Clatsop County Court Judge Phil Nelson Denies Oregon LNG/Pipeline Writ Of Mandamus Petition

Read Full Ciruit Court Opinion(Provided By Columbia Riverkeepers)

Citing that his court, "Has no authority to force a "Land Use Approval", Clatsop County Circuit Court Judge Phillip Nelson denied Oregon LNG/Pipeline's Petition of Mandamus in his ruling released yesterday, May 17, 2011. Oregon LNG/Pipeline's Peter Hansen offered no comment, citing "Ongoing Litigation". Oregon LNG/Pipeline has 30 days to appeal the decision to the appropriate authorities..Click on Thread Title Above For OPB's, Rob Manning Report
Read OPB-Ecotrope's, Cassandra Profita's Report On This Ruling

Clatsop County Diverstiy Committe To Hold A Public Goal Setting Meeting May 26, 2011

The Clatsop County Diversity Committee will be holding a public meeting on Thursday May 26 at1:30 in the Judge Boyington building 857 Commercial street in Astoria. Chairperson Scott Lee invites all concerned community members to participate. The meeting will be an informal work session to develop goals and vision for the group .

It Begins; Astoria, Oregon To Celebrate 200th Anniversary With Year-Long Bicentennial Events In 2011

Paulette McCoy - Astoria Bicentennial Committee
503-325-5889
abc2011@cumtux.org
Astoria, Oregon

ASTORIA, Ore. – July 28, 2010

As the oldest United States settlement west of the
Rockies, the little town of Astoria is going all out to create “An Adventure in History”
with three major signature events and ongoing exhibits, displays, festivals and historical
home tours.

This Northwest town of 10,000 residents perched on a wooded hillside surrounded by
the Columbia River Estuary with views to the Pacific Ocean, is renowned for its stature
near Fort Clatsop, the end of the Lewis & Clark expedition, for its well-preserved
Victorian homes and because of its history as the “Salmon Canning Capital” of the world.

An “Astoria Bicentennial Trading Post” is already open offering books, commemorative
souvenirs, collectible coins, clothing and unusual gifts.

“We call our store a trading post because that’s how Astoria started -- it was John Jacob
Astor’s establishment of a fur trading post in 1811 that gave the United States its claim
to this region and eventually determined the Northwestern boundary of the US.” says
Bicentennial Director, Paulette McCoy.

Residents of Astoria expect an international crowd throughout their Bicentennial year
since Astoria’s sister city is Walldorf, Germany (the birthplace of John Jacob Astor),
because of its ethnic diversity (Astoria is home to a large Scandinavian and Finnish
population, along with Chinese, Croatian and others) and also because of Astoria’s
famed Fort Clatsop in the Lewis & Clark National Park.

Astorians are proud of their culture, history and heritage and although the town is now home to luxury hotels, fine restaurants and art galleries, Astoria is still an authentic working fishing town with breathtaking views and great natural beauty, scenes which are virtually unchanged for
centuries.

Astoria Bicentennial Ambassador: Rex Ziak
Noted historian and native-born Astorian Rex Ziak will serve as an Astoria
Bicentennial ambassador and spokesperson. He will be traveling throughout the
Northwest giving presentations to schools and civic groups, as well as private
corporations and associations.

“Many Americans are unfamiliar with Astoria’s significance on the world stage and they
don’t know Astoria’s legends and fascinating history. My aim will be to engage people in
the human interest stories which make Astoria a place unlike any other in the United
States,” said Ziak.

Signature Events;

Bicentennial event organizers plan to attract visitors with three signature events during
2011; an Opening Ceremony in the spring, a summer Regatta with a Bicentennial Ball and a fall Super Homecoming with high profile officials, celebrities and even a visit from Lord Astor of Hever (John Jacob Astor VIII), who lives in London.

Throughout the year, there will also be fishing and logging demonstrations, a fur trader encampment, ethnic festivals, cultural celebrations, the tall ships, contests, lectures, museum exhibits, and parties with birthday cake for everyone.

The theme of the Astoria Bicentennial is “An Adventure in History”, and
the Clatsop County Historical Society has produced a film by the same
name which showcases Astoria’s past as well as the vibrant and charming Astoria of
today with its Victorian homes, a real working waterfront, and the iconic Astoria Column.

