3A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017
Fifteen states Fire devastates the Gorge
sue Trump
over DACA
By GILLIAN FLACCUS
Associated Press
Oregon and
Washington
part of lawsuit
By LARRY
NEUMEISTER and
GENE JOHNSON
Associated Press
NEW YORK — Fif-
teen states and the District of
Columbia sued the U.S. gov-
ernment Wednesday to block
President Donald Trump’s
plan to end protection against
deportation for young immi-
grants who New York’s attor-
ney general labeled the “best
of America.”
The lawsuit filed in fed-
eral court in Brooklyn asked a
judge to strike down as uncon-
stitutional the president’s
action involving the Deferred
Action for Childhood Arrivals
program, or DACA.
It called the move “a cul-
mination of President Trump’s
oft-stated commitments … to
punish and disparage people
with Mexican roots.”
The attorneys general
who brought the lawsuit —
all Democrats — represent
states like Oregon and Wash-
ington where the population of
DACA participants — known
as “dreamers” — ranges from
hundreds to tens of thousands.
They were brought to the U.S.
illegally as children or came
with families who overstayed
visas.
Trump’s plan is “cruel,
shortsighted, inhumane” and
driven by a personal bias
against Mexicans and Latinos,
New York Attorney General
Eric T. Schneiderman said.
He said the 42,000 New
Yorkers with protected status
under the program are largely
model citizens.
“They are the best of
America,” Schneiderman said.
“Dreamers play by the
rules. Dreamers work hard.
Dreamers pay taxes. For most
of them, America is the only
home they’ve ever known.
And they deserve to stay
here,” he added, using the
term that came from a failed
piece of legislation called the
DREAM Act.
Oregon Attorney General
Ellen Rosenblum called the
government’s action “inde-
fensible” and said Trump was
“playing chicken” by giv-
ing Congress six months to
improve DACA or cancel it.
Devin M. O’Malley, a Jus-
tice Department spokesman,
said the agency looks forward
to defending the administra-
tion’s position.
Under former Presi-
dent Barack Obama, Jus-
tice Department lawyers con-
cluded in 2014 that DACA is
lawful.
Upset workplaces,
damage companies
The lawsuit filed Wednes-
day says rescinding DACA
will injure state-run colleges
and universities, upset work-
places and damage companies
and economies that include
immigrants covered under the
program.
The lawsuit noted that
Harvard University has over
50 DACA students while
Tufts University has more
than 25. Both schools are in
Massachusetts.
“The consequence of the
president’s
animus-driven
decision is that approximately
800,000 persons who have
availed themselves of the pro-
gram will ultimately lose its
protections” and be exposed
to deportation, the lawsuit
says.
Attorney General Jeff Ses-
sions said Tuesday the pro-
gram will end in six months
so Congress can have time to
find a legislative solution for
people in the program.
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit are
New York, Massachusetts,
Washington,
Connecticut,
Delaware, District of Colum-
bia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa,
New Mexico, North Carolina,
Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, Vermont and Virginia.
California, one of the
most solid Democratic
states, was noticeably
absent.
California Attorney Gen-
eral Xavier Becerra plans to
file a separate lawsuit because
a quarter of DACA recipients
are California residents, his
spokeswoman Bethany Lesser
said.
Under Trump’s plan, peo-
ple already enrolled in DACA
remain covered until their
permits expire. If that hap-
pens before March 5, they
are eligible to renew them for
another two years as long as
they apply by Oct. 5. But the
program isn’t accepting new
applications.
Opponents of the program
said they are pleased with the
Trump administration’s deci-
sion. They called DACA an
unconstitutional abuse of
executive power.
TROUTDALE — A
fast-moving wildfire chewing
through Oregon’s forestland is
threatening more than homes
and people. It’s also devour-
ing the heart of the state’s
nature-loving identity.
As flames erupted this
week in the Columbia Gorge,
horrified Oregon residents
mourned the devastation of
beloved day trails, swimming
holes and dozens of crystalline
waterfalls that are all an easy
day trip from Portland.
