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