4A • January 1, 2016 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com
Views from the Rock
LEADING STORIES OF THE YEAR
Dunes, dispensaries and a charter school
CANNON SHOTS
R.J. MARX
What do residents of Cannon
Beach want?
Depends on which one you
ask.
Should beaches be left alone?
Or do they need special care —
especially to preserve million dol-
lar views.
Some residents have thrown
their support whole-heartedly
behind former Fire Chief Mike
Balzer. Others say he just wasn’t
doing the job.
Cannabis? Most neighboring
cities have come to a plan for the
licensing and sale. Cannon Beach
isn’t sure yet.
As for the new Cannon Beach
Academy coming this fall for kin-
GHUJDUWHQ DQG ¿UVWJUDGH FODVVHV
this is a tiptoe into the shallow
end before the district opens to
more grade levels.
Such divisions and uncer-
tainties are not new to Cannon
%HDFK ZKHUH OLIH DOZD\V KDQJV
in the balance between tsunami
safety and luxury living. In a city
where “affordable housing” is an
oxymoron and visitors outnumber
UHVLGHQWV PRUH WKDQ WR RQH
every decision comes with conse-
quences.
No wonder City Manager
Brant Kucera is urging a new stra-
tegic plan.
ing dune-grading applications.
But with pressure from home-
RZQHUV DW %UHDNHUV 3RLQW VXS
ported by many environmental-
LVWVDFXELF\DUGJUDGLQJ
plan is moving ahead. That’s a
much smaller plan than original-
O\ SURSRVHG EXW QRW WKH JHQHUDO
prohibition the Oregon Coast Al-
liance had asked in 2014.
Whether that will be the last
dune-grading plan to win Plan-
ning Commission approval is
not yet clear. Already other
KATHERINE LACAZE/EO MEDIA GROUP
homeowners are reserving their
Seaside School District 10 board members discuss a motion to include
“rights” to grade the dunes.
This could be a fundamental the Cannon Beach Academy as a public charter school within the dis-
land-use concern that plays out on trict on numerous conditions.
the state or federal level.
In a city where ‘affordable housing’ is
an oxymoron and visitors outnumber
residents more than 100 to one, every
decision comes with consequences.
Dispensary decision
could be months away
Despite the success of Mea-
sure 91 allowing recreational sale
and possession of small amounts
RI PDULMXDQD ² DSSURYHG E\
percent of Cannon Beach voters
in November 2014 — the city
only licenses businesses which
DELGH E\ ORFDO VWDWH DQG IHGHUDO
ODZZKLFKH[FOXGHVFDQQDELV
Failure to enact licensing rules
could put the city at risk of liti-
JDWLRQ &LW\ $WWRUQH\ 7DPP\
Herdener warned at a December
City Council meeting.
Other municipalities have
EHHQ VXHG RYHU VLPLODU LQDFWLRQ
she said. The city could impose
LWVRZQ³UHDVRQDEOHUHVWULFWLRQV´
OLNH GLVSHQVDU\ KRXUV GLVWDQFH
IURP SDUNV OLJKWLQJ DQG VLJQDJH
‘Littorally’ speaking
in drafting a licensing ordinance.
Competing concerns play out
The Oregon Liquor Control
as the city seeks to determine the Commission is in the process of
best policy for future dune grad- adopting rules for recreational
ing. A sand management plan is cannabis use due in January.
FXUUHQWO\ XQGHUZD\ DQG ZLWK LW
There are already limitations
an evaluation of environmental in place. Dispensaries must be lo-
SURWHFWLRQVYHUVXVYLHZVKHGVQD FDWHG PRUH WKDQ IHHW IURP
WLYHYHUVXVQRQQDWLYHVSHFLHVKX schools. Oregon residents are al-
man development and the marine lowed to grow up to four plants
life protections.
for personal use without a license
Originally the city wanted to and may carry an ounce of mar-
wait until its sand management LMXDQD RQ WKHLU SHUVRQ LQ SXEOLF
plan was in place before approv- but may not consume it in public
SODFHVVXFKDVKRWHOVWKHEHDFKRU
on the street.
A vote in November might
yield a different result than that of
VRPHFRXQFLORUVEHOLHYH
Even if the council decides to
JR ZLWK D QHZ EDOORW LQLWLDWLYH
staff needs to draft regulations in
case voters indicate they have a
need for weed.
