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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2017
County firefighters answer call to help California
A dozen were sent
to fight blazes
By BRENNA VISSER
The Daily Astorian
Gearhart Volunteer Fire Department
A dozen firefighters from Clatsop County have been sent to Ven-
tura County, Calif., to fight growing wildfires. From left to right:
Amy Lenz, Brandin Smith, Flint Helligso, Justin Perdew, Tanner
Rich, Chris Dugan, Ron Tyson, Dallas Ritchie, Genesee Dennis.
Front row: Matt Benedict, Angels Perez and Katie Bulletset.
Clatsop County firefighters were
among the many from Oregon deployed
to help Southern California battle mul-
tiple blazes Wednesday morning.
A dozen firefighters from six depart-
ments around the county will be teamed
up with another task force from Marion
County and spend at least 16 days fight-
ing fires in Ventura County near Los
Angeles, said Lewis & Clark Fire Chief
Jeff Golightly. Firefighters include Ron
Tyson of Olney Walluski Fire & Rescue
District; Amy Lenz, Dallas Ritchie and
Troy Aaron and Baden James Biddle
Ocean Park teen sentenced for
robbery of pizza delivery driver
Oct. 22, 1965 — Nov. 25, 2017
Sept. 12, 2004 — Nov. 25, 2017
Bainbridge Island, Washington
Troy Biddle, 52, and Baden Biddle, 13, School. Last month he tried out and made the
passed away on Nov. 25, 2017, in a car acci- seventh grade Woodward Middle School bas-
ketball team, as well as the Roots
dent in San Pablo, California, in
traveling basketball squad that was
which Troy’s brother-in-law and
to be coached by Troy.
Baden’s uncle, Daryl Horn, 50,
It was no surprise that early on
and Troy’s nephew and Baden’s
Baden developed a love for sports,
cousin, Joseph Horn, 14, also died.
The family had been together
especially football, basketball and
over the holiday weekend, and
baseball. Undoubtedly, because of
were driving home from an annual
Troy’s enthusiasm for all sports
father-son basketball tournament,
and natural ability, coupled with
when the car driven by Jared Horn,
the Horn family’s deep roots in
19, who survived the accident,
sports, Baden started playing on
Baden James and
was struck by another car. By all
teams through parks and recre-
Troy Aaron Biddle
ation as soon as possible.
accounts, everyone had an amaz-
ing day at the tournament, not only
Baden’s skills in any given
playing basketball but also laughing, making sport may have taken several years to develop,
new friends, and reconnecting with others.
but his sense of friendship, teamwork, respect
Troy was born in 1965 and raised in Asto- and everything else that it takes to be a good
ria, Oregon. He graduated from Astoria High teammate was present from the beginning.
School in 1983, earned his bachelor of science Baden’s positive attitude made him the con-
degree from the University of Oregon in 1988, summate teammate and friend.
Baden cannot only be defined by his love
and a juris doctorate from Willamette Univer-
sity in 1998. As a lifelong Ducks fan, while at of sports, although he could rattle off the latest
UO, Troy was also an active member of Phi sports news and statistics at will. Baden also
Delta Theta fraternity, where he made a num- had a great ear for music, played guitar, and
ber of close friends.
listened to everything from classic rock to rap.
Troy attended Willamette School of Law, Like his father, Baden had an analytical mind,
following a career with Durham & Bates in was incredibly observant, possessed a sharp
Portland, Oregon, and in Seattle, Washington, wit and, although somewhat reserved, was qui-
where he started the company’s first maritime etly self-assured for his age.
And, like his mom, Baden seized every
insurance practice. It was at the first day of law
school orientation, in 1995, when he met and opportunity to create memories with friends,
became friends with Amanda Horn, who years and never took himself too seriously. The spar-
kle in Baden’s eyes, bright smile, gentle per-
later he would marry.
Following law school, they both clerked for sonality, and creative sense of humor will be
the Lane County Circuit Court judges, lived in deeply missed by his family, friends, teachers
Redondo Beach and practiced law in Southern and community.
