From the editor’s desk

Published 8:00 am Saturday, April 15, 2023

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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The future of the Warrenton Community Library is on the May ballot.

Measure 4-222 would renew a local option levy at the existing tax rate — 33 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. If approved, the levy would raise more than $1.3 million over five years.

Supporters opted for an extension of the levy after a ballot measure to increase the tax rate by 5 cents narrowly failed in the November election.

If the levy is not extended, funding for the library will dry up when the levy expires at the end of June.

“We know that some folks were not enthused about the tax increase we were requesting in November, so we listened to what people had to say,” said Kelsey Balensifer, the chairwoman of the library board.

See the story by Ethan Myers by clicking here.

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The Fort Clatsop Visitor Center is getting a refresh.

Improvements to the attraction at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park will include an enhanced entrance, a revamped heating and cooling system, new windows, modernized bathrooms and more.

The new facade will feature a large glass wall at the entrance. The design was inspired by Chinook and Clatsop culture.

“The whole idea is that it (will be) reminiscent or gives you the feeling of walking into a Chinookan plank house,” Jill Harding, program manager for visitor services, said. “ … It kind of sets the scene of whose homeland you’re on.”

Read the story by Ethan Myers by clicking here.

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The Knappa School District has landed a seismic rehabilitation grant from the state.

The school district will receive nearly $2.5 million through Business Oregon, the state’s economic development agency, to make improvements to the sections with the gym, library and cafeteria, which are considered the most structurally vulnerable areas of the building.

“We’re so pleased because the school is the center of the community, so it not only helps us to keep the kids safe, but allows us to serve the community in a sheltering situation if we ever had to do that,” Bill Fritz, the school superintendent, said.

Take a look at Ethan Myers’ report by clicking here.

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Derrick DePledge

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