Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 12, 2018)
2A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 What’s a favorite fall activity? THE DAILY ASTORIAN // QUESTION OF THE WEEK Alexis Wallace, Astoria A commercial airline pilot says he encountered Richard Russell — the Horizon Air baggage handler who stole a passenger plane from Seat- tle-Tacoma International Air- port and took it for a wild 75-minute flight before crash- ing last month — at the helm of an unoccupied aircraft a year earlier, according to inter- views and emergency-dispatch audio recordings obtained by The Seattle Times. Joel Monteith, a pilot for SkyWest Airlines, told an emergency dispatcher in August that after he saw Rus- sell and a second man “point- ing and flipping switches” inside the empty SkyWest jet at the airport last year, “I went over and confronted them, and I said, ‘Hey, what are you guys doing in here?’” The men told Monteith they were training to use the plane’s auxiliary-power unit so they’d know how to tow it as part of their jobs, he said, “but they kind of … started to get up and then leave the airplane when I confronted them. So, that was kind of suspicious.” Monteith’s conversation with the dispatcher about his previous encounters with Russell is among dozens of audio recordings of emer- gency-dispatch communi- cations recently obtained by The Times under a state Public Records Act request that provide more insight into the Horizon incident from the time it was unfold- ing and during its immediate aftermath. Monteith also reported to the dispatcher that he recalled Russell had been “inside my cockpit” of an Embraer 175 jet airliner on at least one other occasion, “asking ques- tions (and) wanting to do my flows, which is the preflight preparation I do for takeoff.” “I don’t think the thing with this guy is like a plot that this dude just came up with like overnight,” Monte- ith added. “I think that maybe this guy had been thinking about doing this for a long time and then maybe the Q400 that he took was just an airplane of opportunity.” During an interview Tues- day, Monteith, a 55-year- old Tacoma resident with 30 years of piloting experience, confirmed making the report, but he said no investigator has since followed up with him. “I’m actually kind of sur- prised about it,” Monteith said. “I haven’t heard back from Pierce County, and the FBI hasn’t contacted me, either.” An FBI spokeswoman declined to comment about the pilot’s report, citing in an email Tuesday an “ongo- ing investigation.” A spokes- woman for Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air did not respond to The Times’ request for comment. Monteith reported the OBITUARIES Donald Robert Sparks Astoria Sept. 10, 1954 — Sept. 10, 2018 encounters to an emergency dispatcher in Pierce County the day after Russell’s solo flight in the Air Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 that he’d com- mandeered from an airport cargo area, taxied onto a run- way and lifted off on the eve- ning of Aug. 10. Russell, a married 29-year-old Alaska transplant who lived in Sumner, pulled off several aerobatic stunts during the unauthorized flight before the plane crashed into the woods on sparsely popu- lated Ketron Island in South Puget Sound. During a rambling, recorded conversation with ground control, Russell described himself as a “man in crisis,” but also calmly chat- ted about such observations as Mount Rainier’s beauty and how to find an orca that for days had garnered national attention while carrying its dead calf in Puget Sound. The unauthorized flight shut down Sea-Tac Airport traffic, prompted two F-15 fighter jets in Portland to break the sound barrier while scrambling to the scene and