At long last, academy
approved
Cannon Beach Elementa-
U\ FORVHG LQ DIWHU 6HDVLGH
School District 10 and members
of the community responded to
tsunami risk. About 90 Cannon
Beach students now attend class-
es in Seaside.
7KH &DQQRQ %HDFK $FDGHP\
DFKDUWHUVFKRROZDQWVWR¿OOWKH
void left by its closing.
The district issued two previ-
ous denials to the academy last
\HDU FLWLQJ ODFN RI DQ DGHTXDWH
location and start-up funds. Yet
IRU PDQ\ SDUHQWV DQG FKLOGUHQ
school outside of their home com-
munities is not a preferred option.
7R WKDW HQG WKH\ UDOOLHG EHKLQG
Executive Director Ryan Hull to
VXSSRUWDQHZFKDUWHUVFKRROWKH
&DQQRQ %HDFK $FDGHP\ WR EH
housed at a temporary location at
6XQVHW%RXOHYDUG
The school plans to eventually
settle into a permanent site south
of town and east of U.S. Highway
101.
The new charter school will
serve a minimum of 44 kinder-
JDUWHQ DQG ¿UVWJUDGH VWXGHQWV
LWV ¿UVW \HDU ZLWK WKH DELOLW\ WR
add grades over time. Top prior-
ity for the academy is meeting
physical building requirements
DW LWV WHPSRUDU\ ORFDWLRQ DW
6XQVHW %OYG 7KH YDFDWHG VSDFH
ZKLFKWDNHVXSVTXDUHIHHW
RIWKHVTXDUHIRRWEXLOGLQJ
once housed the Cannon Beach
Athletic Club. The charter even-
tually wants to host kindergarten
WKURXJK¿IWKJUDGHVWXGHQWV
The decision to support the
school was not an easy one: ed-
ucators fear the new school could
drain resources from other class-
URRPV DQG VFKRROV DQG FUHDWH D
“two-tier” school district. With-
out an overall plan for a new Sea-
VLGHFDPSXVWKHGLVWULFWVWLOOODFNV
an overarching plan to protect
every student from the most tsu-
nami-prone areas. A costly bond
issue looms — an initial try was
VRXQGO\ GHIHDWHG ² DQG ZLWK LW
more unanswered questions for
the school district.
Fire chief
7UXVWHG OHDGHU RQH PRPHQW
ORFNHG RXW RI KLV RZQ RI¿FH WKH
next.
That’s what happened at the
Cannon Beach Rural Fire Pro-
tection District. In October board
members ousted Fire Chief Mike
Balzer for failing to live up to per-
formance standards.
Why that information trickled
out so slowly and residents were
forced to wonder why the chief
was dismissed became a matter of
FRQFHUQ IRU ¿UH¿JKWHUV DQG UHVL
dents alike.
Members of the community
said the information was “in poor
taste” and the board president
should never have locked the for-
PHUFKLHIRXWRIKLVRZQRI¿FH
$WDVSHFLDO¿UHERDUGPHHWLQJ
RQ1RY$VVLVWDQW&KLHI)UDQN
Swedenborg was appointed inter-
im chief.
But presented with the possi-
bility of a permanent chief not to
come until after March or during
WKH PLGGOH RI EXGJHWLQJ VHDVRQ
he said a Special Districts Asso-
ciation of Oregon interim might
be best. He added having some-
one with better knowledge of the
industry in the post might relieve
Captain Matt Gardner of extra du-
WLHVKHKDVWDNHQRQDVZHOO-LP
6WHDUQVRI+HUPLVWRQZDVVHOHFW
HGWR¿OOWKDWUROORQ'HF
Stearns is now in the hot seat
— and maybe the district did just
the right thing taking the heat off
locally and hopes to turn a new
page in 2016.
When Lewis & Clark wintered here, and lived on blubber
REFLECTIONS
ELAINE TRUCKE
D
ecember on the Oregon
FRDVW,W¶VUDLQ\LW¶VZLQG\
and it can be downright
maddening if you don’t have a
VWDFNRIJRRGERRNVDQDUWSURMHFW
RU WZR RU DQ\ RWKHU SDVW WLPH WR
get you through the darkest month
of the year. It is hard to believe that
the Corps of Discovery spent most
of their time on the Oregon coast
during the winter.
