A2
THE ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019
Fall mushroom season starts early
IN BRIEF
Gun sense advocacy event in Seaside
Indivisible North Coast Oregon is hosting an infor-
mational gun sense advocacy event at 6:30 p.m. on Aug.
29 in the Seaside Library Community Room.
Hilary Uhlig of the Moms Demand Action Oregon
chapter will discuss common-sense solutions to address
gun violence.
Moms Demand Action is a grassroots movement
founded in 2012 after the shooting at Sandy Hook Ele-
mentary School in Connecticut.
— The Astorian
Lane County judge dings state
over marbled murrelet listing
A Lane County Circuit Court judge said the Oregon
Fish and Wildlife Commission violated state rules when
it voted not to list a rare seabird as endangered.
Early last year, commissioners voted to change the
status of the marbled murrelet from threatened to endan-
gered under Ore-
gon law. The
change would have
triggered the cre-
ation of conserva-
tion measures to
protect the state-
owned coastal old
growth forest the
seabird relies on for nesting.
But it wouldn’t last. A few months later, after a push
from the timber industry and coastal lawmakers, com-
missioners reversed their decision.
“But they didn’t give any reasoning or explanation
for why the murrelet no longer was an endangered spe-
cies or no longer met these criteria under Oregon law.
And that’s what the court jumped on as being com-
pletely inadequate,” said Nick Cady, a lawyer for Casca-
dia Wildlands, who was involved with the case.
In her ruling, Circuit Court Judge Lauren Holland
said the commission didn’t “provide any reasoned expla-
nation” for reversing their previous decision to up-list
the murrelet. “The commission failed to provide a writ-
ten basis for the denial.”
— Oregon Public Broadcasting
Astoria City Councilor Tom Brownson is holding a
“Meet Your Councilor” event at 9 a.m. on Saturday at 3
Cups Coffee, 279 W. Marine Drive.
Residents are invited to discuss city issues.
— The Astorian
DEATHS
Mortary is in charge of the
arrangements.
Aug. 12, 2019
MATTHEWS, Michael
S., 61, of Astoria, died
in Astoria. Caldwell’s
Luce-Layton Mortuary of
Astoria is in charge of the
arrangements.
WELCH, Patrick Scott,
56, of Astoria, died in Asto-
ria. Caldwell’s Luce-Lay-
ton Mortuary of Astoria is in
charge of the arrangements.
ON THE RECORD
DUII
• Colton A. Watts, 31, of
Chehalis, Washington, was
arrested early Wednesday at
McDonald’s in Astoria for
driving under the infl uence
of intoxicants. His blood
alcohol content was 0.09%.
• Jordan Flynn Baker,
24, of Seaview, Washing-
ton, was arrested Saturday
on Fifth Street and Bond
Street in Astoria for driv-
ing under the infl uence of
intoxicants and failure to
perform duties as a driver.
His blood alcohol content
was 0.12%.
Assault
• Joshua Ray Ship-
ley, 18, of Warrenton, was
arrested Sunday in Clat-
sop County for assault in
the second degree, strangu-
lation, assault in the fourth
degree and tampering with
a witness.
Strangulation
•
Joseph
Milton
Gruhlkey, 32, of Asto-
ria, was arrested Tuesday
at the East Big Noise and
West Big Noise intersec-
tion off of U.S. Highway
30 for strangulation, assault
in the fourth degree and
menacing.
Weapons charge
• Thai Demetrius
Clappe, 37, of Astoria, was
arrested Saturday in Asto-
ria for two counts of felon
in possession of a restricted
weapon.
PUBLIC MEETINGS
THURSDAY
Warrenton Planning Com-
mission, 5 p.m., City Hall,
225 S. Main Ave.
Seaside Transportation
Advisory Commission,
6 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broad-
way.
Established July 1, 1873
Circulation phone number:
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MEMBER CERTIFIED AUDIT OF
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By TOM BANSE
Northwest News Network
Pacifi c Northwesterners
who forage for wild mush-
rooms are noticing that the
late summer and fall delica-
cies are coming in early this
year. Edible wild mushrooms
are now fl ooding wholesale
markets.
