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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 2019)
T he C olumbia P ress December 20, 2019 3 Finally, a starring role in the Lucia Celebration! Dungenness crabs in a holding tank waiting for testing. Courtesy ODFW Fisheries in holding pattern The Columbia Press The commercial Dungeness crab season remains closed, razor clamming is now closed for commercial and recre- ational harvesting, and all salmon fishing is closed be- tween the Necanicum River in Seaside and the Nestucca River near Pacific City. C raBs The entire coast is affected by the crab closure, Oregon’s most lucrative fishery. “Based on test results and consultations with the Ore- gon Department of Agricul- ture and Washington and California departments of fish and wildlife, we are continu- ing the delay … until at least Dec. 31,” wrote Kelly Corbett, commercial crab project lead- er, and Troy Buell, state fish- ery manager for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wild- life in a joint statement. The second round of tests for quality and size were un- satisfactory, although results for domoic acid, a marine bio- toxin, were within acceptable range. Results of the latest round of testing are expected in the next week. C laMs and Mussels The state has closed the en- tire coast to commercial and recreational clamming due to elevated levels of domoic acid. Mussel harvesting is open along the coast from the Co- lumbia River to Bandon, but closed south of there because of elevated levels of paralytic shellfish toxin. Bay clams and crab are open for recreational harvest- ers along the entire Oregon coast. s alMon Fishery managers have closed the entire North Coast south of the Columbia River to salmon angling after a re- cent die-off of fall Chinook in the Wilson River near Til- lamook, plus excessive pre- spawn mortality of fall Chi- nook in nearby rivers. The die-off is being attribut- ed to the spread of cryptobia, a naturally occurring parasite that affects certain fish spe- cies and poses no risk to hu- mans. The closure runs through Dec. 31 from Seaside to Pa- cific City. Steelhead fishing is not affected and remains open. The closure is necessary to allow the remaining fall Chi- nook adults to reach spawn- ing grounds, said Robert Bradley, district fish biologist for ODFW’s North Coast Wa- tershed District. “The observed prespawn mortality is on top of a re- duced run of fall Chinook this year,” he said. “We need to protect the remaining spawn- ers to help provide for future runs.” The Columbia Press A Swedish fraternal orga- nization had trouble this year filling some of the roles in its annual Lucia Celebration. So folks who never got the chance to play the parts when they were young stood in. And it made the 2019 Lu- cia Celebration extra special, said Terry Arnall, historian for Astor Lodge 215 of the Vasa Order of America. Bob Swenson, 91, said he’d “always wanted to be a Star Boy.” Other over 80 members with starring roles were Lodge Secretary Violet Hag- nas and Dolores Nielson. The celebration, held this year on Dec. 15, included a potluck featuring Swedish foods and ham. Afterward, the adults sang Christmas carols while the children dressed for the pageant. Girls wore traditional white robes, belts made of tinsel and crowns and carried candles. Boys wore white capes, tall white hats and carried wands with silver stars on top. Courtesy Terry Arnall The 2019 Lucia court includes, L-R, Landon Major, 5, Bob Swenson, Dolores Nielson, Violet Hagnas, Kaisa Liljenwall and Liam Major, 8. Kaisa Liljenwall was the Lucia bride. Other star boys were Landon and Liam Ma- jor. The shortage of young people was partly due to the many community activities held that day. Even the Lucia bride had to rush over after playing in the North Coast Symphonic Band’s concert that afternoon. “I have children and grand- children who have been in the pageant,” Arnall said. “I love the whole scene. I’m glad the lights are dim because I usu- ally get teary.” 7 appointed to city committees Seven Warrenton residents were appointed or reappoint- ed to various committees by the City Commission this month. They are Penny Smith, War- renton Community Center Board; Bert Little, Warrenton Parks Advisory Board; Kelsey Balensifer and Natalie Dug- gan, Warrenton Community Library Board; Paul Mitchell and Lylla Gaebel, Planning Commission; and Dan Jack- son, Budget Committee. The committees serve in an advisory capacity. The Plan- ning Commission reviews land applications, holds pub- lic hearings and recommends development policies and re- visions. Looking for an investment? Warrenton UPS Store’s owners are retiring and it’s for sale. Location and all contracts and leases to carry over to new owners. To learn more, call Cindy at 503-791- 3972 or D.B. at 503-741-5977.