drew dozens of awe-struck witnesses to call 911. It also left pilots and other aviation experts spec- ulating as to how Russell, a low-paid ground-services employee with no apparent pilot experience, knew how to fly the 76-seat passen- ger turboprop plane and pull off the jaw-dropping aerial maneuvers. Donald Robert Sparks was the son of Rob- mous joke-telling, and him riding his moped ert Royal and Corinne Sparks, and Joseph around town, enjoying life. All who knew Donny knew he had a heart Henry and Donna Mae Parnell. Donny was born and raised in Astoria, and attended Asto- bigger than himself. Donny is also survived by his ria High School with the Class of rock, his wife, Ruth Nan Sparks; 1973. children, Samuel Hutson, Sharie Before the end of high school, Blackburn and Alex Sparks and Donny enlisted in the Army. Donny his wife, Caitlin; brother, Gordon then married Ruth Nan Hutson on Sparks; sisters, Melody Knight and Dec. 23, 1989. They have raised her husband, Arthur, and Jill Harms their three children, Samuel Hut- and her husband, Dan; five grand- son, Sharie Blackburn and Alex children, Kylie, Vanessa, Teresa, Sparks in Astoria. Claire and Jade; numerous nieces Donny was a husband, father, and nephews; and his sweet dog, brother, uncle and grandfather. He loved playing Santa at Christmas- Donald Sparks Piper. Family was everything to time for all his kids, nieces, neph- Donny. Donny was preceded in death ews and any other family or friends who needed him. He’d even visited the jail in by his father, Robert Royal Sparks; second his Santa suit on his motorcycle. Donny loved father, Joseph Henry Parnell; mother, Donna helping other people. Donny was also known Mae Parnell; and brother, Rodney Allen for being the cool uncle, Tonka trucks, being Sparks. “I guess I’m done pissing people off.” — one of the luckiest guys ever, always coming Donny Sparks to functions last and leaving first. Please join us for a celebration of Donny’s Donny made an impression on everyone he met. He loved casinos, road trips, and bingo, life at the American Legion in Astoria, Ore- and two of his favorite pastimes are his infa- gon, on Saturday, Sept. 15, at 1 p.m. Laurine Ann Choate Olympia, Washington Sept. 28, 1954 — Sept. 5, 2018 ON THE RECORD Assault • At 9:43 p.m. Tuesday, Adam Lee Taylor, 22, of Warrenton, was arrested by Warrenton police on the 470 block of North Main Avenue and charged with fourth-degree assault, harass- ment and first-degree criminal trespass. Taylor allegedly hit a woman in the stomach during a domestic dispute. He had a no-contact order with the woman. FIVE-DAY FORECAST FOR ASTORIA TONIGHT THURSDAY FRIDAY 52 Partly cloudy with a passing shower ALMANAC Full Last Sep 24 Coos Bay 51/64 New Oct 2 Prineville 38/68 Lebanon 49/69 Sept. 10, 2018 JACOB, Robert H. “Jake,” 69, of Astoria, died in Astoria. Ocean View Funeral & Cremation Service of Astoria is in charge of the arrangements. La Grande 41/63 MEMORIAL Baker 39/65 Saturday, Sept. 15 VAUGHN, Betty Eleanor — Memorial at 2 p.m., Bethany Free Lutheran Church, 451 34th St. Ontario 45/72 Burns 32/64 Roseburg 47/72 Brookings 48/59 Oct 8 John Day 46/65 Bend 37/65 PUBLIC MEETINGS Medford 47/73 Klamath Falls 33/65 Lakeview 30/65 Ashland 46/71 Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2018 REGIONAL CITIES Tonight's Sky: Arcturus, a brilliant yellow-orange star, descends in the western sky this evening. Source: Jim Todd, OMSI TOMORROW'S TIDES Astoria / Port Docks Time 10:36 a.m. 11:16 p.m. Low 0.4 ft. -0.1 ft. City Baker City Bend Brookings Eugene Ilwaco Klamath Falls Medford Newberg Newport North Bend Hi 68 64 61 68 62 65 72 66 60 63 Today Lo 39 37 48 48 53 33 47 48 50 51 W pc pc pc sh sh pc pc sh sh sh Hi 65 65 60 