The family and I spent a little vacation time last week. My thanks to Michael Desmond for stepping in on the show.
I'm proud to announce that my daughter Rachel has been conferred her Master's degree at the University at Albany New York. We spent a few days in New York City taking in the sights and enjoying great restaurants and world-class entertainment and then flew down to Florida. We should have stayed in New York.
Central Florida was hit with monsoon rains and incredible thunderstorms that put a damper on our usual Disney trip. I thought we had downpours in Oregon. Wow!
Getting back to business here on the blog I've reviewed and published all past comments including a few on the Knappa School dust-up that resulted in Rick Pass moving on. Steve Hawks responds to the last post I wrote before taking the vacation break. That and more
in the attached comments to previous posts. Enjoy!
Comments expressed
May 25, 2009
May 13, 2009
Mayor Or Manager?
Today we broadcast a story on Warrenton Mayor Gil Gramson that raises questions about the public role of a Mayor in a City Manager form of government.
In yesterdays commission meeting planning commissioner Steve Hawks questioned how public information is released to the press and charges that Gramson is improperly acting as a spokesman for the city in matters he thinks should be handled by City Manager Bob Maxfield.
Hawks outlines a procedure where announcements, or news releases, would originate from the City Manager in regard to certain city functions such as budget matters.
Hawks expressed the opinion that Gramson "micro-manages" city staff. Gramson told Hawks he agrees with his right to express his opinion. He explained that the city manager is not comfortable being the city spokesman. He says the Mayor is the spokesman and to some degree the other commissioners serve in this role. Other commissioners said that Maxfield runs the staff.
Hawks says it sounds like the city is being run from the mayor's office.
Hawks objections are apparently based on newspaper reporting which quotes the Mayor in regard to possible cuts in the city planning department. Perhaps he would have been happier to hear about that possibility from the City Manager? Perhaps he was concerned about the accuracy of the comments?
Mayors have a leadership role when it comes to representing their city. That role properly includes the responsibility to respond to questions from the press regarding city operations especially when it comes to policy decisions. Mayors, whether working as a "strong" mayor or as an appointed representative, should have a working understanding of city issue positions.
If the city manager seeks the advice of a former city manager in handling operational matters then that would seem appropriate. Hawks seems to believe Gramson's involvement goes deeper.
I would point out here that Maxfield's apparent discomfort with the press doesn't seem to extend to our reporters. He has been recorded for news stories regarding his city frequently.
and those stories have been broadcast on KAST ever since he took the job.
Frankly, I'm puzzled by Hawks public comments on these matters.
In yesterdays commission meeting planning commissioner Steve Hawks questioned how public information is released to the press and charges that Gramson is improperly acting as a spokesman for the city in matters he thinks should be handled by City Manager Bob Maxfield.
Hawks outlines a procedure where announcements, or news releases, would originate from the City Manager in regard to certain city functions such as budget matters.
Hawks expressed the opinion that Gramson "micro-manages" city staff. Gramson told Hawks he agrees with his right to express his opinion. He explained that the city manager is not comfortable being the city spokesman. He says the Mayor is the spokesman and to some degree the other commissioners serve in this role. Other commissioners said that Maxfield runs the staff.
Hawks says it sounds like the city is being run from the mayor's office.
Hawks objections are apparently based on newspaper reporting which quotes the Mayor in regard to possible cuts in the city planning department. Perhaps he would have been happier to hear about that possibility from the City Manager? Perhaps he was concerned about the accuracy of the comments?
Mayors have a leadership role when it comes to representing their city. That role properly includes the responsibility to respond to questions from the press regarding city operations especially when it comes to policy decisions. Mayors, whether working as a "strong" mayor or as an appointed representative, should have a working understanding of city issue positions.
If the city manager seeks the advice of a former city manager in handling operational matters then that would seem appropriate. Hawks seems to believe Gramson's involvement goes deeper.
I would point out here that Maxfield's apparent discomfort with the press doesn't seem to extend to our reporters. He has been recorded for news stories regarding his city frequently.
and those stories have been broadcast on KAST ever since he took the job.
Frankly, I'm puzzled by Hawks public comments on these matters.
