T he C olumbia P ress
1
50 ¢
C latsop C ounty ’ s I ndependent W eekly n eWspaper
503-861-3331
November 10, 2017
WBA to fund façade
improvements and
look at Harbor Drive
Vol. 1, Issue 45
It’s a win for Warrenton’s library
The Columbia Press
Warrenton Business Association ap-
proved a program Wednesday night that
will help businesses pay for improvements
they make to the outside of their buildings.
The city’s Urban Renewal Agency has a
similar program – façade grants -- but it ap-
plies only to businesses located within the
urban renewal boundary, which is primar-
ily along Main Avenue and parts of Harbor
Drive.
“I think a business anywhere in Warren-
ton ought to be able to use urban renewal
funds,” WBA board member Roxanne Mo-
rinville said.
Using WBA funds to cover those outside
the district is a good way to accomplish that.
The WBA is a committee appointed by
the Warrenton City Commission to develop
ways to improve the city’s business climate
and expend money collected through the
city’s business license tax.
See ‘WBA’ on Page 6
B y c indy y ingst
The Columbia Press
A library that has limped along for years
will join the modern world with passage of
the levy Warrenton voters approved Tues-
day.
“Obviously, we’re very excited,” said
Kelsey Balensifer, chairwoman of the city’s
Library Advisory Board. “Members of the
board and the Political Action Committee
put in a lot of hard work.”
They knocked on more than 1,000 doors,
launched a Facebook campaign and put up
a website explaining what would be done
with money raised through the levy.
“It will be a huge, huge improvement as
Above: Library Director Nettie-
far as levels of service,” she said. “Warren-
Lee Calog checks in books
Wednesday from Lawanna and
ton Community Library’s staff and volun-
Ed Chase while others wait in line teers already have done so much with so
to check out books and movies.
little.”
The vote, which has not yet been certi-
Left: Nayna Matayas, 8, talks
fied, was 656 votes in support of the levy
about his selections with Li-
and 527 votes opposed, or a win of 55.45
brary Aide Rebecca Graham on
percent.
Wednesday.
“I’m so relieved,” said Nettie-Lee Calog,
Photos by Cindy Yingst
See ‘Library’ on Page 4
Counties join forces to entice residents to be ‘Hometown Tourists’
Pacific and Clatsop counties are
known throughout the region for
their tourist attractions, but many
residents haven’t visited the sites in
years.
Hometown Tourism Days is the
solution.
Dozens of local sites have joined
forces to share free or reduced admis-
sions or other special deals on Nov.
10 and Nov. 11 to encourage their
neighbors to see what they have to
offer.
Here’s a list of the special activi-
ties available for the seventh annual
Hometown Tourism Days.
P acific c ounty , W ash .
• Northwest Carriage Museum, 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, 314 Alder
St., Raymond. Fifty percent off ad-
mission and 10 percent discount in
the gift shop.
• Pacific County Historical Society
Museum, noon to 3 p.m. both days,
milepost 54 on U.S. Highway 101 in
South Bend. Free admission.
• Willapa National Wildlife Refuge,
daylight hours both days, milepost 24
on U.S. Highway 101 (no dogs beyond
the parking lots). Free admission,
free guided walks on the Art and Cut-
throat Climb trails.
• Cranberry Museum, 10 a.m. to 4
p.m. both days, 2907 Pioneer Road,
Long Beach. Free admission.
• World Kite Museum, 11 a.m. to 5
p.m. both days, 303 Sid Snyder Drive
W., Long Beach. General admission
discounted from $5 to $1.
• Long Beach Peninsula Visitor
Bureau, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days,
3914 Pacific Way, Seaview. Free can-
vas bag filled with information about
local sites to anyone mentioning
“Hometown Tourism.”
• Cape Disappointment State Park,
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Ilwaco.
Free park admission and $5 admis-
sion to Lewis and Clark Interpretive
Center.
• Columbia Pacific Heritage Muse-
um, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, 115
See ‘Tourism’ on Page 8
Elk munch on grass at Jewell Mead-
ows along Highway 202.