Think twice if you’ve been speeding along Main Avenue. On Tuesday night, city leaders mulled dropping the speed limit from 35 to 25 at the request of a concerned citizen. Ultimately, they chose to leave it as is, but with additional traffic enforcement. Bob Baltimore, who lives on 15th Street off Main Avenue, floated the idea during a recent Monday morning Coffee with the Mayor. “Trying to get out from the side streets with traffic coming from both directions is a bit hazardous,” (continued)
Clatsop County is accepting applications for representatives on six new citizen advisory committees. The panels are part of a two-year project to update the county’s six community plans and comprehensive plan. Those appointed will join representatives from other county boards and commissions in acquiring input from stakeholders, advising county staff and providing recommendations on the county’s planning documents. The comprehensive plan represents the long-term land-use vision for the (continued)
AARP Foundation is providing free in-person tax assistance and preparation through April 15 at two sites in Clatsop County. AARP’s Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest volunteer-run, free tax preparation service. Tax-Aide started in 1968 with just four volunteers working at one site. Today, nearly 35,000 volunteers serve low- to moderate-income taxpayers at 5,000 locations in neighborhood libraries, malls, banks, community centers and senior centers nationwide. The help is available at both (continued)
The Sunset Bike Trail at Fort Stevens State Park will be closed to all foot and pedal traffic weekdays through April 30. The trail will be open to visitors on weekends. The closure is necessary for an ongoing forest health project at the park, according to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Sunset Bike Trail is the only trail affected by the project; all other trails at the park are expected to remain open while the work is completed. The forest health and fire safety project at the (continued)
Astoria Scuba and Adventure Sports, along with Astoria Fire and Safety, has earned state certification in three categories: Emerging Small Business, Minority Business Enterprise and Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise. The companies are the only ones in Clatsop County with all three designations, said Floyd Holcom, president and general manager. “This is quite an accomplishment in the certification requirements for government contracts,” Holcom said. “And (it) provides (continued)
Three local students were among those who earned dean’s list recognition at George Fox University for the fall 2018 semester. They are Gabrielle Brinkman of Warrenton, a freshman illustration and theater major; Matthew Burgher of Warrenton, a freshman organizational communication major; and Morgan Postlewait of Astoria, a senior biology major. Traditional undergraduate students must earn at least a 3.5 grade point average. The Newberg-based university is ranked by Forbes among the top (continued)
The city hasn’t raised the amount it charges developers in more than a decade and has fallen behind what other cities charge for things like electrical and fire inspections and building plan reviews. Charging low fees means the city has been using general fund (taxpayer) money to cover the shortfall for work done by its planning and building department on behalf of developers. A final vote on a proposal to raise fees by about 16 percent overall is expected at Tuesday’s City Commissio (continued)
About 500 Warrenton Grade School students received vision and hearing screenings last month. The Lion’s Club Sight and Hearing Foundation performed the vision tests for students in kindergarten through Fifth Grade using spot-vision screening cameras. “It’s an effective tool to quickly screen for disorders such as near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and astigmatism,” said Jackie Welborn, the school’s nurse. Welborn kept parents informed of the results and, when necessary, helped parents (continued)
Lewis & Clark Bank and Clatsop Community Bank jointly announced Friday the signing of a definitive agreement to merge Clatsop into Lewis & Clark in a stock and cash transaction. The aggregate merger is valued at approximately $15 million, based on Lewis & Clark’s Jan. 30 closing stock price of $34.25. “The merger of Lewis & Clark and Clatsop represents a significant milestone for each institution and was driven by what we both see as opportunities for sustainable future growth,” said (continued)
Three local students were named to the dean’s list of Eastern Oregon University for the 2018 fall term. The students were Abby Mathews of Warrenton, Whitney Westerholm of Seaside and Danielle Williams of Cannon Beach. To make the dean’s list, students must achieve and maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher while completing a minimum of 12 hours of course work. Four local students were named to the dean’s list at Pacific University for the 2018 fall semester. The students were (continued)