7KH &RUSV RI 'LVFRYHU\ RU
/HZLV DQG &ODUN H[SHGLWLRQ OHIW
RQ0D\IURP&DPS5LY
er Dubois under the command of
Clark. The score of companions
were commissioned to explore the
vast wilderness of the recently ac-
quired Louisiana Purchase.
It took the expedition just over
D\HDUWRUHDFKWKH3DFL¿F2FHDQ
After traveling thirty-four miles
GRZQWKH&ROXPELD5LYHUEUDYLQJ
over 940 yards of treacherous rap-
LGV DQG URFNV WKH &RUSV UHDFKHG
the Washington side of Pillar rock
LQ 1RYHPEHU RI +HUH WKH\
set up camp in the rain while lis-
WHQLQJWRWKH3DFL¿F2FHDQWKUXP
against the shore. Though every-
one was soaked to the bone Clark
ZURWH WKDW WKHUH ZDV ³MR\ LQ WKH
camp” for having reach the Ocean.
The next day Sacagawea and
several members of the Corps of
Discovery attempted to cross the
WUHDFKHURXV &ROXPELD 5LYHU QRW
an easy feat as you can imagine.
The unruly current caused them to
become seasick and they returned
WR VKRUH 7KH ZLQG WKH UDLQ DQG
the changing tides toyed with
Lewis and Clark. Over the com-
ing days they attempted to cross
the river several times only to be
IRUFHG EDFN :HW GHVRODWH DQG
HDWLQJ QRWKLQJ EXW GULHG VDOP
RQWKH&RUSVRI'LVFRYHU\IRXQG
Publisher
Steve Forrester
Editor
R.J. Marx
Advertising Manager
Betty Smith
SUBMITTED PHOTO/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE
Th e scene depicted above is from a painting by Newman Myrah entitled “Bartering Blue Beads for Otter
Robe,” depicting Lewis and Clark as they traded with local tribes.
themselves stuck in an uncomfort-
able camp at the mercy of a thun-
der and lightning. With the rations
of water running low the men at-
tempted to drink saltwater and be-
came ill.
)LQDOO\RQ1RYWKHZLQGEH
gins to calm and the Corps of Dis-
covery was able to change camp-
sites to a spot at Baker Bay. It is
at this time that they truly see the
3DFL¿F2FHDQIRUWKH¿UVWWLPH$QG
oh what a sight to behold!
A few days later Lewis meets
&KLHI&RPFRPO\RIWKH&KLQRRNV
who gives the men cooked roots.
A much needed change from dried
salmon boiled in saltwater! Chief
Comcomly is one of my favorite
people from our local history. Not
only was he an important contact
IRUWKH&RUSVRI'LVFRYHU\EXWDQ
important part of Columbia Riv-
er maritime history as well. Chief
Comcomly was a trader and one of
Production Manager
John D. Bruijn
Circulation Manager
Heather Ramsdell
Advertising Sales
Laura Kaim
Wendy Richardson
a few navigators of the Columbia
River. He appears in Washington
,UYLQJ¶V QDUUDWLYH RI $VWRULD
ZKLFK ZDV SXEOLVKHG LQ ,I
you ever visit the Astor Column
\RXZLOO¿QGDFDQRHDQGKRQRULXP
for this unique coastal man.
The Corps of Discovery spent
the entire month of November mov-
LQJIURPRQHFDPSWRDQRWKHUQDY
LJDWLQJDQGWU\LQJWRNHHSGU\2Q
1RYHPEHU WK WKH\ ZHUH ¿QDOO\
able to cross the Columbia River to
WKH2UHJRQVLGHODQGLQJLQZKDWLV
QRZ.QDSSD+HUHWKH\¿QGDQ,Q
GLDQYLOODJHDQGWUDGH¿VKKRRNVIRU
Wapato roots. Wapato roots were an
important staple for many tribes in
WKH3DFL¿F1RUWKZHVW7KH:DSDWR
URRWLVDVWDUFK\HGLEOHWXEHURIWHQ
noted as being “potato like.” The tu-
bers are gathered from wet swampy
DUHDV DFURVV WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV DO
though due to habitat destruction
WKH\DUHKDUGHUWR¿QGQRZ
CANNON BEACH GAZETTE
The Cannon Beach Gazette is published every
other week by EO Media Group.
