The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current, February 18, 2021, Image 21

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The daily Astorian., February 18, 2021, Page 21, Image 21

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Newspaper Page TextA2 THE ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021 Black sands beckon gold prospectors IN BRIEF Seaside man arrested for manslaughter after fatal crash A Seaside man was arrested Monday for man- slaughter following a crash that left a baby dead. Emergency crews responded to a single-vehicle crash at about 6 p.m. on Ecola State Park Road. Police say a Mazda driven by Rony Tomas-Gar- cia, 23, of Seaside, was heading southbound when it veered off the road, struck a tree and came to rest on its top. A 3 1/2-month-old baby girl died in the crash. A passenger, Esperanza Martin-Ramirez, 20, of Rose- burg, was taken to Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria before being transferred to Oregon Health & Science University Hospital in Portland. Tomas-Garcia was taken to Columbia Memorial for medical treatment and was released. He was arrested for manslaughter, assault, reckless driving and driving under the inﬂ uence of intoxicants. Astoria approves forest thinning The Astoria City Council on Tuesday approved thinning two overly dense swaths of the Bear Creek watershed. The 3,700-acre watershed provides the city’s drink- ing water. In 2015, the city agreed to limit logging in exchange for banking carbon sequestration credits sold to industrial polluters to offset their environmen- tal impact. The City Council approved taking bids on a 43-acre thinning in the northwest corner of the watershed this summer that would mimic historic forests and could earn the city $250,000. Known as a variable retention harvest, the thin- ning would leave 30% to 50% of existing trees, mim- icking the spacing of old growth forests. Benjamin Hayes, the city forester, said the project would also increase the species diversity of a stand dominated by hemlocks. “When we replant, for instance, we’re putting in cedar, but we’re also retaining all of the spruce and cedar — some alder – and increasing the species diversity across the whole northwest portion of the watershed,” Hayes said. The city did not have a harvest in 2020, when it sold $837,500 worth of carbon sequestration credits. With the city unable to make proﬁ table timber sales some years, city staff are looking at how to supple- ment capital improvement funds with carbon seques- tration credits. The City Council also approved taking bids on a 70-acre thinning of new forest just west of the main Bear Creek Reservoir planted after a windstorm in 2007. The 14-year-old forest has grown to around 1,000 trees per acre, too dense for healthy growth and too small to have any commercial value. The thin- ning project would reduce the density to around 300 trees per acre and cost the city between $20,000 and $30,000. Hayes has pointed to such thinning projects as a primary method of forest stewardship in the Bear Creek watershed, along with road maintenance to improve water quality. — The Astorian DEATHS Feb. 15, 2021 In FLOYD, Brief David Merle, 73, of Astoria, died in Astoria. Caldwell’s Deaths Luce-Layton Mortuary of Astoria is in charge of the arrangements. Feb. 14, 2021 ARTHUR, Carol Diane, 77, of Warrenton, died in Warrenton. Cald- well’s Luce-Layton Mor- tuary of Astoria is in charge of the arrangements. Feb. 11, 2021 HASKELL, Richard, 92, of Astoria, died in Nehalem. Hughes-Ran- som Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements. THURBER, Mary, 88, of Nehalem, died in Port- land. Hughes-Ransom Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements. Feb. 8, 2021 PINON, Ignacio Talancon, 49, of Ham- mond, died in Portland. Hughes-Ransom Mor- tuary is in charge of the arrangements. Feb. 6, 2021 BLAKE, Marion, 102, of Seaside, died in Sea- side. Hughes-Ransom Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements. print_headline Incorrect reference — The federal Passenger Ves- Correction: Feb. 18, ships sel Services Act requires foreign-ﬂ agged cruise visiting multiple domestic ports to stop in another country during each cruise. An A1 story on Tuesday 2021 incorrectly referred to the federal Jones Act, which makes a similar requirement for cargo ships. PUBLIC MEETINGS THURSDAY Astoria City Council and Astoria Planning Commission, 5:30 p.m., joint work session, City Hall, 1095 Duane St. Seaside Transportation Advisory Committee, 6 p.m., (electronic meeting). Cannon Beach Design Review Board, 6 p.m., (electronic meeting). PUBLIC MEETINGS (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 By LUKE WHITTAKER Chinook Observer ILWACO, Wash. — They stalk the beach in search of black sand after the storms hit. The winter is some- times best, when strong winds and powerful tides strip deep swaths from Ben- son Beach, easing access to the dark, gold-laden sands underneath. The payoff often isn’t a lot. A successful day might yield up to a couple of grams of gold — about $60 at cur- rent prices. But for the ama- teur gold prospectors, the experience is what’s truly treasured. On a brisk, overcast Feb- ruary morning, Portland resident Matt Tomlinson