For more information contact Paulette McCoy at 503-325-5889 or visit
www.astoria200.org.To book Astoria Bicentennial Ambassador Rex Ziak,
visit http://www.rexziak.com/

Visit Official Bicentennial Website

The Argument For Nuclear Energy

Franklin Johnston - The Jamaica Observer
Friday, May 20, 2011

NUCLEAR energy could be the best thing to happen to us! A new generation of politicians may mark out our turf as a leader and build prosperity. Nuclear separates the best from the rest and the new Cabinet in 2012 should engage providers to look at a nuclear option. This would change our nation's focus and mood and be a call to action and commitment. LNG changes nothing. In 1973 the owners of oil formed the OPEC-style cartel to control quantity and price; so will LNG, and we are back in the dunce corner! With nuclear energy we control prices and can fulfil our national aspration! But there is added value too.........Read Full article

May 25, 2011 Clatsop County Board Of Commissioners Meeting Preceeded By Work Session At 5:00 PM

Read Full Agenda

Clatsop County Offers-Up 10 Land Parcels For Auction June 6, 2011

Thursday, May 19, 2011

TEN PARCELS OFFERED AT COUNTY LAND AUCTION JUNE 6

Clatsop County will offer 10 parcels of land at a public auction Monday June 6, 2011
The auction will be held in the Judge Guy Boyington Building, 857 Commercial St., Astoria. Bidder registration begins at 9 a.m. The auction will start at 10 a.m.
One parcel is located in Birkenfeld near Fishhawk Lake, one parcel contains a house built in 1964 south of Seaside and some parcels are offered in the Warrenton area. Another parcel is in the Elsie area and two more on a hillside off Hwy 202 in the Williamsport area south east of Astoria.
Minimum bids range from $500 to $127,000. All properties will be sold as is and for cash. Payment is due in full by 5 p.m. the day of the auction, except for one parcel which has a non-refundable deposit of 10% of the minimum bid due by 5 p.m. on day of sale, closing to take place on or before 30 days from the date of sale (July 6).
Auction packets are available for $4.50 at the Assessment & Taxation office, and an open house will be held one time only at the house south of Seaside. For more information, contact Property Specialist Sirpa Duoos at 820 Exchange St., Suite 230, Astoria or call (503) 325-8674.

Released by:
Tom Bennett
Community Relations Coordinator
(503) 325-1000

Oregon Supreme Court Halts Further Oregon Pipeline Review, Orders Matyas To Reinstate Writ Of Mandamus, March 30, 2011 Hearing Cancelled

Un-Named But Reliable Source Believes Clatsop County Circuit Court Judge Denies Writ Of Mandamus Petitioned By Oregon LNG/Pipeline!!!(Details will follow as they become available)


Tuesday, March 29, 2011 SUPREME COURT HALTS COUNTY PIPELINE REVIEW; HEARING CANCELED The Oregon Supreme Court, in a ruling handed down Tuesday, issued a stay against Clatsop County from proceeding with its reconsideration of the Oregon Pipeline LLC land-use application. As a result, the public hearing scheduled before the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners for Wednesday, March 30 has been canceled. The board was scheduled to review and possibly approve findings of fact denying the consolidated application for the construction of 41 miles of natural gas pipeline. The court also ordered Clatsop County Circuit Court Judge Cindee Matyas to reinstate a writ of mandamus sought by Oregon Pipeline against the county and proceed with the mandamus case. The board of commissioners is reconsidering the approval originally granted to the Oregon Pipeline application by the county commissioners in November 2010. On March 9 the board gave tentative approval to preliminary findings that would deny the application. The board was due to review the final, modified findings at the March 30 hearing. On March 4 Oregon Pipeline filed a writ of mandamus petition with the local circuit court, arguing that the county has failed to take final action on its application within the timeframe mandated by Oregon land-use law. Matyas signed the writ and set a show-cause hearing for March 18, but on March 17 she vacated the writ. On March 21 Oregon Pipeline filed a writ of mandamus with the Supreme Court asking the court to order Matyas to reinstate the writ filed in Clatsop County court, and to stay all proceedings and decisions by the county on the application. Oregon Pipeline contends that once the writ of mandamus was filed in local circuit court, the county no longer had jurisdiction over the application. Released by: Tom Bennett Community Relations Coordinator (503) 325-1000

