T he C olumbia P ress
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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