How To Contact Us
Here's our new contact information
KAST RADIO
285 SW MAIN CT-SUITE 200
WARRENTON, OREGON 97146
MAIN PHONE- 503-861-6620
STUDIO- 503-861-6621
KAST RADIO
285 SW MAIN CT-SUITE 200
WARRENTON, OREGON 97146
MAIN PHONE- 503-861-6620
STUDIO- 503-861-6621
May 11, 2009
Don't Count Them Out
Oregon LNG may be filing for their FERC permit sometime next month. That doesn't mean any shovels hitting the Skipanon soon but minority owner Peter Hansen tells me it does mean that his company is moving forward.
As I had surmised months ago, Oregon LNG has been taking a much quieter approach in meeting multiple times with state agencies and the tribes over the last couple of years in an attempt to clear up any concerns and get state permits in place before moving on to federal approval. Hansen says that while he wishes his company could do the same kind of things Northern Star has been doing in pouring cash into the community over the last several years. It's not going to happen as long as equity firm Leucadia National Corp owns 80% of the company. He says that company watches the bottom line carefully and can't justify charity donations to buy friends. He says there is no public relations department and there is little use for it given Oregon LNG's approach in seeking permit approval. Hansen says that until a public process is required there won't be any. He says he can't understand why Northern Star would insist on being a target in this fashion.
Leucadia National Corporation shares little information about itself and it's dealings. Their website is an exercise in providing as little detail as possible while still maintaining some web representation.
Hansen points to Northern Star's mess in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court regarding state permitting and the FERC approval as a prime example of the backwards approach he says that company has taken with Bradwood Landing. Oregon LNG will not make the same mistake.
There is more and we'll talk about it this morning on Coastwatch.
As I had surmised months ago, Oregon LNG has been taking a much quieter approach in meeting multiple times with state agencies and the tribes over the last couple of years in an attempt to clear up any concerns and get state permits in place before moving on to federal approval. Hansen says that while he wishes his company could do the same kind of things Northern Star has been doing in pouring cash into the community over the last several years. It's not going to happen as long as equity firm Leucadia National Corp owns 80% of the company. He says that company watches the bottom line carefully and can't justify charity donations to buy friends. He says there is no public relations department and there is little use for it given Oregon LNG's approach in seeking permit approval. Hansen says that until a public process is required there won't be any. He says he can't understand why Northern Star would insist on being a target in this fashion.
Leucadia National Corporation shares little information about itself and it's dealings. Their website is an exercise in providing as little detail as possible while still maintaining some web representation.
Hansen points to Northern Star's mess in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court regarding state permitting and the FERC approval as a prime example of the backwards approach he says that company has taken with Bradwood Landing. Oregon LNG will not make the same mistake.
There is more and we'll talk about it this morning on Coastwatch.
Star Trek Lives!
September 8, 1966 kids all over America were sitting in front of the family television curious to see this new show that had made the cover of the new fall line-up edition of TV Guide. It was a science fiction show that featured a space ship that didn't look like a space ship should look and a crew featuring an alien with pointy ears and eyebrows.
I couldn't get enough of it. Over 40 years later I'm still hooked. The original series only lasted three years. Fans kept it alive that last season when the network bean-counters said the production costs didn't pencil out. Then it was gone. The re-runs ran for years. Trekkers flocked to conventions dressed as their favorite characters.
Eventually the story of the Enterprise and it's crew returned to the big screen and then new TV series spin-offs started to appear. The last show, "Enterprise" seemed to play out the prequel concept. The question became "what's left to explore?" It was all getting a little stale.
When word came out that JJ Abrams was cooking up another prequel that would tell the story of the young Kirk, Spock, Mc Coy..et.al it sparked some controversy in the trekker world. Who would play the iconic character roles? Would the Enterprise look the same as the original? were just a couple of the many questions fans would ask over the time it took to get the picture made. Then the release was delayed for reasons of better timing and controversy grew.
This past weekend the film premiered and I say "Bravo".
In this new version we see a refreshing return to the adventure, the humor, the terrific character development and technology that seems believable without upstaging the actors.
It is a return to the roots of Trek and lends a new direction which opens the door to significant new areas of plot development that has the promise to keep this story relevant. Now go see it so we can keep the bean-counters happy.
