December 28, 2018
T he C olumbia P ress
Pacific
Seafood
President
Frank Dulcich
speaks to the
crowd at the
company’s
grand reopen-
ing in August.
Peggy Yingst
The Columbia
Press
tenced to 10 days in jail after
he pleads no contest to pro-
viding alcohol to Warrenton
High School student Trevor
Secord, who ran into traf-
fic on Highway 101 and was
killed in 2017.
J uly
A man and woman from
Colorado break into a car in
Chinook and go on a shopping
spree throughout Warrenton
with the victim’s credit cards.
They are caught, in part, by
state-of-the-art security cam-
eras at the new Walmart.
Warrenton High School
celebrated its 100th birthday
with an all-class reunion.
A skimming device is found
on a drive-through automat-
ed teller machine at Wauna
Federal Credit Union’s War-
renton branch.
a ugust
Raymond Heath, who “bor-
rowed” a motorized cart from
Walmart, is charged with
auto theft when he is found
with the scooter a half-mile
away.
A drunken driver crashes
into the back of El Compadre
Restaurant on Main Avenue.
Pacific Seafood celebrates
its grand reopening, five years
after a fire destroyed its War-
renton processing plant.
Warrenton High School
senior Catherine Tapales is
crowned Regatta queen.
Warrenton begins holding
a series of economic vitali-
ty roadmap sessions, getting
dozens of people interested
in making the town stronger
and prettier.
Mark Cox of Santa Barbara,
Calif., announces plans for
a 100,000-square-foot data
center in the North Coast
Business Park.
As many as 40 truckloads
of boulders a day arrive at
Warrenton Fiber’s docks and
make their way through town
to Ilwaco, for a project that’s
rebuilding North Jetty.
The Peter Iredale isn’t the
only wreck stuck in beach
sand after a man drives his
van and travel trailer into the
surf.
The city’s new veterans me-
morial statue is dedicated
in the small park next to the
post office.
s eptember
Oregon Department of
Transportation makes some
changes to the Highway 101
intersection with Ensign
Lane in hopes of improving
traffic flow.
Warrenton High School
math teacher Dan Hansen
and student Chris Quash-
nick-Holloway join Oregon
State University scientists on
a science cruise.
Sunset Empire Transporta-
tion District drivers and me-
chanics unionize.
o ctober
Warrenton Grade School
Principal Tom Rogozinski,
50, runs in his 13th or 14th
200-mile endurance race in
Moab, Utah.
The city holds its first disas-
ter preparedness event with
its new Community Emer-
gency Response Team.
Fibre Federal Credit Union
files plans for a 3,250-square-
foot TLC branch in the North
Coast Business Park.
A grudge between mayoral
candidate John Washington
and Commissioner Rick New-
ton boils over at a City Com-
mission meeting.
The Army Corps of Engi-
neers will transfer Hammond
Marina to the city by quit-
claim deed within the next
six months, the corps tells the
city.
Arnie’s Café announces
plans to move from its loca-
tion near the high school to
the former Warrenton Auto
Parts building near City Hall.
Pacific Seafoods reveals
5
plans for Alaska-style bunk-
houses for seasonal workers,
which upsets some of the
neighbors.
The WHS volleyball team is
named No. 1 in the league go-
ing into the playoffs.
n oVember
Henry Balensifer defeats
opponent John Washing-
ton by a 3-to-1 margin in the
Warrenton mayor’s election.
Both school and jail bonds
are approved by voters.
Fire destroys a commercial
fishing building at Warrenton
Marina.
The Warrenton football
team, in post-season play for
the first time since 2012, loses
in the first round.
Warrenton Warming Cen-
ter finds itself homeless this
winter and changes its plans
to focus on meals, clothes and
other assistance.
D ecember
Warrenton schools Super-
intendent Mark Jeffery an-
nounces his retirement effec-
tive the end of the school year.
Police Officer Alfonzo Fon-
tana retires after 26 years
with the city.
A hazmat team is called to
Warrenton Grade School af-
ter a student brings a hazard-
ous substance to school made
from household cleaning
products.
Tractor Supply Co., a farm
and garden store, is approved
by city planners off Highway
101 near Les Schwab Tire
Center.
Warrenton High School
hosts the county’s first all-
girls wrestling tournament.
SEND IN G YO U WARM WISHES
Happy Holiday s
Warm Wishes
From our family to yours, wishing you
a double dose of health and
happiness topped with good for tune.
May the joys of the Holiday Season be with
you now and throughout the New Year.
A van and trailer get stuck in the Sunset Beach surf in August.
2111 Exchange Street, Astoria, Oregon 97103
503.325.4321 | columbiamemorial.org