In the maritime North-
west, chanterelles are com-
ing in at least three weeks
early. In the Cascade Moun-
tains, porcinis (aka king
boletes) and matsutakes (aka
pine mushroom) are poking
up earlier than normal, too.
“We’re already seeing
mushrooms coming in that
generally don’t show up
until the middle of Septem-
ber,” Charlie Wiley, a com-
mercial mushroom buyer in
s outhwest Washington state
and owner of Pacifi c North-
west Wild Mushrooms, said.
“We’ve got pine mushrooms
coming in. I can’t remember
ever getting them in August.”
Wiley guessed the wild
mushrooms were triggered
to fruit early by mild, moist
summer weather.
“Mother Nature is fi nicky
and she defi nitely tricked
them,” Wiley said . “It’s shap-
ing up to be an outstanding
mushroom crop this year.”
Wiley said wholesale
Colin Murphey/The Astorian
Mushroom pickers fl ock to Fort Stevens State Park during peak foraging season.
prices are falling fast as pick-
ers bring in big harvests,
which means you might
want to keep an eye out for
specials at supermarkets and
restaurants.
A new festival in Ore-
gon to celebrate wild mush-
rooms had to be moved up by
a week to Aug. 25 because
the star attraction is arriving
early. The Mt. Hood Mead-
ows Mushroom Festival
was originally scheduled for
Labor Day weekend.
Vice president Dave
Tragethon said his Mount
Hood resort previously
hosted mushroom dinners
in the spring and fall, but
expanded the program this
year to include guided hikes,
cooking demos and a food
fest.
“We are making this more
about discovery and getting
into the forest to fi nd some
treasures, identifying them
and coming up with delicious
ways to prepare and present
them,” Tragethon said.
Novices interested in for-
aging for wild mushrooms
are strongly urged to go out
with a mushroom expert
until they get the hang of
fungi identifi cation.
Commercial mushroom
foragers hope the unusual
early arrival of fall fungi
does not lead to an early end
of this year’s season as well.
“Hopefully, we’ll still
get another fl ush of things
in the fall,” Dena Wiley, a
partner in the Pacifi c North-
west Wild Mushrooms com-
pany, said. “We count on
the October mushrooms to
come in for the Thanksgiv-
ing holidays.”
Remote rescue boat ready for action
Brownson to hold meet
and greet Saturday
Aug. 14, 2019
BANTA, John, 89, of
Gearhart, died in Gear-
hart.
Hughes-Ransom
Mortary is in charge of the
arrangements.
BORST, Vicki, 61,
of Seaside, died in Asto-
ria. Hughes-Ransom Mor-
tary is in charge of the
arrangements.
BRISTOW,
Nadine,
82, of Seaside, died in Sea-
side.
Hughes-Ransom
Driven by mild
summer weather
Printed on
recycled paper
Subscription rates
Eff ective May 1, 2019
MAIL (IN COUNTY)
EZpay (per month) ...............................................................................................................$11.25
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By LUKE WHITTAKER
Chinook Observer
LONG BEACH, Wash.
— A remote-controlled water
rescue drone recently used to
save three people in Rock-
away Beach will soon be
deployed on the Long Beach
Peninsula.
It’s been dubbed the
“Robotic Lifeguard” and the
“Robotic Rescue Boat,” but
it’s offi cially known by the
acronym E.M.I.L.Y, or Emer-
gency Integrated Lifesaving
lanYard.
The Port of Peninsula pur-
chased the device as part of
an inter government agree-
ment with Long Beach. The
drone will be kept at the Long
Beach Fire Department and
will be ready to be deployed
following a special training in
the coming days.
In July , three people were
rescued from a rip current in
Rockaway Beach after the
drone was used to take a rope
through the surf, where res-
cuers then pulled an adult and
two children to safety.
The rescue caught the
attention of local offi cials.