methodically ladled scoop after scoop of black sand from a 5 -gallon bucket over the top of his portable pros- pecting equipment perched on Benson Beach in the southwest corner of Cape Disappointment State Park. Within minutes, glisten- ing gold specks began to gather in the rifﬂ es of his small sluice, a device that traps heavy gold specks while water washes away lighter material. “You could say I have a fascination with it,” Tom- linson said. “Humans have always had a fascination with gold.” The gold on Ben- son Beach isn’t big nug- gets like those famously recovered from rivers and streams in California in the 1800s during the g old r ush. Instead, it’s very ﬁ ne — often smaller than 75 microns, about 0.075 milli- meters — roughly the size of a typical tiny grain of local sand. “It’s very small pieces of gold,” Tomlinson said. “It looks like powder, like ﬂ our.” Tomlinson ﬁ rst became interested in prospecting after observing others min- ing on Benson Beach. He purchased his own pros- pecting equipment about six months ago and has since returned to the area a couple of times . “I’ve been waiting for a break in the weather. My vacation time was building up, so I thought why not take a day off and go ﬁ nd some gold,” he said. New outlet Gold prospecting doesn’t require a huge investment Luke Whittaker/Chinook Observer Matt Tomlinson prospects for gold on Benson Beach. and can provide a new out- let for experiencing the outdoors. “You’ll see people with homemade equipment. But this particular device is called the ‘Gold Cube.’ It’s like a $300 kit,” Tom- linson said. “When you’re done, you’re probably about $500 in, but you can do it for cheaper if you’re handy.” Any gold found on a given day is considered a bonus; the true pleasure simply comes from being outside . “I noticed people doing it and got intrigued. You get out and enjoy the weather,” Tomlinson said. “It’s a great pandemic hobby. If you can get a couple of grams of gold a day, that’s a great day.” Each miner is required to carry a pamphlet about the rules and regulations for mineral prospecting and placer mining from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The pam- phlet also serves as a per- mit. Placer mining consists of separating gold from sand and sediment, usually by means of water. Benson Beach is open to amateur mining year- round, but commercial equipment isn’t permitted, Tomlinson said. The rules allow the resource to be made accessi- ble without severely impact- ing the environment. “There’s rules about things you can and can’t do. For instance, you have to ﬁ ll your holes in and you can’t use motorized or gas-pow- ered equipment. I have a car battery hooked up to a bilge pump. There’s a limit on how much sand you can take away from the beach. It’s one ( 5 -gallon) bucket at a time.” Tomlinson suggested anyone interested in beach mining do some research online or simply approach a miner . “There’s a community for everything out there,” he said. “Just come out here and talk to other people. They’re friendly and want to share information.” Mike Brannan, of Camas, walked Benson Beach scouting potential dig spots while stopping to speak with fellow prospectors he met along the way. “By March or April, this sand will be gone,” Brannan said, pointing to stretches of light-colored sand. “Some- times you come down here and the whole beach will be black, because the storms come in and pull the top layer away. In the summer- time, it’s just the opposite.” Brannan was searching for the darkest sand possi- ble, a sign there may be gold mixed iron oxides and other minerals. These simple signs in the sand can steer pros- pectors to more productive mining areas, saving time and effort . “In the summertime you have to dig down 2 or 3 feet, other places not so much. That’s what I’m doing today, testing to ﬁ nd out. You want to dig down until you hit pockets of the super dark or black sand. That’s where the gold will be at,” he said. The amount of mining on Benson Beach often ebbs and ﬂ ows with the tides. “ In the summertime the weather is nicer but you dig deeper. From now through summer is the prime sea- son,” Brannan said. A special gift Bill Taylor was at ﬁ rst perplexed at what he wit- nessed at Benson Beach a few years ago. “Five years ago I came down here to camp and watched it,” he said. “I Circulation phone number: 800-781-3214 Periodicals postage paid at Astoria, OR 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, 2021 by The Astorian. MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MEMBER CERTIFIED AUDIT OF CIRCULATIONS, INC. Printed on recycled paper Subscription rates Eﬀ ective January 12, 2021 MAIL EZpay (per month) ...............................................................................................................$10.75 13 weeks in advance ...........................................................................................................$37.00 26 weeks in advance ...........................................................................................................$71.00 52 weeks in advance ........................................................................................................ $135.00 DIGITAL EZpay (per month) .................................................................................................................