editor@dailyastorian.com KARI BORGEN Publisher JIM VAN NOSTRAND Editor Founded in 1873 JEREMY FELDMAN Circulation Manager DEBRA BLOOM Business Manager JOHN D. BRUIJN Production Manager CARL EARL Systems Manager OUR VIEW Come together right now, with respect N ews is coming fast and furious these days — so fast it can be hard to keep up. But the indictment against 13 Russian nationals unsealed last month in Washington, D.C., laid bare the fact that a foreign government was meddling successfully in our political process. And that should make us stop and consider the implications for more than just a moment. As others have noted over the past week, news of Russian meddling is not earth-shaking. And we’re not so naive to think the United States hasn’t acted similarly for decades, both with covert and overt operations the world over. Loch K. Johnson, the dean of American intelligence scholars, told Scott Shane that “(The United States) has been doing this kind of thing since the CIA was created in 1947.” Yet in our modern world, manipula- tion and propaganda has become more subtle than briefcases filled with money, incendiary mailers delivered to door- steps, or salacious information slipped to newspapers. Social media allows us to become easier targets. Facebook is a near-per- fect portal for passing along dubious information, and covering your tracks while doing it. It is an outrage that these billion-dollar corporations are becom- ing rich while polluting civil discourse and, like Russia, publishing information designed to inflame and distract. Those attempting to divide our nation are exploiting an American nature that we have been far too eager to engage ourselves. We’re too likely to pass along information that confirms our biases or picks on people we dis- agree with. We’re too easy to demonize the other side in the debate. We’re too lax at considering different opinions. But we should not feel helpless in the battle for our knowledge and our vote. We can read different sources. We can take education seriously and never LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Thanks to unknown donor for cash support e would be remiss in our stated mis- sion of helping those suffering from mental illnesses — what we call brain dis- eases — if we did not acknowledge those who support our mission. We would like to extend our appreciation to the unknown donor who made a significant cash donation to us through a third party source. This dona- tion will definitely help in our mission. We would also like to thank the many locals who support our group, both through attendance at our monthly meeting and through your patronage at PennyWise Thrift Store in Warrenton. And for your concern during our recent medical emergencies. Not only do you help those with brain diseases but also the homeless, those on low fixed incomes, and senior citizens. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Beverly Jackson-Shumaker, one of the founding members of the Warrenton Warm- ing Center, for allowing us to distribute lunches to those less fortunate who patron- ize our shop. Without your continuing support during the past nine years, we would not have been able to continue serving our communi- ties of Astoria, Warrenton, Seaside, Cannon Beach, and Knappa/Svenson in Oregon, and Ilwaco, Chinook, Long Beach, and Naselle in Washington. Again, thank you for your support. PETER and PATRICIA FESSLER Facilitators, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Astoria W Tourism is the gorilla in the room on the North Coast have been a casual observer of the onset of industrial tourism for my whole life here on the North Coast. Do you remember? Tour- ism, the clean industry. The latest squabble over the distribution of lodging taxes in Cannon Beach again, for me, calls to mind the fact that tourism is the only industry that has been provided such a generous subsidy, in the form of tax revenue dedicated to defray the costs of generating more business (“Cannon Beach sees opportu- nity in funding event center through lodging tax dollars,” The Daily Astorian, Feb. 22). In times past, business owners had to pay for their own advertisements and promotions. This government handout is a big part of what makes tourism so special. Tourism creates more problems for the area than is generally accepted by its promot- ers. It is the gorilla in the room. Small towns have been reorganized to serve their new master. Cannon Beach, a community of some 1,600 residents, has built and maintains a sewer and water system capable of handling some 20,000 fun seekers during peak sum- mer weekends. As the article states, communities like Cannon Beach are “being loved to death.” We are becoming an amusement park. Locals go underground. Housing shortages and pro- hibitive rents are one glaring result. High- ways are impassable, and our towns have become isolated communities filled with strangers. I Money is power. The powerful Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association lobby has pushed through a bad law. The law is in need of review, and a redistribution of tax revenues is necessary. And when pigs fly, there will be pork in the treetops. GARY DURHEIM Seaside We never step twice in the same river he other morning, on the Warrenton Waterfront Trail, I guess I was meditat- ing while watching the flow of our mighty Columbia River, and this thought popped into my head. A philosopher a long time ago said, “you never step twice in the same river.” I got to thinking that every day, in fact every moment, is a brand new river, a nev- er-before lived moment. When our steps are guided by our creator, who knows what adventure lies ahead? It will always be a brand new day, a never-lived-before moment, for we “never step twice in the same river.” “Behold, I make all things new” (Revela- tion 21:5). For it will always be new. JIM BERNARD Warrenton T Agree with writer on need for treatment center he article by Richard Elfering, “We need a treatment center, not a new jail,” (The Daily Astorian, Feb. 21) is the best thing I’ve seen in the paper in many years. Thoughtful, long-term, based on real experience of what works and what does not, I think Mr. Elfer- ing’s proposal — if perhaps not perfect in every detail — could and should serve as the starting point for a sound plan of action. Adopting it would put our region in the forefront, nationally, of smart, affordable, and effective community response to the problems of crime, addiction, and mental health which are out of control across Amer- ica today. Is he interested in politics? He’s got my vote. JOSEPH WEBB Astoria T County ordinance should be available online recently received a rather confusing post- card from