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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (March 6, 2020)
T he C olumbia P ress 1 50 ¢ C latsop C ounty ’ s I ndependent W eekly www.thecolumbiapress.com College unveils plans for MERTS expansion The Columbia Press Clatsop Community College is proud of its Marine and Environmen- tal Research and Training Station on Tongue Point. The maritime campus is one of just a handful across the country and it’s about to get better. A $22 million expansion is in the works. The MERTS campus was completed in 1999. The facility needs repairs and a new design to keep up with emerg- ing curriculum and maritime fields, said David Oser, chairman of CCC’s Foundation board. Oser and Jerry Ostermiller, former director of the Columbia River Mar- itime Museum and a mariner in his own right, have begun making the rounds to various maritime-related businesses, elected bodies and other potential partners for the expanded training facility. It’s an important offering for the region because entry-level jobs in the industry start at $40,000, full- time positions bring in $80,000 and upper-deck positions pay well over See ‘MERTS’ on Page 6 March 6, 2020 New Lektro lease a ‘three-fer’ benefit B y C indy y ingst The Columbia Press One of Warrenton’s largest employers and one of the county’s oldest businesses has signed a lease that extends local operations through 2030. The move by Chicago-based JBT AeroTech comes as a relief to local workers and those concerned about the local economy after Lektro was acquired by the international technology manufacturing company in Feb- ruary 2019. “It’s not that often we get a three-fer like this,” Port of Astoria Commissioner Robert Stevens said. “It’s good for the port, good for JBT and good for the community.” JBT has been aggressively marketing Lek- tro products, a company spokesman said. Lektro, established in 1945, is a leader in making electric towbarless aircraft tow ve- hicles. They can be found at airports around the globe, pushing and assisting large planes lining up at terminals. “We see a good fit of products and markets between Lektro and JBT AeroTech,” said Jesse Long, director of sales and business planning at Lektro since 2005. “It has been great joining the JBT family and having the resources of a major corporation behind us and to be offering an expanded range of See ‘Lektro’ on Page 6 Cindy Yingst/The Columbia Press Lektro’s 93,000-square-foot facil- ity at Astoria-Warrenton Regional Airport employs more than 80 local residents. Parent company JBT signed an agreement with the Port of Astoria to extend its lease. Long Stevens Rohne High-speed chase causes peril on Warrenton streets Workman said. The woman, who knew the man, A high-speed pursuit through War- pulled over near Parkview Apart- renton on Saturday rattled nerves ments on Ridge Road and, at some and forced a manhunt near point, got into his vehicle ei- Shilo Inn. ther by force or of her own The first call came in about will. 5 p.m. reporting a man in “As officers started pulling a white car was involved in up, he took off, swerving at a road-rage incident with a them and that’s what started woman in a sport-utility ve- the chase,” Workman said. hicle near the KOA camp- The chase, with speeds up to Arnett ground. 90 mph, continued south on “He was swerving at her and trying Ridge to DeLaura Beach Road, where to run her down,” Police Chief Matt the driver turned east toward War- The Columbia Press Jerry Ostermiller speaks to port com- missioners Tuesday night. Vol. 4, Issue 10 renton High School and then north on Main Avenue toward downtown. He blazed through downtown, nar- rowly missing many vehicles, and then took Harbor Drive toward High- way 101. It was about that point when officers lost him. “By the grace of God, we were lucky that there was no one who pulled out in front of this guy or pedestrians crossing the street. … He was so reck- less,” Workman said. Officers did not match his speed for everyone’s safety and to prevent See ‘Chase’ on Page 4