Oregon became the No. 1 state in the nation for new COVID-19 cases during the past week, with an increase of 58 percent. The more contagious B.1.1.7 variant is now the dominant strain in Oregon, which is fueling a fourth surge of coronavirus cases despite four out of every 10 Oregonians having received at least one dose of vaccine, according to health officials. “You may be wondering why cases have been on the rise recently, especially as we see an increase in vaccination across the state,” (continued)
The Warrenton boys baseball team dominated Woodburn's Bulldogs in last Saturday's afternoon home contest. Then on Tuesday, the team barely squeaked out a 7-6 win at Taft. But last weekend, the Warriors’ win was never in jeopardy. Dawson Little pitched the entire seven innings, having four strikeouts, allowing only three hits, and giving up one run. Dawson contributed two hits to the Warrior offense, pounding in two runs. Mikey Ulness went two for three and tossed in a couple more runs for the (continued)
Running for director, Zone 2, Position 2
** Patrick C Preston** Age: 69 Residence: Astoria Occupation: Disabled veterans outreach program specialist with Oregon Employment Department Education: Bachelor of science in management of human resources from George Fox College and completion of the Command and General Staff College through the U.S. Army. Community involvement: Chairman of the Transportation Advisory Committee for Sunset Empire Transportation District for six years. Support all veterans organizations. What will you bring to (continued)
Running for director, Zone 2, Position 2
** Sara Meyer ** Age: 76 Residence: Astoria Occupation: Retired; I co-owned with my husband, Chuck, and worked at The Compleat Photographer for 31 years. Before that, I had worked with Job Corps and Community Action programs. Education: Attended Riddle High School, bachelor’s degree from University of Oregon. Community involvement: We birthed three and raised four boys. During their school years in Astoria, I was active in PTA, Scouts, and soccer. Through work I helped form the Downtown (continued)
Running for director, Zone 2, Position 3
** Robert Duehmig ** Age: 56 Residence: Astoria Occupation: Interim director, Oregon Office of Rural Health Education: Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University. Community involvement: Clatsop Community College Board member for five years How have you contributed to the board? I work with rural communities all across Oregon. I understand the importance of the college to our North Coast communities and the advantages we have over communities that don’t have access to continuing education and (continued)
Running for director, Zone 2, Position 3
** Trudy Van Dusen Citovic ** Age: 42 Residence: Astoria Occupation: Business owner, Van Dusen Beverages Education: Astoria High School valedictorian; bachelor’s degree with honors in international relations and Spanish, Stanford University Community involvement: Friends of Astoria Column; board member/founder Fire Station Yoga (free community yoga). What will you bring to the college board? I am deeply rooted in Clatsop County and a sixth generation Astorian. I’m co-owner of Oregon’s (continued)
Running for director, Zone 3, Position 6
** Suzanne Iverson ** Age: 73 Residence: Astoria Occupation: Retired community education/workforce training coordinator at Clatsop Community College for 18 years Education: Medford High School graduate, Northwestern Business College in Portland, Portland State University certificate in Workforce Training Community involvement: Owner of a small business, Iverson Farms; Pacific Woods Special Olympics board member; Astoria-Warrenton Chamber board member; 4-H programs in Clatsop County. What will (continued)
Running for director, Zone 3, Position 6
** Dave Zunkel ** Age: 73 Residence: Warrenton, since 2013 Occupation: Retired physician, diagnostic radiology, specializing in ultrasound, practicing in the Navy at Bremerton, Wash., 1977-1979, and Everett, Wash., 1980-2013 Education: Bachelor’s degree in biology, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana; medical degree, University of Colorado, Denver; diagnostic radiology board certification, Naval Regional Medical Center, San Diego; fellowship, ultrasound/CT, University of Colorado. (continued)
A Warrenton man who allegedly skipped town after being ordered to face trial on attempted murder and other charges was arrested Wednesday in Clackamas County. Sidney Ross Crawford, 61, was taken into custody by members of the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force. Crawford initially was arrested Feb. 25 by Warrenton police officers during a domestic disturbance in the 500 block of South Main Avenue. He was accused of pouring gasoline on another person and threatening to light them both on (continued)
First published in the April 30 print edition
City leaders took a tougher stand against marijuana businesses, making it harder for them to locate in the only area of town they’re allowed – the industrial zones on the east side of Highway 101. Formerly, any marijuana business wanting to locate there would have been allowed. But Tuesday night’s City Commission action made the businesses “conditional” instead of “permitted” uses, meaning each would require a public hearing and approval from the City Commission or Planning (continued)
First published in the April 30 print edition
Homeowners who need some good news may want to check their home’s value on Zillow or other home sales websites. Value has risen substantially in the past year and especially in the past few months. “The global pandemic hammered many industries and led to massive unemployment, but homeowners are coming away with a big win,” according to Erik Knoder, a state economist for Oregon’s Northwest region. “Home prices not only continued to rise in many cities across the nation, but they (continued)