The Columbia River Gorge
National Scenic Area attracts
more than 3 million tour-
ists a year and holds North
America’s largest concentra-
tion of waterfalls — includ-
ing 77 named cascades. It is
also home to 800 wildflower
species, including 16 found
nowhere else in the world.
The gorge’s winding trails
are lush with ferns, hidden
pocket waterfalls and stunning
Tristan Fortsch/KATU-TV
A wildfire burning in the Columbia River Gorge above the
Bonneville Dam near Cascade Locks.
vistas of the mighty Colum-
bia River. They are most cher-
ished by Oregonians, who feel
a deep connection to an area
that’s often referred to as Ore-
gon’s “crown jewel.”
As the flames spread through
the gorge’s forests at an alarm-
ing rate, social media lit up with
posts recalling favorite hikes,
memories of gorge weddings
and worries about what will
remain when the smoke clears.
Coast Guard rescues hiker from cliffside
The Daily Astorian
WARRENTON — The
Coast Guard rescued a hiker
Wednesday from the side of a
cliff in Ecola State Park.
Watchstanders with Sector
Columbia River in Warrenton
received a request for assis-
tance at 12:30 a.m. from Clat-
sop County Search and Res-
cue. The hiker, a 29-year-old
from Chicago, had become
separated from his girlfriend
Tuesday, and ground crews
were unable to find him.
With heavy smoke and
limited flying conditions, the
MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter
crew waited until daylight to
start the search.
The helicopter crew found
and hoisted the hiker from the
side of a cliff in the park.
“The man told us that he
attempted to climb up the
cliff three times but fell each
time,” Lt. Patrick Wright,
pilot of the rescue helicopter,
said in a news release. “He
was approximately 200 to 300
feet below the top of the cliff,
but he was still about 600
feet above the waterline. The
entire rescue crew did a great
job of searching the cliffside
and eventually rescuing this
individual. We are glad he can
be reunited with family and
friends.”
The Coast Guard took the
hiker to emergency medical
services waiting at Air Station
Astoria in Warrenton, where
he was treated for minor inju-
ries and exhaustion, then trans-
ferred to Columbia Memorial
Hospital for evaluation.
Coast Guard rescues two from sinking boat
The Daily Astorian
WARRENTON — The
Coast Guard rescued two
men from a boat taking on
water near Buoy 10 at the
entrance of the Columbia
River Wednesday.
Watchstanders at Sector
Columbia River in Warrenton
received a call for help from
the people aboard a 33-foot
wooden hull pleasure boat,
which struck an unknown
object and started taking on
water. A 47-foot motor life-
boat and the 52-foot motor
lifeboat Triumph II from Sta-
tion Cape Disappointment
in Ilwaco, Washington, were
dispatched, along with the
87-foot patrol cutter Osprey
‘Cruel and outrageous’
Washington Gov. Jay Ins-
lee and Attorney General Bob
Ferguson, both Democrats,
called Trump’s action cruel
and outrageous, given that the
decision was announced by
Sessions rather than the presi-
dent himself.
A half-dozen beneficia-
ries of DACA — young adults
from Mexico, Venezuela, Peru
and elsewhere, including some
now working at law firms or
for the state Legislature —
flanked Inslee and Ferguson
at a news conference in Seattle
announcing the lawsuit.
“It’s outrageous, it’s not
right,” an emotional Ferguson
said. “As attorney general for
the state of Washington, I have
a hammer, it’s the law.”
Inslee said, “This is
one more of a long train of
abuses that this president has
attempted to foist on this great
nation.”
Earlier this year, Fergu-
son sued Trump over his
travel ban, prompting a fed-
eral judge to block nationwide
enforcement.
Johnson reported from
Seattle. Also contributing to
this story were AP writers
Sadie Gurman in Washing-
ton, Deepti Hajela and Karen
Matthews in New York, and
Andrew Selsky in Salem.
