port of Asto- ria between Executive Director Jim Knight and C ommissioners Stephen Fulton and Bill Hunsinger. In a letter Friday, Knight called out Fulton and Hunsinger for unfairly attacking staff. In separate letters Monday, Fulton and Hunsinger each admonished Knight for not inform- ing the commission earlier of recent stormwater violations and delays. “For too long now certain com- missioners have used their position and the associated media attention to Coastal cities join inclusivity movement Warrenton, Cannon Beach latest to sign on attack the credibility and competence of the staff,” Knight wrote in a letter to the Port Commission . “Such attacks severely interfere with the mission of the Port in several ways.” Knight said the attacks divert staff from more productive busi- ness pursuits, undermine public con- fi dence in the Port and often bring about motions toward commercially ill-advised, unreasonable and perplexing decisions. “The current staff is fully com- mitted and fully competent to fulfi ll the mission of the Port,” Knight said. “We will continue to actively pursue the success of the Port regardless of behavior by certain commissioners that demand a response like this one.” Knight had previously admon- ished Fulton and Hunsinger for cre- ating a stressful environment that he THEY’RE BACK! BY-THE-WIND SAILORS MAKE LANDFALL AGAIN Law enforcement Under Oregon law, state and local police cannot use public money to arrest people whose only violation is that they are in the United States illegally. Gov. Kate Brown, in defi ance of Trump, issued an executive order in February expand- ing the law to cover state agencies and employees. Law enforce- ment agencies can, Jason however, exchange Schermerhorn information with federal immigration agents, verify the immigration status of people arrested for crimes, make arrests for criminal viola- tions of federal immigration law and exe- cute federal arrest warrants. Sanctuary cities, like Portland, have vowed not to cooperate with the federal Stormwater overruns Knight’s letter was largely in response to another from Fulton ear- lier accusing Port staff of covering See PORT, Page 5A Henry Balensifer Rick Newton Public can weigh in on Warrenton mayor pick By DERRICK DePLEDGE and BRENNA VISSER The Daily Astorian Warrenton on Tuesday night became the latest city on the North Coast to adopt an inclusivity resolution recogniz- ing immigrants, a heartfelt, if symbolic, expression of solidarity during President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration. The resolutions celebrate immigrant contributions to the community but do not go as far as declaring a sanctuary city. Astoria adopted an inclusivity resolution in March in partnership with the Lower Columbia Hispanic Council, and Seaside and Cannon Beach are considering simi- lar resolutions. Gearhart declared itself a “welcoming city” in March. “I have sympathy for the people. But I also cannot justify a sanctuary city,” War- renton City Commissioner Rick Newton said. The City Commission voted 3-1 for Newton’s resolution. Commissioner Tom Dyer, a retired Oregon State Police trooper, was opposed. “I don’t think we should go out looking for people and hunt them down or anything like that,” he said. “But I have a tough time supporting something that doesn’t support the laws of the land.” said contributed to Commission Pres- ident Robert Mushen’s hospitaliza- tion after he left a meeting earlier this month. Balensifer, Newton want the appointment By DERRICK DePLEDGE The Daily Astorian Oregon Coast Aquarium Velella vellelas, a phenomenon in coastal Oregon. The Daily Astorian EWPORT— The Oregon coastline is again experiencing a “blue tide,” when beaches are strewn with an aquamarine layer of jelly-like organisms. Each spring, there are innumerable bodies of by-the-wind sailors or Velella velella, and their strandings are a regular, but still fascinating phenomenon on the coast, the Oregon Coast Aquarium said. Ranging in size from a few millimeters across to 7 centimeters, these brilliant blue and purple animals sometimes wash up on the beaches in alarming quantities, this “blue tide” poses far less of a risk to ani- mals and people than the red variety. The common name of these creatures — by-the-wind sailor — refers to the clear, triangular sail at the top of the ani- mal’s body that catches the wind and pro- pels it across the surface. Short tentacles hang from the underside of the sail. Found in all the oceans, these animals have no independent movement and will drift on N Oregon Coast Aquarium Velella vellelas, the so-called “blue tide,” are less of a threat to animals and people than the red variety. the whim of the breeze. Despite Velella’s simple yet effective sail, heavier winds during the spring and summer months may nevertheless cause mass strandings. During such conditions, it isn’t uncommon to see miles and miles of Oregon beach carpeted with stinking heaps of Velella, which quickly die and decay on shore, turning from a metallic blue to a lifeless white. See MOVEMENT, Page 7A WARRENTON — The City Commission will hear from the public before naming a new mayor. Acting Mayor Henry Balensifer and Commissioner Rick Newton will take questions at a public hearing on April 25 at City Hall about why they want the appointment. Mark Kujala’s decision in March to step down as mayor to spend more time with his family and business created a vacancy for the remainder of his four-year term, which expires in 2018. “I think it would be bad not to let the pub- lic make comments,” Commissioner Tom Dyer said. Dyer and Commissioner Pam Ack- ley asked for public input given that Kujala was the city’s fi rst elected mayor. Prior to 2014, mayors were chosen among city commissioners. The new mayor, Ackley said, has “some huge shoes to fi ll.” See WARRENTON, Page 7A Roadkill bill cruises through Oregon Senate Urban deer proposal also moves to House By GEORGE PLAVEN EO Media Group Oregon Coast Aquarium Velella vellelas are making their appearance on Oregon beaches. PENDLETON — Oregonians may soon be able to salvage the meat from roadkill deer and elk . Senate Bill 372, sponsored by state Sen. Bill Hansell (R-Athena) and Rep. Greg Bar- reto (R-Cove), would allow the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue sal- vage permits for deer and elk that are acci- dentally killed in a vehicle collision. The bill passed the Senate on Thursday by a vote of 29-0. Approximately 20 other states have a similar law on the books, including neigh- boring Washington state and Idaho. Wash- ington enacted its roadkill salvage program on in July issuing 1,100 permits over the fi rst six months, according to Hansell. That’s 1,100 animals that were salvaged in one degree or another, Hansell said, rather than simply being left to rot on the side of the road. “Those accidents are very unfortunate,” he said. “It seemed there’s just got to be a better way to take care of that.” See ROADKILL, Page 7A