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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (June 11, 2019)
WORKING ARTISTS TALK CAREERS COAST RIVER BUSINESS JOURNAL • INSIDE DailyAstorian.com // TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2019 146TH YEAR, NO. 235 $1.50 Airport committee recommends separation from Port An airport authority in Warrenton By EDWARD STRATTON The Astorain T Oregon State Police Authorities relocated an aggressive elk and her calf from Hammond in May. State looks at new path for elk A strategy for problem animals By KATIE FRANKOWICZ The Astorian State wildlife managers plan to stream- line policies to address problem elk fol- lowing a run-in with an aggressive elk in Hammond . Any guidance the state develops will likely be folded into a larger elk manage- ment strategy for North Coast cities grap- pling with growing confl icts between people and elk . In late May , an elk who was protect- ing her newborn calf and charging at peo- ple and cars had to be tranquilized and relocated. Local and state law enforcement shut down Seventh Street and agents from the Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area darted the animal. They loaded her and her calf into a trailer with the help of several residents. he Port of Astoria’s Airport Advisory Committee has rec- ommended spinning off the Astoria Regional Airport and the agency’s other holdings along the Warrenton waterfront into a separate authority. The committee also recommended several short-term ventures to gener- ate money, including ministorage, a water sports park and a food cart pod. The Port Commission asked the airport committee last year to look at how the airport might make more money to support operations. The committee found that while the Port has kept up with local matches for Federal Aviation Admin- istration grants to maintain the run- ways, the agency cannot keep up the surrounding roads, buildings and other infrastructure. The report cautioned that the Port “ may reach a point where the airport becomes beyond repair. ” Jobs and grants The airport supports around 400 jobs and more than $20 million in payroll, but struggles to break even based on operations and racks up an estimated $100,000 in deferred main- tenance each year. It brings in a vast majority of the Port’s grant revenue because of military traffi c from the Coast Guard and Army. But the grants are tied to runway maintenance. Spinning off the airport would allow the Port to focus on the cen- tral waterfront in Astoria, said War- renton Mayor Henry Balensifer, who works for airport tug manufacturer Edward Stratton/The Astorian The Port of Astoria’s Airport Advisory Committee recommended ministorage at the undeveloped Airport Industrial Park. JBT Lektro and is the chairman of the airport committee . “The Port would have a great opportunity in ensuring the sustain- ability of the airport,” Balensifer told the Port Commission last week . The committee recommended cre- ation of a task force, including the Port, other local governments, state agencies and the FAA. The Port could and should remain a stakeholder in the new airport authority, Balensifer said. Coupled with the creation of a new authority, the committee recom- mended a bond to fi x the most criti- cal infrastructure issues and provide local matching dollars for future FAA grants. Voters rejected a $1.96 mil- lion bond in 2017 to pave the way for Life Flight Network’s new han- gar and other improvements at the airport. The Port and tenants have lauded Gary Kobes, the airport manager, for his oversight and ability to secure federal grants . “The committee recognizes that when Gary Kobes retires, the airport may once again be without an on-site manager for a long time, at which point the airport is more than likely to degrade to a level it becomes unsus- tainable,” the committee’s report said. “The committee asks the Port to ponder the long-term implications of losing an asset by choice and sustain- ing that asset for the region by spin- ning it off, or the implication of los- ing the airport through slow decay.” Frank Spence, the Port Commis- sion’s president, said he likes the idea of exploring an airport authority and will pursue creating a task force once the airport committee fi nalizes its recommendations. Quick profi ts Just west of the airfi eld is the Port’s Airport Industrial Park, an undevel- oped fi eld grazed by cattle and mostly designated as wetlands. The commit- tee recommended a ministorage com- plex of 60 40-foot storage contain- ers on the 3 acres of developable land in the business park, where Jim Knight, the Port’s executive director, previously pitched an environmental research center. See Port, Page A6 See Elk, Page A6 Nonprofi t provides dental treatment for people in need The Astorian The Port of Astoria’s Airport Advisory Committee recommended spinning off the airfi eld and other Warrenton properties into a separate authority. A free clinic at Astoria Armory By KATIE FRANKOWICZ The Astorian As hygienist Candace Garber reached for her cleaning tools, Marlene Gore leaned back and did what everyone does when they visit the dentist: She started thinking of a way to distract herself. Maybe, the Astoria woman joked, she could count the light fi xtures high above her. Like the dozens of other people who attended a free dental clinic at the Asto- ria Armory on Sunday, it had been years since she’d been to the dentist. The all-day event, hosted by the non- profi t Caring Hands Worldwide, offi cially started at 9 a.m., but around 25 people were already signed up and waiting for cleanings, fi llings, extractions and other dental work well before the hour struck. It was the nonprofi t’s third year host- ing a one-day clinic in Astoria. Longtime educator says goodbye Anderson served Ocean Beach for 30 years By ALYSSA EVANS Chinook Observer LWACO, Wash. — Sue Anderson saw a lot in her 30 years with the Ocean Beach School District. She watched some of the nation’s biggest his- torical moments alongside her students and fellow teachers. She helped maintain nor- malcy throughout numerous dis- trict reconfi gurations and leader- ship changes. She even teaches the children of students she taught years ago. I See Nonprofi t, Page A6 Alyssa Evans/Chinook Observer Educator Sue Anderson poses in her classroom at Hilltop Middle School. She will retire this month, ending a 30-year career with Ocean Beach School District. Once this school year fi nishes up, Anderson will say goodbye to the school district and hello to a new role: retiree. “I never thought I would teach for 30 years,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed every year.” Anderson moved to Washing- ton with her family from Cal- ifornia, where she taught high school civics. She wasn’t able See Anderson, Page A6