“Everybody has this vis-
ceral attachment to what they
care about there and that all feels
like it’s slipping through our
fingers,” said Kevin Gorman,
executive director of Friends of
the Columbia Gorge. “We liter-
ally are waiting until the smoke
clears to go out and assess what’s
there, what we’ve lost and then
try to move on from there.”
On Wednesday, two fires
merged to form a blaze of
more than 50 square miles.
The fire has closed a 30-mile
stretch of nearby Interstate 84
and forced the evacuation of
hundreds of homes on the far
eastern fringes of Portland’s
metropolitan area. Authori-
ties say the fire was started by
a 15-year-old boy who tossed
fireworks into the woods.
Scorching heat, bone-dry
vegetation and winds of 30 to
40 mph pushed the flames 13
miles in 16 hours at one point
— an almost unprecedented
rate of fire spread, authorities
said. Embers from the blaze
also were carried by winds
across the Columbia River and
started a spot fire on the oppo-
site bank in Washington state.
On the Oregon side, the
flames had some of the gorge’s
most treasured spots in its
crosshairs.
After an all-night battle,
fire crews saved the historic
Multnomah Lodge, a historic
92-year-old information cen-
ter, bar and restaurant at the
base of Multnomah Falls.
and a MH-60 Jayhawk heli-
copter from Air Station
Astoria.
The 47-footer arrived
first and attempted to tow
and drain the vessel. When
those efforts failed, the
crew removed the two men
from the sinking vessel and
transported them to Ham-
mond Marina, where they
were released with no med-
ical issues. The Osprey and
the Triumph II also tried
to save the boat but were
unsuccessful.
The partially submerged
vessel was last reported
floating 4 miles west of the
Columbia’s entrance. There
was no pollution reported
from the incident.
OBITUARIES
Colleen Ann Simonsen
Hammond
Jan. 12, 1931 — Aug. 4, 2017
Colleen Ann Simonsen
was born in Astoria, Oregon,
to Albert and Pauline (West)
Stanley. Mrs. Simonsen grew
up on Clatsop Plains, where
her parents owned and oper-
ated the West Lake Market
until their passing.
Mrs. Simonsen graduated
from Seaside High School in
1949.
On Aug. 26, 1949, she mar-
ried Howard Simonsen in War-
renton (deceased in 2004).
Mrs. Simonsen worked sum-
mers at Point Adams Pack-
ing Co. while Mr. Simonsen
attended college. In 1951 they
settled in Hammond, and they
began their family.
From 1971 to 1977, Mrs.
Simonsen was the postmas-
ter for the Hammond Post
Office. She was then pro-
moted to postmaster in the
Warrenton Post Office, where
she worked to retirement in
1991. Mrs. Simonsen was
actively involved in the U.S.
Postal Service Organization.
Her greatest accomplishment
was chairing the Postmaster’s
ria-Warrenton Area Chamber
National Convention.
One of her many joys was of Commerce. She was also
being a member of the Astoria very involved with the War-
Clowns and playing the calli- renton Senior Citizens until the
time of her sickness.
ope. Mrs. Simonsen
She is survived
also enjoyed cook-
by a daughter and
ing, knitting and
son-in-law, Janet and
sewing. She would
Terry Ferguson of
make clothes for
Hammond, Oregon;
her grandchildren
a son and daughter-
and knit baby blan-
in-law, Mark and
kets and hats for the
Kelly Simonsen of
Columbia Memorial
Hammond,
Ore-
Hospital maternity
gon; a brother, John
ward. Mrs. Simon-
Stanley and his wife,
sen loved to clam
Colleen
Barbara, of Califor-
dig and spend time
Simonsen
nia; grandson Jon-
with her family at
their boat house on Woody athon Brown and his wife,
Laura, of Warrenton, Oregon;
Island.
