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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 11, 2017)
1B THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017 CONTACT US ewilson@dailyastorian.com (503) 325-3211 ext. 257 COMMUNITY FOLLOW US facebook.com/ DailyAstorian IN ONE EAR • ELLEDA WILSON BE AN ANGEL FOR ANGELS FOR SARA ‘I met Sara, a beautiful rottweiler who had arrived at the Clatsop County Animal Shelter after her owner had passed away,” Jacque Pressly wrote. “She was a senior dog, and not in the best of health. My heart was broken when Sara was unable to find her forever home before crossing the Rainbow Bridge. “To honor Sara’s spirit, I promised to try and help as many senior dogs as I could. I would do whatever I could to give them a safe and loving home before they transitioned.” And Jacque has kept her promise. She started the Angels For Sara Sanctuary for senior dogs, a volunteer-run nonprofit, in 2013. Then, in 2014, Bonnie (right) and Clyde, large dogs with health issues, wound up at the shelter when their owner died. “They were overlooked for adoption, time and again, as they were not only senior dogs, but a bonded pair, as well,” Jacque explained. And that’s how the duo became the sanctuary’s first residents. “With the support of volunteers,” she reported, “both dogs are much healthier, and enjoy romps in the field down to the river, or just getting loved on while relaxing in the sanctuary’s main room.” Want to help Jacque in her mission? Angels for Sara is hold- ing its annual fundraiser/rummage sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18 and Saturday, Aug. 19, at 60 N. Main Ave. in Warrenton. There’s also a bake sale with goodies provided by Linda Perkins, and information on how to plan for your dog’s future if something happens to you. Can’t make it to the fundraiser? You can still help by donat- ing, volunteering or sponsoring or fostering a senior dog. Call 503-325-2772, email angelsforsara@gmail.com or go to www. angelsforsarasanctuary.com for the details. A HAND ON THE OUIJA BOARD NASTY ASTY MEETS HER FATE ednesday was the 75th anniversary of the sink- ing of the third USS Astoria (CA-34, aka “Nasty Asty”), pictured, which sank Aug. 9, 1942, in the South Pacific during the Battle of Savo Island (http://tinyurl.com/ USSasty). Named for the city of Astoria, she was one of three ships that entered the waters around Guadalcanal Aug. 7 — third in line after the Vincennes and Quincy — to support U.S. Marines landing in the area. Astoria’s Capt. W. G. Greenman, who was wounded in the battle, later sent reports describing the action, which started early in the morning Aug. 9, when the convoy was hit with a surprise attack by an “enemy force of unknown number.” All three ships fired back, but Vincennes was hit immediately, exploded, keeled over and disappeared. Quincy didn’t fare any better. It, too, was hit, set afire from bow to stern, blew up and sank. Astoria was “hit repeatedly” the captain reported, and there were fires raging all over the ship. The ship’s con- trols were destroyed, along with most of the fire-fighting water supply mains. Just as the ship lost power, the enemy vanished. Personnel left on board tried to fight the fires with bucket brigades and whatever else was available. “Fierce fires raging amidships prevented any communications between these groups and neither realized other group existed,” the captain wrote. The abandon ship order was given, and the Bagley was summoned to rescue personnel in the water and take aboard survivors (219 were reported as missing or killed), while a salvage crew was sent in to put out the fires, repair the ship and get back underway. But it was not to be. A 5-inch magazine exploded on the Astoria, blowing a hole under the ship’s waterline. At that point, the sal- vage group quickly scrambled or jumped off the ship. A few minutes later, the USS Astoria capsized and sank to her final resting spot in Iron Bottom Sound, and in history. W DEAR FUTUREME recent Alaska Dispatch News article tells of a strange coinci- dence involving an engineer in Alaska, a Warrenton resident, the late Kelly Smotherman (pictured, inset), and Kelly’s griev- ing daughter, Chelsea (http://tinyurl.com/ADNkelly). The story actually begins in August 2013, when Kelly was the captain and owner of the 65-foot fishing vessel