The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current, August 27, 2018, Image 1

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    HIGH SCHOOL FALL SPORTS SCHEDULES
PAGE 11A
DailyAstorian.com // MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2018
146TH YEAR, NO. 41
Dollar General
plans new store
for Knappa
North Coast looks
to ban plastic bags
County, cities
in early talks
By JACK HEFFERNAN
The Daily Astorian
“Paper or plastic?” The question could
soon be a waste of breath in Clatsop
County.
City and county leaders have broached
the idea of a plastic bag ban. The con-
versation is in its infancy, but discussion
around some type of ban could appear on
public meeting agendas soon.
“It always just disturbs me when I drive
someplace and I see them on our roads,
trees and ocean,” Astoria Mayor Arline
LaMear said. “I’m aware some people like
these plastic bags for convenience, but we
hope to show how much damage it does to
the environment.”
LaMear has reached out to a number of
local officials, including the Astoria City
Council, County Manager Cameron Moore
and Scott Lee, the chairman of the county
Board of Commissioners. Earlier this
month, Gearhart City Councilor Paulina
Cockrum also brought up a potential ban.
The talks come amid an expanding
national discussion on plastic bags. Some
states and cities around the country have
adopted bans, while others have passed
laws specifically blocking local govern-
ments from barring the bags.
More than a dozen cities in Oregon
ONE DOLLAR
AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis
Kroger, the nation’s largest grocery
chain, will phase out the use of plas-
tic bags in its stores by 2025.
have passed bans, including Manzanita
last year.
Last week, Kroger, the nation’s largest
grocery chain, which owns Fred Meyer,
announced it would phase out single-use
plastic bags by 2025.
“They’re certainly aware this is com-
ing down the pike,” LaMear said of local
stores that would be affected. “I don’t
think they will be opposed to this.”
See PLASTIC BAGS, Page 7A
Part of a
national
expansion
By EDWARD
STRATTON
The Daily Astorian
KNAPPA — Dollar Gen-
eral, the national variety store
chain approved for a location
in Gearhart and denied in
Astoria, is proposing another
store in Knappa.
Cross
Development,
the Texas-based developer
behind the local stores, is
scheduled for a hearing in
September before the Clat-
sop County Planning Com-
mission. The developer is
seeking a conditional use
permit and comprehensive
plan amendment to build a
9,100-square-foot store on
a 1-acre lot at the corner of
U.S. Highway 30 and Hill-
crest Loop Road.
See STORE, Page 7A
ELECTION 2018
Councilor
steps aside
STANDING
TALL
Nemlowill was
elected in 2014
By KATIE FRANKOWICZ
The Daily Astorian
Astoria City Councilor Zetty Nemlowill
will not seek re-election in November.
Nemlowill, who represents Ward 1 on the
city’s west side, announced her decision this
morning, the day before the filing deadline,
after months of being unsure what she would
do.
“It has been a difficult decision because
I’m so passionate about Astoria, but this
will allow me more time to
focus on the work I do out-
side of city government,”
she said in a statement.
Since the beginning of
the year, Nemlowill was
uncertain about whether
she would campaign for
Zetty
another four-year term. As
Nemlowill
the filing deadline loomed,
no one seemed interested
in going after the Ward 1 seat. Then David
Drafall, a hairdresser at One Six Five West
Bond beauty salon, announced his candidacy
in mid-August.
Drafall could be unopposed. Nemlowill
said she has not heard of anyone else inter-
ested in running. City staff have not received
any other applications.
Nemlowill’s decision ensures the makeup
of the City Council will change markedly
next year. Mayor Arline LaMear announced
in January that she would not run again. City
Councilor Cindy Price, who had planned to
run for mayor, withdrew from the race this
month, citing family reasons.
City Councilors Tom Brownson and
Bruce Jones are the only councilors who
will remain. After Price’s withdrawal, Jones
announced he will run for mayor.
If Jones loses the mayoral election to
Dulcye Taylor, the president of the Asto-
ria Downtown Historic District Associa-
tion, he would stay on the council, since his
Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian
Bert Little removes the cover off of a new veterans monument in Warrenton during a ceremony on Saturday.
The Daily Astorian
W
The audience at the ceremony gathers around the monument.
ARRENTON — The new statue of
a Vietnam War soldier, placed near
a busy intersection in downtown
Warrenton, is the result of a decadeslong
effort to honor veterans.
An economic downturn stalled fundraising
for the statue more than 20 years ago. When
the local Veterans of Foreign Wars decided to
try again, they were able to secure more than
$40,000 in state grants and donations.
The statue’s dedication folds into ongoing
efforts to improve the appearance of down-
town and, in particular, the entry points to the
city.
“This is a testament to how much our
town supports and honors our veterans,” War-
renton Mayor Henry Balensifer said at a ded-
ication on Saturday. “We are so proud to have
this memorial in our town and very grateful
for the VFW post as well.”
See COUNCILOR, Page 7A
Relay team celebrates gift of life
Organ donors
bond on walk at
Hood to Coast
MORE INSIDE
Hood to Coast apologizes
to women’s team.
Page 7A
By BRENNA VISSER
The Daily Astorian
SEASIDE — A decade
ago, the idea of being an organ
donor never crossed Nicole
Andergard’s mind.
“I mean, before this, I was
the kid running from needles at
the blood drive,” she laughed.
But then she got a call
about her best friend, Anna,
being admitted to the hospi-
tal for kidney issues related to
her autoimmune disease. The
two had met in kindergarten at
Warrenton Grade School, with
most of their childhood mem-
ories defined by each other.
Suddenly, the fear of needles
didn’t seem so daunting.
While talking to Anna’s
parents in the lobby of the hos-
pital, Andergard decided on
the spot she was going to be
her best friend’s kidney donor.
Otherwise, her friend could
have been put on a long wait-
ing list.
“To a certain extent, it was
selfish,” Andergard said. “I
needed my best friend with me
in my life.”
In honor of her friend,
Andergard competes in the
Portland to Coast leg of the
Hood to Coast Relay with the
team “Transplant Trotters” to
raise awareness about the need
for organ donors.
The team, started through
the organ transplant non-
profit Donate Life Northwest
21 years ago, was one of 400
walking teams to participate
in the 37th annual Hood to
Coast Relay over the weekend.
See RELAY, Page 7A
Brenna Visser/The Daily Astorian
Nicole Andergard takes a quick selfie of the team before
joining their final walker to the finish line at Hood to Coast
on Saturday.