I couldn't get enough of it. Over 40 years later I'm still hooked. The original series only lasted three years. Fans kept it alive that last season when the network bean-counters said the production costs didn't pencil out. Then it was gone. The re-runs ran for years. Trekkers flocked to conventions dressed as their favorite characters.
Eventually the story of the Enterprise and it's crew returned to the big screen and then new TV series spin-offs started to appear. The last show, "Enterprise" seemed to play out the prequel concept. The question became "what's left to explore?" It was all getting a little stale.
When word came out that JJ Abrams was cooking up another prequel that would tell the story of the young Kirk, Spock, Mc Coy..et.al it sparked some controversy in the trekker world. Who would play the iconic character roles? Would the Enterprise look the same as the original? were just a couple of the many questions fans would ask over the time it took to get the picture made. Then the release was delayed for reasons of better timing and controversy grew.
This past weekend the film premiered and I say "Bravo".
In this new version we see a refreshing return to the adventure, the humor, the terrific character development and technology that seems believable without upstaging the actors.
It is a return to the roots of Trek and lends a new direction which opens the door to significant new areas of plot development that has the promise to keep this story relevant. Now go see it so we can keep the bean-counters happy.
May 06, 2009
4-146 For Warrenton
For the last decade Warrenton citizens have supported their local police by funding a critical position on the force which provides 24-hour coverage. That levy is coming up for consideration on the May ballot.
Because of the development that has taken place over the past three years there is a broader tax base in Warrenton and that translates into a less expensive levy than in years past.
It was reported as a tax increase in a front page newspaper article. This is patently false. If anything it's a decrease in a request to continue funding that officer position.
I urge you to maintain law enforcement coverage in Warrenton and vote Yes on measure
4-146 because it is reasonable and prudent to do so.
Because of the development that has taken place over the past three years there is a broader tax base in Warrenton and that translates into a less expensive levy than in years past.
It was reported as a tax increase in a front page newspaper article. This is patently false. If anything it's a decrease in a request to continue funding that officer position.
I urge you to maintain law enforcement coverage in Warrenton and vote Yes on measure
4-146 because it is reasonable and prudent to do so.
May 05, 2009
New Digs
Can you believe we are still unpacking?
After spending decades at the old building in Astoria we had a lot to go through to make sure we took our history with us while dumping tons of odds and ends. Last week we invited non-profits to haul off anything they could make use of and put a number of temp labor guys to work filling multiple dumpster loads.
At the new NNB Building in Warrenton construction finishing work is just about completed on the interior and work is underway on finishing the studios.
Getting settled back into an on-air routine has been interesting. I didn't realize how much I say on the radio was linked to our old location. Little things like giving the current temperature while reminding myself not to say "..and 50 on the bay side at KAST" has been a difficult habit to break.
The change in location hasn't changed our news coverage. We still cover every city and county on a regular basis. This morning we had stories out of Astoria, Seaside, Long Beach and, Warrenton.
The move leaves our transmitters and towers right where they have always been. Three in Astoria, one in Seaside, one in Ilwaco.
Our engineering team is working now on some clean-up and corrections to network connections. Our new phone system is Internet dependent and still has a few bugs that are being worked on.
All-in-all work is moving along as expected. The new phone numbers:
Main number.....503-861-6620
Talkshow......503-861-6621
After spending decades at the old building in Astoria we had a lot to go through to make sure we took our history with us while dumping tons of odds and ends. Last week we invited non-profits to haul off anything they could make use of and put a number of temp labor guys to work filling multiple dumpster loads.
At the new NNB Building in Warrenton construction finishing work is just about completed on the interior and work is underway on finishing the studios.
Getting settled back into an on-air routine has been interesting. I didn't realize how much I say on the radio was linked to our old location. Little things like giving the current temperature while reminding myself not to say "..and 50 on the bay side at KAST" has been a difficult habit to break.
The change in location hasn't changed our news coverage. We still cover every city and county on a regular basis. This morning we had stories out of Astoria, Seaside, Long Beach and, Warrenton.
The move leaves our transmitters and towers right where they have always been. Three in Astoria, one in Seaside, one in Ilwaco.
Our engineering team is working now on some clean-up and corrections to network connections. Our new phone system is Internet dependent and still has a few bugs that are being worked on.
All-in-all work is moving along as expected. The new phone numbers:
Main number.....503-861-6620
Talkshow......503-861-6621
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