The
Columbia
Press
Celebrating
our
100th year
• 1922-2022
1
50 ¢
September 16, 2022
503-861-3331
Vol. 6, Issue 37
Intoxicating business model breathes life into county
By Cindy Yingst
The Columbia Press
Seafood canneries used to be the
iconic Clatsop County industry in
the past. Fermentation is the empire
builder of the future.
Breweries, distilleries and hard ci-
der makers have revitalized the way
commerce flows here and contributed
millions of dollars to the local econo-
my, according to a study released last
week.
The Clatsop County Fermentation
Cluster Economic Impact Study was
a joint effort of Clatsop Economic De-
velopment Resources (CEDR), Busi-
ness Oregon, Clatsop County, and
Columbia Pacific Economic Develop-
ment District.
The $15,000 study found an indus-
try filled with innovation, coopera-
tion, and entrepreneurship.
The fermenters have taken a “syn-
ergistic” approach that has allowed
them to pivot and prosper coming out
of massive COVID setbacks.
When restaurants and bars closed,
brewers switched gears, increasing
their canning operations, said Kevin
Leahy of CEDR. “It was horrible, but
craft brewers have come out of it, for
City has a new
commissioner
Paul Mitchell to
replace Rick Newton
Fort George Brewery’s Chris Nem-
lowill leads a tour of the company’s
operations.
Photos from Fermentatioon Cluster report
the most part, very successfully.”
Fort George carries goods from other
brewers while distributing throughout
the Northwest. And the company part-
ners with other craft brewers to make
its highly anticipated 3-Way IPA. This
year’s release blends product from Fort
George, Ravenna Brewing in Seattle
and Alvarao Street in Salinas, Calif.
Those in the region’s forest and wood
products sector also form partnerships
for survival and growth, Leahy said.
See ‘Ferment’ on Page 6
Doctor’s overseas ride benefits hospice
Medical treatment is often a race
against time when doctors diagnose se-
rious health conditions.
Dr. Aaron Brown knows that urgency
all too well as a primary care physician
with the CMH-OHSU Primary Care Clin-
ic in Astoria.
Next week, he’ll begin a race against
time of another sort.
He’s joining a friend across the pond
How to help
Donate any amount per mile that Dr.
Brown completes for Lower Columbia
Hospice at columbiamemorial.org/bike-for-
hospice.
for a 180-mile bike ride across England.
They plan to complete the distance in
just 24 hours, each raising money for
hospice care as they go.
When he heard about his friend’s goal,
Dr. Aaron Brown will complete a 180-mile bike
he knew he had to go along for the ride,
ride across England Sept. 21 and 22, raising
he said.
money for local hospice care as he goes.
Courtesy CMH
See ‘Doctor’ on Page 2
By Cindy Yingst
The Columbia Press
Paul Mitchell was ap-
pointed Tuesday night
to fill the vacancy left
by Rick Newton on the
Warrenton City Com-
mission.
“We have the commis-
sioner-apparent here,”
Mayor Henry Balensifer
Mitchell
said, referring to Mitch-
ell, who was seated in
the commission chambers. “He’s run-
ning unopposed.”
Earlier in the evening, Newton’s seat
was declared vacant following the for-
mer commissioner’s letter of resigna-
tion last week.
The letter read, in full: “City of War-
renton Commission, I am submitting
my resignation effective immediately. I
absolutely loved when I was allowed to
work for the citizens. I have been in con-
tact with Paul Mitchell for his upcom-
ing seat as a Commissioner so he can be
somewhat ‘up-to-speed’ and ready for
his new position. Rick Newton.”
Balensifer asked fellow commission-
ers whether they had any objection to
appointing Mitchell to the seat pending
his completion of basic electors train-
ing classes available from the League of
Oregon Cities.
Mitchell is the sole candidate running
for the Position 4 commission seat in
the November election, Newton’s for-
mer seat. Newton had chosen to go
head-to-head with Balensifer for the
mayor’s post.
After months of sparring with other
city commissioners, Newton made the
decision Labor Day weekend to resign
and to step down from the mayoral
race.
“It’s not healthy for me to be there …
See ‘Mitchell’ on Page 4