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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (June 26, 2021)
A2 THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021 IN BRIEF TRAIN UP High temperatures increase fi re risks An excessive heat warning is in eff ect for the North Coast on Sunday. People should expect temperatures in the upper 90s inland from the beaches and temperatures in the mid-80s at the beaches. Offi cials warn people to use extreme caution to avoid heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The heat will also increase the risk of wildfi res. People are advised to drink plenty of fl uids, stay out of the heat and sun and check up on relatives and neighbors. A countywide burn ban is in eff ect and industrial for- ests on the North Coast will be in the moderate fi re dan- ger level. Recreational fi res are only allowed at designated sites. Burn barrels require a burn permit, which can be obtained through the Oregon Department of Forestry or local fi re departments. Maj. Gen. Michael E. Stencel, the adjutant general of the Oregon National Guard, talked with soldiers Tuesday at a wildland fi refi ghter training at Camp Rilea in Warrenton. Aaron Perkins/Oregon Military Department County unemployment rate declines Clatsop County’s unemployment rate declined to 6.6% in May. The seasonally adjusted rate was down from 6.9% in April and from 19.6% in May 2020, when many busi- nesses laid off workers because of government restric- tions tied to the coronavirus pandemic. The statewide rate was 5.9% in May, according to the Oregon Employment Department, compared to 5.8% nationwide. County commissioners support tribal recognition for Chinook Clatsop County commissioners on Wednesday approved a proclamation supporting tribal recognition for the Chinook Indian Nation. The Chinook Indian Nation represents the Clatsop, Cathlamet, Lower Chinook, Wahkiakum and Willapa tribes. The proclamation supports the Chinook’s eff orts to solidify their federal status. Dolphin Road to close at bridge WARRENTON — Dolphin Road will close beginning July 12 at the Dolphin Road Bridge for a repair project. The project is expected to take about four weeks. — The Astorian Ballots postmarked on Election Day will count in Oregon SALEM — Oregon, the fi rst state to conduct all elec- tions by mail, would join the ranks of states accepting ballots postmarked by Election Day under a bill that is headed to Gov. Kate Brown. House Bill 3291 was approved by the state Senate on a 16-13 vote Thursday. The key vote was cast by state Sen. Lee Beyer, D-Springfi eld, who hung back until it was clear his would be the deciding vote. Beyer said afterward his concern was that in close elections, voters might question the validity of mail bal- lots counted days after the election date itself. The bill requires ballots to be received by county elections offi - cials no later than seven days after an election. Brown, in her State of the State remarks earlier this year, endorsed Election Day postmarks. She is a former secretary of state. Seventeen other states — including California, Wash- ington and Nevada — allow ballots to count if post- marked by Election Day. Four others count ballots if postmarked no later than the day before an election. States that allow Election Day postmarks vary widely, from three to 20 days after an election. The bill would take eff ect starting with the 2022 elections. — Oregon Capital Bureau CDC extends eviction moratorium WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Thursday extended the nationwide ban on evictions for a month to help millions of tenants unable to make rent payments during the coronavirus pandemic, but said this is the last time it plans to do so. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the federal Cen- ters for Disease Control and Prevention, extended the evictions moratorium from June 30 until July 31. The CDC said “this is intended to be the fi nal extension of the moratorium.” — Associated Press DEATHS In Brief Death June 22, 2021 MILLER, Richard, 77, of Astoria, died in Asto- ria. Hughes-Ransom Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements. PUBLIC MEETINGS MONDAY Seaside City Council, 7 p.m., 989 Broadway. TUESDAY Gearhart City Council, 6:30 p.m., work session, (electronic meeting). PUBLIC MEETINGS Established July 1, 1873 (USPS 035-000) Published Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by EO Media Group, 949 Exchange St., PO Box 210, Astoria, OR 97103 Telephone 503-325-3211, 800-781-3211 or Fax 503-325-6573. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Astorian, PO Box 210, Astoria, OR 97103-0210 DailyAstorian.com Circulation phone number: 800-781-3214 Periodicals postage paid at Astoria, OR ADVERTISING OWNERSHIP All advertising copy and illustrations prepared by The Astorian become the property of The Astorian and may not be reproduced for any use without explicit prior approval. COPYRIGHT © Entire contents © Copyright, 2021 by The Astorian. MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MEMBER CERTIFIED AUDIT OF CIRCULATIONS, INC. Printed on recycled paper Park district authorizes lease at rec center Education group will use a portion of the building By R.J. MARX The Astorian SEASIDE — The North- west Regional Education Service District will lease almost 7,400 square feet in the Sunset Recreation Center. The Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District Board voted unanimously to give executive director Sky- ler Archibald authorization to sign the deal. The park district acquired the former Broadway Middle School in January. “Things have moved right along with working with Northwest Regional since our last meeting and discussion,” Archibald said at Tuesday’s park district meeting. “I think we’re in a really good place, having negotiated some of the fi ner details of the agree- ment, as well as the tim- ing and cost per square foot. From the staff ’s perspective, we feel very comfortable moving forward and work- ing with this organization. It seems that our common mis- sions and service district sta- tus are a good fi t.” The service district is in DIGITAL EZpay (per month) .................................................................................................................