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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 2015)
For the dogs Keeping ports open PAGE 3A PAGE 7A 143rd YEAR, No. 34 MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015 ONE DOLLAR Butts, no! Astoria may ban smoking in parks because of secondhand smoke worries By DERRICK DePLEDGE The Daily Astorian READY TO RUMBLE Knappa Days gets loud to support the community Allen McBride of Vernonia hits the ground after col- liding with Wyatt Olson, of Knappa, during a lawnmow- er race at Knappa Days Sat- urday. More photos online at www.dailyastorian.com Photos by Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian See BAN, Page 10A By JOSHUA BESSEX The Daily Astorian Cherished Astoria coach dies T he sounds of chainsaws, cheers and loud engines, filled Knappa Days Field Saturday during the seventh annual Knappa Days event, put on by the Knappa Boosters Club. A pa- rade along Hillcrest Loop Road kicked off the festivities as hundreds attended the fundraising event which included a log- ging show, lawnmow- er racing, a big truck rock crawl and various games and vendors. Sunday featured the Christy Miethe and Lindy Yuill Memorial 5K walk/10K run and an all-day Mush Ball tournament. Proceeds from Knappa Days benefit the Knappa High School sports teams, scholarships, and the Knappa Boosters Club. View more photos of the event on Page 10A. Astoria, looking to promote well- ness and worried about the health dangers from secondhand smoke, might ban smoking in city parks. The prohibition would apply at traditional parks such as Tapiola Park and McClure Park and popular tourist spots such as the Astoria Riv- erwalk, the Astoria Column and the Garden of Surging Waves. Clatsop County banned smoking and tobacco use in county parks ear- lier this year. Warrenton, Gearhart, Seaside and Cannon Beach do not prohibit smoking in parks, although Cannon Beach has restrictions at a basketball court and skate park. The City Council will discuss a potential smoking ban Monday night. Dena Marsch waged a long battle with cancer By GARY HENLEY The Daily Astorian ABOVE: Allen McBride races his lawnmower around the track during a timed trial. BELOW LEFT: Kids race around a track in power wheel cars during Knappa Days Saturday. BELOW RIGHT: Harold Alward loses his hat from the exhaust off his custom-built chainsaw during a cutting demonstration at Knappa Days Saturday. Known for her kind-hearted smile and compassion for the generations of students whom she coached or taught, the Astoria community lost one of its most cherished residents over the weekend. Dena (Bondietti) Marsch died Friday night, after a long bat- tle with cancer. As a student at Astoria High School (Class of 1972), Marsch partici- pated in volley- ball, basketball and track, when Dena (Bondietti) female athletes competed in Marsch the Girls Ath- letic Association (before Title IX). After college, she returned to As- toria High and served as a coach, ad- viser and teacher. She was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame last year. See MARSCH, Page 10A Over the top: Astoria Bus dispatcher wins state award Getting it right is ‘just how Denise is’ D enise Richardson, a driv- er and dispatcher for Astoria School District since 1987, won the Doug Flatt Ad- ministrative Support Award from the Oregon Pupil Trans- portation Association. The award honors an administra- tor who exhibits the leader- ship, attention to detail, com- munity service, interpersonal relationships and customer VHUYLFH H[HPSOL¿HG E\ )ODWW a former chief executive of the Mid-Columbia Bus Co., who was well-known throughout transportation circles in Oregon. Richardson received nom- inations for the award from administrators, secretaries and other staff in the Astoria dis- trict’s transportation depart- ment. She started with the dis- trict in 1987 as a bus driver and has been a dispatcher for about 15 years. “I was kind of surprised, but it’s nice to be recognized,” Richardson said. Richardson’s boss, Trans- portation Director Ryan Hahn, said it is important for the dis- trict to know about the support staff that helps pull the district’s transportation system together. Kate Gohr, principal at John Jacob Astor Elementary School, said she was concerned about the logistics when chang- ing conference schedules for kindertgartners. But Richard- son, Gohr said, offered to call every parent to help convey the changes. “That’s just how De- nise is.” Richardson said she has made a habit of calling the parents and guardians of ev- Edward Stratton/The Daily Astorian Denise Richardson, who has worked for the Astoria School District’s transportation program since 1987, re- cently won the Doug Flatt Leadership Award for her ad- ministrative support in dispatching. ery kindergartner each year to make sure they have the right drop-off points. Now the longest-tenured employee of the district’s transportation department, Richardson said she can count down the years to retirement on one hand. — Edward Stratton