Inventing the
rain vacation
‘I am
Charlie’
COAST WEEKEND
PAGES 6A & 7A
THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015
142nd YEAR, No. 137
ONE DOLLAR
TAKE A HIKE!
Dan
Jesse
Dianne
Widdop
Jesse asks
Gearhart
bow out
By NANCY MCCARTHY
The Daily Astorian
GEARHART — In an impas-
JOSHUA BESSEX — The Daily Astorian
-
A man walks along the Warrenton Waterfront Trail Tuesday. The Warrenton Trails Association recently set its sights on transforming into
the Clatsop County Trail Initiative, a regional trail association that would expand the scope of the group countywide.
-
Warrenton
Trails expands
mission
has created an atmosphere that has
said.
of us have to endure that,” he added.
Widdop, however, repeated her
a recall forces her out.
“I have gotten a tremendous
amount of support from the commu-
By KYLE SPURR
The Daily Astorian
W
ARRENTON — The
Warrenton Trails Associ-
ation, a grassroots non-
Following the discussion, the
mile loop through Warrenton and
cultivating partnerships with state
and national parks and other local
organizations.
Watts to request letters from the Or-
the state Ethics Commission that de-
-
tigations.
Although Kevin Willett, an un-
on transforming into the Clatsop
trail association that would expand
Having the group become a
regional trail association would
allow it to collaborate on a larger
Chairwoman Tessa Scheller said.
“We will focus on our region,”
to Knappa.”
This past summer, Lewis and
Clark National Historical Park Su-
perintendent Scott Tucker suggest-
for a technical assistance grant from
the National Park Service Rivers,
Trails and Conservation Assistance
program. The program supports
the November general election, had
contacted the agencies, he eventual-
JOSHUA BESSEX — The Daily Astorian
A portion of the Warrenton Waterfront Trail goes through Carruthers Memorial Park. Members of the
Warrenton Trails Association say that transforming into a regional association would help create trails
through areas of multiple jurisdictions.
with local communities, tourists
and travelers; therefore, I extend
our support to the endeavor and
pledge National Parks Service
letter of support.
The group sent an application
in August and was awarded the
RTCA support in October.
Alexandra Stone, an RTCA
program coordinator, will work di-
“At Lewis and Clark Nation-
al Historical Park, our business is
fundraising and grant writing.
helped the group earn the National
Stone said.
“When we get the request, we
are looking for some demonstra-
success,” Stone said.
In its application, WTA had sup-
Public Health, Friends of Asto-
ria Natural Areas, Angora Hiking
Commissioners and the cities of
Astoria, Warrenton, Seaside, Can-
non Beach and Gearhart.
Scheller, who helped start WTA
more than a decade ago, said plans
for the regional trail association are
-
er said, the regional association
would help create trails through
areas of multiple jurisdictions such
as trails on private, state and fed-
eral land.
See TRAILS, Page 10A
-
tions contained in a recall petition
against her are untruthful.
discussions about accusations that
from a local business owner who
campaign sign be removed from the
business and that she accused Willett
of having a temper and being unsuit-
-
ing a private conversation between
See GEARHART, Page 10A
Rule change will ease sailing on the beach
By KATIE WILSON
EO Media Group
LONG BEACH PENIN-
SULA, Wash. — Kite buggies,
blo-karts, kite boards: these
wind-powered vehicles, or land
sailers, could be coming to state
p.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 28 at the
158 First Ave. North. The sec-
ond is in Ocean Shores 6 p.m.
to 8 p.m. Jan. 29, at the Ocean
Shores Convention Center, 120
W. Chance A la Mer.
The proposal comes after
wind vehicle enthusiasts ap-
proached the commission and
requested a rule change in 2008.
A rule-making moratorium
Manager Evan Roberts.
“Based on that monitoring
we feel comfortable moving
park planner with state parks.
Most of the vehicles are
designed along the lines of a
Two public meetings to
gather input are scheduled for
South beaches.
People who wanted to take
out their wind-powered vehicles
had to get a permit from park
obvious difference: a large sail
to catch the wind with and pro-
pel the driver down a stretch of
-
ers of some models claim their
vehicles can harness powerful
winds and reach speeds of 55
mph or more.
During the pilot program
period, North Beach seemed to
be the most popular location,
Roberts said, but if the rule is
changed he expects to see land
sailers on the peninsula, too.
meeting is in Ilwaco from 6
said Cape Disappointment Park
See SAILING, Page 10A
Harbor counties.
The Washington State Parks
and Recreation Commission
is considering changing a rule
that prohibits the use of these
manages. Now, the commission
is looking at allowing them, but
-
ditions, including seasonal and
that time, though. Then, in 2010
pilot programs on the beaches
Observer file photo
Operators of wind-powered vehicles like this will have
clearer legal standing to run them on Washington
beaches if a rule change goes through.