Last Friday was a Clatskanie clash times two. The girls' softball team had a double-header at home and the boys' baseball had a double on the road. It wasn't pleasant for the home fans. The girls lost 12-0 and 15-4. Mia McFadden and Avyree Miethe split the pitching duties in the first game and Avyree pitched the entirety of the second. On the flip side, the boys won 18-0 and 12-1 in Clatskanie. In game one, Duane Falls threw a no-hitter, striking out 13 batters. Josh Earls and Dylan Atwood had (continued)
First published in the April 23 print edition
The arrival of warm weather means road construction is on the horizon. Oregon Department of Transportation refers to its plan for spending $800 million in road repairs this year as the “Fix-It Program.” Ten fix-its are in Clatsop County. All of them are included in the three-year Statewide Transportation Improvement Program or STIP. ODOT’s Fix-It Program is the largest single funding category in the STIP – despite the fact the agency made a shift toward pedestrian safety, trails and (continued)
Four young women have been named to the 2021 Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Court. They’ll represent the region and the festival throughout the spring, speaking at various lodge meetings and events about what their heritage means to them. Traditionally, the festival is held on the third full weekend of June every year. This year’s festival will be somewhat limited because of the pandemic, with a few of the events occurred in downtown Astoria. Members of the court are: Lila-Ju (continued)
Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Association has named Loran Mathews of Astoria as grand marshal of the 2021 Midsummer Festival Optog Parade. This year’s parade will be a drive-by event held June 19 on Marine Drive in front of the Maritime Museum. Despite not being of Nordic heritage, Mathew’s involvement in the Midsummer Festival spans 50 years, when he was asked to head the parade committee. The next year, Mathews became chairman of the festival and has since served as chair and (continued)
Clatsop Community College’s nursing program received an eight-year re-approval by the Oregon State Board of Nursing. The approval was for the maximum term and was the culmination of a yearlong process of self-study as well as a three-day site visit from the board’s representative, Dr. Sarah Wickenhagen. Wickenhagen found no deficiencies in Clatsop’s nursing program and her recommendations will guide the college in providing increased support to the program and its students. The surveyor (continued)
The Port of Astoria’s loan refinancing arrangement proved just a little too good to be true. When port commissioners approved a refinance plan for the Pier One Building on April 6, it was estimated the agency would save more than half a million dollars. On Tuesday, they learned the news wasn’t quite that good. The proposal from Kitsap Bank was contingent on the building qualifying for tax-exempt status. But because port offices are no longer in the building and much of it is leased to (continued)
Columnists & Other Opinions
As many know, I was away for three weeks in Florida for my day job (not city related) recently. While staying at Eglin Air Force Base, I managed to travel to Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama on the weekends. Why do I mention this? Because I am always trying to walk through other cities to see how they developed their town, what kinds of businesses are located where and how busy they are, how they landscaped the town and the layout of their parks and how well they are used. In short, I’m (continued)
I’m sure many seniors remember the evening of March 27, 1964, if they lived here then. That was when the most destructive tsunami to ever hit the United States hit our coast. It formed off the Alaskan Coast following the worst earthquake in North American history. There is a review of the book, “This is Chance!” by Jon Mooallem in the May Reader’s Digest, in the “Drama in Real Life” section. Mooallem tells the story of reporter Genie Chance, who spent more than 30 hours of nonstop (continued)
I’ve been hearing a lot about how real dreams can be, especially for seniors. I remember many of my dreams and have never had a spam or telemarketer call in a dream. My dreams solve some of what I once called problems, but sometimes they present others. We older people remember when we used to say, “Sweet dreams, sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite.” That little line originated in 1896 in New England. In a book about signs, sayings and superstitions, we learn that, back then, (continued)
Events
An international film festival dealing with fly fishing begins this month in Oregon and Washington. Admission to the virtual Fly-Fishing Film Festival is $25 and includes 10 films from around the world showcasing the past time’s passion, lifestyle and culture. In addition to films, there will be product giveaways and other promotions. One attendee will be selected to win a grand prize worth thousands of dollars in fly-fishing gear provided by sponsors. The event is sponsored by Coastal (continued)
Hearing birds sing each spring is one of the happiest sounds for many people. How birds produce their songs and calls, and how birds use the vocalizations in different settings is the subject of this month’s Nature Matters presentation. Bird expert David Lukas will lead the talk in a Facebook Live presentation at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 13, on the Fort George Brewery’s Facebook page. Lukas has written many books and articles about birds. His most recent book, “Language Making Nature,” (continued)
Warrenton High School’s drama class will present “All Shook Up” for three nights this month.
The play is a 2004 “jukebox musical,” in which most of the music will be familiar to the audience. “All Shook Up” includes the music of Elvis Presley.
Performances are at 7 p.m. May 12, 14, and 15 in the gym at the high school, 1700 S. Main Ave.