69 62 65 73 68 60 64 Thu. Lo 32 35 46 49 53 30 45 49 49 50 W pc pc pc pc sh pc s pc pc pc City Olympia Pendleton Portland Roseburg Salem Seaside Spokane Springfi eld Vancouver Yakima Hi 65 71 66 70 67 64 66 68 65 71 Today Lo 48 48 53 47 49 53 46 49 51 42 W c pc sh sh sh sh pc sh c pc Hi 64 70 69 72 68 63 65 70 67 70 Thu. Lo 46 45 54 49 50 52 45 49 52 41 W sh pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc TOMORROW'S NATIONAL WEATHER NATIONAL CITIES Today Hi Lo 88 73 72 66 80 60 93 61 81 62 76 61 96 70 58 44 87 76 74 61 80 66 100 73 81 64 81 68 90 77 84 68 89 77 78 70 81 69 80 71 83 63 83 59 67 53 66 54 84 73 Pendleton 48/70 Salem 49/68 Newport 50/60 W t c s s s pc s sh r pc s s pc c t pc t t pc t pc s pc c t Hi 89 73 78 94 83 80 96 61 86 80 83 97 83 89 88 89 89 76 82 80 85 81 66 66 82 Thu. Lo 73 64 60 56 67 65 69 41 76 64 68 73 63 72 77 71 77 68 68 70 67 56 53 53 73 Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day. W pc c s s s pc s pc c pc pc s pc pc t pc t c pc c s s pc sh t Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow fl urries, sn-snow, i-ice. Laurine Ann Choate died on Sept. 5, 2018, ment released from the Mountaineers: “She when she lost her footing and fell while hik- was passionate about the natural world, joining ing on the Pacific Crest Trail near Snoqualmie the Naturalist Committee and leading trips in Pass. She was with her best friend of 45 years, partnerships with expert ornithologists to better Karen, doing what she loved most. understand the local bird population. Laurie was born Sept. 28, 1954, “She was also an active member of the naturalist program and a grad- to Leeland and Virginia Wiegardt of uate from Basic Navigation, Alpine Ocean Park, Washington. She grew Scrambling, Wilderness Skills, up with her three brothers, Fritz, Mountaineering Oriented First Aid, David and Bill, near their family oys- and Basic Nordic Skiing. She partic- ter farm in Oysterville. ipated in, or led, more than 50 trips Growing up, Laurie loved rid- ing her horses Denny and Buck, and with the Mountaineers in the last two spent hours in the barn taking care years alone. She was a close friend and respected leader.” of them, or riding them on the beach Laurie was a fierce lover of the just down the street. Laurie was a Laurine Choate outdoors, a loyal friend, a cham- runner, and held her high school pion of her nursing students, and an track records at Ilwaco High School, went on to run for the University of Washing- incredible mother. There will be a service held ton, and completed all 12 legs of the Hood to at First Lutheran Church in Astoria on Thurs- day, Sept. 13, at 1 p.m., and a celebration of life Coast Relay. She was a lifelong traveler, and loved fam- held at Mount Rainier National Park on Sun- ily trips to Hawaii and British Columbia, and day, Oct. 7. Laurie is proceeded in death by her mother, eventually lived in Australia for four years after college, and completed several multiday back- father and brother; Virginia, Leeland and Wil- packing trips in Europe. liam Wiegardt. She is survived by her children, Laurie was an active member and volunteer John and Kathryn Choates, and brothers, Fritz leader of the Olympia Mountaineers. In a state- and David Wiegardt. DEATH The Dalles 49/72 Portland 53/69 UNDER THE SKY City Atlanta Boston Chicago Denver Des Moines Detroit El Paso Fairbanks Honolulu Indianapolis Kansas City Las Vegas Los Angeles Memphis Miami Nashville New Orleans New York Oklahoma City Philadelphia St. Louis Salt Lake City San Francisco Seattle Washington, DC Mostly cloudy with rain possible Rain at times Tillamook 52/63 Eugene 48/69 Sunset tonight ........................... 7:33 p.m. Sunrise Thursday ........................ 