Friday, December 31, 2010

New EPA Rule Could Delay Longview Fibre Bio-Mass Project



Posted: Wednesday, December 29, 2010 8:30 pm

Courtesy Photo - Two boilers overlook a chip pile at the south end of the Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging mill. The company is seeking to build a $100 million biomass boiler to go online 2013.

Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging officials say a new federal rule to curb greenhouse emissions could unintentionally delay or kill their effort to produce clean, renewable power at the Longview mill......Read Full TDN Report

Thursday, December 30, 2010

The Daily Astorian: Port Of Astoria Revises Lease With Log Exporter


Posted: Wednesday, December 22, 2010 12:26 pm
By KATIE WILSON - The Daily Astorian

Pier 3 Could Be Up And Running As A Log Operation Site S.


At a meeting Tuesday night, the Port of Astoria commissioners approved a revised lease with Westerlund Log Handlers, allowing the Bremerton, Wash.-based company to use Pier 3 and, in turn, allowing the Port to lease out unused space to other operations......Read Full Katie Wilson Report

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

No Confirmation Yet For Oregon U.S. Attorney Spot


From: Statesman Journal-USA Today-AP


Posted 12/28/2010 9:42 AM ET

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Senate adjourned without confirming President Barack Obama's nominee for the top federal prosecutor in Oregon.....Read Full Brief

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

From The Daily News: Washington State Joins Appeal Of Cowlitz County Commission's Approval Of Proposed Coal Export Terminal

By Erik Olson / The Daily News
Posted: Tuesday, December 28, 2010 5:35 pm
Related: Commissioners approve permit for Columbia River coal terminal

The state Department of Ecology has filed to become a party in an appeal of a coal export facility in Cowlitz County, state officials announced Tuesday. The appeal, put forward by an alliance of environmental groups, is scheduled to be heard in mid-April.......Read Full Report

From KGW.Com: Fire Destroys Seaside's 12th Avenue Market

by KGW Staff
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 7:21 AM
Updated today at 7:30 AM

SEASIDE, Ore. – A huge blaze destroyed a grocery store in Seaside early Tuesday morning.
The fire broke out around 3:30 a.m. at the 12th Avenue Grocery Store.
Firefighters said they arrived to see flames shooting out of the roof and it took them an hour to get the blaze under control.
No one was injured in the fire but the building was destroyed. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.....Watch Video Report

Monday, December 27, 2010

From: Oregon Attorney General John Kroger - Mortgage Payment Assistance Available To Qualified Recipient Households



Oregon has recently received $220 million in federal money to help distressed homeowners avoid foreclosure.

The Mortgage Payment Assistance Program pays the mortgage of a qualified recipient household for an entire year, up to $20,000. If you have suffered a loss of income of 25% or more, this program may help you keep your home. The deadline to apply is January 14, 2011. More information is available at OHSI

In many communities this program has gone unnoticed. These days, everyone knows someone for whom it could make all the difference. Please forward this important information to your friends, family and neighbors.

From everyone at DOJ, have a safe and happy New Year!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

From KGW.COM: Joshua & Bruce Turnbridge Sentenced To Death

by Teresa Blackman - KGW.com Staff

Posted on December 21, 2010 at 11:32 AM

SALEM -- The jury sentenced both Bruce and Joshua Turnidge to death for the deadly Woodburn bombing in 2008 that killed two police officers, maimed the police chief and injured a bank worker......Read - Watch Full KGW.com Report

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

The Daily Astorian: Clatsop Sheriff Tom Bergin Named Sheriff Of The Year


The Oregon State Sheriffs Association has named Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin as Sheriff of the year for 2010. He was recently honored at a ceremony in Bend for his accomplishments.....Read Full Daily Astorian report

Oregon Attorney General Cautions Alertness To Seasonal Scams


Read The Alerts

Friday, December 17, 2010

Marion County Grand Jury Clears Brent Foster!


Published: Friday, December 17, 2010, 2:14 PM
By Scott Learn - The Oregonian


A Marion County grand jury has declined to indict Brent Foster, a former top aide to Attorney General John Kroger, for his actions related to a criminal pollution case in Hood River.....Mr. Foster said: "I am obviously very pleased with the grand jury's decision. But it is unfortunate that this has taken almost eight months of my life. After over 10 years of environmental litigation, I made a mistake, voluntarily reported it to my employer and voluntarily resigned as a result. I have dealt with this mistake as best I could and look forward to moving on."His lawyers said: "This result underscores the fact that, with respect to the criminal investigation of Hood River Juice, and Mr. Foster's handling of evidence and his interaction with others involved, Brent acted entirely lawfully and in the best interests of the people of the State of Oregon in pursuing environmental enforcement for the state." Read Full Report

Daily Astorian: Astoria Fire Destroys Two Historic Downtown Buildings


By KATIE WILSON - The Daily Astorian
Photo By - Alex Pajunas
Astoria inferno destroys cafe, office block; cause not known
Firefighters are slowly bringing a two-fire blaze on the Astoria waterfront under control as of 6 a.m. Friday.
The first fire broke out in Gunderson's Cannery Cafe, No.1 building, Sixth Street, around 10:30 p.m. Thursday.
A second fire began not long after in the neighboring No.10 building which houses a variety of offices and businesses including Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare and the Lazy Spoon Cafe.
At first, fire personnel believed the fire at the cafe had spread into the No.10 building. They now have reason to believe that there were two separate fires, said Tara Constantine, public information officer with the Astoria Fire Department.
But the cause of both fires is still unknown.
The fires gutted the two buildings, eating away the roof and interior of the cafe and blasting the river side of the No.10 building. No one was injured.
A massive fire was still blazing on the Astoria waterfront at 4 a.m. Friday.
The fire, which appears to have started at Gunderson's Cannery Cafe, No.1 Sixth Street, and then spread to the adjacent No.10 building, is far from being under control, said Astoria Fire Chief Lenard Hansen.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Clatsop County Manager Looking to Pay Consultant To Tell All How To Govern And Manage At Retreat

"A consultant for the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners is being considered to fully understand and develop the goals, values and objectives of the board." says Duane Cole's call for applicants for this mission under a one year agreement with a 30 day termination clause by either party and renewable for up to three years?

