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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (April 17, 2019)
A4 THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, ApRIL 17, 2019 OPINION editor@dailyastorian.com KARI BORGEN publisher JIM VAN NOSTRAND Editor Founded in 1873 JEREMY FELDMAN Circulation Manager JOHN D. BRUIJN production Manager CARL EARL Systems Manager GUEST COLUMN School projects to start this summer W ith spring break behind us, Astoria School District staff and students are turn- ing the corner and heading towards the end of the school year. Students and staff appear to be refreshed and ready to finish the school year strong. I continue to be grateful to our staff, parents, families and community for their participation in helping our chil- dren to grow and pros- per in and out of the classroom. This has been a busy year for the school dis- trict. We are absorbed CRAIG HOPPES in student, staff and district success on all levels. In the past few months, we have had many successes that I would like to share with you. Strategic plan Our school board has recently been working to refine our strategic plan, which is designed to provide quality learning and program opportunities for all students. There will be further opportunities for staff and commu- nity input. This spring, the district will host listening sessions to find out from school staff and the community their thoughts as to what is important in the education of our children. Unique educational opportunities We are celebrating our students in Future Farmers of America and Asto- ria Robotics for their amazing suc- cesses. Additionally, we have been fostering partnerships with local employers and building out our career and vocational education pro- grams through the Clatsop WORKS student internship program. Many of our students are participating in these and other unique educational opportunities. Facilities bond Following the passage of the facil- ities bond last fall, we have been Beth Frausto/Astoria School District This group of Astoria High School students, mentors and coaches represented the school district and community at the Northwest Robotics Championships in Tacoma. actively working to set the stage for improvements to every school this upcoming year. With our improved bond rating, we will be able to keep our district on track to deliver on building improvements on time and on budget, while lowering the estimated property tax rate to our local citizens. community stakeholders to share in their assessment of what our schools need. We are prioritizing that list con- sistent with the goals outlined in our bond project framework. During this process, we are supporting the com- munity by reaching out to local con- tractors, many of whom have gradu- WE COULDN’T DO ANY OF THIS WORK FOR OUR STUDENTS WITHOUT OUR AMAZING COMMUNITY. With a commitment to transparency and accountability for every dollar spent in our schools, we have recently appointed a citizen-lead bond over- sight committee to review budgets and keep our project team on track. This committee will begin meeting in May. We have hired project managers and architects and are involving our ated from our schools or have children in our schools, in an effort to contract locally. Finally, we will begin the first phases of bond improvements this summer at every school. Knowing that kids cannot learn if they don’t feel safe in schools, we are prioritizing safety and seismic improvements. For Water under the bridge San Francisco has invited Astoria and 24 other U.S. Seaport cities to enter the Crab Cooking Olympics at Fisherman’s Wharf. Several officials of the new Clatsop Intergov- ernmental Council said Wednesday night the Columbia River will probably have to be the ultimate source for more water for coastal Clat- sop County. County Commissioner Verne Stratton told CIC representatives in Astoria, “We’re on the verge of our using our fresh water to capacity,” perhaps in the next 10 years. Compiled by Bob Duke From the pages of Astoria’s daily newspapers 10 years ago this week — 2009 The Gannaway brothers have lost faith in the nation’s leadership. But they haven’t lost their sense of humor. At the Tax Day “tea party” in Astoria Wednesday, Jim Gannaway dressed as a minuteman, carrying a musket and sign that read: “Taxation without representation is tyranny.” And Tim Gannaway, who appeared to be wear- ing nothing more than a barrel with suspenders, held a sign that said “Taxation with representation ain’t so hot either.” The Warrenton jewelers joined more than 100 people outside the Astoria post office to protest liberal govern- ment taxation and spending. The Clatsop County Board of Commission- ers last Wednesday voted to adopt a plan for removal of household hazardous waste, setting the table for the county to have a permanent location for disposal of hazardous materials. “This will give us a permanent local oppor- tunity to dispose of household hazardous waste legally and safely,” said Laura Leebrick, gov- ernment and corporate affairs manager for Western Oregon Waste. The plan calls for a permanent collection station, probably at the WOW transfer sta- tion on Williamsport Road, designed to han- dle unwanted oil, paint, cleaning solvents, anti- freeze, pesticides and other hazardous materials found in most homes. Hammond seafood processor Point Adams Packing Co. has been fined $75,000 for allowing chicken remains to be illegally dumped into the Columbia River for about six months in 2003-04. 