Recently, I had the distasteful experience of very nearly being attacked by a faux service dog while grocery shopping inside the Seaside Safeway. The dog was initially loose when it came up to me and began smelling my leg. Just as the dog began growling, a guy appeared and dragged the dog away from me as it growled and barked at me. I immediately reported this to Customer Service, who brought the manager to me. They searched the store for the dog, making sure it was gone. I was very impressed (continued)
Clatsop Economic Development Resources (CEDR) and WorkSource Northwest Oregon are sponsoring the fifth annual Clatsop County Job & Career Fair on Wednesday, March 6, in Clatsop Community College’s Patriot Hall. Employers can sign up by contacting CEDR at 503-338-2402. Job-seekers should come during the following hours: ** High school students, 10 a.m. to 1 pm. ** General public and college students, 1:15 to 3:15 p.m. Astoria, Ilwaco, Jewell, Knappa, Naselle, Seaside and Warrenton hig (continued)
Astor Street Opry Company presents “Robin Hood: The Musical” at 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays Feb. 16 through March 3. The children’s theater production is through special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Services of Colorado and is directed by Patricia VonVintage. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger and can be purchased at asocplay.com. (continued)
“Savvy Caregiving,” a free six-session training program designed for caregivers who serve family members and friends with dementia/Alzheimer’s, will be held 10 a.m. to noon Fridays, beginning Feb. 8. The program is sponsored by NW Senior and Disability Services and will be held at the office, 2002 S.E. Chokeberry Ave., Warrenton. The goal of Savvy is to increase knowledge and skills to lessen caregiver stress and improve levels of care. Included is information about dementia, it (continued)
The Astoria chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution invites elementary students to participate in a Youth Explorer challenge. Students will be asked to visit as many historical sites in their communities and counties as possible before April 5. Students should take photos of each landmark and write a short paragraph telling what they learned and why that site interested them. A certificate will be given to each participant. One student will be chosen from each participating school (continued)
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has released its schedule for stocking local lakes. Smith Lake will be stocked March 18-22 and April 22-26. Cullaby Lake will be stocked March 18-22. Vernonia Lake will be stocked March 18-22, April 1-5, and April 29-May 3. Sunset Lake will be stocked April 1-5, April 22-26, and Sept. 16-20. Coffenbury Lake will be stocked March 18-22, April 1-5, April 22-26, May 27-31, and Sept. 16-20. (continued)
North Coast Symphonic Band returns to the Liberty Theatre for its 38th season in October. The community band, with Dave Becker as conductor and musical director, is a self-supporting nonprofit group with 50 volunteer musicians. The group provides two of its four annual concerts for free. The first concert of the season is at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28. “Dances of Enchantment” will feature a collaboration between the North Coast Symphonic Band and 3 Leg Torso, a well-known ethnic folk band from (continued)
** Warrants Warrant service, 10:29 p.m. Feb. 5, Warrenton Post Office. Donald Curtis Castle, 48, with no known address was arrested on a felony warrant out of Washington County. Warrant service, 12:29 p.m. Feb. 9, 1100 block Southeast Willow Drive. Jessie Blake Hancock, 27, of Seaside. ** Thefts and burglaries Stolen diamond ring, 2:17 p.m. Feb. 4, Fred Meyer Jewelers. Jessica A. Heckart, 41, of Warrenton was arrested on suspicion of second-degree theft after surveillance video allegedly showed (continued)
Telephone scams targeting businesses are making the rounds in Clatsop County, the Sheriff’s Office reports. “The scammers are impersonating law enforcement officers, including deputies from the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office,” Bergin wrote in a press release. “The names they choose to identify themselves by may belong to an actual sheriff’s office employee.” The scams attempted thus far are targeting professional offices, but they expect private citizens to be hit up as well the (continued)
** Thefts and burglaries Stolen license plate, Jan. 27, Warrenton Marina. A man reported a license plate was removed from his pickup during the four days he was on his boat fishing. Theft by fraud, 4:12 p.m. Jan. 27, Home Depot. John Ethan Osburn, 41, of Gearhart was arrested on suspicion of third-degree theft after he allegedly took items off the shelf and attempted to obtain a refund for them at the customer service window. Shoplifting, 4:36 p.m. Jan. 27, Walmart. Brittaney D. Woodfork, 25, (continued)
