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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (June 12, 2020)
Graduation: Class of 2020 had plenty of achievers Continued from Page 1 ment in wake of the past few months,” class Saluta- torian Thomas Atwood told his fellow graduates during a pre-recorded speech. “I’m grateful for this little victo- ry. Every single one of us has defeated the big bad monster we thought was high school and, it turns out, he has a big brother and we’re supposed to go fight through him next.” The graduates and their families lined up in their cars at Hammond Mari- na then made their way through the downtowns of Hammond and Warrenton before winding through the bus barn and parking lot en June 12, 2020 T he C olumbia P ress 4 route to the football stadi- um. Once at Mattila Field, they got out one-by-one, picked up a sanitized diplo- ma and had their picture taken on the stage. “What a wild ride it has been for us,” Valedictorian Graduate J.J. Salcedo rolls down Main Avenue headed to drive-through graduation ceremonies at Warrenton High School. Cindy Yingst The Columbia Press Isabella Morrill said in her speech. “Life is all about choices. As Warriors, we know what that means. Ev- ery choice makes you.” Life also is about persever- ance and about living, she said. “It’s about being ‘All In.’ … We’ve learned how quickly time we thought we had can be taken from us.” Valedictorian Kaisa Lilj- enwall recognized ways the Class of 2020 set records in unusual ways. “In the last four years, es- pecially, we’ve had so many incredible accomplish- ments,” she said. “We’ve had students receive inter- national and statewide rec- ognition for being outstand- ing in debating, the arts, athletics, academics and service. The class had 37 students who participated in state- wide competitions, seven state-placing teams, four first-team all-state athletes, two state champions, 12 philanthropists, and 10 Na- tional Honor Society mem- bers. “What the heck is in store for us tomorrow,” she won- dered. “Always appreciate your small accomplish- ments … because you can- not accomplish great things in one fell swoop.” Each student received a recording of the ceremony produced by Justin Grafton Studios. It included class memories, childhood pho- tos and a memorial to Trev- or Secord, a class member who died after being struck by a vehicle in 2017. Smoking: May be banned in parks Continued from Page 1 chair. Board member Bert Little said he’d favor the action only if a designated smoking area is established in all parks. The City Commission was mixed as well. “I think we take things too far,” Commissioner Mark Baldwin said. “I’m more of- fended by heavy perfumes. … I’m not for this whatsoev- er. Compassion and common sense should come into play. It’s about co-existing togeth- er.” But commissioners Tom Dyer, Pam Ackley and Rick Newton asked to have the idea brought up again, along with a potential ordinance. “I just worry about fire haz- ards,” Newton said. “At the dog park, for instance, the bark (mulch) is pretty flam- mable.” Dyer didn’t want to dissuade smokers from attending their children’s ball games and ad- vocated developing a smok- ing area in each park. Ackley concurred, although she acknowledged many smokers don’t adhere to the state’s rules about remaining 10 feet from store entrances and public restrooms.