»INSIDE
149TH YEAR, NO. 125
DailyAstorian.com // TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022
$1.50
Timber
baron
jumps into
Oregon
politics
A $200,000
donation to Johnson
By GARY WARNER
Oregon Capital Bureau
A California timber baron who is the
nation’s largest landowner has jumped
into Oregon politics with big contri-
butions to campaigns seeking to wrest
control of state
government from
Democrats.
MORE
Sierra
Pacifi c
INSIDE
Industries contrib-
Democrat-
uted $200,000 in
backed
April to Betsy John-
committee
son, the former
plans to
Democratic
state
highlight
senator from Scap-
Johnson’s
poose, who is run-
conservative
ning as an unaffi l-
record • A2
iated candidate for
governor. It’s the
third largest sin-
gle contribution that makes up the more
than $6.2 million Johnson has raised so
far .
The company also gave $250,000 in
February to Bring Balance to Salem, a
political action committee formed late
last year that has raised $1.6 million.
The contributions have come primarily
in large sums given by timber, construc-
tion and other companies.
Sierra Pacifi c is one of the four largest
single givers, along with Oregon-based
wood products companies The Swan-
son Group, Roseburg Forest Products,
and Murphy Co. The PAC has hired for-
mer congressman Greg Walden, a Hood
River Republican, as a consultant.
Oregon is one of fi ve states that has
no limits on the amount of contributions
from individuals, companies, unions,
groups or other entities. An exception:
contributions to congressional cam-
paigns are controlled by the Federal
Election Commission.
Sierra Pacifi c Industries is owned by
Archie Aldis “Red” Emmerson, 93, who
lives in Redding, California . The com-
pany’s total land holdings are 2.3 mil-
lion acres in California, Washington
state and Oregon, according to The Land
Report, a Dallas-based magazine cover-
ing property ownership.
Lydia Ely/The Astorian
The Gearhart fi rehouse on Pacifi c Way.
Voters in Gearhart to
decide on new fi rehouse
A $14.5 million bond
measure on the May ballot
By R.J. MARX
The Astorian
G
EARHART — Voters in the
May election could fi nally set-
tle the question of whether the
city should build a new fi rehouse.
Measure 4-213 would authorize
$14.5 million in bond
fi nancing for a fi re and
police station on 2 acres off
Highlands Lane along U.S.
Highway 101. The new
station would replace the
aging fi rehouse on Pacifi c
Way.
The city must receive
approval from the state Department
of Land Conservation and Develop-
ment to bring the land into the city’s
urban growth boundary. As part of a
land transfer with the city, d evelop-
ers of The Cottages at Gearhart LLC
would transfer two lots for a fi rehouse
and park and benefi t from the rezoning
of a planned residential subdivision at
a higher density.
If the bond measure is approved,
the money would be used for capital
construction costs to build, equip and
furnish the 13,000-square-foot sta-
tion. While fi nancing scenarios have
not been decided, the city estimates
the bonds would cost property own-
ers $1.213 per $1,000 assessed value
per year for up to 20 years. On a home
with an assessed value of $100,000,
the levy for the fi re and police sta-
tion would be $121 a per year. On a
property with an assessed value of
$388,000, the levy would
be $470 per year; with an
assessed value of $500,000,
slightly more than $600 per
year.
City Councilor Brent
Warren said he is confi dent
the majority of residents
appreciate the dedication of
emergency responders and their fam-
ilies. “We cannot aff ord any further
delays in providing them with a mod-
ern and safe fi re/police station,” he
said. “The longer we delay, the more it
is going to cost all of us.”
Opponents say the location is
wrong, the site is oversized and, in any
case, would fail to protect against the
largest tsunamis.
Joy Sigler, a resident and business
owner, asked residents to prioritize
community needs .
“Voting ‘no’ will alert this council
and city manager that they are squan-
dering an excellent opportunity to be
a self-suffi cient city, ” she said. “They
must do better for its citizens and we
must be deliberate in educating them to
have a vision that creates community
for both sides of the highway while
enabling the Gearhart Volunteer Fire
Department to perform effi ciently.”
The city’s fi re d epartment has two
full-time employees, one intern and 27
volunteer fi refi ghters. The fi rehouse on
Pacifi c Way, constructed in 1958 and
expanded in 1966, is considered at risk
in a signifi cant earthquake and tsu-
nami . The new station , which would
be on land considered more resilient
in a tsunami, would include storage, a
day room, kitchen, restrooms, showers
and an offi ce for the police department.
The vote will come after a pro-
tracted debate in the community.
Voters rejected a measure to fund a
new fi rehouse and C ity H all in 2006.
Since then , city staff , fi refi ghters and
residents have continued to recognize
the urgency .
See Firehouse, Page A6
See Timber baron, Page A6
Brownsmead woman launches
collective action group
Donations will go
to local nonprofi ts
By NICOLE BALES
The Astorian
hen Jan Johnson
heard of 100 Women
Who Care, she knew she
wanted to bring the idea to
Clatsop County.
The collective action
group has chapters through-
out the world. E arlier this
year, Johnson, an author
and former teacher from
Brownsmead, launched a
local chapter .
The group will meet four
times a year to listen to pre-
sentations from three local
nonprofi ts nominated by
members. One nonprofi t
will be selected each quar-
ter, and members will each
donate $100 to the cause.
Johnson said the key
question for people inter-
ested in joining the group
is: “Do you feel like what
you are giving is not
enough to really help that
W
SUCCESSION
FREE
ublished Monthly
April 2022
Inside:
CoastRiverBusinessJournal.
Chronicling the Joy of Business in the Columbia-Pacific Region
Volume 17 • Is
Feature story:
Succession
Page 8
Longtime family businesses talk planning, preparation
er City Flower Farm
er farm in Nehalem
age 3
vironmental focus
Businesses incorporate sustainability
age 4
LYDIA ELY/THE
t of the Month
age 10
Departments
conomic Development Resources Report .......12
Small Business Development Center Report .................. 13
Business Briefs ..................................................................15
te, Construction & More ..................................... 17
Winnie Van Dusen, 3, hits the gas pedal on her new toy car, a present from her grandfather, Willis Van Dusen, left, at the Van Dusen Beverages warehouse in A
»INSIDE
Lydia Ely/The Astorian
As the pandemic has shifted the demands
on local businesses and the baby boomer
generation retires, many businesses have
begun the succession process. Coast River
Business Journal spoke with businesses across
the coast, including Van Dusen Beverages in
Astoria. Winnie Van Dusen, 3, seen here, hits
the gas pedal on her new toy car, a present
from her grandfather, Willis Van Dusen, left, at
Van Dusen Beverages.
Jan Johnson
organization?”
Johnson has experience
fundraising for local non-
profi ts. She and her hus-
band, Ed, helped found the
Knappa School Foundation .
She thinks the group has an
opportunity to make a big
impact.
“I’d like to be able to
facilitate $40,000 a year
to local nonprofi ts and to
build a community,” John-
son said. “I think when you
live a life of giving, you feel
good. It makes you happy.”
Johnson said there will
be a theme each quarter,
starting with arts and cul-
ture. Other themes will
include the environment,
women and children and
homelessness and mental
health.
Members will be able to
nominate organizations, and
then there will be a vote to
narrow them down to three.
A steering committee will
vet the nonprofi ts.
Johnson said that each
nonprofi t will be invited to
give a presentation. After-
ward , members will vote for
one that will receive dona-
tions directly at the meeting.
See Johnson, Page A6