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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (July 31, 2021)
A2 THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, JULY 31, 2021 IN BRIEF Fall salmon fi shing season opens on Sunday The fall Chinook salmon season opens on the Columbia River and coastal rivers Sunday. North Coast rivers and streams are closed to fi sh- ing from 2 p.m. to one hour before sunrise to reduce stress on fi sh as water temperatures remain elevated in some areas. Fire contained in Ilwaco ILWACO, Wash. — A 10-acre fi re along U.S. High- way 101 in Ilwaco was contained Thursday night with no damage to structures or injuries to fi refi ghters or residents. Smoke from the fi re was visible on the North Coast on Thursday. The cause of the fi re is under investigation, the Chi- nook Observer reported. Great Columbia Crossing sold out Less than two weeks after registration opened, the Great Columbia Crossing on Oct. 10 has sold out. Organizers with the Astoria-Warrenton Area Cham- ber of Commerce said this is the fastest the 10K event has ever sold out. Capacity was reduced to 2,000 from its usual count of 3,500 runners and walkers. Organizers say the mod- ifi cation will allow them to ensure they’re follow- ing health and safety guidelines, but may potentially reopen registration for additional participants if health guidance allows. City Councilor Rocka hosts meeting for residents Astoria City Councilor Roger Rocka will host a meeting for residents at 11 a.m. on Aug. 7 at Maritime Memorial Park in Uniontown. The informal conversation on city issues is planned for one of the park’s picnic tables. — The Astorian DEATHS July 28, 2021 In SHULTHIES, Brief Charles M., 93, of Brownsmead, died in Brownsmead. Cald- Deaths well’s Luce-Layton Mortu- ary of Astoria is in charge of the arrangements. July 27, 2021 WENTZ, Shelly Marie, 54, of Longview, Washington, died in Asto- ria. Caldwell’s Luce-Lay- ton Mortuary of Asto- ria is in charge of the arrangements. July 26, 2021 UNEY, Patricia, 70, of Warrenton, died in Warrenton. Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary of Astoria is in charge of the arrangements. MEMORIAL Friday, Aug. 6 Memorial NIEMI, Gary — Celebration of life at 5:30 p.m., Clatskanie City Park, 300 Park St. in Clatskanie. Friends and family are invited to attend. ON THE RECORD Assault • Luke Miehe, 48, of On the Record • Joshua W. Raniero, Warrenton, was arrested 29, of Gearhart, was arrested Sunday after- noon for domestic assault in the third degree and reckless endangerment. Unlawful use of a weapon • Aaron Thomas Posey, 26, of Astoria, was indicted Tuesday for unlawful use of a weapon and menacing. Theft • Toni Andersen, 56, of Ilwaco, Washington, was arrested Wednesday at Walmart in Warren- ton for theft in the second degree. Wednesday on Ensign Lane in Warrenton for theft in the second degree at Astoria Ford. DUII • William E. Keister, 55, of Henrietta, New York, was arrested Thurs- day morning at Asto- ria Eco Wash on Marine Drive for driving under the infl uence of intoxi- cants and reckless driving. • Robert Francis Cole, 45, of Astoria, was arrested Thursday morn- ing at U.S. Highway 101 and Avenue H in Seaside for DUII. PUBLIC MEETINGS MONDAY Astoria City Council, 5:30 p.m., work session, City Hall, 1095 Duane St. Astoria City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 1095 Duane St. TUESDAY Seaside Community Center Commission, 10 a.m., 1225 Avenue A. Seaside Library Board, 4:30 p.m., 1131 Broadway St. Clatsop Care Health District Board, 5 p.m., (electronic meeting). Astoria Library Board, 5:30 p.m., Flag Room, 450 10th St. Seaside Planning Commission, 6 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. Cannon Beach City Council, 6 p.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower Ave. 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 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 DIGITAL EZpay (per month) .................................................................................................................$8.25 EXPLORE Hailey Hoff man/The Astorian Dozens of people explored the tidepools by Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach on a morning this month. Restaurants reel after food distributor severs service Move blamed on shortage of truck drivers By LUKE WHITTAKER Chinook Observer LONG BEACH, Wash. — Several local restaurants are searching for a new whole- sale food supplier after a dis- tributor unexpectedly severed delivery services to the Long Beach Peninsula last week. “It was completely unex- pected,” said Carla Curtis, the owner of North Beach Tavern, one of a handful of peninsula restaurants that depended on US Foods as their primary supplier, but are now faced with fi nding a new wholesale food source to keep their menu