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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 12, 2018)
T he C olumbia P ress 1 50 ¢ C latsop C ounty ’ s I ndependent W eekly n eWspaper www.thecolumbiapress.com Vol. 2, Issue 41 October 12, 2018 Fight erupts at City Hall A candidate for mayor and a city commissioner nearly come to blows B y C indy y ingst City’s gets ‘great news’ about marina After years of delays, feds eliminate roadblocks so city can own Hammond Marina B y C indy y ingst The Columbia Press Warrenton has been waiting for years to take own- ership of Hammond Marina. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will transfer the marina to the city by quitclaim deed, which should go into effect in three to six months. “We received great news today,” City Manager Linda Engbretson told city commissioners Tuesday. She held up a public notice from the Corps stat- ing the transfer poses no significant impact to the federal government and there was nothing left to do to make the transfer a reality. Except a final com- mission vote approving a 25-year lease agreement, which was completed Tuesday night. “For so long we couldn’t get a lease because this (transfer) was happening and now that it is hap- Above: Point Adams Research Station could be the prototype for a marina theme. Below: A cormorant and two ducks rest on a dock at the Hammond Marina. See ‘Marina’ on Page 8 Pearl Harbor survivor to be memorialized at Rilea The Columbia Press Taking care of an ailing par- ent with dementia is difficult. Putting her father to rest was much harder, said Donna Barnett of Hammond. Spurgeon Keeth, Clatsop County’s last known Pearl Harbor attack survivor, died Dec. 28 at age 92. A military honor celebration was held at Camp Rilea a short time later, but his body was returned to other family members in Ya- kima, Wash. Barnett and her husband, Scott, served as Keeth’s care- takers during his final years. Keeth was just 16 when he joined the military and was sent to Pearl Harbor. Within months, his base was under attack by the Japanese and he saw many friends die. He later served in the Sol- omon Islands, in Guadalca- nal and Munda. He escaped death more than once and suffered through six bouts of malaria, according to old newspaper accounts. A dispute with other family members made it difficult to celebrate and memorialize his life locally, Barnett has said. A local military cemetery was hesitant to place a sim- ple marker without a body or cremated remains. Wil- lamette National Cemetery also was unable to help. Then Brian Dutton, owner See ‘Survivor’ on Page 5 The Columbia Press ment period. Newton was given a police escort to his vehicle. A grudge between mayoral W ashington ’ s C ase candidate John Washington During public com- and City Commission- ment, Washington er Rick Newton devel- told commissioners oped into a shouting that someone had match at the end of threatened a business Tuesday night’s com- owner displaying one mission meeting. of his campaign signs During public com- that he’d have no more ment, Washington business if the sign Newton accused Newton of weren’t removed. making a scene that He said Newton and included a loud rant Balensifer’s father and profanity at his attended his public meet-the-candidate meet-and-greet in an gathering last week- attempt to “destroy me end. in front of my support- At the end of Tues- ers.” day’s meeting, New- Newton mischarac- ton left the dais, went Washington terized his campaign to the podium on the and loudly proclaimed floor and accused Washing- in front of children “this is ton of making misleading nothing but erroneous lies statements in campaign lit- and bull----” after reading erature and trespassing on a resident’s property to place a Washington’s campaign liter- ature. campaign sign. Newton’s theatrics at the Newton brought the sign to end of the commission meet- the meeting and handed it to ing were “an attempt to sabo- police Sgt. Jim Pierce to dis- tage my campaign, without a pose of as he saw fit. doubt,” Washington said the “Hey, you stole that sign,” following morning. “I’ve never Washington yelled from the back of the room. “Leave my experienced anything like this signs alone. I’m not going to in my life. … He slandered me. He said I trespassed, which I tell you that again.” Mayor Henry Balensifer, did not. I’m prepared to retain who is on the November bal- counsel if I need to.” Eric Williamson, owner of lot with Washington as his op- Xtreme Automotive in Ham- ponent, adjourned the meet- mond, was fishing in Alaska, ing after Newton’s comments but Williamson’s son, Bran- and did not allow Washington don, allowed Washington to a chance for rebuttal, saying place the sign on his property. he’d already been allowed to It was illegal for Newton to speak during the public com- See ‘Fight’ on Page 6