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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (July 21, 2017)
SWIMMING THE MOUTH OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER WEEKEND BREAK • PAGE 1C 145TH YEAR, NO. 15 ONE DOLLAR WEEKEND EDITION // FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017 Burn-o-meter: Threat checked for fi re season Forestry preps as fi re season gets underway Protection Unit Forester Neal Bond points out locations of concern for firefighters . Bond and all other personnel at the district headquarters in Astoria are busy prepar- ing for what they say could be an above -aver- age fire season. By JACK HEFFERNAN The Daily Astorian The state Department of Forestry continues to add fuel to its preven- tion efforts after offi cially declaring Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian fi re season last week. The district typically prepares its 11 seasonal fi refi ghters by June at the latest. As warmer, drier condi- tions begin to negate the effects of an unusually wet winter, the district has placed restrictions — including a few additions this week — on open fi res. “This year’s threat is growing,” Astoria District Forester Dan Goody said. “We haven’t had real rain in a month.” A LIFESAVING TRADITION Goody pointed to an incident Wednesday on the side of Lewis and Clark Road, roughly 10 miles south of Warrenton, in which a vehi- cle crashed into the hillside, causing a small fi re that spread through the nearby brush. “When you have fi res starting by the road side, you’re getting into fi re season proper,” he said. See FIRE SEASON, Page 6A Sunday Market ponies up for parks Downtown event gives $5,000 to ailing agency By KATIE FRANKOWICZ The Daily Astorian Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian Cannon Beach lifeguard Jesse Willyard keeps a close eye on the surf and the sand from his perch atop a lifeguard stand last week near Haystack Rock. He is one of eight lifeguards protecting thousands of visitors to the beach. Cannon Beach lifeguards share moments of reward, exhilaration By BRENNA VISSER The Daily Astorian C ANNON BEACH — When Jesse Willyard was growing up in Cannon Beach, he didn’t have much interest in becoming a lifeguard. But his career as one started before he was even offi cially hired to join the Cannon Beach lifeguard team 11 years ago during his 15th birthday party. “I was skim boarding north of Haystack Rock when a kid ran up and said his brother had been swept up in the ocean,” Willyard said. He said he saw the child’s head bob- bing up and down in the waves and decided See LIFEGUARDS, Page 7A ‘I’VE NEVER BEEN AFRAID OF THE OCEAN. I SUPPOSE THAT’S A GOOD QUALITY TO HAVE IN THIS LINE OF WORK.’ Jesse Willyard Cannon Beach lifeguard The fi rst donation to Astoria’s Parks and Recreation Department is in. The Astoria Sunday Market, celebrat- ing one of its biggest fi nancial years so far, donated $5,000 to the department Thursday. The donation comes on the heels of a City Council meeting where councilors voted to increase the lodging tax and accept dona- tions to raise money for parks and avoid drastic cost-cutting measures, such as clos- ing the Astoria Aquatic Center. “We’re just really happy to have the funds to do this, this year,” said Market Director Cyndi Mudge, adding, “We would love to see our donation dwarfed.” “Well, three cheers for the market,” said Mayor Arline LaMear. She and Council- ors Bruce Jones and Cindy Price met with Mudge, parks board members and staff and market board members to present the $5,000 check at the Garden of Surging Waves across from City Hall. “The core of our mission is to revitalize downtown,” said Jack Ficken, the market’s board president. “The Astoria p arks and its many assets that improve the quality of life for the community are vital to our success.” Echoing Mudge, he said, “We are proud to be in a position this year to make this donation. The need is clear and we hope our donation encourages others to step forward.” See SUNDAY MARKET, Page 7A Warning signs posted after shark sightings Dorsal fi ns spotted off Cannon Beach By JACK HEFFERNAN The Daily Astorian Offi cials are not sure what to make of recent possible shark sightings off Cannon Beach , but they have adopted a cautious approach. On Tuesday, both a surfer near Haystack Rock, as well as a person on the shore in Cannon Beach, reported see- ing dorsal fi ns. Since then, the state Parks and Recre- ation Department has posted upward of 10 signs along beaches and are hoping to acquire more. It is not known exactly what type of shark may have been spotted. “It’s always hard to be 100 percent sure of what someone saw,” Parks and Recreation Department Associate Direc- tor Chris Havel said. “There are lots of things that can look like a dorsal fi n.” The caution signs will be taken down after several weeks unless another sight- ing is reported. Small and easily removable, the signs may need to be continually replaced over the summer. “We know it’s tempting to take a shark sign because they look cool,” Havel said, “but we encourage people to keep other peoples’ safety in mind.” The Oregon C oast has had eight shark attacks since 2000, but no one has died as a result. Most recently, a 29-year-old man was bitten twice in the leg while surfi ng off the coast of Ecola State Park in October. Havel said possible shark sightings have come in waves recently and that it would take years to determine whether or not shark attacks and sight- ings off the coast are becom- ing a trend. Thank you to our Sponsors: Brenna Visser/ The Daily Astorian See SHARKS, Page 7A Signs in Seaside warn beachgoers of the potential danger. Astoria Ford Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce Clatsop Community Bank – Astoria & Seaside Fultano’s Pizza - Astoria Fultano’s Pizza - Warrenton West Mart Store - Westport and at: ClatsopCoFairExpo.com
