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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2018
editor@dailyastorian.com
KARI BORGEN
Publisher
Founded in 1873
JIM VAN NOSTRAND
Editor
JEREMY FELDMAN
Circulation Manager
DEBRA BLOOM
Business Manager
JOHN D. BRUIJN
Production Manager
CARL EARL
Systems Manager
OUR VIEW
Tiffiny
Mitchell
Vineeta
Lower
Brian
Halvorsen
Randell
Carlson
Pam
Wev
Peter
Roscoe
Bruce
Jones
Dulcye
Taylor
Michael
Miller
Roger
Rocka
David
Drafall
Joan
Herman
Ron
Zilli
Henry
Balensifer
John
Washington
Kerry
Smith
Jack
Zimmerman
Jay
Barber
John
Chapman
Robin
Risley
Mike
Benefield
Greg
Swedenborg
Now we all move ahead
Local candidates for
public office represented
themselves well
I
mportant national matters else-
where are still unresolved in the
wake of the Nov. 6 midterm elec-
tions, but now that the dust has begun
to settle from the local campaigns it is
time to move on.
We believe most Clatsop County
residents share our view that we can
move ahead in a positive manner.
After all, we all have to live as neigh-
bors in the same community. While we
will inevitably have some differences,
we share a common commitment to
making our region a great place to
live.
Many local candidates threw
their hats into the ring, and we com-
mend them all for taking the time
to run. Going door to door, appear-
ing at forums, and having your opin-
ions scrutinized by voters and the
media isn’t an activity that everyone
embraces with equal relish.
Most significantly, North Coast res-
idents decided to dig deep into their
pocketbooks to invest in our future,
approving the school bonds for Astoria
and Warrenton, as well as a new,
expanded county jail. Public safety
and good schools are the most import-
ant services local governments can
provide. The North Coast gave these
bond measures an enthusiastic thumbs
up.
The Sunset Empire recreation proj-
ect had its core of supporters, but
about two-thirds of voters opposed
the measure to fund the expansion of
the aquatic facility and provide indoor
recreation space at the Sunset Pool,
opened in 1977. It may be a worth-
while project, but it fell victim to com-
peting priorities, given the recent pas-
sage of the $99.7 million bond to
move Seaside schools out of the tsu-
nami zone.
The other element of our local elec-
tions we would like to highlight is the
tone.
In recent years, the vitriol unleashed
by participants in our national debate
has become almost unbearable. There
are times when we barely recognize
the country that we know and love.
But here in our part of rural Oregon,
we set an example of civility that oth-
ers could do well to emulate. Most of
the candidates for city councils and
other races sought to emphasize that
they were not running against their
opponents so much as offering voters a
choice of philosophy, talents and expe-
rience. Many bent over backwards to
do so, praising their opponents while
pointing out their differences.
That is healthy and near short of
astonishing these days. There were
some exceptions, with outrageous
mailers, apparently from outside
groups, and some questionable TV ads
in one state race. But beyond that we
escaped the bombardment of the raw
venom of the “them-and-us” that char-
acterizes almost all of the national
discourse.
So, thanks everyone for keeping
it civil. We look forward to reporting
on the new leaders stepping into their
new roles and responsibilities, and
wish them well as they make decisions
that affect our lives. We hope they will
do so openly and collaboratively, lis-
tening to all points of view from their
constituents.
Voters have done their job. Now it
is up to them.
And for those who were not elected,
we hope they will continue to find
other ways to serve their communities
with the same enthusiasm they showed
in their campaigns.
Water
under
the bridge
Compiled by Bob Duke
From the pages of Astoria’s daily newspapers
10 years ago this
week — 2008
Gray skies and blowing rain couldn’t dampen the enthusi-
asm more than two dozen people shared as American Legion
Post 12 dedicated the flagpole it donated to the city of Astoria
and Columbia Field.
The city of Astoria has begun a new tradition of having its
local youth serving in the U.S. Armed Forces fly a U.S. Flag for
one day wherever they are, then send the flag to the city to fly.
But the pole at Columbia Field will fly the flag sent home
by Sean Johnson of Astoria.
“He’s asked that his flag be flown at this pole every day
until he comes home,” said Mayor Willis Van Dusen. “He
played a lot of baseball here. He was born and raised here. So
there’s a real, true significance to this pole.”
