Daily Astorian Editorial:Astoria's Culture Of Alcoholism Nurtures Astoria Municipal Court

"Voeller's case was a poster child for what's wrong with the Astoria Municipal Court. The Voeller case stands next to those of Stephen Moore, Sara Leloff and David Lee Gonzalez. In all of those cases, Astoria's court was more inclined to dismiss defendants than it was determined to prosecute them vigorously - and in the case of Moore - to the letter of the law.".........Read Full Steven Forrester Editorial

Clatsop County Files Notice Of Public Hearing On Reconsideration Of Oregon LNG/Pipeline Application

The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing Wednesday, March 9, 2011 beginning at 3:30 p.m. at the Judge Guy Boyington Building, 857 Commercial St., Astoria, for the purpose of reconsidering the approval granted Nov. 8, 2010 for the consolidated land-use application from Oregon Pipeline LLC.......Read Full Notice

Oregon Attorney General/Department Of Justice Annual Report

Dear Fellow Oregonians:

As your Attorney General, I am proud of the work we do at the Oregon Department of Justice.
Our mission is to provide outstanding legal and child support services to you and your
government. We are dedicated to:

• Fighting crime and protecting crime victims;
• Improving the well‐being of Oregon’s children;
• Protecting the environment;
• Fighting for Oregon consumers, workers, investors, and taxpayers;
• Promoting a positive business climate;
• Providing great legal services to Oregon’s citizens.....Read Full DOJ Annual Report

Clatsop County Board Of Commissioners Agrees On Limted Hearing On Oregon LNG/Pipeline Application

The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners will hold a limited hearing next month as part of its reconsideration of the land-use application from Oregon Pipeline LLC.

Following a public hearing Wednesday, the board voted to limit its review to the existing record and allow testimony only from the applicant, Oregon Pipeline LLC, and project opponent Columbia Riverkeeper when it revisits the issue at a hearing March 9. The meeting will begin at 3:30 p.m. at the Judge Guy Boyington Building, 857 Commercial St., Astoria.....Read Full Clatsop County Press Release

Astor Hotel Fire Causes One arrest, $100 Fire Damage, $50,000 Sprinkler Damage

By Michael Russell - The Oregonian

Police arrested a woman after a small fire activated the sprinkler system at the John Jacob Astor Hotel in downtown Astoria Monday morning, causing extensive water damage to the historic structure. .........Read Full Oregonlive Article

February 7, 2011: First Day Of Filing For Election To Numerous Clatsop County Commissions And Panels

View Calendar And List Of All Open Seats ForMay 17, 2011 Special District Elections

From Oregon Attorney General John Kroger: Be Alert For Phoney Debt Collection Scam

SCAM ALERT: FAKE DEBT COLLECTION SCAMS
February 3, 2011
The Oregon Department of Justice has received several complaints regarding phony debt collection calls. Scam artists pose as debt collectors or law enforcement officers calling about an outstanding debt from an online payday loan. They frequently use fake phone numbers and official sounding business names. They also do their research. Some Oregonians have been tricked into paying nonexistent debt because the scam artist knew personal information about them, including their Social Security number, home address, e-mail, and names of family and personal references..Read Full DOJ Scam Alert

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.com Unveils "The Daily" Today

Introducing The Daily

First National Daily News Publication Created for iPad Launches today in the Apple App Store
New York, NY, February 2, 2011 - Today Rupert Murdoch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of News Corporation, unveiled The Daily -- the industry's first national daily news publication created from the ground up for iPad........Read News Corp.com Press Release

Sunset Empire Transit: New Interim Director Finds SET's Finances In Disorder!

By:Chelsea Gorrow - The Daily Astorian - January 28, 2011

(Cindy Howe Photo By: Don Anderson - The Daily Astorian)

*Three weeks ago, in circumstances that haven’t been publicly explained, Howe, the long-serving leader of the district, submitted her resignation.

*Since then, Anderson revealed that managers have found the financial record keeping in disarray.

*One issue being probed is financial. Thursday’s board meeting heard that Howe had apparently signed a $25,000 agreement with New Northwest Broadcasters for radio spots without approval........Read Full Daily Astorian Report

Conservancy Group Purchases Historic SS United States

In a long-anticipated milestone in the effort to save and redevelop the legendary ocean liner SS United States, the SS United States Conservancy will announce that the national nonprofit organization has acquired title to the nation’s historic “ship of state.”
“We are one big step closer to ensuring that this great symbol of American innovation is permanently preserved,” said Susan Gibbs, the Conservancy’s board president, whose grandfather, William Francis Gibbs, designed the legendary liner. “Now that we have secured title, we will accelerate our efforts to redevelop the nation's flagship as a multi-purpose waterfront destination with dynamic hotel, retail, educational and museum offerings. To succeed, we will tap into the same “can-do” spirit and ingenuity that the ship has embodied since her first splash in 1952.”......Read Report

OK, Camp Rilea Gets Reba On August 14, 2011 But What About The 7 Months In Between?

