Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2018)
74 YEARS SINCE D-DAY: EDITOR RECALLS 40TH ANNIVERSARY 145TH YEAR, NO. 242 PAGE 4A ONE DOLLAR DailyAstorian.com // Bridge will close to cars during race It will be the first time organizers have completely closed the bridge to vehicles for the 10K event. The Great Columbia Crossing attracts thousands of runners and walkers each year and, last year, drew more than 2,000 partic- ipants. Already, the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce, which coordinates the event, reports the num- ber of people signing up early is ahead of last year. The extra precautions come, in part, with the rise of vehicles being used as weapons to plow into crowds around the world. But there are other safety issues, as well. The narrow span provides little room for cars or people to get out of each other’s way if a dis- traction or a medical problem causes a driver to lose control, said Lou Torres, a spokesman for the Oregon Depart- ment of Transportation. Security concerns prompt change By KATIE FRANKOWICZ The Daily Astorian Due to growing concerns about security, the Astoria Bridge will close to vehicle traffic during the popular Great Columbia Crossing in October. Local law enforcement have pushed to close the bridge to vehicles during the event for a long time, Asto- ria Police Chief Geoff Spalding said. “We understand the repercussions and the traffic backups and everything but for us, if there was a bad incident, we would have a hard time explaining why we didn’t close the bridge,” he said. The chamber is happy to comply. “There is a question of safety,” MITCHELL’S BLUEPRINT Cities, labor unions propel Mitchell to state House primary win Clatsop County results for District 32 CLATSOP Tiffiny Mitchell beat two other Democrats to win the May 15 primary election for Oregon House District 32. She will face Vineeta Lower, a Republican who was uncontested, in the general election in November. John Orr Tiffiny Mitchell PACIFIC Precinct/location Josi Orr Mitchell 1 Astoria 2 Astoria 3 Astoria 4 Astoria 5 Astoria 6 Astoria 7 Astoria 8 Astoria 20 Cannon Beach 21 Chadwell 22 N. Clatsop 23 S. Clatsop 24 Elsie 25 Gearhart 26 Hamlet 28 Jewell 29 John Day 30 Knappa 31 Lewis & Clark 35 Necanicum 36 Olney 37 Seaside 38 Seaside 39 Seaside 40 Seaside 43 Stanley Acres 44 Svensen 45 Arch Cape 46 Walluski 47 Warrenton 48 Warrenton 50 Westport 52 Hillcrest Total 17 44 24 20 24 15 34 14 26 31 30 51 8 68 19 14 23 59 46 14 18 31 32 36 44 4 32 10 26 85 23 13 25 960 61 102 102 50 126 69 103 62 125 41 38 64 8 73 15 19 20 69 72 17 17 57 43 42 53 10 39 30 33 100 48 20 30 1,758 95 125 116 64 145 79 130 53 133 25 63 80 15 120 12 23 17 60 43 14 10 83 111 80 79 15 34 15 29 180 58 24 24 2,154 h. Was e. Or 401 101 Col u Rive m bia 2 Hammond 3 47 48 Warrenton Oregon House District 32 WAHKIAKUM Chinook 1 r 4 29 5 6 7 Astoria 4 30 44 8 Knappa 30 46 50 Pacific Ocean Westport 52 202 101 23 21 Gearhart 39 25 38 Seaside 43 36 40 CLATSOP 37 28 202 35 Jewell 101 26 20 103 Cannon Beach 26 Tolovana Park 45 24 26 53 2 miles TILLAMOOK Source: Clatsop County Alan Kenaga/EO Media Group By JACK HEFFERNAN The Daily Astorian O 409 30 31 22 regon Democrats will welcome a new face in Tiffiny Mitchell, a case manage- ment coordinator and recent transplant from Utah. In the May primary for state House District 32, Mitchell defeated Tim Josi, a Tillamook County commissioner and former state representative, and John Orr, an attorney and Municipal Court judge in See BRIDGE, Page 7A Port seeks grant for marina East Mooring Basin is in need of repair Vote tally by precinct (Democrat candidates only) Tim Josi David Reid, the chamber’s executive director, said. “It’s no longer safe for pedestrians and cars to be in the same place.” Reid said many cars drive back and forth during the event each year, restricted to a single lane and follow- ing a pilot car, but still in close prox- imity to participants. Gearhart. In her first run for elected office, she is the heir apparent to state Rep. Deborah Boone, D-Can- non Beach. Mitchell’s victory, in which she gathered 42 per- cent of the vote, is viewed as an upset and a win for progressives against moderates like Boone, who endorsed Josi. While some see the primary as evi- dence of a shift to the left during Boone’s 14-year tenure, others are more hesitant. See MITCHELL, Page 7A Tiffiny Mitchell By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian The Port of Astoria is applying for a state grant to fund a master plan for the East Mooring Basin, an ailing marina and popular tourist draw at the foot of 36th Street. Kevin Cronin, the city’s former commu- nity development director, was contracted by the Port to seek grant money. He is applying for a Transportation and Growth Manage- ment grant due Friday to the state Department of Land Conservation and Development. In the application, Cronin called the east basin one of the best opportunities for rede- velopment because of its waterfront location, access to the Astoria Riverwalk and recent inclusion in a federal opportunity zone offer- ing investors an avenue for tax-free capital investment. “It’s vitally important that a master plan be in place to guide future development and investment in the area prior to receiving offers from developers and investors,” Cro- nin wrote. Astoria adopted building and height restrictions in the Civic Greenway portion of the Riverfront Vision Plan between 16th to 39th streets. The plan allowed for excep- tions around the Port’s mooring basin, pro- vided the agency presents a master plan sup- ported by the Astoria City Council. The marina, built shortly after World II and designed for upward of 1,000 vessels, is mostly empty, save for two commercial docks near a riverfront breakwater built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and copi- ous numbers of sea lions during fish migra- tions. Port staff have estimated $4 million to replace the 70-year-old 36th street causeway running over the marina, shut down to vehi- cle traffic since 2014. Jim Knight, the Port’s executive direc- tor, has said the cash-strapped agency needs to seek out more public-private partnerships See PORT, Page 5A Long Beach puts vacation rentals under microscope City looks to further license rentals By PATRICK WEBB Chinook Observer LONG BEACH, Wash. — Should each vacation rental in Long Beach have a city business license? That’s the question under discussion by members of the City Council, who may tweak their rules because so many people want to make money on short- term rentals. City councilors have made no deci- sion, but are considering some changes. For example, right now, a property rental manager or company with mul- tiple houses only needs to pay for one $125-a-year business license. Some offi- cials want a license for each property. The discussion, during a workshop session on Monday, prompted a sharp exchange between Mayor Jerry Phillips and Councilor Holli Kemmer, who works for Pacific Realty Property Management. The mayor noted that every house being used as a vacation rental was mak- ing money as a business. Companies which rent out multiple homes have an advantage, he said. “It should be fair across the board.” When Kemmer sought to ask a ques- tion, Phillips said she should not be involved in the discussion, citing con- flict-of-interest laws. “I’m not leaving the conversation,” she said, reminding him it was a work- shop. “I’m not voting on anything.” See LONG BEACH, Page 7A Long Beach is looking into business licenses and other requirements for vacation rentals. Opening June 13 th Fresh produce. Fresh new store. Your favorite local fresh produce, all in one place. It’s the way shopping should be. Hwy 101 and SE Ensign Lane 1791 SE Ensign Lane Warrenton, OR | 97146