Thank you for your interest in reading The Astorian. Here are a few stories that you might have missed this week:

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Signs, an enlarged gate and fencing are among the options as the Oregon Department of Transportation looks to take steps to reduce the risk of suicides at the Astoria Bridge.

The state does not keep an official count, but several people have leapt off the bridge in recent years.

“The Megler Bridge is a draw for suicide or suicide attempts,” Monica Steele, the assistant Clatsop County manager, said this month at a Public Safety Coordinating Council meeting.

Read the report by Erick Bengel by clicking here.

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The Department of State Lands estimates that recovery costs for the historic Tourist No. 2 could top $1 million.

The ferry capsized off the riverfront in late July.

The department cited the emergency removal of the Tourist No. 2 as part of an update to the State Land Board on plans to seek $40 million to remove abandoned and derelict vessels from Oregon waterways. The department said a lack of dedicated funding has meant using money from the Common School Fund.

The state called the Tourist No. 2 “an imminent threat to public health and safety.”

“Not taking action to remove this hazard from the water is not an option,” Vicki Walker, the director of the Department of State Lands, said in a statement. “But Oregon’s schoolchildren are paying yet again to clean up a mess created by an irresponsible vessel owner. The department will take every action to recoup the more than $1 million this cleanup will cost.”

See the story by Nicole Bales of The Astorian and Katie Frankowicz of KMUN by clicking here.

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An Astoria couple and the city are in a tug of war over vacation rentals at a historic property off Exchange Street near downtown.

Bob and Cindy Magie made a significant investment to restore the property, which is in a commercial zone, where hotels are allowed. But a city homestay lodging ordinance places limits on converting residential housing into vacation rentals.

City Attorney Blair Henningsgaard said the city is trying to determine when each of the units at the property started being used as vacation rentals. “Unfortunately, our code does not provide a clear procedure for us to follow,” he said.

Take a look at Nicole Bales’ report by clicking here.

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