Fate Hunter, which capsized after running aground near Shoup Bay, Alaska. The Coast Guard reported that fishing gear, the 150,000 pound salmon cargo and diesel fuel were lost in the incident (http:// tinyurl.com/fatehunt). All four crew members were rescued, but unfortunately, in August 2016, Kelly died, “from complications resulting from refusing to listen to his doctor, having as much fun as humanly possible, raising hell for 50 years and a heart attack,” his obituary said (http://tinyurl.com/captkelly). Cut to the present. Andy Baker, a Seward, Alaska, engineer, was curious about how ocean currents affect Alaska. In his quest for knowledge, he became friends with oceanographer Curt Ebbesmeyer, famous for his studies on the Pacific Gyre and its influence on the movement of ocean debris. Ebbesmeyer suggested Baker study the issue firsthand by traveling to Kamilo Beach in Hawaii, which is covered with tiny bits of plastic ocean debris from all over the Pacific. Here’s where the story takes a turn into the Twilight Zone. While doing volunteer cleanup work on the beach in Janu- ary, Baker — hoping to find something identifiable, which is extremely rare — found a fish tag from the Fate Hunter’s 2013 misadventure in Alaska (his photo of it is pictured). Sadly, the phone number on the tag was no good. Baker eventually dug deeper, and found Kelly Smotherman’s daugh- ter, Chelsea, on Facebook. He mailed her the tag in time for the recent anniversary of her father’s death. “That is very heart-warming to hear that my dad’s tags have made the journey down there to you in Hawaii,” she wrote back. “I went to the University of Hawaii Manoa and it feels good to know he made the journey in some way or another.” “It’s almost like the father had his hand on this Ouija board,” Ebbesmeyer noted. “I’m not a particularly religious person, but I do think there’s more to it than ocean currents.” A LOOK … UP IN THE SKY he other night-time display this weekend — aside from the Astoria Regatta fireworks — is the annual Perseid meteor shower. According to Space.com, there should be about 80 mete- ors per hour, peaking around 10 a.m. Saturday — meaning the best times to see it are Friday night, predawn Saturday and Satur- day night (http://tinyurl.com/lookupAug12). The photo shown is courtesy of ScienceAtNASA. In case your astronomy is a little rusty, the meteor shower is caused by the earth’s annual passage through the dust and debris in Comet Swift-Tuttle’s tail. The comet itself isn’t expected to pass by in its 133-year orbit until 2126. The best way to enjoy the Perseid meteor shower is to go to a dark area outside town, and let your eyes acclimate to the dark, which takes about 30 minutes. Then all you need to do is look up and enjoy the show. T WATCH OUT FOR WILE E. COYOTE on’t want to hit the panic button, but you Astorians who leave kitties or doggies outside at night may like to know that at about 2:30 a.m., (my dog) Mouse went from a dead sleep to a growling, howling, barking freaked-out screaming fur ball,” Sharon Collyer posted on Facebook Aug. 4. “… And two sec- onds later, a coyote yapped just outside our place on Eighth and Harrison …” Sharon went on to explain that coyotes “yap for many rea- sons,” one of which is to alert other coyotes. “So,” she specu- lated, “there’s a good chance that the coyote wasn’t the only coy- ote out there.” Sharon isn’t the only one who’s noticed coyotes within Asto- ria city limits. Several others have posted similar concerns on Facebook, as well, and Doris Larremore even called the Ear to ask that people be alerted, and careful. “Now, I’m totally pro-coyote,” Sharon added, “and my main concern is that Astoria residents care for their little animals, and not go out there armed with guns to start killing coyotes.” Good advice. So take heed, Astorians, and keep your beloved pets safe inside. ‘D H ere’s an intriguing thought: Send your future self a letter — maybe words of inspiration, a goal reminder, or whatever suits your fancy — to be delivered one year, or more, from now. Thanks to www.futureme.org, you can do just that. You set the time when the email will be sent, and the web- site does the rest. If you need some ideas, or a little enter- tainment, check out the “Read Public Letters” section of emails recently delivered. IT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE