143RD YEAR, NO. 212 WEEKEND EDITION ONE DOLLAR FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016 CAR SHOWS, PROPERTY LINES LONG, LONG GONE INSIDE FRIDAY EXTRA • 1C Sodomy case dismissed in Goodding legal fallout Fallen offi cer was lead investigator in crimes By KYLE SPURR The Daily Astorian Photos by Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian A close look at an Eric Wie gardt painting at the Columbia Forum reveals a medley of color and texture. CREATIVE STRUGGLE Artists describe tension of art, commerce By ERICK BENGEL The Daily Astorian T wo roads diverge before serious artists early in their careers: What happens if they decide to become commercial artists, customizing their craft to satisfy a specifi c mar- ket? What happens if they don’t? “If you do, you’re beholden to that market, and it can be very dif- fi cult,” said Eric Wiegardt, a pro- fessional watercolorist based in Ocean Park, Washington. Wiegardt and Darren Orange, an Astoria-based mixed-media artist, discussed their entrepre- neurial paths through the art scene — their paintings, processes and practical wisdom — during the fi nal lecture of the Columbia Forum’s 26th season Thursday night in Columbia Memorial Hos- pital’s Community Center. The fi rst road, they said, is replete with compromise. The fi nal product may never refl ect what art- ists consider their best work, let alone fulfi ll their highest vision of themselves as artists. On the other hand, the road is often replete with money — pre- cious, comforting money that makes food materialize. Not taking that road, Wie- gardt said, may have made his life tougher than it needed to be. See FORUM, Page 10A A Seaside man accused of sodomizing and sexually abusing a young girl had the charges dropped Thursday , the latest legal fallout from the death of Seaside Police Sgt. Jason Goodding. The entire case against Ronald F. Flores had to be re-evaluated because Goodding, who was shot and killed in the line of duty in February, was the lead investigator . Chief Deputy Dis- trict Attorney Ron Brown said any time someone is unavail- able to appear in court — whether it is a wit- ness skipping town or a murdered police offi - Ronald F. cer — their testimony Flores and reports become hearsay, which is inadmissible as evidence. “It’s a tragic result because of a tragedy that happened,” Brown said. The District Attorney’s Offi ce has been doing damage control over the past few months , Brown said, trying to prosecute cases where Goodding was the lead or only offi cer. Felony cases down to drunken-driv- ing arrests have been infl uenced . In the case against Flores, the prosecu- tion was able to get a harassment conviction. However, two counts of fi rst-degree sodomy and two counts of fi rst-degree sex abuse were dismissed. See FALLOUT, Page 10A LEFT: Eric Wie gardt speaks about his art during the Columbia Forum dinner on Thurs- day. Local artists Wie gardt and Darren Orange spoke about their art and the business of art. RIGHT: Darren Orange answers questions and talks about his process during the Columbia Forum dinner on Thursday. Timberlands up for auction Land has served as coastal tree farm By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian Paintings by Eric Wie gardt are seen on display during the Columbia Forum dinner on Thursday. Rare white-tailed deer still in peril Wildlife biologists want to keep native species on the endangered list By NATALIE ST. JOHN EO Media Group LONG BEACH, Wash. — State and federal wildlife managers have been trying to save the endangered Columbian white-tailed deer since the late 1960s, with mixed results. A population in southern Oregon has bounced back, and has been removed from the federal Endangered Species List. However, despite extensive efforts to improve their habitat, control predators, and even trap and relocate them, their counterparts on the Lower Columbia River con- tinue to struggle. See DEER, Page 9A EO Media Group/File Photo Columbian white-tailed deer, the region’s smallest and rarest native deer species, are protected on the Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge between Skamokawa and Cathlamet. CANNON BEACH — Have an extra $2 million to $4 million lying around? Realty Marketing/Northwest is auction- ing two parcels in a coastal tree farm near Ecola State Park that overlook Cannon Beach . The properties are some of the last tim- berlands owned by Weyerhaeuser in Clat- sop County. “It’s what I call a real ‘green gold’ type of property, because there’s merchantable timber there now, and there’s timber that will be merchantable in 10 to 18 years,” said John Rosenthal, president of Realty Marketing. A western parcel of 156 acres adjoin- ing both Ecola State Park and the Elmer Feldenheimer Forest Reserve is available for a minimum reserve of $1.8 million. The property contains an estimated 1.6 million board feet of mostly 70-year-old white- woods, with an additional 1.9 million board feet of timber projected to be available within 18 years. The eastern parcel of more than 184 acres next to U.S. Highway 101 is avail- able for a minimum reserve of $1.9 million. The land includes an estimated 2.9 million board feet of timber, with another 2 million board feet projected to be available within 18 years. The properties can be sold separately, but the sales are pegged on aggregate bids totaling at least $3.8 million. Weyerhaeuser, however, will entertain lower bids. The parcels have been managed as a tree farm for the past 75 years . The land can be accessed by Radar Road on U.S. Highway 101. Rosenthal said the properties include viewing platforms and signs marking the age of various timber stands. Sealed bids are due by May 26.