"Team Building", in lieu of "Community Building", and "Strategic Planning" is the mandate with the prospective candidate providing "Retreat" and "Goal Setting" services to the Board of Commissioners, County Manager and Department heads.

Read Full Release

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

ECOTROPE:What Happens In The U.S. When China Reaches Peak Coal Demand?

December 15, 2010 1:05 PM

By Cassandra Profita - ECOTROPE/OPB

New reports show China will run out of domestic coal supplies within 38 years while the U.S. has a 245-year supply. That might explain why Ambre Energy wants to export coal from Wyoming and Montana via the Columbia River.

There’s a lot of discussion lately about China’s growing demand for coal, which is becoming evermore relevant to the Pacific Northwest as Ambre Energy looks to build the West Coast’s first major coal-export terminal in Longview, Wash.

Read Full Report

Oregon Attorney General's 20 Worst Charities List For 2010

Charities are required to file periodic financial reports with the Oregon Department of Justice
documenting their national fundraising and expenditures and explaining how donations were
spent. Under guidelines issued by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), organizations should
dedicate at least 65% of their funds to charitable programs, with no more than 35% toward
administrative and fundraising costs.

The following charities registered to do business in Oregon failed to meet that standard based on a three-year average of annual expenditures. This is not an exclusive list, but represents the 20 charities that fell farthest from the BBB guidelines. .....Read Full Details

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Derelict Properties In Astoria? A Look At The Draft Ordinance.

Any questions on how Derelict Building and Property Maintenance issues will be handled in Astoria?

Here's the Draft Ordinance to help your shape you thinking

Full Draft Of Ordinance

Monday, December 13, 2010

Cowlitz County Approval Of Longview Coal Export Facility Challenged By EarthJustice

By Erik Olson / The Daily News

Posted: Monday, December 13, 2010 12:00 pm

A Seattle environmental group has appealed Cowlitz County's decision to allow construction and operation of a coal export facility at the former Reynolds Metals Co. site west of Longview....Read Full Details

Saturday, December 11, 2010

The Daily Astorian: Ohana Media Group Intends To Buy New Northwest Broadcasters(KAST-AM And Sister Stations)

Posted: Thursday, December 9, 2010 11:54 am

By CHELSEA GORROW - The Daily Astorian

WARRENTON — A deal is pending on the sale of New Northwest Broadcasters (NNB) five local radio stations in Warrenton to NNB’s chief executive Trilla Bumstead’s Ohana Media Group....Read Full Daily Astorian Report

Friday, December 10, 2010

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service Submits response To FERC On Consultation Request For OLNG Terminal & Pipeline

December 9, 2010

Kimberly D. Bose
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First St., N.E., Room 1A
Washington, D.C. 20426

Re: National Marine Fisheries Service’s Response to Request for Formal Consultation for the
Oregon Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal and Pipeline Project, Eastern Pacific Ocean and
Lower Columbia River Basin, Oregon (Docket Nos. CP09-6-000 and CP09-7-000).....

"Accompanying the request was a biological assessment (BA) that, in part, evaluates the effects of the Oregon LNG Project on 28 species under NMFS’ jurisdiction that are listed or proposed for listing under the ESA and their critical habitat, where designated or proposed, in the action area.

In the BA, FERC determined that 20 species are likely to be adversely affected (LAA) by the project and the remaining 8 species are not likely to be adversely affected (NLAA)"......Read Full Letter

Thursday, December 09, 2010

Oregon Executive Sessions: Who's A Legitimate Journalist/Media Outlet and Who Ain't?

Who Decides "Journalism" and "Journalist"?
Carla Axtman - BlueOregon

A rather fascinating situation has developed in Lake Oswego over who gets to cover work done in City Council Executive Session meetings, and who doesn't.

Rebecca Randall, The Portland Trib
Recently, a media and government work group drew up a potential model policy defining who is a journalist, and therefore allowed to attend closed-door city council meetings — called executive sessions. The work group came together in reaction to a policy first written by Lake Oswego City Attorney David Powell after a blogger attempted to attend an executive session.

Read Full Blue Oregon Article
Read Rebecca Randall's Full Portland Tribune Report

Henningsgaard Frontrunner For Astoria City Attorney Spot

File Photo
It's Official!! Henningsgaard New Astoria City Attorney!!
Read Chelsea Gorrow's Daily Astorian Account
Without absolute formal confirmation and appointment, it appears that the Astoria City Council, in a special meeting Monday morning, has tapped attorney and currently sitting Ward 3 Concilor, Blair Henningsgaard as their prime candidate to fill the open spot for Astoria City Attorney, replacing Hal and Jeanyse Snow who have decided to no longer offer their services to the City.


With Henningsgaard not in attendance, Mayor Willis Van Dusen, supported by fellow Councilors LaMear, Roscoe and Warr and members of the Citizen Selection Committee observing, unanimoulsy voiced their recommendation for Henningsgaard over two other attorney firms in contention for the spot.


An Executive Session to interview, negotiate and obviously formalize their selection is scheduled by Astoria City Council for December 6, 2010 at 7:00PM.