“It has proven lifesaving
ability, including just a month
Luke Whittaker/Chinook Observer
Port of Peninsula Commissioner William Derion holds the
water rescue drone E.M.I.L.Y., or Emergency Integrated
Lifesaving lanYard
ago in Rockaway Beach,
that’s what really spear-
headed us after we lost a cou-
ple clammers last year,” said
Port of Peninsula C ommis-
sioner William Derion, who
represents the port district
that includes Long Beach.
“We thought it would be
great for clam digs, when you
get a bunch of people on the
beach and sometimes at night.
The fi rst responders can send
this out and potentially rescue
somebody before the surf res-
cue comes. With our 28 miles
of beach and rip currents, this
is something that can be eas-
ily thrown into a truck, driven
out and tossed into the water.
If it saves one life, it’s worth
its weight in gold.”
The drone was introduced
about a decade ago and the
fi rst rescue occurred in Depoe
Bay in 2012. There are now
about 400 craft deployed
with rescue agencies in more
than 20 countries, according
to the manufacturer.
Bow to stern, the
self-righting boat measures
about 4 feet and weighs about
20 pounds. It uses jet pro-
pulsion, similar to a J et S ki,
capable of more than 20 mph
with a 5 -mile range.
“This one has a motor
that’s meant for white wa-
ter conditions,” Derion said.
“We thought it would be bet-
ter with the currents and surf
to upgrade the motor.”
There are four handles for
people to hang on as they’re
pulled in with about 800
yards of towline.
A 20-minute rechargeable
lithium-polymer battery pow-
ers a communication system,
including UHF radio and
a forward-looking infrared
camera mounted on a com-
posite Kevlar hull. The infra-
red feature should make it
possible to home in on swim-
mers in trouble in conditions
like nighttime clam digs.
“Through research and
development they just keep
getting better and better,”
Derion said.
The Port of Peninsula paid
the bill for the drone, around
$13,000.
“Our
Commissioner
Derion teamed up with
Mayor (Jerry) Phillips to
make this available,” said Jay
Personius, the Port of Penin-
sula’s executive director.
“It’s a winner for the sum-
mer and for clam season.”
Gov. Brown announces Vacation rental
Circuit Court vacancy permits down, room
The Astorian
Gov. Kate Brown is
accepting applications to
fi ll Judge Paula Brown-
hill’s seat on the Clatsop
County Circuit Court.
Brownhill announced
last week that she would
retire in November after
25 years on the bench.
The g overnor thanked
the j udge for her dedi-
cated service, and said she
will fi ll the vacancy by
appointment.
The post would be up
for election next year.
Applicants must be a
member of the Oregon
State Bar, a U.S. citizen
and an Oregon resident
who lives or has principal
offi ces in the 18th J udicial
D istrict .
Interested applicants
should mail or deliver
their forms to Misha Isaak,
General Counsel, Offi ce of
the Governor, 900 Court
Street NE #254, Salem,
OR., 97301-4047.
Forms must be received
by 5 p.m. on Sept. 3.
Thur. - Aug 15
12:00-4:00
taxes up in Gearhart
By R.J. MARX
The Astorian
GEARHART — Two
years after Gearhart placed
new rules on vacation rent-
als, the number of permits
has dropped, while tax rev-
enue has increased.
The rules limit the trans-
fer of short-term rental per-
mits through sale.
The number of permits
declined from 98 in 2017
to 81 in 2018 to 79 this year .
Despite the slide in per-
mits, the tax revenue gener-
ated is on the rise.
Room
tax
collec-
tions have increased from
$294,000 in 2017 to about
$345,000 this year. About
$211,000, or 61%, comes
from hotels and motels ,
while residential prop-
erty and condos make up
the difference. T he num-
ber of complaints has also
dropped, from a high of 15
in 2017-18 to six this year.
“Most of all complaints we
took were taken care of,”
City Administrator Chad
Sweet said.
Noise, parking and bark-
ing dogs “have really been
the crux of the issue,” he
said.
Fri. - Aug 16
10:00-4:00
Sat. - Aug 17
10:00-12:00
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