The top downtown projects that should be completed using special tax money include placing power lines underground, building a parking lot, and renovating the public pier at Warrenton Marina. Those were the top three choices selected Wednesday afternoon by members of the Warrenton Urban Renewal Advisory Committee. The seven-member panel advises the city’s Urban Renewal Agency, which currently is made up of the five city commissioners. The agency is tasked with spending money raised within the (continued)
The University of Oregon will receive more than $400,000 in federal funds for research into improving earthquake early warning systems, U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced. “A state-of-the-art early warning system for earthquakes and tsunamis in Oregon and the entire West Coast is a must to save lives if and when disaster strikes,” Wyden said. “I am gratified that the University of Oregon has earned these awards to continue building on its pioneering research to improve this (continued)
A statewide rent-control bill, which was passed by the legislature a week ago, limits the amount landlords can raise tenant rent. The Oregon Department of Administrative Services’ Office of Economic Analysis calculated the percentage of increase allowed this year as 10.3 percent. Senate Bill 608 requires the agency to calculate and post to its website by Sept. 30 of each year, the maximum annual rent increase allowed by statute for the following calendar year. Because the bill has taken (continued)
Potential homeowners can consider using an Oregon First-time Homebuyers Savings Account to help save for a new home and possibly reduce their taxes. In 2018, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 4007, which allows Oregonians to deduct up to $5,000 ($10,000 if filing jointly) per year from their taxable income for deposits and earnings in a FTHSA. Eligible Oregon residents are those who haven’t purchased or owned a single-family home, either individually or jointly, in the three years (continued)
Astoria Co-op Grocery is among the 13 solar projects across Oregon, Washington and California to receive funding from Pacific Power customers who participate in the Blue Sky Block renewable energy program. Blue Sky grants will fund up to $1.2 million in renewable energy projects in 2019, bringing more than 1,055 kilowatts of new solar-powered energy online. Since 2006, Pacific Power Blue Sky Block option program participants have helped fund the installation of 113 community-based projects. (continued)
Summer Spell of Seaside was named to the dean’s list at Azusa Pacific University. Spell, a global studies major, was honored for fall semester 2018 and had an academic standing of 3.5 or better. Azusa Pacific is a Christian university in Southern California. (continued)
Warrenton’s Shilo Inn owes the city $126,000 in room tax money collected from patrons who stayed at the hotel. In letters dated Jan. 18 and Feb. 15, City Attorney Spencer Parsons demands payment of the taxes that were collected by the hotel in the second half of 2018. The letters are addressed to Shilo’s corporate office in Portland, its management corporation, and the Warrenton hotel. The city-imposed deadline to prevent further legal action was Feb. 22. But the fees had not been received (continued)
A two-year project to repair Youngs Bay Bridge begins the month. The work consists of raising the lift-span tower bracing, replacing rocker bearings, repairing damaged concrete and replacing compression joint seals. The Highway 101 bridge connecting Warrenton and Astoria was built in 1963. Heavy traffic, exposure to the elements and rapid temperature changes have caused deterioration, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation. The work includes periodic single-lane closures at night (continued)
The local chapter of American Association of University Women has set an April 5 deadline for applying for a $2,000 scholarship. This scholarship is awarded annually to a female resident from northwestern Oregon or southwestern Washington who is enrolled or planning to enroll in a degree program. The candidate must have been out of high school five or more years. The application is available at seaside-or.aauw.net under “Foundation.” The Seaside AAUW branch was established in 1943. (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)
A new Clatsop County Citizens Police Academy is scheduled to start in April. Residents will have an opportunity to meet local police officers and deputies, learn about different aspects of law enforcement and find out how to volunteer. Applications are available at police departments and at the sheriff’s office. The 10-week academy is from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays beginning April 16 at various locations with an added firearms training on Saturday, May 18. It’s the second year the academy has (continued)
** Thefts and burglaries Shoplifting, noon Feb. 26, Walmart. Tara Lynn Jones, 32, of Astoria was arrested on suspicion of third-degree theft and criminal mischief after she allegedly attempted to leave the store without paying for $88 in food and clothes. Shoplifting, 5:40 p.m. Feb. 26, Walmart. Sarai Eduardo-Davis, 35, of Astoria was arrested on suspicion of third-degree theft after she allegedly attempted to leave the store without paying for $59 in clothes and spray paint. Burglary, 11:07 (continued)
A Hammond man was cited for causing an oil spill at Carruthers Park. The park host, who lives on site, called police about 8:30 a.m. Sunday when he woke to find a 400- to 500-square-feet spill in the parking lot near the dog park. A large oil barrel was split open, lying on the asphalt in the park’s east entrance and oil was trailing toward a storm drain with the words “outflows to stream” printed on it, according to a police report. The park host had disposed of the barrel, which had (continued)
The theft of bottles and cans, whether collected by individuals, markets or recycling centers, has become an increasing problem. At least once a month, Warrenton police respond to calls of recyclables thefts from yards, garages or from behind stores. A Warrenton man riding a bicycle was arrested Feb. 17 after taking two large bags of cans and bottles from Main Street Market. A customer brought $120 worth of recyclables to the store for a refund about 10:30 a.m. Feb. 16, according to a polic (continued)
** Warrants Shoplifting suspect observed in area, 8:43 p.m. Feb. 20, 1600 block Ensign Lane. Keith Allen Greenawald, 43, of Seaside was arrested on multiple outstanding warrants, including contempt of court. Warrant service, 6:39 p.m. Feb. 21, 500 block Northwest Seventh Place. Lissa Kay Maddox, 38, with no known address, was arrested on warrants for failure to appear in court. ** Thefts and burglaries Theft and vandalism, 8:38 a.m. Feb. 15, 300 block Southeast Marlin Avenue. Someone stole two (continued)
Local teams have been getting ready for regional competitions of Oregon Battle of the Books. Warrenton Grade School in the third through fifth grades traveled to St. Helens last weekend for a regional competition. The middle school competition will be Saturday, March 16, at Warrenton Grade School.The top teams in each division move on to compete at the OBOB state finals April 6 at Chemeketa Community College in Salem. In Battle of the Books competitions, teams participate in a round robin, quiz (continued)