Like they do every year, the Astoria and Seaside
boys soccer teams dominated the all-league selec-
tions, announced over the weekend.
The Fishermen and Gulls combined for 13 of the
22 members of the all-league team, including seven
of the 11 first-team selections.
Astoria junior Jair Macareno was selected as the
league’s Player of the Year, and Seaside junior Bren
Bletscher was named Goalkeeper of the Year.
The Newport City Council nearly scrapped the joint air
service project with the Port of Astoria.
But Port of Astoria leaders put up a united front to keep the
$4.3 million opportunity alive.
And after some strong words from state Sen. Betsy John-
son, D-Scappoose, Newport councilors reversed their course.
By the end of the teleconferenced joint session, both gov-
erning bodies voted unanimously to award a contract to Sea-
Port Airlines for service from the coast to Portland, uniting
at last behind the Portland-based carrier after months of dis-
agreement and false starts.
50 years ago — 1968
A dream came true for Mrs. Chet Love of Asto-
ria when she raised one of her hand made, authen-
tic replicas of the Lewis and Clark 15-star, 15-stripe
flag over the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.,
recently.
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Thompson of Warrenton,
2008 — Youngs River Falls flows fast and furious after heavy rains soaked the North Coast. The two-day rainfall
in Astoria was measured at 5.21 inches.
Mrs. Del Kernes, Mrs. Lee Porter and Mrs. Ken-
neth Wright, all of Astoria, also participated in the
ceremony which took place on the roof of the Capi-
tol Building.
Mrs. Love became interested in flag making
when she, as one of a group of Astoria women who
belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary, vol-
unteered to make a 15-stripe, 15-state flag for the
1955 Sesquicentennial celebration here in Astoria,
to commemorate the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
The director of the Tongue Point Job Corps Center said
she’s afraid President-elect Nixon’s desire to eliminate the Job
Corps would not result in an adequate alternative. Nixon said
during the campaign and after the election that he would elim-
inate the federal program. He indicated that the work done in
many War on Poverty programs should be done instead by pri-
vate industry.
There was an 87.9 percent turnout of voters in
Clatsop County in the Nov. 5 general election, with a
total vote of 12,911 out of 14,684 registered.
Republicans, as in the past, voted heavier in
percentage figures than did Democrats, but not by
much. There were 6,283 registered Republicans and
5,635 of this number balloted for 89.6 percent. Dem-
ocrat percentage was 87.0, with 7,016 votes cast out
of 8,064 registered.
A poll of 1½ percent of the Astoria-Warrenton-Hammond
population shows 82 ½ percent favor continued operation of
the Tongue Point Job Corps Center.
75 years ago — 1943
Astorians who have served at the Astoria warn-
ing center during the two years it helped safeguard
the defense of the Pacific coast will receive letters
of commendation, citations, and service bars this
week from the Clatsop County Defense Council,
according to David J. Lewis, defense coordinator,
who said the envelopes are now in the mail.
The world’s oldest sailor on active duty will visit Astoria
on Wednesday, in the interest of Navy recruiting, announces
Hal Eustis of the naval recruiting substation.
The old salt is Chief Boatswain’s Mate George (Sandy)
Sanderson, who is 81 years “young” and has 41 years of ser-
vice in the U.S. Fleet to his credit. Chief Sanderson had been
on the retired list for 20 years at the time of the Jap sneak
attack on Pearl Harbor and he immediately volunteered his
services.
The Hotel Astoria was declared “out of bounds”
for transient navy use by the command of the Asto-
ria naval station in an order which bans the hotel
to navy personnel for only transient occupancy,
but which permits permanent navy residents to
continue renting facilities there, it was learned
today.
The order was issued by Capt. J. D. Barner
after investigation of disturbances in the hotel.
Navy and Coast Guard surface craft, planes and a
blimp searched the Pacific 20 miles west of the Columbia
River mouth today for signs of a Navy flier who bailed out
of his light plane after colliding in mid-air with another
Navy plane from the same squadron off the Astoria naval
airport.
Presentation of 100-hour aircraft warning ser-
vice arm bands and 500-hour watch service for
observers at the Astoria station featured the gath-
ering of “sky watchers” at the Lewis and Clark
junior high school auditorium.