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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (June 21, 2018)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2018 Astoria man pleads not guilty to attempted murder in fray Stabbing at rescue mission By JACK HEFFERNAN The Daily Astorian Edward Stratton/The Daily Astorian Vinson Brothers Construction is logging about 250,000 board feet of timber for the Knappa School District along the north side of U.S. Highway 30. Knappa schools log campus annex Logging off Highway 30 By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian KNAPPA — The Knappa School District could soon have an extra $80,000 to $100,000 in its coffers. Vinson Brothers Con- struction are logging approximately 250,000 board feet of timber on a plot of land the school dis- trict owns across U.S. High- way 30 from its campus. The school district has long been looking at how to use the land, about 13 acres that is mostly undevelop- able because of a ravine running through the middle. The land was left to Knappa after it split with neighbor- ing Clatskanie School Dis- trict in the late 1990s. The Knappa School Board recently decided to log the land before deciding how to dispose of it. A pre- vious bid of around $35,000 had been rejected as too low. “I think they will want to seek community and staff input around the needs of the district and how best they can utilize the funds for all students,” said Pau- lette Johnson, the superin- tendent of Knappa, about how the school board will use the money from the tim- ber sale. Bud Henderson, a retired local forester who worked with Hampton Affiliates, was contracted to help the school district prepare for the timber sale. Cascade Hardwoods in Chehalis, Washington, bought the tim- ber, he said, and will send it for processing to regional mills in Warrenton, Clats- kanie and Tillamook. The school district spent $1,900 to purchase about 120 nearby trees from the state Department of Trans- portation and will sell them for a similar value. The work is scheduled to be finished before the start of school next year, John- son said. If the land is sold later on, it will probably be as one parcel, she said. A man who allegedly stabbed an Astoria Rescue Mission worker pleaded not guilty Wednesday to attempted murder. Stephen George Foxon, 52, of Astoria, allegedly stabbed William Eckstein, 56, of Asto- ria, in the stomach earlier this month. He was indicted last week on charges of attempted murder, first-degree assault, fourth-degree assault and five counts of unlawful use of a weapon. Rescue mission staffers told residents the day of the incident that they were going to search the house for mar- ijuana, according to court records. They had suspected a resident was in possession of the drug, which is against house rules. Foxon allegedly objected to the search, and staff asked him to collect his belongings and causing the attack leave immediately. to stop. Foxon then F o x o n waited for Astoria allegedly then police to arrive. stood up, Eckstein, who approached Eck- has since been stein, who was released from leading the search, Columbia Memo- rial Hospital, and punched him underwent surgery out of a chair and for his injuries. onto the ground. Stephen George Foxon was also While on the Foxon taken to the hos- ground, Foxon pital for a minor allegedly con- tinued the attack, eventually injury. At the hospital, he pulling out a knife and stab- admitted to police that he was bing Eckstein. The worker’s upset about the search and arm was also slashed during punched Eckstein, according the encounter. to court records. Foxon was then pulled He also allegedly said he away from Eckstein by other remembered fighting Eck- staffers and residents, who stein, putting his hand in his were able to keep him away pocket and feeling a knife. He from Eckstein before escort- did not recall the alleged stab- ing the worker outside. Foxon bing but did say he heard Eck- allegedly continued trying stein tell another staffer that to attack Eckstein once he Foxon had stabbed him. Bail has been set at learned he was outside and punched and kicked staffers $250,000. Foxon is scheduled as he tried to approach him for an early resolution confer- ence in September. again. Foxon pleaded no con- Someone hit Foxon over the head with a heavy broom, test to second-degree arson in 2015 and was placed on 18 months probation after he set his car on fire with his clothes inside. He was upset at a land- lord for putting a Miles Cross- ing house his ex-wife was renting up for sale. Since the car was his property, Kris Kaino — his court-appointed attorney — argued he hadn’t done any- thing illegal. The fire was, however, 5 feet from the house and near people. Foxon and the Clatsop County Dis- trict Attorney’s Office ended up agreeing to the plea deal that included probation. Deputy District Attorney Dawn Buzzard said at the time she was concerned about whether Foxon, who had vio- lated probation from a pre- vious theft conviction, could stay out of trouble. “This is a scary incident and the defendant showed absolutely no remorse,” Buz- zard said. “I have no faith that he is going to be successful. I’m worried he is going to hurt someone or burn something down.” Backers drop initiative regulating gun storage By CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE Capital Bureau SALEM — Citing time constraints, supporters of an initiative petition to impose new storage requirements on gun owners say they won’t try to put the issue before voters this year after all. Supporters of Initiative Petition 44 are withdrawing the petition, they announced Wednesday. They plan to refile for the 2020 ballot and lobby the Legislature to pass the measure next year. Supporters of the petition said they didn’t have enough time to collect the 88,184 sig- natures required to get the measure on the ballot by the July 6 deadline. “We are not discouraged and look forward to working with legislators to pass this important measure in the 2019 session,” Henry Wessinger, one of the chief petitioners on the measure, said in a prepared statement. Another petition that would place restrictions on what types of firearms Oregonians can own — Initiative Petition 43 — faces the same deadline. Its ballot title is still caught up in the courts, so the petition can’t be circulated for signa- tures yet. Check-R-Board Day Event TRUCKLOAD SALE Saturday, June 30th Quality Nursery Stock, Fruit Trees Edibles, Annuals, Perennials Feed, Pet & Vet Supply, Fencing Monday - Saturday • 9am - 5:30pm 34963 Hwy. 101 Bus., Astoria 503-325-1562 brimsfarmngarden.com SUNSET EMPIRE TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT HEY! WHERE’S MY BUS? JUST USE YOUR PHONE! Get to The Point. Expert Service. 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