3A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2018
RV park: Zoning on property is same as Port of Astoria docks
Continued from Page 1A
Englund Marine & Industrial Supply
warehouse and Buoy Beer Co. at a former
Bornstein Seafoods plant.
The zoning on the property is the same
as the Port of Astoria docks, where log
handling and seafood processing facilities
operate, and Tongue Point, where there
are plans to establish a marine fabrication
and repair facility.
Cronin asked that the property by
Hampton Inn be rezoned S2 — general
development shorelands — where out-
right permitted uses include charter fish-
ing offices, marine equipment sales, sea-
food receiving and processing and ship
and boat building, among others. Facili-
ties like hotels, conference centers, hous-
ing and eating and drinking establish-
ments are allowed, but as conditional uses.
City staff took his recommendation a
step further, proposing instead a switch
to the tourist-oriented shorelands zone —
S2-A — which covers the land where the
hotel was built. The zoning would allow
hotels, motels, food stores like baker-
ies and seafood markets, boat and marine
equipment sales and tourist-oriented retail
sales stores, among others.
People who spoke against Cronin’s
application noted that no one knows yet
what kind of development might be com-
ing to the property if it were rezoned. They
worried about new buildings that would
block views of the river, going against
standards outlined in the city’s Riverfront
Vision Plan.
Commissioner Jan Mitchell and others
agreed.
“I’m concerned about making a zone
change absent a project,” Mitchell said,
noting that the Planning Commission is
not “under an obligation to make zone
changes to make something more salable.”
“I haven’t heard anything compelling
tonight to make this zone change,” Com-
missioner Kent Easom said.
Some commissioners were on the
fence, but concluded there were too many
questions and concerns.
Washington state’s wolf population
surge slows, worrying advocates
By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS
Associated Press
SPOKANE, Wash. — Growth in Wash-
ington state’s gray wolf population slowed
dramatically last year, raising concerns
from an environmental group that says the
state should stop killing wolves that prey
on livestock.
At the end of 2017, Washington was
home to at least 122 wolves, 22 packs
and 14 successful breeding pairs, the state
Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a
report released last week.
That’s the highest the population has
been since annual surveys started in 2008,
the agency said. However, last year’s count
was up just 6 percent from the minimum of
115 wolves — with 20 packs and 10 breed-
ing pairs — reported at the end of 2016.
By contrast, wolf populations grew at a
rate of around 30 percent per year the pre-
vious decade.
“The sharp departure from wolf number
increases in past years is cause for serious
concern,” said Amaroq Weiss, wolf advo-
cate at the Center for Biological Diversity.
“While population growth hasn’t stopped
entirely, these modest numbers clearly
indicate the state should not kill any more
wolves.”
Wolves are rebounding in several West-
ern states after being wiped out in the con-
tinental U.S. in all but a slice of Minnesota.
Environmentalists are
about gray wolves.
concerned
But their return has brought contentious
discussions among conservationists, ranch-
ers, hunters and others about how the ani-
mals should be managed.
In Washington state, Weiss has criti-
cized rule changes last year that allow the
state to take quicker action to kill wolves
that attack livestock. Environmentalists
argue ranchers should take more actions
to minimize contact between livestock and
wolves.
Washington documented 14 wolves
killed in 2017, by a combination of hunt-
ing, poaching, vehicle collisions or other
causes.
Three of those wolves were killed by
members of the Colville Indian Tribe in a
limited hunting season allowed on the res-
ervation. Wolves are a protected species
elsewhere in the state and cannot be hunted
for sport.
Another three were designated problem
wolves and killed by the state.
Ben Maletzke, a statewide wolf special-
ist with the state wildlife department, noted
his agency employed an array of nonlethal
strategies last year, including cost-shar-
ing agreements with 37 ranchers who
took steps to protect their livestock. State
assistance included range riders to check
on livestock, guard dogs, lighting, flag-
ging for fences, and data on certain packs’
movements.
“We know that some level of conflict
is inevitable between wolves and livestock
sharing the landscape,” Maletzke said.
“Our goal is to minimize that conflict as the
gray wolf population continues to recover.”
Maletzke said five of the 22 known
packs that existed in Washington at some
point during 2017 were involved in at least
one livestock death.
The agency confirmed wolves killed
at least eight cattle and injured five others
last year. It processed two claims totaling
$3,700 to compensate livestock producers
for their losses in 2017.
Wolves were wiped out in Washington
early in the last century and began migrat-
ing back from neighboring areas earlier this
century.
Hammond man pleads not guilty after
allegedly bribing sex abuse victim
By JACK HEFFERNAN
The Daily Astorian
A Hammond fisherman
known as “Sturgeon Paul”
pleaded not guilty Tuesday to
charges of
bribing and
tampering
with a sex
abuse victim.
P a u l
A n g e l o
Leitch, 48,
a l l e g e d l y Paul Angelo
facilitated
Leitch
a
meet-
ing between
Dennis Sturgell — a well-
known Hammond fisherman
accused of several sex crimes
— and the victim’s father soon
after Sturgell posted $50,000
bail and was released from
jail.
Both Leitch and Sturgell
have been charged with two
counts of tampering with a
witness and two counts of
bribing a witness.
