2A • September 15, 2017 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com
Stevens named to Port of Astoria Commission
Retired Coast
Guard captain fills
vacant seat
By Edward Stratton
EO Media Group
ASTORIA — The Port of As-
toria Commission on Tuesday,
Aug. 22, unanimously appointed
retired U.S. Coast Guard Capt.
Robert Stevens of Warrenton to
fill the vacancy left by Robert
Mushen, who resigned earlier
this month because of medical
issues.
Stevens, a veteran of 34 years
in the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy
and a merchant marine, said he
would offer calm, quiet confi-
dence to help the Port promote
growth and stay fiscally respon-
sible.
“The Port’s received a lot of
criticism, some of it justified,”
he said during introductions of
the seven hopefuls for Mushen’s
seat. “I’m here to make this a
professional, deliberative body,
the way that democracy is envi-
sioned, and I know that several of
you believe the same thing.”
He was joined in interviews
Tuesday by former commission
candidate Pat O’Grady, former
budget committee Chairman John
Lansing, land use planner Pame-
la Wev, former Yamhill County
Commissioner Robert Johnstone,
South County developer Russ
Earl and retired inventor Ronald
Meyer.
Most of the people
Stevens, a licensed
who voted the bond
captain of vessels large
down were in South
and small who recent-
County, he said, and
ly retired from teach-
he’d be willing to
ing and evaluating
stump for the project
captains of offshore
on behalf of the Port.
platforms in emer-
Stevens said he
gency management,
wants to help get
ran Port Commission-
government support
er James Campbell’s
on big issues such as
successful re-election
EDWARD STRATTON/
EO MEDIA GROUP
the $13.7 million dif-
campaign against fel-
low incumbent Ste- Robert Stevens was ference between the
Port’s and the Federal
phen Fulton in May’s unanimously ap-
special districts elec- pointed Tuesday to Emergency Manage-
tion. He said he was the Port of Astoria ment Agency’s esti-
mates on damage from
encouraged by others Commission.
the December 2015
to apply for Mushen’s
seat and felt he had something to storms, and in dealing with storm-
water-treatment requirements.
offer the Port.
The Port Commission recent-
Stevens’ take
ly voted to send a letter to North
Stevens fielded questions from Tongue Point landowner Wash-
Port commissioners on several of ington Development Co. seeking
to terminate the agency’s remain-
the agency’s big-ticket issues.
A bond measure to fund infra- ing lease and allow boatbuilder
structure improvements at the As- Hyak Maritime to negotiate a
toria Regional Airport narrowly purchase of the property. Com-
failed in May’s special districts missioner Hunsinger, who ab-
election. Asked by Commissioner stained from the 3-0-1 vote and
Dirk Rohne about his outlook at has blasted the decision, asked
the airport, Stevens said it was a Stevens whether he would want
shame the ballot measure failed, more history and public input on
but that the Port can take baby the issue.
“Tongue Point appears to me
steps to improve the facility, help
medevac service Life Flight find to be a classic example of op-
a better location and attract more portunity exceeding resources,”
Stevens said of the property,
business.
“I would be supportive of which staff has said loses the Port
maybe looking at going to the $250,000 annually.
Stevens said the Port needs
voters again with a bond measure
and doing a better job of selling public input on the issue, but that
it,” he said. “I’d be welcome to the Port needs to consider turning
the property over to private enter-
help do that.”
prise. “The Washington Group,
if they agree with the letter we
wrote to terminate the lease early
— they come back and say that’s
fine — then I think we need to
take a look at public comment and
testimony and make a decision.”
In other news, the Port Com-
mission voted to:
• Spend up to $29,500 on a
rain garden at Astoria Middle
School. The Port was fined more
than $36,000 last year by the state
Department of Environmental
Quality for not properly mon-
itoring stormwater discharges.
The agency was given the option
to lower its fine by spending 80
percent of the total on a local sup-
plemental environmental project.
The garden will use plants col-
lect and treat stormwater runoff,
providing an educational site for
students.
• Have a booth at the Pacific
Marine Expo in Seattle in No-
vember. The Port had prepared to
abandon the expo, with staff say-
ing the benefits of the event are
not worth the expense. Hunsing-
er, a commercial fisherman, ar-
gued for the event, with other
commissioners seeking an option
to share costs with Port customers
attending.
• Extend a lease in the Pier 1
building with the General Ser-
vices Administration, which man-
ages the lease for Customs and
Border Protection. Executive Di-
rector Jim Knight said the lease
extension will run through 2034
and increase the Port’s revenue
by $2,000.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
A Canadian man fell 800 feet to his death
Sunday afternoon at Oswald West State
Park. His body has not been recovered.
Man who fell
at Oswald West
identified
EO Media Group
Authorities have identified the Canadian
man who apparently fell to his death Sun-
day afternoon at Oswald West State Park as
Joseph McDonald Lescene.
Lescene, 51, of British Columbia, was
hiking with his wife near Devil’s Cauldron
when he reportedly lost his footing and fell
about 800 feet to the water below, authori-
ties said. His body has not been recovered.
No foul play is suspected, but the inves-
tigation is ongoing.
POLICE LOG
Aug. 25
Aug. 29
interviewed.
10:16 a.m., 800 block Avenue
S: A property line dispute be-
tween neighbors resulted in a
call to the police. The dispute
was verbal in nature only. The
person talking the loudest
was warned for disorderly
conduct.
9:52 a.m., Avenue G and
Beach: A caller reports a dead
cat in the area.