CHASING A CURE hase Milsap of Seaview, Washington (pictured), is participating in the California Arthritis Bike Clas- sic to raise money for the Arthritis Foundation. He’ll be leaving Sept 9 from Pier 39 in San Fran- cisco, and arriving in Los Angeles Sept. 16. It’s a cause that is close to his heart. His grand- mother has severe arthritis, as do several of his fellow employees. “But it’s not just adults who suffer from arthritis, our children suffer, too,” he wrote. “It is terrible when anyone is dealing with this kind of stuff that puts them in lots of pain.” “That’s where the Arthritis Foundation comes to help,” he added, “they do so much for anyone with all different kinds of arthritis-related causes.” You can help, too, by donating at http://tinyurl.com/ChaseRides “Please make a pledge to the Arthritis Foundation and help find a cure,” Chase says, “and help this cyclist ride for a cure!” C he first Astoria Regatta, which was held starting Aug. 17, 1894, was a gala event, The Daily Morning Astorian reported. A photo from The Daily Astorian is shown. There were loads of tourists, sailing and rowing competitions, midnight cruises with bands, swimming and foot races and many other festivities — and one almost fatal glitch. “The life-saving crews will be over bright and early this morn- ing,” the newspaper announced. “… A boat will be capsized in mid-stream, and the signal given the life-saving crew. A rocket will be thrown over the capsized boat, and the usual interesting and exciting method of rescue will be gone through with.” Not quite. The rescue was almost on land. As reported the next day: “When the mortar was fired at the life-saving drill, it rebounded to a distance of 30 feet. The crowd did not move away a moment too soon, several narrowly escaping the flying gun.” Presumably, the rocket fiasco was not repeated at future regattas. T COMMUNITY NOTES SATURDAY Lower Columbia R/C Society — 8:30 a.m., back room at Uptown Cafe, 1639 S.E. Ensign Lane, Warrenton. Local Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) chartered radio control model aircraft club meets for breakfast and business. All model aircraft enthusi- asts are welcome. For information, call 503-458-5196 or 503-325-0608. Angora Hiking Club — 9 a.m., Sixth Street parking lot. Fort Colum- bia, Washington, hike. For informa- tion, call Kathleen Hudson at 503- 861-2802. Chinook Indian Nation Coun- cil Meeting — 11 a.m., Chinook Tribal Office, 3 Park St., in Bay Cen- ter, Washington. Meeting is open to all tribal members; attendees are re- minded to bring a potluck item. For questions, call the tribal office in ad- vance of the event at 360-875-6670. Sit & Stitch — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Homespun Quilts & Yarn, 108 10th St. Bring knitting, crochet or other needlework projects to this community stitching time. All skill levels welcome. Pug Socializing Club — 1 p.m., Carruthers Park, Warrenton. For pugs and their owners. For information, call Dave Kinney at 415-827-5190. Join online at http://tinyurl.com/socialpugs Columbia Northwestern Mod- el Railroading Club — 1 p.m., in Hammond. Group runs trains on HO-scale layout. For information, call Don Carter at 503-325-0757. Spinning Circle — 1 to 3 p.m., Astoria Fiber Arts Academy, 1296 Duane St. Bring a spinning wheel. For information, call 503-325-5598 or go to http://astoriafiberarts.com welcome to bring their own forge and anvil setup. Metal available to experiment with; coal is provided. No charge, but donations to the Camp 18 Loggers Memorial Muse- um welcome. For information, con- tact Mark Standley at 503-434-0148 or Herman Doty at 971-306-1043 or ringinganvildesign@gmail.com SUNDAY Blacksmith Enthusiasts Meet — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Camp 18 Blacksmith Shop, 42362 U.S. Highway 26, Seaside. Participants National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Support Group — 2 to 3:30 p.m., Seaside Public Library, 1131 Broadway. Family to Family Support Group, for anyone with friend or loved one suffering from a serious brain (mental) illness. For information, contact Myra Kero at 503-738-6165, or k7erowood@q. com, or go to www.nami.org Line Dancing — 5:30 to 8 p.m., Seaside American Legion, 1315 Broadway. For information, call 503-738-5111. No cost; suggested $5 tip to the instructor. See NOTES, Page 2B
