Saturday, January 14, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Astoria School District Board Passes Authorizing Resolution To Refinance Voter Approved General Obligation Bonds
DATE: JANUARY 12, 2012
Astoria School District Board of Directors passed an authorizing resolution at their January 11, 2012 board meeting to begin the refinancing of the $21,465,000 in voter-approved general obligation bonds. The refinancing of the voter approved bonds could result in a savings to taxpayers property taxes of between $1.2 million to $1.4 million.
The bonds to be refinanced are part of the district’s 2000 bond initiative that received 58 percent voter approval. The bonds were used for remodeling of Astor Elementary, Astoria Middle School, Astoria High School, and Gray School. The bonds also were used to build the current Lewis and Clark Elementary,
Astoria High School Gym, and Astoria High School Applied Science Center.
The Astoria School District Board of Directors is committed to supporting patrons in our community during these difficult economic times.
District patrons could see savings as early as July 2012. The process is scheduled to be completed in March 2012. The voter approved bond measure is set to expire in 2019.
Astoria School District Board of Directors passed an authorizing resolution at their January 11, 2012 board meeting to begin the refinancing of the $21,465,000 in voter-approved general obligation bonds. The refinancing of the voter approved bonds could result in a savings to taxpayers property taxes of between $1.2 million to $1.4 million.
The bonds to be refinanced are part of the district’s 2000 bond initiative that received 58 percent voter approval. The bonds were used for remodeling of Astor Elementary, Astoria Middle School, Astoria High School, and Gray School. The bonds also were used to build the current Lewis and Clark Elementary,
Astoria High School Gym, and Astoria High School Applied Science Center.
The Astoria School District Board of Directors is committed to supporting patrons in our community during these difficult economic times.
District patrons could see savings as early as July 2012. The process is scheduled to be completed in March 2012. The voter approved bond measure is set to expire in 2019.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Clatsop County Manager, Duane Cole Announces Retirement!
Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012
COUNTY MANAGER DUANE COLE ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
Clatsop County Manager Duane Cole announced his retirement to the county board of commissioners Wednesday, Jan. 11.
Cole's last day with the county will be May 31.
"I have been fortunate to have professionally served 35 years in local government - a field to which I have dedicated my entire career," Cole said in a letter to the board. "For me it is now time to be with my family, pursue other interests, and explore the next phase of life."
Cole joined Clatsop County in May 2009 from the city of Walla Walla, Wash., where he served as city manager.
The board of commissioners will detail its process for recruiting Cole's replacement in the near future.
“Duane Cole brought professionalism, competency, and integrity to government in Clatsop County. He engaged fully to make Clatsop County government more effective and more efficient. His organizational talent has brought many positive changes and has made Clatsop County a leader in many areas. His legacy to us is a solid foundation on which we can build success. He will always be welcome here. He will be missed,” Chair Rohne stated today.
Cole said he is providing the board with more than the 90 days' notice of departure required in his contract in order to allow the commissioners adequate time to select a replacement before his retirement.
Born in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and raised in Milton-Freewater, Ore., Cole received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Oregon.
His career in public administration began in 1977 at the age of 23 when he was hired as city administrator of Pilot Rock, Ore. He subsequently served with the city of Pendleton as finance director, assistant city manager and city manager pro tem, and as city administrator for Susanville, Calif. He was city administrator for Newberg for 12 years until 2002, when he took the top administrative job with Walla Walla.
Under Cole's tenure, Clatsop County revived a proposal to expand the county jail that will go before the board of commissioners soon for a decision whether to seek voter approval for the project. The county has also led a collaborative effort with local cities, the Port of Astoria and Oregon Highway Department to find a solution to the chronic flooding problem on U.S. Highway 101 south of Seaside that appears likely to go forward this year.
The county also leased the historic county jail building to the Clatsop County Historical Society for development of the Oregon Film Museum; negotiated a sale of the former Darigold Building in downtown Astoria to Coastal Family Health Center for its planned new clinic; completed the update of the North Coast Business Park Master Plan charting future development at the county-owned space in Warrenton; and launched an examination of planning issues covering the county's near-shore ocean zone.
One of Cole's biggest accomplishments is the development of a Strategic Plan. The document, due to go before the board of commissioners for adoption in the near future, identifies more than 40 major capital, infrastructure and planning projects as well as projected timelines and funding sources for each.
Cole expressed thanks to the county's commissioners and staff.
"To each of you I extend my sincere appreciation for the excellent opportunities for professional and personal development that you have provided me at Clatsop County," he wrote. "Your respect and encouragement has been welcomed and valued."
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Port Of Astoria Seals Mitigation Credits Deal With Warrenton Fiber
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 10:41 AM
By EDWARD STRATTON - The Daily Astorian
The Port of Astoria has struggled for some time trying to secure mitigation land required to offset the impact of its redevelopment of Pier 3, estimated at two acres of tidal land.
It has already had a mitigation plan flounder on the Skipanon Peninsula.
Another potential piece of land at a Walluski River mitigation site fell through after the land was sold to a private company.
