Astoria, Seaside split Clatsop Splash SPORTS • 7A 142nd YEAR, No. 148 Sea stars stage a comeback WEEKEND EDITION FRIDAY EXTRA • 1C FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015 ONE DOLLAR A younger perspective Smith trial pushed to 2016 By KYLE SPURR The Daily Astorian The trial date for Jessica Smith, the mother accused of drugging and murdering her 2-year-old daughter and attempting to kill her 13-year- old daughter in a Cannon Beach ho- tel last summer, was set back almost a year during a status hearing Thurs- day in Clatsop County Circuit Court. Smith, 41, LV RI¿FLDOO\ scheduled for a three-week trial Jessica Smith beginning June 28, 2016, rather than the initial date of July 7, 2015. Debate over the trial date lasted months as the defense and prosecu- WLRQ HDFK ¿OHG PRWLRQV DQG DUJXHG for and against the initial date. JOSHUA BESSEX — The Daily Astorian Councilor Zetty Nemlowill stands in the the Astoria Co-op Grocery where she has served as marketing director for the Co-op for two years. See TRIAL, Page 8A Zetty Nemlowill balances work, family, public role It’s a wreck By DERRICK DEPLEDGE The Daily Astorian Boards buried under the sand are from the keel of a ship A fter nine years on the Astoria Planning Commission, and through her own experience nurturing a business, Zetty Nemlow- ill appreciates the tension between economic growth and preserving the city’s authentic character. The new city councilor, who represents Ward 1, which cov- ers the west side of downtown, Uniontown and the Port of Astoria, knows how tempting it can be for entrepreneurs to look to Warrenton or other places with fewer barriers to development. “We’re constrained by land. But that doesn’t mean we can’t roll up our sleeves and get creative,” said Nemlowill, the marketing director for the Astoria Co-op Grocery who was behind Coffee Girl at Pier 39 and whose husband, Chris, is the co-owner of the Fort George Brew- ery & Public House. “I think we can create a local economy that is in harmony with livability.” At 36, Nemlowill, the mother of three young children — Irene, 2; Hudson, 5; and Amelia, 6 — brings a different perspective to a City Council long dominated by older, more established residents. Many younger parents, she said, are often too busy juggling work and family to pay much attention to what hap- pens at City Hall. “Quite frankly, most of the peo- By ANDREW R. TONRY For EO Media Group JOSHUA BESSEX — The Daily Astorian Councilor Zetty Nemlowill, right, speaks after being sworn in at the City Council meeting Jan. 5. ple I know that are in my boat re- ally don’t care about what’s being talked about at City Hall most of the time,” she said. Why? “Because those issues aren’t re- ally important to them.” Nemlowill said she has noticed that younger families do take ad- vantage of the Astoria Public Li- brary and the city’s parks and rec- reation programs, so she hopes to engage with them on issues such as the library’s renovation and fos- tering recreation through a better trails system. “I think making Astoria a desir- able place to live is something that can resonate well with local fami- lies,” she said. Growth Nemlowill sees development potential in partnership with the Port, but believes there needs to be more dialogue between the Port and the city. “It would be nice if we could speak proactively about positive mutual goals for economic devel- opment in the future,” she said. “And I think that those goals could certainly align. But we need to talk.” See NEMLOWILL, Page 8A SEASIDE — What three friends discovered while metal-detecting in the dunes last November is indeed a shipwreck. Now the question is: which one? “We have over 2,000 wrecks at the mouth of the Columbia (Riv- er),” said Oregon’s State Archae- RORJLVW'HQQLV*ULI¿Q³6RLW¶VLQ- WHUHVWLQJ LI ZH FDQ ¿JXUH RXW ZKDW wreck this is because we don’t have it on record.” In hopes of recovering the ship’s LGHQWLW\ *ULI¿Q WUDYHOHG WR WKH VLWH near Avenue L Jan. 13 and took two wood samples from the boat’s 21- foot keel, then sent them to Eugene for testing. The results, expected in a few weeks, will determine the type of lumber used in construction and, in turn, narrow the ship’s potential points of origin. Hypothetically “Let’s say it’s 'RXJODV ¿U´ *ULI¿Q VDLG ³,I WKDW¶V what it is, that’s usually used in more West Coast shipping.” Should that be the case, lost ships from abroad — and even the East Coast — would be crossed off the list of candidates. See WRECK, Page 8A Band supporters freeze in Polar Plunge to raise funds By DAMIAN MULINIX EO Media Group I LWACO, Wash. — A steady downpour doesn’t mean much when you’re about to jump into the ocean. In January. In a swimsuit. The brave few who ventured to Waikiki Beach in Ilwaco Saturday morning to take part in the second annual Ilwaco Music Boosters Polar Plunge had a very cold experience. As they stripped down to their swimsuits — or in one case a morphsuit — their teeth were chat- tering before their toes even touched the water. But as the 35 plungers returned one by one af- ter charging into the choppy water together, it was clear that it was much colder than they had imagined. The event raised just over $500 for local school music programs. “(It was) a smaller (turnout) due to the weath- er, but next year is already in the works,” said Ilwaco Middle/High School Band Director Ra- chel Lake. “Almost all that took the plunge last year (participated) and can’t wait to do it again. DAMIAN MULINIX — EO Media Group Tammy McMullen helps her daughter, Tressa, crying in shock from the cold water, back to the beach Saturday morning after taking the Polar Plunge. More photos at www.dailyastorian.com