Reba Update: So, The Reba Concert Has Absolutely Nothing To Do With Astoria's Bicentennial And Is Merely A Private Venture Just Using It As A Catalyst, Implies Co-Organizer Paul Mitchell On KAST-AM - "The Profits, If Any, Will Be Disbursed Locally"

Radio Ticket Sales Ads Say Concert Is Sponsored, In-Part, By "Astoria Regatta Concert Associaton"?

Reba Update:A $600,000 Price Tag?



Well, having Reba performing at Camp Rilea in August certainly gives us ample opportunity, 7 months as a matter of fact, to capitalize on Astoria's immediate assets to bolster a little prosperity to the businesses of this 200 year old city by, let's say, developing a "Performing Arts Series every weekend to bring other great talent to the area by involving all our venues in the city, large and small, in a coordinated effort to share the talent and prosperity amongst all our retailers.
And hey! How about an actual regatta and establishing the "John Jacob Astor Bicentennial Challenge Cup" by inviting two or three very competitive sailng classes to a week's elemination series culminating in match races per each class at the end of the week and the final Regatta Celebration events?
You know, it could be a blessing in disguise for Astoria, its businesses, its blessings and its residents and the visitors it will bring.
Daily Astorian Update Says Reba A $600,000 Ticket For 12,000 Showgoers At Camp Rilea

Rhythm & Keys Music Studio: Truly A Gift To Astoria To Add To The Honors Of Its 200th Year

I had the privilege of attending Rhythm & Keys Music Studio's first recital of its first crop of students this past Saturday, January 29th. The studio is at the corner of 10th and Commercial in downtown Astoria.

Now, I must admit I may be a bit prejudiced, as I have an interest here, as someone very special to me is a student there and her progress in just 4 short months, as that is how long this very important opportunity has been open, impressed me greatly and made me very proud of her hard work. There were also five fellow students of varying ages showcasing their hard worked for talents as well.

I congratulate studio owner and instructor Amy Switzer and fellow owner/business mamanger, Van Hansen for having the courage and true desire to bring this great resource for bettering ourselves to Astoria.

Have you ever had the desire to play the piano or learn percussion? This facility and its learning program is open to all ages, as attested to by one of its older students who happens to be 63 years old.

You can contact Amy at, amy@rhythmandkeysmusicstudio.com or call her at 503-505-2819

Clatsop County District Attorney, Josh Marquis Named By Daily Journal Of Commerce-Oregon As One Of 15 "Leadership In Law Honorees"

POSTED: Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at 05:33 PM PT

BY: DJC Staff

Fifteen Oregon attorneys have been singled out as honorees in the Daily Journal of Commerce’s first Leadership in Law awards program.....Read Full DJC Release

The Daily Astorian: Josh Marquis Guest Column: The Rule Of Law In Astoria

And Now The Letter, Hand Deliverd Last Night To A Local Radio Personality and The District Attorney Himself. Is That Correct? Signed By All Members Of The City Council?

Posted: Thursday, January 20, 2011 12:16 pm

By JOSH MARQUIS For The Daily Astorian

Over the past few years I have become increasingly concerned that drunk driving cases are not being handled fairly and consistently by Astoria's Municipal Court.
Officers from Astoria Police Department have frequently complained that the tickets they write never come to court. The Daily Astorian has documented several cases in which DUIIs have been dismissed for no apparent reason and/or offenders have been offered extraordinarily generous plea bargains that would never be made by the District Attorney’s office.....Read Full Guest Column

Naselle-Grays River School Board OK's Partnership For Home School Students

Published on Thu, Jan 27, 2011

Wahkiakum County Eagle - Betsy Nelson and Cody Cooley

Naselle-Grays River School Board members met January 18 to decide whether to pursue a partnership that would set up a school-within-a-school to focus on coursework for home schooled students.....Read "The Eagle's" Full Report

Clatsop County Commission: "The Oath" - Why Re-do It?

Like me, I am certain there are many out there puzzled by the "Re-Swearing-In" of the new Clatsop County Commissioners and already a few local blogs are trying to "Knee Jerk" it into something it really isn't, in my view.

