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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (March 5, 2021)
The Columbia Press Clatsop County’s Independent Weekly www.thecolumbiapress.com March 5, 2021 The great outdoors is an excellent teacher By Bruce Dustin For The Columbia Press Warrenton students are exploring the outdoors, investigating micro- organisms, and trying their hands at archery. They’re even pitching in to help the community. It’s all part of the Warren- ton-Hammond School District’s new Outdoor School at Camp Ki- wanilong. “At Outdoor School, we have been given the opportunity to present our students with the chance at activities that are hands-on in a time that has been really difficult to present to students,” said Jake Mullins, a sixth-grade social stud- ies and science teacher based at the Outdoor School. The plan was to get students ac- tively engaged in what they’re learning. “Students have been research- ing and learning about invasive species. They have gone on nature walks and used that time to iden- tify plants and animals. We have looked at the microscopic life in Long Lake out here at camp,” Mul- lins said. “The students have even 1 50 ¢ Vol. 5, Issue 10 Port signs lease on largest deal in a decade Plant to kick off first development within Airport Industrial Park By Cindy Yingst The Columbia Press Above: Volunteers Scott Norman and Dusty Wal- lace work with students on their archery skills. Norman is a former Aerotek employee and Wallace is president of the Saddle Mountain Archers Club. Right: STEM teacher Heidi Lent helps a stu- dent with a project. See ‘Outdoors’ on Page 4 Photos by Bruce Dustin Spruce Up donates statue to city marina The Columbia Press A tribute to working fishermen and wom- en has found a home outside the Warren- ton Marina offices. The statue was donated last week by Spruce Up Warrenton, a grassroots group whose mission is to clean up and revitalize downtown. The piece was created by chainsaw artist and woodworker Konlim Bokor of Original Roots Carving. The cedar log was donated by Gill Gramson and Luke Ness. Landscaping will be added to the area around the statue, according to Harbor- master Jane Sweet. “The city is pleased to partner with Spruce Up Warrenton in recognition of the importance of the fishing industry to Warrenton with this display of pub- lic art,” City Manager Linda Engbretson said. Spruce Up plans to have a dedication ceremony as soon as the landscaping is complete. The Port of Astoria signed the lease this week for what’s believed to be its largest project in more than a decade: The Scoular fish processing plant at Airport Industrial Park. “As you know, this has been a long row to hoe,” Matt McGrath, the port’s deputy director, told port commission- ers Tuesday. “This is an exciting moment to get this on the agenda, to McGrath get it to the commission. This is the largest development proj- ect that the port has undertaken in, certainly, since my tenure and I think it’s been the largest one in the last 10 years.” The 20-year lease, which requires signoff from the city of Warrenton, is the last component before Scoular can begin constructing its project. The lease was unanimously ap- proved by port commissioners. Scoular will pay $2,014 per month this year for the 1.46-acre property ad- jacent to the airport. Beginning in 2022 – once the plant is built and in working order – rent jumps to $4,028 per month with small increases throughout the life of the lease. Scoular has the option to extend the lease for four additional five-year terms, port Executive Director Will Isom said. “Potentially, it could take See ‘Scoular’ on Page 4