A bus filled with 46 Army National Guard members crashed on Highway 101 in Manzanita on Monday while headed to Portland from Camp Rilea. The guard members were from the HHC 1-186 Infantry Battalion in Medford. Only the driver was injured in the crash, according to Oregon State Police. The crash was reported at 7 a.m. The driver missed the turn onto Highway 26 near Seaside and, despite passengers telling him otherwise, he assured them he knew the route to Portland and continued southbound, (continued)
Robert Grey Butler, a longtime utility company employee, died at his home in Warrenton on Friday, Sept. 13. He was 80. Butler was born at Columbia Memorial Hospital to Rexford Butler, a local dentist, and his wife, Ruth. He was raised in Warrenton and graduated from Warrenton High School in 1956. He served in the Oregon National Guard for three years and enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1960, upon graduation from boot camp. He was sent to radar school, where he graduated with highest honors and (continued)
** Pizza Hut closes The owner of Pizza Hut restaurants in Warrenton and Seaside closed both locations last week without warning. “We would like to thank our valued customers for their many years of loyal patronage,” reads a notice posted in the windows. “We have decided to close this location and apologize for any inconvenience.” The franchise owner, Pizza Hut of the Rockies, is based in Boise, Idaho, and no contact information was available. ** Park at four-way stop Warrenton’s Urban (continued)
The city has a new resource. Morgan Murray comes from RARE (Resource Assistance for Rural Environments), an AmeriCorps program administered by the University of Oregon to assist small rural communities with planning and technical help. She’ll work on a variety of parks and recreation-related projects, including the launch of Sunday Streets. Sunday Streets are free, family-friendly community events that encourage arts performances, healthy lifestyles, and economic development and attempt to (continued)
If you go What: Disaster Preparedness Event When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 Where: Warrenton Community Center, 170 S.W. Third St. The Columbia Press The storm of 2007 knocked out electricity, phone lines and cell phone towers. Roads were blocked by downed trees, and Clatsop County was isolated. It could happen again should this area have another devastating storm, earthquake or other emergency. The city of Warrenton and Warrenton-Hammond Community Emergency Response Team are (continued)
Two new Warrenton police officers took the oath of office Tuesday night, leaving the department with two additional spots to fill. “It’s not an easy task,” Chief Matt Workman said. “The process to hire these two police officers began at the end of last year.” Finding the right fit for the department, the town and its people is essential, he said. There was an extensive interview process and background checks. Next, the officers will attend a basic police academy in Salem, then a (continued)
Diane Collier plans to 'retire' at end of month
Diane Collier is Warrenton’s queen of historical obscurity. She owns an autographed photo of Arnold Schwarzenegger from “Kindergarten Cop” days, a collar and bow tie from the 1955 Lewis and Clark Sesquicentennial Celebration at Fort Clatsop, panoramic photos of Tansy Point when it was a bustling freight and passenger dock, high school annuals, and books long since out of circulation. Even the Warrenton Visitor Center and Museum’s restroom walls are filled with Collier’s historic (continued)
Seven individuals and a sports team will be inducted into Warrenton’s Hall of Fame this month, including a state champion, several community supporters and a longtime teacher and coach. The 11th semi-annual banquet and induction ceremony will be held Saturday, Sept. 21, at Warrenton High School. Proceeds benefit Warrenton Schools Foundation. This year’s inductees are: ** Bob Graves, a 1969 WHS graduate. For 50 years he has held the record in the 100- and 200-yard races in track. He followed (continued)
Warrenton schools continued growing this week with an increase of 30 new students districtwide on the first day of school and a total enrollment of 1,045. “We could end up with more than that,” Superintendent Tom Rogozinski said Tuesday. “Sometimes students we expect to see have moved from the area; those who have pre-enrolled don’t show up. … But the trend is, we’re up a bit across the district and it’s pretty evenly spread across the elementary school grades. The high school (continued)
A skinny street that’s a block off downtown will get a fix. Southwest Alder Avenue will be widened between First and Second streets. Taking the Planning Commission’s recommendation, city commissioners approved a $39,980 contract with A.M. Engineering of Seaside to handle civil engineering designs and assist in the bidding process. The blocklong project is 430 feet. The road will be expanded to 36 feet wide with sidewalks on both sides and storm-drain improvements, said Collin Stelzig, (continued)
A work crew improves the pavement in front of Warrenton High School last week as the campus prepares for a new school year. (continued)