$8.25 thought what? Really?” A retired nuclear engi- neer, Taylor had an interest in gold mining. “Hydraulics and ﬂ uids is what I used to do,” he said. One of the ﬁ rst prospec- tors Taylor met amassed a siz able amount of gold and left a lasting impression. “The guy that got me into it collected more than 2½ pounds over the years. He had a back injury ﬁ ve years ago and he sold 1½ pounds for $85,000. He did exactly like we’re doing, just com- ing down here and playing,” he said. Today, Taylor makes routine visits to Benson Beach during the winter and spring, including the latest trip that’s lasted more than 20 days while staying at the park with his wife. “We come down here to play. This is just a beautiful park. I just love it here,” he said. For the past few weeks, Taylor had been “ chum- ming” and prospecting alongside another miner who he happened to meet on the beach. Together, the retirees have been spend- ing their mornings and after- noons sifting through the sands in search of glittering gold. “On a good day, a 5 -gal- lon bucket will produce a gram of gold,” Taylor said. “A half or quarter gram is probably the average.” On his best day, Taylor once found 8 grams, which he added to the collection he’s saving for a special gift. “I don’t sell my gold, I just keep it. Last year I got around 0.75 of an ounce. It’s not a lot but it’s a little bit. This year so far I’ve gotten about 8 or 9 grams. When I get my ﬁ rst ounce, I’m going to make a nugget for my wife.” Former Gearhart camp sold as family compound A property with a storied history By R.J. MARX The Astorian CORRECTION Established July 1, 1873 Treasure hunts at Benson Beach GEARHART — When Young Life Camp moved out in 2018, residents won- dered what was next for the nearly century-old building . Last week , Aaron Jones and a close friend purchased the property to use as a sum- mer retreat for family and friends. “I have been tracking the property and in discus- sions with the owners since before it hit the market in 2018,” Jones said . “I have great memories of the place from my days attending the camp as a ﬁ fth and sixth grader.” The Nita Avenue prop- erty was listed at $1.4 mil- lion. The purchase price was just over $1 mil- lion, according to Clatsop County records. The buyer in the transaction is listed as Breakaway Lodge LLC. The 6,800-square-foot building features two ﬂ oors and 11 bedrooms, com- mercial kitchen and dining hall. The open interior ﬂ oor plan, designed in a coastal style, comes with original hardwood ﬂ ooring, hard- wood paneling on walls and ceilings and two work- ing gas ﬁ replaces with stone facades. In promotional materials, Cascade Sotheby’s The former Young Life Camp in Gearhart. Cascade Sotheby’s Inter- national Realty, which bro- kered the sale, described the exterior as reminiscent of a typical Nantucket sea- side cottage, with weathered cedar siding, a cedar-shingle roof, sports courts and decks on just under an acre. The building remains limited to residential use, which eliminated poten- tial commercial or vacation rental use . The property has a sto- ried history in Gearhart. The Arts and Crafts style building was built as a retreat by the Sisters of Holy Names of Jesus and Mary in the 1920s. Each summer, the sisters traveled by train from Portland to Gearhart to stay at the retreat . The convent closed down each winter. Many of the Holy Names sisters were teachers and would come for 10-day retreats in the summer, for- mer lodge manager Jeff Johnson recalled in 2018. Arriving by train near the Dairy Queen, they walked the dirt road to the cottage. In 1959, the cottage and chapel were sold to the Epis- copal diocese, which used it as a youth camp in conjunc- tion with their other camp east of the lodge, between Second and Third streets. They renamed the lodge Scott Hall. In 1969, the diocese sold the lodge property to Young Life, a nondenominational ministry group , and joined their collection of summer camps. More than 1,000 campers attended each summer. Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Young Life operates camps in ﬁ ve countries. The largest of these is the 64,000-acre, 160-square-mile Washing- ton Family Ranch in Ante- lope in Wasco County. The Gearhart camp was Young Life’s smallest. Citing the building’s small size, condition and zoning restrictions, Gear- hart’s camp closed after the 2018 summer session. The property went on the market later that year. Sally Conrad and Nicki Whittle, of Cascade Sothe- by’s International Realty, represented Young Life in the sale. Whittle was also the broker representing the buyer. “We had many, many interested buyers over the course of the listing, many with great ideas, only to be shot down over usage restrictions,” Whittle said . More than two years later, a buyer stepped forward. “I know many in the community are curious what the future holds for a prop- erty with such rich history and ever more restrictive local zoning codes,” Jones said. “Other than signiﬁ cant exterior and interior repairs to address deferred main- tenance, we have no other plans than to use (the prop- erty) as a private residence. “The timeline is ASAP, but it’s quite a bit of work,” he added.