1555 N. Roosevelt, Seaside, Oregon 97138
503-738-5561 • Fax 503-738-9285
www.cannonbeachgazette.com • email:
editor@cannonbeachgazette.com
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
Annually: $40.50 in county, $58.00 in and out
The corps continued their jour-
QH\XSWKH&ROXPELD5LYHUSDVVLQJ
the Youngs River and the Lewis and
Clark River (known as the “Netul”
to the corps). They made several
VWRSVWRVHQGPHQDVKRUHORRNLQJ
IRUDSODFHWRZLQWHU'URXLOODUGQRW
the most well-known member of
the Corps Discovery accompanies
these groups. Throughout their jour-
ney he had established himself as
DQDFFRPSOLVKHGKXQWHUDQGVFRXW
often leading many of the hunting
SDUWLHV,QDZHOODLPHGVKRW
E\'URXLOODUGVDYHG&KDUERQQHDX
6DFDJDZHD¶VKXVEDQGIURPDEHDU
)LQDOO\DWWKHEHJLQQLQJRI'H
FHPEHU/HZLVDQGKLVVHDUFKSDUW\
found a place to winter. As soon as
WKH ZHDWKHU DOORZHG )RUW &ODWVRS
was underway. The wet weather
PDGH FRQVWUXFWLRQ GLI¿FXOW )RRG
VSRLOHGZRRGURWWHGDQGPHPEHUV
of the Corps of Discovery became
LOO ZLWK FROGV VNLQ LQIHFWLRQV DQG
bruises. Can you imagine trying
WRJHWD¿UHJRLQJZKHQWKHZRRG
ZDV ZHW \RX ZHUH ZHW DQG HYHQ
the tinder was wet? They suffered
EDGO\IURPÀHDVDQGWKHFROGEXW
by the end of December most of the
Fort is complete.
While at this location the Corps
of Discovery traded with local
WULEHVGRFXPHQWHGÀRUDDQGIDXQD
and kept detailed documentation
of it all. Even coming to Cannon
%HDFK LQ -DQXDU\ RI :HLVHU
and Willard returned to Fort Clat-
sop with blubber and tales of a large
creature on the coast. Upon hearing
this Clark took twelve men and
Sacagawea and went in search for
the goliath. What they found was a
ODUJH VNHOHWRQ RI D ZKDOH DOUHDG\
butchered by the Tillamook tribe
there. Clark estimated that the crea-
WXUH ZDV IHHW ORQJ &ODUN DQG
KLV SDUW\ DIWHU VHYHUDO DWWHPSWV
WUDGHG IRU SRXQGV RI EOXEEHU
Clark’s understanding of the native
ZRUGIRUZKDOHZDV(FRODZKLFK
he then named the creek he had
crossed to see the creature.
The Corps of Discovery set-
WOHGLQWRDURXWLQHRIH[SORUDWLRQ
KXQWLQJ DQG WUDGH 7KH\ EHJLQ
to cure their own meats and cel-
ebrate the holidays with gunshot
and singing. Despite our coastal
ZHDWKHU ÀHDV DQG PRVTXLWRHV
Lewis and Clark were able to doc-
XPHQWPDQ\VSHFLHVDQGPDSWKH
Columbia River and the coast.
Though their arrival on the
coast was not necessarily well
WLPHG ZHDWKHU ZLVH WKH\ VWLOO
accomplished a lot and even had
the opportunity to marvel at the
FRDVWDOEHDXW\,Q-DQXDU\RI
&DSWDLQ :LOOLDP &ODUN ZURWH
“From this point I be held the
grandest and most pleasing pros-
pects which my eyes ever sur-
veyed.”
Learn about this and more at
the Cannon Beach History Center
0XVHXPZHDUHRSHQ7KXUVGD\
WKURXJK0RQGD\IURPWRSP
of county.
Postage Paid at: Cannon Beach, OR 97110
POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to Cannon Beach
Gazette, P.O. Box 210, Astoria, OR 97103
Copyright 2015 © Cannon Beach Gazette.
Nothing can be reprinted or copied without
consent of the owners.
THE NATIONAL AWARD-WINNING