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Update:On CofA Public Hearings On Derelict Buildings December 6, 2010


Read Daily Astorian Follow-up Report On Derelict Buildings Hearing

DATE:[December 1, 2010]

TO: MEDIA AND INTERESTED PARTIES

FROM:SHERRI WILLIAMS, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

SUBJECT:PUBLIC INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN DERELICT BUILDING ORDINANCE DISCUSSION

Please publish the following public service announcement:

The City of Astoria recognizes the need to address the issue of derelict buildings. The
City Council will hold a public hearing on December 6, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at 1095 Duane Street, 2nd Floor Council Chambers to take public comments on the proposed Derelict Building Ordinance. Comments received by the public and City Council will be reviewed for incorporation into a final draft ordinance. It is anticipated that the final draft will be presented to City Council for adoption in January, 2011.

For information, please contact Brett Estes, Community Development Director, 503-338-5183 or bestes@astoria.or.us

Point of Contact:Sherri Williams, 503-338-5183, swilliams@astoria.or.us

Friday, December 03, 2010

Interim Director Named For Clatsop County Corrections


Wednesday, December 01, 2010

INTERIM DIRECTOR NAMED FOR COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS
Clatsop County Manager Duane Cole announced Wednesday that Justin Hecht has been appointed Interim Director of the county’s Community Corrections Department....Read Full Release

Thursday, December 02, 2010

Proposed Warrenton WalMart Shows No Current Movement To Date


In response to a query by Grassroots People Blog on the current status of the proposed WalMart project, Warrenton Community Development Director, Carol Parker informs us that as of today's date, there are still no Application Submissions to her office by Walmart or their appointed agents and until that time, any other current information to the contrary would be purely speculative.

Friday, November 26, 2010

November 24, 2010: Columbia Riverkeeper And Northwest Property Rights Coalition Petition To Appeal Clatsop Commission Approval Of OLNG Pipeline

On Novemeber 24, 2010, Columbia Riverkeeper and Northwest Property Rights Coalition jointly filed Notice of Intent to appeal to, The Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals, the recent, November 8, 2010, Clatsop County Commision conditional approval of OLNG's, Oregon Pipeline LLC's consolidated application and geological hazard permit for a 41 mile, high pressure natural gas transomission pipeline in Clatsop County to tie-in with pipleine through adjacent counties on its way to a tie with Trans-Canada pipeline.

Current LUBA Case Number has not been assigned yet and will be forthcoming.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Ireland Appeals For International Bailout

Nov 21, 10:56 AM EST

By SHAWN POGATCHNIK and GABRIELE STEINHAUSER - Associated Press

DUBLIN (AP) -- After weeks of denying it needed a bailout, Ireland Sunday became the second European country to ask for a multibillion euro emergency loan to help stabilize its debt-ridden banks..........Read Full Report
Eu Forks Over $113 Billion To Irish Banks

Port Of Tacoma Torpedoes Coal Export Terminal Plan

Peter Gartrell - Platt's Trader 11/22/2010

The Port of Tacoma said late Friday it has nixed plans for a large coal exporting facility near Seattle after considering“a multitude of business and community factors.”

People familiar with the facility sayBNSF Railway and Union Pacific were considering a terminal with capacity to handle up to 20 million short tons a year, but port commissioners concerned with the potential outcry from environmental activists backed off the plan.....Read Full Report

Cowlitz County Commissioners Delay Decision On Coal Export Project

By Erik Olson / The Daily News
Tuesday, November 16, 2010

After four hours of testimony Tuesday, Cowlitz County commissioners delayed a decision whether to allow an Australia-based company to build a coal export facility at the former Reynolds Metals site in Longview....Read Full Longview Daily News Report

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Obama Nominates Amanda Marshall For Oregon U.S. Attorney Spot





President Obama today nominated a lawyer for Oregon's Department of Justice as the state's top federal prosecutor and the sheriff of Lane County as its new U.S. marshal.


Monday, November 15, 2010

How Does An Urban Renewal District Work You Ask?


Astor-East Urban Renewal District And You Don't Have a "Hoot-In-Hell's" Idea Of What It All Means?

Well here's a little primer that tells you, the citizen, exactly where, in which end, you will be hit if you are impacted.......I think.

An Urban Renwal District Primer From Portland Development Commission

Tonight! November 15, Astoria City Council To Hold Hearing To Ammend Astor-East Urban Renewal Plan

The Astoria City Council will hold a public hearing to consider
Adoption of an ordinance to amend the Astor-East Urban Renewal Plan.
WHERE: City Hall, Council Chambers, 1095 Duane Street, Astoria
WHEN: Monday, November 15, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.


A copy of the ordinance, the amendment to the Urban Renewal Plan and
accompanying report may be obtained by contacting:
Brett Estes, Community Development Director, 503-338-5183,
1095 Duane Street Astoria, Oregon 97103
bestes@astoria.or.us

Read Full Details

Are You An Attorney? Are You Looking For An Exciting Gig?

The City of Astoria is requesting proposals from attorneys at law to provide certain legal services to the City Council, the City Manager and Department Heads.

Go Here For Full Details

Friday, November 12, 2010

The Port of Astoria And South Korea Shippers Agreement


Exerpted from The Daily Astorian article by Katie Wilson:"Port of Astoria forges close ties with South Korea"

"Commission to enter a ‘sister port’ agreement."

A memorandum of understanding lays out a relationship between the U.S. port and the Korean port. The goal is to strengthen trade development between the two ports by exchanging information about port operations, cargo handling equipment, maintenance, shipping plans and trends; by opening up the ports and studying each other's operations; by exchanging trade information that could help in the growth of the ports; and by providing introductions to key public and private officials."


Uh-Oh!

