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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 27, 2016)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 New steakhouse planned Nevada man sentenced for stealing cart of meat from Astoria Safeway By KYLE SPURR The Daily Astorian The Nevada man charged with felony theft for stealing a shopping cart full of meat from Safeway in Astoria was sentenced Monday in Clatsop County Circuit Court. Ronald Joe Whitehair Jr., 54, of Sparks, Nevada, was sentenced to 44 days in jail and one year of probation after he is released. He was also ordered to have no contact with the Astoria Safeway. Whitehair pleaded no con- test to irst-degree theft Mon- day before being sentenced. Astoria Police arrested Ronald Joe Whitehair Jr. Whitehair in August after a Safeway employee reported a theft in progress. Whitehair allegedly ran out of the gro- cery store with the shopping cart full of various meats, val- ued at more than $1,000. The shopping cart tipped over in the parking lot as Whitehair was trying to reach his 35-year-old son, Ron- ald Joe Whitehair III, in their motorhome. Whitehair abandoned the spilled meat, police said, and hopped into the motor- home outside. His son, from Longview, Washington, drove from the scene. An Astoria Police oficer was able to see the motorhome and pulled it over near 49th Street. Whitehair was arrested. His son was not arrested at the scene, but was later charged By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian with irst-degree theft. He is scheduled for an arraignment hearing in Circuit Court on Thursday. Whitehair was in town vis- iting family and temporarily working with his son driving trucks for BioOregon Protein in Hammond. According to the District Attorney’s Ofice, White- hair has an out-of-state crimi- nal history of six felony con- victions, including for assault, burglary, criminal trespass and drug possession. The most recent conviction was in 2011. Whitehair and his son are ordered to pay $1,077 in resti- tution to Safeway. Two more pot stores planned for Astoria City becoming a popular outpost By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian Two more marijuana stores are in the planning stages in Astoria. Consultant Daryl Bell applied for a conditional use permit to open a retail out- let on the ground loor of the Cannery Loft condominiums near Pier 39. Consultant Ray Zuniga submitted a land use compatibility statement for a marijuana store in the former Head Shed barber shop on the South Slope of Astoria. Astoria now has ive mari- juana stores in operation, with another three in planning. Cannery Lofts Bell, who has spent the last couple of years building out dispensaries for clients, said he wants to open a dual- space storefront, including a high-end dispensary and art gallery, called West Cannabis and Craft. “I think mine will be suc- cessful in that I’m not rely- ing speciically on cannabis to be the driver,” Bell said. “I’m creating a canvas if you will for local artists to display their work, which allows me to support the local industry.” Bell’s application lists Suite 104 of the westernmost building at Cannery Loft as a location. The other commer- cial spaces include a day spa, medical ofices, mental health counseling, mini-storage, computer service and an attor- ney. On Bell’s application for a conditional land use permit was the signature of property owner Ted Forcum, a chiro- practor from Portland. “I have been contacted by a large number of parties inter- ested in opening marijuana dispensaries at the Cannery Loft,” Forcum wrote in an email. “Mr. Bell was different in how he described what he wanted in his business estab- lishment … It was described like wine. You can buy wine at (AM-PM) or (7-Eleven), but if you were interested in quality wine convenience is less of a focus compared to community.” The buildings are zoned for tourist-oriented busi- nesses, requiring Bell to get a conditional use permit. Bell has also submitted a land use compatibility statement for his store, as per the require- ments of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. “I like the fact that the complex itself is upper-scale,” Bell said. “I’m trying to pres- ent an upper-scale type of experience, both in regards to the cannabis and the art gal- lery I’m trying to implement. “And what’s more, it’s kind of removed from the morass that is the cannabis store(s) in the center of the city and on the south side of the city.” Astoria isn’t the only place Bell is looking at. He and his brother, Craig Bell, are plan- ning a dispensary on Har- bor Drive just east of the Ski- panon River in Warrenton. The dispensary was estab- lished just months before the City Commission voted to restrict marijuana businesses to the east side of U.S. High- way 101. Daryl Bell said he is also looking at Rockaway Beach, Paciic City, Creswell and Portland. He said Astoria is likely to be the irst store to open. His conditional use per- mit is tentatively scheduled to be heard by the Astoria Planning Commission in late October. “I’d like to be open