She was a lifetime member grandson Michael Simonsen
of the Clatsop Plains Presbyte- and his wife, Lori, of Prineville,
rian Church, where she played Oregon; granddaughter Mindy
the organ and piano for over Little and her husband, Daniel,
30 years. She was also a mem- of Warrenton, Oregon; grand-
ber of the Daughters of the son Matthew Simonsen and
American Revolution, Asto- his wife, Mandi, of Warren-
ria Clowns, Clatsop County ton, Oregon; grandsons Mark
Historical Society, Colum- Simonsen and Mitchell Simon-
bia River Maritime Museum, sen of Hammond, Oregon;
Astoria Elks Lodge 180, great grandchildren Joseph,
and volunteered at the Asto- Tyla, Austin, Dawson, Lexi and
Parker Little, Riley and Tyler
Simonsen, Trinity, Trevor and
Zoey Simonsen Jaydn Waer
and Jackson and Mya Simon-
sen; a godson, Michael Simon-
sen and his wife, Kelly, of
Easton, Maryland; and numer-
ous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death
by her husband, Howard
Simonsen; an infant son; and a
son and daughter-in-law, Rob-
ert and Vicki Simonsen.
A public memorial service
is being held Saturday, Sept.
16, 2017, at 1 p.m., at Clatsop
Plains Presbyterian Church,
33324 Patriot Way in Warren-
ton, Oregon.
In lieu of flowers, memorial
contributions may be made to:
Deep Sea Fisherman’s Bene-
fit Fund, P.O. Box 1062, War-
renton, OR 97146; or Astoria
Clowns, P.O. Box 941, Asto-
ria, OR 97103.
Caldwell’s Luce-Layton
Mortuary, 1165 Franklin Ave.,
in Astoria is in charge of the
arrangements. Please sign our
online guest book at www.
caldwellsmortuary.com
Clatsop Post 12
Developers look to revive Arch Cape gathering place
Plans in motion
to revamp deli
By BRENNA VISSER
The Daily Astorian
ARCH CAPE – Plans are
in motion to revamp the for-
mer Arch Cape Deli and Gro-
cery into a community gather-
ing space, restaurant and deli.
A land use compatibility
statement has been submit-
ted as one of the early steps
in renovating the deli and gro-
cery store, which closed in
2011.
The original building, built
in 1939, served as a general
store before being rebuilt and
expanded into the post office
and grocery store many peo-
ple visited on a daily basis as
a community hub.
For the past few years,
property owner Butch Cole-
man has been purchasing
surrounding properties and
rezoning the area to prepare
for breaking ground on a
6,000 square multiuse space,
said Vito Cerelli, the lead
designer for the project from
O’Brien & Co.
In addition to restoring the
deli, the vision for the new
Arch Cape Deli and Grocery
includes incorporating a new
restaurant called the Tunnel
Cafe, a bakery, adding space
that can be rented for meet-
ings or events, and the possi-
bility of post office boxes.
‘We want to bring
back a community
building to the area.’
Vito Cerelli,
lead designer for the project
“We want to bring back a
community building to the
area,” said Cerelli, who grew
up in Arch Cape. “The deli
served as a community gather-
ing spot. Arch Cape is mostly
residential, so (Coleman)
really wanted to create a space
for the local community.”
While the inspiration for
the project is drawn from cre-
ating something for the com-
munity, Cerelli said he and
Coleman also see the proj-
ect’s highly visible location
off U.S. Highway 101 as a
benefit to draw in travellers,
as well.
Designs and details are still
evolving, but Cerelli said from
a design perspective people
should expect a large, Pacific
Northwest-style timber lodge.
“Every detail of the build-
ing is a natural timber look,”
Cerelli said. “There will be
lots of exposed timber — all
the siding is being custom
milled for the project.”
After the county reviews
the application, a public hear-
ing will be held to discuss the
project later this year, Cerelli
said. Coleman and Cerelli
hope to break ground some-
time next year.
Beef Stew
and Biscuits
Friday
Sept. 8 th
4 pm until gone
$
8. 00
6PM
“Karaoke Dave”
ASTORIA
AMERICAN LEGION
Clatsop Post 12
1132 Exchange Street
325-5771
W A NTED
Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber
N orth w es t H a rdw oods • Lon gview , W A
Contact: John Anderson • 360-269-2500