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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (June 28, 2017)
SAVOR THE NORTH COAST’S DINING BOUNTY INSIDE DailyAstorian.com // WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017 144TH YEAR, NO. 259 ONE DOLLAR Warrenton Library bustles at new spot City looks at larger levy for growth, staff By KATIE FRANKOWICZ The Daily Astorian Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian The Doughboy Monument in Astoria with a restaurant in the background was the scene of a stabbing incident last week that has authorities still looking for answers. A group of about 10 people was apparently involved in the fight that wounded Aaron Lee Ashby. ‘CONVOLUTED’ CASE Several witnesses, but few answers, after stabbing in Uniontown See LIBRARY, Page 7A Gearhart Fire: What price safety? By JACK HEFFERNAN The Daily Astorian brawl that led to a stabbing near the Doughboy Monument in Uniontown last week has produced plenty of witnesses, but few straight answers. Astoria P olice responded to reports of a fi ght involving a group of about 10 peo- ple, who appeared to be transients, shortly before 7:30 p.m. on June 19. E mergency per- sonnel treated Aaron Lee Ashby, 50, of Port Townsend, Washington, for a stab wound near his stomach. Clinton Holmen, 32, of Astoria, was also treated after being knocked unconscious. Both men have since been released from Columbia Memorial Hospital, and no arrests have been made in connection to the incident. WARRENTON — The Warrenton Com- munity Library has only been open at its new location on Main Avenue for fi ve days and has already signed up several dozen new card holders. City staff and commissioners believe the library will only continue to stay busy — if not get busier — now that it has moved from cramped, ramshackle quarters in Hammond to a larger building that used to house the Serendipity Cafe, in the heart of downtown . But in order to fully fund library opera- tions now and into the future — and allow the library to expand hours, increase from a bare -bones staff or offer new programs — the levy that funds library operations needs to be increased from $0.095 cents per $1,000 assessed property value to at least 25 cents, city staff and library board members said. The fi ve-year levy expires this year and any proposed increase will go in front of voters in November. Going up to 25 cents would give the library only about $40,000 extra to put A Public sour on park site By R.J. MARX The Daily Astorian Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian The stabbing incident last week near the Doughboy Monument in Astoria happened early in the evening in full view of several witnesses at a restaurant. The investigation In the ensuing investigation, it has become clear the brawl was at least partially a result of Ashby inappropriately touching the dog of Nickolys A. Glaser, 23, of Spring Valley, New York. But despite the incident’s setting — in full view of surrounding businesses and driv- ers along Marine Drive — not much else is clear. “Everybody sees things from differ- ent perspectives,” Astoria Police Deputy Chief Eric Halverson said. “We have the where and when. It’s about fi nding the who, what, why and how. ‘Convoluted’ is the best word I could use to describe this situation.” See STABBING, Page 7A A victim of an assault near the Doughboy Monument in Astoria receives treatment. Colin Murphey The Daily Astorian GEARHART — The city is looking for alternatives to a new fi rehouse on public parkland, a proposal that met with strong pushback at a public forum in May. With some willing property owners, con- versations about potential sites are underway. The current fi rehouse consists of a cin- der-block building at 670 Pacifi c Way, built in 1958, and is considered outdated and vul- nerable to earthquake and tsunami. While built “fairly stoutly,” according to geologist Tom Horning, who has served as a consul- tant for the city and is a Seaside city coun- cilor, the property is likely to fl ood even in a moderate tsunami, prompting discussion of a new location. Gearhart has two and possibly three potential sites for acquisition, Mayor Matt Brown said Tuesday, and talks with property owners have begun. Brown said he hopes to present the new locations, along with cost breakdowns, to the public this fall. “The park can be an option, but I believe we need to present three options to the gen- eral public in a town hall meeting later this year,” Brown said. See GEARHART, Page 7A Cannon Beach welcomes new building offi cial Butler leaves retirement to inspect for city By BRENNA VISSER The Daily Astorian CANNON BEACH — Alton Butler, Cannon Beach’s new, full-time building inspec- tor, knows what it takes to get something built. Between his early years as a logger, 25 years as an engineer in the National Guard and about 20 years as a building inspector, Butler knows materials, design and regulations . Butler started earlier this member, Butler moved to month as building inspector , a Sheridan to work as a logger. position that enforces building In 2000, he was laid off and codes for safety and compliance attended Chemeketa Commu- on any new construc- nity College under the tion in Cannon Beach. federal d islocated t im- Before this year, the ber w orkers program city contracted with to get certifi ed as a Bob Mitchell, the building inspector. inspector for Seaside, Since then, But- to do this job. ler has worked as an “After my tour as inspector at Mount St. a Marine, I entered in Helens, Lincoln City, Alton the engineering unit in The Confederated Butler the National Guard and Tribes of Grand Ronde found I had an interest and McMinnville in meeting people and keeping before retiring. But the oppor- buildings safe,” Butler said. tunity in Cannon Beach made B orn and raised in Grand him reconsider, he said. Ronde, where he is a tribal “It’s a good place to retire,” Butler said. “It’s my dream job to do this on the coast. It’s a nice community — a good way to fi nish my career.” While Butler has a good number of code-enforcing years under his belt, some aspects of working on the coast have a learning curve. Some, like compromising with contractors with build- ing plans, can be found any- where. Living by the ocean means learning a whole new set of fl ood -plain, tsunami -inunda- tion zone and vacation -rental codes. But knowing the codes is only half the job, he said. “Doing public relations is half my job. Being approach- able and being respectful of all people are strengths in this job,” he said. City Planner Mark Barnes said Butler’s approachable nature and his experience make him an asset to the city. “He’s very knowledgeable, and he knows how to talk to people,” Barnes said. When Butler isn’t enforc- ing building codes, he said he likes to offi cial high school bas- ketball, baseball and football, as well as work on refurbish- ing a 100-year-old barn back in Sheridan. “I’m just glad to be here. I feel welcomed,” Butler said.
