DailyAstorian.com // WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018
145TH YEAR, NO. 152
North Coast
advocates for
national parks
Dedicated funding
sought for maintenance
ONE DOLLAR
SALVAGING
A SCHOOL
By KATIE FRANKOWICZ
The Daily Astorian
North Coast governments are urging federal
lawmakers to push for reliable funding for the
National Park Service, pointing to nearly $12 bil-
lion in deferred maintenance in parks across the
country.
Clatsop County, Astoria and Warrenton
recently passed resolutions recognizing the cul-
tural, educational, recreational and economic ben-
efits the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park
brings to North Coast communities, and support-
ing legislation that would help establish dedicated
annual money for park maintenance.
“The growing backlog of infrastructure repairs
in our national parks must be addressed if they
are to keep up with increased visitation,” Astoria
Mayor Arline LaMear said in a statement, adding,
“Making sure visitors to Fort Clatsop have a safe
and enjoyable visit is good business for Astoria
and other cities that have a national park in their
backyard will tell you the same.”
With its older facilities and a water system in
need of an upgrade, the Lewis and Clark park had
an estimated $2.5 million in deferred maintenance
in 2016. Some of these projects will be tackled in
the next few years.
Park Superintendent Jon Burpee does not have
an official opinion on the bipartisan National Park
Service Legacy Act that was introduced last year
and that the local resolutions support. The act
would provide dedicated annual funding over the
next 30 years to address park maintenance.
The Lewis and Clark park is “fairly fortunate”
in being able to do some of the work in-house and
also being able to utilize park entrance fees from
visitors, he said.
“That’s not always the case for every park,” he
said, adding, “I’m pretty confident big chunks (of
deferred maintenance) can be handled in the next
couple of years.”
“It’s not necessarily the flashy stuff,” he said,
“but it’s stuff that people don’t realize is there until
it goes wrong.”
Warrenton Mayor Henry Balensifer’s first
job was as a Youth Conservation Corps intern at
Lewis and Clark. This later turned into a summer
job as a park ranger, he said.
“With very few opportunities for paid intern-
ships that can lead to real jobs in Warrenton, my
employment at the park played a pivotal role in
my early life and career, and I know others in my
city have felt the benefit of such economic and
learning opportunities,” he said in a statement. “It
is important that we continue to ensure that those
opportunities remain accessible.”
The National Park Service estimates that in
2016 the Lewis and Clark park brought in more
than 281,600 visitors, who spent more than $16
million in local area and supported 260 local jobs.
Clatsop County Commissioner Scott Lee said
the Lewis and Clark park and the Fort Clatsop
replica are “more than important pieces of our his-
tory, they generate significant economic activity
for Clatsop County and its communities.”
Photos by Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian
Chairs and other signs that the building once served as a school remain scattered around the gym.
COMMUNITY INTEREST PUTS PURCHASING
FORMER SCHOOL BACK ON THE TABLE
By BRENNA VISSER
The Daily Astorian
C
ANNON BEACH — After more than four
years, the former Cannon Beach Elementary
School still sits vacant at the entrance of the
town.
Some of the water fountains have started to grow
moss. Old school chairs and debris from strong win-
ter storms are scattered on the gym floor. The school,
known for its dome-like gym, was closed due to tsu-
nami safety concerns and lack of funding in 2013.
In the last few months, the city has received a grow-
ing number of letters with a similar request: Is the city
going to buy the school?
Cannon Beach has considered purchasing the build-
ing from Seaside School District. Progress has been
slowed by concerns about how it would be funded and
how it fits with other looming capital projects like the
South Wind evacuation site and an aging City Hall.
The city and the school district were unable to come
to an agreement during preliminary negotiations last
year, and the project shifted to the back burner.
But interest from individuals and around Cannon
Beach, as well as a survey showing 77 percent of citi-
zens believe developing the school into a community
center is a priority, has put acquiring the facility back
on the table.
“Some may say, ‘Why would you want to buy an
old gym building?’” said Mayor Sam Steidel, a long-
time proponent of buying the property. “It used to
be a very central part of the community. And it’s the
entrance to our town. People care about that, and I
think there’s been lots of efforts by citizens to say so.”
See SCHOOL, Page 8A
The gymnasium at the Cannon Beach Elementary School has
been deemed in good condition by a recent engineering report.
Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian
A hiker strides into the South Slough Trail in
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park in 2017.
Survival tools for the homeless
Community
groups share
services
By R.J. MARX
The Daily Astorian
SEASIDE — Many of the
things people take for granted
every day — clean clothes, a
toothbrush, a pair of glasses
— are out of reach for the
homeless.
Project Homeless Connect,
a one-day event to provide
services to the homeless and
near-homeless, came Tues-
day to Seaside. More than 40
nonprofit, governmental and
faith-based agencies filled the
Seaside Civic and Convention
Center. Visitors could receive
medical screenings, hearing
tests, eye exams, immuniza-
tions, haircuts, personal care
items, clothing vouchers and a
hot meal.
Alan Evans of Helping
Hands Re-entry Outreach Cen-
ter distributed a basic toiletry
kit, with tissue, toothpaste,
soap and more. “We give peo-
ple a nice little packet,” Evans
said. “We want to make sure
they have the necessities to
stay clean and stay warm.”
Last year, Helping Hands
distributed about 400 kits.
Tuesday they expected at least
that many. “It’s been a steady
flow since we opened the door,
and it’s only been an hour,”
Evans said.
Sarah Mitchell and Michael
McNickle of the Clatsop
County Department of Public
Health shared information on
the county’s needle replace-
ment program, which aims to
stop the spread of infectious
diseases through shared nee-
dles and syringes.
Molly Irons and Justin
Abbott of Providence Sea-
side Hospital signed up fami-
lies for the Providence Seaside
Healthy Smiles mobile dental
van. The program offers free
sealants, cleanings and dental
R.J. Marx/The Daily Astorian
See HOMELESS, Page 8A
Shawna Neumeister and Crystal Moody, sexual assault
advocates of The Harbor.