In an effort to make sure the information is presented accurately, this is the explanation from County Manager Duane Cole: "The county staff provided the 'oath' that had the word 'appointed' instead of the word 'elected'. The last few times we used the oath, we were swearing in appointed commissioners and not elected commissioners. In discussions with Judge Nelson, he preferred to redo the oaths of office to make sure he was signing what was actually said, however, we have checked with County Counsel and the important part of the oath is the first part about upholding the laws of the State and County. All decisions made by the Board apply and they were duly sworn prior to taking any actions prior to the last meeting."

Big Story? I don't think so.

I credit this new leadership, administered by Mr. Cole, for making sure it was done right

CCC Historic Preservation Students To Replace Porch At Knappton Cove U.S. Quarantine Center

Clatsop Community C ollege Students Participate In Porch Building Workshop

Clatsop Community College Historic Preservation students, under the supervision of their instructor Lucien Swerdloff and contractor Tim Kennedy, have scheduled a porch building workshop February 5 & 6 to replace the rotted porches on the historic U.S. Columbia River Quarantine Hospital (aka the Pesthouse).....Read Full CCC Press Release

The Coincidence Theory: Ted Thomas On the Astoria Fires

Coincidence Theory - Ted Thomas - January, 2011

Let us not forget that there were two fires on the night of the 16th in the same structure. For those of you unfamiliar with the Astoria water front; the Cannery Cafe, located on Sixth Street, is connected to No 10 Sixth Street by a very wide and undamaged pier.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration there were an estimated 505,500 structure fires reported in the USA, in 2000, of which 5.5% were stores and offices like the pier. That works out to 27802.5 fires in about 4.7 million commercial buildings during that year.

Over a period of one year one fire occurred in every one hundred and sixty three commercial structures. The chance of a randomly ignited fire occurring on each particular day is 1:(365.25x169.05 ) or 61745.51 to 1.

The chance that a randomly ignited fire will coincide with another randomly ignited fire on the same day in the same structure is the product of the independent probability of a fire occurring on any specific day. In other words the probability that two fires could randomly ignite in different locations of the same structure on the same day is 3,812,508,314 to 1.

I am absolutely certain over time this event can occur somewhere in the US once every 756.92 years (if the average number of commercial structures was/will be 4.7 million).


So let me be the first to say that there is no proof that the fires at the foot of sixth street were anything other than a coincidence. Yes, that's right folks, it is entirely possible that it was just a coincidence independent of the owner's financial or personal incentives.

Having overheard speculation that the double conflagration was other than coincidental I would like to say; Shame! Shame on those that would accuse anyone of setting those dual infernos let alone the bereaved victim of a double misfortune who might be the beneficiary of an insurance policy.

What are you all going to think of yourselves when no one is accused of Arson? Boy there will sure be egg on your faces then!


There's not been any revelation that those twins of pyrolytic devastation had human agency kindling their combustion. That bilaterallity of bedtime blazes, that late night duet of phlogistic pyres, that scintillating, binary, nocturnal, scorching, sea of fire on sixth street has an undeniable measurable likelihood of being coincidence.

The fact that Police and Fire Officials have not produced proof to the contrary or made any arrests is an unmistakable demonstration of just how good they are!


Ray Bradbury would be appalled! God help us all!!

Oregon Attorney General, John Kroger's Argument To The U.S. Supreme Court On Confessed Murderer Randy Moore's Conviction Sticks

Last October, Oregon Attorney General John Kroger argued a major national case, Premo v. Moore, before the United States Supreme Court. In a USSC decision dated January 19, 2011, the Court ruled in favor of The State of Oregon and Kroger's argument, overturning an earlier intermediate court's decision that ruled to throw out murderer, Randy Moore's conviction.

In 1996, Randy Moore pled no contest to felony murder after abducting, torturing and executing an acquaintance in Josephine County. Under his plea agreement he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Later, he attempted to get his conviction reversed, claiming that he received inadequate legal assistance because his attorney did not move to suppress one of his confessions at the time of his plea. After an intermediate court threw out Moore's conviction, DOJ appealed.

Read USSC's decision on the case here

Port Of Seattle To Start Clean Trucks Program

By - eTrucker.com Staff

The Port of Seattle last week launched its program aimed at registering newer, cleaner drayage trucks that access its container terminals. All drayage trucks now must adhere to new Clean Truck Program guidelines to enter Port of Seattle cargo terminals.......Read Article