For tickets, call the school office at 503-861-3317. (continued)
A review of the Labor Day fires of 2020, which devastated some parts of Oregon, is the focus of a May 13 lecture sponsored by the Lower Nehalem Watershed Council. Dan Donato, who holds a doctorate in forest sciences from Oregon State University, will lead the discussion, set for 7 p.m. via Zoom. The event is free. Donato teaches at the University of Washington School of Forestry and has studied Pacific Northwest forest fires for years, with his first publication on the topic in 2006. Sinc (continued)
Ten artists from the Knappa Art, Acrylic and Photography 4-H Group will hold their initial exhibition May 8 through June 4 at Astoria Art Loft, 106 Third St. They’ll also be the featured artists for the Second Saturday Art Walk, which is from 1 to 4 p.m. May 8. Visitors will have an opportunity to talk with the young artists and those interested in art are urged to learn more about the 4-H program. 4-H started as an agriculturally based group for young people more than a century ago. Today (continued)
A free scavenger hunt and ballet performance will be featured during the Second Saturday Art Walk in downtown Astoria. Each year, the Liberty Theatre welcomes 2,100 school children to see a fully staged ballet production performed by Astoria School of Ballet. This year, in lieu of the field trip and the live shows, there will be a sneak peak at “La Boutique Fantasque” (the magic toyshop) live on the Liberty stage. Each participant will receive free access to the troupe’s recorded version (continued)
Clatsop County Master Gardener Association is holding its spring plant sale online through May 20. A virtual plant store is available on their website, clatsopmastergardeners.org, where shoppers will find a variety of tomato, herb and other vegetables that can be purchased online. All plants are organic and have been selected by the Master Gardeners for their suitability to the Pacific Northwest coast. Purchases will be available for pickup from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 22, at Fernhi (continued)
Wildlife Center of the North Coast will have its annual spring open house and native plant sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 8.
The public is invited to tour the center’s hospital and grounds. And there will be crafts for kids. Proceeds from the sale of plants and other merchandise go toward the rescue, rehabilitation and release of local native wildlife.
The center is a 89686 Highway 202 in Astoria. (continued)
Three watercolor artists – Gheri Fouts, Linda Gebhart, and Linda Wyss -- are featured through May at Trails End Gallery, 656 A St., Gearhart. A reception for the artists is set for 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 1, at the gallery. Show hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through May 30. Fouts was raised in Chicago. After teaching science and math, she found the opportunity to pursue her passion for art. She has shown her paintings at Trail’s End, Astoria Visual Art (continued)
Clatsop County Historical Society’s Heritage Museum is the first stop on a traveling exhibit, “Away from Home: Native American Boarding School Stories.” The exhibit can be viewed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through May 25 at the museum, 1618 Exchange St., Astoria. Admission is $5. Astoria is the only location on the West Coast for the traveling exhibit, which was made possible by NEH on the Road, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Beginning in the 1870s, the U.S. (continued)
An art show focusing on Clatsop Community College’s art faculty opened Thursday, April 8, and runs through May 13 in the Royal Nebeker Gallery, 1799 Lexington Ave., Astoria. Faculty members whose works are featured are Lucien Swerdloff, Richard Rowland, David Homer, Miki’ala Souza, Ben Rosenberg, and Kristin Shauck. Two invited practicing artists also featured are Deanna Antony, the current Astoria Visual Arts artist in residence, and Modou Dieng, a multidisciplinary artist based i (continued)
Police and Public Safety
** Warrants ** Warrant service, 3:53 p.m. April 21, Fred Meyer bus stop. Joshua Henry Marshall, 36, no known address, was arrested on four warrants. He was booked at Clatsop County Jail. People sleeping in running vehicle, 2:12 p.m. April 24. Jorge Perez Munoz, 23, of Estacada was arrested on a felony warrant from Clackamas County. Warrant service, 10:27 p.m. April 25, Fred Meyer. Heidi E. Hughes, 46, of Winlock, Wash., was arrested on a warrant out of Curry County. Warrant service, 6:20 p.m. (continued)
** Warrants ** Warrant service, 4:30 p.m. April 17, woods behind Southeast 19th Street. Derrick Lee Lyons, 34, of Warren was arrested on a warrant from Columbia County. Warrant service, 2:15 a.m. April 19, Warrenton Mini Mart. Kristina M. Andrews, 51, of Vancouver, Wash., was arrested on a failure-to-appear warrant. ** Thefts and burglaries ** Shoplifting, 11:35 a.m. April 18, Walmart. Mireya Conrad, 41, of Seaside was cited for third-degree theft after she allegedly attempted to leave th (continued)
Education
Five local students have been named to the dean’s list for winter term at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande.
Qualifying students must maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher while completing a minimum of 12 hours of coursework.
Astoria students named to the list are Amanda Adams, Richard Bennett, Krista Heinzman and Trenton Shaw.
Warrenton resident Clark Miner also was named to the list. (continued)
