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)
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