50 years ago — 1969 St. Mary Hospital, an Astoria medical institution for 89 years, will close down March 1, 1970, because of economic difficulties, the Sisters of Charity of Provi- dence announced. example, this summer we will install a secure vestibule at the entry of Lewis and Clark Elementary. We will also make building improvements to extend the life cycle of our oldest buildings, which will save money by cutting our energy bills, as well as provide well- lit environments to improve academic success. We couldn’t do any of this work for our students without our amazing community. Please let us know your thoughts on what we can do to partner in your efforts to support our students. Please contact us with opportunities to come meet and talk about what is happening in our schools — we are excited to share all of our news. Our students and staff are eager to complete the school year in a posi- tive manner. We continue to appreci- ate the support our school district has received from our community. Craig Hoppes is superintendent of the Astoria School District. 75 years ago — 1944 All was quiet among Astoria halibut boats today, after opening Saturday of the season marred by a dispute between halibut fishermen and the OPA which fishermen claim has set an intolerably-low ceiling on their fish. Ten Clatsop County men are included on the list of prisoners of war which was recently released to the International Red Cross by the war and navy departments. All of the men are prisoners of the Japanese. Elleda Wilson/The Daily Astorian 2009 – From left, Theresa, Jim and Tim Gannaway at the Astoria Tax Day Tea Party. The announcement said the “duplication of services” of St. Mary and the Columbia Hospital was the main rea- son for the financial troubles. Officials said St. Mary lost $26,000 in 1967 and $44,000 in 1968. They said loans on the hospital’s books total $307,000, funds which had to be borrowed over the years to meet operating costs. The hospital, which began July 30, 1880, has 51 beds, less than half of which were occupied last year, officials said. The idea of the Astoria School District merg- ing with four nearby school districts met with favor at the Astoria district board meeting Monday night. Although no formal stand was adopted, it was agreed that Astoria board mem- bers will attend a meeting called for Tuesday, April 22, in Seaside. Other districts in the pro- posed merger are Seaside, Olney, Warrenton and Lewis and Clark. Astoria may have an entry in San Francisco’s Crab Cooking Olympics, May 19-20.Dr. Ed Harvey, seafood epicure and administrator of Otter Trawl Commission said Thursday a young man has come forward to carry the local colors to the Bay city. Harvey doesn’t want to release the man’s name yet, though. Kenneth Weaver, son of Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Weaver, is reported missing in air action in the European area since April 1, according to official word received by the well- known Astoria boy’s parents here Saturday from the war department. A price dispute between the office of price administration and west coast halibut fisher- men has resulted in a coast-wide tieup of about 600 boats, with 12 to 15 of them operating out of this port. H.A. Dunlop, director of the International Fisheries commission office in Seattle, said fresh halibut, which would under normal circum- stances begin coming on the market within the next two or three days, will be off the nation’s diet until the tieup ends. Two new 80-foot power scows, built at the CRPA shipyard for the big packing company’s Alaska opera- tions, were set to sail from Astoria Friday in tow of the seagoing tugs Mercury and Ocean Queen, carrying 29 men to Naknek on Bristol bay. The company’s cannery will be prepared by these men, and 10 others who left a week ago, for opening of the 30-day Alaska season about June 25. The vanguard of CRPA employees who left earlier traveled by steamer to Anchorage from Seattle, and were flown to Naknek from Anchorage. They included Edward L. Morris, Orville W. Henderson, Robert E. Wright, Arthur H. Hendrickson, Walter E. Boyd, Roy Arthur Fager, Dan G. Whealdon, Arvid Olson, Ray Charles Stump and Matt Jussila.