Exciting news, indeed, but for that last line in the paragraph above...."and by providing introductions to key public and private officials."

In my view and being very apprehensive at the moment about this current Port Commission, its make-up and recent decisions, I would think this decision and its magnitude should be an issue that goes way above the local GOB network and should involve all elements of County and Lower Columbia River region governments and the citizen/constituents as well before any final decision is made to avoid the likes of "The Skipanon Peninsula, Calpine-OLNG Boondoggle we are now going to be forced to live with for the next 60 years, it appears.

Let's not forget that two Port Commissioners involved in that blight on our Port history and the same local leaders approached in the private meetings are still here.

Let's pray that this will not be "Deja Vu all over again" and any introduction to and fro between "Port" and the Buson shippers inlcude all of us in this process this time.

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Clatsop County Board Affirms Hearing Officer's Decison Of Conditional Approval Of OLNG Pipeline

The Clatsop Count Board of Commissioners, yesterday, November 8, 2010, affirmed, with modified findings and conditions of approval in a 4-1 vote, the hearing officer's decision to conditionally approve a 41 mile, High Pressure Natural Gas Pipeline in Clatsop County.

Read Full Findings And Decision
View And Read Full Findings Of Approval

Thursday, November 04, 2010

Oregon Appeals Court Rules Against Clatsop County On Bradwood Landing


By: LNG World News from The Daily Astorian, Astoria, Oregon
GRP: And is the leftover Clatsop County Commission that tried to push this project down "The Lower Columbia River's" throat still not listening to a professional county planning staff, that keeps saying no, on the proposed Oregon LNG terminal in Warrenton, Oregon?

A new ruling says Clatsop County was at fault in its handling of the Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas project......Read Full Report

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

KGW Projects Kitzhaber Win From Multnomah County Vote.

By Frank Mungeam - KGW.com Staff; and AP Staff
kgw.com
Posted on November 2, 2010 at 5:13 PM
Updated today at 5:39 PM

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Democrat John Kitzhaber is projected to defeat Chris Dudley for governor of Oregon, according to KGW news partner The Oregonian newspaper.

Read Full Report

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Clatsop County Community Corrections Director Cora Lane To Depart

Tom Bennett - Clatsop County
Department News Release

Friday, October 29, 2010

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS DIRECTOR CORA LANE TO DEPART

GRP: Is it time to consider merging Community Corrections into The Clatsop County Sheriff's Department?
If "No", why not?
Would it be more cost effective to do so?
Is County Corrections and Transition Center (Offenders serving jail sanctions or sentenced to 12 months or less under oversight of the Local Supervisory Authority (made up of both the Sheriff and the Community Corrections Director)) earning it's way or operating in a deficit?

Cora Lane, director of Clatsop County Community Corrections and 34-year county employee, is departing from her post effective Dec. 1, 2010.

Lane first joined Clatsop County in May 1976 as a clerk/typist in the Assessor’s Office. During her subsequent career with the county she served as a civil process server, animal control officer and parole and probation officer. In January 2006 she was promoted to Community Corrections director.

“We commend Cora for her years of dedicated service to Clatsop County and wish her well,” County Manager Duane Cole said.

Lane will assist in the leadership transition in the department, which will likely involve the appointment of an interim director in the short term, Cole said.

Community Corrections supervises adult criminal offenders who have been sentenced to probation or released to post-prison supervisions from a correctional facility. Supervision is handled through a number of various programs, including substance abuse treatment, sex offender and domestic violence programs, social re-education and life skills, drug court and electronic house arrest. The department also runs the 30-bed Transition Center residential facility in Warrenton.

Cole said the department will maintain all services during the transition, depending on funding from the State of Oregon. The county is working to ensure that Community Corrections, which is primarily funded through the state, continues to serve the county in the event of future state funding cuts, he said.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

San Bruno Explosion Should Be Final Nail In LNG Coffin

Posted Oct. 28, 2010, 12:43:00 pm

Santa Monica Mirror Archives - Thomas B. Elias, Columnist
There is no doubt that Pacific Gas & Electric Co. has acted at least somewhat more responsibly in the wake of the September natural gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno than BP, the former British Petroleum, did after its springtime offshore oil platform disaster in the Gulf of Mexico....Read Full Tom Elias Report

Thursday, October 28, 2010

What Is The Tea Party?

October 22, 2010 4:13 PM

David Sirota - COLUMNIST Gazette.com

What is the tea party? Many have tried to answer that question ever since CNBC’s Rick Santelli first launched the backlash with his trading-floor rant against the poor......Read Full Report

Another Perspective

Monday, October 25, 2010

U.S. House Candidate Rob Cornilles: Former Trainees Critical Of his Sports Marketing Business Ethic

Former trainees blast congressional hopeful
Rob Cornilles, the GOP candidate in the 1st District, paid $9,000 in 2003 settlement related to his sports marketing business
By Christian Gaston - The Forest Grove News-Times, Oct 20, 2010

Since he filed to run for Congress in 2009, Tualatin businessman Rob Cornilles has touted his ability to find jobs for young people in the field of sports marketing as a qualification for office.....Read Full Article

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Oregon DEQ Sets Ground Rules For West-East Demolition And Trading's Shipbreaking Operation At North Tongue Point


Oregon DEQ NW Regional Adninistrator, Nina DeConcini, on October 18, 2010 issued a letter with conditions to Exec. Port Director, Jack Crider regarding the West-East Demolition and Trading, LLC. Click on each of the two page DEQ Requirement Letter to peruse the full content.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Oregon-Washington Re-Open Columbia Chinook Fishing Season From October 15 to December 31, 2010


Oct-14-2010 22:27


Chinook, Coho And Steelhead Fishing 88 Miles From Bouy 10 To Mouth Of The Lewis River

Salem-News.com

(CLACKAMAS, Ore.) - Chinook salmon fishing will reopen on the lower Columbia River downstream of the Lewis River from Oct. 15 through the end of the year.
In a joint hearing this week, the Oregon and Washington departments of fish and wildlife decided to reopen recreational chinook salmon fishing on the Columbia from Buoy 10 upstream approximately 88 miles to the mouth of the Lewis River.


Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Coos Bay's Pacific Connector Pipeline Project Meets Reisistance And Bleak Future Outlook!


Pipeline project facing hurdles
Oct. 11, 2010, 12:45 p.m. PDT
The Register-Guard - AP/Oregonlive.com

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — To read the headlines, September was a bad month for supporters of a liquefied natural gas terminal in Coos Bay and a pipeline from there to the Southeastern Oregon town of Malin......Read Full Oregonlive report

Topix:Astoria Citizen Sound-Off - Who You Gonna Vote For In Oregon In 2010?

Visit The Site And Vote

Saturday, October 09, 2010

Natural Gas Pipeline Crisis Plans Kept From Public?


Govt lacks copies of emergency response plans developed by natural gas pipeline operators.

Friday, October 08, 2010

Think Our Financial Crisis Is Unique In Our History?

GRP:It's as if the "Obama Machine" used this as the model for their own script for our current crisis. Temporary "Hope" that soon faded and then the prelude and build-up to World War.

The nation needed immediate relief, recovery from economic collapse, and reform to avoid future depressions, so relief, recovery and reform became Franklin D. Roosevelt's goals when he took the helm as president. At his side stood a Democratic Congress, prepared to enact the measures carved out by a group of his closest advisors — dubbed the “Brain Trust” by reporters. One recurring theme in the recovery plan was Roosevelt’s pledge to help the “forgotten man at the bottom of the economic pyramid.”

Read This

PG&E:How To Rack Up $100 Million In Clean Air Act Fines

How to rack up $100 million in Clean Air Act fines
October 7, 2010 11:55 AM

By Cassandra Profita - Ecotrope/Oregon Public Broadcasting

PGE's Boardman power plant has been accused of operating in violation of the Clean Air Act since 1998.
Did anyone else’s jaw drop when they heard the potential fines for the Portland General Electric’s alleged Clean Air Act violation at the Boardman coal-fired power plant?

Read OPB's Full Cassandra Profita Report On Ocotrope

Thursday, October 07, 2010

The Peacock: A Witness To Another Piece Of Our History And A Mechanical Ballet


The Peacock headed for its final resting place after 10 years in storage. What a piece of history to watch and what a ballet of all those involved for this new gateway feature to our fine city of Astoria.
























































Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Want To Vote In Clatsop County....Oregon On November 2nd? October 12th Is Your Last Day To Register!!!

VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS OCT. 12

Tuesday, Oct. 12 is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 2 general election for anyone not currently registered in the State of Oregon.
If you are registered in Oregon, but have changed your name, party affiliation or address, you must update your registration. People have until 8 p.m. on Election Day to update their registration and receive a ballot.
Read Full Release

Friday, October 01, 2010

From Oregonlive.com: The Kitzhaber - Dudley Debate Video

Watch The Governor's Debate

Chinook Nation Greets Lady Washington And Hawaiian Chieftan In Trade Re-Enactment October 3, 2010

Aberdeen – The brig Lady Washington, the Official Ship of the State of Washington, and the topsail ketch Hawaiian Chieftain will participate in a re-enactment of an 18th century fur trade meeting at Fort Columbia State Park on Sunday, October 3. The vessels will rendezvous with as many as 40 Chinook Nation paddlers in the Columbia River offshore of the park, which is just south of the town of Chinook on US Highway 101. The event is scheduled to take place 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.....Read Details and view photos

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Fatal Pipeline Explosion Puts Focus On Web Of Gas Pipelines

By Matthew Cardinale - IPS News

"It's a 36-inch [thick] pipeline with non-odorised gas at a pressure that is seven times the San Bruno pipeline that exploded earlier this month," Olivia Schmidt, a community organiser with the Anti-LNG Coalition, told IPS. "When they [citizens of Oregon] learned about this horrible tragedy in the Bay Area, it heightened concerns already there about public safety," Schmidt said.

ATLANTA, Georgia, Sep 30, 2010 (IPS) - A natural gas explosion in San Bruno, California that almost decimated an entire city earlier this month has fuelled concerns about the outdated, aging, and dangerous gas pipelines that underlie many U.S. cities......Read Full Report

Clatsop County Sets OLNG/Oregon Pipeline Hearing Date!

DATE OF HEARING: Wednesday, October 20, 2010
TIME: 3:30 PM
LOCATION: Judge Guy Boyington Building
857 Commercial Street - Astoria, Oregon 97103
CONTACT PERSON: Jennifer Bunch, Clatsop County Planner

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Clatsop County Transportation & Development Services has received the land use application
described in this notice. Pursuant to Sections 2.020(5) and 2.025 of the Clatsop County Land and Water Development and Use
Ordinance (LWDUO), the Department Director has scheduled a public hearing on this matter before the Board of Commissioners
at 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 20, 2010, at the Judge Guy Boyington Building, 857 Commercial St, Astoria, OR 97103......Read Full Notice

From Oregon Parks And Recreation: Astoria's John Goodenberger Appointed Chair Of Oregon State Advisory Committee On Historic Preservation

09/29/10

John Goodenberger of Astoria was recently appointed by Governor Kulongoski as the new chair of the State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation (SACHP). Goodenberger succeeds William F. Willingham, whose chairmanship ended in May.

Goodenberger has served as Vice-Chair for the SACHP for the past four years.

