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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (May 11, 2018)
145TH YEAR, NO. 224 ONE DOLLAR WEEKEND EDITION // FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2018 Astoria moves closer to $70M school bond WELCOME TO OREGON Request would go to voters in November AN INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION Spike in foreign travel to Oregon due to marketing, visa changes By BRENNA VISSER The Daily Astorian O regon is seeing more international tourists than ever before, and recent projections don’t show any signs of the trend stopping. In 2017, the state had more than 1.1 million foreign visitors, up 11 percent from 2012. The state col- lected about $1.3 billion in inter- national spending, up 18 percent from five years ago, according to a report from Tourism Economics, a tourism consulting and research firm. The Oregon Coast receives about $113 million of those inter- national tourism dollars, falling third in line behind Portland and the Willamette Valley. Oregon is on track to be the sixth fastest-growing state for international tourism, with ana- lysts projecting up to 23 percent growth in foreign visitors through 2022. So what is bringing people to Oregon? See OREGON, Page 9A Total international visits in Oregon 000's 1,600 Forecast 1,400 11% growth, 2012-2017 1,200 1,000 23% growth, 2017-2022 800 600 400 200 0 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian A facilities committee has preliminarily recom- mended a $70 million bond in November to modernize the Astoria School District’s five campuses. The panel has been pri- oritizing projects over the past couple of months to find an amount the commu- nity might support, architec- tural consultant Tom Bates said. The highest priority is a $44.9 million modernization of Astoria Middle School, including replacement of an antiquated classroom wing with a new three-story hall, each containing identical learning communities. Built in 1968, the middle school was largely untouched by the $21.4 million bond vot- ers passed for the school dis- trict in 2000. A survey found a lack of public understanding about the condition of the middle school, which faces settling in the foundation from the filled-in ravine the campus was built on. Staff have also complained of undersized, triangular classrooms that lack natural light and proper ventilation. The school dis- trict needs to educate the community on the challenges facing the middle school, Bates said. John Jacob Astor Ele- mentary School, the commit- tee’s second-highest priority, would receive $9 million to improve security, fix utilities, add classrooms and covered play space and refurbish an old gym into a new multipur- pose cafeteria. The high school, the third priority, would get $19.6 million for modernization and security improvements. In the wake of recent school shootings, the high school has become a security con- cern, with more than 70 entrances around campus. The school district also wants to modernize the high school’s existing wood shop into an industrial arts center catering more to career-tech- nical education, while enlarg- ing and modernizing anti- quated science labs. A plan to modernize the high school’s auditorium was scaled back after coming up low on the public’s priority list. Capt. Robert Gray School — home of the dis- trict offices, alternative high school and preschool pro- grams — would receive slightly more than $1 million in building improvements. See BOND, Page 8A 2022 Travel Oregon International region’s visits market share 2016 2007 5% 7% 20% 24% 689,000 total visits 58% 1,096,000 total visits 53% 17% Canada Europe Asia Pacific Other 16% Josi and Mitchell close in fundraising Primary to replace Boone By JACK HEFFERNAN The Daily Astorian Source: Tourism Economics Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian Construction work continues at a hotel in Seaside ahead of the tourist season. Tim Josi has surpassed $100,000 in campaign dona- tions, while Tiffiny Mitch- ell is approaching the mark ahead of Tuesday’s Dem- ocratic primary for state House. Josi, Mitchell and John Orr are vying for the seat held by state Rep. Deborah Boone, D-Cannon Beach, who will retire after 14 years in office. Josi, a Tillamook County commissioner and former state representative, has raised over $110,000 in cash donations and in-kind contri- butions. Local timber and soft drink companies have been some of Josi’s largest donors. He also has fielded contribu- tions from legislators such as Boone and state Sen. Betsy Johnson, D-Scappoose. He has received $1,000 contributions from oil com- pany Chevron and retail giant Kroger. Campaign contributions are a necessity to win elec- tions, Josi said, but he also has called for a public financ- ing option. “Ethically, (contributors) would never bring it up, but you know how much money they contributed to your campaign, and so it makes it hard to vote against them. I’ve done it in the past and I would do it again,” Josi said. By mid-April, Mitch- ell’s war chest had reached less than 60 percent of See ELECTION, Page 8A Performing arts partners look to buy college venue Space is no longer used for academics By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian Partners for the PAC, a coa- lition that uses Clatsop Com- munity College’s Performing Arts Center, is exploring how to potentially purchase the building. The popular practice and performance venue on 16th Street is no longer used by the college for academics and is in need of major upgrades. The college board rejected an offer by a developer in 2016 to buy the arts center as part of a larger housing project. The coalition formed in 2012 to support daily opera- tions after a rumor the college was selling the building. Since then, the group has raised money to pay for the center’s operation. The college, which has declined to share an appraisal of the property, is drawing up a nondisclosure agreement to share the price and other infor- mation with Partners for the PAC. A county appraisal report showed a real market value on the property of more than $1.7 million. Charlene Larsen, president of Partners for the PAC, said the group will spend 12 to 18 months evaluating a purchase. “The due diligence part is to look at other entities who have done similar projects, and making sure we are going in with our eyes wide open,” Larsen said. One successful example can be found just east of Clat- sop County. In 2015, the Clatskanie Foundation, formed to fun- nel tax-exempt donations into projects benefiting the com- munity, opened the Clatskanie Cultural Center in the reno- vated International Order of The Daily Astorian See VENUE, Page 8A Performing Arts Center is a popular practice and perfor- mance venue.