Paddlesports have increased in popularity over the past decade, which has led to right-of-way conflicts in multi-use waterways such as the Columbia River. Last weekend near Cedaroak Park on the Willamette River, members of a four-person rowing scull were injured after a small boat accelerated in close proximity, creating a large wake that ejected the rowers and cracked their boat in half. Various user groups have occasionally petitioned the state Marine Board to restrict boat operations for one (continued)
Columnists & Other Opinions
Last week we were reminded to be nice to or at least aware of the bees. This week, someone says “what about those awful slugs?” A somewhat popular solution seniors have learned is to take a “throw away” aluminum pie plate and settle it into the ground so the top is even with the soil and then pour beer into it. If nothing else comes along to drink it, eventually you’ll end up with a plate full of dead or perhaps just tipsy slugs. We should look at slugs and snails as very important, (continued)
A look back at Warrenton's top stories from The Columbia Press annals. Hammond residents vote to join Warrenton
The Columbia Press was established in 1922 as a Finnish language newspaper. By the 1940s, it was renamed and remade into a publication serving all of Clatsop County. The Columbia Press was purchased by Hal and Edla Allen in 1962 and moved to Warrenton in 1978. Today it is the newspaper of record for the city of Warrenton, while also covering county, regional and state issues of interest to residents. Twenty-eight years ago (September 1991) ** Residents of Hammond vote to dissolve their city (continued)
As the school year starts, some of us get busy as bees. Do bumble bees sting? The answer is yes, but gently, according to online encyclopedia Wikipedia and a few other sources. The bees often sting more than once, but it’s not as painful as the honey bee. Those who’ve been stung by honey bees will readily attest that they hurt! Do honey bees die after stinging? “When a honey bee stings a person, it cannot pull the barbed stinger back out,” according to Wikipedia. “It leaves behind not (continued)
Events
Angora Hiking Club will lead a difficult hike to Tillamook Head in Seaside on Saturday, Sept. 21. The hike is on the north ocean side and the trail is well worn and fairly steep, but just 1 ½ miles long. There are breathtaking views that include the old lighthouse, wild mushrooms and old trees. The return part of the loop is wide and along an easy gravel service road. Oregon State Parks charges a $5 day pass for those who don’t own annual passes. Meet at the Indian Beach parking lot at 9:30 (continued)
Artists in Cannon Beach will hold their first Earth and Ocean Arts Festival, a three-day event that begins Friday, Sept. 20. The group is raising funds for five nonprofit environmental groups: Friends of Cape Falcon Marine Reserve, Friends of Haystack Rock, North Coast Land Conservancy, Sea Turtles Forever and Wildlife Center of the North Coast. The festival includes experiences on the beach and throughout the town, including interactive dance, raku ceramics firings on the beach, dueling (continued)
Jordan’s Hope for Recovery third annual recovery rally and fun run/walk is set for 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at Astoria Middle School, 1100 Klaskanine Ave. Registration is $15 and includes a T-shirt; children 12 and younger are free, but kids T-shirts, if desired, are $6. The event begins with a Zumba fitness warm-up. State Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum will speak at 10 a.m., with the run/walk following. Lunch and music are from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participants are encouraged to (continued)
An evening of Americana songs and storytelling with Grammy winner Doug Smith is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Liberty Theatre, 1203 Commercial St., Astoria. The event is sponsored by Walmart, Atlantis Auto Glass, 94.9FM The Bridge and North Coast Records. Local musician Bruce Thomas Smith will open the show. General admission seating is $25, and $20 for seniors, members of the military and students. Doors open at 7 p.m. and will call tickets will be available at the box office (continued)
Classes on understanding Medicare are scheduled at three locations in Clatsop County. Fall open enrollment is Oct. 15-Dec. 7. Northwest Senior and Disability Services and Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance are sponsoring the classes. To register, call 503-861-4200. Walk-ins also are welcome. Seaside: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 18 and Nov. 15 at Bob Chisholm Community Center, 1225 Avenue A. Astoria: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 18 and Nov. 20, second floor Coho Room, Columbia Center, 2021 Marine (continued)
Eleven cruise ships are scheduled to dock at the Port of Astoria this fall.
Their arrival usually flushes downtown businesses with shoppers and provides local tour guides with plenty of work.
Sept. 17: Island Princess
Sept. 23: Star Princess
Sept. 26: Seven Seas Mariner
Sept. 26: Coral Princess
Sept. 26: Oceania Regatta
Sept. 27: Volendam
Sept. 30: Star Princess
Oct. 1: Oosterdam
Oct. 9: Norwegian Jewel
Oct. 15: Grand Princess
Oct. 22: Grand Princess (continued)
“Henceforward,” a play by Alan Ayckbourn, opens Friday, Sept. 13, and runs through Sept. 28 on the stage at Pier Pressure, 1015 Commercial Ave., Astoria.
Tickets are $15 and available online at libertyastoria.showare.com.