From Clatsop County;AmeriCorps Honors Local Volunteers, May 14 Through May 21, 2011

Friday, May 13, 2011

LOCAL VOLUNTEERS’ WORK FEATURED FOR AMERICORPS WEEK

To honor National AmeriCorps week, May 14 through the 21, your local AmeriCorps members, Donna Leinus, Jen O’Neal, Blaire Buergler, Derek Partridge and Jessica Johnson want to share with you their experience with national service in Clatsop County.
AmeriCorps is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, an independent federal agency whose mission is to improve lives and strengthen communities. AmeriCorps is made up of three programs: AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps VISTA, and AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC).
Locally AmeriCorps members fill needed gaps in our community.
Donna is a second year AmeriCorps member with the Marine Education and Volunteer Coordinator with the City of Cannon Beach's Haystack Rock Awareness Program. She serves as a Rocky Shore Interpreter on the beach during low tides for the general public and visiting school groups. She coordinates visiting school groups and visits local school classrooms to share information before their field trip.
Last year, her main project was creating a short educational film that targeted visiting school groups that the program could not visit in person, to give students some information before heading to the beach. She also works to increase the volunteer base for the program, plan community events, train new volunteers, and support the ongoing education of current volunteers.
In her first year with AmeriCorps, Jen O’Neal is our local American Red Cross Emergency Preparedness Specialist. She teaches Red Cross Health and Safety classes, which include the CPR/AED, First Aid, and Babysitter training. She also teaches the ALERT (Awareness Learning & Emergency Response Training) programs to area youth. On top of this, she gives free emergency preparedness presentations to community groups and works at many of the local blood drives.
Blaire Buergler serves as the downtown coordinator for the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association (ADHDA), a non-profit organization that is part of the Oregon Main Street Program. She is part of the RARE Program (Resource Assistance for Rural Environments), an AmeriCorps program that is administered through the University of Oregon’s Community Service Center.
Blaire is focusing on building ADHDA’s capacity and is working to facilitate the Main Street Program’s proven comprehensive approach to revitalizing commercial historic districts. Specifically, she is inventorying all downtown properties in the area, developing a comprehensive database of organization stakeholders, coordinating and facilitating downtown promotional events, researching sustainable funding models, and populating a website for the organization. Blaire is a graduate of Virginia Tech and moved to Astoria from Arlington, Virginia.
AmeriCorps member Derek Partridge is funded by the Warrenton Trails Association (WTA) and the City of Warrenton through the University of Oregon’s Community Service Center. He is part of the Resource Assistance for Rural Environments program, and is placed for the year in Warrenton. He is coordinating parks and trails projects with the City’s Public Works Department, WTA, and Parks Advisory Board. Currently, Partridge is leading an effort to revitalize the Warrenton City Park, including construction of a new restroom facility, with help from the National Guard, community volunteers, and City leaders.
Seaside High School alumna Jessica Johnson is in her second year with the AmeriCorps HOPE (Healthy Options through Prevention and Education) program serving Clatsop County through the Clatsop County Juvenile Department’s Substance Abuse Prevention Programs. Her position, matched locally by the Commission on Children and Families, United Way, OSU Extension and Kiwanis, takes her to many of the county’s school districts as the Friendly PEERsuasion and Allies in Action afterschool program instructor. She also helps to co-facilitate the Strengthening Families Program 10-14, Safe Dates curriculum in partnership with Women’s Resource Center and works with groups of local youth to take action to reduce underage drinking and drug use.
AmeriCorps is the chance to make a difference in your own life and in the lives of those around you. Members who complete their entire term of service are awarded the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to pay for college, graduate school, or to pay back qualified student loans. To search for a national service opportunity that fits your desired location and interests, visit http://www.americorps.gov/.

Released by:
Tom Bennett
Community Relations Coordinator
(503) 325-1000

Cowlitz County Commissioners Schedule Public Hearing For Input On Coal Export Proposal

(L.A. Times Photo)

By Barbara LaBoe / The Daily News
Posted: Sunday, May 15, 2011 8:30 pm

Cowlitz County commissioners say they'll hold a forum to let residents have their say about a coal export terminal proposed for West Longview.
As it stands now, the commissioners don't have a decision to make about the project, but they expect to be confronted by the issue again later this year or next year....Click On Thread Title Above For Full Story