California, and ultimately settled in Bainbridge
Troy Biddle and Baden Biddle are survived
Island, Washington, in 2007 to raise their two respectively by their: wife and mother, Amanda
children, Baden James Biddle and Devon Isa- Horn, Bainbridge Island; daughter and sister,
bel Biddle.
Devon Biddle, 10, Bainbridge Island; mother
While he practiced at several regional and and grandmother, Judy Benson, Astoria;
national law firms after moving to Washington, brother and uncle, Todd Biddle (Debbie), Port-
earlier this year he and two colleagues formed land; niece and cousin, Ashley Gram (Chris),
their own firm, Carroll Biddle & Bilanko. This Portland; father-in- law and grandfather, Dan
move, along with his partnership in a heated Horn (Betsy), American Canyon, Califor-
glove company, Chaval Outdoor, showcased nia; sister-in- law and aunt, Denise Horn, and
nephew and cousin, Jared Horn; and niece and
Troy’s entrepreneurial spirit.
Troy possessed a strong sense of commit- cousin, Greta Horn, Napa, California.
ment to his family, friends and community.
Other surviving family members include
Over the years, he devoted a great deal of aunts and great-aunts Jan Benson of Portland
energy to coaching as an extension of his love and Joyce Benson of Astoria, uncle Jim Ben-
of sports and knack at helping people define, son of Astoria, and cousins Alyssa San Juan
(Jayson) of Everett, Washington; Beth Tubbs
set and achieve their goals.
While Troy enjoyed cycling, river rafting (Eric) of Seattle, Washington; and Erin Jack-
and other outdoor adventures, he may have son (Casey) of Gearhart, Oregon.
Troy and Baden were preceded in death
been happiest at home with friends and family,
where his quick wit, coupled with deep insight by father and grandfather, Ronald Biddle,
and critical listening, could shine. Troy was a and mother-in-law and grandmother, Helen
relationship-builder, and he loved connecting Lautenschalger.
Troy and Baden’s lives will be remembered
his family with his many friends, from frater-
nity brothers to childhood friends to colleagues on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, at 11 a.m. at the
and his Bainbridge Island community.
Bainbridge Island High School Commons; and
After attending Odyssey, a multiage school on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017, at 1:30 p.m. at The
program on Bainbridge Island from second Loft at the Red Building in Astoria, Oregon.
through sixth grades, this fall Baden Biddle
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be
excitedly started seventh grade with his team- made to the Troy and Baden Biddle Memorial
mates and other friends at Woodward Middle Fund located at Wells Fargo branches.
By JACK HEFFERNAN
The Daily Astorian
An Ocean Park, Washing-
ton, teenager was sentenced
Wednesday to more than 4½
years in prison after admit-
ting to robbing a Sahara Pizza
delivery driver in June.
Christopher Joe Reimers,
17, pleaded guilty to sec-
ond-degree robbery after
reaching a deal with the Clat-
sop County District Attor-
ney’s Office. He originally
also faced charges of first-de-
gree robbery, first-degree bur-
glary, second-degree theft and
strangulation.
Reimers and Hart Holden
Stone, 20, of Astoria, ordered
a pizza to an Emerald Heights
home where one of them used
to reside. When the driver
approached the door, Reimers
placed him in a chokehold
while Stone grabbed a cash
bag and fled.
Astoria police arrested
Stone shortly after, but
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A juvenile green sea turtle
found stranded Sunday morn-
ing near Fort Stevens State
Park has died.
The 20- to 30-pound tur-
tle was discovered by a ranger
at the mouth of the Columbia
River near the South Jetty.
Green sea turtles typically
inhabit tropical waters, so find-
ing a young Pacific green tur-
tle is “very rare,” according to
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Field Advisor Laura Todd. The
species is listed as threatened
under the Endangered Species
Act.
When the green sea turtle
arrived for treatment, aquar-
ium staff administered flu-
ids, obtained blood samples
and conducted a physical
assessment.
