The Columbia Press
1
Clatsop County’s Independent Weekly
www.thecolumbiapress.com
October 23, 2020
Vol. 4, Issue 43
The little museum that could
Warrenton Heritage
Museum a reinvention
of two prior archives
The Columbia Press
‘Haunted’ mansion
The annual holiday light show at the
historic D.K. Warren House has been
up and running since Oct. 3.
The decorations and lights are cho-
reographed to music and comedy
routines through a local radio broad-
cast. Drivers can set their vehicle’s ra-
dio to 95.7 and enjoy the show.
Money collected in the secured do-
nation box at the front gate will be
donated to Spruce Up Warrenton,
a grassroots nonprofit group that
works to cleanup downtown.
The house is at 107 N.E. Skipanon
Drive and the show runs every eve-
ning from dusk to 10 p.m.
Carol Snell, left, and Diane Collier
stand at the entrance to the Warrenton
Heritage Museum.
Right: Collier shows off a fishing bas-
ket found offshore in the 1950s.
formed a nonprofit group, Warren-
ton Heritage Museum, and Gramson
offered the front portion of his San-
dridge Construction company head-
quarters to house the museum.
“Diane and I go clear back to first
Trunk or Treat
See ‘Museum’ on Page 6
City’s grace period on missed utility payments ending soon
The Columbia Press
Those relying on the city’s goodwill
may find the days of grace coming to
an end.
Early in the pandemic, Warrenton
city leaders chose to waive penalties
for late utility payments and to cancel
all shut offs for nonpayment as many
people were hurting financially.
But some renters have taken advan-
Need ideas for
things to do this
Halloween?
The Columbia Press
Fall is finally afoot and spookiness
looms large.
Homes are tricked out in Hallow-
een fashion, pubs plan adult costume
parties, and coffeehouses are offering
pumpkin-spice lattes.
Following are some of the best ways
to celebrate fall and Halloween, with
or without children.
By Cindy Yingst
Diane Collier has lived in Warren-
ton her entire life. But her history
museum has moved around a bit.
Collier, 80, is descended from the
Clatsops, the native people living
here when the Lewis and Clark Ex-
pedition arrived in December 1805.
Her love of history grew from her
desire to learn more about her past.
Plus, “I’m a photoholic,” she said.
As her collection of photos, news-
paper clippings and local memora-
bilia grew, Collier was offered space
for a small museum in the Fisher-
men’s Memorial Park lighthouse at
the four-way stop.
After a few years, she was given
the opportunity to move it to the
Oregon Welcome Center in Youngs
Bay Plaza.
Fifteen years later, Collier was
ready to call it quits. But what to do
about all that stuff?
Gil Gramson -- former mayor,
former city manager, and Collier’s
former classmate – made her an of-
fer she couldn’t refuse.
Together and with others they
50 ¢
tage, City Manager Linda Engbretson
told the City Commission during a
workshop earlier this month.
“There’s nothing to keep that renter
from moving out and leaving that bill
with the landlord,” she said. “It al-
ways stays with the property and it’s
always been a lien” on the property if
the renter doesn’t pay.
There are 81 accounts in arrears.
Several large businesses – and some
that appear to be doing well – have
taken advantage of the city as well.
A hotel with a history of failing to
pay the city for the transient room
taxes it charges tourists now is failing
to pay its water bill.
A furniture store that closed in the
Premarq Center left a large outstand-
See ‘Utilities’ on Page 2
Warrenton’s second annual Trunk
or Treat will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sat-
urday, Oct. 31, at Robinson Commu-
nity Park on Southwest Alder Ave-
nue, behind City Hall.
The event is sponsored by Spruce
Up Warrenton.
Businesses in the city are decorat-
ing their vehicles and will line up (in
a socially distanced way) in the park-
ing areas of the park. Children will be
instructed how to circle the park (also
in a socially distanced way) collecting
treats from vehicle trunks.
Doggie Dress-Up
Warrenton Community Library,
160 S. Main Ave., will have a Hallow-
See ‘Halloween’ on Page 7