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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Georgia-Pacific has announced a new investment of more than $150 million to rebuild a 1965 vintage paper machine at the Wauna Mill.

The mill, which employs more than 700 workers, produces retail bath tissue, paper towels and napkins used by consumers across the country. While the upgraded paper machine is not expected to increase employment, it will create a safer environment for employees and help the company remain competitive in the industry, said Georgia-Pacific public affairs manager Kristi Ward.

“It is getting a complete rebuild, so we are very excited about this,” Ward said. “Nearly all the components are going to be replaced with state-of-the-art technology.”

The Wauna Mill is the second-largest employer in Clatsop County behind Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria, said Kevin Leahy, the executive director of Clatsop Economic Development Resources.

In February, county commissioners voted to support the mill through the state’s Strategic Investment Program, which incentivizes large capital investments by offering companies an alternate taxing structure. Under the program, the first $40 million of a project is taxed, and the rest — up to $500 million — is exempt.

Leahy sees the investment as an important step for jobs and economic development. “They are critical to our economy,” he said.

See the story by Olivia Palmer by clicking here.

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The Northwest Oregon Housing Authority is suspending its appeal of a city decision on the Owens II project as the agency negotiates potential alternative solutions with city staff.

Over the past several months, the housing authority and the city have gone back and forth over issues surrounding a grading and erosion control permit for the proposed affordable housing project for low-income seniors and people with disabilities near downtown. The 50-unit apartment complex would mirror the Owens-Adair at 15th and Exchange streets.

In January, the city ruled that the geotechnical information submitted by the housing authority had not demonstrated that the excavation would not create a hazard to public or private property. The housing authority appealed that decision to the Astoria Planning Commission, which unanimously rejected the appeal in March.

The city argued that the site sits at the toe of a historic landslide and that excavation — especially the steep cuts needed for construction of a subgrade basement for parking — would destabilize the hillside.

Now, the housing authority is hoping to redesign the project without the controversial basement. Since the passage of Gov. Tina Kotek’s comprehensive housing package, developers of affordable housing projects will be able to request adjustments to code requirements on issues such as parking.

“What the state has recognized is that housing is a critical resource, and sometimes parking can be an issue going forward with a project,” City Manager Scott Spence said.

David Oser, the chair of the housing authority’s board, explained that the agency is looking at options for off-site parking, but noted that they do not anticipate needing significant parking.

“Some of the residents of the existing Owens-Adair do have cars,” he said. “But many, in fact, the majority don’t. So it’s not like in a development where you would really have to have one or even two spaces per resident, or per apartment.”

Read the story by Rebecca Norden-Bright by clicking here.

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On a recent afternoon at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, Cathy Peterson settled into her seat and cracked open a three-ring binder.

Thumbing through the plastic sheet-protected pages, she smiled, reminiscing on snapshots from her nearly two decades with the park. One page held pictures of an outdoor art installation. Another framed a selfie from a hike with the Portland Thorns. A third began a series of letters from a group of elementary schoolers.

Peterson stopped at a photo of five high school students.

“He’s at Arches National Park,” she said, pointing to one of the figures in the picture.

“She got her doctoral degree at Dartmouth in soil sciences.”

“This woman is a GS-9 — she’s our maintenance lead right now.”

The students in the photo — at the time, all participants in the Youth Conservation Corps — are among thousands that Peterson has interacted with as an education specialist at Lewis and Clark. They’re also a reminder of the legacy she’s leaving after retiring in March.

Take a look at the report by Olivia Palmer by clicking here.

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— Derrick DePledge