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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 27, 2019)
December 27, 2019 T he C olumbia P ress 7 Russia: Columbia Press evolved from Finnish Lutherans Continued from Page 1 change the name to the lumbia Press began its Columbia Press and print life as the Finnish lan- in English. guage newspaper Lännen In 1962, the Colum- Suometar, loosely trans- bia Press was purchased lated as “The Western by Hal and Edla Allen, a Finn.” But most people ar- talented cartoonist and en’t aware of the fascinat- political satirist. During ing connections our War- World War II, he ran a renton newspaper has. military post newspaper Born of a desire to keep and, after the war, worked the area’s abundant Finn- for the Walt Disney Com- ish immigrants connected pany in California. to the church, it remained The March 19, 1940, issue of Lännen In 1978, the Allens de- a vital social connection Suometar is filled with war news. cided Warrenton needed for Finns after religious its own newspaper and ties were cut. moved their operation But its birth on April 21, into an old wooden build- 1922, was ill fated. Down- ing at 45 N.E. Harbor town Astoria’s great fire Court adjacent to War- of Dec. 8, 1922, would re- renton Marina. The ram- design the city and wipe shackle structure is still out the Finnish Lutheran there, owned by Born- Church’s new publish- stein Seafoods and used ing venture. The Michi- for storage. gan-based synod (church Gary Nevan, a public governing body) lost relations director from $15,000 through its mis- Courtesy Liisa Penner Bellingham, Wash., pur- sion to reach the West, Oke Zatterlow, far left, with Henry Elfving, chased the Columbia according to Armas Hol- center, relax at the Koffee Kup on 14th Street, Press in 1988 and became mio’s “History of the Finns which was owned by Liisa Penner’s mother. the youngest newspaper in Michigan.” publisher in Oregon. Yet Lännen Suometar “Even back in the late rose from the ashes. 1980s, that old building Coverage of the Finn- was a mess,” Nevan wrote ish-Russian Winter War of recently in an email. 1939-40 in which as many “There were giant wharf as 85,000 from the home- rats everywhere and they land were killed and, even- somehow found their tually, World War II, was way into the building on vital to Astoria-area Finns, a regular basis. We had a and Lännen Suometar was The old press with the Aug. 7, 1988, shop cat who took care of up to the task. edition still mounted, can be viewed them.” Editor Onni Syrjäniemi, during the Astoria Underground Tours. Nevan purchased a a name he later shortened to Niemi, kept Astoria’s Finns Dark), Carolyn Jones (Morti- building a few blocks away and their interests in center cia Addams) and Yvonne De at 926 E. Harbor Drive and moved operations there in focus. Carlo (Lily Munster). Niemi’s daughter was Mai- When Niemi retired, the 1990. When Nevan retired at la Nurmi, a 1940 Astoria editor’s reigns were turned the end of 2016, the Colum- High School graduate bet- over to Niemi’s right-hand bia Press was sold to Clat- ter known as “Vampira,” the man, Oke Zatterlow. sop County Media Services, campy 1950s TV and film By 1946, the synod sold a company owned by Cindy star. The Vampira Show, Lännen Suometar and its Yingst and her husband, D.B. which featured late-night commercial print shop at 575 Lewis. horror movies and the Vam- Bond St. to Zatterlow. He We are proud of the news- pira persona were copied briefly renamed it Lännen paper’s quirky yet important later by Cassandra Peter- Uutiset, or “Western News,” history. son (Elvira, Mistress of the before deciding in 1951 to Monica Steele, center, with county commissioners Kathleen Sullivan, Sarah Nebeker and Lianne Thompson, and County Manager Don Bohn. Interim county manager honored Assistant County Manager Monica Steele was honored by the Board of Commission- ers recently for the difficult job she had juggling two roles recently. Steele simultaneously filled the role of interim county manager while also working as the county’s budget and fi- nance director. New County Manager Don Bohn was hired in Septem- ber and replaces Cameron Moore, who retired last Jan- uary. Submissions sought for magazine Rain Magazine, Clat- sop Community College’s long-running literary arts publication, welcomes sub- missions for its 2020 edition through Feb. 1. Submissions from the pub- lic, as well as CCC students and area high school stu- dents, are welcome. The magazine’s theme sec- tion this year is “Broke,” which could include pover- ty, divorce, political division, jail breaks, horse breaking, breaking free, breaking bad — however the writer or art- ist interprets the concept. All general submissions of art, fiction, poetry and non- fiction also will be consid- ered. For more information, in- cluding art and writing spe- cifics, contact instructor Ryan Hume at rhume@clat- sopcc.edu. Rain Magazine is a pro- duction of the Writing 270: Literary Publications class, which includes instruction in editing and Adobe InDesign, the industry standard for book design. Senior lunch menu Monday, Dec. 30: Ham, potatoes au gratin, carrots, navy bean soup, dessert. Thursday, Jan. 2: Pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, mixed vegetables, tomato soup, chocolate cake. The Warrenton senior lunch program is at noon (doors open at 10:30 a.m.) Mondays and Thursdays at Warrenton Community Center, 170 SW Third St. Suggested donation is $6 for ages 55 and older; $7 for those younger. For more information, call 503-861-3502.