Goodenberger is an instructor at Clatsop Community College in the Historic Preservation and Restoration program, which he helped start in 2009. In addition, he is the owner of Historic Research and Design, a preservation firm in Astoria, has served as Senior Designer for Ecola Architects of Cannon Beach, and as a historic building consultant for the City of Astoria.

Goodenberger's newspaper column, Great City Rising, ran in the Daily Astorian from 1998-2005. He also provided critical technical assistance to the advocacy group Friends of Astoria Column during its 1995 restoration of the landmark column.

Goodenberger is chair of the Lower Columbia Preservation Society and is active with a number of other preservation-related organizations such as Columbia Pacific Preservation, Clatsop Community College Historic Preservation Advisory Committee, and the Historic Assessment Review Committee.

The SACHP is a nine-member group that reviews nominations to the National Register of Historic Places and makes recommendations to the State Historic Preservation Officer on the eligibility of nominated properties. The members are professionally recognized in the fields of history, architecture, archaeology, and other related disciplines.

The committee holds public meetings around the state three times a year.

More information about the SACHP and the National Register is online at www.oregonheritage.org

Monday, September 27, 2010

"The G.O.P.: A Pledge to America. You Read It And Judge For Yourself

September 22. 2010 - 5:38PM

CBS News - Brian Montpoli & Jill Jackson

CBS News has obtained a final draft of House Republicans' legislative agenda for the next Congress, a 21-page "Pledge to America" that they will formally unveil Thursday morning at a Virginia hardware store.

"The need for urgent action to repair our economy and reclaim our government for the people cannot be overstated," the introduction says.

Read The GOP Pledge To America

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Clatsop County Board Of Commissioners: Oregon Pipeline LLC - Scope Of Review Determination

September 22, 2010 - And The Games Begin!

Clatsop County Sets Schedule For De Novo Hearings On Oregon LNG/Oregon Pipeline LLC Pipeline Application


What is a De Novo Hearing?..A second time; afresh. A trial or hearing that is ordered by an appellate court that has reviewed the record of a hearing in a lower court and sent the matter back to the original court for a new trial, as if it had not been previously heard nor decided. This applies to law.

















September 22, 2010 - Anti-LNG Rallyers in front of, now-defunct, Bradwood Landing/Northern Star Natural Gas empty office space. Interesting irony.

"The Park-Spark Project" - Converts Dog Waste Into Energy

From: Environmental Protection.com
Anywhere people are walking dogs -- and throwing away dog poop -- can be a source of heat and light by introducing a methane digester into the equation...... Read The Details

Monday, September 20, 2010

FDA Could Approve Genetically Engineered Salmon!


Sep 20, 11:27 AM EDT


By MARY CLARE JALONICK - Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Massachusetts company is asking the Food and Drug Administration to approve the marketing of genetically engineered salmon, which would become the first such animal OK'd for human consumption...............Read Full Article

Uh-Oh! The Cat's Out Of The Bag: Cheniere Energy Gets DOE Approval For Sabine Pass Plant To Export LNG


Reuters - Fri Sep 10, 2010 2:26pm EDT

* Cheniere will be able to export 16 mtpa(Million Tons Per Annum) for 30 years

* Sign of ample US natural gas supply

NEW YORK, Sept 10 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Energy on Sept. 7 approved Cheniere Energy's (LNG.A) plan to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas from the Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana, the department said on its website.
Read Full Article

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Aging U.S. Pipelines Nationally At Risk Of Explosion!



Sep 14, 6:46 AM EDT
Aging gas pipe at risk of explosion nationwide
By GARANCE BURKE and JASON DEAREN Associated Press Writers
AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

SAN BRUNO, Calif. (AP) -- The tragic explosion of a gas pipeline in a San Francisco suburb has shed light on a problem usually kept underground: Communities have expanded over pipes built decades earlier when no one lived there.


Monday, September 13, 2010

Coal Export Through Northwest Ports? Some Say "No Way"!

Published: Wednesday, September 08, 2010, 9:05 PM
Updated: Thursday, September 09, 2010, 9:24 AM

Scott Learn, The Oregonian

While Oregon works to shut its only coal-fired electricity plant and reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions, global mining companies are increasingly bullish about exporting that very same coal through Northwest ports to China.............

Read Full Scott Learn Report

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Humboldt Bay Barge Project Gets Federal "Short Sea Shipping/Tiger Grant" Attention


GRP:Now, why would it not be prudent for our own Port of Astoria to be in touch with this man to see where we can play into this opportunity since we dropped the ball with the opportunity to partner with Santa Maria Shipping?




John Driscoll/The Times-Standard
Posted: 08/17/2010 01:21:11 AM PDT

A local entrepreneur's efforts to establish a marine shipping service along the West Coast and a four-port initiative to build infrastructure to support it have earned recognition -- and the prospect of funding -- from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Read Article

Saturday, September 04, 2010

Daily Astorian: LNG Pipeline Issue Moves To County Commission!


LNG pipeline issue moves to county
GRP: Even after Peter Hansen's "Pooh-Poohing" of the conditions of approval as being "Benign", Oregon LNG/Pipeline appeals its own approval?


By KATIE WILSON - The Daily Astorian

09-03-2010 1:57PM


It's in the commissioners' hands now. The deadline to appeal a liquefied natural gas pipeline application was today. With one appeal filed, the process now moves to the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners.....Read Full Daily "A" Report By Katie Wilson

Friday, September 03, 2010

Hood River Juice Owner Pleads Guilty! Alleged Tainted Evidence Dropped From The Case!