Read Full Daily Astorian Report
By EDWARD STRATTON - The Daily Astorian
The Port of Astoria has struggled for some time trying to secure mitigation land required to offset the impact of its redevelopment of Pier 3, estimated at two acres of tidal land.
It has already had a mitigation plan flounder on the Skipanon Peninsula.
Another potential piece of land at a Walluski River mitigation site fell through after the land was sold to a private company.
Read Full Daily Astorian Report
Monday, January 09, 2012
Clatsop County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy, Paul Williams Chosen "Commander Of The Year" By Oregon State Sheriff's Association
January 9, 2012County Sheriff’s Office
Clatsop County’s Chief Deputy Paul Williams is honored at the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association annual meeting in December as the Enforcement Commander of the Year for the State of Oregon.
Chief Deputy Williams was chosen as Commander of the Year for his work and efforts related to the Sheriffs Association and for the hours of dedicated service to the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office and to the citizens of our County.
Often as Sheriff, I call upon Paul to develop, strategize and analyze problems troubling not only our organization but issues within the County regarding Public Safety. Paul is truly an amazing individual who definitely deserved this award.
Paul is accountable and uncompromised ethically. I am very proud of Paul for this State wide recognition and can say beyond any doubt that he is one of the Clatsop Counties best assets.
I have included some of his efforts for the last few years and if there are any further questions please give me a call.
Thank you.
Sheriff Tom Bergin
Clatsop Sheriff Deputies Come To The Aid Of Self-Inflicted, Accidental Gunshot Wound Victim!
January 9, 2012
Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office reports that on January 6th, 2012, Deputy Justin Dimmick responded to the Williamsport Mainline per report of garbage dumping.
Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office reports that on January 6th, 2012, Deputy Justin Dimmick responded to the Williamsport Mainline per report of garbage dumping.
While enroute, he came upon a vehicle traveling towards him with three individuals. The vehicle came to a sudden stop and one of the passengers exited claiming his friend had been shot.
Upon surveying the situation, Deputy Dimmick was able to verify that one of the subjects, David Raymond Lithieser, 02-03-88, was suffering from a gunshot wound to his right leg. His friends had attempted to stop the bleeding with a belt however the wound was serious and needed immediate attention.
Deputy Dimmick and now Deputy Hoover, who had just showed up on scene, applied first aid and summoned Medical.
All Clatsop County Deputies two weeks earlier had just gone through a class and were issued tourniquets for their patrol vehicles. The Deputies applied the tourniquet and were able to stop the bleeding until Astoria Fire and Medix arrived on scene for transport.
The subjects advised they had been target shooting and Lithieser went to draw his pistol from his holster and accidentally shot himself in the leg prior to leveling the gun to the target.
This newly issued Tourniquets in all patrol units has already paid off and fortunately the injury will be recoverable.
For any additional information please contact Sheriff Bergin.
503 791-0072
503 338-3651
Lower Columbia Diversity Project Presents A Free Discussion On Racial Diversity In Oregon
January 7, 2012FREE DISCUSSION ABOUT RACIAL DIVERSITY IN OREGON
The January 19, 2012 event is part of Oregon Humanities’ statewide Conversation Project.
Astoria, OR - Although 2010 Census data show Oregon’s population becoming more racially diverse, the state remains one of the whitest in the nation. Many Oregonians value racial diversity and the dimension and depth it adds to our lives, yet we remain largely isolated from one another and have yet to fulfill the vision of a racially integrated society. What does the racial integration of place require of us, and how might we prepare to create and meet this opportunity?
This is the focus of “White Out? The Future of Racial Diversity in Oregon,” a free conversation with Willamette University professor Emily Drew on Thursday January 19, 2012 at 7:00 PM at the Judge Guy Boyington Building, 857 Commercial, Astoria, OR 97103. This program is hosted by the Lower Columbia Diversity Project and sponsored by Oregon Humanities.
Drew is an associate professor of ethnic studies at Willamette University, where she teaches courses on racism, race and ethnicity, urban sociology, mass media, and social change. She earned her doctorate from Loyola University Chicago and has published articles in Critical Studies in Media Communication, Television & New Media, and Tourism & Cultural Change.
Through the Conversation Project, Oregon Humanities offers free programs that engage community members in thoughtful, challenging conversations about ideas critical to our daily lives and our state's future. For more information about this free community discussion, please contact Scott Lee at (503) 468-8715 or lcdiversityproject@gmail.com.
Oregon Humanities (813 SW Alder St, #702; Portland, OR 97205) connects Oregonians to ideas to change lives and transform communities. More information about Oregon Humanities’ programs and publications, which include the Conversation Project, Think & Drink, Humanity in Perspective, Happy Camp, Public Program Grants, Responsive Program Grants, and Oregon Humanities magazine, can be found at oregonhumanities.org. Oregon Humanities is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities and a partner of the Oregon Cultural Trust.
For additional Information
Contact: Scott Lee
Phone: (503) 468-8715
Email: lcdiversityproject@gmail.co
Web: http://www.lcdiversityproject.orgdiv>
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