$8.25 includes exclusive use of the counseling offi ces, three classrooms and the com- puter lab as well as a jani- tor closet nearby. It includes shared space of hallways and a men’s and women’s restroom. Prior to occupancy, the park district will lease the ser- vice district one of the class- rooms for storage. The service district plans to contract out an environ- mental study of the space, looking at the possibility of mold or other environmen- tal contaminants as well as asbestos. “That is the last hurdle to cross,” Archibald said. Owners mull uses of former Gearhart school Housing, art space and health center considered By R.J. MARX The Astorian GEARHART — At the north entrance of the for- mer Gearhart Elementary School, the curious can peer through a fence to see a fl owering garden with raised planters fi lled with perenni- als, roses and vegetables. “A primary goal has been to save it so it’s a pretty entrance to town,” said Rob- ert Morey, who with his wife, Timi, purchased the build- ing from the Seaside School District in November. The garden includes 96 roses planted in honor of Morey’s wife’s mother, Nadine Clark, an avid gar- dener who died at 96. The Moreys have yet to decide on how to use the main school building, which was originally constructed in 1948 and added on to in 1968. Morey said he is open to a variety of potential uses, which may include work- force housing, art studios, performing arts space or a community health center. Because of security and liability issues, the prop- erty is closed to the public. A 20-foot gate closes off the access driveway on the far western part of the property. The manufactured por- table trailers once used as classroom space are gone. “If you left them, what would they look like in 20 years?” Morey asked. “We spent thousands with dia- grams to try and save them. It made no sense.” Inside the main building, all unnecessary phone, elec- trical and cable wires are gone. The steam heat boiler is decommissioned and will be replaced. People in the commu- nity have an attachment to the school and the tradition it represents, Morey said. “We’re keeping the feeling of the old school, we’re not Photos by R.J. Marx/The Astorian CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Owners removed the trailers formerly used as classroom space at Gearhart Elementary School. Timi Morey planted 96 roses on the campus garden to honor her mother who died at 96 and was an avid gardener throughout her life. Potential uses of the building include apartments, art lofts or meeting spaces. buying it trying to make it a 2021 building,” he said. “It’s a 73-year-old building we want to bring up to date.” Any proposals would be contingent on city review and approvals. “People want to know what you’re going to do,” Morey said. “We’ve always said we have no idea until we get in there. It’s too early to know what we can do mechanically.” The covered playground will stay for the time being but is expected to be gone next year, Morey said. Because of labor shortages, exterior painting will also be delayed. Crews are doing septic analysis to help determine what type of housing can be supported on the remainder of the site. Three septic tanks are being decommissioned and two will remain. New homes will be supported by Subscription rates Eff ective January 12, 2021 MAIL EZpay (per month) ...............................................................................................................$10.75 13 weeks in advance ...........................................................................................................$37.00 26 weeks in advance ...........................................................................................................$71.00 52 weeks in advance ........................................................................................................ $135.00 the process of selling their 29,000-square-foot Clatsop Service Center location in Astoria. The space the ser- vice district has requested is not being used by the park district, Archibald said. The lease begins Aug. 1 and runs until July 31, 2023. The annual rent is $73,840, payable in quarterly install- ments. After the fi rst year of the agreement, the annual rental income will increase by 1.5% from the previous year’s amount. The lease agreement includes a cost per square foot and a stipula- tion for the service district to cover their portion of utilities. The lease agreement bottomless sand fi lter sys- tems, which while more expensive, use less land and make it easier to fi ll Gear- hart’s housing needs. The Moreys have off ered the city use of parking areas during an August concert, and have fl oated the idea that the site could be used as a temporary facility during potential construction of a new fi rehouse. The couple is seeking a conditional use permit from the Planning Commission for a caretaker unit in the northern part of the main building. The area will be sepa- rated from the rest of the main building and have its own exterior entrance, Morey said. The unit will have two bedrooms sepa- rated by a breezeway from a shared kitchen and shower areas. “The plan is to have two caretaker teams that will make 24/7 coverage,” he said. Please ADOPT A PET! PAW PAW Young male medium haired Tabby This boy is plush Perfection. Once he cuddles With you, he’ll have You by the heart. See more on WANTED Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber Northwest Hardwoods • Longview, WA Contact: John Anderson • 360-269-2500 Petfinder.com CLATSOP COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER • 861-PETS 1315 SE 19th St. • Warrenton | Tues-Sat 12-4pm www.dogsncats.org This space sponsored by CLATSOP ANIMAL ASSISTANCE