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