149TH YEAR, NO. 63
DailyAstorian.com // TuEsdAY, NOvEmbER 23, 2021
ATOP THE 11TH STREET STAIRS,
A PROPERTY OWNER AT
ODDS WITH THE CITY
$1.50
Hailey Hoffman/The Astorian
Crabbing vessels can begin to set gear on Nov. 28.
Crab season
to open on time
Fishermen could
start pulling pots
on Dec. 1
By KATIE
FRANKOWICZ
The Astorian
Lydia Ely/The Astorian
The 11th Street stairs offer a sweeping view of the city and the Columbia River.
Marine toxins, skinny
crabs and contentious price
negotiations have all had a
hand in delaying the start
of Oregon’s lucrative com-
mercial Dungeness crab
season in recent years.
Not this season — at
least not yet.
For the first time in
MORE INSIDE
Experts advise eating
one crab species to
save another • A2
years, commercial Dunge-
ness crab fisheries in Ore-
gon, Washington state and
Northern California will
begin on the traditional
Dec. 1 opener after recent
preseason testing showed
high meat yield in crabs
across the region.
See Crab season, Page A2
By KATIE FRANKOWICZ
The Astorian
ike many people in Astoria,
Billie O’Neel wanted a gar-
den that was safe from deer.
When she built a fence to
keep the marauding animals out
of her property on Jerome Ave-
nue, she ran into issues with the
city. The fence was taller than
code allowed. Then there was
the deck. She wanted flat areas
for her husband, who is hand-
icapped, to be able to safely
walk.
But O’Neel had built both
the fence and the deck over a
deteriorating retaining wall in
a city right of way without first
obtaining the necessary permis-
sions. The city is also inves-
tigating other possible code
violations.
O’Neel, who bought the
property in 2011, knows she
overstepped. She built during an
opportune window when work-
ers and supplies were available
and the weather was good.
“I did not go down to City
Hall to ask for permission,” she
said. “I built what I thought was
appropriate … I may be wrong
in what I’ve done, but I did it in
the most correct way possible.”
For O’Neel, it partly comes
back to how the city has main-
tained — or, as O’Neel’s con-
tends, has not maintained — the
public property next door: the
11th Street stairs.
KNAPPA
L
See Stairs, Page A3
Lydia Ely/The Astorian
Billie O’Neel acknowledges she did work on her property without the
necessary city approvals.
‘I DID NOT GO
DOWN TO CITY
HALL TO ASK FOR
PERMISSION. I
BUILT WHAT I
THOUGHT WAS
APPROPRIATE …
I MAY BE WRONG
IN WHAT I’VE
DONE, BUT I DID
IT IN THE MOST
CORRECT WAY
POSSIBLE.’
Pigeon steps are also found on
Eighth Street.
Billie O’Neel | homeowner
State finds
gender bias
at fire district
Longtime firefighter
intends to sue
By ERICK BENGEL
The Astorian
A former emergency
medical services officer
with the Knappa Fire Dis-
trict intends to sue over an
alleged pattern of gender
discrimination she experi-
enced on the job.
The state Bureau of
Labor and Industries found
substantial evidence in
December 2020 that the
fire district denied Amy
Lenz, a longtime para-
medic firefighter, opportu-
nities for career advance-
ment that were extended to
her male colleagues.
The case was referred to
the bureau’s administrative
prosecution unit, which
last summer declined to
press formal charges.
Lenz has retained Dolan
Law Group PC, a Port-
land-based firm, and plans
to pursue a lawsuit against
the fire district.
In the Bureau of Labor
and Industries’ report, the
fire district under former
Fire Chief Paul Olheiser
was described as a depart-
ment for “good ol’ boys.”
The bureau’s report
found that Lenz was not
promoted to the rank of
lieutenant, which fire dis-
trict policy says is required
experience for someone in
her position as EMS offi-
cer. She had held this posi-
tion since 2005.
Promotions, however,
were given to males who
held officer positions.
See Knappa Fire, Page A2
Injured player ramps up the decibels
Colombo cheers team
from the bench
By PATRICK WEBB
Chinook Observer
N
ASELLE, Wash. — When
Bella Colombo suffered a sea-
son-ending injury, it didn’t stop
her contributing to her team’s state
championship bid.
She showed up on the bench on
crutches — and cheered her Comet
volleyball teammates with gusto.
Naselle left the Washington
Interscholastic Activities Asso-
ciation state 1B tournament in
Yakima, Washington, with a fifth-
place trophy.
And Colombo played her part.
The junior had injured her ACL
in a tournament against Pe Ell late
in the season.
But that didn’t stop her. As
Naselle’s younger kids lined the
school corridor for the traditional
“On to state!” clapping send-off,
Colombo — on crutches — almost
raced to the van.
Team introductions before
the first game at the SunDome
included player No. 6, who
waved to the crowd just like her
teammates.
And as Morgan Reitz made the
first serve in the first game against
Pomeroy, it was as if Colombo
was on the court with her.
Every time captain Peyton Dal-
ton leaped up two-handed to set
the ball — as she had all season —
Colombo was there.
Every time strong net player
Kaylin Shrives leaped for a
spike — as she had all season —
Colombo was there.
And every time libero Brynn
Tarabochia stooped for a dig in the
back court — as she had all season
— Colombo was there.
See Colombo, Page A3
Patrick Webb/Chinook Observer
Naselle’s Bella Colombo, right, attended the Washington Interscholastic
Activities Association state 1B volleyball tournament in Yakima on crutches.
But that didn’t stop the junior from playing a key role in the Comets’ success.
She is pictured with team managers Anii Laine, left, and Mylinh Schell.