Oregon Assistant Attorney
General Erin Greenawald is
prosecuting both cases, along
with the Clatsop County Dis-
trict Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors presented evi-
dence in February claim-
ing Sturgell had met with the
victim’s father. During the
meeting, he allegedly offered
$5,000 to “make the case go
away” and said he would hire
a “dream team of attorneys”
that would “dig up dirt” on
the victim and anyone else
involved in the case.
Phone records revealed
that Leitch interacted with
both Sturgell and the vic-
tim’s father on several occa-
sions in the days leading up
to the alleged meeting. After
allegedly hearing the offer
from her father, the victim
contacted the Clatsop County
Sheriff’s Office.
INSIDER
Get the inside
scoop on state
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Consult a
PROFESSIONAL
funeral benefits are
Q: What
available for U.S. military
veterans and is there anything
I should do ahead of time to
make it easier for my family at
the time of my death?
John R. Alcantara - Funeral Director
Hughes-
Ransom
Mortuary
Astoria: 576 12th St.
503.325.2535
Seaside: 220 N. Holladay
503.738.6622
www.hughes-ransom.com
Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber
Northwest Hardwoods • Longview, WA
Contact: John Anderson • 360-269-2500
great deal of time can be saved when
A: A survivors
can provide a funeral director
with a copy of the deceased veteran’s
honorable discharge from the U.S Military
(aka: DD-214). Generally speaking, hon-
orably discharged veterans are eligible for
interment (traditional burial or inurnment)
in a national cemetery, a burial marker, burial
flag, military honors and presidential service
certificate. Please contact us for further details
regarding these and other possible V.A.
benefits that could apply.
hear Medicare will be
Q: I sending
out new Medicare
Cards with different
numbers. When can I
expect mine to arrive and
is there anything I should
know about the card?
Steve Putman
Medicare Products
503-440-1076
Licensed in Oregon
and Washington
new cards will still be red,
A: The
white and blue. The current
Medicare number will be replaced
with an 11-character, randomly
assigned number. Destroy your old
card to assure your identify will be
safe. Oregon is scheduled to receive
their cards April-June. Washington
will begin receiving their cards after
June 2018.
putmanagency@gmail.com
Q: How can I back
up my data?
LEO FINZI
Astorias
Best.com
A:
Connect an external hard drive
to your computer.
In Windows 10, click the Windows
Start Button, then Settings, Update &
Security, Backup then Add a drive.
Select the drive you just connected.
In Windows 7, click Start, Control
Clatsop County’s Best Panel, then Backup & Restore, then
Selection of Laptop & Set up Backup. Select your drive.
Desktop computers on On your Mac, click Go, then Applica-
display. Yes, Really!!
M-F 10-6 Sat . 11-4
77 11th Street, Suite H
Astoria, OR
503-325-2300
tions then click Time Machine. Select
the hard drive you connected.
We’re glad to help, call 503-440-5054.
family has just
Q: Our
acquired a horse for the
kids. Can you help us
with how to feed our
new pasture pet?
You can stop by anytime for
A: Yes!
feeding questions. We are offering
BRIM’S
Farm & Garden
34963 Hwy. 101 Business
Astoria • 503-325-1562
For beautiful gardens
& healthy animals
F O R U M
The Daily Astorian
OREGON CAPITAL
The most valuable and
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WANTED
Fire displaces
seven residents
at Seaside
apartment
complex
A fire inside a Seaside
apartment complex early
Tuesday displaced seven
residents.
Fire personnel were
quickly able to extinguish
the small fire at the multiunit
complex on the 380 block of
Edgewood Street, according
to a press release from the
city. The cause of the fire is
still under investigation.
Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian
A former RV park near the Hampton Inn in Astoria is va-
cant.
www.brimsfarmngarden.com
our Horse Owner’s Workshop on Tuesday,
September 19 at 6pm at the store. Bring
your questions for our feed specialist from
Purina Feed and learn about feeding, hoof
care, and prevention of equine ulcers. Our
Horse Owner’s Workshop is free and offers
an opportunity to ask specific questions
about feeding animals with special dietary
needs. Information is geared for seasoned
horse owners,new owners and those in
between. We will have light refreshments,
door prizes and coupons. Please call the
store to guarantee your spot.
Q: Should I use heat
WHEN:
7 p.m. Tuesday, April 3
WHERE:
Astoria High School auditorium,
1001 W. Marine Drive
Presented by the Astoria Branch of the
American Association of University Women
and The Daily Astorian
Come listen to and ask
questions of primary
candidates for Clatsop
County Commission, state
House of Representatives
and U.S.Congress
Questions? Bartell.Liz@gmail.com or 503-200-8605
or cold?
you hurt, especially in
A: If a joint,
use ice; it reduces
ASTORIA
CHIROPRACTIC
Barry Sears, D.C.
503-325-3311
2935 Marine Drive
Astoria, Oregon
inflammation and pain and
shortens healing time. You can get
a burn from ice just like with heat,
so don’t leave it on for more than
20 minutes. Most problems get
better more quickly with ice. Heat
feels good, but may seriously
make problems worse. As long
as there is pain and/or swelling,
continue ice; it can be done as
often as once an hour. Would you
heat a cut? No, because it would
keep bleeding —that is what
happens inside where you can’t
see it.