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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 18, 2020)
The Columbia Press Clatsop County’s Independent Weekly www.thecolumbiapress.com September 18, 2020 Finally! Children return to school The Columbia Press Schools got good news last week that allowed all students to return to in-person classes this week. Of course, nothing is as it was, but the 2020-21 school year got off as smoothly as could be expected. “It’s been great. I couldn’t have asked for a better start,” said Rod Heyen, Warrenton Grade School principal. “Our staff is engaged and working hard trying to main- tain all the protocols and cohorting and all the hoops we’ve got to jump through.” In all grade levels there are about 10 to 15 children per classroom, everyone wearing face masks and remaining separated. Grade levels are entering campus through dif- ferent doors and at different times. All are required to wash their hands. Frequently. The youngest students will be with the same teacher and group throughout the day. Those in grades 4 and 5 will sit in front of two or three teachers during the day. And seventh- and eighth-graders will switch four times during the day as they learn 1 50 ¢ Vol. 4, Issue 38 Few hurdles left for airport industrial park By Cindy Yingst The Columbia Press Efforts to resolve issues at the Air- port Industrial Park are progressing as the Port of Astoria works with two seafood processing plants planning to locate there. The Scoular Company, based in Omaha, Neb., is in the design and feasibility stages of building a fish meal and fish oil processing plant. Their product would be used for pet food and aquaculture. “Warrenton’s proximity to the nec- essary raw material supply makes it an attractive location for this plant,” said Melissa Matczak, Scoular’s se- nior communications manager. Da Yang Seafoods, which has a pro- cessing plant on the port’s Pier 2, would build a new facility to process shrimp, rockfish, hake, crab and tuna. While Scoular plans to begin build- ing as soon as possible so it can be ready for next year’s fall fishing sea- son, Da Yang’s plans are a couple years out. There are four things that must be resolved before any development can Warrenton Grade School Prin- cipal Rod Heyen greets a group of kindergarten and first-graders Monday morning. Right: Ally Baber, 9, and her brother, Tommy, 7, arrive to school in cheerful face cover- ings, this year’s fashion trend. Sara Gingrich for The Columbia Press See ‘School’ on Page 4 See ‘Airport’ on Page 6 New community development director has his eye on downtown By Cindy Yingst The Columbia Press Warrenton has a new community development director. Scott Hess, 36, will take on the role in late October, City Manager Linda Engbretson said. Hess is community and economic development director for the Wasatch Front Regional Council in Salt Lake City. The council is an association of governments made up of elected officials from six counties. He formerly was the council’s trans- portation planner for bicycle and pe- destrian facilities. “Scott’s past ex- perience in city and Scott Hess county government and transportation planning will be a tremendous asset to Warrenton’s fu- ture,” Engbretson said. Hess replaces Kevin Cronin, who left in July to become city manager of Mount Angel. “For the past 15 years, my wife and I have spent summer vacations on the Oregon coast between Cannon Beach and Astoria. I asked my wife to mar- ry me on the beach in Gearhart,” Hess said. “When I saw the Warrenton plan- ning position, it felt like applying somewhere familiar and somewhere that we already loved. I am excited to be able to help the community plan for the future in an area that I have been fortunate enough to spend a consider- able amount of time in.” In his new position, Hess will take on the revitalization of Warrenton’s downtown and oversee development throughout the city as well as promote See ‘Director’ on Page 6