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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 20, 2019)
A2 THE ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2019 Homeless man sentenced for assault IN BRIEF Columbia Memorial nurses plan to picket amid contract talks Nurses at Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria plan to picket on Tuesday afternoon amid contract talks with hospital administrators. The picket, outside the hospital between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., is meant to call attention to issues such as safe staffi ng levels, consistent scheduling and recruit- ment and retention of skilled nurses. The nurses are represented by the Oregon Nurses Association. — The Astorian Klipsan Clinic launches syringe exchange program KLIPSAN, Wash. — A new health service is being introduced to help one of the most vulnerable commu- nities on the Long Beach Peninsula. Health professionals are setting up a free syringe exchange program for intravenous drug users. The anonymous and confi dential service is avail- able at the Family Heath Center at North Beach, often known as the Klipsan Clinic. Although it is not a county funded program, clinic managers have the support of the Pacifi c County Health Department. Its goal is to try to reduce the number of residents addicted to heroin and methamphetamine while offer- ing a safe way to dispose of potentially contaminated needles that might otherwise be discarded on beaches or in other public places. — Chinook Observer By NICOLE BALES The Astorian A homeless man accused of hitting a man over the head with a hatchet pleaded no contest Monday to assault and tampering with a witness. Ryan Joseph Dawson, 34, was sentenced to more than four years in prison for assault in the second degree and fi ve years of proba- tion for tampering with a witness. Last August, Dawson approached Ernest Charles Bean Jr. in a home- murder and assault less camp behind in the second degree, Goodwill in War- but the attempted renton and pointed, murder charge was telling Bean to look dismissed as part of at something in the his plea agreement . other direction. “You’re a really When Bean Ryan Joseph dangerous man,” Dawson turned to look, Daw- Judge Paula Brown- son began to beat hill told Dawson him over the head with a during sentencing. “You’ve hatchet, causing signifi cant killed a man before and blood loss which almost you could have killed Mr. killed him, Deputy District Bean. It’s only a matter of Attorney Dawn Buzzard time until you kill someone said. else.” Dawson was originally Warrenton Detective charged with attempted Tyler Johnston was crucial in helping provide evidence for the case by listening to phone calls made by Daw- son, Buzzard said. Buzzard compared the case to what she described as an attack that Dawson committed in Illinois, where she said he killed a man after striking him on the head with a hammer several times. He had taken meth- amphetamine prior to both crimes , the prosecutor said. “I feel like he’s going to kill somebody and that really worries me,” Buzzard said. New lawsuit seeks protection zone for Northwest orcas SEATTLE — A new lawsuit fi led Monday seeks to establish a whale protection zone for endangered orcas in the Pacifi c Northwest. The Center for Biological Diversity and the Orca Relief Citizens’ Alliance sued NOAA Fisheries in U.S. District Court in Seattle, saying the agency has failed to act on a petition it fi led in 2016. The petition sought to bar vessels from a 10- to 12-square-mile area west of San Juan Island where the orcas, called southern resident killer whales, feed from April through September each year. Any vessels exempted from the ban would be required to abide by a “no wake” rule in the zone. — Associated Press DEATHS R.J. Marx/The Astorian Aug. 19, 2019 AYERS, Randall, 68, of Vancouver, Wash- ington, died in Seaside. Hughes-Ransom Mor- tuary is in charge of the arrangements. Aug. 17, 2019 SOLLMAN, Fran, 100, of Gearhart, died in Gearhart. Hughes-Ran- som Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements. Aug. 14, 2019 PADILLA, Lillian, 84, of Los Angeles, for- merly of Astoria, died Los Angeles. Burial will be at Greenwood Cem- etery. Hughes-Ransom Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements. ON THE RECORD DUII • Herbert George Bechtolt, 71, of Warren- ton, was arrested Aug. 13, on S.W. Alder Avenue in Warrenton for driving under the infl uence of intoxicants and cited for refusing a breath test. Disorderly conduct • Brian Quaschnick, 48, was arrested Wednes- day on S.E. Second Street and S.E. Main Avenue in Warrenton for disorderly conduct in the second degree. PUBLIC MEETINGS TUESDAY Port of Astoria Commis- sion, 4 p.m., Port offi ces, 10 Pier 1 Suite 209. Astoria Historic Land- marks Commission, 5:15 p.m., City Hall, 1095 Duane St. Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District Board of Directors, 5:15 p.m., Bob Chisholm Community Center, 1225 Avenue A, Seaside. Astoria School Board, 5:30 p.m., Capt. Robert Gray School third-fl oor board- room, 785 Alameda Ave. Seaside School District Board of Directors, 7 p.m., 1801 S. Franklin. Shoreline Sanitary Dis- trict Board, 7 p.m., Gear- hart Hertig Station, 33496 West Lake Lane, Warrenton. Seaside Planning Com- mission, 7 p.m., work session, City Hall, 989 Broadway. WEDNESDAY Seaside Tourism Advisory Committee, 3 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. Clatsop Community Col- lege Board, 5:30 p.m., spe- cial meeting, Columbia Hall Room 219, 1651 Lexington Ave., Astoria. THURSDAY Sunset Empire Trans- portation District Board, 9 a.m., Astoria Transit Center Conference Room, 900 Marine Drive. Established July 1, 1873 Circulation phone number: 503-325-3211 Periodicals postage paid at Astoria, OR (USPS 035-000) Published Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 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 Astorian, PO Box 210, Astoria, OR 97103-0210 DailyAstorian.com ADVERTISING OWNERSHIP All advertising copy and illustrations prepared by The Astorian become the property of The Astorian and may not be reproduced for any use without explicit prior approval. COPYRIGHT © Entire contents © Copyright, 2019 by The Astorian. MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MEMBER CERTIFIED AUDIT OF CIRCULATIONS, INC. Printed on recycled paper Subscription rates Eff ective May 1, 2019 MAIL (IN COUNTY) EZpay (per month) ...............................................................................................................