The Columbia press., September 15, 2017, Image 1

T he C olumbia P ress
1
50 ¢
C latsop C ounty ’ s I ndependent W eekly n eWspaper
September 15, 2017
503-861-3331
City hopes study
will solve low-cost
housing crunch
National Guard
motivates students
to get fit, driven
The Columbia Press
The city will join a countywide housing
study, contributing $10,000 for infor-
mation it hopes will bring information
toward building better communities.
“Warrenton is the fastest growing city
in the county and likely to be where the
majority of housing growth will take
place,” City Manager Linda Engbret-
son told the City Commission Tuesday
night. “We feel we can get some value
out of this for $10,000, especially con-
sidering our small staff.”
The idea for a countywide study came
up in a May meeting that brought to-
gether county and city leaders for a dis-
cussion on joint issues. Lack of afford-
able housing was chief among them.
County Manager Cameron Moore had
an agreement drawn up that has the
county paying $50,000 and the cities
of Warrenton, Astoria, Seaside, Gear-
hart and Cannon Beach each paying
$10,000.
Once approved by all entities, the
county will issue a request for proposals
from qualified companies to conduct
the study. Tillamook County did a sim-
ilar study using the company CZB LLC
of Alexandria, Va., earlier this year. The
study was both insightful and helpful,
Engbretson said.
“The lack of housing options is cre-
ating barriers to continued economic
growth,” the agreement adopted Tues-
day night states. “Existing businesses
are struggling to retain and attract em-
ployees because they either cannot find
housing or cannot afford the housing
that might be available. Starting new
businesses or attracting business from
elsewhere is extremely challenging as
business owners are concerned that
Vol. 1, Issue 37
B y C indy y ingst
The Columbia Press
The motivation was delivered gently but in a
way that makes a teen take note.
“If you’re the best you can be physically, you’ll
be more efficient in your school work and more
efficient in everything you do,” Oregon Army
National Guard Sgt. Katy Pritchard told the
Warrenton High School PE class. “But if all
of you wanted to join the military, maybe only
one of you would get in.”
She was delivering the unfortunate news
Above: Lucas Thomp-
about the physical fitness state of today’s young
son flies over the top of
people. It is the hardest hurdle for today’s mil-
a ramp in the obstacle
itary: Only 1 in 20 people who want to join the
course.
military are fit enough.
Left: PFC Peter
Pritchard, an engineer and recruiter with the
May helps unfasten
Guard based at Camp Rilea, brought a team of
ninth-grader Isabella
Jeremiah after she made guardsmen plus a mobile obstacle course and
it to the top of the 25-foot 25-foot rock-climbing wall to the high school to
rock-climbing wall. Some give students an idea of their own fitness while
of the grips were hot.
Photos by Cindy Yingst
See ‘Fitness’ on Page 4
Dredging plans under way locally and regionally
The Columbia Press
A new plan is being developed
for dealing with dredging in the
Columbia River.
The Army Corps of Engineers,
along with five ports between
Warrenton and Portland, have
begun the process gathering en-
vironmental information for a
new plan expected to guide them
through the year 2040.
The planning effort will consid-
er the effects of channel main-
See ‘Study’ on Page 7 tenance on Lower Columbia
River environmental and socio-
economic resources as well as
the importance of the region’s
economic viability.
Dredging is vital for Warren-
ton, which is having issues at
the Hammond Marina, Commis-
sioner Pam Ackley said.
She helped organize the latest
rendition of the city’s Hammond
Marina Task Force, which met
for the first time a week ago.
“We need to dredge really bad-
Submitted photo
ly,” she said. “It’s a huge econom- A bulldozer distributes dredge spoils on an island
See ‘Dredging’ on Page 6 in the Columbia River.