by the 15th of November,” he said. “I’d like to display to the pub- lic through the holidays.” Head Shed Astoria Retail LLC sub- mitted a land use compatibil- ity statement for a marijuana store in the former Head Shed barbershop at the corner of Seventh Street and Highway 202. Joan Hartley-Smith, opera- tor of the former barbershop, recently sold the building to Patrick Martin, Michael Ng and Jonathan Hogander, who are associated with other dis- pensaries in Portland. None of the new property owners or representatives from Astoria Retail responded to requests for comment. The dispensary would be the irst on Astoria’s South Slope. The city has ive dis- pensaries spread out along the U.S. Highway 30 corri- dor, including Nature’s Choice Alternative Medicine, Hi Casual Cannabis Dispensary, The Farmacy and two loca- tions of Sweet Relief Natural Medicine. Most of the medical mari- juana dispensaries are trying to become recreational busi- nesses regulated by the state. By next year, medical dispen- saries will no longer be able to sell to recreational customers. Local business owner Charles Holboke has bought the buildings housing his two established businesses on Marine Drive, and said the third, his long-planned Char- lie’s Chophouse, is ready to go except for a staff. Holboke recently pur- chased the property for his- Tiki Bar and Charlie’s Chow- der House. Next door is Charlie’s Chophouse, which Holboke has been planning for the last year and a half. He recently secured a liquor license. He also owns God- father’s Books and Espresso on 11th and Commercial streets. “I hope it will be like a throwback steakhouse, like … Ringside (Steakhouse) in Portland, which has been around for 80 years,” Hol- boke said. Holboke said personal medical issues have set him back on the restaurant. Also challenging, he said, has been inding the right chef and bartender. “Other than that, we’re ready to go, pretty much,” he said. Nicolai Mainline reopens The Daily Astorian The state Department of Forestry has reopened Nico- lai Mainline in the Astoria District. Nicolai Mainline has been closed to through trafic near the Viewpoint Quarry, from the 5½- to 6-mile mark- ers, since Aug. 18. Travelers are cautioned to be aware of heavy log truck and rock truck trafic. Shingle Mill Road will be closed later this fall near between mile markers 5 and 6. Roads will be open for through trafic in the late evenings and on weekends. Astor Street Opry Company Presents Tickets $ 7 - $ 16 Produced with special permission by Samuel French Directed by Lisa Fergus SHOW RUNS THRU OCTOBER 22 ND RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED For tickets go to astorstreetoprycompany.com Fridays 7pm (October 7th, 14th and 21st) Saturday 7pm (October 8th, 15th and 22nd) Sunday 2pm (October 2nd) Or by phone: 503-325-6104 ASOC PLAYHOUSE 129 W. Bond St (Uniontown) Astoria (Behind the Chamber of Commerce) SPONSORED BY MOSSY TECH | L.J. ALLEN CONSTRUCTION | BOGH ELECTRIC FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED Body believed to be Portland man The Oregonian PORTLAND — A body recovered along the coast in Tillamook County is believed to be that of a Portland man who’s been missing for two days. Duane Anderson, 86, was last seen Wednesday morn- ing at the Lloyd Athletic Club in Northeast Portland. He never showed up for a planned golf outing that day and was reported miss- ing that night. Ti l l a m o o k County Sher- iff’s deputies found Ander- son’s Toy- Duane ota Prius along Anderson the coastline, prompting the U.S. Coast Guard to launch a search Thursday night, police said. The area is approximately 90 miles west of where he was last seen. The body was found Fri- day near Neahkahnie Moun- tain, which is north of Man- zanita in Oswald West State Park, according to Portland Police Sgt. Pete Simpson. He did not disclose how the man died. Investigators are still awaiting positive identiica- tion but believe it to be Ander- son, Simpson said in a news release. Dismal Nitch closed at times for repairs The Daily Astorian Dismal Nitch Rest Area, one of two Lewis and Clark National Historical Park sites in Washington, will be closed for repairs periodically through Nov. 22. Conway Construction, out of Ridgeield, Washing- ton, is the contractor work- ing on improvements such as new guard walls, guardrails, paved surfaces, sidewalks, pic- nic tables, interpretive signage, landscaping and area lighting. The Dismal Nitch site was established in 2004. It was formed to recognize the area where the Lewis and Clark Expedition barely survived after it irst landed on the lower Columbia River bank in November 1805. BIG SALE 36 & CLEARANCE 36 T HE S LEEP Easily raises the upper body to Y OU N EED recline in comfort. Also improves breathing, helps with acid reflux and relaxes tense body muscles. Warrenton Located next to Big 5 Exclusive $800 FACTORY 503-861-6085 and Fred Meyer DIRECT SAVINGS on Queen or HOURS: M-F 10-7; SAT 10-6; SUN 11-6 www.americasmattress.com Full Motion Pivot. GUARANTEED With 5 convenient locations NEWPORT | FLORENCE | COOS BAY| LINCOLN CITY | WARRENTON
