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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2018
editor@dailyastorian.com
KARI BORGEN
Publisher
Founded in 1873
JIM VAN NOSTRAND
Editor
JEREMY FELDMAN
Circulation Manager
DEBRA BLOOM
Business Manager
Water
under
the bridge
JOHN D. BRUIJN
Production Manager
CARL EARL
Systems Manager
the ferry M.R. Chessman, is scheduled tentatively to leave
Astoria Wednesday for the long trip overseas.
A plan for comprehensive development of the
Columbia River was advanced by Marvin Durning,
Seattle, winner in 1966 of the National Conserva-
tionists of the Year Award.
Durning’s plan called for development of educa-
tional, historic, cultural and scenic resources of the
river from Canada to the sea.
Compiled by Bob Duke
From the pages of Astoria’s daily newspapers
75 years ago — 1943
10 years ago
this week — 2008
Mrs. Alberta Leota Lansing, once a Navy wife in Astoria
living at the Trullinger apartments, will be sponsor at launch-
ing of a destroyer escort vessel, U.S.S. Lansing, marking one
of the greatest tributes that could be accorded the memory of
a fallen war hero of the United States.
The ship is named for her late husband, William H. Lan-
sing, 28, an aviation machinist’s mate, first class, who was
killed by enemy fire in the Aleutian islands on June 11, 1942.
The Oregon Transportation Commission approved $3.6
million for the Port of Astoria and the city of Newport to
develop passenger air service to Portland International Air-
port. It is one of 30 projects that will receive funding through
the $100 million lottery-bond-backed Connect Oregon II
program.
“Man, I’m so excited,” said Port Commission
Chairman Dan Hess. “When it was here before we used it a
lot ... Anything we can do to help bring people to the coast is
great.”
Astoria Music Festival agencies will be in for an
extra treat — as if world-class opera and chamber
music weren’t enough — when film and TV actor
David Ogden Stiers joins the Festival Orchestra
to narrate Felix Mendelssohn’s “A Midsummer
Night’s Dream” at the Festival Grand Finale, 4 p.m.
Sunday at the Liberty Theater.
Stiers is best known for his portrayal of
Major Winchester on the long-running TV show
“M*A*S*H,” and his career has included many
more film and TV appearances, as well as numerous
voices for animated characters in Disney films. He is
also a classically trained musician and the guest con-
ductor of the Newport Symphony.
Posthumous honors with the presentation of the
Purple Heart to Mrs. May Peldo, route 1, Asto-
ria, sister of Don G. Halstead (Haataja) recently
killed in action in the Africa area, have been
announced from war department headquarters in
Washington.
This is the first such high army award to be made
to a local youth during World War II.
An advertisement from 1943.
50 years ago — 1968
Astorians Wednesday as the circus came to town
Wednesday morning.
Hundreds were on hand to watch long trains of
bright wagons pull into the circus lot where the Car-
son and Barnes four-ring circus scheduled two per-
formances during the day.
Early comers were hired on the spot to spread
canvas as one of the bulls, a trained elephant, towed
a power-driven stake setter around the outline of the
big top.
Others peered through bars as trainers washed
down Goliath, the giant hippo, fed the bulls and
horses and lined up power lines for the grand open-
ing at 2:30 p.m.
Contrary to advance information, Sky King,
Kirby Grant, did not arrive in the plane he uses
in television movies. He arrived somewhat behind
schedule in a bright blue car after a trip from Tilla-
mook, last night’s stand. The television personality
is star of the show.
Tapiola park was a seething mass of junior
An Oregon contribution to the war effort in south Vietnam,
Skyrocketing gas prices may change some North Coast
crime-fighting strategies and municipal public works
operations.
But Seaside Police Chief Bob Gross refuses to cut back.
“We haven’t cut back on patrols or cut back on what we’re
doing.” he said.
The Seaside Police Department has seen an increase in its
fuel expenditures over the last few budget cycles. The current
budget allots $25,000 for “gas, oil and fuel.” Chief Gross esti-
mates that patrol cars use between $1,500 and $2,000 worth
of fuel a month.
The vanguard of WAVE officers to be stationed at the Naval
Air Station, Astoria, arrived here last week, it was announced
today by the commanding officer.
Each of these young women has had exceptional educa-
tional background and business experience which warranted
her commission in the organization.
Planning to complete three of the proposed emer-
gency radio units by the end of the week, David J.
Lewis, defense coordinator, today appealed to the
people of Astoria and Clatsop County to donate
old radios, particularly car radios, to the defense
council. He asked that they be turned in as soon as
possible.
Astoria gets its second big-time show of radio and screen
luminaries in two years tonight when the famed Camel Cara-
van will perform at the USO house in all-community exhibi-
tion, free to the whole wide world.