KPAM interview with NCO's Carrie Bartoldus by Victoria Taft on what she calls "Fostergate"


The owner of Hood River Juice has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor pollution counts in a long-running case that also led to the resignation of Attorney General John Kroger's top environmental aide earlier this year.





David B. Ryan pleaded guilty late Wednesday to failing to file a required report and second-degree water pollution, misdemeanors related to management of the company's wastewater system in 2007 and 2009.......Read Full Report

Thursday, September 02, 2010

From Boston Herald.Com:Gulf Oil Rig Explodes Off Louisiana Coast!




By Associated Press - Thursday, September 2, 2010

GRAND ISLE, La. —An offshore petroleum platform exploded and was burning today in the Gulf of Mexico about 102 miles south of Vermilion Bay on the central Louisiana coast.
The Coast Guard says no one was killed in the explosion, which was reported by a commercial helicopter flying over the site around 9 a.m. CDT. All 13 people aboard the rig have been accounted for.

Read Report

Bankrupt Northern Star Natural Gas: Need Some High Quality, High Dollar Luxury Antiques? Here's Your Chance To Own A Piece Of History!

Looking for some "High-Dollar"($45,000) Persian Rugs? Priceless Asian Antiques? A Lesson In How To Blow $100,000,000 In Investors Money? A Lesson In How To Leave Creditors High And Dry?


Well,Here You Go, Check The Auction List And Submit Your Bid! See If You Know Any Of These Creditors.

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Coos Bay LNG Pipeline Developer Sues Oregon Department Of State Lands

Portland Business Journal - by Erik Siemers Business Journal staff writer

The developer of a proposed 234-mile natural gas pipeline has filed a federal lawsuit against two Oregon land officials the developer claims are improperly using state law to delay the project......Read The Details

Prineville Gets Facebook, We Get Shipbreaking?

David Nogueras - OPB News
August 2, 2010 Bend, OR

The social networking website Facebook says it will double the size of a new data center currently under construction in Prineville. The company says the expansion was planned since the beginning of the project.

Read Full OPB Report

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Astoria City Council Races: Who's It Going To Be for You?

Henningsgaard Announces he will not continue to seek re-election but will pursue open Astoria City Attorney Job Instead
Well, here's the list of candidates for 2010 elections for open seats on Astoria City Council.

This is an open call for all candidates to post their Press Releases or views as to why they feel they can serve the citizens of Astoria best and what they can bring to the game to lead us forward to a prosperous future and improved life quality.

Mayor

Willis L. Van Dusen
(Incumbent Mayor Van Dusen's Campaign Statement)
"I am running for re-election as Mayor of the City of Astoria. The next four years will be important to all of us. I ask for your support on November 2nd.
As the Mayor of Astoria over the past four years, I have worked as part of a team on many successful projects. Some of those projects include:
1) Supporting the officers in the Astoria Police Department.
2) Supporting the Firefighters in the Astoria Fire Department. The City Council and I congratulate the department for securing a $ 238,000 grant that enabled the city to purchase of a fire truck.
3) Re-organizing the Parks and Recreation Department. The consolidation of facilities and personnel has made us more efficient.
4) Our community has done an excellent job in improving the financial situation of the Astoria Aquatic Center.
5) Supported our Public Works Department to improve our drinking water and manage the combined sewer overflow project
6) Drafted plans to renovate our City Hall
7) Expanded our world class river walk
8) Serving as President of the Astoria Riverfront Trolley Association.
9) We worked closely with governmental agencies, such as the Astoria Schools, neighboring cities, the Military, Oregon State Agencies etc.
10) Established a street paving/repair program
The next four years have many challenges:
1) Astoria’s Bi-Centennial
2) Completing our Chinese educational park, "The Garden of Surging Waves"
3) City Hall Renovation
4) Rebuilding the athletic fields at Tapiola Park
5) Community Center in the former Armory at 17th and Duane St.
6) Rebuilding the 17th Street Dock with transportation grant funds
7) Work with businesses creating and saving jobs
8) Provide a new library through renovation or construction
9) Communicate clearly with all Astorians
10) Support our local schools
If we continue to work as a community team, Astoria will always be a great place to live and raise our families.
Thank you
Willis L. Van Dusen

Bonnie Anne Wingard (Challenger)

Ward 1

Arline LaMear
(Incumbent LaMear's Campaign Statement)
Arline LaMear – Councilor, City of Astoria Ward 1
288 Franklin Ave.
Astoria, OR 97103
alamear@astoria.or.us

Occupation
Librarian, Columbia River Maritime Museum, 1997-Present

Occupational background
School Librarian, Virginia Public Schools, 21 years
Teacher – California, North Carolina and Thailand, 4 years

Educational background
Occidental College, BA, Education
James Madison University, M.Ed, Education

Prior Government Experience
Astoria City Council, 2008-Present; Astoria Parks and Recreation Board, 2010; Astoria Planning Commission, 2003-2008; Clatsop County Commission on Children and Families, 2004-2007; Astoria Library Board, 2002; Chair of the Bicentennial Legacy Committee, 2009-Present

Candidate Statement

A job with the Columbia River Maritime Museum brought me to Astoria in 1997. Thirteen years later, my commitment to Astoria, her river, history and community has deepened. It has been a real honor to serve as City Councilor from Ward 1 the past two years. I have met with many of you on issues and concerns and pledge that I will continue to listen and act in your behalf.

Astoria will celebrate her Bicentennial in 2011. Working with our wonderful city staff and workforce, I will support continuing efforts to replace our bridges that are in poor condition, pave our streets, relocate the temporary water and sewer lines at Hume and Bond Streets, renovate our City Hall, and spruce up our downtown so Astoria looks her best for her 200th birthday.

