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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (April 6, 2016)
143RD YEAR, NO. 195 DailyAstorian.com // JEWELL SPRING TRACK PREVIEW PAGE 11A WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016 ONE DOLLAR KHS SPRING SPORTS PREVIEWS PAGE 10A Council Voters douse Cannon Beach recall eff ort says no need to ban weed Pot shops get green light in Cannon Beach By R.J. MARX The Daily Astorian Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian Election workers count ballots in the Judge Guy Boyington Building on Tuesday regarding the recall of three members of the Can- non Beach Rural Fire Protection District Board of Directors, Sharon Clyde, Garry Smith and Linda Beck-Sweeney. Cannon %HDFK¿UH directors will stay on board CANNON BEACH — The path was cleared for licensing the sale of cannabis in Cannon Beach, one of the last cities in the South County to do so. By voting down a ban, the city opened the door to dispensaries and recreational sales. Despite the success of state Measure 91 allowing recreational sale and posses- sion of small amounts of marijuana — approved by 63 percent of Cannon Beach voters in November 2014 — the city only licenses busi- nesses which abide by local, state and federal law, which excludes pot. After hearing opin- ions from both sides of the issue , councilors considered an array of options, includ- ing to opt out of state law and maintain a ban on marijuana sales. Voters “can override our proposed ban, or they can override our acceptance,” Coun- FLORU 0LNH %HQH¿HOG VDLG EHIRUH MRLQLQJ Mayor Sam Steidel and councilors George 9HWWHU0LNH%HQH¿HOGDQG0HOLVVD&DGZDO lader in voting to overturn the prohibition. Wendy Higgins was the sole councilor to vote to renew the ban. Limitations, tax ahead By LYRA FONTAINE and R.J. MARX The Daily Astorian C ANNON BEACH — Three directors of the Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District WDUJHWHG IRU UHFDOO IRU ¿ULQJ 0LNH%DO]HUDV¿UHFKLHISUHYDLOHG Submitted Photo in Tuesday night’s election. Sharon Clyde, Garry Smith and Interim Fire Chief Jim Stearns, right, at a January meeting of the Cannon Beach Rural Fire Dis- Linda Beck-Sweeney will remain trict Board of Directors. Three directors, Linda Beck-Sweeney, Sharon Clyde, Garry Smith are the LQRI¿FH7ZRRWKHUGLUHFWRUV0DUN subject of a recall drive. Mekenas and Bob Cerelli, were not subject to the recall. by a 55 percent to 45 percent mar- Clyde said she was “extremely gin, according to the Clatsop happy” with the vote. “I would like &RXQW\&OHUN¶V2I¿FHZKLOHYRWHUV to thank all the mem- were behind Smith and bers of our district that Beck-Sweeney 57 per- supported all three of cent to 43 percent. us that were subject to The history this recall attempt,” she Cannon Beach res- said in a statement. “We ident Susan Neuwirth won’t let you down.” organized the recall Interim Fire Chief drive after Neuwirth Jim Stearns congratu- and others criticized the lated the directors. “I am board’s handling of Bal- happy that folks who are ]HU¶V¿ULQJ willing to give up their Sharon 7KH WKUHH ¿UH ERDUG time and serve on a vol- Clyde GLUHFWRUV FKRVH WR ¿JKW unteer basis can con- the recall by submitting a statement tinue doing that,” he said. The vote was a strong valida- RI MXVWL¿FDWLRQ DQG IDFLQJ YRWHUV Submitted Photo WLRQRIWKHERDUG¶VGHFLVLRQWR¿UH instead of resigning. Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District Director Garry Balzer in October. See RECALL, Page 12A Smith, left, and interim Chief Jim Stearns. Voters opposed recalling Clyde Zachary Seidel, who tried to make citizen’s arrests on Astoria Mayor Arline LaMear and Police Chief Brad Johnston at a City Coun- cil meeting last June, was convicted Tuesday of interfering with a police RI¿FHU A jury found that Seidel, 30, refused to obey Johnston’s order to leave City Hall. But the jury acquit- ted Seidel of disorderly conduct and criminal trespass. Clatsop County Circuit Court Lawmakers hesitant to raise taxes, fees without ODOT review By HILLARY BORRUD Capital Bureau See SEIDEL, Page 12A See ROAD REPAIRS, Page 12A Joshua Bessex The Daily Astorian Judge Cindee Matyas sentenced 6HLGHOWR¿YHGD\VLQMDLOZLWKFUHGLW for time served, and 18 months pro- bation. The judge also ordered Seidel to have a mental health evaluation at Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare and to stay away from the mayor and Delay may put brakes on road repairs city councilors while on probation. Seidel will be allowed to send written correspondence to the City Council on political or public-pol- icy issues, Matyas ruled, “because I Zachary Seidel looks on during his trial at the Clatsop County Courthouse Tuesday. By DERRICK DePLEDGE The Daily Astorian See WEED, Page 12A 6$/(0 ² 6WDWH RI¿FLDOV KDYH \HW WR launch a performance review of the Oregon 'HSDUWPHQW RI 7UDQVSRUWDWLRQ QHDUO\ ¿YH months after Gov. Kate Brown called for the inquiry. The delay could hamper efforts in the Legislature to pass a major transportation funding package in 2017, because some law- makers are only willing to approve higher taxes and fees on drivers if the Department of Transportation can demonstrate it is oper- DWLQJHI¿FLHQWO\ Tammy Baney, chair of the Oregon Transportation Commission, said during a meeting in Salem on Tuesday that the state could begin soliciting contractors to conduct the review in the next few weeks. “The oversight committee has met,” said Baney, who is also a Deschutes County com- PLVVLRQHU³7KH\KDYHORRNHGDWDQGUH¿QHG the scope of work. And they are currently looking to draft to send out.” It was unclear what oversight committee Baney was referring to, and staff at the Ore- gon Department of Transportation and the *RYHUQRU¶V 2I¿FH ZHUH XQDEOH WR LGHQWLI\ Man who tried to arrest mayor convicted Must have mental exam, stay away from City Council In coming months, the council will con- sider time, place and manner rules regarding where marijuana may be sold within the city. %HQH¿HOGLQGLFDWHGKHRSSRVHGLWVVDOHLQ the downtown commercial area.