The Caravan performers, all 23 of them, agreed to take the
stage for the Astoria civilians as well as servicemen upon their
own vote on a suggestion put forward by Joey Rardin, mas-
ter of ceremonies. Brewer A. Billie, Astoria city manager and
chairman of the USO recreation, has been trying to get the
Caravan to play at the USO house, as the first anniversary of
the Camel Caravan’s dedication of the $250,000 building just
a year ago.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Elected officials should
uphold the Constitution
ur president ran on the slogan “Make
America Great Again,” which resonated
with many voters. Since his election, however,
his administration’s actions have prompted
many citizens to declare “this is not my Amer-
ica.” There is much talk of a divided Amer-
ica, and some describe the upcoming midterm
elections as a “fight for the soul of America.”
These tumultuous times demand national
self-examination. If we can perceive this, not
as a fight, but an opportunity to contemplate
what America’s soul is or ought to be, then we
can use our voices and votes to clearly define
the principles America will adhere to, and
which will collectively describe us.
For most of us, the Constitution is the
primary set of these principles. I have also
been reflecting on the permanent legacy
of one great American, Eleanor Roosevelt,
and the United Nations Universal Declara-
tion of Human Rights. If you have not read it
recently, I urge you to do so.
You will see the strong influence of our
Constitution, and of principles that call upon
all nations to expand their souls to generously
embody care and concern for all peoples. The
principles embodied in these two documents
are nonpartisan. Together they represent what
the soul of America can be.
Our elected officials swear to uphold the
Constitution. In addition, when political candi-
dates want my vote, I will ask them to pledge to
conform their decisions to the universal decla-
ration. Whatever your party affiliation, I invite
you to do the same. And to hold them to it.
NADINE FAITH
Astoria
O
Commission should define
where county should go
T
here has been much said about the proper
role of elected commissioners in Clatsop
County government. Let me be clear on where
I stand.
I fully expect the county manager to carry
out the business of the county based upon
a set of well-defined policies. What I don’t
see happening today is careful deliberation
and strategic planning for what those poli-
cies should be, and accountability for their
implementation.
Here is an example of what I mean. If I am
fortunate to be elected to the District 3 com-
missioner’s seat, I will push for policies pro-
moting economic development. That means
public input to understand the community per-
spective, deliberation among the commission-
ers to set priorities and goals, and input from
the staff on best practices and what it will take
to implement a policy.
I would then expect the staff to take actions
to implement the policy, with periodic reports
on status. This same process would be taken
on emergency preparedness, natural resources,
public safety, affordable housing, etc.
I see my approach not as “hands on” toward
the daily operation of the county, but as placing
more responsibility on the commission to bet-
ter define where we want this county to go.
PAMELA WEV
Astoria
Pruitt must be
removed from EPA
f you want a healthy, non-toxic environ-
ment to live in for yourself, your children
and grandchildren, this is important. Environ-
mental Protection Agency Administrator Scott
Pruitt must be removed from office.
His actions to undo regulations that pro-
tect clean air and clean water, that protect the
public from toxic chemicals, and that decrease
greenhouse gas emissions, are the antithesis
to the purpose of the agency he heads. We are
going to have to rename it the Environmental
Pollution Agency.
His actions of corruption, self-dealing, and
abuse of the public trust/money are beyond
the pale for a government employee. He has
kept his job because of his allegiance to Presi-
dent Donald Trump and those who serve him,
especially the fossil fuel industry, who will
sacrifice our world to make a buck.
Americans must do better than this. The
fix is to vote Republicans out of office. Spread
the word to friends and family around the
country.
Please take care of our beautiful country.
We must put an end to this sham.
SHARON KLOEPFER
Gearhart
I
Boxes along river not
worthy of the place
T
wenty years ago, near the end of my
father’s life, we had a conversation about
Astoria. I said that the town seemed to be
changing in ways that were unworthy of it,
and he replied that he, too, worried that Asto-
ria was losing its way, though he added that
he believed that “for a long time you will still
have the river.”
What he said helped, but eventually I had
LETTERS WELCOME
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to admit that neither he nor I had fully enough
imagined some of the disappointments to
come. The massive, cheap boxes along the
river, for example — the Holiday Inn Express
and the condominiums near Alderbrook — are
buildings that in a variety of ways weaken our
love for the place we live. Near these build-
ings we no longer “still have the river.”
Recently my wife and I completed a pho-
tographic book about the Nehalem Spit, south
of Manzanita, a place that shows signs of
abuse. The book is entitled “Tenancy,” a word
meaning “the temporary possession of what
belongs to another.” Which is to say that we
do not own anything, and so do not have the
right to sell or facilitate the sale of anything
that does not honor the Creator.
ROBERT ADAMS
Astoria
Liberals not tolerant of
those who object to views
T
oday I would like to address all the Dem-
ocrats and other liberals who believe that
they are in the party of love and understand-
ing, but fail to comprehend their total intoler-
ance of people who object to their views.
Let me make a prediction. In the near
future there will be laws made by your party
that will in effect force those of us receiv-
ing checks from the government, i.e. Social
Security, Veterans Affairs disability, etc., to
acknowledge ideas and beliefs we find objec-
tionable on both a moral and spiritual basis.
Those of you who doubt me, check out
Canada’s laws concerning speaking out
against sexual immorality in its many forms.
For doing so there, you might find yourself
serving two years in jail.
CARL YATES
Seaside