I plan to:
Actively advocate for you and Astoria’s Ward One.
Work for the opening of a Recreation Center in Astoria for children and adults.
Advocate for an ordinance regarding derelict buildings that includes a firm, fair enforcement component.
Evaluate energy cost saving measures and implement viable alternatives.
Ensure that Astoria has a state of the art, modern library.

Committees/Membership/Volunteerism
Court-Appointed Advocate (CASA) – 2001-Present
American Association of University Women (AAUW) – President 2005-2006
Organizer and moderator for candidate and issue forums, AAUW and Women’s Political Caucus
Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce – 2003-Present
Lower Columbia Preservation Society
Friends of the Columbia River Maritime Museum
Clatsop County Historical Society

Endorsed by:

John Goodenberger
Karen Kenyon
Virginia (Gin) Laughery
Roy Little, M.D.
Laura Snyder
Helen Westbrook

Robert E. Howard (Challenger)

Ward 3

Blair Henningsgaard (Incumbent)



Henningsgaard Will Not Seek Re-Election But Will Seek Open Astoria City Attorney Job

I am running for re-election to the Astoria City Council Ward 3 and ask for your vote in November.

I can describe my past service to the City in three categories.
Emergency Events.
Hurricane, December of 2007. I am proud of the teamwork and courage of our community’s response.
Landslide at 1st and Commercial Street, April 2007. Our team ensured access, re-routed utilities, responded to citizens’ needs and obtained State and Federal assistance.
Routine (but critical) City Services
We lined and covered our reservoirs. These two changes help protect our drinking water supply with one result that the City uses fewer chemicals to treat our water.
Expensive sewer improvements are helping keep our river and bay clean. I helped spur negotiations that are expected to save over $10 million on this project.
A street paving/repair program was adopted for the first time in our history; funded with help from tourist tax dollars and state funds.
Successes.
Developing highly visible city council goals.
Representing the City Council on our award winning Riverfront vision.
Plans to make Astoria City Hall the most “customer friendly” in the county.
Saving the City over $300,000 per year at the Astoria Aquatic Center.
Acquiring the old Safeway block.
Replacing the Astoria Column steps.

I commit to economically provide needed services but also look forward to developing a new library, recycling the Astoria Armory, opening our Chinese Park and turning the old American Legion block into a public plaza.

I hope the Citizens of Astoria know how much my hometown means to me. We live in a special place; together we will keep it that way.

Karen Mellin (Challenger)

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, September 1, 2010

For More Information:Karen Mellin
(503) 325-5382

Karen Mellin for Astoria Ward 3 Astoria, Oregon

“I am running because Astorians need achoice,” says candidate Mellin. "I've never been afraid to speak my mind and I think Astoria is a real treasure that deserves outspoken protection."

Mellin served most recently on the Clatsop Community College Board of Directors and before that was instrumental in developing the organization now known as the Women's Resource Center.

She said she felt the values of the particularly historic district of Ward 3 needed a new voice.

"When citizens spend months of time on a public project like the River Visioning process, they deserve to have those concerns taken seriously," Mellin said."Too many people have told me they felt the City Council listened and then imposed its own voice on that process."

Mellin also expressed concern over the what she called "the continuous mishandling of DUII cases in the Astoria Municipal Court." She said that"Municipal Courts play a valuable role in dispensing community justice, but Astoria should join the other four cities in the counties in sending their DUII cases to the Circuit Court where both the judges and prosecutors are full-time professionals.""Something's not right when someone can get two or three DUIIs dismissed just because the case is in Municipal Court. Like the River Visioning process, it is a matter of fairness."

"While we appreciate the work done over the years by the incumbent," Mellin said, "I think people are ready for a change.

"Mellin just celebrated the 50th reunion of her graduating class at AstoriaHigh School.

She spent many years traveling overseas and moved back toAstoria 30 years ago and taught in the local schools until last year.

Karen Mellin's Astoria-based volunteerism began in 1986 as a programmer atKMUN.

She has been a member of the North Coast Women’s Political Caucussince 1987. That year she began volunteering at the Clatsop County Women’s Crisis Service, where she set up group counseling sessions for victims of domestic violence and soon became Executive Director.

In 2001, she waselected to the Clatsop Community College Board, where she advocated renovation of the historic property.

Ward 3 is roughly bound by 5th and 28th Streets, the Columbia River on thenorth and Niagara Avenue on the south, and is equivalent to county precincts5 and 6.

The Committee to Elect Karen Mellin, Astoria Ward 3

Grassroots People Straw Poll Results!

Question: Astoria Municipal Court:Should DUII's Be Tried By That Court Or Circuit Court?

Astoria Municipal
18 (33%)

Circuit Court
33 (62%)

No Opinion
2 (3%)

Cannot Decide
0 (0%)

Votes so far: 53 Poll closed

Friday, August 27, 2010

Natural Gas Attack Helicopter? The Winners In Cheap Natural Gas

By Christian A. DeHaemer - Energy & Capital - Friday, August 27th, 2010

We're now at the time of year when kids start dreading going back to school, moms dream of free time during the day, and granddads pick a weekend to winterize the boat or shutter the cabin.

Us resource guys, however, think about buying natural gas for the annual winter price boost.
But this year the markets aren’t buying it.

On Wednesday, the Energy Information Agency (EIA) came out with a bearish report.
Last week, the price of natural gas fell as much as $1.36 per million Btu; after the report, prices fell to $3.77 — dipping well below $4 for the first time since May.

The government report stated:
Natural gas in storage totaled 3,052 billion cubic feet (Bcf) as of August 20, about 6 percent above the 5-year (2005-2009) average.

The implied net injection for the week was 40 Bcf, significantly below historical injections for the week.

Read Full Article

Monday, August 23, 2010