Clatsop County Community Development notifying me that “Clatsop County has proposed a land use regulation that may affect the permissible uses of your property and other properties” and that it “may change the value of your property.” The postcard further advises me that said ordinance is available for inspection at the county offices, or I can purchase a copy at a “nominal cost.” Why can I not read and inspect this ordinance online? I mean, is it 2018 or 1918? Every state or federal pro- posed legislation/law can be accessed online. But, apparently, that’s beyond the technical reach of Clatsop County. It is unbelievable that something this important, in a day of widespread eas- ily available technology, requires us to I stop learning. We can conduct ourselves decently online, and think of those we interact with as real humans who want our world to be better — but have a dif- ferent way of getting there. Enemies of our democracy, Russia included, love to see Americans yell- ing at one another. They love it even more when we turn our deadly weapons against one another. But why make the Russians and ISIS and Kim Jong-Un happy with our infighting? We are not vulnerable. We are a rich, powerful, free nation. Life is good for most. As a whole, the world is richer and healthier and more peaceful than ever before. We can argue about taxes and gov- ernment, immigration and gun control. We can argue online and in the street. And we should do all of these things — but we should do it peacefully, and with respect, and with people who we know are real humans and not trolls. This movement toward nationalism and ethnic identity is a reaction to glo- balization, loss of identity and fear of change. Still, we can rise above the anx- iety of the moment, trust our neighbors and thwart our enemies. GUEST COLUMN Astoria Warehousing was gold standard of canned salmon industry F rom our home we observe the Equipped with new state of the art and work being accomplished at automated equipment, along with a proud Astoria Warehousing daily. This group of incredibly talented employees, makes us keenly aware and interested Astoria Warehousing became the gold in the business. Therefore, it seems standard of the canned salmon industry. important to share some facts regarding General manager became Dan’s the business, and to clear up some gross title from 2000 to the present time. He misunderstandings. has formed a special bond with the In 1983 John Supple, who was a employees. While the employees like to retired executive from Bumble Bee/ call themselves the “Blue Crew” because Castle and Cooke Corp., along with they wear blue uniforms, Dan calls them Rayona Riutta, purchased the American the “Dream Team.” Dan’s motto remains, Can Company and the prop- “The difficult we did immedi- erty at 70 W. Marine Drive in ately, and the impossible took us a Astoria. They formed Astoria little longer.” Warehousing Inc. to store, label, Now that the company is clos- ing its Astoria facility, it should package and ship canned salmon again be made clear that Dan from Alaska all over the world. Supple does not own the business. This came at a time when Astoria It is owned by two seafood giants was struggling after the closure of MARIAN SODERBERG operating out of Seattle. We know the Elmore Cannery. that Dan has given his life to this In 1984 Dan Supple, community and the 25 employees he John’s son, came to work at Astoria treasures. Warehousing and built additional storage Dan is also working diligently to warehouses, and began engineering new assist each employee and every family label and packaging lines to process the with this challenging and difficult tran- new tapered cans the Alaska canneries sition to another location. If they take were producing. Dan can be credited the opportunity to move to the new site with reinventing the entire industry. in Kent, Washington, Dan will facili- It was in l985 that John Supple and tate job assignments and provide any Rayona Riutta sold Astoria Warehousing needed training regarding state of the art to Peter Pan Seafood and Icicle Seafood. equipment. The sale resulted in the ability to secure Being located near the Interstate 5 enough food products and cans to corridor will significantly reduce trans- gainfully employ 25 or more people for portation costs and time for the owners of 35 years. This also meant that these jobs the company. were kept in the community, and satellite We hope this information assists storage warehouses were built in Knappa. members of our community in gaining Dan Supple was employed as the a better understanding of the Astoria production manager from 1985 to 2000, Warehousing company. and was instrumental in transforming the Mike and Marian Soderberg are native packaging of canned salmon that can be Astorians and retired educators. purchased in stores all over the world. drive to Astoria to find out, quite probably, exactly how we’re about to be screwed by the county. On top of that, we have to pay a “nominal” (what’s nominal to you, may be significant to me) undefined fee for the privi- lege of a copy to study at home. Really, is Clatsop County that igno- rant of computer technology? Or is it a case of incompetence? Or does the county have something to hide? I suspect it’s all three. BILL GRAFFIUS Gearhart Shocked that Fort Stevens sacrificed Civil War re-enactment ith regard to the front-page story “Civil War re-enactment will relocate from Fort Stevens State Park after 27 years” (The Daily Astorian, Feb. 21), I have to say I was shocked to read that Fort Stevens State Park is willing to lose an economic boon for our area. Ignoring our country’s history will not change it. Forgetting our history, we’re W doomed to repeat it. To my knowledge, Fort Stevens State Park pays no water or sewer to the city of Warrenton, the reason being that they sup- ply a customer base who shops locally, and that should be enough. That might have been a great plan 30 years ago, but the park has expanded greatly in the past 10-15 years. There are lots of new campsites, luxury cab- ins, and yurts. When the deal was inked, they also agreed to pay some $600,000 towards our new water treatment plant. Since the cost of everything has gone up, I believe the city of Warrenton should start charging them for the privilege of using city services. It doesn’t seem to bother State Parks that those 800-plus re-enactors and their support, plus all of the good folks who come here to see this historical re-enactment, will no longer be spending their hard-earned money here in Clatsop County. Let them pay for water, sewer and gar- bage like everyone else. It’s way past time for Fort Stevens to do their part. HOLLY SUMMERS Warrenton