The Columbia Press
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Clatsop County’s Independent Weekly
www.thecolumbiapress.com
Premarq Center
break-ins similar to
Astoria burglaries
Vol. 5, Issue 34
August 20, 2021
Port puts its hopes in revived boatyard
By Cindy Yingst
The Columbia Press
The Columbia Press
Four businesses in and around the
Premarq Center and two businesses
at Warrenton Highlands shopping
center were burglarized early Tues-
day.
“We are reviewing evidence and any
surveillance video that may have been
captured,” Police Chief Matt Work-
man said. “We are not sure if this is
related to a series of similar business
burglaries in Astoria the morning
prior, but the method of entry is the
same.”
In all of the burglaries, thieves
gained entry by breaking a window or
a glass door.
On Monday, thieves focused on As-
toria, breaking into three restaurants:
Silver Salmon Grille, Wet Dog Café,
and Himani Indian Cuisine. Those
break-ins were reported about 6 a.m.
“We know the suspect entered the
Silver Salmon and Himani Indian
Cuisine and we do not believe they
gained entry into the Wet Dog Brew-
The revitalization and marketing of the Port of Astoria’s
boatyard could be the next step in the agency’s financial
health plan.
Port commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved
applying for a grant from Business Oregon for a boatyard
expansion feasibility study. They’re asking for $45,000 and
the port would provide a $15,000 match.
“We’re going to look at getting a bigger lift, some build-
ings, more infrastructure out on Pier 3 and to improve the
mooring basins to attract more fishing vessels,” said Matt
McGrath, the port’s deputy executive director.
The port is looking for ways to bring in more money.
From 2014 to 2019, a log exporting business used most of
Pier 3 and brought about $1.5 million to the port each year,
about 17 percent of the port’s revenue. But shifting interna-
tional trade patterns, a U.S. trade war with China, and op-
erational constraints made
Top: The commercial fishing logging commerce less fea-
sible at the Port of Astoria.
vessel Pacific Gem of Ab-
“The port has since strug-
erdeen, Wash., gets some
gled to replace this revenue
work done at the Port of
loss,” port officials wrote in
Astoria’s boatyard.
the grant application.
Left: The marine hoist in
“This is one of those deals
front of one of the port’s
where,
from a vision per-
buildings.
Photos courtesy Port of Astoria
See ‘Break-ins’ on Page 2
See ‘Boatyard’ on Page 6
West’s oldest golf course standing proud with Top 100 magazine listing
The Columbia Press
Gearhart Golf Links was one of two courses in Oregon
to make Golf Magazine’s top sites under $150 list.
Gearhart Golf Links has been
named by Golf Magazine as
one of the top 100 value cours-
es in the United State. Those
on the list can be played for
under $150.
“This is kind of a big one be-
cause, well, there’s lots of lists
out there and any are great to
be on,” said Jason Bangild,
general manager at Gearhart
Golf Links. “Lists from Golf Di-
gest and Golf Magazine, they’re
the best. This is definitely one
of the better ones.”
Bandon Crossings Golf Course
is the only other Oregon park in
the rankings. Bandon came in at
No. 61; Gerhart ranked No. 98.
Both courses have a distinctly
temperate marine climate, but
slightly less wind as they aren’t
directly on the ocean. The sandy
soil also allows for good winter
playing conditions, important
as most of the coast gets about
60 inches of rain each winter.
Rates are seasonal in Gear-
hart, ranging from $60 to $100.
Links golf is fairly rare in
that most of the action is on the
ground instead of in the air, Ban-
gild said. Parkland courses are
inland, greener and include lots
of trees. Desert courses are sim-
ilar.
“Links is the oldest and purest
– built on sand dunes on the link
between ocean and usable land,”
Bangild said. “You find them all
over Ireland, England and Scot-
land. ... It’s a firm, fast, rugged
landscape. Ruggedness and vast-
ness, when reigned in, are among
the most beautiful settings you
See ‘Golf’ on Page 4