6:51 a.m. Moonrise today ......................... 10:12 a.m. Moonset today ........................... 9:31 p.m. High 7.8 ft. 8.4 ft. A few a.m. showers, then rain and drizzle 65 47 Shown is tomorrow's weather. Temperatures are tonight's lows and tomorrow's highs. ASTORIA 52/64 SUN AND MOON Time 4:34 a.m. 4:42 p.m. SUNDAY 62 49 REGIONAL WEATHER Precipitation Tuesday ............................................ 0.18" Month to date ................................... 0.50" Normal month to date ....................... 0.66" Year to date .................................... 36.78" Normal year to date ........................ 38.76" Sep 16 64 51 Periods of sun with a couple of showers Astoria through Tuesday. Temperatures High/low ....................................... 66°/54° Normal high/low ........................... 69°/50° Record high ............................ 88° in 2009 Record low ............................. 37° in 1988 First SATURDAY 64 51 Marie Meiffren, Astoria Katy Paz, Astoria Suspect raised pilot’s suspicions a year before Sea-Tac plane heist By LEWIS KAMB Seattle Times “Football. Hiking. We go out to Ecola Park. I love the fall.” “Carving pumpkins. Baking cookies and pumpkin seeds. Eating. “I definitely love decorating for Halloween, and decorating pumpkins with my kids. It’s my favorite holiday.” WEDNESDAY Clatsop County Board of Commissioners, 6 p.m., Judge Guy Boyington Building, 857 Commercial St. Astoria School Board, 6:15 p.m., study session, 7:30 p.m., regular meeting, Capt. Robert Gray School third-floor board- room, 785 Alameda Ave. Wickiup Water District Board, 6:30 p.m., 92648 Svensen Market Road, Svensen. Warrenton-Hammond School Board, 7 p.m., Warren- ton High School library, 1700 S. Main Ave. THURSDAY Seaside Convention Center Commission, 5 p.m., Civic and Convention Center, 415 First Ave. Cannon Beach Academy, 5:30 p.m., 3781 S. Hemlock. Astoria Urban Core Town Hall, 6:30 p.m., Room 219, Columbia Hall, Clatsop Community College 14-17-23-27-31 Estimated jackpot: $23,000 Tuesday’s Mega Millions: 15-30-51-62-67, Mega Ball: 19 Estimated jackpot: $227 million WASHINGTON Tuesday’s Daily Game: 3-9-5 Tuesday’s Keno: 02-05-06-16- 17-21-25-27-28-32-40-41-43- 44-49-50-51-57-73-76 Tuesday’s Match 4: 06-08-20- 24 LOTTERIES OREGON Tuesday’s Pick 4: 1 p.m.: 8-1-8-5 4 p.m.: 0-6-7-4 7 p.m.: 5-1-6-3 10 p.m.: 7-7-8-2 Tuesday’s Lucky Lines: 1-6-12- The Daily Astorian Established July 1, 1873 (USPS 035-000) Published daily, except Saturday and Sunday, by EO Media Group, 949 Exchange St., PO Box 210, Astoria, OR 97103 Telephone 503- 325-3211, 800-781-3211 or Fax 503-325-6573. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Daily Astorian, PO Box 210, Astoria, OR 97103-0210 www.dailyastorian.com MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for republication of all the local news printed in this newspaper. SUBSCRIBER TO THE NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE MEMBER CERTIFIED AUDIT OF CIRCULATIONS, INC. SUBSCRIPTION RATES Effective July 1, 2015 HOME DELIVERY MAIL EZpay (per month) ................$11.25 EZpay (per month) ............... $16.60 13 weeks in advance ........... $36.79 13 weeks in advance ........... $51.98 26 weeks in advance ........... $70.82 26 weeks in advance ......... $102.63 52 weeks in advance ......... $135.05 52 weeks in advance ......... $199.90 Circulation phone number: 503-325-3211 Periodicals postage paid at Astoria, OR ADVERTISING OWNERSHIP All advertising copy and illustrations prepared by The Daily Astorian become the property of The Daily Astorian and may not be reproduced for any use without explicit prior approval. COPYRIGHT © Entire contents © Copyright, 2018 by The Daily Astorian. Printed on recycled paper