stocked in the heart of the busy tour- ist season. Curtis said she was told routes were dropped across the region and nation “because of a shortage of truck drivers.” US Foods, one of the nation’s largest food distrib- utors and regional suppliers, declined comment . As local restaurants rally to fi nd a new supplier, a trade group and others are attempt- ing to assist them in navigat- ing the changing hospitality landscape. “We’re all going to try to help the small businesses fi gure it out,” said Anthony Anton, the president and CEO of the Washington Hos- pitality Association, rep- resenting more than 6,000 members in the hotel and restaurant industry. “I’m frustrated they didn’t give more notice. ” The lack of notice was among Curtis’s biggest beefs, too. “A supplier of their size should be able to give notice,” she said, adding that she only found out after returning a missed call from a regional representative last week. “I was frustrated for the number of businesses, the restaurants and bars. The man I spoke to at US Foods seemed to be as upset as I was.” Some warn that the truck- ing crisis could be a sign of more changes to come. “I think this is just the fi rst shoe to drop. For announce- Luke Whittaker/Chinook Observer North Beach Tavern owner Carla Curtis was one of a handful of restaurateurs who depended on US Foods as their primary supplier. ‘TWO WEEKS AGO I WOULD HAVE SAID FINDING COOKS IS THE NO. 1 PRIORITY, BUT NOW IT’S FINDING TRUCKERS.’ Anthony Anton | president and CEO of the Washington Hospitality Association ments coming, I just hope they can give at least a few weeks notice. Two weeks ago I would have said fi nd- ing cooks is the No. 1 prior- ity, but now it’s fi nding truck- ers,” Anton said. Curtis opened her Long Beach bar and restaurant in 2018, and had been a cus- tomer of US Foods for nearly as long. Curtis said they “ inherited” US Foods as a supplier when their former distributor, Food Services of America , was acquired by US Foods in 2019. Curtis made changes, including adding additional storage, to better accom- modate a curtailed distribu- tion schedule that required larger — but less frequent — deliveries. A typical delivery ranged from $500 to $2,000, depending on the needs that week, she said. “They would deliver to us once a week during the worst of the COVID times, which was tough for us ( and others on the peninsula) because we don’t have space, but worked it out and ( we) added some storage, ” she said. Curtis was content with the once-per-week schedule, had it continued, and was in talks with other businesses to make other delivery accom- modations before the route was removed. “We talked with the Long Beach Merchants Associa- tion about establishing a cen- tral location where they could deliver for a whole bunch of restaurants, but we were never even given an opportu- nity to have a discussion with US Foods about how we can make this work. It’s just dis- appointing,” she said. Food margins have shrunk for restaurants since the pan- demic, and the supply dis- ruption served as another gut punch for local businesses looking to rebound. “Meat prices went through the roof and they were extremely hard to get. Some- times we couldn’t fi nd pep- peroni or salami. You never knew which ones were going to be available and which ones weren’t. Every time we went into a store we would check who had what. There were a few weeks that cheese was really tight and the cost tripled. It was really rough on my pizza margins,” Curtis said. “Prices have come back down a little bit but nowhere near what it was and I don’t know if it ever will. And right now is the busiest time. ” Curtis has since turned to a secondary wholesale food distributor over the past few days to keep the restau- rant serving pizza, the most popular item on the menu. Establishing a relation- ship with a new supplier — {span}Northwest Foods in Longview — {/span}will take time, Curtis said. Relying on a smaller and more locally based supplier has been a silver lining amid the ordeal. “We were lucky and for- tunate we had a back up sup- plier that we could reach out to and fall back on,” Curtis said. “I’m sure they’re happy too, to see their business grow while reaching out to the pen- insula to help out.” Please ADOPT A PET! SHELD ON 9 year old Jack Russell Terrier Blend Versatile & engaging, with an aptitude for happiness - both yours and his -- a certainty in uncertain times. See more on Petfinder.com CLATSOP COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER • 861-PETS 1315 SE 19th St. • Warrenton | Tues-Sat 12-4pm www.dogsncats.org This space sponsored by SEASIDE OUTLETS Astoria Public Library New hours effective August 2, 2021: Our open hours will be: Monday 9-1 PM Tuesday 9-5 PM Wednesday 9-5 PM Thursday 9-5 PM Friday 9-5 PM Saturday 9-1 PM. Sunday Closed.