$11.25 13 weeks in advance ...........................................................................................................$37.00 26 weeks in advance ...........................................................................................................$71.00 52 weeks in advance ........................................................................................................ $135.00 The High Point site in Gearhart is under review for a new fi rehouse. Gearhart delays fi rehouse vote to next year By R.J. MARX The Astorian GEARHART — A vote on a bond measure for a new Gearhart fi rehouse will not happen until next year. The city was not ready to place the bond by the Aug. 17 deadline to qualify for the ballot. But while the date of the election is unclear, offi cials continue to pursue negotia- tions to acquire a property at 1376 North Marion, con- sidered the best location to prepare for a large tsunami, which encompasses 95% of the possible fl ood scenarios. Since the early 2000s, fi refi ghters have asked the city to replace the existing fi rehouse on Pacifi c Way , a building constructed in 1958 and considered unsafe in an earthquake or tsunami. A 2006 bond measure for a new public safety building failed at the polls. ‘THIS IS A GOOD SITE. IT HAS ALL THE ATTRIBUTES WE NEED.’ Chad Sweet | city administrator In 2018, after consider- ing nine locations, the fi re station committee recom- mended three concepts and locations to help guide the decision-making process. In April, a city survey showed 82% of respondents support a new fi rehouse, and 52% preferred the High survey results. The cost for the High Point option is esti- mated at between $6 million and $9 million. Negotiations with the property owners and with the Pacifi c Palisades Home- owners Association, which owns an easement neces- sary for access, are ongoing, Mayor Matt Brown said. “No price has been pre- sented,” he said, “but talks are continuing.” Potential private donors are also being sought. “We will continue to reach out to folks who will potentially fund the fi re station,” Brown said. Geotechnical studies and soil reports at the site are completed , City Adminis- trator Chad Sweet added. “This is a good site. It has all the attributes we need, ” he said. The fi rehouse committee is seeking state and federal grants, Brown said. H ow- ever, many of the grants are contingent on primary fund- ing fi rst . “We’re kind of in a holding pattern with that,” he said. Wright named publisher of Bend Bulletin By KATHLEEN McLAUGHLIN Bend Bulletin Heidi Wright, chief oper- ating offi cer of EO Media Group, will also serve as publisher of the Bend Bulletin . EO Media Group has agreed to buy The Bulle- tin and Redmond Spokes- man out of bankruptcy, and the deal is set to close at the end of August. Wright will become publisher Sept. 1. “I think it’s critical that we are able to deliver on WKH &ROXPELD the promises we’ve pany. She worked as made to the employ- publisher in Butte, ees and to the com- Montana, for Lee munity,” Wright Enterprises and was said. “So the own- president of Klam- ers have asked me ath Publishing and to step into the lead- publisher of the Her- ership role to ensure Heidi Wright ald and News in that’s going to Klamath Falls from happen.” 2004 to 2014. Wright, 63, was chief “Heidi’s deep knowledge fi nancial offi cer of The Bul- of The Bulletin’s operations letin’s parent company, and her insights into the Western Communications, newspaper’s market equip from 2014 to 2017, when her to lead The Bulletin as she departed for Salem- EO Media Group takes own- based EO Media, a fami- ership of the newspaper,” ly-owned publishing com- said Steve Forrester, presi- dent and CEO of EO Media Group. “She will continue to be the chief operating offi cer of EO Media Group, and our corporate headquar- ters will remain in Salem.” “I feel like saying ‘Wel- 10K Run/Walk across the Astoria-Megler Bridge GreatColumbiaCrossing.com g PRESENTING SPONSOR Registration: $40 per person. T-shirt: $15-$17 each. Chip-timing for all participants. Bridge will be closed to vehicles from 8:30 to 11 a.m. come home!’” said Betsy McCool, chairwoman of the board of Western Commu- nications. “Heidi was won- derful to work with in the past and I feel that I can call her a friend.” EO Media Group announced Wednesday that it would not retain edi- tor Erik Lukens and would hire a new editor from out- side the company. The com- pany was the high bidder at a bankruptcy court auc- tion in July for The Bulle- tin and Redmond Spokes- man, offering $3.65 million for Central Oregon’s centu- ry-old daily newspaper and a sister weekly. EO Media Group also owns The Astorian, the Sea- side Signal and the Chinook Observer. Happy 37th Courtney Ann Sunday, October 13, 2019 Out of County Rates available at 800-781-3214 DIGITAL EZpay (per month) .................................................................................................................$8.00 Point location, over the cur- rent fi rehouse location and a Gearhart Park site. The park was withdrawn from con- sideration in May due to the EVENT HOST August 21, 1982 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14 NLT LOVE always, forever and ever and ever. Dadio
