The Columbia Press 1 Clatsop County’s Independent Weekly www.thecolumbiapress.com Vol. 5, Issue 22 May 28, 2021 Business and community leaders honored The Columbia Press Businesses and individual leaders throughout Clatsop County received accolades from a group that bolsters small businesses. Innovation inspired by COVID brought the awards ceremony to each worksite this year. The worksite visits were filmed and can be viewed online at the Facebook page for CEDR, Clatsop Economic Development Resources. Winners from Warrenton included Spruce Up Warren- ton, TLC credit union, Hamp- ton Lumber, and Ray Graves, owner of fishing vessel Ken & Al Inc. There were 17 winners in all from throughout the county. “We take pride in being part of the community and what we can do for the communi- ty,” said Lois Perdue, plant manager for Hampton Lum- ber. “We believe that lumber is a sustainable resource and it’s better than the alterna- tives of imports or concrete and steel for the environment and climate change. We take pride in being able to provide living-wage jobs.” Hampton was given the large business Economic Impact Award. Slurpalicious, an on- line restaurant delivery ser- vice, was given the small busi- ness Economic Impact Award. Two nonbusinesses were given the Business Com- munity Supporter Award: The Columbia Press out looking, he said at the time. They could be struck by a vehicle entering the parking lot. “I’ve brought up my years of busi- ness experience” and it hasn’t mat- tered, Newton told fellow commis- sioners Tuesday night. “I’m excusing myself from this; I’m going to go home.” The Warrenton Urban Renewal A group of Warrenton residents want to turn a vacant downtown lot owned by the city into a community gathering place with a gazebo, picnic tables, corn-hole games. “I know people need a vision to un- derstand where we’re wanting to go, but obviously things can be changed up,” Jeanne Smith told city commis- sioners Tuesday night. Smith is co-owner of Main Street Market and a member of Spruce Up Warrenton. She has been the driving force behind the annual harvest fes- tivals and several other downtown events. She presented a drawing of what a park could look like in the vacant lot, which is directly behind City Hall and north of the building that houses Oha- na Media and Soar With Us day care. “We have this vision of putting a gazebo (there) … and having a com- munity gathering place, maybe for weddings and concerts there in the future,” Spruce Up Director Brenda Hoxsey said. “That’s our vision, to spruce up that area.” The group has received an offer for at least a partial donation of the gaze- bo, she said. City leaders have pondered what to do with the lot, considered prime real estate. Plans for a parking lot, an apartment complex and a park all have been bandied about. “I’m not opposed to this project in any way, other than it’s coming to us kind of out of the blue,” City Manag- er Linda Engbretson said. “I will say that, personally, I see their vision. I like what they’re doing. Basically, we’d See ‘Pod’ on Page 8 See ‘Park’ on Page 4 Cindy Yingst/The Columbia Press Brenda Hoxsey of Spruce Up Warrenton receives the Business Community Supporter Award from Kevin Leahy at Warrenton Marina. Her husband, Norm, and Commissioner Rick Newton look on. Left: CEDR board member Zach Schmitt presents the Economic Impact Award to Lois Perdue of Hampton Lumber. Right: Ray Graves, cen- ter left holding the plaque, stands with captains and crew members of F/V Ken & Al Inc., which received the Community Impact Award. Kevin Leahy/CEDR Food pod’s construction fund increased amid tensions The Columbia Press A new food pod next to City Hall took another step forward Tuesday. City commissioners, in their role as the city’s Urban Renewal Agency, voted 4-0 to increase funding for the food truck area and solidified the se- lected design. The decision came with a bit of dra- Group unveils plans for a new Warrenton park By Cindy Yingst See ‘Awards’ on Page 4 By Cindy Yingst 50 ¢ ma, however, when Commissioner Rick Newton chose to leave the meet- ing rather than discuss the issue, which was the last item of business for the night. In March, Newton was the sole dis- senter on the selected design, which has a small entrance into the food pod area. Experience has taught him that customers, especially children, will dart in and out of the area with-