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

CCBofC:Notice Of Public Hearing On Oregon LNG/Pipeline

Date Mailed: January 14, 2010 Page 1 of 2
Clatsop CountyTransportation & Development Services
800 Exchange Street, Suite 100,
Astoria, OR 97103
ph: 503-325-8611
fx: 503-338-3666
em: comdev@co.clatsop.or.us
www.co.clatsop.or.us
CLATSOP COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
To set the scope of review for the reconsideration of the conditional approval of the consolidated application
by Oregon Pipeline, LLC, to construct a 36-mile natural gas pipeline.
DATE OF HEARING: Wednesday, February 9, 2011
TIME: 10:00 AM
LOCATION: Judge Guy Boyington
Building, 857 Commercial Street - Astoria, Oregon 97103
CONTACT PERSON: Jennifer Bunch, Clatsop County Planner

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners, pursuant to ORS
197.830(13(b) and OAR 661-010-0021, has withdrawn its decision to grant conditional approval to the
Oregon Pipeline, LLC, consolidated application that was originally approved by the Board of Commissioners
on November 8, 2010.
The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners has scheduled a hearing to determine the procedures to be
applied during the reconsideration proceeding in this matter pursuant to ORS 197.830(13)(b), OAR 661-010-
0021, and Sections 2.185, 2.190, 2.195, 2.230(4), 2.245 and 2.260 of the Clatsop County Land and Water
Development and Use Ordinance (LWDUO), at 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, February 9, 2011, at the Judge
Guy Boyington Building, 857 Commercial St, Astoria, OR 97103.
The Board of Commissioners will then reconsider the matter pursuant to such procedures on Wednesday,
March 9, 2011. Additional public notice will be issued for the March 9 hearing.
Parties to the LUBA appeal are invited to testify in person by attending the hearing, or they may testify in
writing by addressing a letter to the Clatsop County Transportation & Development Services, 800 Exchange
Street, Suite 100, Astoria, OR 97103. Written comments from the parties to the LUBA appeal may also be
sent via FAX to 503-338-3666 or via email to comdev@co.clatsop.or.us. Such written comments must be
received in this office no later than 5PM on Tuesday, February 8, 2011, in order to be considered at the
February 9, 2011, public hearing.
NOTE: Failure of an issue to be raised in a hearing, in person or by letter, or failure to provide statements or
evidence sufficient to afford the decision maker an opportunity to respond to the issue precludes an appeal
based on that issue.
Date Mailed: January 14, 2010 Page 2 of 2
The following documents are available for review at the Clatsop County Transportation & Development
Services office, 800 Exchange Street, Suite 100, Astoria, Oregon. A copy of the application, all documents
and evidence submitted by or on behalf of the applicant and applicable criteria are available for inspection at
the department office during normal business hours (M-F, 8-5) at no cost and will be provided in a digital
format at reasonable cost.
A copy of the staff report will be available for inspection at the Department office at no cost at least seven
days prior to the hearing and will be provided at a reasonable cost.
In general, the procedure for conduct of the public hearing will be as follows: Introductory statements by the
Board of Commissioners, staff report presentation, testimony from the LUBA parties (five minute limit), and
conclusion of the public hearing. The Board of Commissioners will then deliberate and issue a decision
regarding the procedure to be applied for the Board’s reconsideration of the matter.

Longview Daily News(TDN): EPA Eases-Up On Bio-Mass Using Operations Like Longview Fibre

By The Daily News and The Associated Press
Posted: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 7:51 pm

Biofuels power projects like one proposed by Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging may have an easier path to approval.

Under pressure from Congressional members, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is easing up regulations to control emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses from facilities that burn biomass for energy....Read Full TDN.com Report

The Daily Astorian: Clatsop County Board Of Commissioners Votes 4-1 To Rehear Oregon Pipeline Proposal

Posted: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 4:31 pm

The Daily Astorian

The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners voted 4 to 1 to withdraw last year’s approval of a liquefied natural gas land-use application and will re-examine the issue in a public hearing.

The board voted Nov. 8, 2010 to accept a hearings officer’s ruling granting approval to the consolidated liquefied natural gas pipeline application for Oregon Pipeline LLC. The decision was appealed to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals by project opponents led by Columbia Riverkeeper.....Read Full Daily Astorian Report

The Daily Astorian: Port Of Astoria Ponders Expansion And 3 Phase Development Of Tongue Point

By KATIE WILSON - The Daily Astorian

The Port of Astoria is looking at developing North Tongue Point, located east of Astoria, in a three-phase plan that could include the purchase of the property from Washington Group, an expansion into acreage currently occupied by the U.S. Coast Guard Buoy Station and the Job Corps facilities, and the creation of additional acres by filling and paving between several of the finger piers....... Read Full Katie Wilson Report

Updated: Notice Of Hearing On Astoria Derelict Building Ordinance

The Astoria City Council will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at 7:00 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, 1095 Duane Street, Astoria. The purpose of the hearing is to consider the following request:
Recognizing a need to address the issue of derelict buildings (i.e. boarded up structures, vacant buildings, buildings in significant disrepair, etc.), the City Council set as one of their goals for the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 to develop a process for addressing derelict buildings. The goal states:
Mitigate Derelict Building Problems
 Adopt ordinance to alleviate problems and recover costs
 Initiate Code Enforcement upon enactment of ordinance

Read Full Notice

Read Full Amended And Proposed Derelict Building Ordinance Here

Brent Foster Cleared Of Any Wrongdoing Regarding Any Proposed Oregon LNG Projects As Alleged By Pro-Bradwood Landing Element

Published: Tuesday, January 04, 2011, 5:08 PM
Updated: Tuesday, January 04, 2011, 5:19 PM
By Scott Learn, The Oregonian

A former judge's review of Brent Foster's work at Oregon's Department of Justice found no evidence that Foster gave improper legal advice on liquid natural gas plants in Oregon as LNG supporters had charged....Read Full Oregonlive Report

Take Oregon ODOT Transportation Enhancement Survey

Welcome to the public involvement site for Oregon's Transportation Enhancement (TE) program. This site will serve as the method of gauging public support and concerns for TE projects competing in the 2010-2011 funding cycle. Responses will be accepted through January 28, 2011......Go To Survey Site

New EPA Rule Could Delay Longview Fibre Bio-Mass Project

By Erik Olson/ The Daily News

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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.

Read Full Daily Astorian Report

These Two Properties Were Scheduled To Go To Sheriff's Sale December 30th

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

Bryan Denson, The Oregonian

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.

Read The Oregonlive Report

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

Clatsop County Board Of Commissioners Approve ONLG Pipeline Application With Modifications

Read Full County Release

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

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

From The Daily Astorian: State Senator Betsy Johnson and House Rep. Debbie Boone Take Exception To Advert Run By 2 "Tea Party" Backed Candidates!

At left is an ad run in The Daily Astorian by two "Tea Party" backed candidates, Lew Barnes and Bob Horning, running for two seats in the Oregon State Legislature now occupied by State Senator District 16, Betsy Johnson and House District 31 Represesentative, Debbie Boone.

Click on ad at left to read its content.

Click This To Read Full Daily "A" Report

For insight into Lewis Barnes campaign finance activity, click on this to go to ORESTAR

For even more interesting insight into Bob Horning's campaign finance activity, click her to go to Horning's ORESTAR account

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.

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.

Read The Details

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

Natural Gas Pipeline Crisis Plans Kept From Public?

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

Read Full Raw Story dot Com - Associated Press Story

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

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.

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

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

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

"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

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

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

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.

Read Full Article

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

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