9:06 p.m., Quatat Park: A
disturbance is reported as well
a woman with a wounded leg.
The disturbance is over and the
alleged woman gone prior to
police arrival.
1:26 p.m., 300 block S.
Holladay: A water rescue was
enacted.
2:21 p.m., 800 block Avenue
C: An intoxicated female driver
who struck a tree was arrested
and charged with DUII.
8:35 p.m., 2600 block S. Roo-
sevelt: An injured deer struck
by a moving vehicle was put
out of its misery by police.
ODOT was notified about the
carcass.
Aug. 26
12:03 a.m., 2100 block N.
Holladay: A person who
intentionally took too many
Ambien and then regretted it
was transported to Providence
Seaside Hospital by Seaside
Fire and Rescue and Medix.
8:17 p.m., Beach and Turn-
around: A missing person is
reported.
3:57 p.m. 2500 block S.
Roosevelt: A deceased person
is reported. A death investiga-
tion is logged.
Aug. 27
12:29 a.m., Avenue S and
Edgewood: A request for a
welfare check resulted in po-
lice assisting another agency.
7:56 p.m., 700 block S. Prom:
Police respond to a report of a
man talking to himself for half
an hour. The described person
was unable to be located.
Sept. 1
11:02 a.m., Sunset Blvd: 2
orange/yellow armchairs
were reported stolen from a
residence.
11:27 a.m., Lea Way: A person
is arrested for violating a re-
straining order against them.
4:35 p.m., 200 block Broadway:
Officers assist in locating a child
reported missing.
1:06 a.m., Oceanway restroom:
Police respond to a welfare
check and then assist another
agency with a medical call.
9:09 a.m., Quatat Park:
Suspicious circumstances are
reported on the docks.
10:02 a.m. The Cove: A caller
reports 3 people in a van doing
drugs. Police responding say no
one is doing drugs and no evi-
dence of drug use was found.
7:50 p.m., Tillamook Head:
A motor vehicle accident is
reported.
11:42 a.m., 1800 block S.
Columbia: A domestic dispute
remained verbal; parties agree
to separate.
Sept. 2
1:30 p.m., Turnaround at the
Prom: Caller reports a person
playing a violin who had roped
lights around the Prom; the
lights and the violinist were
gone before police arrival.
12:04 a.m., Avenue U and
Beach Drive: Officer on patrol
observed someone rifling
through the garbage cans at
a restaurant. Subject says he
works at that location and has
permission from the owner;
subject is warned that if the
owner complains, the subject
could be trespassed or cited.
1:13 a.m., 1st and Columbia:
A person is arrested for driving
under the influence of intoxi-
cants.
3:36 a.m., 300 block Broadway:
A person is cited for offensive
littering.
3:34 a.m., Avenue A: A sick
person was cared for.
1:48 p.m., Ocean Shore and
Lifeguard Tower: Police respond
to a report of a man taking
pictures of girls on the beach.
Caller is informed that is not an
illegal activity.
Aug. 28
Sept. 3
1:36 p.m., Estuary parking lot:
Property crimes are reported.
8:45 p.m., 900 block Avenue S:
A power outage is reported.
2:50 p.m., Seaside police
headquarters: A person came
in to register as a sex offender.
8:56 p.m., 400 block S. Roos-
evelt: Subjects report fighting
in the area. Witnesses are
1:45 a.m., Broadway and Co-
lumbia: A minor was charged
for possession of alcohol.
Sept. 4
said the woman was upset and
he was only trying to calm her
down.
Seaside police assist Gearhart
police at a residence about a
suspect vehicle.
5:04 p.m., 300 block S. Roos-
evelt: Police respond to a report
of youths damaging a concrete
pole. Youths tell police the pole
was already damaged and they
were using it to skateboard on.
Police advise them not to.
11:04 a.m. 200 block S. Roos-
evelt: A person is arrested for
driving under the influence on
intoxicants.
10:44 p.m., 2400 block
Highway 101: A person is
arrested for being in violation
of a restraining order and also
charged with harassment and
interfering with a police officer.
Sept. 7
10:01 a.m. 17th Avenue:
11:31 a.m., 1500 block N.
Roosevelt: An unknown person
trespassed on a business
property, using the back porch
to smoke which started a small
fire that caused no structural
damage. The owner of the
business requests extra patrols
after closing to avoid a repeat
occurrence.
11:46 a.m., 17th Avenue:
Seaside police assist Gearhart
police to interview a subject at
a residence.
Sept. 8
12:11 p.m., Avenue I and
Roosevelt: Police respond to a
report of a subject lying in the
middle of the roadway; when
police arrive the subject is out
of the road but lying nearby
on grass. After it is determined
there is no medical problem,
the subject is given options for
transients.
11:48 p.m., Downing Street:
Officers assist in removing a
person who was asked to leave
the premises who refused to
leave. When they left, they were
trespassed indefinitely.
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Sept. 5
7:50 a.m. The Cove: Police
respond to a report of people
staying overnight in their van
with a lot of trash all around.
Subjects are advised of
unlawful lodging; the trash is
determined to have nothing to
do with them.
9:38 p.m., Ocean Vista and
Avenue W: Subject complains
about people behaving
suspiciously; officer on arrival
determines they are placing
rocks in the rock garden.
Sept. 6
3:12 a.m. 1500 block Spruce:
An assault is reported. The
person was also charged with
harassment.
1:52 p.m., Avenue P and
Neawanna: A couple having a
verbal dispute are warned for
disorderly conduct. The man
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