This is the third turtle found
recently on the coast.
The Oregon Coast Aquar-
ium is in the midst of rehab-
bing an olive ridley sea turtle
found in Ilwaco, Washington,
in late November. Turkey, the
female olive ridley found on
Washington’s Benson Beach
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Reimers’ criminal history
includes convictions for dis-
orderly conduct, theft, menac-
ing and assault. He has been
lodged in a Cowlitz County,
Washington, jail, where he
has accrued several behavioral
violations.
James Lee von Boeck-
mann, Reimers’ court-ap-
pointed attorney, said he and
a defense investigator recently
had a heart-to-heart conversa-
tion. After the conversation,
Reimers apologized individ-
ually to employees at the jail.
Reimers also cited a troubled
upbringing after Brownhill
prodded him for a response.
“You need to understand
you can change that. Just
because you didn’t have the
best upbringing doesn’t mean
you have to be a criminal,”
Brownhill said. “You’re get-
ting special treatment because
you’re young and we all have
hope that you can improve
yourself and contribute to
society.”
The Daily Astorian
Clatsop Post 12
Friday , Dec . 8 th
Reimers escaped after toiling
through blackberry bushes,
Chief Deputy District Attor-
ney Ron Brown said. Author-
ities located him a few days
later.
Stone pleaded guilty to sec-
ond-degree robbery last week
and was also sentenced to 4½
years. He will serve the prison
time concurrently with a sep-
arate case in which he admit-
ted to burglarizing the Astoria
Coffeehouse & Bistro a few
days before the pizza robbery.
During Reimers’ sentenc-
ing, Circuit Court Judge Paula
Brownhill chided him for not
fully articulating what crimes
led to his guilty plea after she
had asked. He also denied
having contact with Stone.
“You’re 17 years old,
you just pled guilty to a rob-
bery and you have nothing to
say?” Brownhill asked. “I’m
not encouraged about your
chances for success when
you’ve started off on the
wrong foot here.”
Turtle found near Fort Stevens dies
Happy
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Gearhart Fire Chief Bill Eddy said
two of his firefighters are on the task
force, and said he was happy Clatsop
County could help.
“During our summer, the state of
California sent resources to Oregon to
assist us in our fight, we are proud to be
able to return the favor and hope we can
make a difference,” Eddy said.
At the Gearhart City Council meet-
ing Wednesday, Mayor Matt Brown
asked firefighters to be safe and praised
their readiness to serve in the midst of
the holiday season.
“They’re so ready to go and serve,
even though some of them are going
to be there possibly until Christmas,”
Brown said. “They didn’t even hesi-
tate to say, ‘Hey, we’re going down to
help out.’”
Justin Perdew of Knappa Fire District;
Brandin Smith and Flint Helligso of
Lewis & Clark Fire Department; Tanner
Rich and Angels Perez of Gearhart Vol-
unteer Fire Department; Chris Dugan,
Genesee Dennis and Katie Bulletset of
Seaside Fire Department and Cannon
Beach Fire Chief Matt Benedict.
This will be the third time local fire-
fighters will have deployed this year to
aid with fires outside of the county.
As of Wednesday, multiple fires
have prompted officials to issue evac-
uation orders for nearly 200,000 peo-
ple in Southern California and have
destroyed nearly 200 homes, Oregon
Public Broadcasting reported. Accord-
ing to the office of the Oregon State
Fire Marshal, 150 Oregon firefighters
are in California.
503.738.7763 • 2490 Hwy 101 N., Seaside
Open at 11:00am • Closed Mondays
Tiffany Boothe/Seaside Aquarium
A turtle that washed ashore near Fort Stevens has died.
that arrived at the Oregon State
Aquarium on Thanksgiving, is
still undergoing treatment.
Sea turtles are not found on
Oregon or Washington state
beaches unless stranded, Sally
Compton, the public relations
coordinator with the aquarium,
said. Cold water temperatures,
changing current and harsh
storms wash the hypothermic
turtles ashore.
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