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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (July 25, 2019)
DailyAstorian.com // THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2019 147TH YEAR, NO. 11 COAST WEEKEND $1.50 INSIDE THE GEARHART HOTEL COMES ALIVE IN NEW MUSICAL A RICH RESOURCE FOR SERVICES, BUSINESS AND AMENITIES DRIVERS WANTED County sheriff aims to retire Bergin was elected in 2004 By NICOLE BALES The Astorian Photos by Hailey Hoffman/The Astorian The Peterbilt semitruck was sold to the college program for $10,000 for students to practice driving large commercial vehicles. The 48-foot refrigerated trailer was donated by the Tillamook Creamery. Trucking school responds to industry demand By EDWARD STRATTON The Astorian C ars lined up behind Aus- tin Rieck as he idled just off U.S. Highway 101 Busi- ness on Monday, waiting for a clear stretch of road to pull out in his Peter- bilt semitruck, pulling a refrigerated trailer. His instructor, James Crowe, rode shotgun and preached patience in the slower-moving big rig. “Once you accept you can’t just pull out and go fast, it makes everything easier,” Rieck said. Rieck, a former meter reader for Pacific Power, is in the second class of See Drivers, Page A6 Austin Rieck, left, drives a semitruck under the supervision of retired long-haul driver James Crowe. The four-week course is run by Clatsop and Tillamook Bay community colleges, providing students the opportunity to get a commercial driver’s license. ‘RIGHT NOW, THERE’S PROBABLY A SHORTAGE OF 50,000 TRUCK DRIVERS IN AMERICA. THERE ARE TONS OF JOBS OUT THERE.’ James Crowe | instructor and retired long-haul trucker with 34 years and 4 million miles under his belt Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin- plans to retire at the end of the year. The sheriff, who was first elected in 2004, had announced last year that he would not seek another four-year term. Bergin said he would ask the county Board of Commissioners to appoint Lt. Matt Phillips, the jail commander, as interim sheriff. The elec- tion for a new sheriff will Tom Bergin be held in 2020.“Well the time has come to provide the informa- tion as to my departure so the rumors and unknown can be resolved,” Bergin, 61, wrote in an email to his staff on Monday afternoon. ”I will be leaving at the end of December this year.” His decision came after a trying time of dealing with personal matters. Bergin was diagnosed with kidney cancer last year and said he became more reliant on his staff. “It feels like I was living two lives, trying to take care of all my personal life and take care all of this place and it’s not fair to either side so it’s kind of like, ‘OK, it’s time,’” he said in an interview. The sheriff acknowledged he has received some criticism for his absences, but said he has always been involved. “After going through cancer, dou- ble knee surgery, divorce and several other issues these last two years I know it has been hard on this office but I am proud how all of you have held this place together,” Bergin said in his email to staff. Bergin explained in the interview that he has “taken some extra time for myself because you come to the realization, it’s like, there’s more to life than being a cop. Even though I swore and raised my right hand to this job, but it’s come to the point where it’s time to move on and people can say what they want, that’s OK.” See Sheriff, Page A6 Coffee, waffles at food cart pod Menu expands at 11th and Duane streets near City Hall By EDWARD STRATTON The Astorian Add waffles and coffee to the menu at the 11th Street food cart pod. Joshua Jensen, a worker in the local coffee and marijuana industries, recently opened his new business, Coffee OR Waffle, in a small yellow cart in the pod developed by Michael Bruhn at 11th and Duane streets across from City Hall. Jensen has split time between coffee shops and marijuana stores over the past several years. The thought of starting a cart or truck first came to him while working at Dutch Bros. in Astoria. In November, he bought a cart that came with an espresso machine. He first thought of making a sand- wich cart alternative to Subway, but switched his idea to waffles after visit- ing other regional shops. “I thought about what I could offer other than coffee that was a little differ- ent,” he said. He parked his cart in between Sas- quatch Sandwich and Pizzuti’s Wood- fired Pizzeria, part of the growing offer- ings at the pod that now include tacos, soul food, ramen and sushi. Jensen mixes his waffle batter from scratch and tops them with syrups, creams, fruit and other spreads. He will soon add vegan and gluten-free options, as well as savory waffles, starting with pepperoni pizza this weekend and a spinach feta with balsamic glaze soon after. Jensen experiments with his waf- fle-maker at home and imagines grilling macaroni, grilled cheese, mash potatoes, brownies, cake mix and countless other ingredients. “After that … gosh, the menu’s end- less,” he said. Coffee OR Waffle opens from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day. Astoria planners reverse course on building heights Restrictions on the riverfront By KATIE FRANKOWICZ The Astorian Edward Stratton/The Astorian Joshua Jensen recently opened Coffee OR Waffle in the food cart pod at 11th and Duane streets. The Astoria Planning Commission has reversed course on how tall buildings can get along a section of the riverfront. In June, the commission reached consensus — but did not vote — to cap build- ing heights at 28 feet with exceptions to 35 feet for water-dependent projects in Bridge Vista, a section of the city’s Riverfront Vision Plan between Portway Street and Second Street. On Tuesday night, com- missioners voted 6-1 in favor of an amendment that would allow for taller buildings — up to 35 feet — across Bridge Vista, but with a floor area ratio pro- posal from staff that means the higher a building goes, the narrower it must be to maintain views. The Planning Commis- sion’s recommendations will likely go to the City Council for a public hearing in August. The commission also approved plan district options for the Port of Asto- ria and Astoria Warehous- ing, potentially providing See Planners, Page A6