A ribbon-cutting at the new venue is at 5:15 p.m., followed by champagne. Doors open at 6:45 p.m.
Construction of the theater has been a year in the works, under the supervision of Daric Moore and Susi Brown, who also directs the black-comedy/sci-fi. (continued)
Columbia Memorial Hospital’s cancer collaborative is sponsoring a series of Wellness Café health chats this month. The informal lunchtime conversations are free and include provided light bites. They’re from 11 a.m. to noon in the Knight Cancer Collaborative Activity Room, 1905 Exchange St., Astoria. ** Weds., Sept. 4: “You Want Me to Eat What?” by Registered Dietitian Arna Vanebo will provide guidance on increasing plant-based foods in the diet. ** Thurs., Sept 12: Linda Moreland, a (continued)
Police and Public Safety
A woman accused of threatening a man with a gun was in intensive care in a burn unit Sept. 11 after the residence they were in erupted in flames, according to a press release from Clatsop County. Kelley Brownlie, 45, was in critical condition at Emanuel Burn Center. A man who was caring for a neighbor’s property in the 38400 block of Labiske Lane in the Olney area called 911 about 5 p.m. Sept. 10 to report a woman was in the residence without the property owner’s permission and she’d (continued)
** Thefts and burglaries Bicycle theft, 2:03 p.m. Sept. 5, Fort Stevens State Park campground. A man reported his $2,000 black Surly bicycle was stolen during the night from his site. Burglary, 7 a.m. Sept. 6, 1000 block Southeast Marlin Ave. A business owner reported thieves stole eight trailer brake batteries from vehicles parked at the business. Total loss was estimated at $200. ** Suspicious circumstances/disturbances Nuisance dog, 6:26 p.m. Sept. 3, 200 block Southeast Anchor Avenue. Owner (continued)
A man was arrested after he was found lurking in a family’s backyard and prompted a manhunt when he attempted to elude officers, police said. A woman who lives adjacent to Warrenton Marina called police to report a suspicious man in her backyard wearing a red shirt and red shorts. When an officer arrived, the man began walking away from the property and then running in several directions and down several streets in an attempt to elude the policeman, according to a probable cause report. More (continued)
** Warrants Warrant service, 3:45 a.m. Aug. 30, 500 block Southwest First Place. Maureen Elizabeth Nash, 59, of Canby was arrested on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine and for a felony warrant from Clackamas County. **Thefts and burglaries Vehicle burglary, 1:55 p.m. Aug. 18, 1500 block Southeast Willow Drive. A man reported someone sold $400 in tools from his pickup. Shoplifting, 2 p.m. Aug. 20, Walmart. Norma Juana Vasquez, 50, of Kent, Wash., was cited for third-degree theft and (continued)
Education
The Warrenton boys football team walked away with an impressive 47-22 win last Friday at Creswell. “We played another solid game offensively,” Coach Ian O’Brien said. Warrenton had 468 combined total yards on offense. The team rushed for 267 and passed for 201. Jacob Morrow was 7 for 13 passing, with 2 touchdowns, both of which were pass completions to Austin Little. Little had 5 catches for 110 yards. Devin Jackson had 14 carries for 125 yards and 3 TDs. Morrow had 70 yards rushing on 9 (continued)
Clatsop Community College has partnered with the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition to develop an environmental steward certificate program. The goal is to boost the skills of volunteers in the coalition’s CoastWatch program and provide them with an opportunity to take classes and learn from environmental scientists at the college level, while enriching the experience of other students who may become future conservation leaders. The program begins fall quarter, with classes starting Sept. (continued)
The Warrenton girls volleyball team lost to Toledo and Creswell at an away triple meet last Saturday.
“We weren’t able to come away with any wins,” Coach Staci Miethe said. “But we made great strides in our teamwork and chemistry. I’m confident we will be ready for league play this week.”
The Warrior girls were scheduled for an away match with Taft on Thursday night. (continued)
Although Warrenton won the first set in last week’s volleyball match against the Portland Christian Royals, they lost the next three sets and the match. “I was happy with everything but our service reception,” Coach Staci Miethe said after the game at Warrenton. “We played well at the net but, after all, we were just overmatched. They are the defending 2A State Champs,” she said. The match was played later than usual because the Royals arrived late and missed the starting time. The (continued)
A Warrenton High School program designed to reduce the dropout rate has been lauded by the state Department of Education. The program begins in grade school. “Over the past two years, high school administrators have made an effort to reach out to every new family coming to Warrenton High School,” reports the article in the August High School Success Newsletter. “During the first couple of weeks in August, Vice Principal Ian O’Brien begins making calls to parents of each incoming ninth (continued)
