Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 2016)
DailyAstorian.com // MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 2016 144TH YEAR, NO. 32 ONE DOLLAR BEACH VOLLEYBALL TOURNEY DRAWS THOUSANDS TO SEASIDE SPORTS • 7A Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian Lawyers for accused murderer Jessica Smith will meet with prosecutors for a settlement conference Tuesday and Wednesday. Settlement talks set in Smith case Suspected murderer facing death penalty By KYLE SPURR The Daily Astorian Photos by Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian The Grand Land Parade marches down Exchange Street during the Astoria Regatta Saturday. ON LAND AND SEA At Regatta, it’s all about loats and boats By ELI STILLMAN The Daily Astorian T housands of people packed downtown Saturday for the Astoria Regatta, a celebration of the North Coast’s maritime tradition with parades on land and the Columbia River. The 122nd annual festival was special because it coin- cided with the 50th anniversary of the Astoria Bridge. The theme was “Bridge to Everywhere.” MORE Clear skies and warm weather brought a large turnout for the INSIDE Grand Land Parade through the Astoria Regatta city at noon. festivities made The parade featured loats their way to War- from a range of civic organiza- renton for the first tions and local politicians, as time. Read more well as two separate groups of on Page 10A. clowns throwing candy to the crowd. One group that was impossible to miss was the pur- ple clad marching band, “The Beat Goes On.” The Portland based group brought 75 members to the parade, including percussionists and baton twirlers. Rick Monger, an alto saxophone player in the band, said the group has played in Shanghai, China, and See SMITH, Page 10A Boats travel under the Astoria Bridge during the Astoria Regatta Saturday. Landmark turns 50 Ceremony marks Astoria Bridge’s golden anniversary By ELI STILLMAN The Daily Astorian See REGATTA, Page 10A W Kids leap for candy during the Grand Land Parade downtown. The defense lawyers for accused mur- derer Jessica Smith and the prosecution are attempting to reach a settlement. A two-day settlement conference is scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday in Cir- cuit Court. Momentum to resolve the case increased Friday, when Circuit Court Judge Cindee Matyas ruled against the defense lawyers for Smith, the 42-year-old mother who allegedly murdered her infant and slashed her teenager in a Cannon Beach resort in July 2014. During a court hearing last month, Wil- liam Falls and Lynne Morgan argued that responding oficers violated the privacy of the surviving teenager, Alana Smith, by entering the hotel room without a warrant. The defense lawyers claimed all evidence collected after entering the room is tainted and cannot be used at trial next year. John Anderson, a crane operator during the construction of the Astoria Bridge, holds his original construction hat from the project during a rededication ceremony celebrating the bridge’s 50th an- niversary. More photos online at DailyAstorian.com hen John Anderson rum- maged through his son’s old Tonka toy set earlier this year, he came across something he had not seen in 30 years: the construc- tion hard hat he wore when he was a crane operator working on the Astoria Bridge. At a rededication ceremony Satur- day morning marking the span’s 50th anniversary, Anderson, with his old hard hat in hand, was among a dozen other workers present who had helped erect the bridge. Fort George embraces pedal power Bike-to-work program promotes health, reduced congestion By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian Victoria Sheehan rode her new black Kona Rove bike out of the Lovell Building, ready to hit the road on a sunny Friday. Along with 35 others at Fort George Brewery, Sheehan has agreed to commute to work at least 40 days a year on a new bike purchased by the brewery to support employee health and reduce congestion. Fort George co-owner Chris Nemlowill said he had seen a couple of other brewer- ies increase bike commuting and thought it would be a good idea in Astoria, where he rides from his hillside home to the down- town brewery. “I deinitely feel like it will clear up a few parking spots downtown around Fort George,” Nemlowill said. See BRIDGE, Page 10A See FORT GEORGE, Page 10A Latino heritage intern continues park outreach For Vergara, the work is a ‘personal mission’ fter camping for the irst time as a teenager in Yosem- ite National Park, Melissa Ver- gara knew she wanted to some- day work in the National Park Service. Vergara, 24, is inishing a Latino Heritage Internship Program at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park before she returns to California this fall to study plant sciences at University of California, Santa Cruz. A For the second summer, Lewis and Clark National His- torical Park hired a Latino her- itage intern to continue outreach projects including summer camps for children of migrant workers and bilingual kayak tours and hikes. “It’s a very personal mis- sion to me,” said Vergara, who is bilingual. “I was inspired and then I saw a lot of possibility after I was introduced to these public spaces.” Out of more than 50 students in the park’s summer camps, Vergara estimates about one- third were from the Northwest Regional Migrant Education program. Vergara bunked with the Spanish-speaking students and spent time communicating and translating with them. She led them on nature walks and kay- aking tours. “Hopefully, those bilingual students feel a strong connec- tion with Fort Clatsop and want to come back to summer camp to have a good experience here,” Vergara said. The national park also hosts a Junior Ranger program. At the end of the program, the junior rangers say a pledge to protect the natural areas. Vergara and a co-worker decided to have the young rangers repeat the pledge in both English and Spanish. Vergara said the non-Spanish speaking children were curious to try the pledge in another lan- guage. It was an encouraging experience, she said. Vergara’s inal project with the park focuses on her science background. She is wrapping up a brochure on the eatable fruits of Fort Clatsop, which include huckleberries and blackberries. After her studies, Vergara said she would love to come back to the National Park Service. “I’m very lucky to have found something I’m super pas- sionate about,” she said. — Kyle Spurr Melissa Vergara